2012 CSA Details, Pricing, Drop Sites etc…

March 3rd, 2012

I just wanted to take a few minutes to welcome those of you who are considering taking part in the 2012 CSA program. Below you will find a list of the drop sites and times, general info on what you can expect in your baskets, and details on program pricing and how to get signed up. If there is anything else you need please don’t hesitate to email me or give me a call. I will be more than happy to walk you through it.
Drop sites:
Rochester - Kroger Parking lot at Silverbell/Adams on Saturday mornings from 10-12
Oxford - Big Boy parking lot on Rt 24 just N of Drahner from 4:30-5:30pm on Saturdays

Caro - Walmart Parking Lot Monday evenings from 5;30-6:30pm

Southfield - bldg 2000 at Evergreen and 10 mile on Wednesday afternoon at 3:30-4pm
Farmington - Orchard 12 Plaza at Orchard Lk Rd. and 12 mile from 4:30 - 6pm on Wednesday afternoons

To your door delivery is also available throughout our service area. It is $75 for all areas N of Rochester and $100 for the Farmington/ Southfield area.

Pricing for the Garden Goodies Summer Program is as follows:
A)Half Share Program - half bushel weekly or full bushel bi-weekly Garden Goodies Only - $350
B)Full Share Program - Full bushel weekly Garden Goodies Only - $550
C) Senior Share - half bushel weekly w/ delivery within the target area $300

Egg shares- Available to CSA customers only at this point
E1) one dozen farm fresh free range eggs delivered weekly $50
E2) two dozen farm fresh free range eggs delviered weekly $95
Last year we sold out on the eggs just for our CSA customers. I purchased more chickens this year, but I don’t expect to have Egg shares available to sell to the general public. The best way to get eggs from us is to sign up for the CSA program.

Please keep in mind if you are interested in grass fed meats that there is a discount for signing up for the annual shares that include pork bundles through the winter months. There is a seperate post that deals specifically with these programs and their pricing. Please let me know if you have any questions.

I will divide the plant list up into groups of the items that you will find in your baskets for early, mid, and late season. You won’t get all of the items in every basket, but it will give you and idea of the progression. Half a bushel is about the size of the black wire baskets you get at Krogers that go over your arm. A bushel is about the size of a square milk crate, or Family Dollar sells bushel sized laundry baskets in a variety of colors. Also, I am there when you pick up, so if there is something that you or your family won’t eat - just let me know. I will do my best to substitute it for something else that is available. I don’t want to waste anything, and there is always someone else who will take it :) By August, you are getting more than your half bushel because some things are just big like the cantaloupes, cabbages, watermelon and some of the squash. I had banana squash last year that I had to can, because they were too big to do much else with. It was like stacking logs in the back of the truck. They are an interesting variety: we had some that were 12 inches long and some that were 4 feet long growing right next to each other.

Early basket - cucumbers, radishes, carrots, zucchini, scallop squash, greens (we are aiming for a lettuce or green in every basket this season), tomatoes (maybe not in the first basket, but probably the second, definately the third), green beans - Dill

Mid season basket - cucumbers, radishes, carrots, zucchini, scallops, greens/lettuces, tomatoes, peppers, sweet corn (I delivered corn 7 times last year throughout the season), melons, broccoli, dragon tongue beans, onions, winter squash, egg plant - cilantro, basil, oregano

Late season - tomatoes, still more corn, winter squash, pumpkins, greens, melons, peppers, cabbage, turnips, rutabagas, beets, brussel sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, herbs, potatoes, sweet potatoes, egg plant, onions

To sign up for the 2012 CSA Program simply print out the CSA commitment agreement, which can be found linked on our Garden Goodies page, or typed out on the blog for your convenience, sign it and send it in with your check or MO for the amount of the program you wish to participate in. Some folks had trouble getting the page to open last year, so I just typed it up on the blog to make it easier.

We are really excited about the program this season. Winter can be so isolating it will be nice to see everyone again and to get to know our new members.
Have a blessed and wonderful day!
Steph

Please make checks payable to:

S. Antaya

789 Wilwood

Rochester Hills MI 48309

Meat and Egg CSA to resume in September!

August 21st, 2011

OK, so it is official.  Pigs go in to the butcher on the 25th of August and Pork CSA deliveries will begin on Saturday September 17th.  Normally the Sept deliveries would fall on the 10th, but I figured if I scheduled for the 17th we would have plenty of time to get everything back from the butcher, including the smoked meats so many of you are looking forward to.  I have included the pricing and delivery details for the Pork CSA below.  It can be ordered with or without egg share participation. 

