Soil Shares CSA
We have a new CSA!! Three farms will grow your produce. You can supplement your share with eggs, meat, mushrooms, coffee, flowers, and more. Learn all about it at:
Food Fight - Community Supported Agriculture 2013
 |
| Turkey poults |
In this litigious breeze,
Of accidental pollination
In this era without bees.
We keep breeding desperation
In this era of thieves
Who keep stealing respiration
From the tenderest of trees.
This peculiar incantation
Sure you heard it before,
Instead of breeding desperation
Make me a pallet on your floor."--Andrew Bird
 |
| 2012 CSA Share Week 10 |
If you are new to CSA there are some things you need to think about upfront. We have found that this allows you to make an educated choice without allowing the joys of supporting a CSA operation to create too rosy a view of what it is. Creating a wholesome and interdependent ecosystem within the modern world of synthetic chemicals and engineered genomes is a challenge, to put it mildly. Years of attention and dedication to learning about soil building, crop rotation, succession planting, inter-cropping, irrigation/water conservation, integrated pest management, harvesting, processing, and transporting are part of the value of what you are paying for.
 |
| Mobile Cornish pen for protection from predators |
CSA is not a wholesale buying club. While we will in fact give you more than the retail value of your produce share each week that we can do so, buying local is not going to save you any money over mass- produced food at big box stores. But it will ensure that your money is buying something you can be proud to consume. You will notice the health benefits, for sure, but we hope it will also transform you in other facets of your life as sustainable farming and art have transformed us; to inspire and re-enforce ideas like reduced consumption, up-cycling, and waste reduction out of respect for those who work in and live next to the factories that manufacture the things that pass through your hands every day; to constantly be aware that every dollar you spend in a locally owned and operated restaurant/store/market will come back around to the other local entities you love and support; and to take back the power from all-consuming for-profit monstrosities that pretend to do for the nation and your community what only small local businesses can. In order for the cycle to be broken, someone must break it. This, like farming itself, is not a part time job. It is a lifestyle. This is what you are supporting and embracing through CSA.
 |
| Tucking everybody in for a cold winter sleep |
We are offering more share options than ever before to try to meet your diverse needs, and have also implemented add-on options detailed below to allow you to further customize. Carbondale delivery will be on Saturday morning. Maplewood delivery will be on Wednesday evening. We are considering a drop near Belleville, also on Wednesday, if there is interest. We will deliver for a total of 30 weeks between March and December, including at least one drop each in November and December. If you wish to order poultry for holiday meals, please let us know ASAP. In order to reserve a turkey, a $10 deposit is required.
 |
| 2012 CSA Share Week 1 |
Garden Share Garden Shares are the traditional shares we have offered in years past, with the option this season of adding mushrooms to your weekly bag. Half shares ($15/wk) are suitable for individuals and some couples, while those who eat larger amounts of produce and families should consider the full share ($25/wk). The variety of produce included between the half and full shares MAY VARY slightly from week to week. Each delivery will include a share of the produce available for the week and 1 dozen eggs. You can add a half pound of cultivated and foraged mushrooms to either size share for $5/week.
Protein Share Protein shares ($30/wk) are new to the farm this year and are being offered in response to those who raise large home gardens, or who don't eat much produce (FOR SHAME!). Each week you will receive 5 lbs. of whole chicken, 1 lb. mushrooms, and 1 dozen eggs. In addition, you will get a turkey in November and 4 Cornish hens or a turkey in December.
Farm Share Farm shares ($48/wk) combine the first two share types. Each week you will receive a full produce share, including one dozen eggs, a half pound of mushrooms, and 5 lbs. of whole chicken; plus a turkey in November and 4 Cornish hens or a turkey in December.
 |
| 2012 CSA Share Week 16 |
The fact is that the value of many of these items are subject to changes in the commodities market. This would be the one disadvantage to adding-on as opposed to locking in the seasonal price through a share, which is guaranteed not to change. For example, last season we saw the price of our chicken feed increase by 30% in one month. Luckily we do not rely entirely on feed for our poultry's nutrition, so we were not affected as much as we could have been and were able to absorb it by increasing our market egg prices by only .50/dozen. CSA shareholders were not affected by this. In contrast, if the price of chicken feed triples, then the result will be a significant price increase in the cost of eggs and poultry. The prices posted here will continue to be honored by us despite market fluctuations, until the point when we lose money. At that time increases will implemented. If prices change, you will be notified of the details and you will not be held to your add-on arrangement unless you choose to continue under the new parameters.
 |
| 2012 CSA Share Week 36 |
You can add:
1 extra dozen eggs ($4.00)
1 whole chicken-5 lb. ($15.00)
1/2 lb. fresh mushrooms ($5.00)
1/2 lb fresh roasted fair trade coffee ($8.00)
1 lb. fresh roasted fair trade coffee ($15.00)
The coffee that we offer is purchased as green beans and roasted by Barry and Sean at Art House Coffees in Maplewood, MO. All profits from the sales of their coffee support the Turner Center for the Arts. This coffee will also be available in our farm store. We are always looking for additional locally roasted, fair trade coffees to share in southern Illinois.
