Freshman Farmer | New Organic Farms Set Roots

Posts Tagged ‘lettuce’

A Transition

June 13th, 2008
Four Frog Farm | Blog

So much has changed in the past 5 months.

Of course the physical layout of the farm has changed dramatically…going from virgin meadow to cover crop to intense/intensive vegetable cultivation. Alike, my mind is wrapping around and becoming comfortable with the ever-changing dynamic of the farm.

We have completed six weeks of the CSA, a quarter of the season, with 18 more weeks to go. We have had broccoli every week, buy now that we are approaching consistent mid-90 degree temps at the farm, I don’t foresee the broccoli to be very enthusiastic. However, we just has the best broccoli week yet, giving two large crowns and lots of side shoots to each member. Anyway, it looks like broccoli won’t be back until week 20 or so. And that is something I have to get comfortable with.

Well, the summer stars are coming on at the right time. From here out we will consistently have:

Summer squash, cucumbers, eggplant, green beans, basil, lettuce mix, kale chard, and many other things like potatoes ( i had some new potatoes for dinner last night - yukon gold- very creamy)

And soon I will start giving tomatoes! I have eaten three or four, and they are delicious. We won’t have enough for the CSA for another week or so, but seeing them turn red delights my heart.

Honestly, about three weeks ago I had anxiety about the coming weeks. I didn’t know what we would have. I let my mind go to the “worst-case scenario” and, as a warning to other growers, don’t go there. If you are a farmer you are on the cutting edge of a battle (or debate, if you will) with your mind. Show your mind who is boss! Don’t let it get you down. Try your best to have a bountiful harvest each week and that is enough. Some weeks will be great, some will be good, and some will just be okay. Buy, you know what…one bunch of fresh kale is better than a whole grocery bag of lifeless supermarket produce. Take heart (I guess I say this as much for you as for me).

Tags: basil, broccoli, cucumbers, eggplant, green beans, kale chard, lettuce mix, potatoes, summer squash, tomatoes, yukon gold

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Hello

June 2nd, 2008
Four Frog Farm | Blog

Just wanted to say hi. The farmers’ market went well today. We keep selling out of food, so that is a good thing. I am so happy that our Saturday Morning Market is so well attended. The people are great - the other growers, shoppers - they are all happy to be a part of the market. And so are we.

I think the big hit this week was a toss up: the spring mix, or the lettuce mix. The spring mix has mixed leafy-brassicas - tat soi, arugula, kale, big mustards, mizuna. The lettuce is only that and it is quite tasty.

The farm looks good. I started digging up garlic this afternoon, and am going to give green garlic to our CSA members. It will all come out of the ground by the end of next week.

much love,

andrew

Tags: arugula, big mustards, brassica, farmer's market, garlic, growers, kale, lettuce, lettuce mix, mizuna, people, shoppers, spring mix, tat soi

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CSA Week 4

May 27th, 2008
Four Frog Farm | Blog

We are now entering week four (of 24) for the CSA. Today we had our drop-off/pick-up for our 10 monday members. We have 23 members in all - 10 on Monday and 13 on Wednesday. We are going to add members when the summer stuff really picks up, but for now, that is our max. Let’s see what was in the boxes: 1 lb Sugar Snap/Snow Peas Zucchini/Yellow Crookneck Summer Squash Romaine and Black-Seeded Simpson Lettuce Heads Broccoli Basil Parsley Radishes Garlic Scapes Lacinato Kale Rainbow Chard… Read the rest of this article »

Tags: basil, beets, broccoli, chard, cilantro, eggplants, garlic, kale, lettuce, parsley, peas, peppers, radish, time off, tomatoes, zucchini

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First Market

May 21st, 2008
Four Frog Farm | Blog

This last Saturday Andrea and I packed up the truck, left Ryan at the farm to take care of the recently transplanted veggies, and went to our first farmers’ market. It was a blazing hot morning for mid-May. We brought mostly heat-sensitive greens, such as kale, lettuce mix, spring salad mix. We arrived at the market area at 7am and our booth area was already in a beam of sun. So, I drove to the nearest store to get an EZ-Up, only to find the store was still closed. I returned to the… Read the rest of this article »

Tags: andrea, cilantro, CSA, dill, ez-up, farmer's market, kale, lettuce mix, may, ryan, spring salad mix

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More CSA

May 12th, 2008
Four Frog Farm | Blog

The first boxes had: Daikon radish, salad radishes, kale, tat soi, baby stir fry mix, lettuce mix, broccoli, rosemary, oregano, dill and baby spinach. Next week it will be very similar, yet much more broccoli. Carrots are still a couple of weeks away, as are beets, peas, cabbage, cauliflower and chard. We are gearing up for a maha (great) week at the farm, with many hundreds of row feet to be direct seeded. We are getting 50 yards of compost to bolster the tilth and nutrition of the soil. … Read the rest of this article »

Tags: baby spinach, beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, chard, daikon radish, dill, kale, lettuce mix, oregano, peas, rosemary, salad radish, stir fry mix

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In The Big Field

March 26th, 2008
Four Frog Farm | Blog

If you come out to the farm you’ll notice first an area filled with Agribon hoophouses, and then some rows of (robust, thankfully) garlic. Then, you come to the great abyss. We did the first round of tilling last week. It took out about half of the cover-cropped area, half left to go because it’s still too wet. Well, I was out in the great abyss - me, the sky, and an acre waiting to be planted. It was time…to plant the sacred lettuce mix (and spinach). Now, this… Read the rest of this article »

Tags: agribon, broccoli, crops, CSA, leeks, lettuce, onions, planting, shallots, spinach, tilling

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Newer entries »

Three farms are starting from scratch.

They are turning the dirt and hoping to be successful enough to turn a profit, and to become a valuable part of their communities as suppliers of organically grown food.

Peaceful Valley is giving them a head start by offering them special pricing as part of this Freshman Farmer program.

The Farm Blogs

Freshman:
New Farms Coming Soon!
Sophomores:
	Daily Grace Farms Crescent City, CA
	Freestone Family Farm Vernal, UT
	Wise Moon Farm Redding, CA
Graduates:
	Coyote House Farm Palermo, CA
	DeepSeeded Community Farm Arcata, CA
	Driftwood Farm Fort Bragg, CA
	EarthDance Farm St. Louis, MO
	Ellwood Canyon Farms Goleta, CA
	Four Frog Farm Penn Valley, CA
	Hand Sown Homegrown Heritage Farm Poulsbo, WA
	Home Plate Organic Farm Orleans, CA
	Honey in the Heart Farm Nevada City, CA
	Willow Springs Farm Penn Valley, CA