April 16, 2024 - SPRING Season Week 3
What's Inside This Week?
👉*NEW FEATURE* - Monthly Giveaway!
👉*NEW FEATURE* - CSA Tip of the Week
👉Upcoming schedule of events for April
👉*NEW FEATURE* - Event Day Recap
👉Special Offer for our Summer Members!
👉Must-Read Announcements
👉This Week's Article "Recycling Potting Soil"
👉Featured Gardening Tip of the Week: "Shade Cloth: An Essential Tool for High Elevation and Hail-Prone Colorado"
👉Featured Vendor of the Week: "CC's Tamales"
👉Farmer's Market Update
👉Featured Vegetable: Red Russian Kale
👉Also: Don't miss our "Around the Farm" this week, our announcements, our weekly harvest list and more!
Dear FARMILY!
WOW! Can you believe how fast time is flying!? It's already the third week of the Spring season and we are only seven weeks away from the summer season - PHEW! Things around the farm are not slowing down and this month is going to be a doozy! With Passover preparations (anyone who knows, knows🤪!), classes, markets and of course the Passover schedule changes are going to throw us into a dizzying mess, cause us to scramble for a few weeks afterwards and then hopefully we can take a deep breath before the summer season kicks off😅!
Keep in mind that due to all the hustle and bustle going on, and especially with the schedule changes over the next few weeks the newsletter will be taking a breather, as I won't have the time to put together many new articles (but who knows!?). We will still update the harvest lists, the bag lists and the updates etc, but some of the articles will most likely be repeated. Still keep an eye out for updates, however!
As for the CSA this week we have yet another beautiful one for you and the market will be full as well! This week will be very greens heavy as we clean up some of the final harvests of red-russian kale, spinach and many of the mustard greens. As we move forward you will see more of the large-leaf kales, more of the beautiful large-leaf lettuces and of course more roots. The carrots are lagging behind a little bit, but that's ok - you Winter members got spoiled🤩 with carrots every week of the season! They will return in abundance and once they do, within a few weeks, they will be available almost every week going forward. Radishes and turnips will continue throughout to the summer and the beets are almost here too (arriving in a few weeks along with the carrots).
I sincerely hope you are enjoying your CSA shares so far, the feedback has been amazing and super appreciated! We love you all so much and are incredibly grateful for your support!
⚠️PS. We need your help to spread the word. We are running low on Summer signups and our budget is being squeezed like an orange. Please let your friends and neighbors know about our Summer CSA (if you do, you each get $25.00) and if you haven't signed up yet, please do so early to help our team prepare for the season! 🙏
We love you all, our beautiful FaRmily!!!
Farmer Yosef and Family!
WE L❤️VE OUR COMMUNITY!
🚨🚨ATTENTION COMMUNITY! PLEASE READ!🚨🚨
Dear Ahavah Community,
Since 2018 we have donated over 7,500 bags of freshly harvested vegetables to local families in need. This Winter season alone there are over 50 families who will have received over 400 bags of these vegetables, and this Spring we just approved 69 more families for an additional 690 bags!! That’s right, nearly 30% of our members are families who receive free memberships of these weekly vegetables! These are families that have been suffering with severe illness, are poverty stricken through various means and are struggling to feed their families healthy foods.
As you stand in line for your CSA, or rub elbows with those at our stand, you should know that one of every three of those very individuals are receiving a donated share. These are people with real needs and real struggles, families whom we all love and cherish and people we absolutely must continue to support.
With that said, the Spring season is upon us and our funds are running very low. With over 80 applications at the time of this writing, we are absolutely petrified that we won’t have the opportunity to support them all, and we don’t know how to say no to so many dire individuals and families, nor should we have to – but we can’t do it without you!
Although the Bring-A-Buck campaign has helped tremendously this year and so many have continued to support your neighbors and friends in our community in other ways, we are pleading with you to help us support these families who need fresh, healing vegetables with your additional donations this coming season.
If you have any ability to help, we are simply begging all of our community to pull together and donate. If every one of our members donated $25.00, this would supply all the funds required to support these members for the Spring season.
Please, from the bottom of our hearts to yours, PLEASE HELP support your community by considering an additional donation of $25.00 to help support a local family in need!
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👩🌾
👈OH MY! Would you look at that! This is Ryan holding up a dock plant with root fully attached! Just look at how long that root is. Ryan is very tall, and we didn't measure it (though we should have), but holy-moly, if you have dock plants in your garden, now you know why they are so hard to get out! That root is DEEP (kinda brings new meaning to the term, "deeply rooted!" lol).
👉This weeks class, "Grow Your Own" with Lorin was another awesome class! Lorin always does a wonderful job teaching the basics - and the not-so-basics of growing a garden here in Colorado. She is engaging and energetic and absolutely passionate about what she does! Her next class is May 10th - sign up by sending an email to manager@ahavahfarm.com
👈👇CUTE PICTURES OF THE WEEK. here is Nedira with some of the first dandelions of the year and below is Eliana feeding our horse, Matana, some carrots with Nedira. 🥰
👈The harvest this week is looking beautiful! Here is Aiden harvesting the last of the red russian kale.
