9/2/09

Nitty Gritty News September 3rd





From The Farmers

This week the cool days have felt wonderful for the farmers to work in but the plants could use warmer sun. Our lowest overnight temperature was 41 and the days have hovered around 68 to 73. In comparison to 20 degrees in northern Minnesota, we're still doing well. We processed another group of broilers (chickens) on Tuesday and Wednesday. It was great to have many hands to do the work, including our new intern, Gretchen, who is quite enthusiastic.

As you may recall, we had a cookbook author and her publisher visit us last July. Janet Fletcher who is a columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle, has been hired to right a cookbook centered around different CSA farms across the country and Nitty Gritty Dirt Farm is one of them. In addition, she has now been hired by a magazine called Saveur to write an article about Nitty Gritty Dirt Farm. Her photographer will be with us for the rest of the harvest and delivery tomorrow morning, and then come up again at a later date. It should be interesting to have her working around us while we work around her. The article will come out next spring.

The ducks who were relocated into the lamb pen last week have decided to settle in now. The older sheep were moved today to a back pasture that has been seeded and grown well, and they're quite happy to be there. Two of the bigger pigs managed to push through a lower part of the fence separating them from the smaller ones. During chores, we noticed more of a crowd on one side of their area, and a few missing on the other side. Luckily, while the fence panel was being held open, the two bigger ones rejoined their own side. The two groups would probably get along fine, but when it is time to ship them, they are going in two separate groups at two different times, and trying to re-sort them into their own sizes would make an already difficult task, even more so.

Now that everyone has been shuffled around, Robin and Gigi are going to head to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area and leave Cara in charge of the farm for the holiday weekend. It may be cold, but we won't care, and the farm will be in good hands. Have a relaxing and wonderful Labor Day Weekend everyone.
Until next week.....


In Your Share This Week

Onions - Walla Walla
Zucchini - Cavelli, Slick Pick, Zephyr, Sunburst Pattypan, Bennings Green Tint Pattypan, Lita, Raven, Elite and Horn of Plenty
Melons (possibly) Honeydew-Diplomat, Passport, Cantaloupe-Goddess or Asian Sun Jewel
Egg Plants (possibly) Dancer (pink), Dusky (purple) Orient Express (skinny purple) Orient Charm (skinny pink), Thai Green and Galine
Carrots - Chantenay
Basil - Ararat, Purple or Lime
Sweet Peppers - Islander (purple), Snapper (green bell), Gypsy (yellow)
Hot Peppers - Conchos (jalapeno), Serreno del Sol
Tomatoes - Taxi (yellow), Orange Blossom (orange), and New Girl (red)
Turnip Greens - Just Right
Potatoes - Yukon Gold
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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.