Genuine Faux News of the Farm
Vol 6 Issue 2 - May 2010
|
Genuine Faux News of the Farm Vol 6 Issue 2 - May 2010 |
|
|
|||||||||||
|
It seems like every year I read something else about farms and farming that gets me on this topic. And this year, I get on the topic because of some reports and articles I have read about very large "CSA's." First, the whole idea behind Community Supported Agriculture is much broader than the product it now labels. In general, CSA was supposed to be an attempt to put the farmer's face on the food. In other words, the CSA movement was supposed to help people to reconnect with the land, recognize and work with those who grow food, appreciate how food is grown or raised and connect food production into the community. But, as with many things that have high ideals, the term has been reduced to a label. And, like any label, it can be abused, misinterpreted and misunderstood. In fact, our use of the term CSA to explain what we do doesn't help the situation any. But, if you want to do what we do, "CSA" is the quickest way to give someone a key "word" to search in order to gain basic understanding. And, so we come to it. There are a couple of very large farms that claim to be CSA's. They deliver boxes of produce. In at least one case, the farm is certified organic. And, they are huge. One of these farms reported 10,000 members. Is this all bad? Well, in one case, the farm is based in Washington state. They ship boxes to Alaska (Fairbanks included). Explain to me how the community is supported by this business? In fact, the marketing power of this business has actually hurt the CSAs that have been in existence in Fairbanks for a number of years. Why? Part of it is simply the use of the label - and our willingness to accept the label with no further investigation. At a recent panel discussion I attended in LaCrosse, a CSA manager in Madison reported that several customers of CSAs did NOT even know the name of the CSA to which they had subscribed. All that seemed to matter to them was that the label "CSA" was applied to whatever it was they got. It was enough, in any case, to make them feel good about themselves and their produce. Explain to me how the face of the farmer is represented in the food if the customer does not even know the name of the farm? Which brings me back to the question about the scale of an operation that creates produce boxes for distribution. If the operation were near a population center with millions of people - I could see plenty of room for them and many family farms to do well. But, when a large operation attempts to cover a plethora of smaller communities from ever increasing distances - I begin to wonder. We are currently working to arrange a mutually beneficial agreement with Waverly Child Care to promote the use of fresh produce in mid day meals at WCC. The intent is that, for all intents and purposes, WCC will become one of our CSA share members, with a customized share to accomodate the needs of an organization that often feeds 120 people (many small people) at a time. We feel that this move is entirely consistent with the mission of the farm and our intent to expand the reach of local, healthy food in our community. What better place to be than where children eat and may form some of their life eating habits? |
Don't have time to read all of the newsletter. Here are some quick announcements about the farm in brief. Take the link to learn more on topics that interest you.
We try to keep our email lists current as best as we can. However, Spring is when we do a little house cleaning and try to add all new CSA members and move past members to other distribution lists. The result is that we may accidently miss someone or you may receive duplicates. If you receive duplicate emails - please let us know and we'll attempt to fix the problem. Sometimes the issue is that you have given us multiple emails. If there is one that you do not wish to receive general news emails, let us know and we'll remove it. It is also possible you are on two lists for some reason or another. CSA Members are placed on a list for the appropriate pick up location. We have separate lists for:
We also maintain lists for other interested persons so that they can be aware of farm news and events. Lists we maintain of this sort include:
We do these lists on an 'opt in' basis only. With the criteria that a person 'opts in' if they join the CSA or if they simply request to receive farm news. We remove email addresses on request or if they refuse delivery consistently. We do not share our lists with others. |
||||||||||
| Vol
6 Issue 1 - January 2010
You know the growing season has begun when you see a garden report in the newsletter! Even though it was a bit on the nippy side, but we appear to be past that now. This May is just a little reminder to those of us who garden that you shouldn't get too far ahead of Mother Nature - because she has a way to setting you back with a frost or two.
