8/5/09

Nitty Gritty News August 13th


From the farmers….
It has been a HOT week here at Nitty Gritty Dirt Farm! Today with temperatures soaring into the 90’s as we picked green and yellow beans, we are hoping your beans won’t taste salty – what with all of our sweating under the searing sun. Yesterday we loaded and spread two fairly large compost piles onto the re-worked areas of our fields as well as side-dressing for the summer squash and cuke rows. Our neighbor, Chick stopped by on his way to baling straw on our back field to ask if we wanted to use his manure spreader. We replied that with the skinny strips to be fertilized, his large spreader – though a lot easier than the shovels and wheelbarrows we were using – would not work, but thanks anyway. Earlier this week, Chick combined (harvested) the oats he had planted for us on our back 5? acres. This morning, Dale picked up the gravity box with the approximately 2000 pounds of harvested oats and drove it to the mill where it was cleaned and banked for us to use in mixing some of our livestock feeds this winter.
On Tuesday evening, our kitchen was full of interns, helpers and harvested veggies as we spent the evening (after the big compost move) making jars and jars of pickles. We made over a dozen quarts of sandwich stacker dill pickles, another dozen or so of short-brine brown sugar dills, and mixed Jardini̬re pickles with carrots, onions, beans, broccoli, basil, garlic and hot peppers. We also canned a dozen quarts of sauerkraut we made three weeks ago and another dozen or so pints of bread and butter pickles. Our kitchen (which is pretty small) was a choreography of canning kettles, huge bowls of prepped veggies and a little music from Gigi, Emilie and Ellie to keep us all going. We have a great assortment to divide and send home with everyone. And if that were not enough, as Dale continued to load the canning kettles with jars, Cara and Jacq bottled the first batch and mixed up another batch of kombucha (fermented tea). We now have three jars going with new kombucha mothers in each. We are grateful to Cara for introducing this new treat to our household and hope to offer a farm workshop on getting you started with your own kombucha for shareholders and friends this fall. It is so easy Рand so refreshing, especially on a hot day. We have plans to try some different flavors soon Рhow about lime basil and honey? Or maple syrup and chokecherry?

This morning, we moved the pigs – big and smaller – into new bigger – much bigger pens. Both groups seem very happy with a lot more room to run and whirl about, as well as dig and root up. Just before the big pigs got their waterer moved to its new location, a couple of them decided to lay alongside of it – without the stock panel fence helping to hold it in position. They were a bit surprised when the waterer with nearly 50 gallons of water tipped over and made a wonderful slough for them to slide in.
Tonight – after it cools down a bit – we will be hauling the two beef steers to the meat locker. It is always a bit sad to say goodbye and thank you to animals we’ve been taking care of since babyhood – but we try to take good care of them, so they can take good care of us. It is part of that great cycle of life.
Until next week……….

What’s in your share this week…

Sweet Corn - Ambrosia
Beans – Derby, Provider, Eureka
Collards - Vates
Zucchini – Raven, Elite, Lila, Sephyr, Click Pick, Horn of Plenty and Caveli
Cucumbers – Raider, Sweet Slice
Onions – Walla Walla
Dill Bouquet
Basil - Genovese

From Je Mange la Ville

Jacq found this recipe online and treated us with it at lunch yesterday. She substituted maple syrup for the orange juice and cilantro for the parsley. The site is jemangelaville.com and the specific reference page is http://www.jemangelaville.com/2007/07/01/its-hot-out-time-for-zucchini-gazpacho-and-a-dinner-out/

Zucchini Gazpacho
1 big zucchini
2 yellow tomatoes
1/2 green bell pepper
1 small sweet onion, chopped into quarters
2 cloves garlic
2 slices white bread, crusts removed
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
Tabasco
salt
pepper
3 tbsp parsley, chopped
juice of 1/2 an orange
extra olive oil for drizzling
Blend the zucchini, tomatoes, onion quarters, bell pepper, olive oil and garlic in a food processor. Get it a bit combined and then add the bread, a bit of Tabasco, parsley and orange juice. Taste and add salt and pepper as needed.
Serve into individual bowls and drizzle with the olive oil. You’re done. Go eat.
Posted by at 8:04 PM

Shares Available for 2012

NGDF is cutting back on the number of shares offered for 2012 to make room for a few other simultaneous projects. If you are interested in a share for next year, sign up early. When we reach our limit, there will be no room to add extra shares.

Membership Form 2012

Either send form via email and mail check separately or copy and print membership form and send them together. If splitting a share, both shareholders should fill out a form



Date ________________ (required)



Name ___________________________________



Co-Share ________________________________

(if splitting a share)

Address _________________________________



City, State, Zip ____________________________



Phone: __________________________________



Cell: ____________________________________



Email(s) _________________________________

VEGGIE SHARES



_______ $560 The Great Share (One and one-ninth bushel)

For those interested in a smaller share, we suggest purchasing a Great Share box and find a co-shareholder to split it with. This is the most sustainable and affordable method and gives the shareholders some flexibility.



