8/17/11

The Nitty Gritty Dirt

Two things are really good this August:  honey and melons.  Honey and melons have a very close connection; it takes bees the makers of honey to fertilize melon vines to produce big and plentiful melons.  Our bees seem to have been working like crazy this season so, on Monday, we took off three full shallow supers of honey, each about 60 pounds from our bee hives.  We extracted (removing the honey from the frames)it on Tuesday, (see the pictures on this blog) and we have 33 quarts of beautiful golden honey to share at the farm.  That’s lots of good eating! 
If you come to the fall farm festival, you too will have an opportunity to share in some of the farm’s honey harvest.  And because the bees are working so diligently, so too is the melon harvest a good one.  It takes a lot of trips back and forth from each cantaloupe, honeydew or watermelon flower to pollinate it so that it will produce an outstanding melon. 
This year, the melons are big and plentiful.  Now if the weather will just stay warm and dry for a couple of weeks, the melons should be near perfect.  The cantaloupes and honeydews are hitting their peak this week and next and the watermelons are just beginning to ripen.  We’ve been enjoying a few of the early watermelons for refreshment at the farm.

A little painting, a little fencing, quite a bit of pulling up and rolling of reusable plastic mulch, and quite a few more jars of pickles made filled up our week.  We are sad to say goodbye to intern Emily who leaves to go back to college.  She will be making the delivery route on Thursday (Vincent, Homestead Pickin’ Parlor, and Midwest) and then catching a bus that will take her back to Indiana.  

Gigi and Robin will be heading up north after packing up the share boxes and sending everyone off.  We’ll be spending four days in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area.  Intern Holly will be taking care of the farm with help from Liz and several neighbors who will be stopping by to help out.  We are really looking forward to paddling and camping and cooking our good farm food far from home. 

Until next week………..


What’s in your share this week:

Honeydew (Diplomat) or Cantaloupe (Sarah’s Choice, Burpee Hybrid, Pulsar)
Summer Squash (Lita, Spineless Beauty, Sunburst, President, Cash Flow, Cavelli)
Carrots (Forto)
Beets (Red Ace, Merlin)
Cucumber (Raider, Diva)
Eggplant (Dancer, Galine, Thai Green, Orient Express, Classic)
Radish (Diakon – Summer Cross)
Peppers Sweet (Carmen, Islander, Gypsy)
Peppers Hot (El Jefe Jalapeno, Serrano Del Sol Serrano)
Onions (Sierra Blanca)
Tomato (Taxi yellow, Orange Blossom orange)
Basil (Lime, Thai)
Dill
Posted by at 9:11 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.