With the exception of the coffee, all products are raised/produced entirely on the farm using sustainable techniques without administration of synthetic chemical fertilizers, pesticides, antibiotics, or growth hormones. As you can learn by browsing previous blog posts, we constantly test old and new ideas to maximize time, space, and production. We adapt bio-intensive strategies, encourage microbial and mycorrhizal relationships, and employ water and nutrient conservation practices. We acknowledge the sprawling and all-encompassing web of life around us and strive to better understand and interact with it.
If you would like to become a Frontwards Farm Shareholder for the 2013 season, please fill out this form. We will be notified of your submission and will contact you by email with details.
Thank you for supporting local, sustainable agriculture!
Freedom
Follow the link here to learn about the web blackout happening RIGHT NOW!! Please help spread the word about the dangers of SOPA and PIPA. Join the cyberstrike today!
The internet is like a farm for our minds...don't let them crush the diversity and freedom of choice.
“There is more than one way to burn a book. And the world is full of people running about with lit matches.”
--Ray Bradbury
“To forbid us anything is to make us have a mind for it.”
--Michel de Montaigne, Montaigne: Essays
“When freedom is outlawed, only outlaws will be free.”
--Tom Robbins, Still Life With Woodpecker
“All these people talk so eloquently about getting back to good old-fashioned values. Well, as an old poop I can remember back to when we had those old-fashioned values, and I say let's get back to the good old-fashioned First Amendment of the good old-fashioned Constitution of the United States -- and to hell with the censors! Give me knowledge or give me death!”
--Kurt Vonnegut
“Censorship of anything, at any time, in any place, on whatever pretense, has always been and always will be the last resort of the boob and the bigot.”
--Eugene O'Neill
"It could probably be shown by facts and figures that there is no distinctly native American criminal class except Congress."
--Mark Twain, Pudd'nhead Wilson's New Calendar
“Censorship is advertising paid by the government.”
--Federico Fellini
“All the papers that matter live off their advertisements, and the advertisers exercise an indirect censorship over news.”
--George Orwell, Why I Write
“Withholding information is the essence of tyranny. Control of the flow of information is the tool of the dictatorship.”
--Bruce Coville
“Once a government is committed to the principle of silencing the voice of opposition, it has only one way to go, and that is down the path of increasingly repressive measures, until it becomes a source of terror to all its citizens and creates a country where everyone lives in fear.”
--Harry S. Truman
“If you can't say Fuck, you can't say, Fuck the government.”
--Lenny Bruce
“Censorship is the tool of those who have the need to hide actualities from themselves and from others. Their fear is only their inability to face what is real, and I can't vent any anger against them. I only feel this appalling sadness. Somewhere, in their upbringing, they were shielded against the total facts of our existence. They were only taught to look one way when many ways exist.”
--Charles Bukowski
"But the truth is, that when a Library expels a book of mine and leaves an unexpurgated Bible lying around where unprotected youth and age can get hold of it, the deep unconscious irony of it delights me and doesn't anger me."
--Mark Twain, Letter to Mrs. F. G. Whitmore, 7 February 1907
“You have not converted a man because you have silenced him.”
--John Morley
“We change people through conversation, not through censorship.”
--Jay-Z, Decoded
“I wrote a song about dental floss but did anyone's teeth get cleaner?”
--Frank Zappa
“The dirtiest book of all is the expurgated book.”
--Walt Whitman
“There must be something in books, something we can’t imagine, to make a woman stay in a burning house; there must be something there. You don’t stay for nothing.”
--Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451
"Life isn't stable. Stability is unnatural. The only stable society is the police state. You can have a free society or you can have a stable society. You can't have both. Take your choice. As for me, I'll choose a free, organic society over a rigid, artificial society any day."
--Tom Robbins, Another Roadside Attraction
Terra Incognita
"Celestial crops carry me home
These ancient technologies strengthen my bones
I know a place called love
No one bothered me there, no I was all alone
Will you join me?
Could you possibly be
The one I sought?
The one I fought for?
A place I'd be
Able to see clearly
The beginning and end
I want to begin."
--Bradford Cox
(Ed. note--6/2/12 If you are interested in the newly available Webster Groves Thursday CSA shares, please email at jason.frontwardsfarm@gmail.com instead of using the sign-up form. All info is accurate (so please read it all) other than delivery info and season length, which will be determined based on interest as the market season wraps up. THANK YOU!) The beginning of each season on the farm brings a special kind of unknown hope. As with most endeavors, our minds are filled with images of past experiences. But if there is one certainty about farming in southern Illinois, it is that everything is uncertain. Consecutive years are rarely alike. Rainfall amounts and temperatures fluctuate, sometimes wildly, but isn't this what makes life interesting? It is why growing an increasing diversity of varieties is so vital on small produce farms. We just never know which fruits we will see in our minds, when looking back with wonder on the 2012 season.
Last year, we distributed 15 full shares worth of produce for 30 weeks, from April to November. We plan to expand our available memberships this year, including a few work shares, which will enable us to accomplish larger tasks that require many hands on a more regular basis.
There have been some changes regarding our season length (from 30 to 38 weeks) and the payment options to allow for more flexibility. We hope to send weekly newsletters via email that will include info on what you should expect for the week and other happenings at the farm.
