Posts By: Jared Kane

The Branch Hill Farm CSA Program

SIGN UP FOR MY CSA SHARE HERE!

What is a CSA?

CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture. In short, it is a food subscription model. CSAs prioritize a season-long relationship to local families and households. Traditionally, this has often taken the form of a “share”: a family or household purchases a “share” or season-long subscription of the farm produce at the beginning of the growing season, and then receives in-season bounty throughout the harvest season, typically on a weekly basis and enough to cover most/all of their vegetable needs for a week. This is the model we use at Branch Hill Farm.

This model creates a direct, long-term relationship between eaters and their farmer that is grounded in trust, transparency, and the local economy. Farmers spend less precious time marketing their product after it has already been grown. Paying for your CSA share upfront provides working capital in the early spring, when expenses are highest for farmers. 

Customers love CSA shares for many reasons:

• Top quality produce 
• Makes menu planning easier – just cook what you receive!
• “Feels like Christmas every week.”
• Weekly email with farm stories and recipes
• Sense of community – opportunities to contribute to the farm and hang out with my neighbors

Our Veggie CSA: Grown by Youth at Branch Hill Farm:

In our CSA program, described in more detail below, we offer multiple options throughout the growing season to pick up the highest quality, freshest vegetables out there, as well as Certified Organic chicken and lamb from our friends at Terra Firma Farm.

Our CSA is unique in that your incredible produce is now being produced by local teens! The Paid Teen Apprenticeship Program at Branch Hill Farm welcomes teens aged 16-18 onto the farm for the educational-work opportunity of a life-time. Under the guidance of experienced farmers, teen apprentices are entrusted with the real-life task of running a CSA farm, while also gaining invaluable skills they take with them wherever they go in life. To learn more about the Teen Apprenticeship Program, please contact georgia_elgar@branchhillfarm.org.

What are our growing practices?

Our produce and seedlings are the freshest, highest quality around, and raised without harmful chemicals. No pesticides, no synthetic fertilizers. We utilize “no-till” practices on our tiny farm and use only organic inputs: this means life has the chance to THRIVE in our soil.

You’ll Get:

• 18 Weeks of Fresh Vegetables!
• June 6th – October 6th!
• 6-10 Veggies Each Week!
• Full Sized Share feeds 2-4 people: 2 Veggie-Lovers or 4 Veggie Realists!
• Tuesday or Friday afternoon Pick-up Options!
• Free Community Events: Potluck, Open House, Volunteer Days!
• Weekly Newsletters with Recipes and Inspiration!
• Trust: You’ll Know Your Food, Community, and Farmers Better Than Ever Before!

CSA Options and Pricing (Described Below)

*We Proudly Offer Payment Plans and Accept SNAP/EBT Cards as payment for CSA Shares.  Please inquire about smaller share options.

Share Options Explained:

“Peak Summer” Veggie CSA Share: This is the perfect 6-week CSA option for summertime-only households in our area! For just $35/week from July 25th-Sept 1st, receive an abundance of veggies and herbs of peak summer: tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, onions, carrots, basil, cucumbers, and more! Limited number available.

Culinary Herb Add-On: You will already receive 1 bunch of herbs most weeks in a regular full-sized share, but if you’re looking for more variety, or an opportunity to preserve or dehydrate surplus herbs for your winter use, this Culinary Herb Add-On Option is for you! Receive an additional bunch of herbs each week right along with your regular CSA Share!

Meat Shares: We’re lucky to partner with the incredible Terra Firma Farm in Acton, ME to offer a variety of organic, pastured lamb and chicken. This option is for you if you want to expand your commitment to Local Food. See sign-up form for details.

Egg Add-On: Receive one dozen eggs weekly for 18 weeks. Produced by the pastured happy hens at Terra Firma Farm in Acton, ME.

