Small Step Farm

Work-Trade Program

2012-02-13T15:38:00.001-08:00

We want to expand our Work-Trade Program!

Come spend time at the farm in trade for fresh, organically grown vegetables. Pick your day, choose morning or afternoon and there will be plenty for us to do!

Last year four people came and worked half a day, the same day each week, in trade for a weeks supply of veggies. This worked out great for me, it was so much help with weeding, transplanting and harvesting- and it was fun to have company! It was also wonderful for the work-traders, they had a break from their weekly grind, got outside in the sun, and took home veggies to feed themselves and their families.

Send an email along to Jillian at smallstepfarm@gmail.com

Is it time yet?

2012-02-13T15:36:00.001-08:00

The greenhouse is getting fired up the first week of March! I just mailed out the seed order and am so excited to get my hands back in the soil and my body under some greenhouse sunshine.

The farm has not been growing since Irene came through in late August and wiped us out for the season. It was actually unknown how we were even going to continue after such loss. But, Small Step is full throttle for 2012! Thank you to the Mad River Valley Community Fund, the Vermont Community Foundation and NOFA-VT for organizing all of the wonderful donations that were given! We are still in a tough position with loss. Almost all materials, tools, equipment and some infrastructure must be replaced. It will be a busy spring setting up and trying to fast track money coming in. We are organizing an early-summer farm dinner and fundraiser to help raise money for replacing specific losses that flood donations did not cover, more information to come in the spring.

2011-10-11T10:44:00.000-07:00

A tropical storm slowly crept its way to Vermont. On August 28th this blast of weather named Irene blew across the central part of our state, and she certainly shook us up. The past month has been quite a blur, much different from last season's work days of harvest, delivery and covering for frost. Instead, applications for aid, e-mails and phone calls, debris cleanup, bull dozers, burn piles, and knotweed pulling has filled the time. For the business, a hit was taken. Between material loss, crop loss and cleanup there is over $100,000 in damage. Overwhelming for a second-year business. The community support continues to be a tremendous help. Over 70 volunteers cleaned the fields with tractors, chainsaws and lots of muscle. Over 20 people have been pulling Japanese Knotweed that is now sprouting across the fields. I am so grateful for all of this.

And now we decide how to move forward...

And not forget to enjoy the gorgeous foliage, sunshine and cool breeze we are blessed with.

Ned with his never-ending presence and help.

Lylee "harvesting" the squash of the week.

2011-08-13T19:20:00.000-07:00

Baby Vegetables! From carrots and summer squash to fennel and artichokes- you can find them at the Common Man, Green Cup, Hen of the Wood, Pitcher Inn and East Warren Community Market!

The Heirloom Tomato Salad is back at the Common Man and once again selling out every night! Who wouldn't choose a plate of perfectly sliced colorful tomatoes, dressed with a bit of fresh pesto and shaved pecorino cheese? Yum!

Small Step shitakes soon at the Big Pic!! All you have to do is submerge those darn inoculated logs in water and whala! Mushrooms!!

This will be the 6th week at the Waterbury Farmer's Market!! Come stock up on Thursday from 3-7pm with all the vegetables you could possibly desrire! Peppers, tomato, eggplant, tomatillo, potato, lettuce, herbs, cabbage, kale, chard, fennel, leek, onion, garlic, artichoke, and the list goes on!

At this time in the season we are busy keeping up (or attempting to keep up) with harvesting! But that's not all! We continue to weeeeeed.....and we also quickly turn over harvested beds! After a bed is harvested we quickly take the drip tape off, add compost and organic fertilizer, disc and/or rototill, then immediately transplant or direct seed. Since there is only 2.5 acres of cultivated space we need that empty bed.

Uh oh...the light at the end of the farming-season-tunnel has been spotted! An admittance to being tired is never a good thing!! But, new inspirations and company are coming to Small Step because we must say goodbye to Amanda's 3 days/week for her to return to being a 4th grade teacher. So, there may be new faces at the farm to fill her shoes on harvest days.

Don't forget that you can easily purchase Small Step veggies at Mehurons! What is local at Mehurons? Well....each week we supply them with Kale, Chard, Parsley, Green Leaf Lettuce, Zucchini, Basil, and sometimes scallions!

to market, to market.

2011-07-21T09:20:00.000-07:00

Things at Small Step Farm are growing right along;come check out our booth at the East Warren Community Market today from 4-8 p.m. or at the Waterbury Farmer's Market from 3-7 p.m. every Thursday this season!

