July 3rd, 2024 - SUMMER CSA Season Week 4
What's Inside This Week?
👉Wheat-Sensitivity and Gluten Notice
👉Featured Vegetable: "Fennel!"
👉 Monthly Giveaway - get $60.00!
👉This Week's Article "Why Supporting Local is the ONLY TRUE Sustainable Option."
👉Featured Gardening Tip of the Week: "Grasshopper Control Using Garlic and Peppers."
👉 CSA Tip of the Week "The CSA Adventure Starts NOW!"
👉Upcoming schedule of events for June & July
👉Must-Read Announcements
👉Featured Vendor of the Week: "The Chicken Math Professor"
👉Farmer's Market Update w/ Vendor List and Veggie availability.
👉*NEW* Also: Don't miss our "Around the Farm" this week, our announcements, our "Weekly Harvest List" and more!
Dear FARMILY!
Oh, dear, dear family, I am so thankful for all of you. Your love and support for our farm has never been more clear and your outpouring has lifted our spirits, which has been needed more than you know.
As many of you are aware, this was the week from H-E-🏒-🏒! Not only did everything that could go wrong, went wrong (like our vehicles and our cold-room breaking down), but after making the purest, most healthy and safe decision to utilize organic flour to dust our crops for grasshoppers, we posted about it. Little did we know that many in the celiac community would have a complete and utter mental breakdown (not all - of course, there were many with celiac disease who actually supported what we were doing and told us that they did it themselves!!)!
After posting about our flour-dusting with organic flour, the world erupted on us and the amount of vileness that we have received from the many in the celiac community has been something that we could only begin to describe. From dozens of threats, boycotts, e-mails and nasty and mean comments to even a handful of voicemails, internet articles, TIKTOK and Instagram videos and even a phone call from the CEO and President of the National Celiac Association, Chris Rich (which by the way, he agreed that our methods are perfectly safe and he even apologized on behalf of the celiac community). It's been an unimaginable week...and it's only Wednesday.
We can only pray that all of this "drama" will be past us soon, as we are so flabbergasted at how we have been treated by so many. However, for those of you who have poured out your love and support toward us, we CANNOT THANK YOU ENOUGH! You have lifted us up in so many ways and we are so incredibly grateful❤️🙏.
‼️THE 10TH ANNUAL SUMMER FESTIVAL‼️ (July 7th 4p - 8p)
For the 10th year in a row (exception of Covid), we are having our Summer festival here at the farm to raise money for families in need! It is going to be the best festival we have ever had and the turnout should be nothing short of spectacular (we only hope we made our parking lot large enough!). With 45 vendors, multiple demonstrations, 7 food trucks (with kosher and vegetarian options), a bonfire with s'more, live music, hay-rides, a zip line, our huge playground and bounce-house, kids activities and so much more, it should be a wonderful event to bring your family to! Come out and have some wonderful fun and help us to raise money for families in need! 100% of the entry fee (only $2.00/person) and 100% of all additional money raised including vendor fees and sales will go straight to feeding families in need. We don't make a penny on this festival! We just want to have a great time and raise money for those who need it the most. We hope you will join us, Sunday evening (July 7th) from 4pm to 8pm and bring everyone you know!
THIS WEEK'S CSA
We have another great CSA for you this week with many similar varieties as last week. This week we have two new varieties that haven't been seen this year: Daikon Radishes and Parsley! In addition, there is more fennel, arugula, kohlrabi, kale, scallions, swiss chard and more coming your way as well. It should be a fairly nice week, yet again.
These items along with the rest of the varieties (all listed below in the "This Week's Harvest" section below) will make up your shares. As always, don't forget to see the "What's in your Bag" sections this week to get all the details.
FARMER'S MARKET
At last-weeks market we broke out the water-games 💦 for the little ones (and adults too😉) , and as always, it was a hit! We will keep these out for the rest of the year, as long as it is hot - so bring the little ones out to bounce on the bounce-house, play on our playground and to jump in the water and play!
As for the veggies this week - we have plenty available. With a fewer number of varieties then last week, we still will have over 18 varieties of veggies available at the market this week, you can be sure to get what you need for your weekend barbeques and family dinners! 🥕🥬
You can learn more about all of this below, so don't forget to check out our "Upcoming Events" listings below, our "Events - A Look Ahead" section and also for more information on this week's Farmer's Market, the vegetables available at our stand and all the vendors that will be coming this week, please see our "Farmer's Market Update" section below as well!
THIS WEEK'S NEWSLETTER
Due to the festival planning, as well as the abundance of "issues" we have had to deal with this week, we do not have any new articles for you this week. If you missed last week's newsletter, this is a great time to enjoy the articles down below!
We love you all, our beautiful FaRmily!!!
Farmer Yosef and Family!
WE L❤️VE OUR COMMUNITY!
🚨🚨ATTENTION COMMUNITY! PLEASE READ!🚨🚨
The Ahavah Community Initiative (501c3) board has met this week and we have approved the Summer CSA FREE membership applications and there were a total of 43 memberships that were approved!!
We are so honored to be able to help out our community in this way, and we simply could not turn down these members! HOWEVER, the budget for these 43 memberships will be a total of almost $24,000 to go towards fulfilling these struggling families. We approved the memberships on faith that our community will not only come together and support these hurting families, but will also spread the word and work hard to get this food paid for so we can continue to provide for our community in this way!
PLEASE help your neighbors who are struggling! DONATE TODAY AND SPREAD THE WORD! We can't thank you enough and we KNOW you will come through and help!
100% of every penny donated to this campaign will go STRAIGHT and only to these local community families. Please consider a donation today!
👩🌾Around the Farm This Week👩🌾
👉 Flour-dusting is such a safe alternative to chemicals! We take organic all-purpose flour and dust the crops with it to help us control grasshoppers. Safe or the environment, safe for bees and wildlife, safe for biology and safe for humans! If you are celiac or have a wheat allergy, please be sure to wash your crops before consuming (though we are double washing them as well).
👈Asher and Aiden (our two oldest boys, out of 7 kiddos) holding up some of their kale harvest this morning!