We installed a 2,2oo sq. ft. high tunnel, giving us five times the growing space we had last year for season extension. We have fine tuned seed orders based on last year so that we were able to order larger quantities of the varieties that did well for us, and eliminate some that were disappointing. We have also increased the variety and amount of perennial crops available. Finally, we have increased to 175 laying hens, and will again raise chickens and turkeys for meat for interested members. These will again be 100% free range this year, as we have purchased portable electric net fencing that will be used in conjunction with mobile housing structures. While the meat is not part of the weekly CSA deliveries, we will be taking partial deposits so that you can reserve them in advance, and help us with part of the expenses.
Our first years offering a CSA have reinforced that there is no better approach than one that puts the producer and the buyer in direct contact. That is the idea at the root of the movement. Community Supported Agriculture “shareholders” purchase part of the season’s produce before it is even grown. This shifts some of the farm’s annual income to the winter and early spring, when the farm incurs most of its costs. The start-up money allows for investments, from seed and tool purchases to equipment repairs and upgrades. These components, and others, are as critical to the survival of the farm as the soil itself. By providing some income during this important time of the year, you help to balance the expenses and workload, which ultimately increases the productivity and sustainability of the farm.
What follows here is the detailed outline of our CSA. My hope is that we have addressed the main issues. If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to contact us.
Frontwards Farm 2012 CSA
The weekly cost of a Full Share for the 2012 season is $25.00. The season will run for 38 weeks, totaling $950.00. If you prefer a Half Share ($15.00), the seasonal cost is $570.00. A $100 deposit is required upon signing up, and the first payment is due by February 1. (Ed. note--6/2/12 If you are interested in the newly available Webster Groves Thursday CSA shares, please email at jason.frontwardsfarm@gmail.com instead of using the sign-up form. THANK YOU!)(See the sign-up sheet for payment options.) In return for this early commitment to the farm, you will receive half to full bushel of 6-12 different veggies, fruits, & herbs per week, plus one dozen eggs. We encourage you to find someone to split a share with if you feel it will be more than you want.
We have had inquiries for shares to be donated to local charities, and we will offer a 10% discount to individuals or groups who wish to do this. Payment may be made according to the regular scheduled options, and the discount will be deducted from each payment. You may choose from Bethel A.M.E. Feed My Sheep, Good Samaritan Ministries, or The Women's Center, all in Carbondale, or the Union County Food Pantry in Anna, and we will make arrangements to deliver directly to the facility each week. We will also donate produce equivalent to 10% of our weekly sales.
Everything is grown in raised beds, using bio-intensive methods, without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers, with the long term sustainability of our land in mind. Questions and comments regarding specific produce and practices are encouraged, as are farm visits.
What is expected of members?
Be Vocal--Feedback is always encouraged, as it is vital to the development of the farm. We want to know if you want more or less of a certain item, or a different variety or type of produce all together. We can’t improve if you don’t tell us how.
Be Flexible--Growing food is unpredictable. Every year brings variations in pest and climate pressures. A bad year for tomatoes may mean a bumper crop of peppers. Our search for the best method for growing the best varieties is met with success and failure.
Be Reliable- Timely payment is critical. Pick up your box as scheduled or arrange for a friend or neighbor to pick up your share if you will be unable to. Shares can be donated to a local food pantry if you will be out of town for an extended period.
There are some things to think about when considering participation in CSA.
Among those:
--How do you like surprises? Each week the contents of your box will vary based on
the season. This not only allows us to enjoy the true bounty of our region, but keeps the menu interesting.
--Do you like to cook? There are many items that are best eaten raw, but we would not suggest eating others this way. Preparing meals presents a great opportunity for family time, and is the final step in bringing the food to your plate.
--Are you a creative cook? Some items may be new to your kitchen. This could lead to variations in favorite recipes or new ones all together. With the internet, a world of ideas and experiences is at your disposal, and if you are like us, experimenting a little will bring out the artist in you.
--Do you support local, sustainable agriculture? Your membership in our farm makes this a reality, and will hopefully be as rewarding for you as it is for us.
If you would like to become a member of Frontwards Farm C.S.A. for the 2012 season, please follow the link to our Sign-Up Sheet.
Any items of concern can be addressed in the comment section at the bottom of the sign-up form, or via email.
Thank you.
These ancient technologies strengthen my bones
I know a place called love
No one bothered me there, no I was all alone
Will you join me?
Could you possibly be
The one I sought?
The one I fought for?
A place I'd be
Able to see clearly
The beginning and end
I want to begin."
--Bradford Cox
(Ed. note--6/2/12 If you are interested in the newly available Webster Groves Thursday CSA shares, please email at jason.frontwardsfarm@gmail.com instead of using the sign-up form. All info is accurate (so please read it all) other than delivery info and season length, which will be determined based on interest as the market season wraps up. THANK YOU!) The beginning of each season on the farm brings a special kind of unknown hope. As with most endeavors, our minds are filled with images of past experiences. But if there is one certainty about farming in southern Illinois, it is that everything is uncertain. Consecutive years are rarely alike. Rainfall amounts and temperatures fluctuate, sometimes wildly, but isn't this what makes life interesting? It is why growing an increasing diversity of varieties is so vital on small produce farms. We just never know which fruits we will see in our minds, when looking back with wonder on the 2012 season.
