Dear Family and Friends,

The rain finally stopped on Saturday afternoon, the clouds cleared away by early Sunday morning, and we had a perfect day-- sunny and cool, for our Annual Farm Field Day. Lots of shareholder families made the trip from Nashville to see (or revisit) the place where their food is grown. Children, naturally, headed straight for the creek. Or the pump. We continue to wonder at their joy in pumping water into the storage barrel, so dismayed when it is full. Sasha came to the rescue each time, shifting the electric pump to divert water up to the kitchen storage barrel, or into the greenhouse storage barrel, or into the mandy.

Others found delight in washing apples in the big outdoor tub to prepare them for the cider press. Sasha again was master of the operation, demonstrating where to place bowls to catch the apple juice and the pulp. The adults seemed more interested in tasting the product of all this effort.

Paul and Robin took groups on tours of the farm. Because our property is so spread out the tour begins on the home farm, and growing fields 4, 5. and 6. (We have had to number our growing areas for identification to comply with Kentucky organic certification rules). Then people have the option of walking the 1/4 mile or riding in the back of a pick-up to the A-Frame house where the other 2/3 of the property can be walked. The high tunnel was a big attraction this year. Some of these shareholders have been hearing about it for years; for others it was a totally new concept: an unheated greenhouse. They got to see several varieties of lettuce, radishes, chard, bok choy plants growing in 90 foot rows. Some began to anticipate fresh greens for Fall extension share baskets. (That 4-week season will begin AFTER the October 11 wedding in California).

From the high tunnel the tour led down the long pasture past growing fields 2 and 3 across Flat Rock creek to what we laughingly call "the promised land". Ever since Paul and crew started clearing and fencing that area 5 years ago the thought has been that the animals would love grazing there. To my mind they get just as tired of that area as of any other. Our animals are spoiled that way: used to high quality forage.

There Paul proudly showed off his newly constructed predator-proof (we hope) chicken coop. Actually it is such an attractive looking space (8' x 12' with slanted roof facing east, on a foundation that raises it 2' above the ground) that I thought I'd like to spend a couple of days there before the chickens moved in. Chickens had priority: got to get them acclimated to that new space before we leave for the wedding. The idea is for them have free run of the promised land during the day; then secure lodgings at night. This would eliminate the time and labor needed to pull chicken tractors across our pastures each day to keep poultry on fresh grass.

The tour then walked past field 1, site of this season's garlic and butternut squash. The story of the "Gordon", our 100- year, 2 story cedar shed was recounted. We always remember Gordon, the man who showed up with carpentry skills and his own tools the spring that building was constructed. We use most of the second floor to store hay but saved a little cozy niche to house interns. The first floor can be excellent confinement space for sheep shearing or other animal sorting chores.

Then back across Flat Rock to the lower pasture to see Addie and her calf, and Junior, Blue Bell's calf. We walked past my house and barn into the upper pasture to admire the turkeys in their tractors and our bee hive. Finally, some walked and some of us piled into the pick-ups to get back to the home farm for a delightful potluck meal.

All this was in stark contrast to the day before, Saturday, the last day of our Bounty of the Barrens Market. Picture torrential rain on top of weeks of high humidity, frequent showers, soggy ground. The market is on a paved parking area so there was no mud but plenty of running water. Nevertheless vendors and customers showed up. The market board had organized a potluck at the end of the morning for the vendors. What a display of wonderful home-cooking. A couple of men volunteered to grill meat donated by other vendors. We pulled all the 10' x 10' tents together to make a giant room. The margins between the tent edges allowed rain to pour down creating the effect of a cluster of separate dining rooms separated by walls of water. Pretty glitzy stuff for a farmer's market. We ended our first season in high spirits with lots of thanks from board to vendors, vendors to board for a job very well done. I was so glad to be there. Love, Louise