Announcing Our CSA

Ever since I learned about CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) in a long-ago conversation with Joe Bailey and his mother Natalie Phelps, it's seemed like a great way to run a small farm.

That's why it's such exciting news that 2018 will be the year that Metzger Heritage Farm CSA boxes will find their way off Crandall Hill each week. There's nothing better than sharing our best produce with our community.

The Metzger Heritage Farm Organic CSA will be lovingly managed by Rytz Bowman and Laura Mangan, who joined us on the farm last summer to put into action the concepts they'd learned in Maine and Florida. They're back this summer full of enthusiasm and bursting with plans!

A “CSA Share” is a simple idea (very much like buying a magazine subscription) in which a “member” buys a “share” of a farmer’s harvest at the beginning of the growing season, and then comes to the farm each week to pick up their “share” of the farm’s vegetable harvest. Other pickup options are also available.

To celebrate this day, we are offering an additional $10 off of full share signups from through midnight March 30.  Just use coupon code SUPPORT during checkout. 

Head over to: http://metzgerheritageorganicfarm.csasignup.com to sign up for yours.

Consider These Tomato Varieties

New Girl Tomato - Johnny's Selected Seeds

Are you thinking about planting tomatoes in your home garden this summer? Why not consider one of the USDA Certified Organic varieties we can start for you.

Pictured above is the New Girl tomato. We grew this tomato for the first time in the 2017 growing season. Vigorous plants yielded cluster after cluster of good-sized, flavorful fruits until frost claimed them in October. With its short (62 day) season, you should have good luck with this variety.

Oregon Spring Tomato - Fedco Seeds

Oregon Spring is one of the earliest tomatoes at 58 days from transplant. The Fedco catalog says it's "recommended as a hedge in northern climates for cold summers." This variety has been a favorite of northern growers since the 1980s.

Stupice Tomato - Uprising Organic Seeds

Stupice has been part of my garden forever! It's often the first tomato (55 - 70 days) to ripen and continues to produce through the end of the season. Stupice bears smaller-size fruit (2-3 inches) with a deep red color. It's described in the seed catalog as a "reliable old friend." The biggest problem is how to pronounce it!

Moskvich Tomato - High Mowing Organic Seeds

The Moskvich tomato is another old favorite of mine. The seed catalog describes it this way: "...deep red color and luscious, rich flavor. Great eaten fresh or processed. Like all Russians, it can stand up to cool conditions."

Other varieties include: Rose De Berne, German Johnson, Sweetie Cherry, Black Cherry, Weisnicht's, Brandywine, Sophie's Choice, Silvery Fir Tree, Cherokee Purple, Cherokee Chocolate, Amish Paste, Northern Ruby Paste, Roma.

Let's have a conversation so I can get your plants started in time for transplant when frost danger has passed at the end of May.

Let's start the conversation via email: metzgerfarm@gmail.com

Fast Time

Metzger Heritage Farm, late winter 2018

stubborn snow drifts

Arthur's grandfather used to call it fast time. Along with most of the country, we dutifully reset clocks ahead one hour Sunday morning and today fought to to arise early to capture the daylight we've saved.

Daylight Savings Time is the final buzzer of the farm planning season for me. I've completed the seed orders and the fat envelopes have begun to arrive. The pots, seed trays and potting mix are stacked and ready. I keep my fingers crossed that when the time comes to turn on the water in the greenhouse,  we will be awarded with instant gurgling and a steady stream of water.

Have you given thought to your home garden needs as the days have lengthened? I am happy to offer you a selection of USDA Certified Organic plants so you can grow your own organic vegetables. 

Most consumers don't realize that commercially-produced vegetable and flowers are grown with large amounts of chemical fertilizers to promote lush plant growth, boosted by systemic and sprayed pesticides to control insects. You have no way of knowing exactly what has been done to those plants!

All our plants are started in a heated greenhouse with a supplemental light source. At Metzger Heritage Farm, we have always used organic methods. Our USDA Organic Certification is your assurance that our plants are grown to exacting NOP standards, beginning with certified organic seeds.

I'll post additional information in coming days but let's have an email conversation to discuss your needs - metzgerfarm@gmail.com. I will need to have all orders for seedlings by March 25 to allow enough time to have plants ready for transplant after frost danger has passed.

garlic under its protective mulch

"No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn"

- Hal Borland

Certified Organic Plant Starts

Seeds have been ordered and I'm anxious to get growing!
For the past couple of years I have been growing USDA Certified Organic plant starts in our heated greenhouse for sale to home growers who are looking for vegetable plants grown without the use of synthetic pesticides, herbicides, fungicides or fertilizers. They're the same plants we use in our USDA Certified Organic operation.
In 2018, I will be happy to start plants for those who pre-order and make a small deposit. I will need to have your orders by March 25.
Because your plants will be grown specifically for you, we will need to communicate about your needs. Please send me an email at metzgerfarm@gmail.com to begin the conversation. Prices per tomato or pepper plant (in 3- or 4-inch pots) will be between $3.50 and $4.50 depending upon seed costs.
In past years I have offered tomato and peppers only. This year I can also provide squash (winter and summer), onion plants, cucumbers and more. Prices for these will be based on my costs.