We will be offering pork deliveries monthly to the regular drop off sites in Rochester and Farmington.  Drops will take place the second Saturday of the month in months with 4 weeks or the middle Saturday in months with 5 weeks.  Pick up times will be in Rochester between 10am and 11am at the Kroger parking lot at Silverbell and Adams and in Farmington from 12:30-1:30pm Saturday afternoon at the parking lot at Orchard Lake and 12 mile at the Orchard 12 plaza.  On the way back up 24 I will be at the Big Boy parking lot from 3:30-4:30pm for my Oxford/Lake Orion customers. For my Frankenmuth, Birch Run, and Lapeer customers, we can set up a time to meet once monthly for you to pick up your meats.  You don’t have to drive all the way up here either :)   The pork will be divided into 20lb bundles.  You will choose which bundle you would like each month so you can adjust as you see fit as the season progresses.  I have written up the pork program to run from September 17th through February 11th, but we will take sign up for the veggie, meat and annual memberships year round.  If you want to sign up mid-season we will simply wrap your annual membership around from the date that you sign up. 

I can not stress enough that this is not supermarket pork.  It is certainly not the other white meat.  I raise three breeds of heritage hog, two of which are on the ALBCs critically endangered list.  My hogs are free ranged on 10 acres of pasture, and are lower in cholesterol and fat than most meats you could buy in the supermarket, including some poultry.  It is dark, rich, flavorful, and superbly healthy.  For more information on the advantages of pasture raised meats - please check out www.eatwild.com.  They have done some wonderful research into the health benefits of grassfed foods.

The bundles look like this:

A) Mixed pork bundle

      1.  4lbs breakfast sausage

      2.  2lbs italian sausage (hot or mild)

      3.  1 ham hock (approx 2lbs)

      4.  2lbs ground pork

      5.  1 (3-5lb) pork roast

      6.  2lbs bratwurst

      7.  2lbs. chops or cutlets

      8.  2lbs spare ribs

B) Sausage bundle

      1.  5lbs. breakfast sausage

      2.  5lbs. chorizo

      3.  5lbs. italian sausage (hot or mild)

      4.  5lbs. bratwurst

C) Tailgater bundle

      1.  5lbs. ribs

      2.  1 (3-5lb.) pork roast - perfect for barbeque or pulled pork sandwiches

      3.  6lbs. bratwurst

      4.  6lbs.  italian sausage (hot or mild)  (or in Dec. on you can substitute 8lbs. fresh natural casing hot dogs or we can do a combination of the two)

Pricing for the meat CSA is $600 and it runs for 6 months.  That is less than $25 per week, or $100 per month, which works out to approx. $5/lb including delivery to the drop points .

Pricing for the meat CSA plus a 4 dozen a month egg share is $685.  Pricing for the eggs is slightly higher during the winter months, because feed costs increase as there is less pasture for the girls to take advantage of, and egg production goes down a bit in the winter, as temps get colder and there is less light.  This puts winter egg prices at $3.50 per dozen for fresh free range large brown eggs delivered.

After speaking with my husband, we also decided that those of you who are going to be year round members should also receive an additional discount, so for those of you who would like to sign up through next year pricing is explained below.  In addition to the discount, this also holds the CSA prices at the previous years rate even if it increases next year. 

Annual CSA membership from now through next season:

A1) Winter pork CSA (from September 17th through February) plus half share vegetable CSA (July 1st - Oct. 31st) - discounted price for early sign up $900   (No eggs included in this option)

A2) Winter pork CSA (from September 17th through February) plus full share vegetable CSA (July 1st - Oct. 31st) - discounted annual price $1100

Annual CSA membership from now until Oct. 31st 2012 including egg share

B1) Winter pork CSA with 4 dozen eggs per month (from September through February) plus half share vegetable CSA plus one dozen eggs delivered weekly from (1 July - Oct 31, 2012) - price w/early sign up $1025

B2) Winter pork CSA with 4 dozen eggs per month (from September 17th - February) plus full share vegetable CSA plus one dozen eggs delivered weekly from (1 July - Oct 31, 2011) - price w/ early sign up $1225

C1) Winter Egg Only shares - 4 dozen eggs per month picked up at one of our two drop sites is $100.

