Last of CSA After An Unsettling Growing Season

Is there hope?

I received the letter below today from our farmer, Tammy, whom we bought our CSA from this year.  It's been a terrible and unusual growing season and even she, who's been farming naturally for over 25 years, is at a loss of what's happening.  This is unsettling to say the least. 

My own raised-bed first year vegetable garden didn't produce much but our pumpkins are doing great.  It did seem unusual to me to have so little come from our garden, but I found it hard to tell as it's my first year.

Has anyone else been having difficulties with growing your produce this year?  Any theories on what's happening to make the crops suffer this year?



September 21, 2010


CSA Members,


It is difficult for me to announce that the rest of this growing season’s shares are cancelled.


For the first time in twenty –five years I have not preserved any food for my family. What little food we have and may be able to produce will go to restocking our pantry.


All across the nation and globally gardens have severely under produced this year and we have not been immune. We have had beautiful plants and thousands of blossoms and little to no fruit. Even zucchini that usually explodes in production failed. We planted potatoes three times, sweet corn three times, beans four and five times. The 375 tomatoes plants produced ¼ of what they normally do. Late August we started planting our fall crops in the high tunnels and other beds. I’m at a loss. The seeds are germinating at about ½ the rate they normally do and are just sitting there . . . . . not growing. Even what our goats, cow and chickens generally produce has not been normal.


This is causing me great concern.


I have been in communication with other growers here in this area and nationally and theories are flying as to what is causing this phenomenon. The most troubling part is I feel strongly that we have not seen the worst of it. I believe we could be facing food shortages very soon on a global scale. Many share these same thoughts.


I suggest you do your own research. I also strongly suggest that you store extra food that will keep for several years. Don’t be fearful . . . . . just be pragmatic and prepared. Look around you and observe what is happening with the weather patterns and how this extreme weather will affect almost every aspect of your life. Also, do research on what is causing this extreme weather, earthquakes and volcanic activity. I can voice my own opinions and thoughts but the most powerful truth is the truth you determine on your own.


Even though contractually this would be considered a “crop failure “and therefore we would share the monetary loss I feel moved to return at least 1/3 of your membership fee.


It will take me two or three months to return everyone’s portion. I will return in the same order I received the contract and fee.


I am not giving up. I will continue to experiment with seeds and procedures in growing. If the high tunnels begin to produce I will share what I can.


Thank You for being a part of the farm and even though I’m very aware this has not been a favorable experience, I hope you will not give up on supporting local growers.


Faithfully, Tammy Crandell; Foxfire Farm

Recipe: Scallops with Liguinie in White Wine Sauce

Anytime we serve seafood it feels like a very special meal when, in fact, it's one of the easiest and quickest foods to prepare.  You never have to add a bunch of ingredients or cook it for long for it to taste great.  It readily absorbs the flavours of the dish and pairs well with almost anything. 

My fridge was bursting with veggies from my CSA (green pepper and tomatoes used in this recipe) and I needed a quick meal to prepare.  I had 45 minutes until my husband arrived home and needed something hearty, healthy, and fast!  I had nothing defrosted or planned.  It was over 100 degrees outside and turning the oven on wasn't an option.  Didn't I feel like an accomplished woman when I served up this meal in no time flat!

This special recipe came on the back of the package of frozen scallops.  At the moment, I don't follow any seafood buying guides, but intend to soon.  I do look at where the seafood comes from and, if given a choice, buy as local as possible.  Being in a small town in the midwest my choices are very limited.  With better meal planning and trips to stores that offer better options, like Whole Foods, I'll be able to make better choices.  Baby steps people. ;o)

SCALLOPS WITH LIGUINIE IN WHITE WINE SAUCE
from Aqua Star Bay Scallops

2 Tbsp. olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 medium onion, thinly sliced
1/2 medium green bell pepper, chopped
1 (28oz) can Italian tomatoes, peeled, chopped & drained
(I chopped 3.5 cups of tomatoes instead - about 4)
 1 tsp. dried oregano
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. crushed hot red pepper
1 cup dry red or white wine
1 lb. Bay Scallops
1 lb. cooked linguine
2 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley

Heat oil in large saucepan over medium heat.  Add garlic, onion, and bell pepper and saute until tender. 

Stir in tomatoes, oregano, salt and hot pepper.  Add wine and simmer for 8-10 minutes, stir frequently. 

Add bay scallops, stir occasionally, and cook until scallops are opaque throughout (this only takes a few minutes!).  Serve over cooked linguine.  Garnish with chopped parsley.

Printable Recipe

Enjoy!

1973, Four Winds Press

This book is from our local library.

