This summer (as many summers do!) seemed to go by so quickly. Before it officially ends, we’d like to thank the many visitors and volunteers we were blessed to host during the months of July and August.
It’s been a busy few weeks on the farm. We had a HUGE harvest of potatoes that we sent in to the Catholic Worker soup kitchen in Manhattan, plus an abundance of cucumbers and onions that we brought to a parish in Providence, one of the poorest neighborhoods in Scranton.
Guess we are really farmers now - no turning back! The new tractor will make life much easier on the farm. Larry is already planning a cover crop for this winter. The frontloader will double as a snowplow during our NEPA snowstorms.
First harvest of cabbage ready for shipment to the Catholic Worker House in lower Manhattan. Tons more cabbage to go, and about a thousand pounds of potatoes to follow. Looks like lots of cabbage and potato stew will be on the menu.
We are so pleased to share the news of the priestly ordination of our own Father John Gribowich for the Diocese of Brooklyn on Saturday, June 27, 2015. He was ordained by Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio and vested by his mentors, Msgr. John Grabish and Fr. Michael Perry at the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph.
We got pigs! Two little piglets, very cute - impossible to catch! With our good friend Tim, we will be raising them through the fall and enjoying fresh pork this winter. Tim and his daughter Kelly built a nice pig pen up near the field.
First planting of the season! Many thanks to our friends at Willow Haven Farm in New Tripoli, PA, for donating a wide variety of plants to us, including cabbage, lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, broccoli, and more! With no frost in the forecast, we took a chance and began planting already. Anyone who wants to help, just let us know!
A great day for sheep shearing! The weather could not have been better - thank you God! We had some local families and a recent King's College graduate for the event, and the sheep were very cooperative (though Missy gave us a bit of a hard time). They look fantastic in their new do’s and are much cooler now!
It's been a busy April on the farm. A wonderful group of students from John Mischler's biology class at King's College spent a day with us building some raised beds. The students were respectful and worked very hard - we are grateful for their service. Our own Our Lady of Victory Parish brought some of the recently confirmed eighth graders to the farm to learn about Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin and to experience farm life a bit.
Meet Clara our new milk goat! Just picked her up this morning and she is adjusting to the sheep in the pasture on a rainy day. Can't wait to milk her for the first time later today. Been a while since we had our goats in milk. She is a little on the skinny side since she just kidded. But nothing some fresh hay and grain won't cure.
Today marks two years of the Dorothy Day Catholic Worker Farm, and what a wonderful present we have received. Our ewe Ivy gave birth to a little lamb this morning - we've named her Louise after Deacon John's mom. It is still too cold outside, so she is sharing the kitchen with Didi. They seem to be getting along quite well.
We are thrilled to announce the arrival of our newest ewe! She was born this morning and since it is so bitterly cold outside we brought her in where it is warm and we are bottle feeding her. Her name is Didi (deedee) which is short for Dorothy Day. She seems healthy and happy, and is making one heck of a ruckus in her crate.
It has been a cold January in northeastern PA. We are busy keeping the fire going and tending to the animals. It became clear that we had too many animals to care for, and after prayerful discernment, decided to limit the herd to our sheep and alpacas. The goats have been given new homes - better homes, in fact.
December on the farm means caring for the animals and tending the fire, fewer visitors, but many chores. The arcaunas have begun to lay, so we are getting pastel colored eggs regularly. Rambo’s fleece made a great hat - we are hoping to make many more for our brothers and sisters in need.
So much to be thankful for this year, and every year. A fruitful field, a healthy herd, and so many wonderful friends and family to share in the life of the farm. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!
After butchering three roosters, the farm was gifted with nine new hens, bringing our flock to a robust 22 - about all our little coop can handle. Six hens are Arcaunas, known for laying colored eggs. They are molting right now and so not laying, but stayed tuned for pictures when egg production resumes.
Very busy weekend at the farm. We hosted a youth minister from Lewisburg, PA, with his family, Nate, Steph and little Joseph, for a little rest and relaxation - which included helping butcher three chickens!
