Oxen Hill Farm, CSA

“Old McDonald had a farm. Ei-Ei-Oh! On his farm he had some veggies…” Okay I know that’s not how the song actually goes, but Friday was our day to work on the farm and I was super excited. I got a very small taste of farm work Wednesday night when we went to pick squash for dinner and knew that we had a big day ahead of us.

Lisa’s in-laws started Oxen Hill Farm, CSA last summer and have gone from 40 members to 120!

The barn, house and upper field

The wet prairie that separates the upper field from the lower field

Part of the lower field

Sara and Sharon helped out by planting onions with Farmer G (Jonathan’s dad) driving the tractor. Sheri (Jonathan’s sister) explained what was going to happen – as the tractor went over the row a wheel with teeth pokes holes in the plastic that covers the row. As it does that water (controlled by a lever in front of the seat that Sara is in) fills up the holes and you have to drop an onion into the water-filled hole. I know it doesn’t sound all that difficult, but I promise that it’s pretty darn hard!

Oxen Hill Farm has three pick-ups per week for their customers to make sure that they are able to get their produce at some point during the week; Tuesday evening, Friday evening and Saturday morning. We were harvesting for the Friday evening and Saturday morning pick-ups.

Sara and Sharon hard at work in the field

While Sara and Sharon were planting onions, Dana and I picked bunches of kale. It was pretty easy to do – just find the bunchy leaves, grab at the base of the stalk and snap. Easy peasy. I will say that while it wasn’t difficult it was hard work. I have a new appreciation for the prices of veggies, especially organic produce, after working on the farm.

Before too long we had our 42 bunches (a bunch has 6 – 8 stems just like at the grocery store) and headed back to the barn with our baskets.

There were other baskets of veggies that were picked earlier so I thought I’d take a quick picture of them.

We went back to get more kale for the Saturday morning pick-up when Sara and Sharon were finishing up with their onion planting when we were asked if we wanted to join in on the onion planting fun. Dana and I were both up for the experience so we jumped on the tractor. Like I said, it wasn’t nearly as easy as I thought it would be!

Sara went behind us to pick up the onions that didn’t make it in the hole

Once we finished our row of onions Farmer G showed us the tobacco plants on the next farm

Lisa and Sharon came to tell us that it was time for lunch so we went back to to eat.

After lunch I decided to take some pictures around the farm. I don’t know what it is, but I love farms and all the beautiful objects that they have them.

Oxen Hill Farm is an amazing place and if you live in the Northern Connecticut/Southern Mass area I’d highly recommend joining and supporting them.