Photo Update May 24

In this post...News from the Farm...&...What's in Season...

Fresh from the Farm

The trees have moved past full bloom into petal fall, we can see successful pollination and little pear, plum and apricot fruitlets in the trees. 

We are busy seeding and transplanting crops into the veggie field, for August/Fall/Winter markets, Fall/Winter CSA. We have delivered loads of organic transplants to Shellee's Greenhouse in Madelia - it's so fun to work with other local women business owners!

Brooke and Shellee, of Shellee's Greenhouse with organic
basil and cucumber transplants.

The strawberries have hit full bloom and will ripen to be enjoyed by our Spring CSA members - just a few weeks away!

There's always plenty to do, but learning is important. I was happy to spend a field day out learning from another farm's systems and experience. Below you can see a moveable tunnel system used for extending the season - a fascinating system.

T-shirt order is still underway - see more details, or head over to the order form - until June 22!

What's in Season

Rhubarb, asparagus, nettles, chives, wild edibles like ramps and mushrooms.

I have been busy harvesting rhubarb for customers and the New Ulm Community Market (Thursday markets 2:00-7:00pm), as well as for freezing to make into strawberry-rhubarb jam later on. Try these Strawberry-Rhubarb Crisp Bars.

Rhubarb chopped and headed to the freezer.

I have also been harvesting stinging nettle to dry for tea/infusions, make into tinctures and infused oil for herbal salves. If you are interested in nettle tincture, to use for your seasonal allergies, contact me and I'll make sure you get some out of this year's batches!

Stinging nettle in the dehydrator. Once dried I use it for teas and infusions.

On our woodsy forays we have harvested wild ramps, gray morel mushrooms, pheasant back mushrooms and oyster mushrooms. Not near enough morels yet though!!

Asparagus is ready for harvest every other day. While we eat a lot fresh, the seasonal abundance is getting put up in the pantry too. This year I am canning all of the fresh asparagus. In the past I have always frozen it, it keeps well that way, but I like canning, as it is energy independent in storage and freezer space is always at a premium.



Like I said, we are always working hard... ;)

Photo Update May 19 :: Bloom Edition!

Full bloom in the orchard is a splendid thing - amazingly beautiful. Last weekend full bloom peaked. The home orchard had the most blooms it has ever had; we are excited because it looks like we'll be able to taste of some of the old heirloom varieties we are growing, for the first time!

Just before bloom, this stage is called "open cluster."

Young orchard trees. 'Smokehouse' is all blooming this year!

The Lake Crystal orchard blooms over the sloping hillside, full of promise for a great season. This site adds a couple new varieties of apples for us, including Fireside.

Farm dog Hazel, following along.

Just a Friday night out at the orchard, running the pups, mowing, picking up wood, enjoying the outdoors and potential of the beautiful trees.

Farm dog Odin helping out.

The New Ulm orchard, our first site we began with, is the most splendid we have ever seen it. The trees were loaded with blooms!

 

Being loaded with blooms is a grand thing, but that is only part of the process! Good pollination is a MUST to get that fruit hanging on these trees. We wander the orchards, observing for pollinator activity - native, honey and bumble bees. Two sites are close to woods and many native bees are out and about. While we weren't seeing as much pollinator activity at the home orchard, closer inspection, as petals began dropping, shows good results. There are many tasks between now and harvest, but I am looking forward to August and ripe apples!!

Photo Update :: May 7

It felt pretty darn good to plant the first transplants of the season! While it was 13 days later than planned, it's assured that no matter what the season begins sometime - sometimes late, sometimes early, sometimes really, really wet. This is a great start. 

Lettuce and kale went in first. Parlsey, basil, leeks and onion plants have followed. Radishes, spinach, peas and beans are waiting underground for their time to germinate.

Rhubarb looks great and asparagus is finally poking up!

Shellee's Greenhouse, in Madelia, is carrying Alternative Roots Farm organic sweet and hot peppers, heirloom tomatoes, ground cherries and tomatillos. Stock your garden with local plants, while shopping at a local greenhouse!

We have some other transplants available at the farm, check in with Brooke if you are looking for something.

The pullets are almost 6 weeks old and have most of their feathers in. While they are indoors we give them grass treats everyday - they go nuts for it! The hens are fiiiinally out on green grass!!! The yolks will start getting a deeper orange color from the natural nutrition of grass and bugs.

The home orchard was expanded again, to finish our plantings here. A new block of plums and apricots was added, along with more apples!

New apple trees!

Apricot flower buds.

Plum patch, with the field and winter greenhouse beyond.

We continue to provide microgreens to the New Ulm Community Market and Co-op for their Thursday Spring Markets - 2:00-7:00 pm on Thursdays.

Follow along here, on facebook and Instagram for the latest and greatest!

ARF T-Shirt Order!

It's a great time to get in on an order for an ARF shirt with our new logo!

You have the choice of ladies fit or mens crew t-shirts, as well as jersey, light-weight hoodies. See photos below

All orders and payments must be received by Friday, June 22.
T-shirts are only $20 and hoodies are $35.

T-shirts are USA made, heather gray, 90% ringspun cotton/10% polyester.