👉👇We are so excited about our new sign! It's been ten years since we replaced the original one and it was all faded and ugly! Yay! For upgrad😁
👇We have brand new bags for our CSA members! We are very excited about these reusable bags and we ask that you not only save them and keep them in good condition to return to us, but that you also give us feedback. Not only is this a more environmentally friendly approach for our traditional-share members, but it will hopefully save us money! PLEASE RETURN THEM SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO USE THEM!
Get in Early - Fall season registration is NOW OPEN!
ONLY 100 SPOTS ARE AVAILABLE!*
(*Auto-renewal members are already registered and your spots are secured)
🍂Fall is the BEST season of them all! Just when all the Summer Farmer's Market's close down for the year is when the best season really gets started! Fall is the only time of the year that we have pretty much every variety available - from summer tomatoes and cucumbers and peppers to cooler crop lettuce, kale and greens to the fall squashes and pumpkins!
If you are looking for the freshest, purest and most nutrient-dense vegetables you can when the local farmer's market's call it quits, then you don't want to miss the Ahavah Farm FALL CSA Veggie-Share! 12 weeks of the best veggies you can find. It's the best season of them all!
Go to www.ahavahfarm.com/csa to register for our Fall season Community Supported Agriculture Veggie-Shares and get weekly bags of the freshest, most nutrient-dense vegetables available!!
🥕The highest quality, 100% local, produce you can find, harvested and delivered fresh every week!
😝Pure, chemical-free, regeneratively grown produce.
💳Flexible payment options.
💲Many discounts are available - see website!
📌4 Locations for CSA pickup (Peyton, Co. Springs, Denver and Monument).
🚚Door to Door delivery options available!
🫰Got SNAP!? Get 50% off your CSA share automatically!
👨👩👧👦Every share supports families in need through donations.
💪Flexible CSA options, holds, credits and more.
🧑🏫Classes, events, tours and community opportunities.
⭐100% of everything we sell is grown and harvested and delivered by Ahavah Farm and Ahavah Farm ONLY - All produce is grown 100% on our farm in Peyton Colorado, near Colorado Springs without a single chemical, in rich, composted soil. We use biodynamic principles to grow the purest, most nutrient-dense vegetables available and deliver them to you fresh, every week!
EATING HEALTHY SHOULD NOT BE A STRUGGLE!
Our mission at Ahavah Farm is to "provide health to our region, healing to our earth and love to our community by growing the purest and most environmentally responsible food available" and we are proud to say that we have never given up on our mission or compromised our values throughout all of these years.
Our mission has never been about making profit, getting wealthy or about anything other than service to you and to our planet. We strive to grow the freshest, purest, most sustainably grown produce that we are able to, without compromises and we want those that need the food the most to be the ones to get it! That's why we have so many options to make your support of our farm to be more convenient and more affordable!
Whether you pay with SNAP benefits, make monthly or weekly payments, whether you simply
share the support with your neighbors or you simply are having a difficult time making ends meet, we want to serve you and we want you and our whole community to flourish!
We hope you will sign up for our four-season CSA, whether for one season or for them all, and we want to make it easy for you to do so with the following opportunities:
Pay What You Can Afford
Times are tough, and getting PURE food is difficult for so many. Support your local farm, eat fresh, pure, chemical-free food with our Pay-What-You-Can-Afford program! All of our prices are suggested prices and if you can’t afford the suggested price, please be blessed by paying what you can! Select “CASH PAYMENT” at checkout and send us an e-mail telling us how much you can afford! No questions asked! It’s that simple!
Refer-A-Friend and Get $25.00
When you tell a friend or neighbor about our CSA program, not only do you get $25.00, but your friend ALSO get’s $25.00 too! After your friend signs up, simply have them send us an e-mail telling us who referred them and you BOTH get $25.00 for free food!
Flexible, No-Fee, No-Interest Payment Plans
The lump-sum of paying for your CSA share can be inconvenient! That’s why we allow all of our members to pay us, not only WHAT they can, but WHEN they can! These payment plans are INTEREST-FREE and flexible to YOUR needs! Simply select “CASH PAYMENT” at checkout and send us an e-mail to work out a plan that works for YOU!
Got SNAP? Get 50% Off Automatically!
Saving 50% off is a “SNAP” when you pay with your EBT / SNAP benefits! That’s right, when you pay your CSA share with your SNAP benefits you AUTOMATICALLY get 50% off of your CSA membership and all of our veggies at all of our stands! Eating pure has never been more affordable! Simply select “CASH PAYMENT” at checkout and send us an e-mail to let us know you will be paying with your SNAP / EBT benefits!
BECOMING A MEMBER OF ANY OF THESE PROGRAMS IS SUPER-SIMPLE:
Go to ahavahfarm.com/csa and scroll down to select the size share you want (all the details are found there).
2. When checking out select "CASH PAYMENT"
3. Send us a quick e-mail and let us know you will be paying with SNAP or making a payment plan, or let us know how much you are able to afford so we can work with you to make a plan that fits YOUR budget!
Please spread the word and let us know if you have any questions!
PS. We do not get subsidized for any of our vegetables. Not from any one person or from any organization. Ahavah Farm is a for-profit, family farm, but we simply can't stand to see people struggling to feed their families our nutrient-dense produce, when it's needed. The only two things we ask in return is that you tell others about our family's generosity and that you don't take advantage of our generosity. THANK YOU!!!
REFERAL PROGRAM!
🌞TELL YOUR FRIENDS & FAMILY AND YOU BOTH GET $25🌞
Refer a friend to Ahavah Farm's CSA and you BOTH will receive $25 in credit to use ANYTIME you want! Use to buy extra vegetables, or take $25 off your next CSA purchase - your credit will never expire!
New members simply send an e-mail to contact@ahavahfarm.com to let us know who referred you and you BOTH receive your $25 certificate! It's that easy!😁
Weekly Farmer's Market Update
Ahavah Community Indoor / Outdoor Farmer's Market
Every Friday from 10am to 1pm!
