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    Farmhouse Soup & Grilled Cheese

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    Meal-kit idea from Bardwell Farm Store

    Recipe Serves 2 people

    Ingredients

    Hearty Vegetable Soup
    1 Tbsp butter
    1 medium onion, diced
    2 cloves garlic, minced
    2 medium carrots, sliced
    2 medium potatoes, diced
    ¼ small head cabbage, shredded or chopped
    3 cups chicken stock
    2–3 sprigs fresh thyme
    ¾ tsp kosher salt (to start, adjust to taste)
    ¼ tsp black pepper

    Classic Grilled Cheese
    4 slices sourdough bread (2 sandwiches)
    4 slices cheddar cheese
    1½ Tbsp butter, softened (for grilling)

    Warm Macoun Apples (Dessert)
    2 Macoun apples, cored and sliced
    ½ Tbsp butter
    Small pinch of salt

    Method

    1. Make the soup
    In a medium pot over medium heat, melt 1 Tbsp butter. Add the onion and a pinch of salt. Cook 6–8 minutes until soft and lightly golden.

    Stir in garlic and cook 30 seconds. Add carrots and potatoes, stirring to coat.

    Add cabbage, thyme, remaining salt, and pepper. Pour in 3 cups chicken stock, just enough to cover the vegetables.

    Bring to a gentle simmer, reduce heat, and cook uncovered 25–30 minutes, until potatoes are tender and broth is rich. Remove thyme stems and adjust seasoning.

    2. Grill the cheese
    Butter one side of each slice of sourdough.
    Layer cheddar slices between unbuttered sides and cook in a skillet over medium-low heat until bread is golden and cheese is melted. Slice in half.

    3. Warm the apples
    Melt ½ Tbsp butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Add Macoun apples and a tiny pinch of salt. Cook 5–7 minutes, stirring gently, until just tender and glossy.

    Serve hot bowls of vegetable soup with grilled cheese on the side for dipping. Finish with warm Macoun apples for a simple, naturally sweet dessert. Enjoy!
  • Published on

    Farmer John's winter weather forecast

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    PHOTO CREDIT | Bardwell Farm

    Bundle Up, Friends and Neighbors
    Hey everyone, Farmer John here from Bardwell Farm. You know, every year about this time, we farmers get to squinting at the skies and poring over every weather prediction we can get our hands on. It's not just for our crops; it's for planning everything from when we bring in the last of the harvest to making sure our equipment is ready for the cold. And this year, well, let's say winter's got some interesting things in store for us here in the Northeast.

    Now, I'm no fancy meteorologist with all the big words, but I can tell you what all the "science talk" means for us down on the farm, and for you, too!

    So, What's the Scoop on Winter?
    Basically, we're looking at a colder winter than we've seen in a while, and when it does decide to snow, it could really come down.

    Here's why, in plain ol' weather talk:

    1. The Pacific Ocean is Playing it Cool (That's "La Niña")
    Imagine a huge swimming pool way out in the Pacific Ocean. Normally, that water is pretty warm. But this year, that big pool is getting colder than usual. Folks call that "La Niña."

    Why does that matter to us in Hatfield, Massachusetts? Well, that cold water way out there actually messes with the big river of air that flows high above us, what the weather folks call the "jet stream." It's like that cold spot gives the jet stream a big nudge, pushing it further south than it usually goes over our country.

    The result? That jet stream becomes a superhighway for cold air. It just funnels freezing air straight down from Canada and the North Pole right to our doorstep. So, expect to really feel that chill in your bones this winter!

    2. The North Pole's Cold Air is Getting Jumpy ("Wobbly Polar Vortex")
    Way up north, at the actual North Pole, there's a huge, swirling mass of super-cold air. Think of it like a big, invisible lid on a pot, keeping all that freezing air trapped up north. That's the Polar Vortex.

    This year, this "lid" is looking a bit wobbly and unstable. When that happens, chunks of that super-cold, Arctic air can break off and come wandering south, right into our region.

    The result? This is what brings us those really sharp, sudden cold snaps that make you want to stay indoors by the fire with a warm cup of cider. We might see a few more of those this winter!

    3. When it Snows, it'll Really Snow (Even if we don't get a ton of storms)
    Now, you might hear some folks say we won't get more storms than usual. But here's the kicker: because of all that cold air we just talked about, when a storm does come through, it's almost guaranteed to be cold enough for snow.

    The result? So, even if the total number of storms isn't record-breaking, the storms we do get are very likely to dump a good amount of the white stuff. Get those shovels ready, and maybe think about investing in a good snowblower if you haven't already.

