Open (Green)House this Saturday April 8, 10am-noon

In spite of the slow and chilly start to spring, our greenhouse is warm and filling up fast with young green plants. Come by the farm this Saturday, April 8th between 10am and noon to check out the seedlings and tour the new greenhouse we built during the 2016 season! You can taste test some of our micro greens and seed a plant to take home. We'll also be raffling off a 2-week trial CSA membership.

The early season sign-up discounts for the CSA, as well as early season bonuses for Barrett's Bucks are available until April 15th. If you have questions about either, feel free to contact Melissa or Lise, or just stop by the Open Greenhouse on Saturday and we'd be happy to chat!

"Why I became a farmer" - Tuesday, March 21st 7-9pm

The Town of Concord’s Agriculture Committee invites the community to hear Concord farmers tell their stories at a free public forum on Tuesday, March 21, 7-9PM, at the Harvey Wheeler Community Center.

Farmers from Barrett’s Mill Farm, Colonial Gardens, Crooked Row Fields, Hutchins Farm, and Silferleaf Leaf Farm will tell us why they became farmers, and what it’s like to farm in Concord today. Looking back as well as ahead, these stories will offer details and insights into what farming looks like to some of the many who do it here. 

Please join us on the first day of spring for lively conversation, refreshments, and a chance to learn more about Concord’s many farms and farm businesses.

March farm update

It's mid-March and that means plants are growing in the greenhouse! We started our seedlings in the smaller greenhouse attached to the farm stand because it is more efficient and cheaper to heat. Unfortunately this spring it's been a bit too "efficient" - two Sundays in a row we have walked into the greenhouse only to find that the heater was blowing cold air! Other than our early experimental tomato seedlings, most of our plants appear to have survived the two unheated (and below-freezing!) nights mostly unscathed. After those minor hiccups, we now have all of our seedlings transferred into our larger NEW greenhouse, and it is working like a dream! The onions, shallots, leeks, cabbage and microgreens currently have some tractors for roommates, but as the snow melts, we'll move the machines outside to make way for more seedlings.

With plants beginning to pop up, farm responsibilities will soon become more than just a 2 person operation! Fortunately, beginning in mid April we'll have some of our 2017 farm crew to help us out. We have several awesome returning part-time field hands, as well as two new Assistant Growers starting up this spring. One of our new Assistant Growers is in the market for a studio or in-law apartment closer to the farm (he currently lives 12 miles away). He is looking to lease April through October, and is interested in a work trade in exchange for reduced rent. If you have a place that fits this description, or you know someone who does, email Lise (lise@barrettsmillfarm.com) and we will pass it along!

February: seasonal preparations

February always seems to catch us by surprise. It still feels like we are in the depths of winter, but right around the last week or two of February we are reminded that our greenhouse seeding schedule starts March 1st! In many ways we are very prepared for the start of the season (we have all of our seeds and potting soil ready to go!), but there is always a shift in mentality that goes along with the arrival of March. We won't be in full gear yet, but we will have plants that require care and watering every day, including on our once carefree Saturdays and Sundays!  The increase in daily responsibilities on the farm is balanced by the invigorating influence of plant growth as the farm comes to life again for another season.

With increasingly busy days before us, we are also focusing our energies on recruiting new CSA members while we still have non-farming hours to spare. As many of you know, we are increasing our acreage in order to add 50 new CSA members. Sign-ups have been going well and we are making a push to try to fill those remaining spots as soon as possible so that we can get down to the business of growing food! To that end, we recently made a couple of yard signs promoting the CSA (see picture below). We have a few places lined up for the signs once the snow melts and the ground thaws, but we do have one extra sign. If you live on a busy road in West Concord, Concord Center or Acton and you might be willing to put one of our signs up for a week in March or April, email Lise at lise@barrettsmillfarm.com!

January: Welcoming new CSA members and Lise's new family member!

The new year on the farm is off to a great start. So far 2017 has brought many returning CSA and Barrett's Bucks members, new customers, and Lise and Matt's baby girl named Madlyn born January 6th! As the newest farm resident Madlyn is already getting to know the property while joining Lise for walks when the sun comes out. 

The new year has also meant new crew members for the 2017 season! We have hired an Assistant Grower and in next few weeks we will be adding one or two more people to fill out our 2017 line-up.  We are also very excited to welcome back many of last year's part time crew members to the farm again in the spring. 

Early sign-up discounts for both CSA and Barrett's Bucks memberships continue until January 15th so sign up yourself and send your friends our way! As we've mentioned, we will be increasing our CSA size this season in order to grow our business so there is room for friends and family to join you at the farm! Anyone who refers someone who signs up for the Main Season CSA will receive an additional $10 Barrett's Bucks for 2017.