As many of you know, I have a genuine heart for our senior customers and we always offer programs to keep this affordable and convenient for our area seniors.  My grandparents raised me, and it is important to me that anyone who would like to take part is able to do so.  Because I have so many seniors and smaller families taking part in the program I have set up an annual ’senior’ package as well.  If you are not a senior, don’t fret, it is available to anyone who feels that 20lbs is more than they could use or afford.  It is a 12lb bundle and subscription for the 6 month winter CSA season will run $360.

S) “Senior” bundle

      1.  (3-5lb) pork roast

      2.  2lbs.  your choice sausage (italian, bratwurst, breakfast, chorizo) or ground pork

      3.  2lbs.  pork chops or cutlets

      4.  2lbs.  pork steak

      5.  2lbs.  spare ribs or an additional 2lbs. sausage (choice)

That makes annual membership for this program look like this:

S1) Senior or small family Annual membership without eggs including Senior winter CSA ($360) and half share senior vegetable membership ($300) - $660

S2) Senior or small family Annual membership with eggs Including Senior winter CSA w/4 dozen eggs delivered each month ($445) and half share senior vegetable CSA membership including 1 dozen eggs delivered weekly ($350) - $795

If you need to set up payments for the annual membership options, that is certainly doable.

 

Please feel free to call or email with any questions.

Steph 

810-656-2036

CSA Payments can be sent to :

Stephanie Antaya

8231 S. SIlverwood Rd.

Silverwood, MI 48760

Praise Report - God still works miracles!

July 24th, 2011

In a time when I seem to be bearing more bad news than good, I wanted to take an opportunity just to thank God for his constant love and provision.  I got word last night that my friend Linda’s 14 year old grandaughter Katie, who has been battling bone cancer for over a year - was found to be cancer free!!  You know sometimes I am guilty of getting so wrapped up in the struggle of the day, I can’t see past the end of my nose…Today I understand how very blessed I am:  Four healthy happy kids, a husband who loves me, a farm I thoroughly enjoy even when things are hard, friends to lift me up when I need it…God’s grace is more than sufficient!

Dear Heavenly Father,

Praise to you this morning and every morning for all of the blessings in my life!  Thank you for your wonderful work in Katie Lord..thank you for her healing and her heart.  Thank you for strengthening her, and giving her the peace to push on.  Praise you for your grace and your mercy and your love.  Thank you for the rain - I can feel it in the air this morning and I know it is coming.  Thank you for thinking of me and the plants in the field.  For loving me when I am unreasonable, and not so lovable.  For finding joy in the things that make me me, when others don’t always appreciate them.  Thank you for your presence in the field as I work and for the prayer time I enjoy out there.  I almost think you send me rough seasons because that is when we get to spend the most time together..talking and working.  I will try to be better in the good times about not taking you for granted.  I know I am sometimes guilty of that.  I try not to, but I am definately a more attentive daughter when I am brought to my knees.   I just really wanted to say thanks..for everything! Amen!!

Free Range Heritage Breed Pasture Pork Now Available!

July 14th, 2011

Antaya Acres is proud to make available to you in limited quantities our rare breed heritage pasture pork.

I have 3 hogs ready to butcher which are not yet spoken for. This does not happen very often, as we are almost always back ordered. However, due to some wonderful abundant litters this season we have some extra pigs to move on to make room for new additions to the herd.

We raise Tamworth, Large Black, and Old Spot hogs on acres of pasture here in the thumb of Michigan, all of which are listed as threatened or critically endangered by the American Livestock Breed Conservancy (ALBC). Our pigs glean between 80-90% of their nutrition from rich green alfalfa, clover, and grasses. Pasture raise meats are signifigantly higher in vitamins B, D, and E as well as the healthy Omega - 3s and CLA (a cancer preventative). It is also much lower in bad fats and cholesterol. If you are looking to feed your family only the very best Michigan has to offer. This is the pork you want to put on their plates!

Meat from these hogs is sought out by chefs and foodies all over the world. It is a culinary delight you won’t soon forget. Although I should warn you - once you start eating this way there is no going back. This is absolutely NOT the other white meat!!

I am offering these pigs by the quarter, the half, or the whole - as I am low on freezer space at the moment, and the cuts take room at my place. Pricing is as follows:

1/4 hog - $4.50/lb + processing
1/2 hog - $4.25/lb + processing
whole hog - $4/lb. + processing

Processing fees vary depending on what you would like done with the pig, but typically pricing is  .30/lb for cutting and wrapping plus a flat fee of $7.50 per quarter. Smoking the meat for bacon and hams etc… costs .75/lb.

