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.

 

CSA - For the Love of Fruit, Flowers, the Land and Community

While I am welcoming the snow's return, don't let the illusion of winter cloud the weather's reality these days. If you're thinking, "...it's too early for red-wing blackbirds to arrive at the ponds and too warm for February," yes, you are correct. The 68 degree F high temp this past Wednesday set a new record for the entire month at the Madison reporting station, besting the old mark of 64 degree F set on the 25th back in 2000. (Incidentally, the previous record for the day was 60 degree F, set in 1984). So that's five high temp records in a row, from Saturday February 18 on through Wednesday February 22. It appears from the instrumentation at both the Boscobel and Janesville National Weather Service Sites ---which hit 72 degrees F on Wednesday, that we've set an all-time record for the entire state for the month of February.

Garlic poking through the ground on February 18. Record warm temps disrupt the farm's phenology and our production plans.

Garlic poking through the ground on February 18. Record warm temps disrupt the farm's phenology and our production plans.

Farming, weather, and pollinators are inextricably linked and while we didn't mind donning our bathing suits while pruning our 'dormant' fruit trees in the orchard last weekend, we can't say we quite yet know what to do with this 'new normal'. You won't find us setting foot in a casino, yet as our climate changes, growing food continues to be a gamble with Mother Nature.

We can say, however, that since 1993, CSA farming has helped bring perspective to our role as growers and eaters, because we see the connection and appreciate the authenticity that comes from having a long-term relationship with the land and our customers some of whom have been with us for 24 years.

CSA Charter and Celebrations charting a path in the season ahead.

CSA is the most direct connection that you can have with us and our farm and we believe one of the most direct interventions you can take as an eater to make life better for our land, economy, and community as a whole . You can find CSA's throughout the U.S. and the world and there is renewed momentum around celebrating CSA's through National CSA Day and Highlighting the importance of CSA's to growers, eaters, and as pathway to sustainability and economic resilience.

Pruning apple trees in our orchard. Photo by Rob McClure

Pruning apple trees in our orchard. Photo by Rob McClure

Through CSA, we imbue food with meaning, story, and connection and your support up front in the season helps us manage the risk of climate change and cash flow. As you celebrate the return of winter over the weekend, we invite you join us in celebrating and navigating the peaks and valleys of the growing season. We have a full menu of fruit, flowers, and vegetables that we would love to share with you.

You can sign up on our website, or contact us if your interested, on the fence, want to talk more about our CSA options. You can also come visit us! We will be at the:

Reedsburg Local Food Fair, March 4 beginning 9 am at the Sacred Heart School Gymnasium on Oak St.

To your health and happiness!  - Farmer Erin & Rob