Rain or Shine: June Updates from the Farm & a Book Announcement

June is an intense time of year on the farm. Rain or shine, we are working to grow food for our community. My days consist of endless planting, weeding, mowing and rotating livestock on fields. My body is sore, but my heart is full. Go ahead and get yourself a cup of whatever and join me at Runamuk Acres for the latest updates from the farm.

Welcome to Updates From the Farm! If you are new here, I invite you to check out my About page to learn what this is, who I am and why I am doing this. Or just dive right in! At “Runamuk Acres” you’ll find the recantings of one lady-farmer and tree-hugging activist from the western mountains of Maine. #foodieswanted

It had been drizzling all morning, as I set about my usual morning critter-chores. But then, standing in the garden taking the first harvest of the 2024 growing season: radishes, lettuce, scallions and chives—the rain picked up until it was a proper down-pour.

Looking around the landscape as the sheet of cascading rain enveloped my little farm, I had to laugh at the irony of the situation. Of course I’d have to take the first harvest in the rain!

Wearing the same beat-up old ball cap I’ve worn these last 6 seasons (the one given to me by Nancy, a former supervisor at Johnny’s Selected Seeds), along with a raincoat and galloshes, I was dressed for the occasion. I love rain.

Joy and pride surged within me and I returned to the work of pulling radishes. It was Friday and I wanted these veggies on the farmstand for locals—rain or shine.

That’s what June is like on the farm. Animals gotta get moved, crops gotta get planted, weeded and fertilized, regardless of the weather. Farmers work long days this time of year, trying to keep up with it all as best we can.

In the Garden

I’m still planting away in the garden, putting succession-sowings of lettuce and broccoli in the ground. I still have some herb and flower seedlings to transplant, too. Likely, I’ll plant second and third sowings of cucumbers, carrots and green beans.

With a number of beds currently under black tarping to smother weeds, I’m determined to plant a round of fall crops come July. Root crops like carrots and turnips are cold-hardy vegetables. They’ll allow me to extend my growing into the fall season, thereby bringing more income to the farm.

It’s a challenge to balance the on-going planting with the maintenance of weeding and fertilizing, but the garden is looking sharp and I’m damned proud of what I’ve done.

Fundraiser Success!

Thanks to the support of my local and online communities, Runamuk was able to successfully raise the monies we need to keep our sheep in conservation for another year.

Once the new fence-charger arrived, I spent the entirety of the day last Thursday finally bringing the field-fence online for the season.

Thank you to everyone who shared and donated—or even if you just sent good juju—I thank you for your support. You cannot know what a difference that makes in my world. I am humbled and grateful, validated and inspired to keep going.

Thank you.

Upcoming Farmiversary!

With the immediate urgency of the fence-troubles and the fundraising behind us, I can look forward to more exciting endeavors. Such as our upcoming farmiversary!!!

On June 27th it will have been 6 years since I bought this property, and moved my farm and family to New Portland, Maine. 6 years I’ve spent building infrastructure, soil and gardens, and growing my conservation efforts here.

On June 27th, 2018, I bought a farm!

This year, in celebration of that anniversary, I’ll finally be releasing my book: “How to Buy a Farm With No Money: A Guide to Working With the USDA Farm Service Agency”.

I couldn’t find the original article, but I came across a post on Substack recently about a writer who had published a simple blogging start-up guide, which she sold as an e-book for 99-cents on Amazon Kindle. That 99-cent e-book was a surprising income generator for the author (if you know the author or piece I’m referring to, please leave a comment or link below so I can credit them properly!), serving as a low-risk investment for would-be bloggers.

Super-psyched about the whole thing, I’ve put in a lot of early-morning hours on that manuscript. I’ve compiled decades of information and experience garnered along my journey to farm-ownership, and I’m including links to recommended resources. Already the book is coming in at 5,000 words and I still have more to say. If this book helps other beginning farmers, I am happy to share.

Though I may list it for more than 99-cents, the e-book will be less than $5 to make the investment attainable for bootstrap and start-up farmers. Stay tuned for the debut of “How to Buy a Farm With No Money: A Guide to Working With the USDA Farm Service Agency” on 06.27.2024!

*****If you would like to be a beta-reader for this e-book, please email me directly!*****

Notes for Subscribers (Free + Paid)

I’ve been giving some consideration to the frequency of farm-updates and wondering if I should make a change. Weekly updates became a habit when I managed a CSA for our local community. They were one of the perks of the farm-share program that my customers liked best.

Sometimes they get a little boring for me, though I think I’ve mostly found ways to liven them up—both for you and for me. The problem is at this time of year, when I am overwhelmed by the needs of the farm, the updates leave little time for any other kind of writing. It’s less of an issue during the winter.

So far I’ve managed okay and I can continue to juggle these responsibilities if readers are enjoying the weekly farm-updates. However, with only a 30-something percent open-rate, I’m wondering if the frequency is too much.

Please leave your feedback on this poll…

Rain or Shine

I’ve always loved weather, though I can’t say exactly why... It speaks to some feral part of me, resonating with the wild-woman inside. I keen to it as a moth to the flame, seeking to immerse myself in the elements. In the outdoors.

Radishes from the Runamuk garden!

Perhaps it’s the changing nature of weather—never staying in one attitude for too long. Or it could be the raw power displayed by Mother Nature, never one to be taken for granted.

Whatever it is, I love all the many moods of our planet. It’s hard not to feel grateful when surrounded remarkable beauty and miraculous creatures.

Aside from the twice-daily critter-chores, which must be done rain or shine, through sleet, snow or blistering heat, most of the time I have the option to select projects according to the weather. I don’t have to work in the rain if I don’t want to.

On this particular day, however, the first vegetables had finally reached a harvestable size and I was determined to have them on the farmstand for the weekend. Lettuces, radishes, scallions and chives (with the blossoms, thanks to

Lisa Brunette

who reminded me they are edible) were harvested, washed and packed to join the dozens of eggs in the farmstand refrigerator.

And so I laughed, standing there in the garden as the rain poured down. With any luck the neighbors saw it as a testament to the badass lady-farmer that I am—a commitment to local food that is unparalleled—and not the crazy behavior of the local eccentric, lol. Much love to you and yours, my friends!

Your friendly neighborhood farmer,

Sam

Tipping is not mandatory, but always appreciated!

Thank you for following along with the story of this lady-farmer! It is truly a privilege to live this life serving my family and community, and protecting wildlife through agricultural conservation. Check back soon for more updates from the farm, and be sure to follow @RunamukAcres on Instagram or Facebook!