We've got new potatoes, tomatoes, baby carrots and beets, fennel, napa red and green cabbage, broccoli, summer squashes, cucumbers, herbs, edible flowers, head lettuce and frisee.

so far. so good.

2011-06-27T11:29:00.000-07:00

what's growing on?

2011-06-27T07:34:00.000-07:00

Greetings from Small Step Farm! Below you'll find this week's list of available produce and prices.Come get your head lettuce, because we have lots.

The walk-in cooler is up and running, located to the left of the wash station. It will be stocked with product beginning this Wednesday. Stop by on non-delivery days if you run out of any veggies.

There will be a marker board for you to jot down what you take, I'll just add it to the next invoice.

This week we have: flat leaf parsley, scallion, head lettuce (green & red leaf, green & red bibb, romaine and iceberg), frisee, pac choi, radish (french breakfast & cherry belle), kale (red Russian, winterbor, & lacinto), and chard (ruby red).

Have a wonderful week!

farmer's log: June 27

2011-06-27T07:15:00.000-07:00

Following bouts of rain and chilly temperatures, the sun shines on Small Step Farm today. The greenhouse-grown tomatoes look awesome; there are heirlooms of purple, green and red and the beefsteaks that will adorn the many burgers of the Valley this summer

The back field has filled with asparagus and raspberries, both with dwarf white clover in the pathways. There are now fruit trees and mint undersowed with an annual rye and yellow clover mix. A few beds of buckwheat serve as cover crop.

In the remaining field there are twenty-six beds of annual vegetables and lots of potatoes!

One field is host to the onions that are slowly growing, we plan to harvest the scapes off the garlic next week, and the chard, parsley and radicchio are looking beautiful in this rainy weather.

- Our small garden is filled with napa cabbage which has a couple more weeks till harvest, pac choi which is ready for sale and fennel that we have been selling young in bunches of 12.

The middle field is full of radish, lettuce, carrots and beets and our black plastic crops of paste tomato, eggplant, peppers, summer squash and melon. The summer squash has big flowers and the tomatoes are beginning to look much nicer.

The melons and peppers are, well...slow-growing this year.

Thanks to the Vermont Farm Tour Company for coming out in the rain Saturday morning to see what Small Step is all about. Good thing the fields are all set up with drip irrigation, (three zones per field this year with much better success).

Dance for sunshine, pray for growth!

Where would we be without the many people helping out on the farm this season! Amanda was recently freed from the grip of the Williamstown Elementary School and spent her first week back on the farm. Joe continues holding down the fort on his 3.5 days as apprentice extraordinaire. The work-trade ladies- Julia, Allyson and Alicia come and bust out tasks for half a day each week, returning home with a basket of goods.

Yestermorrow Josh continues his half day per week, a helpful trade for us both in use of tools, knowledge and experience. The newest addition is Weston, a nineteen year-old from Cooperstown, NY here for the summer to flood himself with the VT farmin' life and rural community.

Who are we still waiting for? Brian! In just a couple weeks he will join Joe in the house and tread his way through weeds and carpentry projects! It's been great to have all the help thus far, the week goes by so quickly with each day having someone join me in the fields for the morning or afternoon, a thousand thank yous!

Seeking Intern

2011-06-09T16:33:00.000-07:00

Small Step Farm, a diverse vegetable, herb and flower farm in the Mad River Valley of Vermont, is seeking an intern to work closely alongside the farmer and other part-time staff. Daily tasks include greenhouse work, transplanting, seeding, weed control, harvest and delivery. Applicants should possess a positive attitude, high degree of professionalism, interest in learning and a passion for local food and community. Previous farm and/or manual work experience is required in addition to a strong work ethic in all weather conditions. Must be able to lift 50 pounds and be able to work efficiently in a group or independently. Interns will gain knowledge in the areas of farming at a higher level, including soil fertility, crop planning, budgeting, marketing, et cetera. Housing and a weekly stipend are included. E-mail for more info- smallstepfarm@gmail.com

produce availability

2011-06-06T11:28:00.000-07:00

Happy Summer!

The farm has been catching up during this past week, all our plantings are in! Potatoes are up, onions are green and all other crops are really beginning to root down and grow.

The walk-in cooler is built, and should be up and running at the end of next week! It will be kept stocked throughout the summer so you can come by on a non-delivery day and pick up any available goods of that week.

