Summer Solstice Celebration – at North Slope Farm

Wednesday June 21, 2017 – 7 pm and on..

Come early to visit our farmstand, swim and walk the Trail, Picnic, Hang Out…

Pot-Luck Dinner, BYOB, Live Music and Firelit night, Plus fireflies and Sunset..

Grill will be hot for grilling..  PS… we carry Green Duchess Sausages in Farmstand

Details:  1701 Linvale-Harbourton Road is the Location,

but extra parking and easier access from 386 Rock Road East – West Amwell NJ 08530

Understanding Soil at North Slope Farm – Information Sheet

Fertilizer equation at bottom of handout..

Carbon Sequestration at North Slope Farm; Wednesday June 21, 5-7pm

NOFA-NJ, the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New Jersey, invites you to visit North Slope Farm, 6 miles to the east of Lambertville, NJ, to discuss Carbon Sequestration, as it relates to agriculture.

PLEASE follow links, above, or from our Home Page, to NOFA-NJ to sign up for this workshop – Please become a member of NOFA and support Organic!

Click for Link to Recommended Reading : http://www.nofa.org/pdfs/2015_White_Paper_web.pdf

Soil Carbon Restoration: Can Biology do the job? ; Jack Kittredge, 8/14/15, www.NOFAmass.org

Farmer Mike will introduce the topic, as it relates to his experience and perspective.  We will encourage participants to express their understanding or questions about Carbon Sequestration.  Join the workshop on a walking tour of farming practices at North Slope.

North Slope Farm has served its communities, for over 20 years, with Organic Produce, Herbs and Flowers.  In that time we have found Organic Practices, when actively applied, to build the vigor and viability of our soils.  Cover-cropping, Living Mulches,  reducing soil tillage and fostering wild areas and field strips are integral to a healthy future, and we are glad to share that with you!

 North Slope Farm Event -Trail Walks

Saturdays at 9 am.

Meet at: Farmhouse Parking lot, 1701 Linvale-Harbourton Road, 08530.

Guided Trail Walk, to begin at 9 am.

Firm Ground, Winter Birds and Open Spaces..  for more info see the post Fall Trail Running..

Please RSVP to North Slope Farm to confirm your participation!

609-460-4636

Informal Gathering of Friends, known and new,

we’ll be meeting each Wednesday, from 5-7,

at the Farmhouse, 1701 Linvale-Harbourton Rd (Route 579).

When we are lucky, Musicians will be in attendance…

North Slope Farm will provide samples of our Specialty Herb Infusions,

And a Market Table will be available for purchase of select items,

Our Specialty Herbs, Heirloom Tomato Goodness and Ketchup,

Our Fresh Eggs and Juice and Produce as conditions permit..

If considering joining us, please call ahead of time to confirm!

609-460-4636 – pls leave brief message with number to receive return call.

Tomato Fight 2016 –

We do not condone violence – in any form – though we acknowledge that LIFE is full of Challenges,

To face challenges we need to be strong, to be strong, we need to strive,

Throwing Rotten Tomatoes at each other, though somewhat violent, seems like a reasonably ok way to strive..

• Rules :
  

• 1)Tomatoes should splat..  If they are hard, they should be crushed before throwing, if with Stem – remove stem.

• 2)Only those who are prepared to be SPLATED, should enter the Tomato Fight Area.

• 3)No Tomato throwing outside of the tomato fight area.  SERIOUSLY
  

Sunday September 11, 2016

5pm to 6:30 Potluck Dinner and Gathering @ NorthSlopeFarm 386 Rock Road East, West Amwell, NJ 08530

No later than 7pm, probably earlier, all participants will be brought to the Tomato Fight area and Warned..

Wear Shoes , Dont Come back until you are done, and assume you will twist your ankle, get snagged by Brambles,

and Stung by Stinging Nettle !!

Questions?  email us at NorthSlopeFarm@comcast.net

All are Welcome – if its your first time – seek out Yellow T-Shirted folks for orientation !

Reccomendations:

• Wear sneakers, close toed shoes, that you dont mind never wearing again!
• Bring a change of clothes
• bring a towel (swimming pool available for plunging into)
• Introduce yourself to Farm Staff and Friends (wearing Yellow T-Shirts) – ask for Mike, for official welcome..
• Come prepared to relax or strive, or both, enjoy the evening !!