There is a $100 non-refundable deposit for reserving your quarter or half hog, and a $150 non-refundable deposit for reserving your whole pig.

Locally Grown - Why CSA in 2011?

April 30th, 2011

At no time in recent history has it been more important for folks in the city to align themselves with a farm within their community.  We are living in very uncertain economical times.  The gas projections for this season get steeper with each newscast, and what was expected to be $5 per gallon gas by Labor Day is now expected to exceed $6.  Our dollar is devaluing, and our politicians can’t seem to come to any kind of consensus on the best way to prevent that from happening.  A lot of this is out of our hands.  However, there are steps we can take to insure the stability of our own families food supply in case things get worse before they get better.  Please understand, I am in no way an alarmist.  I am; however, one who believes that a little preparedness can go a long way. 

If we do indeed hit $6 per gallon gasoline this summer, you can bet our prices in the grocery store will reflect those increases and then some.  Those same prices have already been affected by the issues with the dollar.  Anyone else notice that first they raised the canned good prices, and then they decreased the size of the can?  And how many of you realize that most farms are already paying approximately 25% more to feed their animals the same grain they fed them last year?  Being a pasture farm we are less effected, but we still feel it when we pick up our supplementary grain at the mill.  How about dog food prices..first they reduced the bag size… Purina Dog Food used to come in 50 lb bags, now they are 40lb bags and if you are really lucky you can pick up that bag that has the free 10% giving you 44lbs.  Unfortunately, you are paying 30% more for that 40-44lb bag then you were when they were still packaging it the other way.   I am not making this up, and this is just the beginning.

Most CSAs set the rate, and payment is received at the beginning of the season, which holds your pricing through the entire summer.  If you are very fortunate, your CSA has annual programs which allow you to pay for the year..this keeps you in the cheap for at least 12 months regardless of who is in the White House or Congress and what they decide to do, or not to do, to ease our financial woes.  Your grocery store will certainly not offer you the same peace of mind.  Being a farm and being local allows CSA farmers some luxury that your grocery stores simply don’t enjoy.

If we do indeed suffer a deeper financial crisis in this country, the stocking of the grocery shelves can slow.    The farmers are still producing, but getting things to market becomes more difficult.  Many stores rely heavily on goods from great distances away, including other countries, who may or may not be interested in extending us further credit as our credit becomes more questionable and particularly if the dollar continues to fall.  Locally grown farm fare is virtually uneffected regardless.   We can still hop in the truck and pick bushels of produce, and driving our wares to deliver them the short distance to you (even in my gas guzzling F-350) is still doable. 

So when you are budgeting your expenses this year, consider local food insurance - the kind offered by an area farm with a farmer who you know and can trust.  CSA programs are the very best source of fresh locally grown produce, and many offer meat and eggs as well these days.  Do the research, and by all means do the math.  Get involved and make choices now that will keep your family finances and their food stores stable come what may.

Stephanie Antaya

Antaya Acres Heritage Farm

Silverwood, MI 48760

810-656-2036

Why CSA? - From our first season

March 24th, 2010

As many of you know, this is our first year as a CSA.  I have been selling produce down in Rochester for the last couple of years out of a 3 acre garden we had always kept here on the 10 acres where we live.  CSA is just a little larger scale then what I was doing before.  I have had family members and friends ask why Community Supported Agriculture makes sense for their family.  So I thought I would take a little time and address that here this morning. 

The United States isn’t the same kind of country it was when our grandparents were growing up.  In the 1930’s when my grandparents were young, each family supplied much of what they consumed.  My Great-grandma Myer had 9 children of her own, and she raised 2 young indian girls as well.  They grew a large garden.  When berries were in season, everyone picked berries.  My grandmother used to take me out berry picking when I was a girl.  I was astounded how fast that woman could fill up a berry bucket.  When I asked her how she could pick that fast, she responded “When I was just a girl, my father used to take us 9 kids out to pick berries.  He would tell us when we got there how many we would be picking, and we would stay until we met his quota.  Everyone picked.  When the older children had what they needed - they helped the younger children.  When we were done, my father would pick my mother a bouquet of daisies, and we would all head home.”  They had a milk cow too.  And my grandmother tells me now, that her father raised the meanest pigs in all of God’s creation, which they butchered to help feed their bustling family.  Living off what you grow, taking what you work for, and nothing more -  that is who we used to be as a nation.  We have lost some of our collective identity.  We stopped working as hard for what we needed, because we no longer had to. 

