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8-06-10 THE GOOD AND THE BAD OF THE SPRING CSA
I'm sorry that it's been so long since I've been able to write here...looking back, what a good/bad Spring CSA we had. The weather was lousy almost from the first week CSA started, right up to the end of the session. If we could have changed that, we certainly would have. Who would've known that we would have excessive heats in the 90s and 100s for a record number of weeks; in 23 years of living in Kentucky, I've never seen anything like it. It was disheartening to know that we had all these people counting on us for great produce and there was nothing we could do but watch it wither away in the heat. As a result, we purchased a lot of the produce in the shares this Spring and gave everything we could to the CSA members.
Despite that, here's a list of what did come out of our garden that was in the Spring shares:
Kale, Leaf Lettuce, Snow Peas, Swiss Chard, Collards, Green Onions, Bok Choy, Beets, Broccoli, Zucchini, Cousa Squash, Yellow Squash, Cucumbers, Head Lettuce, Tomatoes (even if only a few as we lost most of them), Green and Red Peppers, Sweet Corn.
Purchased for the Spring shares (from farmer friends of ours, always local): Strawberries, Blueberries, Green Beans, Tomatoes, Sweet Corn, Peaches, Watermelons, Cantaloupes, Cucumbers, Yellow Squash, Zucchini, Peppers. We purchased as much as we could to supplement the boxes so that we wouldn't have to cancel any weeks due to weather related produce problems at the farm; this was at great expense, but we felt it was important. Some CSAs work strictly on buying from other farmers and we try very hard to pack boxes from the farm. We are very happy with the variety and quality of the produce that was put into your shares this Spring.
I know sometimes CSA members would come to pick up boxes and it would look like there were so many things on the farmers market side, but many of the items on that side were purchased for sale. Whenever possible, we included these items in the boxes if there was enough to purchase for the entire group; if we couldn't get enough, then we offered it for sale at the farmers market; our CSA members are our first priority.
We think we've been pretty fair and honestly, despite the weather, we went the entire 10 weeks without breaking; this is a first. In the past, we've postponed weeks and lost the 3 week buffer we have in between Spring and Fall. We are glad that we didn't have to do that this year because frankly, going into the 2nd week of this 3 week buffer, the weather is still rough on us.
We do appreciate everyone's understanding of this and have had so many wonderful comments and some not so wonderful, but that's okay; these are all learning experiences for all concerned and for some people we realize that a CSA is just not what they thought it would be. We worked very hard to bring the best that we could to each of our CSA members this Spring and the Good and the Bad of it is that it was a terrible Spring, but a good Spring in spite of it all.
We count our blessings for those that have traveled the waves with us. We are grateful for those that are returning for the Fall, for new members coming on for the Fall, and for those that choose not to be with us this Fall. We embrace all of you.
5-27-10 MURPHYS LAW AND BEGINNINGS
Well I am a firm believer that if it is going to happen, it is going to happen to me...thus Murphy's Law should probably be called Packard-Murphy's Law.
Today was our first Thursday, 2010 CSA delivery. We are doing things differently this year in that we have site drops and wonderful directors manning these spots (thanks to all of you). Produce is packed in boxes this year for CSA and delivered to 8 site drops throughout Louisville and Goshen.
First let me say...I am not a city driver...don't like it, get anxious, all that good stuff (or bad). Also let me say that because of this, I purchased a GPS the other day. It works...99% of the time and I know it's just in getting used to it. Immediately, I ran into a closed road due to construction...and I eventually made my way to the first house to drop goodies. It was approaching 90 degrees at 12:40 pm, AC not working in the front of the van...worked in the back to keep veggies cool, thank goodness. I left there and proceeded to stop 2 (this was probably my worst one). Down Dixie Hwy at lunch hour? Am I crazy? Well that's the way the GPS told me to go. Next week. I will briefly wave at Dixie Hwy as I take an alternate route! From Dixie, this brought me to the Watterson Pkwy...oh...how many people have heard how much I detest driving on 264! Even more than Dixie Hwy at lunchtime! I got on okay...followed the GPS instructions..got off. Jill, my GPS guide, told me to keep right...so I did and I did and I did. Hmm, I'm not on Phillips Lane!!! I'M BACK ON THE WATTERSON!. Well, I finally arrived at my destination and ....'what is that smell' I'm thinking. Get out of the van and Leslie says, ooh that smells like something is burning or metal to metal, etc. Call Ralph.....3 times....he doesn't answer his phone. I'm sorry, but when I'm driving in the city on a very hot day for my first jaunt...he better avail himself better!!! (considering buying him a bluetooth!) Finally let it cool a bit...Now I'm running late. The next stop was almost uneventful...but the next stop, it really had a burning smell to it. Angela's Dad came out and looked at the van and told me he thought my caliper was gone or going. He didn't want me to drive any further..[I had 6 more stops before I could let it rest a long time]. I promised Ralph (Angela's Dad) that I wouldn't drive over 25. I did go to 40 Ralph, but that was it, I promise.
By the time, I got out to Goshen it was almost 4:15 and I was able to meet a new member I didn't know and also meet Beth, another site director. What sweet people, but then, we have the best CSA members in the whole world.