The season of chicks on the farm has arrived. We received 200 Ranger chicks for meat production in the mail a couple of weeks ago. It used to be common for chicks to be delivered by post - but occurs less often now, we are guessing. In any event, the people in the lobby were most intrigued by the boxes we carried out. Must have been Tammy's good looks - or maybe the chirping noise from all those little birds. We also picked up 40 laying hen chicks. In general, the birds have been doing well. We've been able to regulate temperature, feed and water so that they are happy and growing. Unfortunately, a rat found its way into the hen chick box. As a result, we have no more hen chicks. We're still trying to solve the rat issue. The biggest concern is how the meat chicks will fair once they are too big to be in the boxes? The turkey chicks come later in the Spring - along with a probable order of new hen chicks. Ducks and a second batch of meat chickens come in the summer for fall processing.
|
page 2 We have taken the leap. We will be adding a high tunnel to the farm in order to extend our vegetable production deeper into the Fall and earlier in the Spring. And, not only will be adding the tunnel to our farm, we will be holding a working Field Day on the farm July 8 and 9. This event will be directed by the Practical Farmers of Iowa and will have multiple sponsors. More details can be found elsewhere in the newsletter. If you wish to see a picture and some information you may visit the Four Season Tools page here. In our case, we will be putting up a 72' x 30' structure that will be on rails so it can be moved to 2 different locations. The stucture looks very much like a typical greenhouse except that it will not have a permanent location, it will not include a heating system and will not have permanent benches, etc. Instead, it will allow us to grow product in the ground under cover to extend our season of food production. The concept of being able to move the high tunnel is, in our opinion, an excellent option to maintain soil health and fertility. A site that is perpetually covered must always be irrigated and the natural processes for soil health will be arrested. Further, the desire to continue to maximize financial returns make it difficult to implement rotations that include cover crops and rest periods for the soil. Some of this could be accomplished if plastic is removed from the building - but the fewer times the plastic comes off, the better. We get enough wind out here that selecting times to remove or put up the plastic could be a bit tricky. We have never grown produce using a high tunnel before, nor have we put up or cared for such a structure. So, it will all be quite new to us. However, we are hopeful that we can make the structure pay for itself within two years. Optimistic projections indicate the possibility of paying it off sooner than this. But, we cannot discount the learning curve necessary to do this. If we pay it off in two years, I think we should be pleased. If you read about the high tunnel, you already know about one large construction project that will be occuring on the farm this year. But, you may not fully appreciate how ambitious we are this year until you get a broader picture. Much of this is necessary as we respond to aging buildings or the needs of making the farm more efficient. And, unfortunately, it seems the time is NOW for too many things all at once. But, it is Spring, and we can hope, at least for a while, that we can accomplish most, if not all of these things.
It's ambitious. It's important. And -well - it's not likely to be completed. But, we'll give it our best shot. One movement towards getting this done will be the hire of a couple of individuals to finish salvage of a downed building on the property. This will help us complete 3, 5 and 6. Things that have already gotten some attention this year include the back porch roof on the house (thank you again Dan Gingerich construction). And a new boiler to heat the house (thank you Tripoli Plumbing and Heating). The former was planned, the latter unplanned. But, that is the way home ownership can be. Dad Faux has constructed some heavy duty cold frames and will help with the design and construction of the lean-to. On the never-mind list is the barn. We are 99% certain that we will not find the resources to rehabilitate the barn before it comes down. It is unfortunate, but probably it is necessary. |
||||||||||
| Vol 6 Issue 1 - January 2010 We admit that we have fallen down on the job of writing for the blog and producing newsletters of late. It is a little like exercise. If you quit for a while, it can be hard to re-establish the routine. However, we still believe it is important to communicate with others what goes on with our farm - so, we are attempting to crank up our efforts on BOTH the blog and our newsletter in conjunction with the increasing and expanding farm work. It probably seems a bit odd to add effort to effort. But.... The blog provides us with a place to record events on the farm and reflect on them. It serves to communicate with our CSA members and other farm customers. It also provides us with a place to analyze how the season is going and think about what we should do next or should not do in the future. It also provides us with a record of events that we can refer to later when needed. In fact, the blog can be very useful to us in the Winter time when we are trying to figure out how the year went, where we went wrong and (hopefully) where we went right. So, here's hoping you get some interesting reading and we get some useful writing done this season. We have one half hog remaining from a recent purchase from John and Jodi Berlage that can be purchased as a part of a pork buy this Spring. This will be first come first served. Either the first two to ask for a quarter of the hog or first one to ask for one half hog. (Quarter is $100, Half is $200) The hog is IN OUR POSSESSION and is processed. So, we can arrange to get it to you ASAP. Again, we do not retail on cooperative buys, we simply divide costs among buyers. Email your interest. One of the most difficult things for us to do is to answer the question, "When will vegetable X be in our share?" We can take our best guesses. We can calculate based on historical data. But, there is no accounting for what actually happens in the field. Every year, we do just fine on the whole. But, there is always something that does poorly and something that does insanely well. That said, we will attempt to give you some ideas of what is coming before you actually get it. Typical June fare: radish, lettuce, spinach, spices (oregano, chive, marjoram, thyme, tarragon, lavender), kohlrabi, arugula, garlic scapes. You might see peas, and perhaps kale or cabbage. Typical early July fare: Often all of the above except radish, arugula and spinach. These might stretch into July, but we don't count on it. You can add in peas and the first of the cucumbers, summer squash and zucchini. Usually only a few at first. Early crops of broccoli, beets and basil should begin appearing.