Jersey hoodies made with 60% organic cotton/40% recycled polyester
 They are light weight, like a long-sleeved t-shirt. The color "water" is a nice medium blue.

We suggest buying a size up, unless you like things nice and fitted.

In-Town Orders: orders can be picked up at the farm, at the Co-op or by other arrangement.

Out-of-Town Orders: by arrangement, if shipping is required please add $7.25.

All orders should be placed online - T-Shirt Order Form

Instructions for payment (cash/check only) are on the form.

Pictured: Ladies Medium

Pictured: Unisex Medium

River Valley Reskilling Festival

John and I will both be teaching classes at the Reskilling Festival - perhaps we'll see you there! Read about our class in the Earth Day Events! post.

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Interested in becoming more self-sufficient AND more community-connected?  A wonderful day revolving around both is happening Saturday April 21 – the River Valley Reskilling Festival, to be held at First Lutheran Church, 1114 Traverse Road, St. Peter.  Classes will be taught by area volunteers on a number of subjects including: gardening, vegan cooking, ukulele and guitar lessons, wild foraging, preserving food, basic bicycle maintenance, making sauerkraut, beekeeping, stress reduction and many more interesting and fun classes.

Onsite child care will be available and there will also be classes suitable for children.  

Breakfast and lunch items will be available for purchase from Diamond Dust Bakery and The St. Peter Food Co-op. Registration is on a sliding scale, $5 to $25, but no one will be turned away for inability to pay. Coffee is available and participants are welcomed to bring and/or take books for a community book swap. 

Local, organic farmer Josh Reinitz of East Henderson Farms will deliver a keynote address at 11:30 about his trip to learn about sustainable farming systems and vital rural communities in Oaxaca, Mexico. He will share ideas on what we can do in rural MN to uplift traditional skills that are still relevant today.

TO REGISTER and for more information go to: https://sites.google.com/view/2018reskillingfestival/  to share the event go to the Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/159130031465396/

Spring CSA Shares Now Available!

2018 Spring CSA Shares Now Available!

Have a spring fling with ARF! 1 or 2 weeks of early season items. Sign up for one, or both, weeks.

Week #1  •  Wednesday, June 13*  

Week #2  •  Wednesday, June 20*     

   *With the funky spring weather these dates may shift. Confirmation will be made 1-2 weeks in advance.

What's in the Share?  •  Lettuce, spinach and other spring greens, strawberries, radishes, green shallots, garlic scapes, rhubarb. Maybe asparagus, peas, canned items. The very best of the early season!

All items are subject to change, based on availability.

Cost: $25 per week  •  paid at time of sign up, to hold your share.

Pick Up & Logistics:  Pick up at the farm between 4:00-7:00 pm on your selected Wednesday(s). Produce and items will be laid out "market style," you will need to bring your own bags to do your shopping.

Other:  Please read the Helpful Hints For All Share Members at the bottom of the 2018 Shares page. :) 

SOLD OUT

Email us directly to get on our wait list - we may add more shares nearer June.

Earth Day Events!

You may have spotted Brooke at the Ag Expo with a Twist, held by the Madelia Chamber last week, or you may have spotted John pruning at the New Ulm or Lake Crystal Orchard, or at the New Ulm Health and Home Show. We're a little more elusive in the winter. If you are waking from hibernation and eager to see your friendly farmers' faces a little bit more (and you can't quite wait until the Market opens) you have several opportunities to see us on Earth Day, Saturday, April 21!

9:00-10:00 AM • Re-Skilling Festival • St. Peter

John will be presenting Phenology: Re-learning Observation.Learn how to practice studying phenology; thinking about the timing of events in nature, observation of plant, animal, weather, seasonal changes in our region. Using phenology to make educated predictions of other events in nature; i.e. when to start tapping maple trees, when to expect to hear frogs croaking, time to start looking for mushrooms, etc...

11:30-2:30 • Earth & Family Fair • New Ulm

John will be presenting Pollinators and You, alongside many other great presentations.

See the event for full details, but beginning at 11:30 a.m., outdoor activities will include:
Educational talks about nature: Talks will be offered at four locations beginning at 11:30 a.m. and repeating every 30 minutes (last talk starts at 2 p.m.). People of all ages are encouraged to bicycle to each stop via a guided or self-guided tour (see below), although everyone is welcome to attend even if not arriving by bicycle. Featured talks will be:
• Riverside Park: “Healthy Rivers” with Ron Bolduan and Scott Kudelka
• New Ulm Pollinator Park: “Pollinators and You” with John Knisley
• South Market Park: “Garlic Mustard Pull” with Joe Gartner (attendees will learn about this invasive plant and can take a turn pulling it)
• Park & Rec Shop (6 N. Front St.): “Urban Forestry” with Shane Omersa

12:30-1:30 PM • Re-Skilling Festival • St. Peter

Brooke will be teaching Canning, Drying, Freezing 101: Making the most of the season. We'll go over basic techniques and equipment involved with preserving fresh, in-season produce to eat in season all year long.

Check out more details on the event pages:

2018 River Valley Re-Skilling Festival website
Earth & Family Fair facebook page
Earth & Family Fair flyer