It certainly has been a challenging year taking over the farm from Jeff. Add a adorable newborn and an endless heatwave to the mix…well, let’s just leave it there, challenging. Fortunately, cousin Natalie was just crazy enough to come east to help us stay above water at home and on the farm. I have no idea what we would have done without her this season. Sadly her time with us is up, as she’s headed back to school on Sunday. She will be missed! Below is a refection on her two months here in Grafton.
Potter Hill Farm has been my home for two months, and now it’s time to say goodbye. When I think about Potter Hill Farm, I think about the sunsets that look like the sky’s been set on fire. I think about the frogs that sound like rubber bands being pulled and plucked. I think about when we let the cows into a field of wildflowers so tall it looked like they were wearing crowns on their heads. I think about the chickens pecking at the polka-dots on my rain boots. I think about the barn cat, Ivy, trailing behind us as we harvest for Monday pickup.
Potter Hill Farm is more than a place, it’s a community of happy animals, fresh veggies, and wonderful people. I’ve never met a more creative and hardworking person than April, Paul’s right hand man. And Denali, our weekly volunteer, is an endless source of knowledge and dedication. I once saw a 9 month pregnant Jenni flush out a cow’s wound and treat it diligently just a few days before giving birth. And there is not a day or night when Paul isn’t trying to make Potter Hill Farm the best it can be for his family and for his customers.
In a time when food is increasingly commercialized and depersonalized, I see Potter Hill Farm as a refreshing change of pace. There’s something about this family and this farm that does more than grow your food. Paul knows of all his customers by name, and his customers know his baby by name. We curate veggies with natural sun, water, and care rather than pesticides, herbicides, and chemicals.
If you haven’t already, I would encourage everyone to volunteer an hour or two of their time at the farm—get to know the people and place that grow your food, because, if you see what I see, you’ll find a one of a kind place with one of a kind people. I might be leaving, but Potter Hill Farm and the memories I’ve made will stay with me forever.
Pickup Procedures:
Put your orders in online before 8am Monday morning. Despite the challenges, we have quite the spread of goodies. We may even crack open a watermelon before Natalie leaves to see if they’ve hit peak flavor. Our heirloom tomatoes will knock your socks off – with no rain, the tomatoes are packed full of flavor instead of water. If you’re too busy to choose, you can order a garden bag for only $15 by replying to this email or ordering it online. We’ll pick all orders fresh Monday morning and have it available for you to pick-up from 4-7pm Monday afternoon right on the farm at 64 Potter Hill Rd in Grafton. Take advantage of this short window of time when the best produce around is grown in Grafton’s backyard!