_______ $410 The Good Share (five-ninths bushel box)



MEAT SHARE OPTIONS



_check availability $12 each Broiler Chickens



________ $135 Lamb share (half a lamb)



________$270 Lamb share (whole lamb)



__None in 2012_$ 160 Pork share (one quarter)



__None in 2012_$ 280 Pork share (one half)



__None in 2012_$ 525 Pork share (whole)



__check availability_ $2.75 per pound Turkey share



_______ TOTAL



____________ Drop Site Choice (see list below)





Checks payable to Nitty Gritty Dirt Farm



(Contact us if you need additional payment options)

office use only:

check # _________

deposit $________

balance due $_______

check # _________

balance pd $_________



DROP SITES

Use the addresses to google or mapquest or look up the drop site from your particular location. Keep in mind that the folks at the drop sites are volunteers, allowing us to use their space (and in some cases, their homes) as drop sites. Be nice to them. We couldn't do this without them. If you have any questions about your share etc., you should ask us, not them. They have enough to do....as do we all. All deliveries occur on Thursday afternoons. Approximate drop site times are listed below each location. The end times vary but you should pick up your share as early as possible. Look for the NITTY GRITTY DIRT FARM DROP SITE signs at your delivery locations along with lists to check your name off when you pick up, and a description of exactly what you should take.





Nitty Gritty Dirt Farm

10386 Sunrise Road (Cty Rd 9)

Harris MN 55032



35 north past North Branch to the Harris Exit. Turn Right.

Go into Harris, cross RR tracks to stop sign. Turn Left

Go 2 blocks to County Rd 9, also called Sunrise Road. (at Heartbreakers Bar) Turn Right. Farm is 4 1/2 miles out on left side of road. Look for Nitty Gritty Dirt Farm sign.

Shares available from 3:00 to 6:00



United Theological Seminary 3000 5th Street NW, New Brighton MN 55112



694 to Silver Lake Road exit. Go south to 5th and turn west (right). Go three blocks to UTS. Follow driveway (left) to the maintenance garage at the far north end of the parking lot. Shares available after 3:30 PM to 6:00 PM.



Pilgrims United Church of Christ

8801 Rice Lake Road, Maple Grove MN 55369

Just off of Weaver Lake Road across from Rice Lake Elementary School. Use main church door. Shares available from 3:30 to 6:00.



Acadia Cafe

329 Cedar Avenue South, Minneapolis

NW corner of Cedar and Riverside. Park on Riverside or

in lot behind the cafe.

Shares available after 3:15 PM until 6:00 PM



Vincent Avenue

3646 Vincent Avenue North, Mpls MN 55412

1/2 block north of 36th Ave N, and 2 blocks south of Dowling. Park on the street. Shares available after 3:30 until 6:00 PM



Additional drop sites may be added as shares are sold. Drop Sites are subject to change but plenty of notice will be given and alternate sites will be within close proximity to the original drop site.

How to use the Membership Form

Highlight the membership form -and copy it to print or to insert into an email. If you are splitting a share, both shareholders should fill out a form, and list the other on the co-share line. Complete the form(s) and mail it back to us with your payment. OR fill out the form and attach it to an email to (nittygrittydirtfarm@gmail.com) and send the payment via snail mail at the same time. If sending the form and the payment separately, indicate clearly on the payment, the name of the shareholder(s). When we receive your membership form and payment we'll add you to the list and send a confirmation email. Your cancelled check will be your receipt. Welcome to the farm.

Nitty Gritty Dirt Farm
10386 Sunrise Road
PO Box 235
Harris MN 55032















FARM CONTACT INFORMATION

Robin Raudabaugh & Gigi Nauer

Nitty Gritty Dirt Farm

10386 Sunrise Road

PO Box 235

Harris MN 55032


(651) 226-1186


nittygrittydirtfarm@gmail.com

Also Nitty Gritty Goods Wool CSA
Robin Raudabaugh
651-216-9012
nittygrittygoodswool@gmail.com

We are a 15 acre Community Supported Agriculture farm providing a wide variety of fresh, organically and sustainably grown vegetables, fruit, lamb, pork, turkey and chicken. Located one hour north of the Twin Cities, we deliver to several metro locations. We are intentional about our organic and sustainable farming practices which include (but are not limited to): maintaining soil health through green and animal manures, compost, mulch, cover crops and crop rotations; Organic Pest Management to naturally monitor, prevent and control insects and other pests; maintaining animal health and well-being through the use of portable and loose housing and pasture rotations. Owner/operators Robin Raudabaugh and Gigi Nauer provide over 30 years experience in fruit, vegetable and livestock production, education and customer service. Our primary goal is to build community, relationships and personal health and well-being around good food and the intentional living that creates it. We’d love to have you join us.

Not every day is like this but we try.

Not every day is like this but we try.

Apprenticeship / Internship for the 2012 season

Apprenticeships at Nitty Gritty Dirt Farm provide the opportunity for hands on learning in organic and sustainable living and CSA farming. Nearly full-time schedules of 4 days per week are available. Apprenticeships may start and end throughout the growing season. Rustic housing is provided which includes access to a shower house, kitchenette and composting toilet. We share a midday community meal and provide fresh food and some staple items for morning and evening meals. In addition, apprentices receive a full veggie share and other products from the farm. Based on experience and needs, a stipend may be negotiated. Call (651) 226-1186 or email us at nittygrittydirtfarm@gmail.com if you are interested in being considered for the 2012 season.















Not every day is like this either.

Not every day is like this either.