Welcome to our 20th Harvest Week. Oct 22 (Wed Delivery)
Welcome to our 20th week of the 2014 Season, the Final Week of our Regular Season
If you do not have an extended season share, this will be your last week of deliveries. Thank you for being with us this season. We hope you enjoyed it.
Farmer John Shares his Biography and the Tale of a Yellow Ball
Farmer John’s Biography, by young Joseph (Max) Haas
Joseph (Max) Haas, Farmer John’s Biographer
I had the pleasure of meeting young Joseph (Max) Haas and his mother Claudia at our last open house, where Joseph handed me the “Biography of Farmer John” he had composed, based on the documentary film “The Real Dirt on Farmer John.” Joseph loves to watch snippets of The Real Dirt on Farmer John. He sometimes quotes excerpts from the film. He plays at being a farmer and even puts “Angelic Organics 2” on the families’ garage door. Joseph wrote me, “I really actually love fruits and vegetables, and farming sounds like fun…” Go, Joseph!
John Peterson
(Based ont on the movie: the real dirt on Farmer John)
Written by Joseph (Max) Haas
Farmer John was born on a farm in Rockford, Illinois. He lived with his Grandpa, Grandma, Dad, Uncle, Aunt, Cousins, Mom and his two older sisters. But one by one they slowly died. So John had to watch his dad do stuff. First his Grandma died than his Grandpa, then Uncle Harold, then finally his dad. He John had to take over the farm. Soon he goes to college. He and his friends turn the farm into the mid-Western Coast. But soon he has to sell the Farm to pay off debts. For 2 years barely get out of bed. He was in depression. He loses his girlfriend Isa...
To find out what happens next in Joseph’s original manuscript and to see more photos, visit: http://tiny.cc/farmerjohnsbiography
The Tale of a Yellow Ball
I opened my mailbox recently, and behind the pile of regular mail was a yellow ball. I retrieved it from the mailbox and read the message: We Have a Ball getting our veggies each week! Thank you for all you do. Michelle, Deanna & Chris at SendaBall.com. On the back of the ball, there was a postage label. Yup, the mailman delivered a fully inflated yellow ball from appreciative shareholders. I showed it to the farm crew, and they lit up. They read it, tossed it, bounced it, rolled it. Uh, time to go to work, teammates…
Years ago, I sent invitations with sparklers in the mail to illuminate people about a party we were planning. The post office intercepted our sparklers (and match) and returned the invitations with a strict warning about obeying postal regulations. We should have sent yellow balls instead.
This ball arrived in the mail
Invitation with sparkler and match we sent in the mail in 1982. The post office objected, but they green lighted the yellow ball in 2014
The Crops
Final beet harvest earlier this month
Weather
Warmish weather this past week…great for mid-October.
The Work
The Casiques harvest Brussels sprouts
The Future
Great fertility is a key to great crops. Cover crops are an important component of our comprehensive fertility program at Angelic organics. Our cover crops look magnificent this fall.
Farmer John revels in multi-year cover crops- sudan grass, tillage turnips, clover, alfalfa and timothy
Farmer Johns stands in a lovely crop of fall peas that add nitrogen to the soil, stimulate microbial activity, and minimize erosion. Multi-year cover crop is in the background
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 Side Shoots
Brussels Sprouts
A Chinese Cabbage or Choi
Cabbage
Bunched Chard
Lettuce
A Hot Pepper
Potatoes
A Daikon Radish
Butternut Squash
Upcoming Program at the Angelic Organics Learning Center
The Learning Center is hosting two unique, practical classes this upcoming Saturday.
Sustainable Building Tour, Saturday, October 26, 10am-1:30pm
Tour Angelic Organics Farm and Learning Center with a special focus on the sustainable building techniques demonstrated on-site. We’ll discuss whole tree architecture, living roofs, passive solar, strawbale, cob, composting toilets, and more.
Solar Heated Office in Sustainable Learning Center Building
Fruit Trees 101, Saturday, October 26, 2pm-6pm
Learn how to grow a variety of fruits without using chemicals. Class includes a lecture portion with guest instructor Floyd Bednarz and a hands-on portion that includes a fruit tree planting.
Plus, we have a special offer: 10% off any and all fall classes! Use the discount code “FALL201410AOSHAREHOLDER.” Expires on December 1, 2014. Please pre-register for all programs at www.learngrowconnect.org/events.
Warmly,
Farmer John and the Angelic Organics Farm Team
Great story by Joseph Haas – way to post budding talent!
Joseph (Max) Haas wrote a compelling piece. For me he captured the essence of what makes a difference in life. The commitment of a man to continue and succeed and in so doing inspire others (and grow yummy veggies).
Thanks Max for this piece and the pictures. Keep it up!