Last year, we distributed 15 full shares worth of produce for 30 weeks, from April to November. We plan to expand our available memberships this year, including a few work shares, which will enable us to accomplish larger tasks that require many hands on a more regular basis. There have been some changes regarding our season length (from 30 to 38 weeks) and the payment options to allow for more flexibility. We hope to send weekly newsletters via email that will include info on what you should expect for the week and other happenings at the farm.
We installed a 2,2oo sq. ft. high tunnel, giving us five times the growing space we had last year for season extension. We have fine tuned seed orders based on last year so that we were able to order larger quantities of the varieties that did well for us, and eliminate some that were disappointing. We have also increased the variety and amount of perennial crops available. Finally, we have increased to 175 laying hens, and will again raise chickens and turkeys for meat for interested members. These will again be 100% free range this year, as we have purchased portable electric net fencing that will be used in conjunction with mobile housing structures. While the meat is not part of the weekly CSA deliveries, we will be taking partial deposits so that you can reserve them in advance, and help us with part of the expenses.
Our first years offering a CSA have reinforced that there is no better approach than one that puts the producer and the buyer in direct contact. That is the idea at the root of the movement. Community Supported Agriculture “shareholders” purchase part of the season’s produce before it is even grown. This shifts some of the farm’s annual income to the winter and early spring, when the farm incurs most of its costs. The start-up money allows for investments, from seed and tool purchases to equipment repairs and upgrades. These components, and others, are as critical to the survival of the farm as the soil itself. By providing some income during this important time of the year, you help to balance the expenses and workload, which ultimately increases the productivity and sustainability of the farm.
What follows here is the detailed outline of our CSA. My hope is that we have addressed the main issues. If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to contact us.Frontwards Farm 2012 CSA
The weekly cost of a Full Share for the 2012 season is $25.00. The season will run for 38 weeks, totaling $950.00. If you prefer a Half Share ($15.00), the seasonal cost is $570.00. A $100 deposit is required upon signing up, and the first payment is due by February 1. (Ed. note--6/2/12 If you are interested in the newly available Webster Groves Thursday CSA shares, please email at jason.frontwardsfarm@gmail.com instead of using the sign-up form. THANK YOU!)(See the sign-up sheet for payment options.) In return for this early commitment to the farm, you will receive half to full bushel of 6-12 different veggies, fruits, & herbs per week, plus one dozen eggs. We encourage you to find someone to split a share with if you feel it will be more than you want.
We have had inquiries for shares to be donated to local charities, and we will offer a 10% discount to individuals or groups who wish to do this. Payment may be made according to the regular scheduled options, and the discount will be deducted from each payment. You may choose from Bethel A.M.E. Feed My Sheep, Good Samaritan Ministries, or The Women's Center, all in Carbondale, or the Union County Food Pantry in Anna, and we will make arrangements to deliver directly to the facility each week. We will also donate produce equivalent to 10% of our weekly sales.
Everything is grown in raised beds, using bio-intensive methods, without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers, with the long term sustainability of our land in mind. Questions and comments regarding specific produce and practices are encouraged, as are farm visits.
What is expected of members?
Be Vocal--Feedback is always encouraged, as it is vital to the development of the farm. We want to know if you want more or less of a certain item, or a different variety or type of produce all together. We can’t improve if you don’t tell us how.
Be Flexible--Growing food is unpredictable. Every year brings variations in pest and climate pressures. A bad year for tomatoes may mean a bumper crop of peppers. Our search for the best method for growing the best varieties is met with success and failure.
Be Reliable- Timely payment is critical. Pick up your box as scheduled or arrange for a friend or neighbor to pick up your share if you will be unable to. Shares can be donated to a local food pantry if you will be out of town for an extended period.
There are some things to think about when considering participation in CSA.
Among those:
--How do you like surprises? Each week the contents of your box will vary based on
the season. This not only allows us to enjoy the true bounty of our region, but keeps the menu interesting.
--Do you like to cook? There are many items that are best eaten raw, but we would not suggest eating others this way. Preparing meals presents a great opportunity for family time, and is the final step in bringing the food to your plate.
--Are you a creative cook? Some items may be new to your kitchen. This could lead to variations in favorite recipes or new ones all together. With the internet, a world of ideas and experiences is at your disposal, and if you are like us, experimenting a little will bring out the artist in you.
--Do you support local, sustainable agriculture? Your membership in our farm makes this a reality, and will hopefully be as rewarding for you as it is for us.
If you would like to become a member of Frontwards Farm C.S.A. for the 2012 season, please follow the link to our Sign-Up Sheet.
Any items of concern can be addressed in the comment section at the bottom of the sign-up form, or via email.
Thank you.
Where You'll Find Me Now
"What is not but could be if
what could appear in the morning mist
with all associated risk
what is not but could be if,
What was not but could have been
was my obsession way back when
now I just remember this
what is not but could be if,
what is not but could be if
we could be crossing
this abridged abyss into beginning,
and failure's got you in its grasp
and you're reaching for your very last
It's just beginning."
--David Berman
It is human nature to make ritual out of the cycles of life, both natural and man-made. Our lives are in many ways dictated entirely by these cycles. We wake, eat, work, drive, read, write, talk, sleep based on the time of day. We play, go, see, grow, skate, float, swing, spring based on the time of year. Each year brings something new. Surprises. Hope.