This week: scallion (bunch for $1.25), baby fennel (bunches of 12 for $4.00), cilantro (bunch for $1.25), frisee (head for $1.50, case for $30.00), limited supply of head lettuce (head for $1.50, case for $30.00). You can always mix frisee into a case of head lettuce.

Next week: all the above plus- young chard, young kale and flat leaf parsley. Please have your orders in by Tuesday at noon for a Wednesday before noon delivery. Please have your orders in Thursday at noon for a Friday before noon delivery.

We're putt-putting right along!

field trip of dreams.

2011-06-06T06:42:00.000-07:00

With just thirteen days left of school, students in Ms. Mormile's fourth grade class survived the bus ride from Williamstown Elementary School to spend a day learning about farms.

The rain held off all day, eliminating the need for that last minute purchase of fifty garbage bags/makeshift ponchos.

The fleet of fourth graders got to work straight on away; they stirrup hoed rows of artichokes, planted fruit trees and tasted a variety of fresh veggies.

Thanks to "Yestermorrow Josh," and Joe for their enthusiasm and help with the groups of excited WES students.

We got a lot accomplished on the farm thanks to the many helpful hands; we hope they learned about farming, food and had lots of fun in process.

Ms. Mormile is in the final stretch of the school year and Jillian just can't wait to have her part time at the farm this summer.

Seedlings for sale! Get your seedlings!

2011-06-01T10:41:00.000-07:00

We're so lucky to have the East Warren Community Market conveniently perched on the Roxbury Mountain Road in Warren.

Visitors to the delicious cooperative will find copious Small Step Farm seedlings for sale and on display on the front porch.

Several varieties of thriving tomato plants, herb starts and micro greens are available for purchase to insure those gardens get off to a good 'start.'

Might we also recommend the peanut noodles? That Ashley Woods can cook, and these noodles are hot hot hot!

slow food, flash flood!

2011-06-01T10:17:00.000-07:00

We hosted a Slow Food Event last Sunday, a couple dozen folks from the Burlington area and the Mad River Valley carpooled to have a farm tour, delicious food, and then a film at the Big Picture Theater.

It was wonderful to talk about the property, the business and remember that it is such a beautiful place...and it will be chuck full of food in no time!

Thank you to all that organized the event; we are excited to continue holding tours, dinners and festivities throughout the season.

Our fields are filling up! Transplants are rooting into our sandy soil and we patiently wait for all the direct seeded crops to germinate. Last Friday's micro burst of rain saturated and then flooded the farm; sections of the upper field, half of the lower field, and even the heated greenhouse had a fair amount of standing water (i.e up the ankles +). Now, for some site work of trenching and soil moving....

All-in-all it's fine, but I lost lots of salad mix, spinach, carrot, radish and beet seed. So, it was all seeded again today. We planted 200 asparagus and 50 raspberries in the sandy high corner of our back field; for trees, we've started with the pears and now we'll start the apples. Next in line will be cherries and plums!

The only thing left to plant is our black plastic crops: tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, summer squashes and cucs! Next week! For now, I'm off Bar Harbor for a long weekend, because every farmer should vacation over Memorial Day right? Deep breathing, lots of yoga, and a necessity to regain sanity are the only to-do's...until I return! Thank you Joe for holding down the farm, And, thank you to all our work-traders who started this past week, So much help!

the good, the bad and the drip tape

2011-05-16T06:43:00.000-07:00

What a difference a week makes.

The sun is out, the rain let up, the drip tape is down and the onions are finally in the ground. Behold the farmer and her irrigation system timer; watch as the water turns our sandy soils into viable earth!

We continue to transplant loads of vegetables and prepare the back fields; potato planting is coming up and we'll need all the free hands we can bribe with a cold Stella.

While the stress of the start up has taken a visible toll on Jillian's mental fortitude, she presses on with the help of a small army of full-time friends and part-time helper bees. (Bees, we should totally get bees, write that down).

Have y'all met Tiff? Tiffany Johnson is the sous chef at The Common Man Restaurant in Warren (they have a cassoulet to which all cassoulet should be compared to) and are also a valued Small Step costumer. Tiffany has given the last two days of her time to the cause, including the arduous drip tape installation and planting the first round of transplants.

Tiff is a colorful character (no seriously, her sunburn can be seen from space) and we're so grateful for her hard work, time and effort to keep the food moving from the farm to the table.