At last-weeks market we broke out the water-games 💦 for the little ones (and adults too😉), and as always, it was a hit! We will keep these out for the rest of the year, as long as it is hot - so bring the little ones out to bounce on the bounce-house, play on our playground and to jump in the water and play!
As for the veggies this week - we have plenty available. With a fewer number of varieties then last week, we still will have over 18 varieties of veggies available at the market this week, you can be sure to get what you need for your weekend barbeques and family dinners! 🥕🥬
Here are the list of Vendors you can expect to see this week:
✅Ahavah Farm-Beyond Organic Veggies 🥕
✅The Sourdough Boulangerie 🥖
✅J Jr's Freeze Dried Treats🍭
✅Good Shephard Coffee Roasters ☕
✅Double E's Fresh Squeezed Lemonade 🍋
✅Simply Blessed Boutique-Crafts & More 🏺
✅CC's Tamales🫔
✅Scent Together - Candles 🕯️
✅Minions Ranch - Grassfed and Pastured Meats and Eggs 🥩
✅What's Your Bag? 🛍️
✅The Stir Crazy Baker 🍪🧁
✅Garza Farm - Pickles and More 🥒
✅Ahavah Farm Nursery 🪴
✅The Chicken Math Professor - Hatching eggs and chicks 🐣
(ATTENTION LOCAL VENDORS: DID YOU KNOW OUR MARKET IS FREE!? WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR MORE VENDORS FOR OUR WEEKLY FARMER'S MARKET. CONTACT BETH AT MANAGER@AHAVAHFARM.COM FOR MORE INFORMATION!)
🥕🥬🌱Vegetables at the Farmer's Market this week
(JULY 5th)
Parsley, Squash, Carrots, Turnips, Arugula, Red kale, Green Kale, Scallions, Swiss Chard, Daikon Radishes, Fennel, Chives, Kohlrabi, Plants, Sunflower Shoots, Pea Shoots, Broccoli Microgreens, Radish Microgreens, Wheat Grass
(For CSA location "extras", please see below in the "Extra Vegetables" section below)
PLANTS!!! We got 'em!
👆DON'T MISS OUR AMAZING SELECTION OF GARDEN AND HOUSEHOLD PLANTS!!!!🌻🌸🪴
TOMATOES, PEPPERS, GREENS, CUCUMBERS, SQUASH, HERBS AND A BUNCH MORE!
📢FEATURED VENDOR OF THE WEEK!📢
The Chicken Math Professor
The Chicken Math Professor is a new local chicken hatchling business that hatches and sell baby chicks for those backyard enthusiasts who desire to raise their own chickens!
From the popular breeds like ameraucana to rare gems like queen puffs, their varieties of baby chicks is wonderful, but they also provide a plethora of other services as well. The Chicken Math Professor also offers farm fresh eggs for sale, as well as customizable services such as hatching specific breeds for you when YOU are ready! Getting set up and ready for chickens can be a chore and require feeders, shelter and waterer's and that can take time. The Chicken Math Professor offers all of these services, and can hatch your desired breeds for you on specified dates so that you can have the chicks when you are all set up and prepared.
Finally, The Chicken Math Professor also offers a one-of-a-kind service of processing your meat birds for you, so you don't have to deal with the mess and fuss of doing it yourselves. They call this the Chicken Math Subtraction Service (see website for details).
Based out of Colorado Springs, they can be found at our farmer's market and you can find more information on their website at https://chicken-math-professor.square.site/ and you can also follow them on Facebook HERE.
ATTENTION LOCAL BUSINESSES!
We are so excited about our current line-up of vendors, but we are still seeking more!
✅FREE MARKET for all vendors!
✅100% of raised funds goes to feeding LOCAL FAMILIES IN NEED!
✅PERMANENT tents! No need to bring a tent - just come and set up under ours!
✅Indoors and heated on COLD days!
✅GUARANTEED traffic of 200-350 people+ per market!
✅FRIDAY's from 10am to 1pm
👉If you are a local vendor and are interested in attending our farmer's market, please reach out directly at manager@ahavahfarm.com and we will send you information and the vendor agreement.
June Monthly Give-Away!
Every month we will be having a monthly give-away for our members and non-members. Here is this week's MONTHLY GIVE-AWAY!
WANT TO GET $60.00 (and more!) & HAVE FUN & DO SOMETHING GREAT FOR THE COMMUNITY!?
We are looking for volunteers for our Summer Festival - to raise money for families in need! If you are interested in volunteering for the festival and helping out your community, we want to offer you $25.00 to use when you want and more (see below)!
Festival Volunteers needed July 7th from 3:30p-8p (with an hour break to enjoy the festivities).
Volunteers receive:
✅$25.00 in free vegetables (to use when you want).
✅Free Admission to festival for you and your family (5 members) - $10.00 value.
✅1 Free horse & carriage ride - $5.00 value.
✅1 Free Hamburger (Beyond-Meat / Kosher) - $10.00 value.
✅1 Free S'more kit - $5.00 value.
✅1 free zipline ride for child - $10.00 value.
Festival Volunteers needed July 7th from 3:30p-8p
Please e-mail Beth at contact@ahavahfarm.com to sign up.
(Limited numbers of volunteers slots available - sign up now)
"How Supporting Local can be the only TRULY Environmental choice."
- By Yosef Camire
Supporting local farms, especially those practicing sustainable and regenerative agriculture, offers a multitude of environmental benefits that reverberate both locally and globally. In a world increasingly concerned with climate chaos, biodiversity loss, and soil degradation, the role of local, sustainably managed farms becomes more critical than ever. These farms not only provide fresh, nutritious food but also act as stewards of the environment, helping to mitigate many of the pressing ecological issues we face today. The environmental advantages of supporting such farms are profound, ranging from improved soil health and carbon sequestration to enhanced biodiversity and reduced carbon footprints.
