Editor’s note: We have reached out to Farmer John to find out more information about exactly what Senator Booker needs to do, and if the other New Jersey senator can do this instead. It might be helpful for concerned readers to contact both of the senators for the state.  We will update this article when more information has been received.  Volunteer events below need as many people as possible to help, and there will be more to come.  Without these workers, though, the season will not be as productive as it would normally be, due to a lack of help.  Readers may remember the beginning of the 2024 share sign-ups which we covered, along with their end-of-season report of deliveries and special holiday pickups.  

See the update below from April 2nd.  We will keep readers apprised of any updates to the situation with the workers.  As of now, volunteers are needed to replace these workers and keep the farm operational until they do arrive in late April: 

Many thanks to those who contacted Cory Booker’s office on behalf of the farm. I also filled out a casework request with Andy Kim’s office but got no response. A staffer from Booker’s office finally emailed me, and after I replied to their request for more information and documentation, said that they would contact the US embassy in Guatemala with my request for emergency interviews for five of my workers.

I questioned what they meant by “contact,” stating that they needed to make a phone call because their emails would be ignored, just as mine have been for many years. The staffer replied that the State Dept. did not allow them to communicate with the embassy by phone. There is no longer much chance of any resolution to the dilemma.

I will not have any of my crew for at least 3 more weeks. In the interim, I have a few friends that are helping to do some tractor work. The Foodshed Alliance has put out a request for volunteers, and the Montclair Community Garden will be scheduling a visit with some of their interns. We’ll get by with a little help from our friends!

More Volunteer Opportunities

Many more thanks to the dozens of members who came out to lend a hand this past Sunday. We were able to clear a section of field of last season’s crop residue and plastic mulch. Today I finished preparing the beds and planted the first round of peas.

We will have more volunteer opportunities over the next several weeks on the weekends. If anyone would like to come out during the week with children on school break or individually, to help with greenhouse work, this would be welcome.

Volunteer days- Saturday 4/4 10 am to 1 pm or 2 pm to 5 pm

• Saturday 4/11, 10 am to 1 pm
• Sunday 4/12, 1 pm to 4 pm
• Saturday 4/18, 1 pm to 4 pm
• Sunday 4/19, 10 am to 1 pm or 2 pm to 5 pm

Bring gloves, drinks, and be prepared to get dirty! Please RSVP directly to [email protected].

Best wishes for a Happy Easter or Passover,
Farmer John

Farmer John needs our help

Hello Folks,

I am writing to apprise the members about a serious situation that will negatively affect the farm’s productivity. As many of you may know, I use a government guest worker program called H2-A to bring my farm crew from Central America with temporary work visas. This is an arduous three-step process that begins in December with a housing inspection and an application with the Dept. of Labor. The DOL must certify my application thirty days prior to the start date in the contract. Once certified I apply to USCIS (immigration) for approval of the visas and then schedule an interview for the workers at the American embassy in Guatemala.

I have been managing this process myself for twenty years. I have learned that thirty days is insufficient time for the second two steps and have moved up the start date to allow the first of my workers to arrive in Mid-March (this year’s start date was February 23rd). Over the last several years there have been problems with immigration and the embassy. This year after having my application rejected twice without clear explanation, I was forced to pay $1500 to an agency to finally obtain the approval.

Once the approval was issued, more time was lost navigating a faulty embassy website, which must now be done by one of the workers as my local representative. When we finally succeeded in scheduling the interviews (on 3/14), we were given an April 13th date. It takes a week for the passports with the visa inserted to be returned to the workers, so it will be 4/20 before any workers arrive–5 weeks after I need them.

Call Senator Booker

I spent the last week reaching out to Cory Booker’s office for assistance, but they have not responded to my calls or emails. I know that the embassy can schedule emergency interviews, but I will need the Senator’s aid to obtain an expedited date.

I need your help. Please call Cory Booker’s office at 973-639-8700 or 202-224-5701 and ask them to address these issues and help Circle Brook Farm in the short term. You can also send an email from the senator’s website: https://www.booker.senate.gov/contact/write-to-cory

Volunteers Needed

We urgently need volunteers on the farm to help with cleanup and preparations for planting. Below are two dates, and we will schedule more in the future. If anyone has time and prefers to come out during the week, let me know.

• Sunday, 3/29–10 am to 1 pm
• Saturday, 4/4–10 am to 1pm

Bring gloves, drinks, and be prepared to get dirty!

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RSVP directly to me at: [email protected]

Thanks,
Farmer John

Sign up for the 2026 season

We will again offer a 24-week farm share program for the 2026 season. We anticipate deliveries will begin during the week of June 8. The final delivery will be during the week of November 16.

A slight increase in share prices, consistent with the average inflation rate, is necessary to maintain already slim margins and keep the farm profitable. I believe that the CSA program will continue to provide excellent value.

Premium share: $1,125. Share will contain, on average, 10-12 items and a larger quantity of many of the items in the basic share. Over the course of the season the premium share will include various less common vegetables, such as escarole, radicchio, fennel and frissee, not found in the basic or half share.

Basic share: $925. Share will contain, on average, 9-10 items. It will be approximately 80% the size of the   Premium share.

Pre-bagged share: $740. Share will contain, on average, 9-10 items and half of the quantity of many of the items in the premium share. The share will be approximately 60% the size of the Premium share. The share price includes the cost of bagging.

We look forward to another great season!
Farmer John

Sign up on our website. If you want to split a share and don’t have a partner, email [email protected] and provide your name and email address.

Banner Image: Plums from last year’s harvest. Image Credit – Staten Island CSA