This weeks available produce and market times

This Weeks Available Produce:

Beets $2.00/bun
Radishes $1.50/bun or 2 for $2
Table onions $1.50/bun or 2 for $2
Broccoli $3.50/qt
Kohlrabi $.75 each
Strawberries (not many 1st come 1st serve) $3.50/qt or $3.00/qt for 2 or more
Lettuce - Romaine $3.00/head
Garlic Scapes $1.50/bun or 2 for $2


Market Times:

- Wed 11am-1:30pm (Sauk/Eagle Plaza)
- Wed 3pm-6pm @ FARM (can be later if needed just let us know)

- Thurs. Noon-4pm @ FARM

The FARM will be closed Fri- Monday. Happy 4th of July Everyone. Be safe and eat healthy:)
The Spahns

Chickens

Hello All,
We will be butchering chickens on Wednesdays this week. They will be between 4-5lbs @ $2.50/lb.

Whole chickens will be ready for pick up Wednesday after 5pm and all day Thursday.

Cut chickens will be ready for pick up after 12pm on Thursday.

We'd like to get most of the chickens picked up/delivered by Thursday night as we will be heading north for the holiday weekend. If this schedule does not work for you just let us know and we will work something out.

Anyone interested in a chicken that hasn't pre-ordered, please contact me by Wednesday morning. Nothing like a fresh chicken on the grill for the holiday:)

Thanks
Jamie

Chickens

If you are ordering cut chickens please keep in mind that $1 will be added to the total for bagging and labor costs.

Also for ANYONE ordering cut chickens, would you like them:

halved?
quartered?
cut in individual pieces?

Lots of SMILES :)
Jamie

This weeks produce

Hello Everyone,

Strawberries: FIRST COME FIRST SERVE
$4.50/qt
$4.00/qt for 2 or more
$3.50/qt for 8 (1 box)
$3.00/qt for 9 or more

Kohlrabi:
small = $.75
Lg = $1.25

Beets:
$2.50/bunch (10/bunch)

Kale:
1/4 lb = $3.00

Onions: (candy)
$1.50/small bunch
$2.00/larger bunch

Lettuce:
1/2lb bag = $2.50

Market Today (Wed)=
Sauk (Eagle Plaza) 11am-1:30pm
Farm 3pm-7pm

No markets today

Sorry we will not have open markets 2day or 2moro. Just not enough produce ready yet...

Happy Fathers Day to all you daddys out there:)

Jamie

Wednesday Markets! - We have STRAWBERRIES!!!

Hi Everyone,
Just wanted to let you know that even though it is raining we are still having Market up in Sauk at the Eagle Plaza. I will have the purple minivan set up in the parking lot by the grass. If the tent isn't up we will be hanging in the van for you to pick up your boxes and will have some produce to sell.

We WILL have open market at the FARM today:
3pm-7pm
If it's raining we will be in the garage, if not I will have a tent set up down by the garden:)

THIS WEEKS PRODUCE :
STRAWBERRIES: $5/qt or 2 for $9
Asparagus: $4/lb
Radishes: $1/bunch
Table Onions: $1.50/bunch or 2 for $2
Rhubarb: $1.50/bunch or 2 for $2
Spinach: $3 for 1/4lb bag
Lettuce: $2.50/bag
Kohlrabi: $.75 for small $1.25 for Large

Chickens

Hello Everyone,
We will be butchering chickens the week after next.

With the changing prices in feed we were not sure what we would be charging and this may change by the next batch...but so far we are keeping the price the same.

$2.50/lb
add $1 to the total charge if you are getting them cut

The chickens will be between 3.5-5lbs. We are taking orders for cut or whole chickens. If you would like your whole chickens bigger than this let me know ASAP so we can set them aside to grow!

Thanks
Jamie

No market at farm Friday or Satruday

Hi everyone,
Nice to have a little rain, hope everyone made it safely thru the storms.

We will NOT have open market at the farm FRIDAY OR SATURDAY. Unfortunately with the cold wet spring and now the hot weather the past 2 weeks our harvest schedule is off. We are hoping to have more variety of produce next week or the week after. We do have some asparagus and radishes. If you need something let me know and we will set it aside for you to pick up otherwise stay tuned for scheduled market times next week.

Thanks
Jamie

Asparagus for sale

$4.50/lb or 2 for $8. Great for eating fresh or pickling.

