March 2, 2009

Hi Folks,

Its been WAY too long since the last newsletter. Two months to be exact.  I hope that everyone is having a good year so far.  One thing is for sure - 2009 is going to be interesting - both out there in the great big world - and here, in our small little corner of it...  There's been so much to do.  On the fun list - it has been - finalizing the finishing touches on the winery interior, buying and starting seeds for the Food Guild, and putting a new side wall system on the greenhouse. On the not so fun list - has been all the year-end accounting and tax returns for the farm, vineyard, and the winery, grant writing, and researching point of sale software and systems for the winery and restaurant.  We've also been wide-open seeding and planting out the greenhouse and getting the farm plan hammered out for the growing season.  It took last night's 6 inch snowfall to finally give us a chance to catch our breath - and for me to finally get an opportunity to gather my thoughts and write to you. I've put together some photos and notes to entertain you while bringing you up to date on the goings on (see below) - but first, some brief announcements...

2009 Food Guild (CSA)
We are right on track planting and seeding wise - for our first delivery (the week of April 8th) and the memberships have been filling up at a steady pace.  If you have not yet sent in your application and payment, there are still some openings.

Changes and additions to this year's Food Guild:

• We've divided the season up into three 12 week terms (spring, summer, fall) rather than one long term spanning all three seasons.
• The weekly membership share will be just one box size this year (rather than 1/2 and a whole size as in years past).  It will weigh in 7lbs + (which is 2+ lbs more than the "1/2 Share" box of seasons past)
• The cost per share had to go up a bit this year.  I really regret that but I had no choice, as all of our costs have gone up, particularly seeds and field inputs.
• We have included Sanders Ridge estate wine and The Big Woods restaurant discounts to the Food Guild Membership offerings!

To view the 2009 Food Guild details and print the membership form, go to http://www.sandersridge.com/farm/foodguild_2009.htm

Dayle Fitzgibbons has left the farm
Dayle decided to pursue work closer to her Greensboro home.  She did an outstanding job while she was here and will be very missed.  I will resume all of the Food Guild correspondence and deliveries for the year,  so please make a note to direct all email and phone correspondence to me... (cindy@sandersridge.com or 336 677-1700).

Winery and Restaurant Pre-opening Reservation Dinner for Members!
We are looking at an April opening.  (Wish it could be sooner - but still so many things to get moved and installed.)  Before the official public grand opening - we will host a pre-opening reservation dinner for members. Date and details to be announced soon!

USDA Certified Organic Vegetable and Herb Seedlings - available again this year
We will be starting extra seedlings for sale to members and friends.  They should be hardened off and ready for selling (and planting) around April 15th and will include many different varieties of tomatos, peppers, eggplant, and herbs.  We may also have some cucumber and squash seedlings available as well.  Pricing will be between $2 to $5 each depending on the variety and size.  I will be posting up the varieties on the web site soon and will let you know when it is up.

New Web Site
We are updating our web site to stream-line information about the farm, our Food Guild,  Winery, and The Big Woods restaurant. I'm working on it in my "spare" time - so some of the  pages and links may be works in progress for a couple of weeks.  Once it is complete, there will be several new features and pages that will allow folks to find the information they need fast and efficiently, as well as purchase wine and other items from the winery and farm on-line.

Well, that's all for right now.  Time to put my boots and scarf back on and take another bowl of water and feed to the chickens (who are all holed up inside their egg mobile today!  They have never seen snow and are totally freaked!) We also need to batten down the hatches on both the little and the big greenhouses - in anticipation of the 10 degree temps and 20+ mph winds tonight.   

I hope that the photo "diary" (see link below) helps to make up for the long interval between newsletters so far this year.  Enjoy!

Warm regards,

cindy