Delivery News
Order deadline will be changing soon:
In an effort to achieve a more appropriate work/life balance, We will soon be moving the weekly order deadline to Noon on the day before we deliver the order.  This will go into effect in a couple of weeks (June 14), so no need to panic today. We want to spend a couple weeks getting the word out so that no one gets caught off guard. With three small children, it's just not fair to my wife that I spent 3 nights per week packing orders until 10-11pm. This small change should allow us to be finished at a reasonable time.  I will make every effort to get order reminders out on Monday morning to account for the shorter ordering window. I hope this isn't too much of an inconvenience, and I appreciate your understanding. 
FarmFan: Get Text Message Reminders and Receive Rewards.
As one of our Farmfans you are able to receive text message reminders, both to place your order and to come pick-up your order. You will also have the ability to check-in when you pick-up. As you accumulate check-ins you will earn rewards such as Grocery Bags, T-shirts, Discounts.

Spring Vegetable Shares are available to start mid-season.
Sample Share Photo. Each weekly share will vary. 
You can sign up late for the Vegetable Share, the price is prorated accordingly.  Get a box of fresh, local, organic vegetables each week delivered to the delivery location of your choosing. New for this year, you will now be able to put your share on hold for a couple of weeks if you are on vacation, then receive extra when you are back in town. 
 
On the Farm

Theme of the week: Water
Sometimes the troubles and frustrations of farming seem to share a theme. This has been one of those weeks, and this weeks theme is water. 

First and most obvious: We need rain. Pastures are already getting parched, young corn plants are thirsty, and hay fields need to regrow. The whole farm is dusty, so bring on some rain.

Second, a nonfunctioning well is much more important when the wet-weather creek stops flowing. We rent several farms around us, and one rather large farm that we rent for grazing cattle has a well.  There are a few small creeks that run in wet weather, but dry up in the summer.  The well has been out for few weeks, but we knew the cows had water in the creeks...until they didn't. We have been hauling the water daily and fixing the well jumped to the top of the priority list. 

Lastly,watering chickens in a mobile coop...(insert eyerolling emoji): We got the chickens out on pasture in the new mobile pasture coop last week. Like many newly finished projects, its wasn't totally finished. I had a great design for a watering system, but it was still in my head.  So we went out to pasture with the intent of continuing to water the broiler chickens with the small fountain waterers that we had used in the brooder. Let me tell you, 200 broiler chickens drink a lot of water when it hits 90 degrees. 

So, in between hauling water to the cows and hauling water to the chickens, We did find time to finish the chicken watering system. I'm glad to report that it is working well (facebook pics coming tomorrow).  The well house has been cleaned out, the top has been removed, and tools have been gathered. Work on the well will commence in the morning. as soon as we finish hauling the cows some water.  

Moral of the story: Finish projects completely, Do what you know needs doing, and pray for rain!
 
I will be posting pictures of our endeavors.. Be sure to check out:  www.facebook.com/carltonfarm  or on our new instagram account @carltonfarm

Thanks for your continued support. At Carlton Farms we are proud to be your farmer.

Sincerely,

Chad Carlton
Carlton Farms