Everything Is Coming Up Beautifully

We made a trip to the farm way back in March and I just realized that I hadn't written anyting about it.  And there are lots of things to tell.

 

John has all the green house up and running...meaning there are plants coming up in every one and the chickens have been doing their thing in the other.

 

Plantings include...

two plantings of tomatoes

sugar snap peas

kale

Swiss chard

cabbage

three kinds of lettuce

Chinese cabbage

zucchini

broccoli

This month in April the plantings will be...

more tomatoes

onions

spicy greens

green beans

radishes

rhubarb

The boys wanted to grow some corn.  So they did, one kernel.

This is the water tank on the inside of the greenhouse that is closest to the house.

This is John's version of  'The Germinator'.

I am looking really forward to eating some of these snap peas!

 

Also I just got word that the Spring and Summer Shares are SOLD OUT.  Not to worry is you still want to be a part of the CSA there are Summer and Fall Shares still available.

Fields of Rye

The fields are alive with rye coming up through the snow.

 

I am hoping to visit the farm in the next week or so.  I will be excited to see how much the tomato plants in the green house have grown.  And I am wondering if those rabbits ever got names?  Or will I find empty cages?  Or even new rabbits?

A Little Bit More About The Farm

John and Anna are building a pond.  This pond will have several uses.  It will be a swimming hole, and ice skating rink, a fishing hole, and a source for water for the plants on the farm.  This spring the hogs will do their thing by rooting and packing down the bottom so the water will hold.  I'm not sure how technically that works but that is how the Amish build a pond.

The big red barn on the hill.

Meet Ruby.  She is a Morgan horse and she is used to pull the buggy.  I guess you could call her the fancy horse.

This is Blondie (she can with her name).  She is one of two of the draft horses on the farm.

And Blondie's sidekick is named Barbie.  I know those names just don't sound like Amish names.  And they aren't.  It would be a hard thing to change their names now that they have known them all their lives.  So John has decided to just keep the names the same.

If I remember right, this is Rover.  Sweet, sweet dog.  He reminds me  a lot of our beagle, Ella Bella

And then I find the rabbits.  I know that the black and white on is a Rex.  I'm not sure about the black one.  And the bad thing is...they don't have names.  I told the boys that they will have to name them before I come back.  I hope that doesn't mean what I think it means.  Poor bunnies!

And with all those kids, you just have to have a milk cow.  Didn't catch her name.

I found a swing in the barn.  What a great place to play.  Lots of things to climb on jump off of.  Who needs a playground in the park?

The one room schoolhouse is really close to the house.  So close that the kids sometimes run home for lunch.  I ran home for lunch when I was in grade school.  I guess it was about a mile for me.

Look at all that wood.  Hope it is enough to keep them warm all this winter because I don't think the Amish get Snow Days.  Their are nine students and a teacher.  Locust Knoll is it's name.  Sounds like something that you would hear about on Little House on the Prairie.

While I was in the barn meeting all the animals, Anna sent up some sausage that they got from one of Andy's pigs right before they moved to MO.  I don't know if I will ever eat it all.  Still hanging on to pieces of the Andy's as long as I can.  After visiting with John and Anna I ran over to Sugartree Grass Feed.  They are a hersdshare.  We are a delivery location for them.  Sugartree and Cedarmore share the same drivers.  It was the first time I had met Scott and his family.  They are Hoover Mennonites.  They have 'a more simple life' than the Swartzentruber Amish.  They cut wood in a mill by using the power the horses from walking on a treadmill.  You have to see it to believe it!  I came home from there with some homemade noodles, some jam and warm wheat bread right out of the oven.  Lovely family!  I think I might get to know them better over the summer.

 

Deadline Update

Got word from Rue from John and Anna that the sign up deadlines for the spring and all season shares have been extended to April 1, 2015.

Green Houses and The Chickens

I don't know if Anna is going to do what Lizzie did or not but this is the started greenhouse that is closer to the house.  Closer to the house for easy access.  They will be adding a stove to keep the tiny seedlings warm in the winter.  It also helps with germination.

This greenhouse will have 250 plus tomato plants coming soon.

