Friday, April 11, 2008

First Thunderstorm



My housemate Clovis says that the valley has been waiting and listening for the first thunder. We had a storm last night and whether it's the lightning that fixes the nitrogen in the soil or if the thunder really woke up all the living things, he predicts that things are really going to start happening now. I'm just glad the snow didn't come as predicted - snow after a thunderstorm would be just too freaky to wake up to.

Despite the rather miserable rain, some plants got moved from the greenhouse outside to the coldframes!

Career Opportunity at Harmony Valley Farm

Financial and Information Systems Specialist
Do you have a business mind AND a passion for organic agriculture? If so, read on to see if we may have found our match. We are seeking an organized, detail-oriented professional to join our team as the farm’s primary resource for financial and IT functions.

The primary responsibilities of the financial component for this position include, among other things:
Keeping the financial records
Providing financial reports to the management team
Managing Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable
Payroll and related HR financial accounting and reporting
Maintaining a product cost system
Participating in financial analysis of the business
The IT component of this position includes, among other things:
Maintenance of a management information system based on our existing Access database
Development of improvements to the management information system as our needs evolve
Leadership for improved integration of existing information systems for accounting, customer information, costing, and other data
Required personal skills:
Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a small team setting
Self-starter able to take initiative and follow tasks through to completion
Good with interpersonal relations.
Effective verbal and written communication skills
Required technical skills:
Previous work experience in business, accounting or economics
Bachelor’s Degree in business, economics, or other financial-related area not required, but a definite plus
Proficiency in using Quickbooks, MS Access, MS Word, MS Excel, and Outlook.
Book keeping skills.
Accuracy with numbers.
Attention to detail.

Compensation and Benefits
· Compensation commensurate with experience
· Opportunity to work in our gorgeous valley
· Health Insurance Plan
· SIMPLE retirement plan with 3% employer match
· Opportunity to breathe fresh, country air
· Lunch provided Mon-Fri mid-April through mid-November, prepared by the farm chef featuring organic vegetable and meat from the farm plus organic fruit & cheese!

Position Available Immediately! Please send resumé and/or inquiries to andrea@harmonyvalleyfarm.com

Friday, April 4, 2008

Early April Greenhouse Update


The sun is finally burning off the fog that has obscured the valley this morning. It's still pretty cold and sometimes frosty in the mornings but they are predicting 60 degrees tomorrow!

We're filling the greenhouses and have moved trays into the ancient lean - to (at left). This structure came with the farm.The other greenhouses were built within the last couple years and we are contemplating adding another in the next few seasons!

The nursery greenhouse was busy this morning, with Hector and Simone doing a second planting of fennel seeds. As you can see, the trays and trays of peppers are thriving!








The herb packs and okra are coming along well, too. We think the herb packs will be ready for CSA delivery for the end of May - just in time to plant in your own garden!









I took a walk across the road to check on the big greenhouse - it's almost full to capacity!! Soon the onions will be moved to the cold frames outside and then to the field!!

The progress with all the little plants is amazing to me. The trays are filling in and the plants are colorful, tall, lush, healthy. Left to right we have:





Red Marimba & Green North Star Lettuce


Fennel and lettuce








Kohlrabi & Napa Cabbage


Broccoli & Bok Choi
We still have shares available for our CSA and now is the time to sign up. Our first deliveries are the weeks of May 8-10 & May 15-17, depending on what you order. We still have coffee, fruit & cheese shares available too! And Beef! OMG go to our website & read all about it! Eat local, go organic, be an adventurous cook, live well my friend.