In The News :: A.R.F. & CSA

The New Ulm Journal did a nice article on Community Supported Agriculture, and featured Alternative Roots Farm in the article.  Check it out!

Community Supported Agriculture April 8, 2012

Seed Starting Station

These are photos from last, I'll get some updated ones up, but I wanted to throw up a post with our lovely plants growing! We are planting in soil blocks, instead of using pots.  You can see the little blocks below. Going this route we have less waste, and less use of plastic made with fossil fuels.  The blocks have positive growing benefits for the plants as well, such as decreased transplant shock and not getting pot bound.  Since these pics have been taken these tiny blocks have been placed into larger ones  and are taking off!

On the left garlic chives & thyme are seeded. In the next row two
types of brussels sprouts. Then some cabbage and celery in the top
right, with some flowers below that.

We have lights set up in the basement, hung to be adjustable
over the seedlings, which sit on a heating blanket
(covered with a shower curtain liner). That's my fancy
mister on the right.

Around the station plastic is hung to help maintain
 the more humid environment and control the temperature.

Bee Houses

Part of our mission on the farm is to promote and develop wildlife habitat--including habitat for pollinators.  John built these darling houses for Mason and Orchard Bees.  They don't produce honey, but they do an excellent job pollinating--even better than honeybees.

The tubes you can see are bamboo (a renewable resource) sections cut to 5 1/2" - 6" lengths.  Amazingly the Mason Bee Queen will produce males or females based on whether these tubes are more or less than 6 inches in length--crazy cool!  We have two houses hanging up in the yard now.

Mason Bee {photo starlisa's flickr}

John tried a couple different kinds of tubes for the bees to use, to experiment.  Something has been working on the houses, but no sighting yet!

Along with the smaller bees, we are planning to provide the proper habitat for the cuddly bumble bee.    We are excited about our little bee friends, and this will tide us over until we get our first honeybee colony in 2013!

Potting/Blocking Station

Some pics of our seed starting station...it look like a mess, but it's really quite organized!  Water, potting soil, peat moss, trays, tags, seeds, soil blockers, lime...

 This potting table is very handy, in it I have trays for mixing the soils, cleaning my tools and room for water and trays.  Underneath I am storing my trays and a bin for mixed & sifted peat and potting soil.  (In the background there are boxes, and boxes and boxes of canning jars.)

 I have my seed starting schedule, my seeds and homemade plant tags cut from yogurt containers, and a very handy sharpened paintbrush for planting individual seeds.

All of the peat moss and potting soil (containing some peat, compost and perlite) is sifted through this nice sieve John built for me.  It sits on top of a 5 gallon bucket.  I remove the larger piece so they don't inhibit germination or root growth, and save them for another use.

2012 Farm Share Information

For 2012 we are offering individual Farm Shares available in any amount, in limited quantity.  Shares are ideally purchased early in the season (January-June), as this helps with planning and capital investments, but a Farm Share can be purchased anytime of season--as long as you feel you'll have enough time to use it.  

Farm Share certificates will be mailed out to you after receiving payment in full, and can be used like cash, all season long, for purchases on-farm, special orders or from farmers' markets.  For 2012 we will plan to be at the New Ulm Saturday farmers' market and in Madelia on Wednesdays.

What is a Farm Share?

2012 ORDER FORM:  download or email us at alternativerootsfarm@yahoo.com

Payment

To receive your Farm Share complete the order form and submit it with a check for the full amount of the share.

Farm Shareholder responsibilities

Purchasing a Farm Share is also a mutual agreement with the farmer, you are making an up-front investment in the farm to receive quality produce during the season.  If purchasing at the farmers' market know that sales are done on a first come, first served basis--arrive early for your best selection.  Your Farm Share is good for the current growing season only, approximately June-October; if you have a balance left at the end of the season it is forfeit, it cannot be used for 2013, and it cannot be refunded.  Keep a copy of your order form, which contains sales and contact information; read emails and newsletters that are sent out; know when the growing and farmers' markets seasons begin and end; and know how much of a balance you have remaining on your Farm Share.  

2012 CSA Information

For 2012 we will be offering 4 CSA shares in the New Ulm and Madelia area.  Expect to receive boxes for 18 weeks, from June--October.  We are offering fresh, quality, heirloom varities, selected for taste, preserving and storage qualities.

Full share--in-town pick up/delivery: $450

Full share--on-farm pick up: $430

What is a CSA?


2012 ORDER FORM:  download or email us at alternativerootsfarm@yahoo.com

Payment

To reserve a CSA share a deposit of half the cost is due up front, along with a completed order form.

The second half of payment is due by June 1st.

Delivery

New Ulm

Tues. pick up:  4:30-5:30 at Lola's Larkspur Market

Tues. delivery:  late afternoon, or early evening (before or after Tues. pick up)  *home delivery to in-town residents only

Madelia

Wed. pick up:  from farmers' market

On-farm pick up

Wed. on-farm pick up:  from 11am-1pm

CSA Member Responsibilities

Purchasing a share is a season-long commitment, if you can't finish out the season reassign the share to another household.  If you can't pick up your box, arrangements must be made ahead of time.  Keep a copy of your order form, which contains delivery & contact information; also, read emails and newsletters that are sent out with each delivery.

A note on risk

CSA is a shared risk arrangement between farmers and members.  Weather conditions & wildlife can have an effect on yield.  We can't guarantee a perfect crop each year, and that is just part of a CSA and farming.  We can guarantee working our hardest to provide a quality product.  CSA members always get the best product--before farmers' markest.  Risk is addressed on the farm through conscious crop rotation, plantings to attract beneficial insects and by growing Diversity--growing crops resistant to various conditions, growing a diversity of fruits and vegetables, and a diversity of varieties.

What is CSA & Farm Shares?

If you are looking for more information on what the concepts of CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) and Farm Shares are check out our newly updated CSA & Farm Shares page.

Details on 2012 CSA shares and Farm Shares will be out shortly.  Stay warm!

A.R.F.