Week 1, Summer 2024
Hello readers, welcoming to the first week of summer 2024!
We welcomed in the last Shabbat of spring in the cool, evening summer breeze. We even sung a mashup of both Batya Levine’s and Molly Bajgot’s tunes for Lecha Dodi! For dinner chefs Eric and Margalit prepared us some delicious curry (with some newly bolted thai basil) and rice with a salad made from our own romaine lettuce and radishes. It was so nice to sing, eat, chat, and be present with one another while appreciating the fresh air, trees, and life that surrounds us. Yes, that definitely includes the cats.
The moody weather of Shabbat day mirrored our anticipation of the new cohort arriving the next day. We spent a lot of time getting the house in tip-top shape and coordinating travel plans. Consequently, Sunday was off to an early start. We said goodbye to Acacia (who will be back next week) and welcomed Ernest, Hedy, Zoë, and Yonah to the house! Margalit and I cooked up some of our mushrooms, radishes roasted AND pickled, and prepared a garnish with our garlic chives. We all ate dinner outside as the sun set, sipping on Margalit’s signature bergamot and wild ginger brew.
Monday rang in the first full day of Summer. We started by giving everyone a tour of the house and the gardens. While folks got started weeding in Goat, I took some time to harvest a whopping 5 pounds of gorgeous Grey Dove mushrooms! In the afternoon we took some time to get to know one another and orient the group to ZA as an organization. It’s important for us to talk about why we do what we do and how it fits into our larger mission. After the work day ended we enjoyed the fresh air by going for walks, runs, and even a bike ride!
On Tuesday morning Eric led us in an introduction to all of our horticulture operations. We also had a discussion about how we distribute and who we distribute our produce to. For lunch I harvested some asparagus and roasted them with some, take a guess, radishes. After the work day ended we all took a walk down the road to be present to the sunset. Even Phoebe and Nooch joined us! When we got back to the house we serenaded Margalit with some of the greatest hits from the last season for her last night on the farm.
On Wednesday we introduced the new cohort to Weekly Weeds and talked about important ground rules for living in intentional community. Afterwards I took everyone on a tour of my mushroom dominion, I mean, the basement. I gave a basic overview of the grow tent and misting system and even gave the group a sneak peek at what mushrooms were fruiting at the moment. Following a brief seventh-inning-stretch, we jumped into another session about Judaism and spirituality here at ZA. Farm tasks for the day included weeding, making tree pots, and soaking straw. In the afternoon we sadly had to say goodbye to Margalit. We’re going to miss her so much, but we’re so lucky that her presence will remain here through her ingenious radish chips and hand-carved cookware. In the evening we enjoyed dinner outside. Chefs Ernest and Yonah prepared stir fry, freshly made seltzer, and even peanut butter cookies for dessert. What a treat! Afterwards I paid a visit to our chicks, whom I’m inclined to call chickens now considering their size.
On Thursday morning we reviewed farm roles and responsibilities and gave our fellows an opportunity to get more involved in what areas interested them most. Then Eric reviewed our food safety and harvesting protocols and we got to harvesting some garlic scapes. It’s exciting that soon enough there will be an abundance of beautiful produce for us to appreciate. In the afternoon I got help from Zoë and Hedy on this week’s mushroom inoculation, pink oyster to be exact. For dinner, Patricia and Eric made risotto with ZA mushrooms, pesto with radish greens, and sauteed chicory.
On Friday our team was having their weekly farm walk, direct seeding in ATR, and making plans for the Kabbalat Shabbat service that evening. At the end of the work day we took some time to reflect on our week, journal, start making challah, and setting up jars for our first fills of the new season. Come back next week to hear all about our first Shabbat of the summer!
