A Farm Is a Large Clock

THE WEEK

Last week our elusive but reliable woodsman delivered several cords to our driveway—the kind of insurance that yields in me feelings of gratitude and slight aggravation (another thing to haul and stack). At the back end of our field, a stout dump truck deposited fifty yards of wood chips, a pile that now sits proud of its concrete bay, next to an equal amount of compost. If it’s possible to see the future—or imagine it—I think a farmer sees it in steady mountains of organic matter and thick packets of seed. In six months, we’ll dress the fields with compost, and cushion our walkways with chips, nourishing the next generation of plants.

A farm is, in its way, a large clock, where time is measured from the first spring shoot to its final cut. By the second week of November, our field kale shows no signs of slowing, and we’ve just tucked our tender lettuces under row cover—a material as thin as a tissue capable of staving off several degrees of cold. For now, we still have our Tenderwild Mix, thanks to a string of forgiving days. Inside our greenhouses, rows of fat-leaved spinach and lacy Red Russian Kale are tender-stemmed versions of a cord of wood: hardy plants to see us through winter.

FRIDAY & SUNDAY REMINDER + THANKSGIVING BREAK

For those of you in the area, we’d love to see you at the farm this Friday! Our barn store will be open from 12–5:30 PM for in-person shopping, with plenty of fresh organic produce and good things for the kitchen. Our online Winter Store is open for orders every Sunday, from 7 AM to midnight. Shop on Sunday, and we’ll gather and pack your order for pickup or local delivery on Friday.

As we are taking a break for Thanksgiving, this Sunday (11/15) will be the last chance to order online before Thanksgiving. Rest assured, all of our greens will keep beautifully until feast day.

GIFT BOXES

TENDERWILD GIFT BOXES

Since starting this farm, we’ve met dozens of people making great food and thoughtful products in Maine, many of which we now sell in our barn store. Customers have frequently asked if we can ship these goods but until now, we haven’t been able to accommodate these requests. This year we’ve created four distinct gift boxes filled with products from some our favorite Maine makers. We crafted these boxes with our customers in mind—for those who love good food, those who need of a little rest and care, those who find joy in hosting a dinner and laying a beautiful table, and those with a soft spot for Maine.

You can purchase a Tenderwild gift box at any time (not only on Sundays), and we offer free shipping to any address in the lower 48. Because many of the products we feature are made by hand in small batches, quantities are limited.

MAKER SPOTLIGHT

MAKER SPOTLIGHT: SWEET MONKEY BUSINESS

As someone who bakes for the pleasure of process and edible reward, I’m often underwhelmed by the baked goods that I sample, and I find most things too sweet. When I first tried a shortbread cookie from Sweet Monkey Business, I was pleasantly surprised: the right marriage of butter, sugar, salt; the right crumb; the right degree of snap and yield.

Matt Burke and Jim Thompson were home bakers before they began selling their shortbread at the Belfast Farmer’s Market in 2020. When the pandemic struck, they pivoted to online sales. Today, they make exceptional shortbread and granola in a facility on Main Street in Belfast, selling throughout the state and beyond.

Our favorite? Lemon. Runners up: chocolate chunk and cocoa. You can find Sweet Monkey’s shortbread cookies and blueberry granola in our From Maine, With Love gift box, as well as in our Winter Store (local delivery & pickup only).

ON OUR TABLE

Growing up on Nantucket, with its longstanding Portuguese community, this soup—with its base of savory linguica, potatoes, and kale—was a staple. As a vegetarian, I now swap out the meat but add a dash smoked paprika to lend warmth and depth. To me, this soup is pure comfort food—the perfect choice for taking the chill off a November evening.