Once she's learned how to drive a stick shift, Jillian has promised Tiffany a tractor driving lesson. Raise your hand if this sounds like a terrible idea. She wants to be a "tractor pro" and we like her enthusiasm, (don't pull the E-Brake, it's broken).

The tomatoes are looking healthy in the greenhouses and are busy growing big enough for field transplant.

In addition to the regular farm chores, we're considering planting fruit trees and berry bushes in such a way as to encircle the farm with even more edible landscape.

If you can't eat it, we won't need it. Except compost, we need a lot more of that.

a reel good time

2011-05-12T07:13:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, May 22, Slow Food Vermont is coming to the Valley with their first film in the Reel Good Food Film Series --“Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown,” Spanish director Pedro Almódovar’s 1988 cult classic.

Hosted by the Big Picture Theater! The event starts at 4 p.m. with a tour of Small Step Farm. We’ll sit down for a family-style, Spanish-inspired dinner. Then we’ll head over to the movie theater for a 6 p.m. movie screening.

Tickets are $30 per person, and includes dinner and the movie and can be purchased online here: http://reelgoodfood1.eventbrite.com.

"Slow Food is a global, grassroots organization with supporters in 150 countries around the world who are linking the pleasure of good food with a commitment to their community and the environment."

Check out our Vermont chapter, http://www.vermontslowfood.org/

local press

2011-05-09T10:33:00.000-07:00

Check of the "Home and Garden" section of this week's Valley Reporter for Jillian's article for freshmen gardeners.

Tips, tricks, and seeds of knowledge!

Jillian and her helpers continue to till and toil in the greenhouses and fields; stay tuned for farm progress reports!

farmer's log: May 2

2011-05-02T12:05:00.001-07:00

On Monday Jillian declared this the first week of "full-throttle farming."

Weather predictions indicate that the sun will be on sabbatical this week, but as they say, germination goes on.

Joe showed up over the weekend and together he and Jillian moved into the blue house just beyond the Small Step greenhouses.

The windows appear to be painted shut, but we don't anticipate a lot of time spent indoors this season anyway.

Joe has taken on a number of farm chores and has begun to question the structural integrity and load bearing abilities of "putt putt" the farm truck.

Putt putt is presently held together with spray foam insulation, duct tape, hopes and dreams.

With the exception of one faulty emergency brake almost roll-away incident at the dump last weekend, she's running like a champ.

We're completely out of seeding trays; why you ask? Because there is an overflowing lot of seedlings that need to be planted this week.

The first succession of lettuce will be planted in addition to onions, potatoes, scallions, fennel and cilantro. We'll be direct-seeding beets, carrots and salad mixes as well. Our compost from Vermont Compost Company just arrived; we have twenty-five yards and are wishing we had three times that but, whatever.

If you haven't already heard, Jillian can weld now. John Locker of the nearby Kingsbury Farm has been teaching her how to melt metal to metal; welding will surely prove a valuable skill at Small Step this summer.

Despite a few minor first degree-ish burns up and down both of her arms, Jillian has really enjoyed John's instruction and has learned so much about so much.

Already Jillian has taken a drop spreader box that Rob (our new farm intern!) built and welded a three-point hitch to it.

The new (old) tractor implement will spread amendments and fertilizer. Jillian also welded a similar three-point hitch to a lawn roller in addition to some row markers that will create defined beds in the fields.

small step's small dog.

2011-04-29T08:17:00.001-07:00

Lucky is the visitor to Small Step Farm who is greeted by two year-old Goldendoodle Ruby Power. Born on Easter Sunday 2009, Ruby serves as the chief canine executive in charge of...everything.

Her primary responsibilities on the farm include but are not limited to: sorting the compost buckets and overseeing the pile; barking at the Brothers' contractors, harvesting green beans and serving as Jillian's first mate and personal guard doodle.

In addition to her regular chores, Ruby enjoys digging holes big enough to fall into, running just for the heck of it and the companionship of a Jack Russel terrier named Romeo.

We can't wait for the doodle days of summer at Small Step.

Pet the doodle, high five the doodle, but please don't feed the doodle.

suddenly spring

2011-04-28T08:49:00.000-07:00

How about this rain?

The disc harrow was on the tractor and turning in the fields on Tuesday. One positive thing about sandy soil is that it drains quickly; however, the rain continues and we are waiting for a dry afternoon to prep beds and plant onions.

The heated greenhouse is presently overflowing with seedlings awaiting outdoor transplant.