*NEW* FALL VEGGIE CSA SHARE: Extend your share to 22 weeks! On Tuesdays from October 10th – 31st, we will have a limited number of 4-Week Fall Vegetable Shares – Put off that sad day when you must return to the grocery store for your produce a little while longer! Think: greens of all sorts, carrots and beets, storage onions, fall broccoli and leeks, brussels sprouts, potatoes, and more!

Compost Program: It’s simple. For $20, we’ll lend you a 5-gallon bucket each week that you can toss all your plant-based kitchen scraps into. Drop off your compost with us when you pick up your veggies and take home a clean bucket each week. Reduce your waste and help us “close the loop” by bringing fertility back to where it’s needed: Branch Hill Farm’s compost pile.

Still Have Questions? Don’t hesitate to call us at 603-473-2535 or email at branchhillfarmcsa@gmail.com 

SIGN UP FOR MY CSA SHARE HERE!

Branch Hill Farm  2023 Spring Plant & Tree Sale Availability List

Click Here for 2023 Plant & Tree Catalog

OUR GROWING PRACTICES: All our seedlings are grown without chemicals using Certified Organic potting mix and fertilizers. We source Certified Organic and open-pollinated* or heirloom* seeds wherever possible, and do our best to save our own seed. We also keep energy consumption involved in greenhouse seedling production to a minimum.

HOW TO ORDER: Pre-Order by March 15th by email at branchhillfarmcsa@gmail.com with your name, a clear list of how many of each crop you would like, clearly indicating variety. Please also indicate if you will accept substitutions in the case of crop loss / going out of stock.

Note: Some plants come in 4” pots – list these individually (ie. 4 Sungold Cherry Tomato Plants). Others come in 6-packs – list these in terms of how many total 6-packs you would like (ie. 3 Basil 6-packs, totalling 18 plants).

We will confirm your pre-order via email and direct you to your payment options from there!

PLANT PICK-UP: We have two phases of the plant sale in the month of May. This are based on when it is appropriate to plant each crop – you can safely plant your seedlings as soon as you take them home:

1. Cool-Season Seedlings: Friday, May 5th 4-6pm and Saturday, May 6th from 8:30-10:30am.
2. Warm Season Seedlings: Friday, May 26th 4-6pm and Saturday, May 27th 8:30-10:30am.

Please mark these dates on your calendars! It really works when you show up during these windows!

PRICING:

All 4” pots are $4.50 each.

All 6-Packs are $4.50 each.

Apple trees are $30 each.

PAYMENT OPTIONS (once your total is confirmed by us):

1. Online with credit card using Branch Hill Farm’s online store: branch-hill-farm.square.site.
2. Mail a check to CSFCT (Carl Siemon Family Charitable Trust) at 307 Applebee Rd. Milton Mills, NH 03852 (MOST preferred).
3. Pay in person by cash/check at plant pick-up.

Click here for 2023 Plant & Tree Catalog

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This past December, Branch Hill Farm Manager Bob Wagner, reached 25 years of service with the Carl Siemon Family Charitable Trust.

Over the last 25 years there have been many changes here at the Farm, but we have been so very fortunate to have Bob as a constant.

Bob’s work ethic and dedication, to not only to the farm, but also our mission, has been a great source of motivation and inspiration for everyone here at CSFCT. 

Congratulations Bob! We wish you many more years of success!

The Branch Hill Farm CSA Program

SIGN UP FOR MY CSA SHARE HERE!

What is a CSA?

CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture. In short, it is a food subscription model. CSAs prioritize a season-long relationship to local families and households. Traditionally, this has often taken the form of a “share”: a family or household purchases a “share” or season-long subscription of the farm produce at the beginning of the growing season, and then receives in-season bounty throughout the harvest season, typically on a weekly basis and enough to cover most/all of their vegetable needs for a week. This is the model we use at Branch Hill Farm.

This model creates a direct, long-term relationship between eaters and their farmer that is grounded in trust, transparency, and the local economy. Farmers spend less precious time marketing their product after it has already been grown. Paying for your CSA share upfront provides working capital in the early spring, when expenses are highest for farmers. 

