Happy New Year from Three Part Harmony Farm!

 (PHOTOS COURTESY OF TYLER  GRIGSBY)

Lots of people around the world welcomed a new year on January 1, which probably includes most of you reading this message. I felt mentally prepared to cross that thresh hold. I haven't made a single mistake in writing the date. What did cause my heart to skip a beat, however, is when I updated the spreadsheet that maps out our crop plan for the entire year. At the bottom of the very complicated document are a dozen or so line items with the planting and harvest dates for the crops we will overwinter from this fall to next spring. The column for "final harvest" of these greens, roots, garlic and leeks won't happen until 2025. Now that's a date that I still haven't wrapped my mind around. Winter is a time of rest and reflection, as well as planning for the upcoming season. I find comfort in the ritual of entering hand recorded weight tallies into the digital spreadsheet, even though it does take some time. After I finish entering in the log sheet information, I go page by page through my planner and transfer handwritten notes to the computer, i.e. seeding dates and little notes that I made in real time, safe keeping the feedback and lessons learned all in one place. WIth a new planner in hand - edges still crisp! I look forward to filling it not just with dates and appointments but also with knowledge gleaned this season that will become part of the ever-growing and cumulative widsom of Three Part Harmony Farm. If being on the cusp of welcoming the year 2025 also gives you pause, then might I also wish you not just a "happy" but a momentous 2024. While I am a fan of ritual and I do love the steady and predictable nature of the cyclical farm season, I suspect and hope that this year may hold some break out, life changing moments as we prepare ourselves for the next quarter century of the millennium. Gail p.s. Due to prioritizing rest and a focus on health and rejuvenation, the 2024 season is a bit behind schedule from where I usually would be in early January. I'm not set up yet to start signing up CSA members for the season. I'll send out the google form to return members as soon as it is ready. Any remaining spots will, as always, be available to the public starting March 1. In the meantime, I thought I would share some 2023 season highlights/ memories that I appreciated remembering during my end of season review time.

First Full-Year Harvest: 2023 It's always hard to pick a favorite CSA share. We had so many good ones. If the farmer's vote is the only one that counts, the winner would be the final share in our monthly winter CSA because it show cased the winter/ spring mash up of mid-April. The happy laying hens lovingly raised by D'Real all season had begun laying ahead of schedule. The brussels sprouts benefited from a mild winter despite being planted so late, and the greens and scallions harvested from the two tunnels were a glorious bounty and a testament to what's possible with indoor growing space - a first for us and thanks to the generous grant support from Nourish DC.

The Year of the Brigade This season saw the most brigades take place. The most successful work days were, of course, when other farmers came to help. I hope we can do more crew trades this coming season. Organizacion Boricua also came through (left) and helped us make some finishing touches on the deer fence as part of a bigger brigade organized by the Black Dirt Farm Collective thanks to generous support from Why Hunger.

If there were an awards ceremony for Farm Brigade Organizer, I would nominate Farmer Lewis @igrow66 (and he would surely win). In 2023 Farmer Lew organized field trips bringing his crew to Three Part Harmony Farm (twice!!!) and countless other farms as well. This is a job description and paid position waiting to happen. 2024 can we do it?

Spring Open House The annual open house in April actually took place during the first ever rain date. We'd previously always been lucky and never had to cancel or postpone. Activities were up-cycled from the previous fall festival (because if it ain't broke...) including a DIY herb-salt table and plant-based watercolors. We were flush with tulips so everyone took home a generous bunch! A medicinal herb talk by Holly @ LittleRedBirdBotanicals plus a garden demo w/ Q&A hosted by Dominique @PlotsnPans drew crowds and accolades. A friendly salad dressing contest was intended to inspire and whet our appetites heading into spring salad season. Farmer Falani @ ByrdsNestbox and Farmer Sarah @YoungSohnGardens brought the tie breaking dressings.

Fall Festival This year's fall festival was highlighted by glorious weather besides the usual mix of great food, great tunes, great folx and good times. DJ D'Real made his debut with a set list that went on for over 3 hours with no repeats! Ruth Tyson from @thecapitalmarket20743 shared vegetable tips and knowledge. I was proud to hear that many of you chatted quite comfortably with ruth about the veggies and how you use them at home since you've seen all of them in your CSA share before!

The biggest highlight was the chicken (or bean) tacos. Farmer/Chef Kiki prepared 4 Moonstone Poultry chickens and paired them with 2 sauces. With radishes and cilantro from the farm, tortillas, cheese and crema provided by community members, it was a delicious treat!

Always a Team Effort The weekly schedule is pretty unforgiving, almost relentless. Every Tuesday, every Friday, every Saturday, etc. the same tasks and the same team are called upon to start and end the day successfully. I'm grateful to the dedicated team: The 2023 farm staff Molly, Kiki and D'Real; weekly packing team Wilma (not pictured also Candace and Sonal); weekly produce donation distributors Art and Colleen from the Dorothy Day Catholic Worker (some of you may recognize Colleen who also helps out at the Saturday CSA pick up before her teenager's baseball season kicks off.