The unheated hoophouse is planted with lettuce and cilantro, straw is down and the seedling trays are filling the free space.

All the tomatoes are in 4'' pots and growing for the space; they will fruit to the ceiling all summer long.

Microgreens continue to be sold at the East Warren Community Market, and the seedlings that will soon be for sale on the market's front porch are growing strong in 2'' soil blocks.

We have all your herbs, veggies and flowers!

The to-do list keeps growing and Jillian is really looking forward to Joe and Amanda getting back to the farm!

how many school days are left?

2011-04-28T08:33:00.000-07:00

Full-time teacher turned seasonal dirt farmer, Amanda Mormile returns to Small Step for her second summer. Amanda is a Taurus with a green thumb and a wicked good attitude.

Her nickname in High School was "produce." She is a brave commuter who enjoys Green Cup savory scones, artichokes and pirating internet television.

Amanda is Jillian's third and fourth hands, you'll see her getting 54 miles per gallon making deliveries on Wednesdays and collecting boxes from behind Mehuron's.

Clearly she is a good time, which is what we're expecting at Small Step this season. How many school days are left Ms. Mormile?

waiting for Joe.

2011-04-28T08:05:00.000-07:00

Joe Abraham returns to the Mad River Valley this Saturday for his first summer at Small Step Farm!

Joe is a barefoot traveler searching for enlightenment; he enjoys condiments, jam bands, antique rototillers and water crafts.

He is abandoning his west coast ski bummery and the tent that he made a home to work at his big sister's farm. Joe is a 23 year-old cancer who will prove a valuable addition to the farm fam.

Welcome home Joe, things are growing and we need your help. Bring a raincoat.

growing season underway

2011-04-01T09:06:00.000-07:00

Seedlings are sprouting on our tables, on the heat mats and in our germination chamber.

We started with alliums, perennial herbs and flowers; then cilantro, scallions, head lettuce, and fennel that will be planted in the hoop house (a quick succession before we plant tomatoes!)

This week, we filled the greenhouse tables with our first succession of salad crops for the field; hopefully the snow will soon stop. The germination chamber is full of our 3/4'' soil blocks on heat mats with peppers, tomatoes, and eggplant!

Jillian has been spending time thinking about changes for the second season.

The farm will have a walk-in cooler this year! Insulation panels were "recovered" from a snow bank and an air conditioner and Coolbot were purchased.

Jillian now has three welding lessons under her belt, thanks to Jon over at Kingsbury Farm! Together they welded putt putt's bumper back on. In addition, Jon has guided Jillian through altering a drop spreader, the Oliver tractor's wheel spacing, and is now thinking cultivation implements and bed former!

As far as labor goes, Amanda is returning as our farm manager. Jillian's little bro Joe is coming on as an apprentice this season after a west coast stint farming and skiing for the past few years. A work-trade program has five wonderful individuals working five hours per week for a bountiful basket of veggies for their families. They will help plant, weed, greenhouse seed and keep the walk-in cooler stocked for all those chefs who need last minute veggies!

Also, when planning your summer gardens, keep in mind that we'll be selling seedlings (herbs, flowers and vegetables) at the East Warren Community Market.

This week you can enjoy our Microgreens! Found as garnish at The Green Cup, The Common Man and in 4-oz bags for sale at The East Warren Community Market. I personally love these succulent, nutrient-rich greens on sandwiches, eggs and mixed into salads. Each week there will be a mixture of color, flavor and shape; varieties include Red Cabbage, Amaranth, Yellow and Bulls Blood Beet, Mustards, Sorrel, and Arugula!

More posts to come as our crops continue to grow!

Seeking 2011 Intern!

2010-12-17T08:10:00.000-08:00

For more information about the farm and to download an intern application, click below. Or, e-mail Jillian at smallstepfarm@gmail.com

Intern Application

2010-08-17T06:10:00.000-07:00

When I made the decision to create Small Step I was warned! "Summer sails through Vermont even faster when you are a farmer". I believe that they are right! It is almost the full moon of August, and the growing season is now slowing down. Yes, it is still summer, and of course, there continues to be much work each day. But, the weeds are under control and systems are in place- tasks get done with ease and efficiency and I am beginning to enjoy days off!

We have embraced the weather of the past two months, it really couldn't be better. Rain has come at night and a breeze has coincided with hot sun during the day. I have actually called a couple 'rain days' when very few clouds were in the skies, just to get some office work done (or, yes, take an afternoon off!)

