Like you, everyone at Stearns Farm is constantly monitoring the COVID-19 situation as it progresses, and we are following CDC guidelines to keep the staff and our community members safe. There is a lot of uncertainty in our lives these days, but one thing is certain: Stearns Farm will continue to provide you with high quality, beautiful vegetables, berries, herbs and flowers.
Since farmers have been declared critical infrastructure workers, it’s been business as usual on the farm. Kerry and I are continuing to seed in the greenhouse and prepare the fields for planting, and we are on track to start our Summer CSA by mid-June (exact start date TBD).
In an effort to keep everyone safe, there are a few changes to be aware of as we move forward into the spring season and beyond:
Annual Seedling Sale: Our seedling sale will still take place as planned on May 9, 10, 16 and 17, 9am to 2pm. In an effort to limit contact with others during the sale, we are working on putting together an online store so you can place your order and pay ahead of time. We will put your order together and have it ready for you to pick up. Stay tuned for the exact date when we launch the store. It’s likely that we will also be able to have limited in person sales, but we will wait to make that decision closer to the plant sale date.
Farm visitors: I’m sure many of you are eager to get some outdoor time! Anyone, as always, is welcome to come visit the farm and walk around the fields and the trails that run along and behind the farm. We ask that you please keep your distance if you see a farmer (waves from afar are great!) so we can continue working and keep ourselves and you all safe from potentially spreading the virus. Please keep out of the greenhouses as well.
Volunteers: We will still allow volunteers to come and help, by appointment only. If you wish to volunteer, you must email Sara at volunteer@stearnsfarmcsa.org to set up a time to come in. I will need to coordinate specific projects and will only allow a certain number of people to volunteer at the same time. No drops-ins please. Reminder that volunteer times are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday or Saturday, 10am-12pm.
Looking ahead, the staff and the board are discussing other potential changes we may make to maintain social distancing during CSA pick ups. We will keep you informed.
Thank you all for your patience while we adapt to these new and unusual circumstances. Stearns Farm is extremely lucky to have your support through all of this, and we are so happy that you are part of our community every day, but especially in this time of challenge, when we all need community more than ever.
Until next time,
Ember
