The earth is softer today due to rainfall. I noticed while walking about the farm early this morning as I opened up the chicken coops that my boots (yes rain boots) were treading softer on the ground. The smell of moist leaves, soil and wood chips is everywhere. The flies are vying for their last days. Today there is a group of volunteers coming out to help bring in the butternut squash from the fields, and the corn too.

Our campfire is going, the smell of smoke permeates those of us who live here, so much so that when we hug people they ask, "Have you been camping?" I call it "Campfire" cologne! I haven't yet put on any "window coverings" on the yurt screens but we can certainly feel the cool night air blow across our faces when we are tucked into bed at night!

Anna is still visiting from Kansas City and her assistance with Spanish (she speaks perfectly) is so wonderful and deepens our already deep connection to our family from across the border. She is a great "farm mama" assisting wherever she is needed. Newe our now 2 year old farm member loves her and she and he are a great duo to support his mama, Lindsay, who grows all our sprouts and wheatgrass.  

We are back from Maine and our precious visit with Matthew's parents.  We are so grateful to still have them living and count our time with them as such a valuable gift.  I was able to read an autobiography of Carl's (Matthew's father) father who was born in 1873 and lived to be 96 years old. It was such a beautiful look at some of the strengths and endearing qualities of the Engelhart family: thier love of people and gathering of community, and their acceptance of different ways of thought and appreciation of others. I was also able to experience some living history from a very personal perspective.

How grateful I am for all we have and the ongoing love and support of our family and community. This is clearly a good time to be alive.

On my birthday I rode my bike with no hands and swam in a beautiful fresh water quarry. Thank you to everyone who extended their loving wishes for me in my special day, they were each so deeply appreciated. Anne, Matthew's sister, and her husband Doug came out to Vinalhaven from Boston and made me a delicious birthday cake! Thank you both.

This is a view from the kitchen window of Matthews parents home on an island off the coast of Maine, Vinalhaven.

We are loving our time with them, they are in their nineties and our time together is precious.

No news from the farm of a calf birth, so we keep hoping she waits for our return.

Hi.

What an amazing week this was. We went to Los Angeles to lead Kindred Spirit and were so well received and supported by all the participants doing such deep and meaningful work on their relationships. I left completely inspired. We also got to soak up the LOVE at Cafe Gratitude L.A. where everyone wants to be and is! What a beautiful expression of love in action the Cafe is. I felt so good just looking around the restaurant at all the BEAUTIFUL VIBRANT people there knowing that they were in a fun, exciting and loving place being served food that is healing and good for them! What a miracle that is. What an amazing combination of serving others is created there. Thank you all. If you haven't yet been to the Cafe on Larchmont, make plans to visit it soon, you will LOVE your experience, I promise! We also got to hear Jason Mraz record a song on his upcoming album and I was deeply moved and appreciative of who he is for all of us. Thank you Jason!

Fresh peaches are in the Cafes now, and soon we will be moving to fresh frozen this year, so have and I AM Peachy soon, they are the sweetest peaches ever!

So much to be grateful for...

our new truck (better for delivering produce from the farm to the kitchen)

blackberries

I am thrilled to be back from our Rome trip, and am loving being in our Central Kitchen doing the work to fine tune our operations! Besides it takes me out of the rain and cold!

It is always so good to return home. We have such an amazing community here. We have our first ripe tomatoes in the greenhouse and are so happy for the early harvest that is coming up before too long. My baby chicks are all feathered out and are wondering outside of their nesting box for the first time this week - they are SO cute. Our lettuce, kale, and potatoes are growing beautifully. The cilantro, peppers, cucumbers and tomatoes are wishing for sunnier days. 

Have you tried the new menu yet? So many great new items. Our Harrison store is remodeled and awaiting the framed pictures, coming soon. Drop by and take a look, the colors are warm and welcoming. Thank you all for your on going partnership. 

The baby chicks are here!  We picked them up with the Grandchildren and shared all about the miracle of receiving Special Breeds in the mail. The man at the post office was so precious about handing over the box to Kate. She said when we returned to the farm, “This is my best day ever!” I love the lessons that children can learn living on a farm! 

Tomato plants are in the ground, and we are keeping our fingers crossed for no more heavy frost. The greenhouse tomatoes now have golf ball sized tomatoes! Love the early start we got this year with the new greenhouse. Starts are abundant in the greenhouse and Lindsay is doing a great job of balancing mothering a small child, Newe, and keeping up with all the sprouts, wheatgrass and plant starts too!

Cacao, one of our Dexter cows, is pregnant and due in July.  We can’t wait to have a baby calf on the farm. The grandchildren are looking forward to that as well. Leche, our other Dexter, just returned from two months on the farm where we purchased her and we are hoping she is bred as well and will calf in December or January.