The Weekly Bushel Winter Edition #1
The Weekly Bushel
Winter Edition, #1
So, the growing season ends, and the planning season begins. I used to get overrun with giddiness and enthusiasm about this time of the year. The sense of anticipation that comes with setting up planting schedules is not at all dissimilar from the feelings I got making a good snowfort, executing the perfect flea flicker in our backyard's very own frozen tundra, or the coffee stained outlines that lead to breathy, pretensous days of trying to lay out the perfect words for what always ended up a satisfyingly imperfect final paper.
These days, the excitement to plot and scheme still abounds, but the edge is no longer there. That's only natural.
As a kid, planning often has less gravity attached to it. You just play, and live. You fall down, and bruise, and two days later, you heal. Life post-snowangel infatuation has so many complications. Once you've moved out of your mother's den, you've also moved out of hot-chocolate-on-demand. The wet snowpants need a place to hang, and if you don't have the space, your burgeoning relationship with your mop may have the neighbor remembering the spanish inquisition.
Ahhh, the good old days!
Changes for 2009!
I've been greeted with something parallel to surprise lately when I announce that I'm planning on doubling the membership of LotFotl Community Farm in 2009. What is most surprising is that people have come under the impression that I'm moving indefinitely to Mineral Point. I can understand their confusion, as the move happened very fast. For the record, I, Tim Huth, of sometimes sound body and mind, am as of now 1 of 2 full time crew members of LotFotL for 2009. Omar and Hannah have both moved on to pursue a vast buffet of other dreams. Casey is headed back toward Jefferson, his motherland, in order to start up his own CSA at Prairie Dock Farm in Watertown. So far, Jodie (whom some of you met at Beans and Barley's farmers market) is my only paid commited labor for 2009, and she will be full time. I've also added a work-for-food program, allowing members to get a "free" share in exchange for a labor commitment, and have 1 new member commited to this thus far. I am seeking more employees, and offering many more worker shares, so if you know anyone who loves building sandcastles, and is old enough to commute, well, screen em first (they will grow your food, after all), and then send them my way.
We've made some changes to our pick up schedule for '09. This new system willl be better for all included, we hope. Here's the layout.
- Wednesday-Good Harvest (noon onward)
- Wednesday-Beans and Barley(still awaiting word on the fate of East Side Open Market, but we will likely still be at beans or a home nearby on Wednesday from 3-7pm(lemme know if you have a home nearby and are willing to be a drop off point for us). May switch from market style to pre-packed boxes.
- Wednesday-Saturday-Local Industry, East Troy Good News Formerly Nokomis Bakery, this "incubator" business, run by Tom and Tiffany will not only sell our produce, but will allow you to pick up your box from them from wednesday into saturday. The exact hours are not yet known, but they should model if not be slightly expanded upon their current hours. Bad News. Boxes, unfortunately, will be pre-packed instead of market style.
- Saturday-South Shore Farmer's Market - Same as last year. Boxes will be picked up at Ami's house on S. Illinois Ave until market starts and then at market thereafter. May have one or two boxes beyond the market season. We'll make arrangements for pick up in that case.
- Saturday-Brookfield Farmer's Market-New market and drop off. Market runs as long as our season, so all pick ups should be available there. Have not yet been accepted to this market, but am 80% certain we'll get in. Market runs Saturdays, from 7:30-noon.
Changes in the shares themselves:
- Expansion from 20 to 24 week season
- Expansion of share value-included in 2009 shares will be many things absent from 2008 shares, such as much greater supplies of garlic, many different types of greens with less duplication (kale a bit less often, more chard, more asian greens, etc), potatoes (i'm growing them this time), better root rotation (more carrots and beets, less radishes and rutabagas) bigger storage portions (bigger turnips and celeriac, winter squash (if my new planting scheme turns out), and higher quality apples! Sometimes, you just gotta let them go.
- Other possibilities that I'm exploring are a fruit share (most likely a 12 week, peak season, local and as close to organic as possible fruit share, for an additional cost), and a thanksgiving share (additional cost maybe, maybe not).
I really appreciate all of the feedback you've given me in the past, as well as your financial support, both of which will help me to grow and adapt my business to financial sustainability, and give me a chance to make this dream of mine, to Live off the fat of the land, a reality. I've offered $50 off a full share, and $25 off an every other week share to my charter members not only as a token of my appreciation but also to acknowledge the tough financial times most of us are finding ourselves in these days. That offer is good for the next 31 days (offer ends January 1st), and is only available to 2008 members of LotFotL.
As it is in everything else, planning pays great dividends. Sign up now. Take your mind off worrying about where your produce will come from in 2009. Leave those last minute runs to the produce aisle in the past, and use your hard earned money to grow a farmer, to grow an otherwise easily escapeable knowledge of where your food comes from, and to grow health and prosperity for you and yours.
Happy Showdays!
tim
LotFotL Community Farm
www.lotfotl.com
www.myspace.com/lotfotl
3037 Main St. Upper
East Troy, WI 53120