But right now the chickens are scratching and pooping which are two great things for the soil.

They are even laying eggs right by the door so there is no gathering to be done.

John moves the greenhouse to different places on the land so that the chickens can do their job with the soil.  And believe it or not he can move it by himself and a few good 2x4's.

Drop Off Location For CSA 2015 And A Note From Rue

Cedarmore CSA has added a few more drop off locations...

r Cedarmore Farm 10148 Pigeon Roost Rd., Hillsboro on Tuesdays 5:00 - 8:00 pm

r Anderson : 1980 Gainsborough Lane on Tuesdays 5:00 - 8:00 pm

r Clarksville: 3668 Nicholson Rd. on Tuesdays 5:00 - 8:00 pm

r Hamilton: 914 Richwood Ave. on Tuesdays 5:00 - 8:00 pm

r Hillsboro: 8586 US HWY 50 on Tuesdays 8:00 - 10:00 pm

r Kenwood: 7791 Montgomery Rd. (Terry Bryan Fitness Center) on Tuesdays 5:00 - 8:00

r Lebanon: 2308 Wood Rd. on Tuesdays 6:30 - 9:30 pm

r Liberty Township: 4449 Squaw Valley Drive on Tuesdays 5:00 – 8:00pm

r Loveland: 865 Miami Ridge Dr. on Tuesdays 5:00 - 8:00 pm

r Mason: 1029 Seneca Dr. on Tuesdays 5:00 - 8:00 pm

r Milford: 1224 Eagle Ridge Road on Tuesdays 5:00 - 8:00 pm

r Mt. Orab: 16844 Bodman Rd. on Tuesdays 5:00 - 8:00 pm

r Wyoming: 508 Wirtz Way on Tuesdays 5:00 - 8:00 pm

 

r Batavia: 3553 St. R. 222, Batavia on Fridays 5:00 - 8:00 pm

r Beavercreek: 771 Briddlewood St.  Beavercreek, OH 45431 Fridays 5:00 - 8:00 pm

r Burlington: 6989 Lucia Dr. KY on Fridays 5:00 - 8:00 pm

r Clifton: 17 Kessler Place on Fridays 5:00 - 8:00 pm

r Covington: 509 Wallace Ave. Park Hills, KY on Fridays 5:00 - 8:00 pm

r Downtown Cincinnati: 1222 Race St. on Fridays 5:00 - 8:00 pm

r Eastgate: 4873 Beechwood Rd. Cincinnati on Fridays 5:00 - 8:00 pm

r Norwood: 1756 Mills Ave. on Fridays 5:00 - 8:00 pm

r Oakley: 2716 Arbor Ave. Cincinnati on Fridays 5:00 - 8:00 pm

r Oakwood: 347 Peach Orchard Ave. Oakwood, OH 45873 Fridays 5:00 - 8:00 pm

r Peebles: 33 Dodge City Dr. (Bob Malcolm Chrysler) on Fridays 2:30 - 5:00pm

r Westwood: 3110 Coral Park Dr. on Fridays 5:00 - 8:00 pm

 r Cedarmore Farm 10148 Pigeon Roost Rd., Hillsboro on Tuesdays 5:00 - 8:00 pm

r Anderson : 1980 Gainsborough Lane on Tuesdays 5:00 - 8:00 pm

r Clarksville: 3668 Nicholson Rd. on Tuesdays 5:00 - 8:00 pm

r Hamilton: 914 Richwood Ave. on Tuesdays 5:00 - 8:00 pm

r Hillsboro: 8586 US HWY 50 on Tuesdays 8:00 - 10:00 pm

r Kenwood: 7791 Montgomery Rd. (Terry Bryan Fitness Center) on Tuesdays 5:00 - 8:00

r Lebanon: 2308 Wood Rd. on Tuesdays 6:30 - 9:30 pm

r Liberty Township: 4449 Squaw Valley Drive on Tuesdays 5:00 – 8:00pm

r Loveland: 865 Miami Ridge Dr. on Tuesdays 5:00 - 8:00 pm

r Mason: 1029 Seneca Dr. on Tuesdays 5:00 - 8:00 pm

r Milford: 1224 Eagle Ridge Road on Tuesdays 5:00 - 8:00 pm

r Mt. Orab: 16844 Bodman Rd. on Tuesdays 5:00 - 8:00 pm

r Wyoming: 508 Wirtz Way on Tuesdays 5:00 - 8:00 pm

 

