8/16/12

August 16 – From the Farmer……..
It has been a quiet, solitary week at Nitty Gritty Dirt Farm.  Intern Sam worked the farm to-do list, kept all the critters fed and watered and kept solitary vigil at the farm while Robin and Gigi were away being camp directors at the United Church of Christ Pilgrim Point Camp in Alexandria, Mn.  Sam said he enjoyed the quiet and being in charge of everything.  And he did a great job – even got all the fledgling grape vines re-tied to their baby stakes.

Speaking of babies, we have a few new babies at the farm.  Cheyenne, our new California rabbit doe gave birth to nine baby bunnies on Sunday morning.  She seems to be a good mom, having pulled a good nest of soft, downy breast hair to make a comfy nest, and she seems to be feeding the babies regularly.   In the same lean-to area of the barn, the eggs in the Barn Swallow nest up on the rafter has hatched and tiny baby bird heads pop over the top with beaks wide open every time the parent swallows return with tasty tidbits for the babies.

We lose one more intern this week as Sara goes back to school.  This is her last day harvesting and she will be making a final delivery drop at the UTS New Brighton drop site.  Be sure to tell Sara thanks and goodbye if you pick up at UTS.


It is very dry at the farm.  We could certainly use a good, soaking rain.  Most of the crops continue to look pretty good in spite of the dryness – but much longer with no substantial rain and our fall crops will really be hurting.

Hooray – there are watermelons in the boxes this week!   We grow four kinds of watermelons – three of them looking almost identical on the outside.  The dark and light green stripe melons will be either red or orange or yellow on the inside.  All of them are delicious – but our farm favorite is the yellow, called Sunshine.  The pale green melons are pink inside – fully ripe and sweet – an old time variety called Mickey Lee. 

All is well at the farm…. until next week….. Robin

What’s In Your Share this week:

Watermelon                 Sunshine (yellow inside), Starlight (red), New Orchid (orange),                                           Mickey Lee (pink)
Kohlrabi                      Kossack
Carrots                        Dragon
Poatoes                        Norland
Sweet Pepper              Gypsy (yellow), Islander (purple)
Hot Pepper                  El Jefe Jalapeno, Serrano Del Sol
Eggplant                      Classic (purple), Galine (purple), Dancer (pink), Thai Green
Tomatillo                     Toma Verde
Summer Squash          Assorted
Kale                             Toscano (Dinosaur Kale)
Onions                         Walla Walla (yellow), Red Zeppelin (red)
Tomatoes                     Taxi (yellow), Orange Blossom (orange), Pink Beauty (pink),                                               Paragon (red), Red and Yellow Pears, Purple Russian
Basil                            Genovese, Purple
Marjoram                     Zatar
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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.