Saying Good bye to Fall and to a Friend of the Farm

The first arctic weather event of the year is passing through from the north at about the same time as last year. Cold November rain and wind brought down most of the leaves this week, and snow christened the lower flanks of the Cascades in the distance.

As our field workers push on to harvest the winter root plantings, our storerooms are filling with the bounty of the season–bins are stacked five- and six-high with potatoes, carrots, parsnips, beets, winter squash, turnips, cabbage and celeriac. There is much to be thankful for.

After a wet, windy harvest day recently, Full Circle farm folk gathered together for a dinner to celebrate our esteemed colleague Emily Cronk, who, after four years at the farm, is moving on to explore new opportunities. Hailing from Minnesota, Emily traveled the world as an ESL teacher before enrolling in our internship program in 2008. She proved to be a quick study; after one season, all of the farm’s greenhouse and planting operations were put into her capable hands.

Seed purchasing and inventory, masterminding the yearly planting plan—and actually executing that plan, both on the greenhouse seed-line and in the fields—are short descriptions of the countless hours of difficult work she handled so well. What is it about Minnesota people? Long and tall, mild-mannered, hardworking and humble, Emily Cronk exemplified the “get-it-done” attitude that farming demands, and always with a ready smile.

As we look for her replacement, it’s apparent what an integral role she played in the growth of our operation over the last several years, and how huge her contribution has been to our success. Thank you, Em. Good luck in all of your future endeavors! Yours are some tough boots to fill.