NOTES FROM THE FIELDS
Hello Finca Family!
Spring is in the air, and with the new season comes some changes on the farm. Two weeks ago we said goodbye to Zay, and we wish them all the best on their new farm in Vermont where I am certain their life will flourish. I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself as the newest member of the Fince Tres Robles team and new farm manager. I am incredibly honored to become a part of this beautiful community where I have already been welcomed into this ever-growing and loving family. I am originally from Houston, but I did not start my farming career until I moved from Texas. Shortly after graduating from the University of Texas in Austin with a degree in Ecology and Evolution, I decided to pursue an opportunity with Baylor College of Medicine’s global women’s health program in Lilongwe, Malawi. Malawi, a small landlocked country in southeastern Africa, is where my passion for land stewardship and integrated health was born. My work there eventually led to me growing a community garden using the land of a government hospital in a very fast-growing part of the city. Our small hospital was tasked by the government of Malawi to serve the population of 500,000 living in the surrounding region. In Malawi, pregnant women are legally obligated to give birth in healthcare facilities which are often far from their homes and support systems, so our program focused on caring for these women while they stayed with us. Everything we grew was given to the women to feed themselves and their families. Our farm was about 4 acres and contained many crops, fruit trees, chickens, and rabbits. On top of growing food, we hold educational opportunities for the women including cooking classes, lectures on the warning signs of pregnancy, soymilk making classes, and workshops on seed saving and tree planting. As I leave that chapter behind and start my next, I am excited to reconnect with my roots here in Houston and promote life as much as I am able.
I am thrilled to meet everyone who is a part of this community, so please come say hi to me at the farm when you can!
Nick
WHAT’S IN THE SHARE
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Kale: Dino kale just has that deep-green flavor. It shines in salad or soup.
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Carrots: Rainbow carrots – all colors taste similarly.
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Chard: Unbelievably vibrant chard – cook up the stems first, then the leaves.
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Fennel: Delicious bulb with a fragrant set of fragrant greens perfect to add in a pesto!
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Grapefruit: In season citrus grown right here in the East End!
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Lettuce: This romaine is quite delicate and crisp.