Potential Reward for Tom Sawyer Day work! |
page 3 Monday, May 31st, 4pm-?? The spring Iris Festival occurs every year on Memorial Day, normally peak bloom time of the iris on the farm. The farm touts many different varieties of iris, even after the devastation from a late freeze in 2007. The Iris Fest begins at 4pm and runs until the bonfire dwindles or midnight, whichever comes first. If you RSVP, we do not need regrets, but if you plan on coming, it helps us to plan if we can get some idea as to headcount. This gathering is a potluck style food event. Bring something to grill and/or something to pass (salads, snacks, etc). We usually have lemonade, iced tea and water available for beverages. We respectfully request that you limit alcaholic beverages. If you have a lawn game that you wish to share, bring it along. We typically set out games such as bocci ball and blongo. There is also sidewalk chalk for the artists and frisbees for the athletic. We also encourage other, more sedentary games if people show interest. Tours of our gardens (guided or not) will be provided for the interested. Usually, we will have baby turkeys and chickens to view. Weather permitting, we will start a bonfire before dark and there will be s'mores. Can't have a bonfire without those! Saturday, May 29th, 2pm-6pm We will be holding our first Tom Sawyer Day Saturday, May 29 - beginning at 2pm until 6p.m What is a Tom Sawyer Day? Tom Sawyer Days are scheduled events at the farm where we invite members on our email distribution list to come work on the farm for part of a day. Why Attend? Many individuals who have attended a Tom Sawyer Day have found a new appreciation for the food they receive through the CSA or purchase at market. Others have commented that they feel like they are more integrated into the CSA community. We have also received the comment that share holders find it to be a positive part of investing further in the farm and its principles. We know from our own experience that it is, for some reason, relaxing to work for someone else for a short while. Why? Well, you don't have to make decisions, you know it will end...and you get to try something different from what you are used to doing! Signing Up: Once the day is announced, we ask persons who intend to participate to RSVP their intentions to us. It is important that we know WHO and HOW MANY are coming so we can provide appropriate tasks to all participants. Showing Up: You may show up at any point during the Tom Sawyer Day schedule. If the schedule calls for work from 3pm to 6 pm, you can arrive at 5pm and be just as welcome as those who arrive at 3pm. Just let us know what you are planning. Please wear appropriate clothing. Bring gloves. Use sunscreen! Tasks: Tasks will vary depending on who shows up and the time of year. We try to find something that everyone can do, including children with a parent's supervision. |
||||||||||
| Vol 6Issue 1 - January 2010 Welcome to the 2010 Season of the CSA! There are a number of questions that are commonly asked at this time and we like to use our newsletter to attempt to answer them thoroughly - and without repeating ourselves too often. First -there are two resources on the web that may help with some of your questions. Our Top Ten Reasons to Sign Up page and our CSA Primer. Many people find these helpful if they are new to the CSA.
At present our goal is MID-JUNE. We will keep you informed as the crops tell us when they will be ready. From that point - we will deliver for 20 weeks. It is remotely possible that a week may be skipped during the season - but if it is, you will still get 20 weeks as we will add on to the end of the season.
Those who signed up for FARM pickup - Mondays, 4-6pm. Those who signed up for Waverly pickup - Tuesdays, 3:30-6:00 at the Waverly Farmers' Market Those who signed up for Cedar Falls pickup - Thursdays 4:00-6:30 at Roots Market.