For a produce farmer, cycles are not only too numerous to count, but also a challenge to organize. From the time seed and plant orders are placed in January until the last garlic clove is in the ground in November, farming is a constant juggling act, with priorities in one hand, responsibilities in the other, and a bushel of ripe fruit floating in mid-air, waiting to be grasped, cleaned, counted, packed, and delivered before the sun goes down.
Some photos of the past month or so on the farm.
We finally got the new high tunnel done, complete with a water collection system!
This time of year is filled with so much hope and promise. New life has been springing up all month.
Cornish chicks
Garlic and Blueberries
Lettuce
Kale
Or will be in the next few weeks.
Peas
Onion sets
And baby lettuce
Then barely time to sleep, before another turn.
what could appear in the morning mist
with all associated risk
what is not but could be if,
What was not but could have been
was my obsession way back when
now I just remember this
what is not but could be if,
what is not but could be if
we could be crossing
this abridged abyss into beginning,
and failure's got you in its grasp
and you're reaching for your very last
It's just beginning."
--David Berman
It is human nature to make ritual out of the cycles of life, both natural and man-made. Our lives are in many ways dictated entirely by these cycles. We wake, eat, work, drive, read, write, talk, sleep based on the time of day. We play, go, see, grow, skate, float, swing, spring based on the time of year. Each year brings something new. Surprises. Hope.
For a produce farmer, cycles are not only too numerous to count, but also a challenge to organize. From the time seed and plant orders are placed in January until the last garlic clove is in the ground in November, farming is a constant juggling act, with priorities in one hand, responsibilities in the other, and a bushel of ripe fruit floating in mid-air, waiting to be grasped, cleaned, counted, packed, and delivered before the sun goes down.
Some photos of the past month or so on the farm.
We finally got the new high tunnel done, complete with a water collection system!
This time of year is filled with so much hope and promise. New life has been springing up all month.
Cornish chicks
Garlic and Blueberries
Lettuce
Kale
Or will be in the next few weeks.
Peas
Onion sets
And baby lettuce
Then barely time to sleep, before another turn.
Revival
"At home I serve the kind of food I know the story behind."
--Michael Pollan
We are once again offering produce shares for the 2011 season through Frontwards Farm CSA project. Last year, we met met our goal of 10 shares and plan to double our available memberships this year. We learned a lot about ourselves and about knowing some of the faces we were growing for, and have a more focused anticipation of the upcoming season.
There have been some changes regarding our season length (from 22 to 30 weeks), we lowered the weekly cost of a share (from $30 to $25), and changed the payment options to allow for more flexibility. We will send weekly newsletters via email that will include info on what you should expect for the week and other about happenings at the farm. We are in the process of installing a 2,2oo sq. ft. high tunnel, giving us five times the growing space we had last year for season extension. We have fine tuned seed orders based on last year so that we were able to order larger quantities of the varieties that did well for us, and eliminate some that were disappointing. We have also increased the variety and amount of perennial crops available. Finally, we doubled the number of laying hens and Cornish Roasters we are raising, and added a limited number of turkeys to the farm. These will be 100% free range this year, as we have purchased portable electric net fencing that will be used in conjunction with mobile housing structures. While these are not part of the weekly CSA deliveries, we will be taking partial deposits so that you can reserve them in advance, and help us with part of the expenses.
Our first year as a CSA reinforced that there is no better approach than one that puts the producer and the buyer in direct contact. That is the idea at the root of the CSA movement. Community Supported Agriculture “shareholders” purchase part of the season’s produce before it is even grown. This shifts some of the farm’s annual income to the winter and early spring, when the farm incurs most of its costs. The start-up money allows for investments, from seed and tool purchases to equipment repairs and upgrades. These components, and others, are as critical to the survival of the farm as the soil itself. By providing some income during this important time of the year, you help to balance the expenses and workload, which ultimately increases the productivity and sustainability of the farm.
What follows here is the detailed outline of our CSA. My hope is that we have addressed the main issues, with some details to be decided on with the members. If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to contact us.
Frontwards Farm 2011 CSA
The weekly cost of a Regular Share for the 2011 season is $25.00. The season will run for 30 weeks, totaling $750.00. If you prefer a half share, the seasonal cost is $400.00. In return for this early commitment to the farm, you will receive 1/2 bushel of 6-12 different veggies, fruits, & herbs per week. We encourage you to find someone to split a full share with if you feel it will be more than you want.
Everything is grown using bio-intensive methods, without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers, with the long term sustainability of our land in mind. We refine the varieties we grow and experiment with new techniques every year. A list of varieties will be available shortly, as our seed orders have been made,and filled for the most part. Questions and comments regarding specific produce and practices are encouraged, as are farm visits.
Furthermore, you will always have the first opportunity to take advantage of other offerings as new products become available. This is a life-long venture for us, and our hope is for you to stay with us as the farm grows. One of the most exciting parts of this growth is sure to be our focus on season extension structures, as we strive to offer produce year-round. As a result of our involvement in an NRCS (The National Resources Conservation Service) research project, we received a grant to install a new high tunnel that will help move us towards this goal, increasing our season by two months this year.
What is expected of members?
Be Vocal--Feedback is always encouraged, as it is vital to the development of the farm. We want to know if you want more or less of a certain item, or a different variety or type of produce all together. We can’t improve if you don’t tell us how.