Soil Health
One of the most significant environmental benefits of supporting local farms is the improvement of soil health. Sustainable and regenerative farming practices, such as crop rotation, cover cropping, and reduced tillage, enhance soil structure and fertility. Regenerative organic agriculture can increase soil organic matter (our farm's beds have gone from <1% up to over 10% in many of our beds), which in turn boosts soil’s ability to retain water and nutrients. This not only results in healthier crops but also reduces the need for chemical fertilizers and pesticides, which can contaminate local waterways and harm aquatic ecosystems. By investing in and supporting local farms that prioritize soil health, we contribute to the creation of resilient agricultural systems capable of withstanding extreme weather events, such as droughts and floods, which are becoming more frequent due to climate chaos (as our farm has attested to over the past decade!).
Carbon Sequestration
Carbon sequestration is another crucial environmental benefit offered by sustainable and regenerative local farms. Through practices like agroforestry, managed grazing, and regenerative / sustainable farming practices, these farms can capture and store significant amounts of carbon dioxide in the soil and vegetation. A study by the European Commission found that agroforestry alone could sequester up to 3.3 gigatons of CO2 annually if implemented on a global scale! For an example of what that looks like: The average car emits about 4.6 metric tons of CO2 per year. Sequestering 3.3 gigatons of CO2 is equivalent to offsetting the annual emissions of approximately 717 million cars! Given that there are about 1.4 billion cars in the world, this sequestration would account for more than half of the global car emissions - and that's with agroforestry alone! By supporting local farms that adopt these practices, we can play a part in mitigating climate change by reducing the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This is particularly important given the agriculture sector's substantial contribution to global carbon emissions. Locally, the impact is equally important as it helps create a healthier environment with cleaner air and reduced reliance on fossil fuels for transportation and chemical inputs.
Enhanced Biodiversity
Another major benefit of supporting local, sustainably managed farms is enhanced biodiversity. This is something we have witnessed first-hand on our farm over the years. When we first arrived at this property you were lucky to find a toad, now we find toads everywhere, but that's not all. The amount of beneficial insects, snakes, different amphibians and especially birds have exploded over the years. Local, regenerative farms often employ diversified farming systems, as we do, such as polycultures and integrated pest management, which promote a variety of plant and animal species. This biodiversity is vital for ecosystem resilience, providing habitat for beneficial insects, birds, and other wildlife. According to a report by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), biodiversity in agricultural landscapes helps control pests, pollinate crops, and maintain soil health, which are all essential for sustainable food production. By choosing to support local farms that foster biodiversity, we help maintain the delicate balance of our ecosystems, ensuring that they continue to provide the essential services needed for food production and environmental health.
Food Miles and our Carbon Footprint
Moreover, supporting local farms reduces the carbon footprint associated with food transportation. The concept of "food miles" refers to the distance food travels from where it is grown to where it is consumed. On average, food in the United States travels about 1,500 miles to reach consumers. This long-distance transportation contributes significantly to carbon emissions, exacerbating climate change. By buying from local farms, we cut down on these food miles, thereby reducing the carbon footprint of our food consumption. This local purchasing not only supports the local economy but also promotes a more sustainable food system by reducing the energy required for transportation, packaging, and refrigeration.
Reduced Resources
In addition to reducing transportation-related emissions, local farms practicing sustainable agriculture often use fewer resources overall. They typically rely on natural processes and local inputs, reducing the dependency on fossil fuels, synthetic fertilizers, and pesticides. On our farm, we have made it a point to be as fully closed-loop as possible. This means buying as few inputs as possible and providing as many of them as we can - like growing our own bacteria for compost tea and utilizing natural fertilization methods like compost extract etc. instead of purchasing these ingredients. This reduction in resource use not only conserves non-renewable resources but also minimizes the pollution and environmental degradation associated with their extraction and production. According to a study published in the Journal of Sustainable Agriculture, organic farming systems use 30-50% less energy than conventional farming systems, highlighting the resource efficiency of sustainable agricultural practices.
Water Conservation
Agriculture is one of the largest consumers of freshwater resources, and conventional farming practices often lead to water wastage and contamination. Sustainable farming practices, on the other hand, prioritize efficient water use and the protection of water quality. Techniques such as drip irrigation, rainwater harvesting, and the use of drought-resistant crop varieties help conserve water and reduce the strain on local water supplies. Furthermore, practices like cover cropping and reduced tillage improve soil structure and increase its water-holding capacity, reducing the need for irrigation. By supporting local farms that implement these water-saving techniques, we help protect this precious resource for future generations.
Urban / Suburban Impacts
One often overlooked, and underappreciated value to supporting local farms is that local farms also play a crucial role in preserving rural landscapes and preventing urban spread. As urban areas expand, agricultural land is often converted into residential and commercial developments, leading to habitat loss, increased carbon emissions, and greater pressure on local infrastructure. By supporting local farms, we help maintain the open spaces and green areas that are vital for wildlife and environmental health. These farms act as buffers against urban expansion, preserving the rural character and natural beauty of our landscapes. In doing so, they contribute to the well-being of local communities by providing recreational opportunities, maintaining scenic vistas, and supporting a sense of cultural, agricultural heritage.
Social and Economic Benefits
The social and economic benefits of supporting local farms should not be overlooked either, as they are closely intertwined with environmental sustainability. Local farms create jobs and stimulate local economies, ensuring that the money spent on food stays within the community. This economic support enables farms like Ahavah Farm to invest in sustainable practices and infrastructure, further enhancing their environmental stewardship. Additionally, local farms often engage in direct-to-consumer sales through farmers' markets, community-supported agriculture (CSA) programs, and farm stands, which is the only type of sales we at Ahavah Farm have done for the last 10 years. These direct sales foster a closer connection between our members and customers and us (ergo our saying: "Know your farmer, trust your food."), promoting greater awareness and appreciation of sustainable farming practices. As our members become more informed about the origins and methods of their food production, they are more likely to support environmentally responsible farms, creating a positive feedback loop that benefits both the environment and the local economy - not to mention your health (but that's for another article!).
Summing it all up
On a global scale, the cumulative impact of supporting local, sustainably managed farms can be profound. As more consumers prioritize local and sustainable food sources, the demand for conventional, industrial agriculture is highly reduced. This shift in demand can drive broader changes in agricultural practices worldwide, encouraging the adoption of sustainable and regenerative methods on a larger scale. According to the International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems (IPES-Food), scaling up agroecological farming practices globally could transform food systems and significantly contribute to achieving the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By starting at the local level and supporting farms that prioritize environmental health, we can contribute to a global movement towards a more sustainable and resilient food system.
