8/19/09

Nitty Gritty News August 20th




From the farmers….
Extreme farming! Bagging potatoes, sorting cukes and zukes and harvesting cabbage as winds blew, rain fell in torrents and finally, ran for the house as tornado sirens went off in North Branch. Everyone got dried off – a huge pile of soaking wet clothes piled in the shower – and almost everyone dressed in our
t-shirts and jeans and sweats. We all warmed up with hot chocolate and tea and zucchini bread provided by Sue. This evening as we celebrated Jacq’s last week here at Nitty Gritty down at our local Sunrise Bar, we heard stories of how serious the storm we had harvested through really was - tornado? damage in North Branch with the roof collapsed? on one of the schools.
In spite of the downpour all day, we got most of the harvest accomplished. Soaked to the skin even through raincoats, muddy and feeling just a bit invincible, we harvested and prepared most of the vegetables for your weekly share. Pulling carrots through mud with rain water filling the holes as fast as we removed carrots was a challenge. We were not able to harvest the green beans in the rain and will try to get them picked tomorrow –hopefully it will be dry long enough for that – or we’ll have to figure out how to get beans to you because the plants are loaded.
We picked our first ripe tomatoes last week – and peppers – and eggplant – and melons. Some of you will find a melon in your box this week. And depending on the weather, we may pick some tomatoes if it doesn’t rain tomorrow. Otherwise, you can count on fresh tomatoes for sure next week.
On the livestock front: our baby bunnies are getting ready to hop out of their next box soon. After the rain, all of the critters have new swimming holes in their pens. The only ones who seem to really enjoy it are the pigs who seem to be having a pool party. We’ll be taking our first group of seven lambs to the meat locker on Monday morning with the other two groups going later. Some critter got at our ducks a couple of nights ago. All we found was one less duck and a lot of feathers outside their pen. From the paw print, it looks as though it was probably a coyote. There are a lot of coyotes that live in the state part just east of our farm. We hear them often in early evening through the night. And so far, we haven’t had much predation from them. But perhaps because the steers are gone from the far back part of the farm, the coyotes are feeling braver about getting at the ducks. So we’ve moved the ducks closer to the other livestock and we’ll move them even closer in later this week.
As I said, earlier, this week is Jacq’s last week. On Monday, she begins classes as she continues her education. Sara finished two weeks ago. It is sad to see interns who have become part of our farm family go – and yet – the farm goes on.
Until next week………

In your share this week
Potatoes – Norland Red
Onions – Red Candy Apple, Walla Walla, Candy
Cucumber – Raider, Sweet Slice, Lucky Strike
Zucchini – Cavelli, Slick Pick, Zephyr, Sunburst Pattypan, Bennings Green Tint Pattypan, Lita, Raven, Elite, Horn of Plenty
Honeydew melons (maybe) Diplomat, Passport
Cantaloupe (maybe) Goddess
Carrots – Chantenay (short stumpy) and/or Nantes (longer)
Kohlrabi – Winner
Swiss Chard – Northern Lights
Basil – Lime, Amethyst Improved, Genovese
Dill – Dukat, Bouquet
Green Beans – Landmark

REFRIGERATOR PICKLES
From Cyndie Leary at Community UCC in St. Paul Park

6 cups sliced cucumbers
1 cup sliced onions
1 cup green pepper (optional)
1 cup apple cider vinegar
1 to 2 cups sugar depending on taste
1 tablespoon salt
1 teaspoon celery seed

Combine all ingredients; mix well. Place in jar. Refrigerate. The pickles will be ready in 24 hours and will keep up to 1 year.

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.

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.

Not every day is like this either.

Not every day is like this either.