We have some radishes and table onions and rhubarb for sale too but not many so first come first serve. I have deliveries this afternoon and will be in and out at the farm. Let me know if you will be stopping by and I will put your produce in the fridge with your name on it if I'm not around. If you are able to text me that is the best way to get ahold of me today. 206-5161

Farmer's Market

Hi Everyone,

Unfortunately we have to cancel open market at the farm today. Those of you that are planning on coming to the farm to pick up your WPB box please still do so. I will not be around but Leo will be here to help you get your box. I will send an e-mail update to let you all know if we will have open market 2moro afternoon. Sorry for any inconvenience.

I WILL still be having farmers market today up in Sauk at the Eagle Plaza from 11am-1:30pm.

For sale today:
Asparagus
Radishes
Table Onions
Lettuce
Some spinach
some rhubarb
potted herbs

Jamie

June 2011 Newsletter

Hillsong Ridge Farm        2011 June Newsletter            By: Jamie Spahn

WOW! Is all I can say about what’s going on at the farm.  We have been so busy planting yummy veggies and fruits, weeding, fixing, feeding animals, communicating, and ENJOYING every minute watching the kids on the farm!  The weather has been pretty good to us.  We could use some light showers throughout the week tho, so say a few prayers for gentle rain.  It has been very exciting to watch the farm grow this year along with the kids.  Little Rosie is a month old already! It won’t be long before she’s running with the other 2 causing all kinds of mischief. Lucy and Lily have been working very hard along with playing at the farm.  Weeding is one of Lucy’s favorite things too do besides watering. (Watering means: MUD PIES!) Lily just wants her shoes OFF! I can not keep shoes on her no matter how hard I try. She also loves to lay in the dirt.  She lies down in dirt rows between the lettuce and stares at the sky.  

Leo has been busy creating the fruit hill. Raspberry, blueberry and blackberry plants on one side and Apple, Plum, Peach, Pear, and Sweet Cherry trees on the other.  We are very excited to have fruit on the farm in a few years.  We are hoping for “Pick Your Own” patches.  Besides taking on the fruit hill, Leo, along with some great  helpers, has been planting ACRES of produce. Now the WEEDING is really starting to become a daily thing at the farm.  It is actually very relaxing to weed, and if we stay ahead of them, it doesn’t take to long to get thru a row.  Things are looking real good so far, let’s hope mother nature is good to us during this great growing season.

I am sure there is much more going on to tell you about but these days my mind if filled with the joy of a newborn.  Rosie is one healthy little girl that loves to eat.  I please ask that you be patient with me at the farm and markets.  The other day we got to the farm and she had soiled herself up to her neck.  I had to give her a bath, with her 2 big sisters trying to help (and cause a little trouble), and all I could think about was, “what if there was a customer here right now?”  The answer is: They will have to wait or help themselves.  We will have our produce set up and priced during market hours but if you come to the farm at other times, just know you may have to help yourself or wait if I’m busy with my babies!

Please feel free to forward this newsletter to any family members, friends, neighbors, and co-workers that you  think may be interested in the farm and what we have to offer.  If they do not have e-mail access, have them give me a mailing address, as I am more than happy to mail newsletters every month.

Again thank you all for your support. I know I say this a lot, but we REALLY mean it.  I get to wake up every day happy, and get to raise my kids on a farm, being with them as they grow.  That means more to me than words can describe.

Jamie

Ken Meinholz
Barb Crosby

Congratulations Ken and Barb! You will receive your 2011 Farm Coupon Book in the mail this week.
WEEKLY PRODUCE BOX MEMBERS:
Thanks to everyone that signed up for the weekly boxes.  As we love to do farmers markets and open market at the farm, it is really exciting to know we are for surely going to feed a number of families this year.  The box program has allowed us to plan our plantings a little better and your up front payment supports everything that is going on at the farm right now.

This week will be our FIRST week of boxes.  I will be contacting ALL members to make sure we have you down for delivery or pick up and at what times. Things you will see in your box this week: Lettuce, Spinach, Radishes, possibly Mustard and Table Onions.  There is not much for variety yet, but as the weeks continue you will see your boxes full of all kinds of wonderful, fresh, chemical free, homegrown produce.  Those of you that have signed up for every other week can plan on getting your boxes on the odd numbered weeks starting with week 1.

A big thanks goes out to MaryAnn Marx from the Sauk Community Center.  She worked very hard in putting a box program together for the Sauk community.  We are very excited to be a part of this new program and can’t wait to see how it grows for members and other farms.  It feels really good to bring so many people together because of wanting to eat healthy and take care of our bodies the way mother nature intended!