In conclusion, supporting local farms that practice sustainable and regenerative agriculture offers a multitude of environmental benefits that extend beyond the immediate community. Improved soil health, carbon sequestration, enhanced biodiversity, reduced carbon footprints, efficient resource use, water conservation, and the preservation of rural landscapes are just a few of the advantages of supporting farms like Ahavah Farm. Furthermore, the social and economic benefits of supporting local agriculture contribute to the overall well-being of communities and promote a more sustainable and equitable food system. By making conscious choices to support local, environmentally responsible farms, we can play a significant role in addressing some of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time and help create a healthier, more sustainable future for all.
Ahavah Community Upcoming Schedule
UPCOMING EVENTS
👉July 5th @ 10am - 1pm: FAMILY FRIENDLY! Ahavah Community INDOOR / OUTDOOR Spring Market
👉July 7th @ 4pm - 8pm: FAMILY FRIENDLY! 10th Annual Summer Festival! Join over 2,000 people for an annual fundraising event, bonfire, shopping, activities and more!
👉July 12th @ 10am - 1pm: FAMILY FRIENDLY! Ahavah Community INDOOR / OUTDOOR Spring Market
👉July 19th @ 10am - 1pm: FAMILY FRIENDLY! Ahavah Community INDOOR / OUTDOOR Spring Market
👉July 19th @ 10am: ADULT EDUCATION! Grow Your Own Microgreens with Lorin! - Register for this class by e-mailing manager@ahavahfarm.com
👉July 26th @ 10am: FOR KIDS! The Wonderful World of BEES! - Register for this class by e-mailing manager@ahavahfarm.com
📢📢ATTENTION LOCAL BUSINESSES!📢📢
The 10th Annual Ahavah Farm Summer Fest is still looking for more vendors! This festival will be loaded with live music, food trucks, activities, bounce-houses, zip lines, petting zoos, demonstrations, water games, horse-drawn hay rides and so much more!
⭐With 2,000 - 3,000 people expected‼️, you don't want to miss this opportunity on July 7th from 4p to 8p!
This is a festival to raise money💲for families in need and we would absolutely LOVE ❤️ to have more local community businesses represented at this awesome festival!
Please e-mail us at manager@ahavahfarm.com for more information and to get signed up!
🥕EXTRA VEGGIES and PLANTS FOR SALE🌻
Can't make it to the Farm for the Friday Farmer's Market? THAT'S OK! Please be sure to check out the extras table at all of our CSA pickup locations: available for all members and even NON-MEMBERS!
Simply come to any of the CSA locations on Thursday and Friday and pick up some of our beyond-organic veggies for sale!
(IMPORTANT: Keep in mind that selection is limited and the more requests and participation we receive, the more vegetables and varieties we will provide)
Food bearing plants also qualify for SNAP !!!
For Payment: Cash or Check at the drops or the balance can be sent via PayPal to contact@ahavahfarm.com or via Venmo to 719-233-7828
Availability for "EXTRA's at the CSA pickup locations this week (Summer Week 3):
(see Farmer's Market Section, above, for market selection this week)
Parsley, Tomatoes, Carrots, Red kale, Green Kale, Scallions, Swiss Chard, Chives, Kohlrabi, Plants, Sunflower Shoots, Pea Shoots, Broccoli Microgreens, Radish Microgreens, Wheat Grass
Microgreen CSA Shares Are Available! Sign Up Today and SAVE 💲💲💲!
Microgreen CSA Share: 3 Servings of Microgreens EVERY WEEK! Save 17%!!!
Love our microgreens but haven't signed up for a Microgreen CSA?
All Packaging is Compostable and Green!👉
We pride ourselves on our microgreen quality as being not only absolutely pure - grown without chemicals, fertilizers or inefficient energy (we grow with 100% solar, renewable energy!), but they are absolutely beautiful, long-lasting and delicious! We really can't rave enough!
WHAT'S IN A SHARE? In your Microgreen CSA you will receive a combination of 3 microgreens every week with the option to purchase add-ons and extras when available.
Pickup locations and times are the same as Ahavah Farm Veggie Share CSA but you do not have to be a veggie-share member to be a microgreen CSA member - these are two independent programs combined into one.
Order yours today at https://www.ahavahfarm.com/microgreen-csa
🚨Updated Member Benefits🚨
🚨Easy & Flexible Payment Plans!🚨
🥕Paypal "Pay Later" options on the website! These are no-credit check, interest-free online payment plans so you can make 4 smaller payments directly through Paypal. Ahavah Farm benefits as well by paid immediately, thereby providing the farm liquidity, while giving our members flexibility and ease of mind!
🥕We also still have FLEXIBLE and CUSTOMIZABLE offline pay plans in place if you would prefer to make payments via check. Please email us at contact@ahavahfarm.com if you would like more information on offline payment plan and to set up your payment schedule.
Founded in April of 2018, our mission is to connect people who are facing food insecurity due to financial struggles to locally-farmed, regeneratively-grown produce, and to provide education centered around healthy living and environmental consciousness. We do this by offering donated memberships to a local CSA program. Memberships include a weekly bag of produce along with discounted (often free) farm tours, classes, and events.
We want to help participate in the creation of a local food-system-economy, build on a diversity of local and regenerative food education and provide activities and children's events centered around environmentally responsible agriculture and pure, beyond-organic, local food.
"HI! Did you BRING-A-BUCK Today?!"
Oh the amazing power of community and crowdfunding!
Every week, at all of the CSA locations, we have a bin or jar that looks similar to this. As being a part of Ahavah Farm is also about being a part of a community, we ask all of our members to bring one - five dollars with them every week to help us provide a CSA membership to a family in need next season.
Don't say your dollar isn't important! The only way crowdfunding works is if we all participate. Your $1-$5 is vitally important and it is directly through this program that we raise the majority of ACI's food donation funds than any other fundraising program, and yet it is the absolute easiest for all of our members to participate!