Food Safety Workshop – NOFA-NJ, Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension

Hosted at North Slope Farm, farming organically for over twenty years, in the Garden State of New Jersey.

Wednesday September 7 ; 3 pm – 5 pm, followed by discussions, music and refreshments at our Farmstand (1701 Linvale-Harbourton Rd).

EVENT LOCATION: 386 Rock Road East, West Amwell, NJ 08530

Closest intersection – Route 579 and Rock Road East, Between Routes 518 and 31.

PLEASE REGISTER with NOFA-NJ: http://www.nofanj.org/announcements/food-safety-workshop

There will be a presentation of important information for growers and food handlers, followed by a tour of North Slope’s food handling operation, focusing on the topics and questions raised.

Following the event, participants are encouraged to linger and enjoy some live music and light refreshments.

Summer Solstice 2016

North Slope Farm FarmHouse,  1701 Linvale- Harbourton Rd, West Amwell, NJ 08530

June 20 – Monday 7 pm into the night…  Got kids? bring em early for a swim, we’ll be probably be there swimming too, take a walk on the farm, down to the pond, check for ticks!

Winter is truly gone now and Summer is Here.  Over the Years, The transitions surprise me, as they often have already happened, and are moving on to the next season, before I really know it!

SO we gather, to take a moment in the rush, to honor the Sun, and our relation to it – and we hope you’ll come celebrate this special time with us.

We’ll be chilling by the pool, the grill will be hot for you to throw something on to eat, there will be salads and desserts that the community brings to share.

Bring a blanket, frisbee, lawn chair, enjoy the evening and our shared world – Happy Solstice to ya – Hope to see you there !

Stop by our farmstand this Wednesday between 6pm and 7pm for a free demonstration in probiotic food preparation.

Dorothy Mullen, of The Suppers Program, will discuss the health benefits of fermented foods

AND show you how easy it is to do it yourself!

1701 Linvale-Harbourton Road

West Amwell, NJ 08530

How To Hire and Keep Good Employees

NOFA-NJ Winter Conference 2016

Mike Rassweiler – NorthSlopeFarm.com

(Below are the Slides from the Presentation, offered for reference and as sample of the presentation…)

Links and References

• NorthSlopeFarm.com ; Mission Statement, Training Program, Workers Wages

• IRS ; Employers Tax Guide ; Circular E, Publication 15

• IRS ; Agricultural Employers Tax Guide; Circular A ; Publication 225

• ATTRA – NCAT Sustainable Farming Internships and Apprenticeships

• NOFA – NJ ;  Classified Listings

• USDA Economic Research Service / Farm Economy

• Salatin, Joel.  Fields of Farmers.  Virginia: Polyface Inc.

 The Employee, defined by the IRS

• Someone who does work for you (the employer).
• Someone who follows your directions and instructions.
• Someone who uses your tools, machines and facilities.

Experienced Worker vs Untrained Worker

Describe the Worker you Seek

Draft the expected Wages and Benefits you will Provide

Wage Rate commitment at North Slope Farm for 2016

• First Years: $9 / hr
• Second Years: $11 / hr
• Third Years : $12 / hr
• Experienced and Committed Workers : $13 / Hr

Our schedule assumes a 40 hour work week,

Over a season from March through November ( 41 weeks )

Maximum expected wages for 2016: $90,700 + employer taxes (+/- $8,500)

• 2 First Years: $29,500
• 1 Second Year: $18,000
• 1 Third Year (24 weeks): $11,500
• 1 Worker (full time): $21,200
• 1 Worker (part time): $10,500

If everyone works full time, to achieve a 40% payroll ratio,

Our Gross Income Goal will need to be $300,000 +/-

Venture Viability Calculations

Calculating Required Gross Income to meet Wage Demands assuming goal of 40% of Income in Wages

( Expected Wages X 1.5 ) + Expected Wages = Gross Income Goal

So , for example, assume; a worker at $9 / hr X 40 hrs X 32 weeks (April-Nov) = $11,520

Then assume you’ll need; 2 workers = $23,040

($23,040 X 1.5) + $23,040 = $57,600 estimated Gross Income for a Venture that will hire two Seasonal Workers,

So, $57,600 (Gross) – $23,040 (wages) = $34,560 will be the remainder for operations and profit…

Assuming Production over 6 months (+/- 24 weeks) = $2,400 sales per week, required…

Other factors to consider: Potential Yield per acre & Number of Workers required (per acre)