When I got to the market at 5 pm (2 hrs after it started) Ralph looked a bit frazzled. I think he might appreciate me at the market now...guess it was pretty busy. A terrific thunderstorm kicked up just after we packed up and we drove through a lot of rain, wind, lightning, thunder, etc.
Decided we were hungry, so we stopped at O'Charley's in Corydon. Got home around 8:45 and dropped, exhausted! Couldn't find Maggie Moo, our 12 yo border collie and I am sad that something happened to her. UPDATE: Maggie is okay and home. I on the other hand think I might have gotten some food poisoning and was sick all night long. Thankfully no Saturday market this weekend.
Everything always happens to me....or so I think!
5-4-10 START OF PHOENIX HILL FARMERS MARKET
Our Phoenix Hill Farmers Market opened today for it's 4th season. I can't believe 4 years ago we started selling here...time just flies so quickly (when you're having fun?). This year, we have a few new vendors and lots of old ones :) I have to say, out of all the farmers markets that we've ever been a part of, this one has the best comraderie of them all. We all get along well; we are all concerned about the welfare of our "neighbor" vendors. Also, we have some really good people that volunteer for us all year long from the Phoenix Hill Neighborhood Association. These are a great bunch of people and I can't tell you how much we appreciate them.
Our official first day of 2010 was phenomenal!!! I do believe the best starting day we've ever had. I hope that is a sign of how this market year will be.
Just about anything you could want at a farmers market is at PHFM; and then you can go into The Bodega for some great food or to shop for that something different you can't find at other stores...and then some not so different...(wonderful supporters of this farmers market, so I hope you shop and eat there).
Thanks to all who make the Phoenix Hill Farmers Market a success...and that means you, our customers....because we couldn't do this without you!!!
9-7-09 LABOR DAY WEEKEND AND STILL LABORING
We had Southwest Farmers Market this weekend in Louisville. Several of our vendors didn't show up and it looked rather sparse at the market. We did okay, but it lead me to think about, actually to dream about, what it would be like to take a weekend off from the labors of farming.
Well, for one thing, one week away and most customers think you are done for the year; as this is our livelihood, we just cannot even fathom that. The goodies growing on the farm don't go on vacation, so they have to be picked anyhow...so we'd take a loss there. With all the losses we've incurred this year between being robbed and the weather, it was just not something we could even consider. I think how nice it would be to be able to go to all those Saturday events that we have "missed" for almost 18 years and then I think "We are one of those Saturday events."
Then Sunday came and I think, "okay, just kick back and relax" but planting awaited us and so we spent the day planting cabbages and other things so that our great customers and CSA members could enjoy the fruits of our Labors.
This morning we woke up to rain, thunder, and lightning and my first thought was "a day of house work, relaxing, vacation"... no such thing. As if to read my mind, the sun came home, the humidity came up and the work began.
Labor Day Weekend takes on a whole new meaning for the farmers. No vacations, just work as usual.
8-30-09 CHOGS YOU SAY?
What great weather this weekend, unseasonably cool. This is good and this is bad, depending on how you look at it.
But you are asking...what is a chog and what does that have to do with good or bad weather. Well, the CHOGS, as Ralph calls them, are the most gluttonest (is that a word?) chickens we have ever had. They eat, and eat, and eat, and then eat some more. They forage free on the farm and get rid of little bugs for us...I sure wish they ate flies! I wonder if their "odd" behavior is due to the "odd" weather that we have had this year.
But if we didn't know better, we'd think they were from the HOG family. They run to us, barely letting us get down the driveway and if you come to visit, you will become a victim of the "stop before they get under your tires" drill.
We are accustomed to the hogs bowling over Ralph when he tries to feed them, we expect that; but never have we had the experience of chickens so hungry that they can't wait another minute.
The other day I got out of the car and they tried to eat my sneakers. Now come on, what is so tasty about a smelly sneaker! Go figure.
I'm not sure what I'd caption this picture as, except to say that I had a feeling what the Pied Piper might have felt like.
The CHOGS otherwise known to us as The Chicken Hogs!
8-28-09 WELCOME TO THE FARM BLOG
This is not our farm, but on one of our trips to Bowling Green to pick up our processed chicken, this is what the sky looked like. The clouds were so pretty that I just had to take a picture and wanted to share it here. 8-21-09
I have said it time and time again..wow, what a ride we have been on this year. Farmers markets and CSAs have suffered all over the country. The rain this summer has helped some things, but has caused a lot of disease on many others.
We feel so fortunate though, despite the year that we have had, we have had a successful CSA season. We have heard from so many that they are very happy with their shares; we have worked real hard to make the best for all involved. Many CSAs in our area have had to shut down; some for the summer, some for the rest of the year.
There have been cantaloupes, peaches, blackberries, watermelons, tomatoes, red and white potatoes, sweet corn, broccoli, cucumbers, lettuce, cabbage, squash (several types), winter squash, pears, snow peas, peppers, green beans, eggplant, kale (3 types), swiss chard, napa cabbage, radishes, green onions, candy onions, basil, thyme, dill, and much more....and there is much more to come. Just think of all of the fall items to come........yum.