During the Fall season, your Bring-A-Buck dollars will allow us to donate Fall CSA shares to families facing food insecurity and to offer subsidized shares to struggling families as well.
PLEASE REMEMBER YOUR BUCKS!🙏
Gardening Tip of the Week
"Grasshopper Control Using Garlic and Peppers"
- By Yosef Camire
As you all know, the grasshoppers this year have been unreal. We have never seen anything like it before. There are many ways in which we are handling the grasshoppers, like using ducks and rotating them through the growing areas, but one of the ways I wanted to share was a way that everyone can use in their home gardens without resorting to chemicals. One potent method that aligns with these principles involves the use of garlic and pepper spray. This natural concoction acts as a deterrent for grasshoppers while being gentle on plants, making it an ideal choice for eco-conscious gardeners seeking non-toxic pest control solutions.
Garlic and pepper spray works by leveraging the repellent properties of both ingredients against grasshoppers, which can decimate crops if left unchecked. Garlic contains sulfur compounds that insects find distasteful, deterring them from feeding on treated plants. Peppers, particularly hot varieties like cayenne or jalapeño, contain capsaicin, a compound that irritates insects upon contact, further discouraging them from lingering in the area. When combined, these ingredients create a powerful yet natural defense mechanism that protects plants without harming beneficial insects or the environment.
To prepare this homemade spray, you'll need:
- Fresh garlic cloves
- Hot peppers (e.g., cayenne, jalapeño)
- Water
- Liquid soap (preferably biodegradable)
Instructions:
1. Start by crushing or finely chopping several cloves of fresh garlic. The amount can vary depending on the intensity desired, but a good starting point is 3-4 cloves per quart of water.
2. Slice or chop hot peppers into small pieces. Include seeds and membranes for a more potent spray. Use 2-3 peppers per quart of water.
3. Combine the crushed garlic, chopped peppers, and water in a container. Use warm water to help extract the active compounds from the garlic and peppers. Let the mixture steep for at least 24 hours, allowing the flavors and properties to infuse into the water.
4. After steeping, strain the mixture through a fine sieve or cheesecloth to remove solid particles. Add a small amount of liquid soap (about 1-2 teaspoons per quart of water) to help the spray adhere to plant surfaces.
5. Transfer the strained liquid into a spray bottle or garden sprayer. Before application, test the spray on a small section of plants to ensure there is no adverse reaction. Once confirmed safe, thoroughly coat the foliage of affected plants, focusing on areas prone to grasshopper activity.
6. For optimal effectiveness, reapply the garlic and pepper spray after rainfall or every 1-2 weeks during peak grasshopper season. Monitor plant health and adjust the concentration or frequency of application as necessary.
This natural remedy not only deters grasshoppers but also respects the delicate balance of the garden ecosystem by avoiding synthetic chemicals. Unlike traditional pesticides, garlic and pepper spray poses minimal risk to beneficial insects such as pollinators and predatory insects that contribute to natural pest control. Additionally, it does not leave harmful residues on edible crops, ensuring that harvested produce remains safe to eat.
VOLUNTEERING
Our volunteers are the backbone of our organization and we couldn't do it without you...but we need more help!
We need help with so many things:
Construction Projects
Landscaping Projects
Composting Projects
Harvesting, washing and prep.
Weeding
Bag Packing
Teaching Classes
General farm cleanup
and more...got a skill you want to share? Let us know!
Volunteering is Monday through Friday 9AM to 4PM.
Please let Jessie know you are interested, she will send more information and necessary paperwork, and we will welcome you with open arms!
What's in your bags this week?
SUMMER Week 4 - July 4th and 5th
CSA MEMBERSHIP SAVINGS (so-far) THIS SEASON*:
AUTO-RENEWAL MEMBERS:
👏SMALL +8.79% 👏MEDIUM +15.9%👏18.6%
NON-AUTO-RENEWAL MEMBERS:
👏SMALL +3.79% 👏MEDIUM +10.9%👏13.6%
*MARKET-STYLE MEMBER SAVINGS MAY BE GREATER OR LESSER DEPENDING ON SELECTION MADE BY INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS. THE ABOVE SAVINGS ARE CALCULATED VIA BAGGED TRADITIONAL-SHARE MEMBERSHIPS ONLY.
Market-Style Members Selection - Summer Week 4
PARSLEY, KOHLRABI, FENNEL, ARUGULA, GREEN KALE, DAIKON RADISHES, SCALLIONS, SWISS CHARD, PLANTS, SUNFLOWER SHOOTS, PEA SHOOTS, BROCCOLI MICROGREENS, RADISH MICROGREENS, WHEAT GRASS
CSA Tip of the Week!
The CSA Adventure Starts NOW!
-By Yosef Camire
Joining a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program is like receiving a surprise gift from nature every week😁! Sometimes, though, those boxes filled with farm-fresh awesomeness can leave you scratching your head, wondering, "What on earth do I do with kohlrabi?" Fear not, adventurous CSA members 😎! Embracing the mystery and versatility of your CSA vegetables can turn your kitchen into a culinary playground🛝 - so, let's get adventurous and try something new! Don't waste those veggies - I promise, they are all super delicious, especially if you get to experimenting🧪!
Firstly, treat your CSA box like a weekly adventure. View each share as a fun mystery box filled with seasonal goodies straight from the farm. Get excited about exploring new flavors and textures—this week, it could be the kohlrabi, radishes or Swiss chard, and next week, who knows? It's like a veggie-based game of culinary roulette🎲, and you're the master chef🤣!
To make the most of your CSA veggies, start by giving them a little TLC when they arrive. Wash, chop, and prep your vegetables right away so they're ready to rock when mealtime rolls around. This not only saves time but also makes healthy eating a breeze during hectic weekdays. Plus, it's oddly satisfying to see your fridge stocked with neatly prepped veggies, just waiting to be transformed into delicious dishes. See our article on how to store your veggies in last-weeks article here.
Embrace your inner food adventurous spirit by trying new recipes and cooking techniques. Never cooked with kohlrabi before? Time to get creative! Roast it with olive oil and spices for a crispy snack, slice it into slaw for a refreshing salad, or spiralize it into veggie noodles for a low-carb pasta alternative. The possibilities are endless, and experimenting in the kitchen is half the fun!
