Two Toad Farm sets signups for fresh veggies

A typical Two Toad Farm display at Portsmouth Farmer\'s Market. (Courtesy photos/Jordan Pike

LEBANON - Two Toad Farm will be selling CSA shares (reserve your own), Seedling Shares (grow your own), and Marketshares (choose your own at market) for the 2015 season on Sunday at the Berwick Winter Farmers' Market.

With deadlines looming (March 15) for yearly pay in full discounts, Two Toad Farm has decided to unveil several contest giveaways totaling $200.00 or more.

"We want people to take advantage of our discount options just as much as we want folks to buy our healthy, locally grown food and seedlings," said Jordan Pike of Two Toad Farm in Lebanon.

Contests will tap into how well folks can remember last summer and test their knowledge about gardening and local food prices.

To participate, contestants must be present at the event, which will run from 10 a.m. till 1:30 p.m. at the Berwick Town Hall, 11 Sullivan St., in Berwick.

Marybeth Stocking of Two Toad Farm said the contests are designed to be fun and informative.

"Each year is different, and so are the harvests. These contests will get people thinking about local food and how it relates to life in Maine," she said.

Seedling production at Two Toad Farm home gardens in South Lebanon.

Jordan Pike started Two Toad Farm in 2008 with a dream to strengthen the local food supply as well as the local economy of the town he grew up in.

Marybeth Stocking joined the farm in 2010, and also invented the Seedling CSA. The couple now farms at historic Red Wing Farm at 288 Upper Cross Road in Lebanon. This beautiful, scenic gem is preserved by Three Rivers Land Trust, boasts a Tree Farm, and is also a National Bicentennial Farm.

"It's our dream farm. Both Three Rivers [Land Trust] and the family that owns the property have be great to work with," said Pike.

The Summer Vegetable CSA began in 2009 and has expanded to include Marketshares and a popular Seedling CSA.

Community Supported Agriculture shares finance the farm's seasonal expenses. Shareholders pay in full before May 15 and then pick up a weekly share of herbs and veggies every Monday for 20 weeks (June-October). For each Marketshare purchased for $100, the shareholder gets $120 credit that is good for any farm products at any market all year long-- an automatic savings of 20 percent. Marketshares offer more flexibility, choice, and are a smaller commitment. The Seedling CSA offers a preplanned garden with expert tips, tricks and advice for fertility, planting, and pest and weed control to teach people how to grow their own food. Five seedling pickups are spread out from May to July with plants that include late crops, early crops, and storage crops.

For more info about the Berwick Winter Market see: www. berwickfarmersmarket.wordpress.com

For more information about Two Toad Farm go to www.TwoToadFarm.com