Welcome to our 16th week of the 2014 Season

In Farm News this week, Farmer John talks up his Mom

The Crops

Our potatoes are yielding very well this year. Some of you might not use all the potatoes as you receive them, but they should store well, especially with the dirt and mud clinging to them. This coating helps them to store better. I don’t like giving out potatoes that are so dirty, and we have a fairly efficient system for washing them, but what’s the point of washing the potatoes and dramatically reducing their shelf life?

The Weather

The rain laid waste to most of our fall carrots, turning them into orange mush. They simply couldn’t handle the constant moisture in the soil. It was the nicest looking field of carrots we’ve ever raised, and I thought we would have about 10 pounds of fall carrots for each shareholder; we’ll have maybe 3 pounds per shareholder. This happened one other time in our 25 years as a CSA. As I’ve mentioned previously, the wet weather has hurt several other crops, such as the basil, the chard, and a lot of the bib lettuce, which traps the moisture inside its folded leaves.

The Work

We are now bringing in bins and bins of winter squash, potatoes, and beets, getting crops into storage before the freezing, rainy upcoming weeks of fall. We still have some peppers and eggplant on the vines; we’ll let them develop right up until we get a threatening frost forecast.

Want to farm?

A one-year training course sponsored by the Angelic Organics Learning Center. Stateline Farm Beginnings® is a farmer-led training and support program designed to help people plan and launch sustainable farm businesses. Enrollment closes soon! – See more at: http://www.learngrowconnect.org/farmer

If you want to farm…

Check out the documentary film about Angelic Organics and Farmer John. Even though it’s cinema, it’s a bit of a reality check: www.angelicorganics.com/film, available on Netflix and Amazon. Even if you don’t fall in love with farming, it will make you fall in love with my mom. Released in 2005, the comments still come in from viewers, and we still get requests for screenings. I just received the following messages:

John,

…I figured it was time to revisit your movie. Dude, so much hit home!  The black dirt, my grandad taking me for rides on the equipment, the strange urge to eat the dirt. I absolutely loved your mother and her optimism and energy! It made me wish the 80’s had not chewed up my grandad’s farm before I had a chance to pitch in.

Thank you for all of your sharing.

Take care,

adcdc

 

“I just finished watching the film ‘The Real Dirt on Farmer John’.  It was touching and heartwarming and I was so happy when I looked it up on the internet and found you are still farming organically.  I’m in British Columbia, and we also see beautiful farmland being given over to developments.  But your story gives me hope.  Thanks.”

~Mickey

Farmer John’s Mom, Anna

A plumber came out to the farm a couple of years ago. As we were walking across the farmyard to investigate a hydrant, he said, “I had your mom for a teacher in 3rd grade. That’s 55 years ago. I still carry your mom in my heart every day.” Although she passed away 16 years ago, many people still talk lovingly about my mom. You get a strong sense of her if you watch the film “The Real Dirt on Farmer John.” And here’s a farm newsletter story I wrote about her in the mid-90’s, “Too Old for That.” http://tinyurl.com/angelicorganics-too-old . (I’ll note here that the neighbor I mention in the story, who had his own formula for longevity, is the father of Margaret Nelson, who works in the farm office. The shared memory of her father is a strong bond between Margaret and me.)

U-Pick Garden

Our U-Pick Garden has a few flowers now.

More from Shareholders

Visit us often at www.facebook.com/angelicorganics, where we post exciting farm developments regularly, and shareholders post recipes, tips, and photos.

Box Contents

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.

Arugula
Broccoli
Cabbage
Carrots
Hot Peppers
Lettuce
Parsley
Pea Shoots
A Pie Pumpkin
Potatoes

Upcoming Program at the Angelic Organics Learning Center

Say Cheese!  Join us on Sunday, October 5 from 1pm-4pm for a very special Cheesemaking for Families class!  You’ll learn all about the basics of cheesemaking at this fun, hands-on class. You’ll make and taste ricotta and queso blanco with goat’s milk from the farm, and you’ll even get to milk a goat! Please pre-register. More information and registration is on our website: http://www.learngrowconnect.org/events

Warmly,

Farmer John and the Angelic Organics Farm Team