    The information for the weather forecast was gathered from a number of resources, including: The Farmers' Almanac, NOAA's Climate Prediction CenterUSDA Agricultural Weather Highlights
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    Farm voices heard

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    Farmer Harrison Bardwell, right, speaks to U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern, front left, other state officials, and members from the United States Department of Agriculture and Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources during a visit to Bardwell Farm, Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025, in Hatfield. Staff Photo/Daniel Jacobi II

    McGovern’s Annual Tour Highlights Need for Support
    This week, Bardwell Farm had the honor of hosting Congressman Jim McGovern during his 15th annual farm tour through the region. He was joined by state officials from USDA and the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, and together we walked the fields, stepped inside the high tunnels, and talked about the challenges and opportunities that farms like ours face every single day.

    A Look Inside the High Tunnels
    We showed Congressman McGovern our two 200-foot high tunnels where bell peppers and tomatoes were growing strong - a full month ahead of the outdoor field season. These tunnels help us achieve our dream of becoming a “365 farm,” with fresh greens available even through the winter.

    But as we explained during the tour, this year hasn’t been easy. Weather extremes, market swings, and political uncertainty have made 2025 one of our most challenging seasons since we started in 2016. To keep moving forward, we need three more high tunnels to help stabilize production and meet the growing demand for local produce year-round.

    Concerns About Federal Program Cuts
    The conversation turned serious when we talked about losing federal funding in programs like LFPA (Local Food Purchase Assistance) and Farm to School. These initiatives are critical for connecting local farms to schools, hospitals, and food pantries - and when the funding goes away, so does a reliable market for what we grow.

    We also discussed cuts to SNAP and the Healthy Incentives Program (HIP), which make it more difficult for families to afford fresh food. These programs don’t just help farms - they strengthen entire communities by making sure everyone can put healthy meals on the table.
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    Farmer Harrison Bardwell, right, speaks to U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern, center, other state officials and members from the United States Department of Agriculture and Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources during a visit at Bardwell Farm, Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025, in Hatfield. Staff Photo/Daniel Jacobi II

    McGovern’s Message of Support
    Congressman McGovern pledged to carry our concerns back to Washington and to keep fighting for policies that help - not hurt - small farms. He reminded us that institutions like schools and hospitals should prioritize buying local, and that federal policy should be “the wind at our back.”

    Before leaving, he stopped by the stand and bought some produce - a small gesture that shows his commitment to walking the talk when it comes to supporting local farms.

    Why This Matters
    Farming is never easy, but this year has pushed many of us to our limits. Knowing we have allies like Congressman McGovern, Representative Lindsay Sabadosa, and Senator Jo Comerford gives us hope that our voices are being heard and that change is possible.

    At Bardwell Farm, we’ll keep doing what we do best - growing food, caring for the land, and feeding our neighbors. However, we’ll also continue to speak up, because the future of farming depends on it.
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    Congressman McGovern's tour ended in the summer tent where everyone went home with some Labor Day Goodies. Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025, in Hatfield. Photo Credit Bardwell Farm
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    Massachusetts farmers scrambling

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    Stanley Zalewski picks a ripe bundle of romaine lettuce at the Wellspring Harvest greenhouse in Springfield, Massachusetts | Alexi Cohan  GBH News

    Massachusetts farmers scrambling to sell crops after USDA funding cuts leave them without a buyer
    Alexi Cohan | GBH News

    May 01, 2025 On a humid April afternoon at Wellspring Harvest in Springfield, Stanley Zalewski is in the midst of a rapid search for a backup plan to sell countless heads of lettuce and basil plants.

    He doesn’t have a buyer for much of the upcoming summer harvest, as he was expecting.

    This season, the U.S. Department of Agriculture cut $1 billion in two federal grant programs that had helped schools and food hubs pay for locally produced food. That’s left Massachusetts farmers scrambling in an already difficult-to-sustain industry — while the schools, food hubs, food pantries and food banks who got those grants grapple with an unifiable gap in fresh, local food.... read more
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    No federal grants spells bad news...

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    Protesters stood outside of Hadley's Town Hall on March 23 to speak out against federal funding cuts impacting local farms. JOHN GOVE

    John Gove is a family farmer and environmental journalist in Leominster.

    No federal grants spells bad news for the Mass. local food ecosystem
    Funding cuts are taking money out of farmers’ pockets and food out
    of hungry mouths.

    By John Gove Updated April 23, 2025, 3:00 a.m.

    Sunny afternoons in the spring mean New England farmers are tending to their
    greenhouses, working with livestock, or pruning their fruit trees in preparation for the upcoming growing season. Protesting usually doesn’t make the list of chores.

    In late March, several hundred farmers, their supporters, and legislators gathered at
    the Town Hall in Hadley to voice their frustration with cuts made by the Department
    of Government Efficiency to federal programs that provide grants to farmers...

    ​Read full article
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    No room? Instant Greenhouse!

    Harrison talks about a solution when he runs out of room in the greenhouse. Grab a coffee and come farming with us!

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