Come during the pickup hours shown above to the location you signed up for. We will have produce displayed just like it is a farmers' market. Each tray will have different produce and a sign indicating how much of that item you are allotted for the week. You select the items from the bin up to the number allotted to you. For example, if you are allotted three cucumbers, you pick the three you want from the tray. It is suggested that you bring bags to carry your produce home early in the year and graduate to boxes as the season goes on.
First, you must realize that we try to pick, clean and load everything we bring to a distribution within 24 hours of the distribution time. That means we are often pushing the start time a little bit. Early arrivals simply mean you have to wait until we are unloaded and set up. Those who have seen us set up can attest that we can set up fairly rapidly if everyone stays out of our way. If you realize you are going to be late, give us a quick call on our cell phone (319) 610 9201. We can package up your share for you and have it ready when you arrive. This will allow us to continue packing to leave AND you still get your veg!
You get whatever is ripe at the time. We try to pick things so that what everyone gets is equivalent depending on share size. However, you should not expect that the produce delivered to the Tuesday group will be the same as that delivered to the Thursday group, etc. You should expect the first few weeks to be somewhat sparse in content as that is simply the nature of seasonal growing. Once we move into July and August, the boxes and bags will get heavier. September and October introduce bigger and bulkier items (such as squash). Last season, we had distributions where people took home vegetables from 15 different stations at the distribution. By season's end, share holders have typically received produce that has a farmers' market value that is 50 to 75% greater than the price of the share purchased.
You ask! In person. By email. Or by phone. We recommend the first two unless you need an immediate response. The phone is often not answered if we are in the field and our hands are full or muddy or we cannot hear it when we are on a tractor, etc. And, this time of year, we are often not in from the field until 9pm or later. So, return calls may be delayed based on our coherence level at that time! |
page 4 Adjustments to the CSA in 2010 [ed note: we realize this is a repeat from the last newsletter, but felt it would be wise to include it again for informational purposes.] Tammy and I strongly believe that a healthy farm is one that assesses prior performance and makes adjustments in an effort to continue to improve. Here are some of our targets for the 2010 CSA season:
In an effort to provide perhaps a bit more of certain items to fulfill the needs of recipes, we are looking at a plan where we rotate certain products so that you get more of that product at one time, but potentially in alternate weeks. Example - a larger bag of beans or peas every other week vs smaller every week. 2. Item Options Combinations of items, such as beets and turnips, to allow people the opportunity to get larger amounts per week of similar, but not exactly the same, items. 3. Increased truck space We need more truck space. One way to get it is to find places to store display materials at or near our distributions. We are also looking at an option to raise the topper on the truck to provide more space. 4. Weekly email reminders Don't expect much - but we are looking to implement a quick email reminder to be sent on the morning of the distribution to persons signed up for that distribution day. 5. Trade in Board? The trade in box doesn't work for various reasons. But, we are wondering about the efficacy of a trade in 'board.' A chalk board where you can write down items you intend to leave behind. In return, you can select items left behind by others on the board. Clearly, we are only considering this at the time. Suggestions welcomed. Field Day and How it Impacts the CSA The field day on July 8 and 9 will be a massive undertaking for us and we feel that it is important to let everyone in the CSA know that it is possible that this may impact you at some level. First, building a high tunnel is no small feat in itself during the middle of the growing season. Second, hosting a field day where everything from food to parking will need attention will take some time and energy on our parts. Third, July 8 is a Thursday - a normal CSA delivery day of the week. None of this is written in stone - but we want Thursday people to be prepared that things will be different on the 8th of July. It is certain that at least one of us will not be at the distribution. It is likely that we will send one or two of our workers down for the distribution that day. It is even possible that we will postpone delivery on the 8th and tack on a week later in the year for the Cedar Falls group. It is also possible that we may skip delivery for the entire week and simply add a week on the end for everyone. Unfortunately, it depends somewhat on how the crops are growing. If they are going nuts and need to be distributed, we will find a way to move them to you. If they are like most early July's, the distribution doesn't strengthen significantly until the following week. In that case, you likely won't mind the benefit of taking a week off. As plans for this event get worked out, we will keep everyone informed.
|
||||||||||
|
Vol 6 Issue 1 - January 2010 page 5
|
|||||||||||