Be Flexible--Growing food is unpredictable. Every year brings variations in pest and climate pressures. A bad year for tomatoes may mean a bumper crop of peppers. Our search for the best method for growing the best varieties is met with success and failure.
Be Reliable- Timely payment is critical. Pick up your box as scheduled or arrange for a friend or neighbor to pick up your share if you will be unable to. Shares that are not picked up will be donated to a local family.
There are some things to think about when considering participation in CSA.
Among those:
--How do you like surprises? Each week the contents of your box will vary based on
the season. This not only allows us to enjoy the true bounty of our region, but keeps the menu interesting.
--Do you like to cook? There are many items that are best eaten raw, but we would not suggest eating butternut squash this way. Preparing meals presents a great opportunity for family time, and is the final step in bringing the food to your plate.
--Are you a creative cook? Some items may be new to your kitchen. This could lead to variations in favorite recipes or new ones all together. With the internet, a world of ideas and experiences is at your disposal, and if you are like us, experimenting a little will bring out the artist in you.
--Do you support local, sustainable agriculture? Your membership in our farm makes this a reality, and will hopefully be as rewarding for you as it is for us.
What still needs to be determined?
--Delivery location-Deliveries will be made to a central location, most likely one in Carbondale (the Co-op?)and one near Marion. This will be determined as membership fills up, based on convenience for all involved. Farm pick-up is certainly welcome, but this will increase overall fuel consumption, which is always a factor to consider when striving for minimal environmental impact.
--Delivery day/time-The preferred time would be mid-late afternoon. This would allow same day harvest of all produce, which could be done during the coolest part of the day. With regard to the day of the week, we plan to harvest and deliver on Tuesday or Wednesday this year. Members should plan delivery prior to the main shopping day of the week to allow for meal planning based around available produce.
If you would like to become a member of Frontwards Farm C.S.A. for the 2011 season, please follow the link to our Sign-Up Form.
Any items of concern can be addressed in the comment section at the bottom of the sign-up form, or via email.
Thank you.
--Michael Pollan
We are once again offering produce shares for the 2011 season through Frontwards Farm CSA project. Last year, we met met our goal of 10 shares and plan to double our available memberships this year. We learned a lot about ourselves and about knowing some of the faces we were growing for, and have a more focused anticipation of the upcoming season.
There have been some changes regarding our season length (from 22 to 30 weeks), we lowered the weekly cost of a share (from $30 to $25), and changed the payment options to allow for more flexibility. We will send weekly newsletters via email that will include info on what you should expect for the week and other about happenings at the farm. We are in the process of installing a 2,2oo sq. ft. high tunnel, giving us five times the growing space we had last year for season extension. We have fine tuned seed orders based on last year so that we were able to order larger quantities of the varieties that did well for us, and eliminate some that were disappointing. We have also increased the variety and amount of perennial crops available. Finally, we doubled the number of laying hens and Cornish Roasters we are raising, and added a limited number of turkeys to the farm. These will be 100% free range this year, as we have purchased portable electric net fencing that will be used in conjunction with mobile housing structures. While these are not part of the weekly CSA deliveries, we will be taking partial deposits so that you can reserve them in advance, and help us with part of the expenses.
Our first year as a CSA reinforced that there is no better approach than one that puts the producer and the buyer in direct contact. That is the idea at the root of the CSA movement. Community Supported Agriculture “shareholders” purchase part of the season’s produce before it is even grown. This shifts some of the farm’s annual income to the winter and early spring, when the farm incurs most of its costs. The start-up money allows for investments, from seed and tool purchases to equipment repairs and upgrades. These components, and others, are as critical to the survival of the farm as the soil itself. By providing some income during this important time of the year, you help to balance the expenses and workload, which ultimately increases the productivity and sustainability of the farm.
What follows here is the detailed outline of our CSA. My hope is that we have addressed the main issues, with some details to be decided on with the members. If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to contact us.
Frontwards Farm 2011 CSA
The weekly cost of a Regular Share for the 2011 season is $25.00. The season will run for 30 weeks, totaling $750.00. If you prefer a half share, the seasonal cost is $400.00. In return for this early commitment to the farm, you will receive 1/2 bushel of 6-12 different veggies, fruits, & herbs per week. We encourage you to find someone to split a full share with if you feel it will be more than you want.
Everything is grown using bio-intensive methods, without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers, with the long term sustainability of our land in mind. We refine the varieties we grow and experiment with new techniques every year. A list of varieties will be available shortly, as our seed orders have been made,and filled for the most part. Questions and comments regarding specific produce and practices are encouraged, as are farm visits.
Furthermore, you will always have the first opportunity to take advantage of other offerings as new products become available. This is a life-long venture for us, and our hope is for you to stay with us as the farm grows. One of the most exciting parts of this growth is sure to be our focus on season extension structures, as we strive to offer produce year-round. As a result of our involvement in an NRCS (The National Resources Conservation Service) research project, we received a grant to install a new high tunnel that will help move us towards this goal, increasing our season by two months this year.
What is expected of members?
Be Vocal--Feedback is always encouraged, as it is vital to the development of the farm. We want to know if you want more or less of a certain item, or a different variety or type of produce all together. We can’t improve if you don’t tell us how.
Be Flexible--Growing food is unpredictable. Every year brings variations in pest and climate pressures. A bad year for tomatoes may mean a bumper crop of peppers. Our search for the best method for growing the best varieties is met with success and failure.
