Hi Everyone,
This will be just a brief note—something of a "newsletter surrogate"—just to pass on a little information. Things are beginning to settle down for us, in this summer of wacky weather, but I still don't have time for the kind of update I'd like. But for now...
1. Are we open for pick-ups on Friday, the 4th of July? [Hint: YES!]
We are always open on pick-up days, so long as we are not under water. I know many of you remember the two times we have had to close for flooding, but never on the 4th of July. If you can't come in this Friday, you may come in another day this week.
2. Where have all the flowers gone?
I don’t think we have had even a first week, and I’m pretty certain not a second week, without some kind of flowers. Usually it’s the daisies that get us started, followed soon by the sweet peas. This year, finally, as we begin our third week, it looks like the daisies are going to bloom. In keeping with that, we are going to be a bit late on many, though not on all things. We are anticipating some limited harvest of snap and snow peas this week. And we hope to have broccoli and beets. But other items will lag a bit.
Many of you have asked about tomatoes, especially those of you who have noted that the vines are about as high as they usually are for this time of year. The day before yesterday I had the feeling it was about time, and it didn’t take much hunting to find that the heirloom variety Stupice is leading the way this year. I was very pleased to announce this to Wendy, who for some odd reason looked a little guilty and not surprised when I shared my discovery with her.
3. Farm School starts this week
We hold our Farm School each pick-up day during July and August. So, we start this week. I suppose by reprinting the part of the CSA handbook that gives the times for each day I am becoming a complete enabler, but, accepting that risk, here it is:
14. What and when is the "Farm School"?
Each Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday during July and August we invite the children to join us for some kind of farm activity. Sometimes we plant, sometimes we harvest, sometimes we learn about farm animals by doing chores and collecting eggs. Sometimes we "play."
Tuesday activities are at 12:30, Wednesday activities are at 2:00, Friday activities are at 3:30 and Saturday activities are at noon, in order to accommodate different nap schedules.
Our Summer Handbook used to call our daily time with the kids “kids' activities.” Now we call it "Farm School". (No, we don’t give tests.) You can view the Handbook at http://jubileefarm.org/handbooks/summer.html.
4. Political update
These have been very active times on the political front, and although I think our farm hasn’t suffered a great deal, it has made for some very long days for me, and the crew and especially Wendy has had to pick up some of the slack.
I’m happy to report that the King County Council passed legislation this morning that came out of the Flooding and Farming Task Force that I served on. I believe this is a step in the right direction, and I am deeply appreciative of the work of our representative Kathy Lambert, and of the collaborative work she and her staff did with Representative Constantine and his staff to make this legislation a possibility. We have a long way to go, but this is an excellent start.
5. Canning Share
In light of the tough spring we had this year, Wendy and I have decided not to do the canning share this year. We really believe in the concept, but you have to have a great abundance of produce (which we may or may not have) and a great deal of time to administer the program.
6. Noon Monday... (what happens then?)
That’s the deadline for your weekly changes. If you want to change your pick up day or switch from delivery to farm pick up please let us know no later than noon on Monday.
7. Grange Café
When you think of a stylish restaurant that serves organic food and advertises which local farms they get their produce from, you usually think of Seattle, Capital Hill, or maybe the Madison area. We’re happy to tell you that you can now add “Duvall” to the list.
The place is the Grange Café (www.grangecafe.com), and is owned and operated by Rod and Judy Neldom, the folks who for a dozen years have operated the very successful bakery in Wedgewood called the Grateful Bread. The building is a beautifully restored former Grange building which was built in 1926.
Rod and Judy are deeply committed to making every meal they prepare using as-local-as-they-can-get organically grown produce. They can tell you the farm that almost every ingredient they use comes from, and in most cases can tell you the name of the farmers.
It is such a breath of fresh air to have a place like this in the valley. Wendy and I have enjoyed our breakfasts there, and getting to know Rod and Judy (who are also active in the “Slow Food” movement). We highly recommend this restaurant, and commend Rod and Judy for bringing an organically-based menu of this quality to the “country.”
Erick, Wendy and the Crew