We need to again - its that simple.  Michigan has one of the worst state economies in the country right now.  We have many more people moving out then moving in, and the welfare rolls are growing.   People feel lost.  We are hurting, and now more than ever, we should be supporting each other.  The people who worked for Ford and GM, who no longer have a job due to downsizing and relocations, would tell you that if you live in Michigan and you are driving a foreign made car, you are choosing to take money out of the pocket of your neighbor.  That is money your neighbor won’t spend at your local business.  Taxes he won’t contribute to the local school system that both of your children attend.  Taxes that could make a broken system better.  We are all a web of choices and consequences in our lives, our families, our state, and our country.  Our choices positively or negatively affect one another.  Taking from the teaching of Randy Carlson - we all need to live intentionally.  Evaluating each decision carefully and making the very best one.  

Everyone reading this can choose to go down to your local grocery and pick up your vegetables there, and yes you will be supporting your local store, but please don’t be mistaken into thinking that you are supporting your local farmers by making that choice.  Even the Whole Foods in Rochester, who claims to be a provider of local meats and produce, purchase and import their ‘free range’ chickens from Chicago, where they are grown in a dome.  I promise you, there are plenty of Michigan farmers raising genuinely free range birds here to meet their needs.  Choosing to support CSA is the best way to get the freshest produce at a price better then you will get at your local groceries.  And anything in your share is guaranteed grown in Michigan.  Next time you are in Krogers, pick up one of their black hand baskets - the wire ones, fill it with as much organic produce as it will hold and take it to the checkout.  One of those wire baskets holds less than half a bushel of produce, which is the amount we provide as a half share from our farm every week.  I promise you it will cost you more than $20, and the varieties available there are nowhere near as diverse as what we offer from the farm.  That basket of produce from Krogers will benefit farmers in Mexico, Chile, and Brazil.  There might be some Michigan produce in there, but probably not much, and definately less than half.  That isn’t good enough.  In supporting your CSAs, you are supporting your neighbors, and your state and local economies.  As Michiganders, we need to be very conscious of how much of what we make is staying here.  Please consider supporting your local farms through their CSA programs.  Your family and theirs will benefit greatly.

Steph

Prayer for the day: Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for our friends, our family, and our farm.  Help us serve and represent You well in all that we do today.  Help our work be fruitful, and our faith be strong.  Keep us focused and diligent.  Help us to set goals and accomplish them, and to meet our obligations.  Please provide for our needs as only you can.  Help baby Livy feel better and help Lucas’ stuffy nose to clear up.  Thank you for hearing and answering our prayers.

Amen

CSA Commitment Agreement

April 18th, 2010

I know that some folks have had a hard time opening the docfile for the CSA Commitment Agreement on the Garden Goodies page.  I had emailed the webtechs and asked them to fix it, but they haven’t gotten to it yet.  I decided this would be a quick fix in the meantime, so that everyone could access the agreement.  We would love to have you and your family take part in our CSA this year! Here is our CSA Commitment Agreement, all CSAs have them. Ours is pretty basic. If you have any questions, just let me know. I will be happy to explain anything.  To the door delivery for the season is $75 - if you live in Farmington or Birmingham there is a $100 delivery charge.  I hope that helps.  Have a blessed day!

Steph

CSA Commitment Agreement

By signing this agreement I (we) understand that I (we) am (are) making a commitment to the Antaya Acres Heritage Farm CSA program.

I understand that I am purchasing one season’s share in the harvest of produce by Antaya Acres and that my vegetable share does not include the livestock or the products produced by this farm (although discounts on such items will be offered to subscribers). I am not purchasing any ownership rights to Antaya Acres Heritage Farm its property or equipment.

I realize that although this farm is protected by signifigant garden experience as well as all natural farming practices, that there is no guarantee in farming. Amounts of vegetables and varieties of produce available will vary throughout the season, and according to the weather.

I agree to share in both the rewards and the risks of the growing season along with the other shareholders and growers.

I understand that the season for fresh produce will run from the beginning of July through Oct for at least 16 weeks, but its exact beginning and ending will depend primarily on the weather.

I agree to contact Antaya Acres Heritage Farm and let them know if I will be unable to pick up my weekly share, and to make other arrangments to pick up if the weekly distribution is missed. I will not hold Antaya Acres responsible for my not receiving my parcel if I do not make the pick up at the designated time and location.

I understand that once the season has begun, I may not be able to get any refund of money if I change my mind.