WORKERS SHARE:
We are still looking for help at the farm. With the continuing growth of our WPB members and the market season starting this week,  we will be looking for lots of help on the farm this year.  If anyone is interested in working 4-5hours a week in trade for a Weekly Produce Box, please send me your contact information, along with the days and times you may be able to work.  We look forward to having you join us in the fields and sharing in the wonderful things you will help us grow.

Thank you to Linda, Charlotte, and Kris for coming out to the farm the past couple weeks. Your hard work and great energy is very appreciated.

“I’ve started weeding at the farm, and have been surprised at how relaxing it is. The first time I was there I stopped only because it had started raining, and discovered I’d been at it for 3 hours. I was so surprised! It was satisfying to look back at the work I had accomplished. The calming affect it had on me made me want to come back for more work. Who da thunk?? I highly recommend it.” - Linda Ruiz

CHICKEN UPDATE:
We are hoping the chickens will be at the 4lb range in the next 2 weeks.  I will keep you all posted with a butcher date when it gets closer.  We are taking orders for whole and cut chickens at this size and orders for whole chickens around 5-7lbs.  If you’d like your chickens bigger than 7lbs please contact me right away so we can set aside your chickens to grow.  We do not have the new pens finished yet but they are getting outside and it is amazing how much faster they grow once that sunlight hits them.
We have also just received our 2nd batch of baby chickens and turkeys. I will be in and out of the farm next week, but if anyone would like to bring their kids to the farm to check out the chicks, come during our Open Market times at the FARM.

TURKEYS:
We have our baby turkeys for the November/December holiday season.  We are also taking orders now for your holiday turkey.  Let us know how many you want, about what size, and fresh or frozen.  Since Thanksgiving is pretty far away yet, it is ok if you don’t know what you need, but give me a heads up if you know you are interested in a farm fresh turkey.

EGGS:
Next week is our last week of this quarters egg shares.  Contact me if you’d like to sign up for our next quarter of egg shares.  Prices below:

Eggs Share Program: (pick up at the farm available daily)
Our next quarter starts Thursday, June 16th.
The egg share program is quarterly (12wks).

EGG SHARE PRICES:
½ Share = 1 doz. Every other week = $18 (+ $2 delivery fee)
Full Share = 1 doz. Every week = $36 (+ $4 delivery fee)
1 ½ Share = 1 doz one week, 2 doz the next = $54 (+ $4 delivery fee)
2 Full Shares = 1 doz. Every week = $72 (+ $4 delivery fee)

We are definitely looking for more neighborhoods to deliver too.  We ask that you get at least 3 people interested in participating in the egg share program.  We will deliver a cooler to a designated house once a week with everyone’s eggs.  Those members will have a 4 hour time frame to pick up their eggs each week.  It is really a great way for you and your neighbors, friends and family members to get fresh eggs weekly and saves everyone a little money in gas (as we all know that is a bonus these days!)

Current Market Times:
Sauk: (Eagle Plaza parking lot)
Wed: 11am-1:30pm

OPEN MARKET AT THE FARM:
Wed: 3pm-7pm
Fri: 2pm-6pm
Sat:  10am-2pm (times may change)

Facebook and blog:
I have many pictures to update on our facebook page.  I am hoping to get to them this weeks, so keep your eyes open Please note we will be using our face book and blog pages (along with e-mails) to update you with info from the farm.  Each week we will let you know what’s fresh and what is included in WPB members boxes, along with available open market times at the farm.  The blog page will also include recipes and ways to store your produce for that week.
KIDS SAFETY AREA:  The Kids Playground is wonderful!  The girls are learning to play nicely together and it is fun to have something for the visiting kids to do too.  Like always, PLEASE slow down  and watch for the little ones when pulling into the driveway.  If you are not sure where to park when you visit the farm, down on the flat part of the driveway by the old corn crib/and trailer is always a good place.  
MAY’S NEWSLETTER RAFFLE WINNERS!!!

February 2011 Newsletter

Happy Snow Days! Though I love the snow, I am definitely ready for some warmer weather. The need to get my hands in the dirt, plants some seeds, and grow things gets stronger every day. Lots of things to talk about this month. We are starting the major planning part of the year. Putting together Weekly Produce Box Info, planting lists and schedules, events, building and fence reconstruction, and the fruit hill are some of our main focuses right now. I would also like to do more teaching this year about what homegrown products can do for your body. If you want to learn more about what types of foods may help a specific health issue, let me know. We want to help anyone we can, which may mean growing a certain type of veggie, fruit, or herb.

