Hello wonderful 2010 CSA members!

It has begun, and with a bang.  What an amazing season already, due to high temperatures and intermittent rain.  Our head lettuce is larger than life, and the spinach is threatening to take over the entire field.  We had a personal dilemma over when to start the CSA – as much of our greens were ready three weeks ago.  But then we figured that 5 weeks of straight kale and salad mix might push you over the edge.  So instead we waited, watching, as we experienced our most fertile spring yet.  This speaks not only to our fecund veggies, but also to the nests that are currently residing in our fields:  three turtle, one wild turkey, one killdeer, and one mallard duck.  This certainly makes for a bit of an obstacle course when we are out hoeing or harvesting, but also a constant reminder of the cycle we all participate in.

The start of a new season always marks hope for us.  Everything has a bright and shiny hue.  The weeds have yet to take over (sort of!)  The pests haven’t discovered the vegetables.  We are not yet August-weary, from heat and sore muscles.  It is such a beautiful time when everything looks perfect.  This will fade.  The bugs always come, and the weeds become our daily foe.  Luckily, we have you.  To remind us of why we farm – for whom we farm.  To rejoice in the beauty of a perfect, pesticide-free tomato. To share cooking tips and enthusiasm with a neighbor whose trying bulb fennel for the first time.   To offer words of wisdom, or simply a supportive smile to your sometimes flagging farmers.  We are so thankful for all you (76 households!)  and your commitment to good food and this farm.

Below is our “orientation” newsletter.  For those of you that are returning members, most information is the same, but a good refresher.  (Pay special attention to new pick-your-own garden hours) For new members, you will be quizzed! These guidelines and systems are set up to facilitate a smooth-running CSA, for both members and farmers.

Pick-up times/days:

There are two pick-up days each week, Monday or Thursday.  The day of the week you have chosen for pick-up is set throughout the 18 week season.  Once a Monday member, always a Monday member!  We ask you to stick to your day in order to have balance in our harvest.  If you temporarily need to shift days, let us know, and we will happily accommodate you. Please give us 24 hours advance notice if you are going to change days, or not pick up your share. Folks going on vacation can choose to double up their share for a week, donate it, or find a neighbor to pick up for them.

The CSA pick-up runs from 4pm – 6pm.  Please come only within this timeframe.  We will be working right until pick-up begins at 4:00, and won’t open the CSA until then.  Likewise, we will start packing up at 6:00.  If you are running late, please call and leave a message and we will bag your share for you.  (922-6782)  We will leave your share under the pick-up shed – make sure to come as soon as you can as it is not 100% weather or critter proof.  If we don’t hear from you, we will either donate or compost your share.

What to bring:

Please bring your own bags.  Plastic bags will be helpful when weighing out greens.  Sturdy baskets, bins, and bags will be necessary as the harvest gets heavier.  You may want small containers for herbs, or jars with water to carry your flowers home in.

Parking areas:

There are two places to park; alongside the road perpendicular to the fence, and to the right of the pick-your-own garden.  Parking may be tight at times – make sure to leave enough room for your neighbors to come and go.  The CSA pick-up is right atop a hill on a busy road.  Please be very careful when exiting the pick-up.

Arrival at CSA pick-up:

Please come and check-in with us.  We will let you know what’s happening on the farm for the week – from the latest delicious recipe, to pick-your-own harvest techniques, to extra items for sale and more.

Accessing your share:

There will be signs on every box labeling the vegetables, herbs, and fruit within.  The signs will also detail the amounts to take per share size.  Some vegetables will need to be weighed out.  Ask us if you need help with the scales.

Oftentimes we give you a choice of what to take amongst a grouping of vegetables. We call this system “Mix-n-Match.” For example, you may see cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower in bins before you.  If the sign says “choose 2”, this means take either 2 heads of cabbage, OR 2 heads of broccoli, OR 1 head of cabbage and 1 head of cauliflower, etc.  (Not 2 heads of each item!) Mix-and-match is a notorious confusion maker.  Please check in with us if your head is spinning!.

Some of you have purchased a weekly or bi-weekly share of eggs, cheese and/or bread along with your vegetable share.  The eggs and cheese can be found in a cooler under the pick-up shed.  Bread for bread share members will be bagged on top a small table.  Any un-bagged bread is available for sale ($5.50 a loaf) on a week-to-week basis.  Bread will only be delivered on Thursdays.  Monday members can feel free to come by on Thursdays from 4-6 to purchase any extra bread.

Exchange table:

The exchange table is available for anyone to add to or take away from.  Have a vegetable you wish to share? Simply place it on the table.  See something extra that you’d love to take home with you, then do so.  Sometimes we’ll throw seconds onto the exchange table for the taking.  It’s a big free for all, so enjoy!  You do not have to put something on the exchange table to take something.

Pick-your-own:

In the pick-your-own garden we have a variety of vegetables, herbs, and flowers for you to harvest throughout the season.  A blackboard under the pick-up shed will update you weekly with what is available for picking.  Always check the board or talk to us before venturing out – some things may look ripe that are not.  Also, different share sizes get to pick different amounts.  We are happy to give harvesting pointers, so if in doubt, ask.  New this year, we ask that people only use the pick-your-own garden during the designated pick-up hours, 4-6pm.  If you are late to pick-up your share, you can always pick on the next available pick-up day.

CSA Shout Outs!

Please use our fabulous website!  www.BreadandRosesCSA.com

Every week, by Sunday, click on our “News” heading to see what to expect in your share for the week, plus delicious recipes to use, and our ever informational newsletter.  (Which is written bi-weekly.)  Feel free to email us any scheduling conflicts you have at least one week in advance info@breadandrosescsa.com  If anything comes up suddenly, please notify us by phone.  922-6782

We will sell egg, cheese and bread shares through the first week of the CSA only.  Eggs and cheese will only be available through pre-paid shares throughout the season.  Bread occasionally will be available for sale at pick-up (only on Thursdays) on a first come first serve basis, in addition to the pre-paid bread shares.

Come join your farmers for an aerobic work out and gain tips for your own garden!  This year we are offering CSA work days every last Wednesday of the month.  Come from 9am – 12 and help with projects from weeding, to weeding, to weeding! That’s actually just in June.  In July it will be weeding, weeding and mulching.  First work day is June 30th.  Meet/park at the greenhouse.  Check in with us for more information.

Take care,

Your farmers

Chris and Laura