As people gear up for making presents, buying gifts and spending money on friends and family, there is some discussion of the supply chain. What is available? How long will it take to arrive? When will it be ready? At the farm, we are working to deliver fresh produce to customers in a timely fashion. Could a watermelon radish count as a gift under the tree? Sure. Are carrots, chard, beets, potatoes, a bag of arugula, some mixed greens, a delicata Winter squash and a bunch of kale legitimate as 8 gifts? Yes. Food is a gift and a treasure not to be taken for granted. And in the global world where so many items are shipped to and fro, why not support the local, reliable supply chain? What does it take to bring these items to the barn? The planning starts now for growing in the new year and harvesting produce and vegetables, herbs and flowers too, to customers and shoppers who come to the barn. The produce now in the barn was started last Spring and this Fall. Greens are delightfully abundant with some sunny days, rain and appropriately cool temperatures. The farmers are working hard to make sure there is food and the chain is very short from field to counter.
As for teachers at the farm and at schools, we are also delivering programs, ideas and hands-on opportunities to learn about plants, take care of the garden in this cool season and make a seasonal gift of their own with greens and local bits of nature that could be a new, necessary fairy house or home. (Wreath making this saturday at the farm!).The demand to get outside and immerse in the art of understanding our environment is in good supply at Holly Hill Farm. We are motivated and ready to bring year-round teaching. It may not be a gift you can wrap or put into a box, but there is no delay in shipping, as one can come to the farm, save a seed, make a wreath and embrace an outside resource. The environment needs and demands a connection to its supply chain and the fragility of our relationship and understanding of the outside world where fields, woods and gardens call to us to visit and learn. So no need to worry about the perfect gift and its ability to land at your door, the food that sustains and the education that feeds us is right outside the door.