Customers love CSA shares for many reasons:

• Top quality produce 
• Makes menu planning easier – just cook what you receive!
• “Feels like Christmas every week.”
• Weekly email with farm stories and recipes
• Sense of community – opportunities to contribute to the farm and hang out with my neighbors

Our Veggie CSA: Grown by Youth at Branch Hill Farm:

In our CSA program, described in more detail below, we offer multiple options throughout the growing season to pick up the highest quality, freshest vegetables out there, as well as Certified Organic chicken and lamb from our friends at Terra Firma Farm.

Our CSA is unique in that your incredible produce is now being produced by local teens! The Paid Teen Apprenticeship Program at Branch Hill Farm welcomes teens aged 16-18 onto the farm for the educational-work opportunity of a life-time. Under the guidance of experienced farmers, teen apprentices are entrusted with the real-life task of running a CSA farm, while also gaining invaluable skills they take with them wherever they go in life. To learn more about the Teen Apprenticeship Program, please contact georgia_elgar@branchhillfarm.org.

What are our growing practices?

Our produce and seedlings are the freshest, highest quality around, and raised without harmful chemicals. No pesticides, no synthetic fertilizers. We utilize “no-till” practices on our tiny farm and use only organic inputs: this means life has the chance to THRIVE in our soil.

You’ll Get:

• 18 Weeks of Fresh Vegetables!
• June 6th – October 6th!
• 6-10 Veggies Each Week!
• Full Sized Share feeds 2-4 people: 2 Veggie-Lovers or 4 Veggie Realists!
• Tuesday or Friday afternoon Pick-up Options!
• Free Community Events: Potluck, Open House, Volunteer Days!
• Weekly Newsletters with Recipes and Inspiration!
• Trust: You’ll Know Your Food, Community, and Farmers Better Than Ever Before!

CSA Options and Pricing (Described Below)

*We Proudly Offer Payment Plans and Accept SNAP/EBT Cards as payment for CSA Shares.  Please inquire about smaller share options.

Share Options Explained:

“Peak Summer” Veggie CSA Share: This is the perfect 6-week CSA option for summertime-only households in our area! For just $35/week from July 25th-Sept 1st, receive an abundance of veggies and herbs of peak summer: tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, onions, carrots, basil, cucumbers, and more! Limited number available.

Culinary Herb Add-On: You will already receive 1 bunch of herbs most weeks in a regular full-sized share, but if you’re looking for more variety, or an opportunity to preserve or dehydrate surplus herbs for your winter use, this Culinary Herb Add-On Option is for you! Receive an additional bunch of herbs each week right along with your regular CSA Share!

Meat Shares: We’re lucky to partner with the incredible Terra Firma Farm in Acton, ME to offer a variety of organic, pastured lamb and chicken. This option is for you if you want to expand your commitment to Local Food. See sign-up form for details.

Egg Add-On: Receive one dozen eggs weekly for 18 weeks. Produced by the pastured happy hens at Terra Firma Farm in Acton, ME.

*NEW* FALL VEGGIE CSA SHARE: Extend your share to 22 weeks! On Tuesdays from October 10th – 31st, we will have a limited number of 4-Week Fall Vegetable Shares – Put off that sad day when you must return to the grocery store for your produce a little while longer! Think: greens of all sorts, carrots and beets, storage onions, fall broccoli and leeks, brussels sprouts, potatoes, and more!

Compost Program: It’s simple. For $20, we’ll lend you a 5-gallon bucket each week that you can toss all your plant-based kitchen scraps into. Drop off your compost with us when you pick up your veggies and take home a clean bucket each week. Reduce your waste and help us “close the loop” by bringing fertility back to where it’s needed: Branch Hill Farm’s compost pile.

Still Have Questions? Don’t hesitate to call us at 603-473-2535 or email at branchhillfarmcsa@gmail.com 

SIGN UP FOR MY CSA SHARE HERE!

