From the Farm Manager ….
Farm time is different from other time – a week either feels like a month or a day. When we are waiting for the first of any vegetable to be ready for harvest it feels as though it will never happen, and yet when weeding the carrots and dill and chard needs to be done, a day can stretch into a month.
It has been a frustrating spring. We are glad for all the rain and yet it does make growing a challenge. Just this morning, following the downpour last night, one whole section of the lettuce row was underwater and the new row into which we were to plant the Brussels sprout seedlings was completely submerged. And the hot weather is really making the tomatoes grow, but the cool season crops we count on at this time of the season are struggling with temps in the upper 80’s.
The sugar snap peas which our interns have been keeping neatly trellised are nearly five feet high and I picked the first few pea pods for our lunch today. The green and yellow beans have just begun to bloom and I saw little tiny broccoli heads on those plants.
We’ve been doing a lot of weeding this week – trying to get the weeds out between the rains which make them grow like crazy. No one really likes weeding – and it’s hard to keep everyone motivated by the 8th 250 foot row of carrots. But all those rows are finished – before the rain – and they look great.
The five new baby pigs – the surprise baby pigs we got last week – are doing very well – already they look a lot bigger. We made them an outside pen – so they can begin their side job as piggerators - digging up old packed and dried animal pens with their snouts. Even as little as they are, those tough snouts of theirs have rooted up a substantial area.
The broiler chicks are getting bigger and bigger – the new Broad Breasted bronze turkeys which arrived in the middle of our harvest and packing last week are also doing well. On Monday, we received another call from the Harris post office that more chicks had arrived. We picked up our 10 baby Auracana chicks. They are all pullets (girls) and are the breed that will lay blue and green eggs. They arrived with an additional 15 broiler chicks since the hatchery will not ship less than 25 birds at a time. We didn’t want more than ten layers so we opted to get a few more broilers. We will be offering a few of these broilers for sale to interested shareholders. We will also have turkeys available if all continues to go well. And we have many lamb shares available. Watch the blog for the order forms which will be posted soon.
This week in your share, we hope you enjoy the strawberries. We do have a row of berries at the farm but by the time we feed our farm crew we don’t have enough for all of you. My son, Lucas, has started a new organic strawberry patch east of Pine City called TLC Berry Patch. We will be taking our whole crew up tomorrow morning to pick berries for all of you as a special treat and to support Lucas, Carey and Trent’s new endeavor.
And since we are a little short on early veggies this week – we decided to use this rainy day to bake bread for you too. Some of you may know that early on in our CSA we offered artisan bread shares. 
After baking bread all day and into the night, I know one reason why we no longer offer bread to shareholders. But it was fun turning our kitchen into a bakery again to make bread for you. We hope you enjoy this Tassajara, whole grains light yeast bread.
Until next week …………Robin
What’s in Your Share
1 bunch of Pink Beauty Radishes
2 Bok Choy – Mei Quing Choi
1 Container of Strawberries - Sparkle
1 Loaf of Tassahara Light Grain Yeast Bread
FROM THE MARKETING DIRECTOR
Don’t forget to bring your bags. The interns or hosts at your drop site will be there to help you. Stephanie will be at the Acadia. Kristin will be helping folks at the farm. Gretchen will be greeting those of you at the Homestead Picking Parlor. Robin will be at Pilgrims UCC in Maple Grove. Laura will be seeing those of you at Midwest Brewing Supplies in St. Louis Park, under the awning or by the store door depending on the weather. Kathryn will be at the St. Paul drop again, and Dale will be your host at United Theological Seminary this week. Our shareholder Deb handles Vincent each week.
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. C
omplete 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
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.
The five new baby pigs – the surprise baby pigs we got last week – are doing very well – already they look a lot bigger. We made them an outside pen – so they can begin their side job as piggerators - digging up old packed and dried animal pens with their snouts. Even as little as they are, those tough snouts of theirs have rooted up a substantial area. 
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