Let's not forget about the joy of sharing. Connect with your fellow CSA members—swap recipe ideas, exchange cooking tips - post in the Ahavah Community Group to meet new members and to share ideas! Food brings people together, and sharing your culinary adventures with others adds an extra dash of fun to your CSA journey.
And hey, don't stress if you occasionally receive a veggie that leaves you stumped. Google is your friend, and there's a world of recipes and resources online to help you conquer any vegetable-related mystery. Who knew turnips could be so versatile - and ours? OH MY GOSH...have you tried them raw 🤤!?!??
Lastly, remember to celebrate the seasonality of your CSA experience. Enjoy the freshest flavors that each season has to offer—whether it's crisp spring greens🥬, juicy summer tomato🍅, or hearty fall squash🎃. Eating with the seasons not only supports us, but also connects you more deeply with the rhythms of nature (you'd be surprised at how many people think tomatoes come in January)!
Embracing your CSA vegetables with curiosity and a sense of adventure can turn your weekly produce haul into a delicious and joyful culinary journey. So, roll up your sleeves, sharpen those knives, and let's make some veggie magic happen! Happy cooking, CSA rockstars!
This Week's Harvest
As always, nothing is guaranteed. These are the items that are "in season" and are anticipated to be ready this week (which may or may not be available at the CSA).
Small = 4-6 items per week ($23.50/wk)
Medium = 7-9 items per week ($33.50/wk)
Large = 10-12 items per week ($43.50/wk)
Daikon Radishes - Add some spice to your life with these beauties! Gorgeous purple roots with tasty greens! Daikon radishes, crisp and mildly peppery, are versatile vegetables often used in Asian cuisine. They can be enjoyed raw in salads, pickled, or cooked in soups and stews. Daikon also adds a refreshing crunch and subtle heat to dishes.
Parsley - a vibrant and nutrient-rich herb, adds a fresh and slightly peppery flavor to a variety of dishes. It’s commonly used in salads, soups, and sauces, or as a garnish to enhance both taste and presentation.
Carrots - Only the sweetest, most delectable carrots you have ever tasted! Be careful not to eat these too fast!!! Next week will be a huge harvest of these, so don't miss it!
Swiss Chard - Swiss chard is one of our absolute favorite items to saute. We love to put this into a cast-iron skillet with loads of garlic, salt and perhaps a little oil and cook it well. It's to die for! Want some more ideas? Check out this article HERE.
Cilantro - Full of aroma and great for that summer fiesta dish! CLICK HERE FOR SOME CILANTRO USES AND RECIPES.
Radishes - Radishes can be enjoyed in numerous ways (and we have done them all): Raw: Add them to salads for a crunchy texture and peppery flavor or simply eat them like the old-timers by dipping them in salt (my personal favorite way). Pickled: Pickling radishes can enhance their flavor and add a tangy twist to dishes. Roasted: Roasting radishes mellows their sharpness and brings out a slightly sweet taste. Cooked in Soups or Stews: Radishes can be added to soups and stews for a unique flavor and added nutrition.
Kohlrabi - Yummy! The kohlrabi bulb tastes a lot like jicama if you have it raw. Peel it first and enjoy - or feel free to use in different ways - see here. The most important thing is that you DO NOT WASTE those greens! Those greens are the best part and are our favorite greens in the world! Great to saute!
Sweet Turnips - By far, these are the most beloved vegetable we grow - I know, I know, it's a turnip...but is it really🤔!? No way is this a normal turnip! I'm telling you, if you have eaten them than you know, but if you haven't you will find out! Taste this amazingness raw - then, if you don't eat them all by the time you get home, then roasting them is our favorite way to eat them. We love to roast these turnips with garlic, or honey, or salt and pepper..but the truth? Raw...I'm telling you, the sweetness of these turnips is to die for! Our kids call them "Ground Ice Cream!"
Fennel - ⭐Our featured vegetable of the week (SEE BELOW). The fennel is one of our fan-favorites! Absolutely one of my most favorite raw veggies to chew on, I love just taking the greens and snacking on them for a fresh and clean feeling! DID YOU KNOW? Did you know that when you cook the fennel it changes flavor!? That's right, try it. Add some garlic and onions and whatever else and saute these beautiful bulbs for a delightful treat - or, better yet - DRY THEM! Hang those greens upside down and dry them and use them when you want to to add a wonderful flavor to pasta or salad! Need some help with creativity? TRY THESE RECIPES!
Arugula - A spicy green packed with unique flavor. Our favorite way to use the arugula is in an egg frittata, but you can use it any way you'd like - especially enjoyed raw in a salad.
Garlic Chives - These little chives are incredible! With a hint of garlic and a hint of onions, chop them up and add them to...EVERYTHING! Salads, sandwiches, to top soups, you name it - these add a flavor like nothing else!
Living Herbs - We have tons of these beautiful herbs available - from mint, to basil, to chives, to marjoram...and more! - See our article on living herbs HERE.
Scallions -The whole scallion, from the root to the tip of the greens are not only edible, but DELICIOUS! Did you know that if you save those roots (about an inch above the bulb or so) and stick them in a glass of water you can grow new greens? It's true. Try it!
Dill - So much more than an herb to make pickles with! Dill can be used for many things. For one, Havah makes the most amazing dill dressing with fresh dill, flax seed oil, apple cider vinegar and garlic. Fresh dill is also amazing on potatoes and roasted veggies and there are many more ways to use fresh dill...and if you don't want it now, hang it upside down and dry it, then jar it and save it for the winter! Here is an article with 41 ways to use dill!
Red and Green Kales - The best tasting kale in the world! Great for soups and saute's, sure, but as a raw kale salad, massaged with tihini, nutz, cranberries and shredded carrots? It doesn't get any better. Then again, get creative...to help, click here are 30 ideas.
Lettuce - Not much to say about lettuce, except that it is wonderful and fresh and delightful and all that stuff! We love it. It's light and fluffy and delicious!
