3/12/11

Nitty Gritty Dirt March 11, 2011

Robin read through last years farm lists. By the first week in March of 2010, we were tapping trees, and had completed the sap cooking by March 28th. As we look out today at more snow still falling on the fields, it's hard to know what this years schedule will be. The farm calendar has a life of its own.
The temperature prediction for next week includes days in the 40s. And while we would love to believe weather predictions and are hopeful that they are accurate, we don't count on it. Yesterday we were slogging through the mud in front of the pole barn. Today, we're skating over frozen sections of the same area.

Whatever the weather brings, we are moving forward into a Spring we know will come. We are planning and prepping for the bees arrival in mid April, assembling new supers and frames, painting and repairing the older hive boxes. Lambing and goat kidding have begun inspite of cold temperatures and so far we have 7 goat kids and 16 lambs.  Bottle feeding a few of them happens at least once a day when a ewe has trouble keeping up. This year, that has only been necessary with three of them, but we still have five more ewes who haven't lambed yet. One of the goat kids got chilled and couldn't warm back up so we brought her in the house for a while. A warm towel and the woodstove healed her chills and after 4 ounces of goats milk from a bottle (and peeing on the carpet), she was ready to go back out to her mom and her sibling.  She is doing great. 

Farm life is a regular reminder that everything changes, sometimes from minute to minute.  This is a miraculous time of year.  Robin has been raising sheep for over 20 years and she says she never gets tired of it, especially lambing. 

Our new intern Karla Pankow arrived from Michigan, bringing refreshing energy and enthusiasm to her first day on Friday. She had a good first day. She saw a lamb being born, helped gather up some dry beans stored in the greenhouse, and solved some technical issues on our farm facebook page. She'll be helping out on the farm on a part time basis to begin with and soon be full time. We're thrilled that she's here.

Our first Spring Fever Farm Fest for Nitty Gritty Dirt Farm will be Sunday, March 13th at the Acadia Cafe from 2:00 to 4:00. We'll be having another similar event in the Maple Grove area and possibly one in Cambridge. Watch for details here on the blog, and on our facebook page.

Until next week...

Robin and Gigi


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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.