Core Group member Johanna T. is working on planning our trip to Windflower Farm in August, and she took a preview trip to help get ready.  Here’s her report:

I arrived late Friday evening at Windflower Farm, navigating the dirt road leading there with great care in a darkness unfamiliar to those of us accustomed to city lights.  Even though it was well past farm bedtime, Ted was there to greet me and get me set up for the night.  I had come to spend a weekend on Ted and Jan’s beautiful land, with the hopes of getting to know a little bit more about where my CSA share is grown and who is involved in getting it all from seed to harvest. Because of a big rainstorm moving in overnight, Jan had set up a luxurious sleeping arrangement in the barn, and as I settled in for my first Windflower night, I was struck by the subtle night noises mingling in the air above this magical place that just doesn’t sleep in the height of the growing season.

The next morning I was up early, and a stunning mist was rolling over Windflower.  I took a little walk up and down the planted rows close to the barn, peeking at Jan’s sunflowers in bloom, and covered caterpillar rows of tomatoes and peppers that would soon end up in those carefully packed bins that we all look forward to perusing every Thursday.

After sharing a breakfast (complete with Elihu eggs and freshly-picked raspberries) with Ted and Jan, their sons Nate and Jake, and visiting cousin/farm crew member Aaron, Ted gave me a tour of the land, and I had the chance to see not only what’s growing now and ready for harvest, but what’s planned as the season cycles through.  The farm itself is stunning and worth the visit, but once you have a chance to meet Ted, Jan, and their family, there is a new warmth to Windflower that is hard to put into words.

Ted and Jan went easy on this visiting “helper,” and my afternoon was spent seeding Swiss Chard in the greenhouse with Ted, and planting China Asters in freshly tilled soil that will soon find themselves blooming and bunched for those of you who have flower shares.  It was a privilege to get my hands dirty in such wonderful company, and to know that for that brief moment, I was a part of an intricate, delicate, wondrous process.

That evening, Ted and Jan invited some of the Windflower crew over for a barbecue, and I got to meet the people that get the crops from earth to Prospect Heights in such great condition.  The crew members have known each other for quite some time, and have worked on Windflower through many seasons.  They just recently started a blog, www.windflowercorkboard.blogspot.com, that I highly encourage you to visit.  It’s complete with stories from the farm, bios for the crew, photos, and even a glimpse into some of the special phrases that have become commonplace and are now known as “Windflower-isms.”  We spent a great evening together that ended huddled around a bonfire in the wet night air, watching shooting stars and sharing lots of laughter.

I left the farm on Sunday feeling so grateful for my special Windflower experience.  For anyone who has the opportunity to join Ted, Jan, Nate, Jake, and the Windflower crew on August 28-29, I look forward to returning with you. Ted has timed the all-CSA’s trip in coordination with the county fair, so we’ll have many activities and adventures to choose from over the weekend.  As the date approaches, we’ll have more details, but please save the dates, and in the meantime, check in on The Corkboard and see what’s happening at Windflower as we move into August.

Johanna T.