Farm Blog

Thank you again for braving the blizzard to celebrate, connect with great food, and 'planting an orchard'! Just imagine all those future cherry trees (don't forget to squat:-).
I am so uplifted from all the good vibes, intentions, laughter and seeds shared and planted.

We were able to raise $850.00 in funds! This will go a long way, thank you! Additionally, with all the seeds donated today and from what I've gleaned from others, The women growers in the Sine-Saloum region will be able to plant out a couple hundred row feet/farm. In the past we've planted shared 'demonstration beds' ie since many of the farmers share space/land to grow on we've constructed seeds beds to trial different varieties, plant insectory herbs and flowers and share techniques. From there seeds are harvested and shared forward amongst the individual farmers. So in essence your generosity helped plant teaching/learning/eating/

sharing beds of veggie, herb, and flower goodness!
 

I will honor my commitment and extend the immense gratitude, generosity that was shared during the workshop with the women farmers in the following ways:

Work with NCBA CLUSA Farmer to Farmer Program to transfer funds and mail seeds.
I'll also email and share highlights, photos forward later this week in celebration of our workshop success.

I am tentatively set to travel there Nov/Dec. or January in 2016.

I also finally remembered the name of third grower group, JUBO (means widespread). If you're interested in learning more about how they got started, here's a link to an interview I did as part of my last Farmer to Farmer adventure in Senegal.

I Will keep you in the loop as the project evolves and thanks again for sharing your generous spirit!

For the chocolate lovers:
Becky Otte, who made the amazing truffles, has more of her chocolate goodness to share and is selling some of her creations just in time for Valentines. if you're interested send her an email: raonine@gmail.com

Also Here is a link to Roots Chocolate website.

For the Fruit Lovers:

I've enclosed a handout of some of the different fruits we grow at our farm as well as a flyer highlighting this season's events at the farm! We'd love to have you venture out and tour the orchard, come visit us (though not nearly as cool as the orchard poses we did during the workshop).

Thank you again for helping me transition from being a butterfly weed seed (ie wind pollinated, not knowing where or how my intentions, projects might stick) to more of an oak or cashew seeds - wherein I can deepen my awareness, provide support in the same place(s) in Senegal for the growers and in my backyard in Wisconsin:-). Here's to planting the seeds of the as yet to be imagined on and off the yoga mat! Wishing you all much abundance.

Happy Mid-winter!

Yours in hardy kiwi,
Erin


PS If you are into exploring the planting side as well as enjoying more local fruit creations, we'll be hosting a Local Fruit Tasting May 16, details on our website.

 

In Some Cases, Good Fences Make Good Neighbors


It's been just over a week since we've launched our 'Fruit n Fencelift' Crowdfunding Campaign on IndieGoGo. We are almost half-way to our goal of $5900 and have been overwhelmed with the response in support and participation with our campaign. We've also discovered an entire sub-culture of crowd funding marketers, campaigners, 'possibilitarians', all offering a chance to help leverage our campaign…at a cost of course:-). One request in particular captured our attention and a food blogger asked us to summarize our campaign and what makes it unique. We diligently set to task and have yet to hear a response, so we thought we'd share with you, gain some perspective as to how we view what we do on our farm.

We try to approach both our farming and our interactions in society as collaboratively as possible, understanding that the health and stability of both biotic and human realms relies upon our ability to respectfully be in relation, to observe openly and learn before taking action.

Over the years, we've observed patterns in nature and invited thousands of plants and hundred of people and animals into the farm mix whether intentional or not. From discovering new blue fruit breakfast loves like saskatoon and honey berry, to enjoying the all-purpose apple and pear pie, everyone and thing seems to enjoy feasting on our farm loot, celebrating the fruits of our labor. While gratitude, participation, deer, and fruit trees have been in abundance, we are falling short financially when it comes to some needed and timely infrastructure that will help us grow more fruit, build community.

We would so appreciate your participation and support of our 'Fruit n Fencelift' Crowdfunding Campaign on IndieGoGo. Not only would new fencing give our elderberries and quince the chance to grow to new heights, but also permanent, 8' fencing would keep the deer and woodchucks at bay. Help us bring our project home and enjoy a perk or two and infinite, fruit filled gratitude.

While we typically consider financial sustainability an essential part of sustainable farming practice, we also understand that the wider public has an interest in seeing forms of agriculture develop which can sustain the world's population without destroying its soil, atmosphere and genetic integrity. We therefore thought we'd reach out to our community for help funding a one-time piece of infrastructure that we can't as a small farm, otherwise afford.

Thanks so much for your consideration, support, sharing our campaign forward! We look forward to feeding you and not the woodchucks!

Help our farm and our elderberries grow into their own with a fence lift.

Help our farm and our elderberries grow into their own with a fence lift.