Hi Everyone,
In this update:
1. "When do you expect things to change?" (for the better, presumably)
Our early boxes have been disappointingly small. So the question, "when are things going to change" has been asked many times, and probably thought (but not asked) even more! So let me respond.
Each year as the Summer Session approaches, we include in an update just before the Session starts something about what a CSA is. I remind people that being a member in a CSA is a commitment to a farm and to the farmers who farm (in this case, us!). I try to point out that it is more about commitment than convenience—that in bucking the "system," which is what CSA is doing, there may be be some things that don't work out perfectly, possibly leading to less convenience and therefore requiring more commitment! I try to warn people that if the season is poor, they could get less food than if they had bought from standard food distribution channels. In that early, pre-season update, I tend to not mention all the reasons one should make the commitment, what we stand to gain as a community, and the tangible and intangible benefits of membership in a CSA. I really want everyone to know this is "live theater": we don't know for sure how things will end up.
Usually the things mentioned above are theoretical, and those of you who have been with us for many years know that we've had many years in a row of strong production. But this year is starting unlike any year we've ever had. I could say a lot about this, and maybe I should. Certainly some people who live in Seattle, whose weather has been very different from ours, may wonder at this. But I think you all know that we've had an extraordinarily cool, wet and cloudy spring. And the further east you live, the more you know what I'm talking about.
I have been half in denial, and half hoping the "miracle" would happen. But the miracle didn't happen and this is not the time for denial. Many of you are expecting that this week things will be back to normal. They won't. It's true we had one day above 75 degrees. But it's also true that we are about four weeks behind in almost everything we have planted to date. Our first two weeks were sub-par; I expect the next three weeks to be sub-par, and probably dramatically sub-par.
If you do the math, you realize that you will be getting less than half the value of what you paid for the first five weeks of the season.
This is the first time we've had to deal with this, and I can tell you if you are concerned (and you have every right to be,) please know that Wendy and I are concerned to the point of being distressed. But neither your concern nor our distress will change the way things are.
I must admit that as much as I preach that in CSA there is a risk, now that it's here I find it very hard to say, "well, we said..." Having thought about it a lot, here is what I want to say: It's possible that the whole season will continue like this. But we haven't given up. There is still something we can do. Wendy and I are not about to sit back and say, "all is lost." It isn't and here's what we are thinking.
First of all, we have closed the CSA to new members. At least what we do have won't have to be divided between more shares. But of much greater importance is this. It is possible that after our worst-ever spring we could also have our worst-ever summer. But even a poor summer is better than an average spring. And in an average spring we can grow lots of produce. In the last week since the rains abated and the soil has begun to warm and dry out, Wendy and I have been planting like crazy—way more than usual. No, we can't do anything about the first five weeks; but after that, we can and hope/expect to be able to increase the size of the shares. Usually in July, August, September, and October we have to be careful to keep the boxes proportionate to the cost and not make them too large. This year, we're going to be playing "catch up." And we think we can do it.
This isn't a perfect solution, but it's the best we can offer. Yes, if our plan works there will be times you end up with more food than you can possibly eat in a week. What then? Well, we'll just have to work together to help those of you who don't know how to preserve fruits and vegetables to learn how to. I can't tell you how many members tell me they eat beans, carrots, beets, peppers, edamame, tomatoes and many other vegetables all winter. Some people dry foods, some can foods, many simply use their freezers.
We have a phenomenal resource in the person of Terrie Irish, owner of "Summer in a Jar" and local food preservation guru. Terrie has agreed to work with us this summer in providing tips on a variety of ways you can store veggies of all kinds for those long, cold winter months. Terrie's recipe page is linked from our home page, and here is the address: http://jubileefarm.org/recipes_summer/.
I hope you can all be patient. Even after our initial five weeks, seventy-five percent of the season remains. It would take a real pessimist to see the cup as ¼ empty rather than ¾ full! The scenario I've suggested above isn't a long-shot, but it's not a guarantee either. At this point we are all committed to seeing what comes of this season. It could be a very disappointing year; but we could also snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Wendy and I are doing everything we can to achieve the latter.
2. Last call for Beef
As planned, we harvested beef on Summer Solstice. This week we contacted those who are on our "beef interest" list. We still have a couple of "quarters" available. If you are interested but didn't get the information, please drop us a note (jubileefarm@hotmail.com).
Several people have asked if they could buy less than a quarter. We understand this, as Wendy and I aren't big meat eaters and we are planning to share our quarter with another couple.
There is a small but surmountable technical problem here. We can't legally sell a "half of a quarter"—a quarter is as low as we can go. But any of you could get together with others who wanted less than a quarter and purchase in that way. We just need to have one official buyer. Let us know if you might want to do that and we can put people who might want to share a quarter in touch with each other.
We also have a couple of sides of ground beef that you (or you and another family) might be interested in.
Our best to you all,
Erick and Wendy