What’s blooming

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🧅🧅🧅 Onions are a staple crop for our farm

🧅🧅🧅
Onions are a staple crop for our farm, and we love their versatile nature.

They are packed with essential nutrients such as Vitamin C, Vitamin B-6, magnesium, folate, and calcium. Additionally, onions are a good source of fiber and contain plant compounds that act as antioxidants.

Research suggests that onions can promote gut health by nourishing the healthy bacteria in our digestive system.

Onions’ nutritional value and culinary flexibility make them an essential and rewarding crop for our farm.

🌿Pro tip: Next year, if you decide to grow storage onions, the best time to Harvest is when the onion tops have fallen over and started to dry. Pull them up and lay them out to cure in a warm, dry location for 2-3 weeks. Once fully cured, trim the tops and store the onions in a cool, dry place for long-term storage.

At Newhall Fields Community Farm, food insecurity

At Newhall Fields Community Farm, food insecurity is a major focus of our farm’s mission.

We believe that access to fresh, healthy food is a fundamental right, and we are committed to addressing food insecurity in our community through sustainable farming practices, community outreach, and partnerships with local organizations.

We aim to increase access to nutritious food for all members of our community. Our goal is to provide food and empower individuals and families to make healthy choices and build food security for the future.

✨Our volunteers and partners help make this mission more attainable every week.

The autumnal equinox, also known as the fall equin

The autumnal equinox, also known as the fall equinox, marks the first fall day in the Northern Hemisphere. It is the point at which the sun crosses the celestial equator, resulting in nearly equal periods of daylight and darkness.

Sunday, September 22nd, officially marked the first day of fall for us on the farm, and we are here for it!

On the farm, the official arrival of fall brings about a shift in activities and a change in the landscape. The once lush fields with summer crops are now being prepared for winter planting. The cooler temperatures mean certain crops, such as pumpkins, squash, and apples, are ready for harvesting. It’s a busy time for farmers as they work to gather the last of the summer produce and prepare for the colder months ahead.

The animals on the farm also sense the change, as some begin to grow thicker coats in preparation for the winter chill. The shorter days mean less daylight for working outdoors, so there’s a focus on completing any remaining tasks before the winter sets in.

Tasks on the farm are shifting, and there’s still time to volunteer.

🔗link is in our bio join us on the farm for our fall season.

We have exciting news! This year, our hops harves

We have exciting news!

This year, our hops harvest, brought in by @kasiphersamsonite , yielded six pounds of hops 💪

For the second time, we are partnering with @granitecoastbrewing to turn our hops harvest into a featured brew 🍻

More details to come!

Harvesting can be tricky at times. It’s heavily

Harvesting can be tricky at times. It’s heavily dependent on the weather, and any unexpected changes can throw off the entire schedule. Additionally, coordinating the manpower and tools for an efficient harvest can be a logistical challenge. Despite the best-laid plans, there’s always an element of uncertainty when it comes to harvest time. Flexibility and quick thinking are essential to navigate the complexities that arise during the harvest season.

Luckily, we’ve got a great farm team that's quick on their feet and volunteers who are fluid and patient.

Check out these shots 📸 from this week’s harvest our team crushed it!

Hops on the farm have been harvested! And we’ve

Hops on the farm have been harvested!
And we’ve got more exciting news to share with you later this week, so keep following along.

Can you say Humulus lupulus?
Rebecca especially loves the binomial nomenclature for common hops. The name for this perennial vine is so much fun to say.

We were thrilled to participate in Endicott Colleg

We were thrilled to participate in Endicott College’s annual "wECare Day."

"In remembrance of the events of 9/11, wECare Day was established to promote the spirit and value of volunteerism, increase the awareness of local human service agencies, and demonstrate what people working together for the community can accomplish."

It was a pleasure getting to know each student while working with them on the farm.

🇺🇸 #NeverForget #september11

Calendula is one of our herbalist Rebecca’s favo

Calendula is one of our herbalist Rebecca’s favorite plants to grow- she frequently refers to it as "sunshine in a basket!"

It’s easy to grow, very forgiving and continues to bloom well into late fall. Occasionally, it will self-seed, but we grow it as an annual crop here at the farm by harvesting and saving the seed to start in the greenhouse the following season.

These calendula plants’ lineage spans twenty years, originally harvested from Rebecca’s home garden.

The petals are used as edible flowers, adding color to baked goods and tea, and they are frequently used in topical skincare products such as salves and balms. We have harvested ⬇️

🌼8.5 lbs so far this season to be dried for later use.

Sometimes farm tasks can be as simple as de stemmi

Sometimes farm tasks can be as simple as de stemming Elderberries. We’ve got task for everyone and love modifying to make our farm more accessible.

What do you make with harvested Elderberries?

Check out this 4ingredient elderberries jam recipe
🔗Link in bio

Ingredients
• 1 kg elderberries freshly picked, washed/ cleaned
• 400 g cane sugar
• 1 large lemon see notes for extra tips
• 1 pinch salt optional but I recommend it

☀️High school volunteer Saturdays are back! 10

☀️High school volunteer Saturdays are back!
10 am-12 pm

Students who need volunteer hours are encouraged to sign up and get involved. It’s a great opportunity to contribute to a meaningful mission, gain valuable experience, and make a difference while fulfilling school requirements.

