2012 - June Newsletter

Hillsong Ridge Farm 2012 June Newsletter

Lots going on at the farm these days. The fields and gardens are FULL, the animals are all happy (all the weeds and extras they get to eat!), and we are already starting to harvest! It has been great to see everyone, family and friends, coming together to help at the farm. A part for a tractor, mulch supply, nutrition for the fields and plants, weed and pest control, animal care, future planning of a greenhouse, homemade recipes, and knowledge are just some of the things floating around the farm. When we talk about “CSA’s”, COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE, that is exactly what is going on here. I see a community of people coming together to live a healthier lifestyle and create a future for our children. Thank you to all of you that continue to spread the word about what we are doing at the farm. The connections that continue to happen have been so helpful and fun to experience.

If anyone is looking to get away for a bit and have some peace and quiet, come on out to the fields. THE WEEDS ARE WAITING FOR YOU! This is the time of year it really pays to get ahead of the weeds. Pretty soon we will be so busy with harvest and fall planting that weed control moves down the list of things to get done in a day, but is just as important. It really makes a quick difference when 3-5 people are working together when weeding. 14 rows of Onions, lets have a race to see who can get to the end of the row first, while doing a good job of course. In a few hours (or less) the onions are weeded and good to grow! Maybe you are just looking for a fresh box of produce and would like to put some time in at the farm. Call Jamie to schedule a time to WORK FOR PRODUCE!

Chickens: Those of you who ordered chickens will hear from me by next weekend to let you know our butcher schedule. Anyone interested in farm fresh chickens this summer should place an order with Jamie (e-mail or call). The first batch is spoken for. The second batch of chicks are getting bigger every day and we are getting lots of orders, so ordering now will get you a farm fresh chicken for your summer grill outs. We will also be doing a “winter batch” of chickens that we will butcher in Nov. I am taking BULK orders for freezer chickens. After November we will not have fresh chickens again until June 2013. Plan now for how many chickens you will eat in a week throughout the winter and spring and how much freezer space you have. I would like to have all bulk orders in by the middle of August so we can plan accordingly.

EGGS: We’ve got farm fresh eggs! $3/ doz or $4.50 / 18pk.

CSA Box Members: June 5th starts WEEK 1 of our CSA Box Program. I am so EXCITED! Remember, boxes may be smaller this time of year and over flowing towards the middle to end of the season. Most of you will receive boxes this week. Some of you will have to wait until next week, because I split all the ½ shares up in 2 weeks, to keep our weekly packing numbers close to the same. I have sent an e-mail to the ½ share members letting you know if you will pick up on “odd” weeks or “even”. Your foodie sheets will help remind you of what week we are on. I am always looking for simple and fun recipes for our foodie cheat sheet. You can e-mail me any time about new things you try with your produce. Don’t forget to let the kids get involved too. They may be more open to eating fresh veggies when they know where they come from and help in preparing them. It has been HOT so the spinach and radishes are slow to grow and we’ve had to replant some seeds that did not emerge, likely from the dry weather. I think we went 3 weeks without rain. Let me tell ya, I did some dancing in the pouring rain because I was sooo excited to have it at the farm, and it felt good too! We watered transplants to keep them alive and help them root, and a sprinkler in the garden helped too, but everything else is in mother natures hands. The bugs are all around too. Your greens will more than likely have holes and you may find some bugs or wormies on your produce. Nothing a good cleaning won’t take care of. Like on ‘The Lion King’: “SLIMMY, YET SATISFYING!” Just something we have to get use to when eating naturally grown produce. Have fun with your first box and get ready for some great eating.

Just a heads up, this time of year you will continue receiving e-mail updates during the week to let you know what is for sale at the farm. You can also check out our website to see what is for sale each week. As always, please feel free to contact me with any comments, concerns, or questions. You can reach me via e-mail or by phone (if I do not answer please leave a message and I will get back to you as soon as possible) or send a text.

Word of mouth has been the best way to spread the word about what’s going on at the farm. It is fun to hear how someone new found out about us. The word is spreading fast thanks to all of you that support us daily. We can try to make a living, doing what we love, and supply you with healthy food for your kitchen tables.

Have a safe, happy, and healthy day,
Jamie

2012 - May Newslettter

Hillsong Ridge Farm 2012 May Newsletter By: Jamie Spahn

Plant it and it will grow! Plant, plant and more planting. Transplants and seeds are making their way into the dirt at Hillsong Ridge. Rows of radishes, lettuce, beets, and peas are growing well from our early plantings in the lawn garden. Cabbage, Broccoli, Kohlrabi, Cauliflower and even some Black Cherry Tomato transplants are rooting and growing well with the rain and cooler weather. Onions, Potatoes, Carrots, Spinach, Swiss Chard and Kale are also enjoying the spring mother nature is providing so far. The next few weeks we will get Beans, Peppers, Tomatoes, Cukes, Zucchini, Sweet Corn, Pumpkins, and much, much more into the ground, along with our second plantings of things like lettuce and peas.