___________________________________________ _____________

Shareholder’s Signature  and Date

Also please be sure to include your address, phone number, and email address. Please note on your agreement if you are signing up for a full share / half share, or senior share, egg share, and if you need delivery.

 

Please send CSA Agreement and check to:

S. Antaya

789 Wilwood

Rochester Hills, MI 48309

Please make all checks payable to S. Antaya

2011 CSA Planting List

February 5th, 2011

2011 Plant list
Tomatoes:

Hybrids: Sunstar, SVR 1400

Beefsteaks and X-LG tomatoes: Henderson’s Crimson Cushion, Rose, Kentucky Beefsteak, Giant White, Huge Lemon Oxheart, Purple Calabash, Gypsy, Big White Pink Stripes (stuffer)

Cherries and grapes: Black Pepper, Snow Fairy, Sungold Select, Italian Ice, Snowberry, Pearly Pink, Thai Pink Egg, Gajo de Melon, Black Cherry, Hssiao His Hung Shih

Pears: Yellow Pear, Red Fig, and Black Pear

Paste/ Roma varieties: San Marzano, Cream Sausage, Orange Icicle, Roman Candle, Striped Roman Candle, Purple Plum, Japanese Plum

Heirloom Misc: Furry Yellow Hog, Pink Accordian, Ananas Noir, Striped Cavern, Tsar’s Royal Gift, German Red Strawberry, Bison

Large Cherry (2-3 ounces): Violet Jasper, Orange and Green Zebra, Turkish Monastery, Tigerella, White Zebra,

Peppers:

Sweet: Red, Orange, Purple, Yellow, and Green Bell Peppers

Italian Grilling: Red Marconi, Yellow Marconi, and Green

Hot: Scotch Bonnet, Gigante Jalapeno, Fish peppers, Chinese 5 color, Pablano, Romanian Hot

Greens:
Collards, Spinach, Red and green mustard, and Swiss Chard

Lettuces:
Parris Island Cos, Red Romaine, Lollo Rosso, May Queen, Rossa Di Treviso Precoce Radicchio, Castelfranco Radicchio, Rubin, Tango, Grumolo Rossa di Verona, Grumolo Biondo Golden Chicory, Batavian Escarole, De Louviers, Mascara Lettuce, Big Boston Lettuce, and Brun D’Hiver lettuce. The goal for this season is to have a different green or lettuce in the baskets for all 16 weeks, thanks to the new Lettuce box garden my husband made for us this season.

Beans:
Dragon Tongue Bean, Green and Red Noodle Beans, Grenoble Green Beans

Radishes:
Pink Beauty, Purple Plum, Sicily Giant, German Giant, and White Hailstone,
Round Black Spanish Radish (giant), and China Rose (giant)

Carrots:
assorted Colors of heirloom carrots including: purple, red, white, orange, yellow, and light green

Rutabagas: Wilhelmsburg and Laurentian

Turnip: Golden Globe and White purple Tops

Beets: Bull’s Blood, Chioggia (striped), Golden beets, and salad leaf beet for salad greens

Summer Squash: Table Dainty (green and yellow striped 6oz.) similar to a tiny zucchini, Romanesco Zucchini (deeply ribbed -star shaped slices), Camoflage Zucchini, Butterstick Zucchini (yellow), Odessa, Ronde de Nice (lg round stuffer), Scallops (white, yellow, and green)

Winter Squash: Stripetti, Buttercup, Butternut, Australian Queensland Blue, Australian Butter, Banana, Red Kuri, Table Queen Acorn, Marina Di Chiogga, L’Estrella, and Melonette Jaspee Vendee

Brussel Sprouts, 3 colors of Cauliflower, Broccoli, and green and purple cabbage

Pumpkins: Winter Luxury Pie Pumpkins and Jumping Jack (large carving pumpkin)

Cucumbers: Delikatasse (8″green and white), Juane Dickfleischige (8″ long yellow), Sikkim (up to 4lb. Asian Cucumber), Lemon Cucumber, Parisian Pickling Cucumbers

Watermelons: Orangeglo, Sugar Baby, White Sugar Lump, Black Diamond Yellow Flesh, and Ali Babba

Cantaloupes: Banana Melon, Honey Rock

Honey Dew types: Golden Honeymoon, and Lazzatti (banana shaped honeydew)

Small melons: Tigger, Hero of Lockinge, Early Silver Line, Missouri Gold, Green Machine, and Sakata’s Sweet

