Farmer John Writes . . .
Greetings from Angelic Organics

Weather Last Week
Violent storm on Saturday. Power stayed on. Corn stayed standing.

Does a Farm have a Voice?
We’re hosting the 2nd annual Midwest Young Farmer’s Gathering at Angelic Organics later this month https://www.biodynamics.com/bing/ In contemplating the introductions at the gathering, I’ve decided to ask the participants to speak on behalf of their farms: “Please introduce your farm by speaking as though you are your farm.” This idea that farms are beings, conscious beings with something akin to volition, has been with me for my whole adult life. I was reassured in this idea upon encountering Rudolf Steiner’s Agriculture Lectures. Steiner said that a farm should be worked with as individuality, as a living entity with needs that it is our job as farmers to interpret.

The pervasive approach today is that farms are production centers, that they are the means by which agribusiness is conducted. Farms are commoditized, bought and sold, appraised and leveraged. They are primarily regarded as vehicles for commerce.

I view a farm as a tender being with needs that we must interpret on its behalf. Perhaps it is a need for ducks, or a tree in that corner, a dance in the meadow, or a lane through the woods. A farm is like a child that can’t yet talk, but if I am paying enough attention, I will sense what it is needing. To be a farmer is ideally to be of service to the farm.

We’re proud of our farm this year. It has shined through the drought and the heat, because we listened to it and provided it with what it needed: its wells, its systems, its equipment, its people. But Angelic Organics is more than a drought resilient business. It has asked me for social spaces for its people; I have complied. It has asked for lively colors; I have complied. It has asked for gatherings; I have complied.

As shareholders, we want you to know your farm beyond its identity as a robust production model. We want you to walk it, to feel it, to sense it as a place, a nexus of beauty, people, animals, of trees and grasses, insects and birds, vegetables and herbs, of parties and picnics.

Crop Report
Another week or two of corn and melons; they came on early; great crops of both. Another week or two of cucumbers and zucchini. Peppers, eggplant and tomatoes will keep coming for several weeks, keeping you in that peak summer mood. Soon, more carrots, fennel, new potatoes.

Shareholder Writes:
“Boy oh Boy that honey dew melon was out of this world right up there with the corn best in the world REALLY”

Warmly,
Farmer John

Please Note: this summary is written before you receive your box—please be aware that some guesswork is involved. As always, be sure to thoroughly wash all of your vegetables.

Fruiting Crops – zucchini, cucumbers, sweet corn, bagged tomatoes & hot peppers, sweet peppers, watermelon, and muskmelon
Cooking Greens – bagged Mizuna
Salad Greens – lettuce
Root Crops – bunched carrots