r Batavia: 3553 St. R. 222, Batavia on Fridays 5:00 - 8:00 pm

r Beavercreek: 771 Briddlewood St.  Beavercreek, OH 45431 Fridays 5:00 - 8:00 pm

r Burlington: 6989 Lucia Dr. KY on Fridays 5:00 - 8:00 pm

r Clifton: 17 Kessler Place on Fridays 5:00 - 8:00 pm

r Covington: 509 Wallace Ave. Park Hills, KY on Fridays 5:00 - 8:00 pm

r Downtown Cincinnati: 1222 Race St. on Fridays 5:00 - 8:00 pm

r Eastgate: 4873 Beechwood Rd. Cincinnati on Fridays 5:00 - 8:00 pm

r Norwood: 1756 Mills Ave. on Fridays 5:00 - 8:00 pm

r Oakley: 2716 Arbor Ave. Cincinnati on Fridays 5:00 - 8:00 pm

r Oakwood: 347 Peach Orchard Ave. Oakwood, OH 45873 Fridays 5:00 - 8:00 pm

r Peebles: 33 Dodge City Dr. (Bob Malcolm Chrysler) on Fridays 2:30 - 5:00pm

r Westwood: 3110 Coral Park Dr. on Fridays 5:00 - 8:00 pm

 r Cedarmore Farm 10148 Pigeon Roost Rd., Hillsboro on Tuesdays 5:00 - 8:00 pm

r Anderson : 1980 Gainsborough Lane on Tuesdays 5:00 - 8:00 pm

r Clarksville: 3668 Nicholson Rd. on Tuesdays 5:00 - 8:00 pm

r Hamilton: 914 Richwood Ave. on Tuesdays 5:00 - 8:00 pm

r Hillsboro: 8586 US HWY 50 on Tuesdays 8:00 - 10:00 pm

r Kenwood: 7791 Montgomery Rd. (Terry Bryan Fitness Center) on Tuesdays 5:00 - 8:00

r Lebanon: 2308 Wood Rd. on Tuesdays 6:30 - 9:30 pm

r Liberty Township: 4449 Squaw Valley Drive on Tuesdays 5:00 – 8:00pm

r Loveland: 865 Miami Ridge Dr. on Tuesdays 5:00 - 8:00 pm

r Mason: 1029 Seneca Dr. on Tuesdays 5:00 - 8:00 pm

r Milford: 1224 Eagle Ridge Road on Tuesdays 5:00 - 8:00 pm

r Mt. Orab: 16844 Bodman Rd. on Tuesdays 5:00 - 8:00 pm

r Wyoming: 508 Wirtz Way on Tuesdays 5:00 - 8:00 pm

 