The fields, rather the entire property, look fabulous. I could never have accomplished this without the help of close friends who have been supportive with their time and skills since last Fall. From the hoop houses and wash station, to the fields setup with drip irrigation and (almost) absolutely weed free- for the first year it looks pretty good! Thank you Zachary for your building and stir-up hoeing!!

Wednesdays and Fridays are the busiest with harvesting from 6:30am-noon. We then deliver the orders (two car loads) to restaurants and stores within our shire of a valley. To this date, we are supplying vegetables consistently to The Big Picture, The Common Man, Green Cup Cafe, Mehurons, East Warren Community Market, Pitcher Inn, Center for Whole Communities, The Barn Door, Yestermorrow and Kingsbury Market. Demand is there! I love working with the chefs and supplying beautiful produce for their plates, but I am even more pleased with supplying our local grocery store- Mehurons. This is an important purchaser that I hope to continue in the coming seasons! It is exciting to think of next year and what Small Step Farm can grow more of (and less of)! My personal favorites that will continue are: baby fennel, young head lettuces, trays of microgreens, baby summer squashes, artichokes, yellow peach tomatoes, and the specialty greens mix with bulls blood, kales and frisee.

Now that the first year worry of 'nothing growing' has surpassed, Small Step has begun to reach out to the community. At the Big Picture Theater and Cafe there are photos on the wall and handbills scattered about, sharing our story with the customers who come to eat. We have supplied about 90% of the Big Picture's produce for the past two months! We were in the Warren 4th of July Parade, Oliver tractor creeping along! Warren is quite an event- and Small Step Farm partnered up with the Big Picture Theater to celebrate and share our tiny donuts and baby carrots! Next year the truck and tractor will be stocked to the brim, as the crowds were wild for both and we ran out before we were halfway through! Thanks for the support everyone- it was a great day!

We worked at Taste of the Valley with the Big Picture Theater, serving serving cucumbers stuffed with herbed chevre and pickled radish. The Taste of the Valley is a showcase of all restaurants and food producers in the area, creating the best of what they love and sharing it through little tastes.

And, most recently, we hosted two tours for the Vermont Festival of Arts- Art in the Garden Tour. Each group, of around 30 people, learned of how the farm began and where the produce is going. This was the first year the garden tour walked through vegetable fields in addition to home gardens. All had thoughtful and interested questions about the production, certain small tools of the farm and of course the two young ladies who grew the vegetables.

Amanda, who has kept me sane through the summer with her hard work and positive presence is going back to being a fourth grade teacher- summer vacation is over! She has worked Wednesday through Friday for the harvest/delivery days and busting out larger farm projects. And so, I invite interested folk to get in touch. Specifically, I am looking for someone to work Fridays from now till mid-October. Ideally this would be someone with true interest to be part of the farm and continue into next season with more hours. Lots of possibilities.....

Beginning to look a lot like....A Farm!

2010-06-06T14:00:00.000-07:00

We are beginning to enjoy the delicious and delicate bites of Small Step! Some current harvests include amaranth microgreens and chervil, crisp heads of lettuce and edible flowers and soon there will be arugala, radish, scallion, cilantro, fennel, new potatoes.....

The fields are now all outfitted with raised beds, and drip irrigation is successfully wetting down all our plant's roots! There were a few friends that gave a very helpful hand in lying down all the irrigation tape, a big thanks to that! To-do's like this are simple but so time consuming, it is always relieving to have the extra people to make the job faster and the work day shorter.

Biodegradable black plastic is going on our big field this week, with all the warm weather transplants- field tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, melons, cucs and squash! Hopefully the June frosts will stay away!

Tomatoes are fruiting on all the plants in the hoophouse, the sure sign that summer is here (well, along with the 94 degree weather we had this past week)!

We planted a dozen potato seeds in early spring, the purple flowers are beautiful. It was a small trial that I think will expand next year, the potatoes grew fast and are quite tasty!

The Nasturtiums are all blooming against the back endwall, they will be for sale independently and within the edible flower mix.

And, a dozen early cucs and zucchini are flowering a fruiting in an outer bed. They will be harvested for the next few weeks then replaced by basil to accompany the summer tomatoes.