Branch Hill Farm / Carl Siemon Family Charitable Trust is seeking a part-time “Farmer-Educator” to work with the Educational Programming Coordinator to implement the new Teen Apprenticeship Program. In this role, you will put equal amounts of time in both roles of “farmer” and “educator”, often demonstrating a task and then working alongside apprentices and volunteers in the CSA gardens to complete that task.

You are an ideal candidate if you are passionate about small-scale local food and farming. You love to be outside working with your hands AND are comfortable supervising teen apprentices. We are looking for someone who will bring their whole self to the position: all of your interests, skills, background, and experiences are needed to have maximum genuine impact in the lives of the teen apprentices. Your
passions might include any of the following: any topic in agriculture, science, team building and outdoor education, herbalism/wild edibles, art, meditation or yoga, music/storytelling skills, peace building or conflict resolution, woodworking or construction, food preservation, and more!

Qualifications:
● Demonstrated ability and joy for working and teaching outdoors, in all weather.
● Adaptable and creative.
● Strong communication and collaboration skills. Willingness to learn, ask questions, give and
receive feedback, and eager to help where needed.
● Willing to be resourceful and solve day-to-day problems on the fly.
● Excited at the chance to be a part of the development of something totally new, and flexible
enough to roll with the inevitable hiccups that will come.
● Given the nature of farming, the ability to sustain heavy physical labor often involving stooping,
kneeling, crouching, and lifting objects up to 30 lbs.
● Driver’s License and reliable transportation
● CPR/1st Aid Certified (will provide if needed)
● At least 21 years old

Nice to have:
● Training or education in the fields of agriculture, horticulture, and/or outdoor education
● 1-2 years’ experience working with adolescent youth whether on a professional or volunteer basis.
Specific experiential education experience is a plus.
● 1-2 years’ experience working on a farm, with at least some exposure to organic/no-
till/sustainable/chemical-free/small-scale vegetable production.

To Apply or Learn More:
Please send your resume and cover letter to BranchhillfarmCSA@gmail.com . Position is open until filled, but
we are looking to find our Farmer-Educator by February 1st, 2023.

Please note that our website is under construction and may not be up to date. We are excited to speak
with you directly in the interview process to answer all your questions!

The forest is a living organism, made up of plants, animals, and microorganisms all coexisting together symbiotically. The advent of climate change has led to disruptions in that balance. So how does one manage a forest yet ensure this fragile balance remains? On Saturday, October 15th 2022, from 10:00 to Noon, please join MMRG and Branch Hill Farm as Forester Dan Stepanauskas leads a fascinating workshop on managing a forest in today’s changing climate. This conversational workshop will tour a conserved BHF property in Wakefield, NH, which will allow us to discuss the near-term and long-term effects on our forests. Some of the topics that will be discussed will include.

• Gleanings from forty-one years of learning in the forest
• Forest management and the mandate of climate conscious practices: How do we accomplish this?
• What we now know about our new climate, which trees will thrive, and matching the tree species to the appropriate soil type
• A detailed discussion of silviculture, wise old forestry research findings, what they teach us and why they are being ignored
• Applicable lessons learned from practicing forestry in various ecosystems, including Washington State, northern Ontario, Minnesota, Maine, and North Carolina
• Maintaining and enriching habitats for warblers, accipiter, and bears

Daniel Stepanauskas has been a consulting forester in New Hampshire for over thirty-five years. He practices the sustainable management of private and municipal forest lands, using light-touch management techniques and imitating nature’s design to achieve the desired results. He is currently also the consulting forester for Tin Mountain Conservation Center and is a board member of the Upper Saco Valley Land Trust.

A question-and-answer time will be offered following the 10:00 to 12:00 workshop. For more information, directions and to register for this informative workshop, please contact
Jared Kane at 603-473-2535, email: branchhillfarm@gmail.com. Registration is online at www.mmrgnh.org
Registration closes on Thursday October 13th, 2022.