Be Reliable- Timely payment is critical. Pick up your box as scheduled or arrange for a friend or neighbor to pick up your share if you will be unable to. Shares that are not picked up will be donated to a local family.
There are some things to think about when considering participation in CSA.
Among those:
--How do you like surprises? Each week the contents of your box will vary based on
the season. This not only allows us to enjoy the true bounty of our region, but keeps the menu interesting.
--Do you like to cook? There are many items that are best eaten raw, but we would not suggest eating butternut squash this way. Preparing meals presents a great opportunity for family time, and is the final step in bringing the food to your plate.
--Are you a creative cook? Some items may be new to your kitchen. This could lead to variations in favorite recipes or new ones all together. With the internet, a world of ideas and experiences is at your disposal, and if you are like us, experimenting a little will bring out the artist in you.
--Do you support local, sustainable agriculture? Your membership in our farm makes this a reality, and will hopefully be as rewarding for you as it is for us.
What still needs to be determined?
--Delivery location-Deliveries will be made to a central location, most likely one in Carbondale (the Co-op?)and one near Marion. This will be determined as membership fills up, based on convenience for all involved. Farm pick-up is certainly welcome, but this will increase overall fuel consumption, which is always a factor to consider when striving for minimal environmental impact.
--Delivery day/time-The preferred time would be mid-late afternoon. This would allow same day harvest of all produce, which could be done during the coolest part of the day. With regard to the day of the week, we plan to harvest and deliver on Tuesday or Wednesday this year. Members should plan delivery prior to the main shopping day of the week to allow for meal planning based around available produce.
If you would like to become a member of Frontwards Farm C.S.A. for the 2011 season, please follow the link to our Sign-Up Form.
Any items of concern can be addressed in the comment section at the bottom of the sign-up form, or via email.
Thank you.
We End Up Together
"Do You Realize - that you have the most beautiful face
Do You Realize - we're floating in space -
Do You Realize - that happiness makes you cry
Do You Realize - that everyone you know someday will die
And instead of saying all of your goodbyes - let them know
You realize that life goes fast
It's hard to make the good things last
You realize the sun doesn't go down
It's just an illusion caused by the world spinning round."
-Wayne Coyne
There are many things that I am thankful for.
I am thankful for my lovely wife, Sarah. This year, we celebrated our 11th year of marriage, and our 14th year together. She is my favorite artist, and she adds the color to my life.
While we may have differing opinions on many things, including how much stuff should hang on our walls, I am glad that her taste in decor is second only to her taste in men.
She loves me despite my faults and is the best thing that ever happened to me. I feel blessed to share my dreams with her.
I am thankful for the two beautiful, unique girls we get to spend our days with, Dagan and Talia. I can't believe that they are (nearly) 12 and 9.
Their energy is infectious, and they help keep things fresh. I hope that their love for themselves, each other, and the world around them continues to blossom as they do.
I am thankful for our parents. We were both lucky enough to grow up in homes where love and respect came before everything else. We would obviously not be where we are without their love and support. They were the first members of our farm.
I am also thankful for our siblings and their
families. Sarahs's sister Emily is a horticulturalist who has worked at some of the best botanical gardens in the country, including in Omaha where she met her boyfriend, Neil. She is currently teaching kids gardening at UT-Knoxville. Emily has always had a special relationship with our girls.
My brother owned a painting biz near St. Louis for more than a decade, before giving it up last year to start a new business with his father-in-law. Luckily for us (and our house), he kept some of the equipment and all of the knowledge. He married Karen the same year that Sarah and I were married, and they have two wonderful daughters.
I am equally thankful to our friends and neighbors whose emotional and physical support helps this farm function. Bob and Sharron down the road have lent us equipment for nearly every project over the last year. Gale has helped keep the critters fed (one in particular).
I am thankful for the home that we share together. We bought the farm, so to speak, five years ago next week.
When Sarah saw it for the first time, she called me at work and told me she found our home. We put a contract on it that night.
I am happy to say that it was one of the best decisions we've made.
I am thankful for our CSA members. When we moved here, we knew we wanted to grow food, but were intimidated by the prospect of trying to sell it.
We didn't even know what CSA stood for, let alone how vital it would be to our livelihood in such a short time. Without our members, transitioning to full-time farming would be impossible, but thanks to them, it may be a reality within a few years.
Our members this year endured all of the trials and tribs of belonging to a new CSA, in addition to what some locals say was the worst drought in memory. It is nearly impossible to meet all of your own expectations for the coming year as a farmer, but with the encouragement of our members, we all persisted and have many positive experiences to look back on and another season to look forward to.
Last, but not least, I am thankful for the animals in our lives.
Yes, even Pee-Wee, though he decided he would move to his "retirement home" down the road instead of staying with us.
I will keep telling myself that there were 6 reasons for this, and that the humans weren't one of them.
We got three shipments of chicks this year. We now have two hen houses, with 21 & 28 hens each.
We also raised two rounds of broilers this year. One of them will be dinner today. Perhaps next year will bring turkeys to the farm.
With all of the growing going on at the farm, it is not without some sadness.
A few days after I thought I heard crying coming from the treeline, I went out to feed the broilers, who were still living in a mini "coop", at the time. I was startled by a gray blur, which darted from the box into the woods.