r Batavia: 3553 St. R. 222, Batavia on Fridays 5:00 - 8:00 pm

r Beavercreek: 771 Briddlewood St.  Beavercreek, OH 45431 Fridays 5:00 - 8:00 pm

r Burlington: 6989 Lucia Dr. KY on Fridays 5:00 - 8:00 pm

r Clifton: 17 Kessler Place on Fridays 5:00 - 8:00 pm

r Covington: 509 Wallace Ave. Park Hills, KY on Fridays 5:00 - 8:00 pm

r Downtown Cincinnati: 1222 Race St. on Fridays 5:00 - 8:00 pm

r Eastgate: 4873 Beechwood Rd. Cincinnati on Fridays 5:00 - 8:00 pm

r Norwood: 1756 Mills Ave. on Fridays 5:00 - 8:00 pm

r Oakley: 2716 Arbor Ave. Cincinnati on Fridays 5:00 - 8:00 pm

r Oakwood: 347 Peach Orchard Ave. Oakwood, OH 45873 Fridays 5:00 - 8:00 pm

r Peebles: 33 Dodge City Dr. (Bob Malcolm Chrysler) on Fridays 2:30 - 5:00pm

r Westwood: 3110 Coral Park Dr. on Fridays 5:00 - 8:00 pm

A note from Rue...'Looking back since the first year of the CSA things have surely had their ups and downs. We have seen some great seasons and some that were a bit harder. Last year in particular was a pretty rough year for those growing the produce and also for  all of us CSA members. Overall it was the roughest year Cedarmore has had since it started. I know this was frustrating to our family and many of you. I have talked to the new owners John and Anna about where the CSA is heading in the future. They really have a strong desire to excel in the way they run the CSA. There is a strong emphasis being put on making sure that there is enough produce available to pack everyone’s box full every week and also on the quality of that produce. I can’t guarantee you that will always happen, but I can tell you that John and Anna, their helpers and I will do everything we can to make that happen. I have really enjoyed this CSA over the years and it has been great to be able to help with communications between the CSA members and the Amish community. I also wanted to let you all know that Cedarmore has a new pick up location in Liberty Township at 4449 Squaw Valley Drive Liberty Twp, OH 45011. If any of you have questions please send me an email at CedarmoreFarm@gmail.com. I’ll be glad to talk to you.'

 

 

Meet The John Zook's

Last Saturday I headed to Pigeon Roost Road in Hillsboro to talk with John and meet Anna and the kids. I needed to get a look at what was going on at Cedarmore and meet my new Amish family.  For some this may be a little confusing so I will try to explain.

 

John and Anna (Andy Hershberger's twin sister) Zook and their seven children will be taking over the Cedarmore CSA at their farm formally known as Hickory Haven.  Their farm on Pigeon Ridge Road is now Cedarmore CSA.

 

My GPS found it with no problem and I don't think it will take me anytime at all to remember how to get there...not too many turns.  You can see it from the main road before you turn on Pigeon Ridge Road.

It had snowed in Hillsboro the night before so I really wasn't sure where the driveway was so I just pulled in and parked.  John was on the front porch sweeping in his sock feet.  Anna had already done laundry.

I always like going into an Amish home because it always is so warm, smells so good, and is filled with kids.  The house is almost laid out like The Andy's...just a bit bigger. Same white walls with blue trim and dark blue curtains.  It felt familiar.  And I was glad for that.  And then there were the kids!  All seven of them gathered around the table to look at this crazy English woman that had come to visit.  I had Anna write down all the names and birthdays...sorta like a little cheat sheet for me and a way for me to learn their names quickly.

 

Ivy who just turned 11 on Monday of this week

Andrew (called Andy) who will be 10 this year in September.

Leah will be 8 in June.

Henry turns a big 7 in October.

Enos (He could be Dennis's twin) will celebrate 5 years on the earth.

Rachel (the shy one) will be three at the end of November this year.

Rhonda will be celebrating her first birthday in mid December this year.

John and Anna are in their mid 30's.

This is one fancy outhouse.  Haven't had the opportunity to visit yet but I am sure the chance will arise during one of my visits when it get warmer outside.  (Too cold for this Englisher)

  

I was able to get a little information from John and Anna about their background. They moved to Hillsboro from Wayne County about two years ago in April.  They own about 30 acres that includes  6 acres of woods and the rest is pasture and farming.  About 20acres of it could be used for farming but for now not all of that will be used.  John says for as long as he can remember he has been a farmer.  There was a little bit of time that he was away from farming but he came back and has been at it ever since.

 

We had a nice visit and I got to walk the farm and see the livestock, the greenhouses, the new pond, and again I came away knowing more that I did when I came.  Which is always a good thing.  I'm looking forward to going back soon.

A Day Filled With Laughs And Tears

Yesterday was the day (Jan 12, 2015) that the semis pulled in and were loaded for the haul to MO.  A day that I have been dreading since I read it from a letter Andy sent.  He is a smart man to tell me that way...he knows me well.  The community was there by the time I got there.  Everyone busy as bees.  And I mean everyone.  When I pulled in the littlest boys were carrying boxes and heaving them onto the wagon then the bigger boys would hand them off to the adult men in the back of the semi.  I made a trip to the Vet's office to pick up paperwork for the livestock that will be loaded up today along with the farming things like the greenhouses.  Everything goes!