Dried Herbs - We have a mixture of dried herbs for you this week. We have dill, basil, mint and fennel.
Wheat Grass - Many of our members absolutely love our wheat grass and use it religiously. We hope you take the time to learn and enjoy this most amazingly nutritious green! Wheat grass is used mostly for juicing. However, I, Yosef (and many of our team members) love to use ian energy and nutrition
Radish Microgreens - Next to the barley grass and the sunshoots, radish microgreens are some of the most nutritiously-dense items we grow on the farm and not only that, but during our annual survey last year, they ranked as the #1 most requested and love item we grow! They have a fantastic bite to them, last considerably long in the refrigerator and are beautiful in appearance.
Kohlrabi Greens - To us, the best part of the kohlrabi plant is not the bulb, but the leaves themselves. That's why it is one of our favorite greens to grow. This week we only harvested a little, but next week will be an abundant harvest of these sweet and tender greens. The best way to eat them is either saute'd or as dehydrated chips with oil and salt. OH MY!
Rhubarb - Did you know there is more to rhubarb than just strawberry-rhubarb pie? It's true. Check out this article for information on how to use Rhubarb 64 ways!
Pea Shoots - One of the most desired and sought after items we provide are these pea shoots! Quite literally the best you added to any dish or salad. Our favorite way is to add them to stews and soups. A perfect topper too! Here are four fun ways to use Pea Shoots: http://blog.bostonorganics.com/4-fun-ways-to-use-pea-shootst
Mustard greens- Add these leafy greens to your diet by mixing mustard greens into a chopped salad or cook it like most leafy greens. The greens are high in Vitamin A, Vitamin K, B1, B2, B6, Vitamin C, and Vitamin E! this is one of our absolute FAVORITE greens to saute' 😋 and when we do we simply add some salt and garlic and enjoy.
Broccoli Microgreens - Last week we told you that Radish Microgreens were the #1 most loved item we grow, well, these microgreens weren't on the list then! I have a sneaking suspicion that these microgreens are the real winners!
Sunshoots - Our sunshoots are certainly some of the nicest, most high-quality sunshoots you will ever find (that actually goes for all our microgreens). They are one of the most beloved items we grow as well and a regular staple to our CSA. Here are some ideas to use your sunnies this week: https://www.martinsgardenacf.com/sunflower-shoots-recipes
Veggie of the week!
FENNEL
Fennel, our featured vegetable of the week, is both highly versatile and very flavorful. With its distinct anise-like flavor, fennel brings uniqueness to a bunch of different dishes. While I (Yosef) enjoy it raw, adding a crunchy and slightly sweet bite to salads, fennel truly shines when grilled. The high heat transforms the bulb’s crunch into a tender, caramelized texture and it also mellows out its licorice-like flavor into a earthy sweetness that it delicious.
Grilling fennel is a simple and delicious way to enjoy this vegetable. Start by trimming the stalks and cutting the bulbs into thick slices, ensuring they remain intact at the base to hold their shape on the grill. Toss the fennel slices in olive oil, salt, and pepper, then place them on a preheated grill. Cook for about 5-7 minutes per side, or until the fennel is tender and has grill marks. The transformation is remarkable—the fennel becomes soft and slightly charred, with a depth of flavor that’s both sweet and savory.
Here is one of our favorite ways to enjoy fennel:
Grilled Fennel and Quinoa Salad
Ingredients:
- 1 large fennel bulbs, trimmed and sliced
- 1/2 cup quinoa
- 1 cups water or vegetable broth
- 1/8 cup olive oil, divided
- Juice of 1/2 lemon lemon
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 1/4 cup toasted pine nuts
- Optional: a handful of cherry tomatoes, halved
Instructions:
1. Rinse the quinoa under cold water and cook it in the water or vegetable broth according to package instructions. Once cooked, fluff with a fork and set aside to cool.
2. Preheat your grill to medium-high heat. Toss the fennel slices with half of the olive oil, and season with salt and pepper. Grill the fennel slices for 5-7 minutes on each side, until tender and charred.
3. In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper to make the dressing.
4. In a large bowl, combine the cooked quinoa, grilled fennel slices, chopped parsley, toasted pine nuts, and cherry tomatoes if using. Drizzle with the dressing and toss to combine.
5. Serve the salad warm or at room temperature, and enjoy the wonderful flavors of the grilled fennel mingling with the fresh, zesty ingredients.
Don’t let the fennel greens go to waste! These fronds are not only edible but also packed with flavor, resembling a cross between fennel and dill. Drying the greens for later use is a great way to preserve their taste. Simply wash and pat dry the fronds, then hang them upside down in a cool dry location. Once the fronds are completely dry and crumbly, store them in an airtight container. These dried greens make a fantastic herb for soups, stews, and salads, adding a hint of fennel’s unique flavor long after the fresh greens are gone.
ENJOY!
⚠ ⚠ ⚠ BAGS! We need your bags (PLEASE🙏) !!⚠ ⚠ ⚠
Thank you everyone for recycling your LARGE bags with us! When we receive your bags we immediately quarantine them for 2 weeks before reusing them to ensure they are safe of any yuckies. Thank you for bringing them and any others you may have (we need any large PAPER-ONLY grocery bags you may have) THANK YOU!
CSA PICKUP LOCATIONS AND TIMES**
Times are subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances.
**Please be aware that it is your responsibility to check the weekly packing list for updated information and changes at www.ahavahfarm.com/blog
North Colorado Springs @ The Dabler Residence
THURSDAYS
11:30 AM to 12:30 PM
726 Airman LN,
Colorado Springs, 80921
Denver @ The Jewish Experience
THURSDAYS
2:30 PM to 3:30 PM
399 S. Monaco St. Denver CO 80246
Go to www.theje.com to learn more about this location.
Peyton @ Ahavah farm
During the Ahavah Community Market
FRIDAYS
10am to 1:00pm
7545 N. Log Rd., Peyton, CO 80831
Central Colorado Springs @ Ranch Foods Direct
FRIDAYS
11:30am to 12:30pm (All)
12:30pm to 6:00pm (Traditional ONLY)
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