Grandpa said, “The radishes are ready.” It was so exciting to watch the girls go get the harvest baskets, walk to the garden, and point out to me which ones the radishes were. I told them, “Start pulling this whole row, put them in your baskets and bring them over to the hose to wash them.” I walked over to start cutting rhubarb and turned to see them both bent over picking radishes. How Cool! It didn’t take very long til they were over by the hose. (Kids and water…) Lucy worked hard and her basket was fuller than I thought. Lily just liked to keep turning the hose on FULL BLAST. We bundled 6 bunches of radishes! We are so excited to grow for you! It’s what we love to do!

WE HAVE A WEBSITE! Just another thing that makes this all so real. We are in the third year growing produce and it IS a business. Check out our site anytime. We will be making regular changes and updates to keep you posted on all that is happening at the farm. Thank you so much to Kathy Spahn (Grandma) and Joe Meinholz for putting this together. This is going to be a great way for us to communicate with all of you!

FOR SALE:

Radishes $1.75/ bundle

Rhubarb $1.50/bundle or $2 for 2

Potted Herbs and Specialty Garden Baskets $5-$18

Leaf Lettuce $2 = ½ lb $3.50= 1lb

Possibly Spinach by the end of the week.

Chickens:

Our first batch of chickens are looking good. We are aiming for the 2nd week in June to start butchering but that will be determined when it gets a little closer. I will be contacting those of you that pre-ordered your chickens the first part of June to schedule pick ups/deliveries. Most of the 1st batch is spoken for but we are still taking orders. We have also ordered the 2nd batch of babies to arrive next week. They will be ready the first part of July. Yum, chicken on the grill! I can’t wait!

Eggs:

We are still getting LOTS of eggs. Swing in at the farm to pick up your fresh eggs daily. Deliveries to Sauk, Cross Plains, and Spring Green on Wednesdays. 

$3/doz

$4.50/18pk

CSA Weekly Produce Box Members:

As of right now we are on track for starting boxes the first full week in June. Expect things like lettuce, spinach, radishes, beets, kale, table onions and hopefully some asparagus and strawberries the first couple weeks. I will be meeting with some of our drop off sites to go over how things will work when boxes are delivered. I am also starting to put together our foodie sheets for the boxes. I am looking for easy recipes for first timers cooking with fresh veggies. Receiving produce is very new for some members so I want to help make it less overwhelming by making sure I have lots of good ideas of how to work with these foods. Please e-mail your ideas and recipes to hillsongridgefarm@gmail.com. Thank You!

WIN A FREE DOZEN EGGS!

Lots of our chickens are laying “double yolkers”. If you are eating eggs from Hillsong Ridge Farm, I would like to hear about your experience with these big eggs. The girls like to pick out the biggest egg in our dozen each week and make bets. The winner gets to eat the egg! E-mail your story to me at hillsongridgefarm@gmail.com. I will share the stories with the kids and the best story gets a free dozen eggs! (I will also share in next months newsletter)

Just a heads up, this time of year you will start receiving e-mail updates during the week to let you know what is for sale at the farm. As always, please feel free to contact me with any comments, concerns, or questions. You can reach me via e-mail or by phone (if I do not answer please leave a message and I will get back to you as soon as possible) or send a text. 

Word of mouth has been the best way to spread the word about what’s going on at the farm. It is fun to hear how someone new found out about us. The word is spreading fast thanks to all of you that support us daily. We can work, doing what we love and supply you with healthy food you want to share.

Have a safe, happy, and healthy day,

Jamie

Herbs and Specialty Garden Pots

Hello Everyone,

We have herbs for sale along with specialty garden pots filled with herbs, veggies and flowers.

Herbs alone = $3 each

Specialty Pots range from $5-$18 depending on size and varieties.

 

Mother's Day is approaching and we thought these garden pots might be a nice gift idea. They are also great for anyone without garden space that would like to grow a few things on the porch or even good project pots for the kids!!!

 

Here are some of the 'specialty pots" we put together. If there is one you are interested in, let me know. We only have 1 of each put together for show right now, but would be happy to make LOTS more. If there is some kind of pot you'd like us to put together for you, also let me know. I love this idea for gifts. Mother's Day, Baby or Bridal showers, wedding gifts, teacher gift at the end of the year....

 

1. Pansies, Viloas (editable), eggplant, and Lettuce

2. Cherry Tomatoes and petunias

3. Lavendar, buttercrunch lettuce, and violas

4. Lettuce, Sage, and Rosemary

5. "SALSA POT" = Cherry Tomatoes, basil, cilantro, bell pepper, habanero peppers

6. Sweet potato vines with yellow and purple beans (one grows down the pot the other grows up!)

7. Bell pepper, eggplant, marigolds, and pansies

8. Bell pepper, habanero pepper, and lettuce

9. Eggplant and pansies (this is in a small pot with eggplant on top and pansies coming out side holes!)

10. Mint Plants

ANY OTHER IDEAS????

 

Available Herbs for Sale:
Basil, Cilantro, Rosemary, Thyme, diff. Mints, Oregano, Lavendar, Tarragon, Parsley

 

We will be at the farm Saturday if you want to swing in 10am-5pm. (other times available apon request)

 

Have a great weekend!!
Jamie

Potted Herbs for Sale!

Single and specialty pots. Prices and pics to come. Check out April newsletter in the archives! BEES arrived yesterday. 5 hives!!!! Hope they like their new home:) The red winged black bird has been watching us in the garden, on the post where the new sign will go! Hope he is happy with our work so far...