After a couple of days of coaxing with some chicken, she came close enough for the girls to see her. They caught her while she was playing on the woodpile.
Though Pepper had a contusion on her lower lip and was quite thin, she was happy to take up residence on the porch. She was determined to be about ten weeks, and grew to be a wonderful addition to the family. It was as if she found us.
Sadly, during the painting of our house, she ran off to avoid the commotion, and probably the dogs. While she had really gained her legs, she was still small and naive. I didn't think much about moving her usual perch into the yard to clean the porch for painting since it was daytime, but it was truly a fatal mistake.
After a long night and morning, we found her. We are unsure whether it was the Great Horned Owl that had claimed some of our broilers earlier in the year, or one of the pair of Red-Tailed Hawks that live near here.
Her life was short, but we like to think she found a little happiness at the farm before she left us.
She taught me that I am not just a dog person. I am very thankful for that.
Do You Realize - we're floating in space -
Do You Realize - that happiness makes you cry
Do You Realize - that everyone you know someday will die
And instead of saying all of your goodbyes - let them know
You realize that life goes fast
It's hard to make the good things last
You realize the sun doesn't go down
It's just an illusion caused by the world spinning round."
-Wayne Coyne
There are many things that I am thankful for.
I am thankful for my lovely wife, Sarah. This year, we celebrated our 11th year of marriage, and our 14th year together. She is my favorite artist, and she adds the color to my life.
While we may have differing opinions on many things, including how much stuff should hang on our walls, I am glad that her taste in decor is second only to her taste in men.
She loves me despite my faults and is the best thing that ever happened to me. I feel blessed to share my dreams with her.
I am thankful for the two beautiful, unique girls we get to spend our days with, Dagan and Talia. I can't believe that they are (nearly) 12 and 9. Their energy is infectious, and they help keep things fresh. I hope that their love for themselves, each other, and the world around them continues to blossom as they do.
I am thankful for our parents. We were both lucky enough to grow up in homes where love and respect came before everything else. We would obviously not be where we are without their love and support. They were the first members of our farm.
I am also thankful for our siblings and their
families. Sarahs's sister Emily is a horticulturalist who has worked at some of the best botanical gardens in the country, including in Omaha where she met her boyfriend, Neil. She is currently teaching kids gardening at UT-Knoxville. Emily has always had a special relationship with our girls.
My brother owned a painting biz near St. Louis for more than a decade, before giving it up last year to start a new business with his father-in-law. Luckily for us (and our house), he kept some of the equipment and all of the knowledge. He married Karen the same year that Sarah and I were married, and they have two wonderful daughters.
I am equally thankful to our friends and neighbors whose emotional and physical support helps this farm function. Bob and Sharron down the road have lent us equipment for nearly every project over the last year. Gale has helped keep the critters fed (one in particular).
I am thankful for the home that we share together. We bought the farm, so to speak, five years ago next week. When Sarah saw it for the first time, she called me at work and told me she found our home. We put a contract on it that night.
I am happy to say that it was one of the best decisions we've made.
I am thankful for our CSA members. When we moved here, we knew we wanted to grow food, but were intimidated by the prospect of trying to sell it.
We didn't even know what CSA stood for, let alone how vital it would be to our livelihood in such a short time. Without our members, transitioning to full-time farming would be impossible, but thanks to them, it may be a reality within a few years.Our members this year endured all of the trials and tribs of belonging to a new CSA, in addition to what some locals say was the worst drought in memory. It is nearly impossible to meet all of your own expectations for the coming year as a farmer, but with the encouragement of our members, we all persisted and have many positive experiences to look back on and another season to look forward to.
Last, but not least, I am thankful for the animals in our lives.
Yes, even Pee-Wee, though he decided he would move to his "retirement home" down the road instead of staying with us.
I will keep telling myself that there were 6 reasons for this, and that the humans weren't one of them.
We got three shipments of chicks this year. We now have two hen houses, with 21 & 28 hens each.
We also raised two rounds of broilers this year. One of them will be dinner today. Perhaps next year will bring turkeys to the farm.
With all of the growing going on at the farm, it is not without some sadness.
A few days after I thought I heard crying coming from the treeline, I went out to feed the broilers, who were still living in a mini "coop", at the time. I was startled by a gray blur, which darted from the box into the woods.
After a couple of days of coaxing with some chicken, she came close enough for the girls to see her. They caught her while she was playing on the woodpile.
Though Pepper had a contusion on her lower lip and was quite thin, she was happy to take up residence on the porch. She was determined to be about ten weeks, and grew to be a wonderful addition to the family. It was as if she found us.
Sadly, during the painting of our house, she ran off to avoid the commotion, and probably the dogs. While she had really gained her legs, she was still small and naive. I didn't think much about moving her usual perch into the yard to clean the porch for painting since it was daytime, but it was truly a fatal mistake.
After a long night and morning, we found her. We are unsure whether it was the Great Horned Owl that had claimed some of our broilers earlier in the year, or one of the pair of Red-Tailed Hawks that live near here.
Her life was short, but we like to think she found a little happiness at the farm before she left us.
She taught me that I am not just a dog person. I am very thankful for that.
My Dirt
Subscribe To
Posts
All Comments
My Favorite Blogs
Some Tunes-Press Play
