We can still support them; we just do it without storing anything on-site and without equipment staged there. Not being able to clear the roads adds a level of difficulty, but it does not stop us.
After each main storm, for years now, someone has walked the site and checked the greenhouses. We are looking for two things.
First is snow load, especially where snow slides off the roof and builds up along the sides. That side pressure matters. It has dropped two greenhouses on this site in the last 20 years. The repairs were long, hard, and expensive.
Second is rips in the plastic. A small rip can turn into a big one fast. Sometimes it goes from a rip to the whole roof plastic tearing off quicker than you would think.
Today, as normal, I headed over to Sunny Meadow to check the Chey greenhouse and the COSS and community garden greenhouse. I have photos below, and you can see the snow load is acceptable right now. There is still a lot on top, but not a dangerous amount piled up along the sides. We are not at the point where we need to run snow blowers along the sides and shovel out the buildup, but another storm, or even a rain event, could change that quickly.
There is one issue that needs attention.
There is a rip in the front of greenhouse #2, and that must be repaired before the next high wind event. That repair is always a two-person job, so I expect we will tackle it Saturday. If I see high winds coming sooner, I will call in a couple of favors, and we will get it done earlier.
Some people will say, “It’s a for-profit farm, so you should not help them.”
I disagree.
Farmers are, and always have been, part of the fabric of this town. I want them here in the future. Supporting farmers sometimes means trudging through snow, checking greenhouses, and pulling together a small repair crew when something needs fixing.
I am 100% ok with that.
Every farmer we lose is losing a piece of what makes Chelmsford feel like Chelmsford.
Not on my watch. Not in my town.
See photos below.
501(c)(3) note: COSS support for local agriculture is volunteer community service that advances land stewardship and community benefit. We do not promote or endorse any private business, and no one personally profits from COSS activities or resources.