European Melons: Petit Gris de Rennes and Chartenais

Potatoes: red, yellow, blue and purple

Sweet Potatoes: Evangeline (the sweetest variety)

Onions: Candy and Red Defender

Leeks

Herbs: Sage, Thyme, Marjoram, Rosemary, Chives, Dill, Oregano, Cilantro, and 4 different Basil

6 types of eggplant: Ukrainian, Turkish Orang, Chinese Long Purple, Japanese White Egg, Rosa di Bianco, and Applegreen Eggplants

Planting Spiritual Seeds - Prayer Journal Day 23

June 16th, 2011

What a beautiful glorious morning it is Lord..thank you for the beautiful sunrise.  What a great way to start the day! Thank you for helping me to sleep well last night, and for letting us get so much done in the fields yesterday.  I pray you will continue to be with us today.  Please send the rains it is calling for.  Let them fall softly and perfectly on the plants in the garden and out onto the pasture.  Although we had a very wet spring you can see the thirst in the seedlings and it is for them I lift this prayer.  I love you Lord.  I so enjoy this time of year, as I stretch bare toes into warm sand and kneel before your throne in the peace of the garden.  What a beautiful way to spend my days.  I am so truly blessed!  Thank you for the children and my husband Lord.  Thank you for the progress we have been making here on the farm, and for all of the wonderful babies we have healthy and growing in the barn and on the fields.  Your creation is all around me and I am as always amazed by the beauty of it.  Thank you for your provision and your grace.  I know I do not deserve the gifts I have been given, and yet you continuously shower me with your love and understanding.  Thank you for making me a far better person than I ever would have been on my own.  Help me to be Your woman..the one you envisioned when you formed me all of those years ago.  Help me to live up to the potential you have created in me.  Help me to see the world through your eyes and your understanding.  I still to this day struggle with anger, and although it doesn’t control me,  I pray you would take it from me.  Use me effectively to be a positive change in this world.  Help me to speak clearly and see clearly your will and purposes for our lives.  Please be with my children Lord..guide them, teach them, influence them greatly in their daily paths and in their lives.  Be with them when I can not, and help them make the right choices so that they can be of service to you.  Please continue to bless my marriage.  Move us closer together and closer to you each day.  In Jesus Holy and Beautiful name we ask and pray - Amen!

Planting Spiritual Seeds - Prayer Journal Day 22

May 28th, 2011

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you Lord for comforting my spirit over these last few days.  I have had moments where this whole situation with the neighbors has just felt unnerving and overwhelming.  I am grateful that you know my heart and my spirit and that you are always available to give me your peace and direction.  Praise you Lord for your wisdom and your provision.  I want to lift up some of our friends today Dear Jesus - I thank you Lord for Anita and for the wonderful friend she is and has been to me.  I am so blessed to have found her up here.  I pray Lord that you would bless her farm and her family in every way.  I also Lord want to thank you for Darcy and her husband Ben.  My heart goes out to them this Memorial Day weekend.  I am so grateful that I have met them and would just ask that you be with them and bring them your peace as they celebrate the life of their son this weekend.  I thank you for Tammy at the video store.  She has been such a good friend to both Brett and I.  Please help her to get through her Aunts things and have a great yard sale.  Thank you for Norm and his wonderful wife on Fish Lake Rd, and for Bob and Linda at O’Connell Suffolks.  You have truly blessed us with so many wonderful people in our lives, and I should thank you more often.  Thank you for being with Jodi and the baby Lord, and for helping that little booger stay inside this long.  Please be with them both and get her here healthy and vigorous.  Their family has had some real tragedies Lord and I would just pray Lord that this year would be a turning point for them.  That you will provide them with a wonderful year filled with joy and blessings and that this year would just be the first of many.  Thank you Lord for each of the wonderful families that have chosen to take part in our CSA this season.  Please bless them all abundantly.  Continue to touch hearts and move mountains in the lives of those we love.  Please be with me today and reveal yourself today.  I get so much joy out of seeing you work! You are the great and mighty Lord of Lords and I am so blessed to be your daughter.  Help me Lord to truly be and become the woman you created me to be.  Please help us to get caught up on all of the things we need to get done and help our garden to be so wonderful this year that all those who see it will call it truly blessed.  Thank you Lord for my family and the way they touch my heart each day.  Help us to truly be your hands and feet in this world.  Thank you for the health and happiness I see when I look at them and the animals we raise.  We are so blessed indeed.  Thank you Lord for loving us the way you do and for helping us to be the best we can be.  In Jesus Holy Name we ask and pray - Amen!

