A Glimpse of Civilization

Saffron, one of two Maine Coon cats on the farm, served as my alarm clock as she jumped on my bed in time for the sunrise. For the next two weeks, I will be responsible for moving the egg-mobile, counting eggs, and making sure the chickens are well-fed and have enough water to drink throughout the day.

Most of Monday's work was spent inside the greenhouse, where we planted spinach, beets and flowers in soil blocks. By the end of the day, I had mixed together three batches of soil mix from scratch and helped plant 52 trays. Dawn, the new apprentice, and I were able to get off work earlier than usual so that we could run some errands in town. It was nice to see more of Scarborough, and also a bit strange to get a glimpse of civilization after having spent most of my time on the farm.

After dinner, Daniel began the first of a series of discussions we'll have on Monday nights on different agricultural topics. Tonight, he focused on the farm's guiding principles (below) and asked us whether the word 'sustainability' has taken on a different meaning in recent years.

Frith Farm's mission is to build soil, biodiversity, and community through the growing of wholesome food. Toward this end, we base our practices on the following principles:

• Biomimicry – farm practices are modeled after the cyclic and resilient examples set by nature

• Chemical-Free – synthetic fertilizers and chemicals are strictly avoided in favor of biological and cultural methods

• Community – all sales are local, and customers are encouraged to visit the farm to learn how their food is grown

• Organic Matter – carbon is cherished as the foundation of healthy soil

• Respect – farm animals are treated humanely and encouraged to exhibit their species’ natural character

• Transparency  – openness and honesty surround all farming practices, and visitors are welcome on the farm at any time

• Quality – freshness, taste, and nutrition are our top priorities and are not compromised in the name of volume or profit