I had a great opportunity to attend the 13th Annual Value Added Agriculture Seminar in Madison last week. Taking classes on Farm to School, Cost of Goods, Grants, Agroforestry and sustainable fruit production, and Find Your Fit, was fun and I learned a lot. After the 2 day seminar was over my head was spinning. Not only did I learn about how to better our products, but how to connect with you, the customer. It will take a few years to really reach our true potential as produce farmers and providers, but we are well on our way down the right path. We dug our hole last year so this year will be dedicated to building a strong, reliable foundation.

A BIG THANKS goes out to all of you that took some time to fill out our farm surveys. We got some great feed back and look forward to using the information to run the farm this year and years to come. The following are a list of the WINNERS from the SURVEY RAFFLE.

CONGRATS TO:
Becky Ward - Won a $10 Massage Gift Certificate (from Jamie)
Carrie Knutson - Won a $10 Essential Oils Gift Certificate from Young Living Oils
Becca Biasi - Won a $10 Farm Gift Cert. for the purchase of any product from the farm.
Rhonda Janskowski - Won a Hillsong Ridge Farm 2011 Coupon Book
Again thanks for all your support and keep your eyes open for more raffle opportunities in the upcoming months.

2011 WEEKLY PRODUCE BOX (WPB) PROGRAM information:
The Weekly Produce Box program is a 20 week season that was designed to help you save money on produce, teach to eat seasonally, and provide members with special product privileges. The deadline for WPB sign up is March 15th 2011. If you are interested in an every other week program (10 wks), please contact me individually so we can figure out what you are looking for and create a program that works for you. Payment is due before March 15th, in the form of cash or check. You may pay in full or pay ½ now and post date a check for the other half for July 15th 2011. Remember: As a WPB member you agree to share in the risks, as well as the bounty, with the farmer and other members. Understand that due to wildlife, weather, and/or other production factors, the quantities and varieties you receive may vary seasonally from one year to the next.

WPB members will receive discounts on Bulk Buys (for canning and freezing) thru out the 2011 season. They will also ALWAYS get any fruit product we have available first before farmers market and drop by customer sales.

Large Box - 4 or more people = $42/wk = total of $800 for 20 wks
Standard Box - 2-3 people = $25/wk = total of $500 for 20 wks
Small Box - 1 person = $18/wk = total of $360 for 20 wks

Adding Egg Shares to your WPB program:
Large = 20 wks= 18pk of eggs every week = additional $75
Standard = 20 wks = 1 dozen eggs every week = additional $50
Small = 20 wks = 1 dozen eggs every other week = additional $25

We have not decided on Pick up days (at the farm and Sauk). It will more than likely be Wednesdays and Saturdays, but we are always open so if those days don’t work for you to pick up your box just let me know and I will get you on a different schedule. We are still working on finding a few drop off locations, but it will depend on who’s interested and where everyone lives. We will do our best to accommodate your needs. If anything we will offer home deliveries this year! Please do not let pick up days and locations keep you from entering this program as we WILL get you your produce no matter what.

For those of you that are interested in buying your produce in a box form but would like to pay for your box weekly or pick and choose what you want in your box every week, let me know. This option will be available every week, but know that your box price will be higher than the WPB program and prices will change weekly depending on the products in your box. (box form will be cheaper than buying each item separately) I do want to know if you are interested though because it will help us better determine how much product we need to grow. Just remember the WPB members will always get any available fruit first and the rest will be First Come, First Serve.

LIST OF 2011 PRODUCTS: (N) = new product for us this year. I do not know individual varieties yet.

Early (May-June)
Radish - red and white
Lettuce - multiple types
Spinach
Rhubarb
Strawberries
Kohlrabi
Peas (snow & snap)
Scallions (N)
Turnips (N)
Table Onions
Herbs (many diff. types)
Swiss Chard (N)
Greens (collards, kale, mustards) (N)
*We are currently looking for organically grown Asparagus, more Strawberries, and Garlic from neighboring farms, so they may be included.