To help us water in all the field transplants (our soil = sand) we now have a 110 gallon water tank for the tractor! No more hand watering! Just a quick pass with the 'ol Oliver! Thank you Yestermorrow! Yestermorrow Design/Build School is located just across the street from Small Step Farm. This past weekend they held a welding class and one of the instructors happened to be Benjamin Cheney, a builder/welder/and more who Zach has collaborated with on past projects. The welding class consisted two full days. Saturday learning the basics, and Sunday constructing a steel frame for our water tank! In addition, they also built us a toolbar which will now cultivate the walkways, hill potatoes and leeks and allow lots of other mechanical experimentation (down with the hoes!)

As any farmer knows, things break. Then, you need to fix them! Below is the hydraulics of the Oliver tractor- busted! You can see that Zach was really excited about this job. But, four days later with much help from a local Warren oldtimer.... the tractor's hydraulics are repaired! Thank you Francis!

Spring is Here!

2010-04-30T08:28:00.000-07:00

Small Step has certainly kept me busy! Both greenhouses are vibrant in color, and many plants are ready for the great outdoors. Vermont has had quite the mixture of weather, one week it is like Spring, the next like Autumn and then bamn- Snow Storm! This weekend- a balmy 75 degrees!

The soil has been amended with compost, raised beds have been formed, and planting has begun! The unheated hoophouse is being harvested of all the little seedlings that were planted on Easter day. We are eating poc choi, cilantro, lettuce, and soon radicchio, frisee, chervil, and fennel. The greenhouse tomatoes are just waiting to be planted!

Zachary has been out helping with the fields and continues with endless building projects, I am so grateful for his excitement about the business! Much of my time is still being spent planning the season, ordering equipment and supplies, and visiting family and friends (while I still can)! Irrigation is the number one priority, I now see how sandy these soils are- SANDY! Water will definitely be needed to grow strong productive vegetables.

Exciting News!

The Small Step Farm logo is finished- drawn by Krissy Leonard. All farm produce will be delivered to restaurants and retailers with logo attached. There have already been many requests for Small Step attire, so later this season we can all show off our T-shirts, hats and hoodies!

Small Step Seedlings are for sale at the East Warren Community Market. From herbs and lettuce to celery and tomatoes- any extra healthy, organically-grown seedlings will be available for your home garden.

Throughout the season there will be volunteer planting, weeding and harvesting days. Part of the vision of Small Step Farm is to play an integral part of our community and bring consumers closer to their foods. Anyone is welcome for any amount of time, there is work for any age and ability! This Sunday from 2-5pm will be our first planting date. Always weather depending, so if in question you can check our facebook page or call 802-999-2573.

2010-04-02T09:57:00.000-07:00

All the winter's planning and research is quickly turning into Small Step's first season of growing! Greenhouse seeding, which began at the beginning of March, continues to be a weekly task. Germination has been just about perfect and all the seedlings look good and strong. The hoophouse has been filled with compost, and raised beds are neatly peaked into shape. With water soon hooked up to the frost-free hydrants and drip irrigation laid out, we will begin planting this hoophouse with the first seeds and transplants! Heirloom lettuces, pac choi, scallions, pearl onions, cilantro, basil and fennel are just waiting to be transported from the heated greenhouse into the warming earth of the hoophouse. It is 70 degrees F outside today and the fields are drying up. With our sandy soil I think the tractor might just get on the fields this Sunday! It is only April, but who could not get excited?

2010-03-12T15:20:00.000-08:00

Small Step Farm is a place of growth. It represents a partnership between farmer and restauranteurs, with a vision to transform a field into an edible landscape. Sprouting from a Mad River floodplain, this partnership took root with a dedication to produce beautiful organic foods for the culinary world, as well as friends and family.

The modest acreage of Small Step is where traditional farming practices are complemented by creativity and innovation. With care for the soil, and enthusiasm for a healthy lifestyle, Small Step Farm is a space for production, education, and support of a seed to plate model.

Nestled between Route 100 and the Mad River, Small Step Farm is located in Waitsfield, Vermont. The business is committed to producing high quality organic foods for the enhancement of local economy, agricultural education and the overall health of the Mad River Valley.

2010 is the first growing season for Small Step, and we are ready for spring! The new hoophouses are built, one heated and holding the first sprouted seeds of the year. The fields are plowed and ready for Vermont's finest compost, patiently waiting for the snow to melt. As seeds are sowed, tools purchased and the thaw begins I will share the development of a young farmer's venture with restauranteurs and friends, distributing food to our area's restaurants and retail markets.

I welcome you to follow our story.