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THIS WEEK’S SUBSCRIBER MENU:
“Festival” Winter Squash
Jerusalem Artichokes (Sunchokes)
Savoy Cabbage
Scarlet Turnips
Carrots
Garlic
“D’Anjou” Pears
The snow is finally melting, and is nearly gone. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for White Christmases, but it was just a little too much for us. I can deal with the frozen water lines, and carrying 20 buckets of water day and night to the animals. It is beautiful after dark, traipsing around the farm and not even needing a light. It was fun tracking all the wildlife with the kids in the snow. We didn’t realize just how curious the coyotes were, until we saw where the tracks led and actually caught up with the sneaky coyotes several times. They don’t hide as well when the backdrop is white. We didn’t actually see any racoons, but we sure saw their tracks. And then we covered the pen containing all of our new little laying pullets. They’d be a tasty snack for raccoons.
We are hoping to at least complete a few more weeks of the winter season. I doubt we will finish the entire 6 weeks remaining, but hopefully 3 or 4 more weeks will be doable. So, our plan is to continue with regular weekly harvest/deliveries as long as we can. Then, we will give everyone a credit for the weeks that we don’t finish, good toward next winter’s season.
I would love to give credit toward spring or summer, but the reality is that we need that money to get going for the new year. We’ve lost a month of farmers market income, and we won’t have much, if any, surplus produce to sell in January. We need to pay our bills, and Luis, and buy supplies for the new season. Supplies that we will need in February.
We also need to replace/repair the two greenhouses that we lost to the heavy snow, even though we scraped the snow off several times. Here you can see the frame smashed under the snow, and Mike cutting the plastic on another greenhouse to relieve the pressure and save the frame.
Whistling Train Farm 
>Shelley-You’re doing a great job–I’m tired of the snow too. No credit towards next winter is needed on our account. We understand and stick with you through this anyway–Can’t wait for spring to come! I’ll be planting my first garden!
>Shelly:I agree – I loved the White Christmas, BUT not the bad roads and not being able to get around. Having lived on the East Coast for awhile, that was frustrating.I am fine too without a credit towards winter. I went into this CSA thing knowing I wanted to support a family farm come hell or high water (and hopefully the warm-up will be slow enough that there will be no high water). I have very much enjoyed the shares – and sorry that I haven’t been able to ever meet you, but I do pick up on Capitol Hill (usually on my bike) and am a busy teacher, so that schedule fits me the best. I have very much enjoyed all the fresh vegetables and have learned great ways to cook them.
>We feel the same way – we love the farm shares but knew when we signed up that it was all weather dependent. This has just been a crazy year and we’ll hope for more cooperative weather in 2009.Please don’t worry about crediting our account either.
>Thanks for the update. Sorry to hear you lost your greenhouses. And no need for a credit for us either. As others have said, we knew going in that there might be weather disruptions. (I grew up on a farm so I definitely understand weather issues!) We have greatly enjoyed the shares so far and will look forward to whatever you are able to provide in January. Sarah Shepherd
>Ditto for us — no credit needed. We are willing to ride the ups and downs of farm life and appreciate the reality check. Hang in there! You’re doing a great job!
>Hang in there, Shelley and Mike–we support your valiant efforts to feed us and are, if not glad, at least willing to forgo any credits for produce lost. A major part of the idea of CSA is to share the risk; we want you around for the future! Cheerio! JonathanBright Morning Star community, Seattle
>I have nothing original to say, after everyone else! Forget about crediting me for next year — shared risk and all that. Hang in there, and I hope to see you back at the farmers’ markets soon!
>Add me to the list of thosesharing in the risk as wellas the bounty, no need fora credit for next winter,Dalice
>I’ve been a little late commenting here too, but you can forego our credit too.I know you guys have been working really hard and weather is weather. I came into this winter share as a first-time CSA-er and have been enjoying all these new veggies that I haven’t tried before for one reason or another.I went into this wanting to support a local farm and that also includes supporting you guys through times like this.Thanks again for all of your hard work! 🙂