Mid (July - Aug.)
Beets (many varieties)
Beans (green, purple, yellow)
Broccoli
Carrots
Cucumbers/Pickles
Eggplant
Herbs
Fennel (N)
Greens (collards, kale, mustards) (N)
Lettuce - multiple types
Onions - sweet and Spanish
Peas (snow & snap)
Peppers (green, red, orange, yellow, purple bells) Red Italian frying peppers and other hot peppers
Potatoes
Swiss Chard (N)
Tomatoes (many varieties, including cherry)
Watermelon
Zucchini/Summer Squash
Muskmelon
Sweet Corn

Late (Sept.- Nov.)
Apples (some)
Beets
Beans
Broccoli
Brussel Sprouts (N)
Cabbage (green & purple)
Carrots
Cauliflower
Cucumbers/Pickles
Eggplant
Herbs
Fennel (N)
Greens (N)
Leeks (N)
Lettuce - many types
Muskmelon
Onions
Parsnip (N)
Peppers
Potatoes
Sweet Potatoes
Pumpkins (pie and carving)
Radishes
Raspberries
Turnips (N)
Scallions (N)
Spinach
Swiss Chard (N)
Tomatoes
Watermelon
Winter Squash (Delicate, Butternut, Buttercup, Spaghetti, Acorn)

Possible Fruits this year: Raspberries, Strawberries, Apples, Cherries, Pears, Peaches, Blueberries, Blackberries, Grapes.

Chicken Update:
Our winter batch of chickens are almost around 4lbs. Anyone interested in whole or cut chickens at this size please let me know. We only cut chickens when they are around this size so now is the time to order as we will not have fresh cut chickens again until June-ish. I’m guessing we will be butchering next week. Current Chicken Price =$2.50/lb (+ $1.00 added to the total for cut chickens to pay for labor and packaging) FYI: As the cost of feed continues to rise, we will have to raise the price for our meat chickens and fresh eggs in the near future.
Fresh Eggs Available Daily: $2.50/doz

Check us out on FACEBOOK & our BLOG PAGE!
Become part of the Hillsong Ridge Farm face book page and get weekly/daily updates about the farm, along with the chance to see pictures of what goes on at the farm. Our blog page:
http://hillsongridgefarm.blogspot.com/ is also used to communicate updates, but I would mostly like to use this page to share recipes, including weekly menus for the busy households. If you have a favorite recipe you’d like to share please send it to Hillsongridgefarm@gmail.com.

Information I am Looking For:
For those of you that have your own business, I would like to organize an event on the farm this year for you to come advertise. I think it will be a good way to support our community. Please send me an e-mail to explain your business. I am looking for info now but will not be holding this event until later in the year. As I am due at the end of April, I want to get as many things together for the farm before than. I am also wondering who would be interested in a “Kid/Family Event Day.” I wish we could have them every weekend at the farm but this year we will probably be limited to 1 or 2 event days and some pre-planned visits. Some things we are considering are days to interact with the animals, learning how to make food and juices, learning how to can and freeze, planting/gardening days, wagon rides, plant your own seeds for take home projects, and pumpkin carving contests. My questions: Would you like to volunteer to help out on an event day? Any ideas for farm events? Do you have a group event interest, like field trips for daycare or play dates?


Sauk Wellness Night: Join us for the 2nd Annual SPA NIGHT!
Date: Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Time: 6:00—8:00 p.m. Community Center Gym
730 Monroe St., Sauk City
You’ve worked hard and now it’s time to reward yourself with a “Health Trip Spa Night”! Enjoy an evening of being pampered featuring local businesses who specialize in making you feel special! Free demonstrations and services such as massage, reflexology, guided imagery, yoga, reiki, scalp massage, pedicures, and nutrition counseling will be available for you to try. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to see what it’s like to be treated like a King/Queen! This event is free to all Health Trip participants, any non-members can attend by contributing $5. Proceeds will go to the Sauk Prairie Food Pantry.

Hillsong Ridge Farm will have a booth set up at the community center that night. We will be raffling off 2011 Farm Coupon Books and Free Product Give-Aways! We plan to teach about our farm fresh, chemical and hormone free products along with the benefits of Locally Grown Foods, and homemade baby foods. There will be lots of opportunities to learn good health tips and pamper yourself. Come Join Us!

Please feel free to send this newsletter to any family members, friends, and co-workers you think may be interested. If you know anyone that wants farm info but does not have e-mail access just have them call me or send me their address and I will mail the newsletters to them.

Thank you for your support and have a great February! (Spring is almost here!)
-Jamie