Planting Spiritual Seeds - Prayer Journal Day 21

May 24th, 2011

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for a sunshiney morning.  Thank you for calm skies and sweet breezes.  Please be with us today as we seek your presence.  Bless us with your guidance and your love.  Please continue to speak to our hearts and to encourage our walk with you.  Help us to grow closer as a family as we work hard together to achieve the goals of the farm.  Please help us to be a blessing to those around us, and help us to be patient with those with whom we have misunderstandings.  I ask Dear Lord that you would just open our hearts and minds to your will and your way.  Help us to see through your vision and to be a positive influence on the world around us.  Please be with our extended families today and everyday Lord.  Help them to be safe and healthy and to feel the light of your love upon them.  Please be with the garden this year Lord and help it to grow and produce in amazing abundance.  You are the great grower Lord, and from your touch and your presence beauty sprouts.  You are the mighty creator of all things …please touch our garden with your gentle hand and let it spring forth for your people.  I pray today in Jesus Holy name.  Amen!

Planting Spiritual Seeds - Prayer Journal Day 20

May 9th, 2011

Dear Heavenly Father

Thank you for today.  Thank you for your constant provision over our family.  Thank you for loving us and keeping us safe.  We are grateful for all of the gifts we have been given.  Thank you for a roof over our heads, food on the table, and that farm and family are doing well.  Thank you for our health and for the blessings of our children.  I am grateful Lord for each of them and the way they touch our hearts and enrich our lives.  Please Lord continue to guide us through our days.  Help us make the right decisions and to move in the right direction.  Please give us wisdom as we make decisions to grow our farm.  Help us get all of the things done we need to.  There is always so much work and it feels like we always run out of time to get it all done.  Help whatever is wrong with the truck not be too costly.  Please be with us as we go through our day.  Help keep our focus on You and Your will for our lives.  Give us courage to push through the tough spots and time to enjoy the gifts you have given us.  I so enjoyed our time with the kids yesterday.  It is so uplifting to play with them and to enjoy their laughter and their love for each other.   Help us to be the very best we can be Lord.  Help us to be the very best we possibly can.  Help me to have courage through the hard times and please use our trials for your glory.  In Jesus Holy Name we ask and Pray! Amen

Planting Spiritual Seeds - Prayer Journal Day 19

May 4th, 2011

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you Lord for this beautiful day!  Thank you for helping us get the things done on the house that we need to.  It feels so good to make good progress.  It is so easy to get behind on things with the amount of work we have to do.  Praise you for helping us to all work together the way we need to with minimal complaining and just a sense of unity as a family.  I am so proud of my family this week for their dedication to making everything fall into place.  Help us Lord to just stay focused and diligent.  Please be with us and help us to get the rest of the planting taken care of that we need to get done and help the plants to grow strong and healthy.  Please continue to bless our family and our farm and help the contracts continue to steadily arrive.  Thank you for all of the wonderful blessings in our life.  Please continue to help us meet our obligations and Your expectations.  Please use our family to achieve your purposes and keep us in the center of Your will.   Please help me as I prepare to speak at the Green Living Festival.  Please send the Holy Spirit to comfort me and keep me.  I will need You there with me if I am to get through this.  I long to pursue Your goals for me and I can’t wait to see my children and my family grow in You as we seek your presence and your will, please help me make the changes I need to so that I can be useful.  I want so much to be everything You designed me to be.  You have been so gracious and generous to me throughout my life.  Please continue to use us to reach out to others.  Help us to be aware of those who are in need, so that we do not miss the moments we could be of service. 

Please be with our nation Lord.  Help us to seek You as a country.  Forgive us for discounting the blessings You have bestowed on our great nation.  Help us to help ourselves.  Please keep us focused on lifting up one another.  Help our leaders to be servants of Your word and Your teachings.  Let us be an example and light of your love and truth throughout the world.  Through these hard times reveal yourself to those who do not know you.  Let these difficulties be used for Your glory and honor.  I pray for stronger leadership.  I continue to pray for a leader who is in Your service, who will be strengthened by You in difficult times.  We pray for a more peaceful world to come from all of the unrest in the middle east.  Please be with the Japanese people Lord as they continue to recover from last months tragedies.  They are such a gracious people.  Please bless them Lord and reveal yourself to them through those who are reaching out to them right now Lord.  In Jesus Holy name we ask and pray.  Amen