Branch Hill Farm will be hosting the Mouse Mountains Farmers Market for three more dates this summer, July 1st, August 5, and Sept 2 from 3pm to 6pm.  Come see the lovely goods our local owned businesses produce! There will be entertainment provided by Alec Thomas and as always the public is welcome to enjoy our interactive Camsie Anna Nature Trail. 

Branch River (Photo: Kate Wilcox )

Branch Hill Farm/Carl Siemon Family Charitable Trust (BHF/CSFCT) and Moose Mountains Regional Greenways (MMRG) are again offering local canoe and kayak enthusiasts the opportunity to enjoy a paddle on the beautiful Branch River in Milton Mills, NH. This 4-mile paddle along the scenic and winding Branch River will take place from 10 am to 2 pm on Saturday, May 21st. Due to its’ overwhelming popularity last year, participants will once again partake in a hike along the lovely trails on Branch Hill Farm passing through forests and fields back to the launch site while the kayaks/canoes will be trucked back from the upper end of Milton Three Ponds. The walk back is approximately 1 hour. Lunch will be offered to all the participants walking along the trail to either sit and enjoy or take with them for later.
This year’s guest speaker will be Nels Liljedahl, Outreach Coordinator for the National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Nels graduated from the University of Maine in Orono in 1981 with degrees in Environmental Science, Forestry and Park and Recreation Management and has served as the District Conservationist for Carroll and Belknap counties. Most recently Nels has spent time in Palau through NRCS working to battle the grave issue of erosion the small pacific country faces. Nels will be speaking on what makes up a “watershed” and how certain activities on the upper reaches can impact the drinking water below.
Paddlers will need to bring their own kayaks or canoes and wear US Coast Guard approved personal flotation devices. This event is extremely popular, and spaces are limited, so early registration is advised. Registration can be found online here. A $15 per person donation is suggested. There is no rain date and pets are not permitted.
Branch Hill Farm/Carl Siemon Family Charitable Trust works to conserve farm and forest lands and to educate the public about sound forestry, conservation, and agricultural practices; see www.branchillfarm.org .
MMRG, a non-profit land trust, works to conserve and connect important water resources, farm and forest lands, wildlife habitats, and recreational land in Brookfield, Farmington, Middleton, Milton, New Durham, Wakefield, Wolfeboro, Ossipee, & Tuftonboro. Throughout the year, both BHF and MMRG offer many educational opportunities to inform all ages about the benefits of our region’s natural resources. For more information and a calendar of upcoming events, visit www.mmrgnh.org

On May 7^th, Branch Hill Farm/Carl Siemon Family Charitable Trust (BHF/CSFCT) will dedicate the newly created “Camsie Anna Nature Trail” at Branch Hill Farm. This 1.3-mile loop through field and forest, features 20+ learning stations enabling participants, young and old, to interact with nature and the farm as they tour the property. Key stops along the route include the Preservation Orchard; pollinator gardens; a scenic spot along the Salmon Falls River; and a BHF sustainably managed forest.  There is also a posted children’s read-a-long sponsored by Milton Free Public Library.

The trail is dedicated in memory of Camsie Anna Thickett, (nee Siemon) whose life work was helping others as a mental health therapist.  Camsie discovered on her own the therapeutic power of long walks in the woods behind her home. She was expanding those trails to share with others the joy and wonders of immersing oneself in the sights, smells, and sounds of the natural world. Branch Hill Farm created this year-round trail to honor Camsie and to share her passion for the restorative power of nature with our local communities.

Immediately following the ribbon cutting will be a guided trail walk led by Licensed Forester Charlie Moreno, Executive Director Jared Kane, and Board Chair Cynthia Siemon Wyatt.

The event will take place 10 am – 12 pm on Saturday, May 7^th. It is free and open to all ages. Refreshments will be provided. For more information and directions, contact Branch Hill Farm Executive Director Jared Kane at 603-473-2535 or email branchhillfarm@gmail.com.

Branch Hill Farm/the Carl Siemon Family Charitable Trust works to conserve farm and  forest lands and to educate the public about sound forestry, conservation, and agricultural practices; see www.branchillfarm.org.