 

 Buggies everywhere!  There were at least 20 men loading and that many women in the house packing up.  Then add in about 20 kids all under the age of 6.  School let out early so all the girls and boys from school came to help.  Every young girl had a baby on her hip.  And I was in heaven.  The hustle and bustle all in "Amish"...music to my ears.  One of my jobs at the end of the day, when they were scrubbing the floors, was to keep the little ones occupied.  We sang nursery rhymes, sang church songs in German and my personal favorite...button, button, who's got the button.  And me may have played a few rousing round of I Spy.

 

If you look really hard while squinting your eyes you can see the first semi pulling out on the main road.  it is right at the edge of the condensation on the left top about 1/4 of the way down.  It was hard to get a shot and not get any Amish in the picture.

 There it is...the house standing alone and all empty.  I did get a chance to talk to the new owners.  They are a really sweet couple and they have two children.  The 4 year old boy speaks better English than lots of the 4 year old English kids I know.  and Cynthia said I could visit anytime I wanted to.  And you know that I will.

 

We left the farm around 5:30pm for our drive to Dayton to catch the bus.  A really uneventful ride, except for poor car sick Anna.  She had her bucket ready.  I always feel so sorry for her.  They was a group of them that boarded the bus...Andy, Lizzie the kids, Lizzies' parents, Lizzie's younger brother and one of the workers for Andy.  They all are going to MO to help the unpack and set up souse.  Speaking of houses.  Their house isn't ready so they will be living (and all of their stuff) in a pole barn until they can break ground in the spring.

 

BUS SCHEDULE

Departs from Dayton at 7:55pm

Arrive in Indy at 9:40 - departs 10;45pm

Arrive in St. Louis 1:40am - departs 3:10am

Arrive in Columbia, MO 5:25am - departs 5:25am

Arrive in Boonville, MO 5:45am - departs 5:45am

Arrive in Kansas City, MO 7:30am - departs 8:00am

Arrive in Harrison, MO 8:00am - departs 8:40am

Arrive in Rich Hill, MO 9:15am - departs 9:15am

Arrive in Nevada, MO 9:35 am

Then from Nevada, MO to Eldarado Springs it is about a 30 car ride or about an 1 1/2 hour buggy ride.

 

 

I have been thinking about them all day long and I have a letter in the mail already for pick up tomorrow morning.  I know they will be busy...too busy to write but I wanted them to have some love from home in their new place.

 

If you would like to drop them a line, their new address is

 

The Andy H. Hershberger's

266 East 550 Road

Eldorado Springs, MO

64744

 

 

I am visiting with John and Anna Zook in two Saturdays and I will get to know them and take some shots of the new digs for Cedarmore Farm CSA.

First News from Cedarmore From John Zook

As many of you know the Hershberger's are moving to MO later this month. 
Andy's sister, Anna and her husband, John Zook, will be taking over the Cedarmore CSA.  The CSA will be located on the Zook farm but will still be called Cedarmore CSA.  A week or so ago we got a letter and a Sign-up sheet in the mail for the up coming CSA season.  If you would like more information please check it out on the blog or email Rue (the English computer wiz that lives down the lane from the old Cedarmore Farm CSA address) and he will send you info on how to join.  Please be prompt in buying your shares.  This helps plan and plant the correct number of plants for the upcoming season.  The deadline dates are listed along with the prices for each share.  John and Anna thank you in advance for your support in the coming year.

Looking ahead for the CSA...John is planning to build a packing shed where they will be packing the CSA boxes each week.  As I understand it thins are getting planted in the greenhouse right now.  The tomatoes are the first to get started.

I am hoping to make a trip out to John and Anna's farm to meet them and see the new digs for the CSA.  I did get word from Andy that the Zook's have welcomed the arrival of another daughter.  I think this makes nine little ones running around.  I will be anxious to meet all of them and check out what they have in store for us in the coming year.

New Drop Off Location

John, who will be our new go to guy for the CSA, (He is actually Andy's brother-in-law and he and his wife will be taking over the CSA), wants me to make sure that you all know that Cedarmore Farm CSA is now delivering to the Dayton, Ohio area as well as Cincinnati.