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Dear friends, It is with great pleasure that we bring to you the first boxes of the spring share for 2008. Despite colder than usual winter, late winter and early spring weather, we are heartened by the emerging patches of open ground. With lovely days like yesterday we watch the snow piles dwindle, thankful that their nurturing water soaks into the soil ready to feed another season of plants and trees. We headed into the hoophouse yesterday morning, jon, ella, eli and I to harvest spinach. It still amazes us that this green plant, seeded in late September lives through the coldest winter temperatures we've experienced, alive and resting until the return of light in mid February to start a new burst of growth. There are lessons to be learned from paying attention to these wonders! As we started our cutting we heard the first of the meadowlarks calling from someplace high(a tree, a fence post) and found it a good omen. We pay attention to the nature signals more than the calendar, which guide us through shifting seasons. The return of the migrating birds is such a welcome sign. We awaken now to birdsong, no longer the still and quiet of winter. The meadowlarks are our favorite of the returning birds; a true harbinger of spring. Have you seen them? Unless you spend time in open fields, their preferred habitat, you may not know them. They are robin sized, with a short tail and a bright yellow bib on their chest emphasized by a black "v" collar. They throw back their heads and sing, sing, sing with a lovely, melodic voice. It always feels like a ritual to hear them first, then sight them and we are assured that another spring unfolds. The first spring share boxes are full of good, live foods. For starters we give you a pint of local maple syrup, which is reputed to be the best runs ever. Plus we include: 2 bags of sweet spinach, red Russian kale, salad mix, a bag of little, bite sized potatoes, a bigger bag of potatoes, green cabbage, shallots, onions, beets, eggs and a little bag of dried rosemary harvested, dried and packed for you by my herb girl ella. Remember, the greens are NOT WASHED!!!!!! We encourage you to fill a big sink of water and swish until the soil falls to the bottom of the sink. Then spin in a salad spinner. Here is a recipe for a dressing that is delicious with spinach(just add hard boiled eggs, red onion and whatever else suits your salad craving fancy)as well as cabbage for coleslaw. It may sound like a lot of oil, but the recipe makes a lot of dressing to stock in your fridge. IMPORTANT!!!!! The next spring shares will be on Thursday, April 17th. We committed to participation in an organic farming day through MSU extension on Friday april 18th, before we set the date for the starting of spring shares. We hope that this won't inconvenience anyone. Same place, same time, just one day early! Please mark your calendars... Love, the meadowlarks
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