Volunteering will involve various tasks, from working in the herb garden to tending to the vegetable garden. This could include watering, transplanting, weeding, thinning, mulching, and harvesting.

Instruction and educational opportunities will be provided on what to do in any particular session. A unique educational component will be part of this community farming activity.

Please Share our Saturday volunteer opportunity with students in your life who are looking to give back or earn volunteer hours.

‼️All volunteers must sign up for volunteer days using the SignUpGenius link in our bio.

See you on the farm 👋

Our youth crew had their last day on the farm last

Our youth crew had their last day on the farm last Thursday, which was a bittersweet moment for all of us. They spent the day harvesting, bonding, and wishing each other luck this school year.

As we look back on their hard work over the summer, we also celebrate the moments of joy.

Check out this quick reel. Nate, Alison, and Ivah share what they loved the most about this year’s youth crew programming.

Fun fact: 8 out of 10 of our youth crew students returned from last year! We also had 3sets of siblings this year on the farm, which added to the bonding our volunteers and team Members got to witness.

Schools are back in session! On Friday, we partici

Schools are back in session!
On Friday, we participated in Salem State’s First Year Day of Service 2024. This lovely group of students volunteered their time and helped us with several projects on the farm.

They weeded the vegetable field, helped us prune some plants, kindly assisted us in clearing rocks from the soil on the farm, & Processed dried herbs such as lavender, lemongrass, and cleavers.

We are so grateful for all their hard work and @salemstate dedication to service on the north shore.

Exciting news
We are featured in today’s Salem evening newspaper 🙌
Staff writer Michael Mchugh shares a little about Salem State and its first Day of Service program.

Check out the link in our bio.
📸:Jaime Campos (Salem news staff photographer)

Garlic may be tiny, but it sure is mighty! From

Garlic may be tiny, but it sure is mighty!

From boosting our immune systems to adding flavor to our favorite dishes, garlic is truly one of our farms superstar’s 💫.

This year we are thrilled to share that we harvested a whopping 371 lbs of garlic on our nonprofit farm! 💪

After curing, our garlic is now weighing in at an impressive 160lbs. We’re so grateful for everyone who helped make this bountiful harvest possible. We’ve already begun to share this garlic harvest with our community!

🗓️ Save the Dates! Purchase farm fresh deli

🗓️ Save the Dates!

Purchase farm fresh delicious nutritious produce and herbs at our Popup Farmstand at Newhall Fields Community Farm!!
August 29 and September 26 from 12:30 to 2:00pm

📢Bean tent update! In May, we had students fro

📢Bean tent update!
In May, we had students from the Waring School on the farm.

They worked as a team on several projects, one of which was our bean tent.
Students helped build this structure in May, and look at it now! 🤩

Providing a wonderfully shady oasis in our fields and adding beauty to the farm with each vine.

Calendula blossoms are being harvested regularly t

Calendula blossoms are being harvested regularly throughout the season and continue to bloom!

sunshine in a basket ☀️

Watch our Volunteer, Lissa Demonstrate how we harvest Calendula on the farm

Potatoes are one of the most versatile vegetables

Potatoes are one of the most versatile vegetables with universal appeal, so we doubled our bed feet this season.

Did you know that we don’t start potatoes from seed - but plant pieces of sprouted seed potatoes?
The pieces clone themselves and grow a new plant, sending out tubers to grow more potatoes of the same variety.

Once the plants die, we dig up some “new potatoes” that can be smaller and have more sensitive skins.

Usually, though, we wait for them to become storage potatoes by leaving them in the ground, mowing or chopping the plants above ground, and letting the skins set. This allows us to extend the season and store the potatoes for much longer!

Every harvest is a mini Celebration at our nonprof

Every harvest is a mini Celebration at our nonprofit farm!

It’s amazing to see the hard work of our volunteers paying off with fresh, sustainable produce for our community. Every herb, veggie, & fruit is a testament to the power of collective effort and dedication.

We’re so grateful for everyone who supports our mission to provide healthy, locally-grown food for our community

📸: @calamityjulianne

#harvestseason

Our youth crew has been back on the farm; some day

Our youth crew has been back on the farm; some days, it feels like they never left.

This program gives teens a chance learn important life skills, build relationships, and get paid during summer break.

We’re so lucky to have this fantastic group of dedicated young people here with us on Tuesdays and Thursdays during the summer.

If you know a young person who would be interested in participating in our youth crew programming next year, be sure to subscribe to our mailing list and stay in touch with us online.

Our Youth Crew is funded by @masshireycc
Northshore Ma summer jobs for teens 💪

It’s time to harvest our shiso basil leaves and

It’s time to harvest our shiso basil leaves and make a unique cooling iced tea.

🍋Fun fact: adding lemon makes it turn a pretty rose-color!

Shiso basil, or perilla, is an herb with a unique and intriguing flavor. It is widely used in Asian cuisine. Its earthy and slightly minty notes make it a perfect garnish or addition to salads, adding a distinctive twist to any dish.

Shiso leaves are commonly used in Japanese cuisine to wrap sushi or sashimi and flavor pickled plums.

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