Ramping Up....

Here it is.... May - and the temps have gone through the roof today.  Don't worry, I'm sure they'll come back down enough to make us all wonder if we were dreaming.

The farm is beginning to get into full swing and the CSA season is approaching.  So, we thought it was time for a newsy, farm reportish type of post.  There is much of substance here - read it all and you may learn something you wanted to learn!

CSA Signups:
We are currently at 86 members signed up for the 2011 season.  Last year we had 111 signed up and we schedule for 120 slots.  So, folks - we could use a little word of mouth power!  Our goal is to get 14 more to reach 100.  Obviously, we'd prefer to get to 120.  But, that seems out of reach right now.  Obviously, our deadlines on our brochures and website do not apply.  We're still taking applications.

GFF and KUNI public radio:
In an effort to promote the CSA and to support public radio.  Genuine Faux Farm has underwritten KUNI for a short period of time.  Listen for the little blurbs that promote us and tell us if you hear them.    We figure we have supported public radio with donations - so why not increase the amount and underwrite their work with our farm?

CSA Members Welcome!
To all of you who have joined us already for 2011 - Welcome!  At this point, we anticipate starting deliveries the first FULL week of June.  Waverly (June 7) and Cedar Falls (June 9).  Things we want you to know from the outset:
1. Bring a bag(s) or box to pick up your produce.
2. Make it habit to come to the pick up location each week.  If you can, give yourself a couple minutes to converse with other CSA members or your farmers.  It really does increase the value of your share.
3. The first weeks start slow (though we're doing things to try to increase the early produce).  It's the nature of growing things in Iowa.  Just you wait until late July all the way through October!
4. If there are problems or questions - we want you to let us know.  We can do nothing for you if you say nothing!


Waverly Farmers' Market:
The Waverly Farmers' Market began on Saturday and will continue on Saturdays until mid-October.  It is located on the 200 block of 1st Ave SE (by the post office) in Waverly.  8:30am-11:30am
Tuesdays will begin the on the 7th of June.  3pm-6pm

Heirloom Plant Sales:
The season for our heirloom plant sales is upon us.  We have a wide range of tomatoes, peppers and eggplants.  We would be happy to start other plants for you if you ask.  If you ask for something that we think you would do just as well to plant from seed, we will tell you that.  Email us with a request, come to the Saturday markets and browse and buy - or otherwise arrange to get them.  We are looking at having a date or two where we set up in Tripoli.

Want an idea as to the tomatoes we grow - check this web page on our site!  Want to see our general information on varieties we grow (a work in progress) - go here.

Spring CSA:
A small, pioneering group has helped us kick off our Spring CSA expansion this year.  We are hopeful that what we learn this year will provide us with the ability to expand this service to more people next season.  We prefer to start these things small so we can get a feel for what it will take before we dive right in.  This season, our goal was to provide six weeks of produce (generally greens).  A thank you to the fine individuals who are working with us on this first trial.

Poultry:
We are raising broilers (chickens), turkeys and ducks this year.  Our first batch of broilers (200 of them) are about 12 days old right now and will ready to 'go to the park' when they are 10-12 weeks old.  If you want to reserve some birds, let us know by email.  Give it the subject line "poultry" to help me sort.

You may also reserve ducks or turkeys at any point (same subject line).  We do not take deposits on these.  We have only had someone back out on us once, which encourages us to continue along these lines.

Pricing for 2011 is being reviewed.  Our feed cost went up 18% and you all know what is happening to fuel prices.  But, we don't want to increase our prices unless we ascertain that these are likely to stay at these higher prices.

Eggs:
The eggs shares are also under review to figure out how to make them work during the CSA season and beyond.  The tracking process is not as easy as we need it to be - so we are looking at making some adjustments to make it easier for all of us.   Those of you who requested egg shares for the CSA season - please be patient.  We have not forgotten you.  And, if you have paid for eggs on contract, your contract will be fulfilled.  We just need to revamp our tracking so it works throughout the season - rather than falling down each time our situation changes with Tammy going back to school, etc etc. 

Festival Dates:
Our festival dates are set!  We still need to update the web page with these - but hope to do so yet tonight.

Iris Festival: May 30 (our traditional Memorial Day event)
Summer Fest: August 27
GF7: October 2

If you with to know more - check our web page and use these dates if they differ when you visit it!


Tom Sawyer Days:
Tom Sawyer Days are volunteer work days that are open to anyone who might like to experience working on the farm.  You need not be a CSA member to join us on these days.  BUT - we do like to know who is coming so we can plan for the event!  We have moved our Tom Sawyer Days around so they do not land on the same day of the week.

Our TSD's are: May 14, June 11, July 15, August 13, September 11 and October 16.

NOTE: the first one is THIS SATURDAY!  Anyone up for it?  Give us a note.

Why should you attend a festival or a work day?
It's not about us wanting to get your "free" labor.  It's not about popularity nor is it about gaining sympathy for the hard work we have to do.  It's about *connecting you to your food and how it is grown*.  We believe too many people are disconnected from the production of something each of us needs every single day.  Let's do something about that together.