Harvest Week 5, August 1st – 6th, 2022

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A Peek at Peak Summer

Melons are ready next week, sweet corn, too. And you might be receiving carrots in your box this week. Notice their exceptionally sweet, earthy aroma. We have many more carrots for you to customize with in the upcoming weeks.

A box-packing strategy: we try to not offer watermelons until the sweet corn is ready. Why? Because most of our shareholders want sweet corn, and we pack the corn in the bottom of the box to create a cushion, a cradle, for the watermelon, so the watermelon is less likely to crack in transport. Some still crack; some are so sensitive that they crack just by picking them up. It’s simply a feature of these types of watermelons.

The watermelons  are in a category called “icebox melons.” We grow these (usually) smaller melons so that we can fit them into your box along with many other items of your choosing. And we usually limit the number of watermelons that you can select to one, or they will take up too much space in your box and make it too heavy and therefore likely for the box bottom to burst. Some of the melons are extra large this year.

We also have a tremendous crop of sweet corn this year–awesome, extravagant, bountiful. Enough elaboration?

Oh, and an inundation of onions, cucumbers and zucchini.  It’s a long list.

Broccoli is done until fall.

The You-Pick Garden is Open

 

Come to the You-Pick Garden and harvest a generous portion of green beans. Picking them will keep them coming. And there are many flowers now in bloom. Check out www.angelicorganics.com/shareholder-u-pick/ for details.

Watch for the Butterfly Garden along the Driveway

When you come to the farm, notice the corridor of wildflowers and prairie grasses that flank the driveway. The creation of this butterfly sanctuary was a collaboration between the Angelic Organics Learning Center, Angelic Organics Association and the farm. Yay to the butterflies!

Shareholders Write

Many shareholders have written us stating their flexibility when we have to substitute a crop for their customized choice of crop. These affirmations of solidarity with the farm are most appreciated. (Of course, not every shareholder is so flexible.)

“Carrots, flea Beetles, bok choy, Broccoli 🥦 I love all your food….. and I guess the flea beetles do too.

Thank you for your love and care for farming. 

Peace, Joe”

 

“Thank you so much for the response. As I said, this really didn’t bother me. I am happy to eat anything I get in my box. I truly appreciate how nature can change a harvest and a crop at any moment.
Best, Audrey”

 

“What a week for the farm! We’ll enjoy whatever delish produce is in our box & be thankful for it.
Thanks to the team for all the hard work! Those flea beetles got quite a treat . . .
Rob & Tami”

 

“I appreciate whatever ends up in the box!!! Thanks for everything.
Jen”

About our myriad delivery truck problems:

“Hi Farmer John and crew, I can walk over to the neighborhood drop site instead of home delivery if that helps to take a house off of your delivery route. I opted for home delivery as I usually travel a lot for work and have since retired, so have plenty of time to pick up.

Marie”

 

“Good luck with the truck. If we had a spare $100,000 we would buy you a truck😂😂
~P”

 

Organic Inspection

This week we have our annual visit by an organic inspector on behalf of our certifying agancy, MOSA (Midwest Organic Services Association).  This involves having records available for review and a field tour. It takes a few hours. You can learn more about the process at www.mosaorganic.org/certification. 

Overheard

Customer: What are you going to do that is adventurous and exciting?
long pause
Waitress: Hmm…I think I might bake a zucchini loaf tomorrow, and instead of using almond flour I might use real flour…but don’t tell anyone.

Seeking 

About this announcement below, please pass it on to anyone who you think might be interested and who might qualify for this important stewardship role.

Historic Zinniker Farm Seeks New Lead Farmer

Zinniker Farm, located in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, is the oldest continually operated biodynamic farm in the United States and has played a huge role in the development of both the organic and biodynamic farming movements. The farm has 164 certified organic acres, thriving beef and poultry enterprises, and incredibly vital soil. At present, Zinniker Farm is seeking a farmer/farm family to help Mark and Petra Zinniker steward the farm into the future. On-farm housing is available, and a strong consumer group (The Zinniker Farm Stewardship Association) has formed that is in the process of developing an innovative CSA type model for the future of the farm. Click here to learn more about this opportunity.

Warmly,
Farmer John