It reminds me so much of Nova Scotia that it makes my heart ache.

CSA Week 2

This week's package ~ fresh eggs, swiss chard,

scallions, local honey, fresh basil,

fresh parsley, loose lemon herb tea.

We love picking-up our CSA each week and visiting the farm.  It's a delight when the owner is there as she knows so much about farming naturally and is always willing to answer any questions.

One of the farm dogs checking on the poor goat.

This week when we walked in the barn, there was a male goat laying in front of the fridge.  The farmer told us he was sad as she had to get rid of his 2 friends earlier that week. Because of this he hasn't eaten or drank anything in days.  He was obviously very sad and weak.  There is lots of other friends like cats, dogs, chickens, horses, cows, etc., for him around the farm but he wanted his two buddies.

A kitty asleep by the goat and a

chicken that followed us everywhere.

We gave him lots of love and she said it does help as she saw him take a drink earlier that day after other CSA families had come.  Hopefully we cheered him up enough to eat.

You might also enjoy these previous posts:
Our first CSA!
CSA Week 1

Enjoy your week!

CSA Week 1

I picked-up my first CSA package yesterday!  This is my first year purchasing a CSA and I'm excited by all the different fresh produce I'll receive each week.  This is from an established, local, organic farm.  In my box I received farm fresh eggs, kohlrabi, nappa cabbage, green shallots, and a Stevia plant. Also included is Buffalo Round Steak.

The best part about picking up my weekly package is visiting the farm.  The kids love to visit with the chickens, ducks, goats, horses, dogs and cats.  All the animals are very friendly and affectionate.  You can see how loved and taken care of they all are.

My CSA began late as it's been a terrible spring for planting as we've had many storms with torrential rains.  Two weeks ago we received one and a half inches of rain in four hours with a total of six and a half inches that week alone.  The farmer had to plant in the mud just to get things in the ground and have replanted 350 pounds of potatoes because the first planting rotted in the mud.  They're replanting 5 acres of ambrosia sweet corn this week.

Last night at dinner time a storm quickly came up, as often does here in Kansas, and dumped buckets of rain within an hour.  I'm sure this won't help my farmer any and all the planting she's trying to achieve.

I'm looking forward to preparing and sharing all the delicious recipes that I'll be making with my CSA produce each week.

Enjoy!

I Purchased My First CSA!

What's a CSA?  Community Supported Agriculture is where individuals can buy a share in the farmers crops before they plant in exchange for a weekly share of the harvest through the growing season.  In my case, I purchased a Half Share for $325, and I'll go to the farm once per week and select 3-7 items from their weekly harvest.  Some farms also deliver to a central pick-up point such as farmer's markets or grocery stores for the members to pick-up. 

From my membership application:
"We also have had several requests for a smaller CSA share or half share and so a limited amount is being offered at $325.00. Full amount will be due by April 15th. The weekly full share includes 5 to 9 different vegetables, fruits, and herbs and is more than enough to feed a family of 4 or 5. A half share will be 3 to 7 products or literally one half of the vegetables ready for harvest that week. We grow an incredibly wide range of items from asparagus to zucchini. If we have weeks when the harvest is not as hardy we will include fresh baked bread (made with our organic wheat), organic eggs, homemade butter, teas made from our herbs and other value added products."

I'm lucky enough to live close to Foxfire Farm so I get to visit it weekly to select my produce.  When we visited on Friday to drop-off our check and application, we got to see a baby goat that was just born.  Tammy (the farmer) welcomed us into their barn and the kids even got to play in the stall with baby goats while I talked to her.  Her farm is all organic and offers all sorts of good things.  I selected this farm as I got to volunteer there Gleaning The Harvest last fall.

Some farmers even offer CSA's through local grocery stores where you can pick-up your weekly CSA delivery before you shop for your groceries.  I love the idea of places of employment who work with local farmers to offer CSA's delivered weekly to their work and can even deduct it from their paycheck.  Read more about this great program here.

I will be blogging about my CSA experience throughout the season.  I'll include what produce I received and what I made with it.  I am looking forward to the challenge of cooking with freshly harvested produce each week.

Why not find a CSA near you?  Check out http://www.localharvest.org/ for CSA and U-Pick listings in your area.  I'm going with friends and our kids to pick fresh asparagus next week in our area.  Our local farmers markets will be open in a couple weeks too.  Let the fun of the season begin!

Happily submitted to Works for Me Wednesday over at We Are THAT Family.

Enjoy!

from the book "The Big Golden Book of Poetry"

1949 Golden Press

Illustrated by Gertrude Elliott