My typical commute to work involves dropping a kid, or three, off at school and beginning my half-hour drive to the farm.  I relish that time with my coffee and thoughts, transitioning from mother to farmer. In the winter and spring we often see the river rise.  This can add layers to our commute.

Last Wednesday I found a tree laying across the dirt road on my way in.  I was forced to go around, meaning back to the highway and in through Coker. 
Once I was finally through the yellow gate and onto the farm property, I found the river in the road.  On this day, I was able to walk the rest of the way to the garden.

​On Thursday, the river has risen higher.  We are grateful that the garden is spared and only the roads and lower fields we do not use are under water, but we are forced to add a canoe to our commute. 
Because there are two farmer’s markets on Saturday and Friday the water will be even higher, we decide it is best to go ahead and harvest for them.  Totes are filled with bunches of collards, kale, chard, and carrots, along with heads of lettuce and pounds of salad, arugula, and spinach.  The tractor with a trailer is able to drive a good bit of the way back. 

It requires three canoe trips to move the harvest from one spot on the farm to the other side of the high water.  On trip number two I spot a group of large, bright white birds gliding along the water covering the field.  It turns out to be white pelicans.  They are breath-taking and we forget about the work for a moment and revel in the beauty of nature that surrounds us.

It continues to rain every night, so there is really no hope for driving to the garden for a while.  On Friday David, JC, and Victoria travel in the canoe and I follow later in a kayak.  Although this is inconvenient, I do not mind the forced peace in a world of constant noise and information.  It is absolutely quiet, with an occasional hoot from an owl and the soft rhythm of the paddle.  The pelicans are still there, drifting regally.

​Saturday and Sunday David goes out alone.  Our greenhouse is on the other side of the water and must be watered.  He also places some row cover for protection as the temperature falls.
Monday I kayak again.  I am beginning to get use to this.  When I come through the woods and enter into the open space of the fields, startled ducks fly off in pairs.  The pelicans are gone.
By Wednesday we hope to be able to drive to the garden again. 
That will be nice.  And if it doesn’t flood again until next winter, that would be nice, too.

Reason #1
Enjoy the good (tasting) things in life; such as freshly prepared meals, enjoyed around your table with family and friends

Reason #2
Go on food adventures! Try new foods and find produce not available in grocery stores. Don’t worry…each week we include recipes in our newsletter using ingredients in your box
Email margaretann@snowsbendfarm.com to receive a sample newsletter.

Reason #3
Attend special CSA events​!

Reason #4
CLEAN FOOD - we let our kids eat straight from the source with the comfort of knowing that it is as clean as it gets!

Reason #5
​Snow's Bend is the only 16 year and counting Certified Organic CSA in Alabama.  All of the produce you will receive is grown by us on our farm.  

(who are these kids?)

Reason #6
Local, and not just the food.  Both David and I were born and raised in Tuscaloosa and we are raising our children here.  We are committed to you and we are committed to this community.

​Join us, won't you:
https://csa.farmigo.com/join/snowsbendfarm/2019snowsbend

Lately, spring starts with a sneeze for me.  My first hint was the pollen sheen on the surface of the water in our dunk tank full of freshly harvested kale.  I saw that and knew that spring was fast approaching.

This year it comes the first week of February, following a week of polar vortex in the Midwest and our coldest temperatures thus far this winter. 
Yesterday felt much like a spring day, as I sat on the tractor looking at the electric green grass pulsing with life and the multitude of yellow flowers of over-wintered brassicas in the first stages of seed formation.  As is typical of an early spring day, we were trying to cram in as much soil work as possible before a predicted overnight rain.  David even direct seeded the first beds of 2019!
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I was able to stay later than usual, or allowed myself to, pushing the limits of preschool and extended day hours.  I couldn’t deny myself.  The best part of a day on the farm is when the sun begins to fall just a bit lower in the sky and you can already feel the pride of accomplishment but just want to feel it a little bit more.  Walking across the farm I see wildflowers (read ‘weeds’) beginning to bloom in purples, pinks, and whites mingled with the greenest of green grass that you only see in spring.  The ability to spend our days walking through that, as opposed to fluorescent lighted hallways, is one of a multitude of reasons we continue persisting through the evolving challenges we face each year as a small farm.