👇Caught this beautiful greenhouse on my rounds this weekend. I thought it was looking rather pretty, so I took this video. Enjoy!
ARE YOU SIGNED UP FOR SUMMER YET!?
Please don't wait until the last minute to sign up. The sooner you sign up, the better the farm can prepare!
💥With a Special Offer For Summer Members (SEE BELOW👇!!)💥
...and don't miss out on our REFER A FRIEND program to earn $25.00 for both YOU & a FRIEND!
If you are looking for the freshest, purest and most nutrient-dense vegetables you can this Summer, then you don't want to miss the Ahavah Farm CSA Veggie-Share! 16 weeks of the best veggies you can find. It's going to be an AWESOME year!
Go to www.ahavahfarm.com/csa to register for our Spring & Summer 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, COS, DEN 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!
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!
The market's have been BOOMING with people lately! As the weather is getting warmer and warmer people are starting to come out more and more and the vendors have all been doing great!
Speaking of vendors, did you know that our market is a FREE market for all vendors? That's right. When you come out to our market you are supporting the market vendors 100% and everything they make, they get to keep.
The vendors do have the option to make a donation to the Ahavah Community Initiative, to help feed families in need, and many of them do, however, it's not required and if the vendor is struggling financially, which many are, they get to keep everything they made - unlike with other markets that charge a lot of money and percentages of sales. We are honored that we get to host our vendors and support our local community in this way and we are super thankful for all the local community that comes out and supports them!
This week's market should be another great one! We have a growing lineup of vendors and the market is continuing to grow more and more! See below for our featured vendor of the week - CC's Tamale's!
🥕🥬🌱Vegetables at the Farmer's Market this week
(April 19th)
(For CSA location "extras", please see below in the "Extra Vegetables section)
✅Radishes
✅Turnips
✅Carrots
✅Lettuce
✅Red Russian Kale
✅Mustard
✅Chives
✅Dried Herbs
✅Living Plants (basil, cilantro, mint, succulents and MANY more)
✅Pea Shoots
✅Sunflower Shoots
✅Radish Microgreens
✅Broccoli Microgreens
✅Barley Grass
EVENT RECAP!
This week was Lorin's SECOND class of the Grow Your Own series and it was, as always, a HIT! The feedback we get from these classes are always very extraordinary and the reviews are always praiseworthy, while all the students go away from the class with more information than they anticipated!
Lorin taught this week on the following subjects: Considerations for prepping your garden area, type of garden space, gardening methods, irrigation considerations, other useful equipment, amending your soil/feeding your soil, bed turnover without tilling, a blip about transplanting and cold-frame construction! WOW, what a class🤩!
*NEW* - April 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!
Give us a review on Google and get $5.00!
It would mean the world to us if you would give us your feedback on Google Reviews! you wouldn't believe how important having positive reviews on Google helps our business reach others. For taking the time to do a review for our business, we will give you a credit for $5.00 to be used at any of our CSA booth's, the Ahavah Farm Nursery or at the Ahavah Farmer's Market. Simply click on the link below to do a review, then send an e-mail to contact@ahavahfarm.com to confirm it. That's it! Thank you so much, it means the world!🙏
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
*When at our drop locations or the farmer's market show us your review and we will happily apply your credit!
📢FEATURED VENDOR OF THE WEEK!📢
CC's Tamales
CC's Tamale's have grown a passionate audience over the years and the feedback on these tamale's has been outstanding! CeCe has been with our market for over a month now and she keeps coming back because the customers keep supporting her delicious home-made tamale's!
CeCe offers a wide variety of tamales and other items too. She offers vegetable, pork and chicken tamale's and she also sells homemade rice, beans and a delicious coconut milk horchata too!
Next time you come out to the farmer's market be sure to come hungry and get yourself some of these delicious goodies for lunch, or you can take a bunch home to re-heat or freeze for storage!
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.
"How We Recycle Our Potting Soil"
By Yosef Camire
This week I wanted to talk to you about our soil-recycling program. Did you know that soil-recycling is one of our strongest tools on the farm? No, I don't mean our composting program, I mean our soil-recycling program. All of our potting soil on the farm gets recycled. A lot of farms, particularly those that grow microgreens do not recycle their soil regularly. Often times, if they do use it, it goes into the compost pile - which is great! But often times, many farms and microgreen growers, as well as plant nurseries simply discard their soil, and never recycle it. In fact, this has become so common that it is a major criticism of the nursery and microgreen growing industry and a complaint that many who are concerned about the sustainability of such programs are concerned about.
For us, not only do you not have to be concerned about the sustainability aspects of the microgreens we grow and all of our nursery potting soil we use up because 100% of it gets recycled and put to excellent use. In fact, recycling our soil has been one of the biggest successes for our farm and it has become a financial blessing too.
Before we talk about the process by which we recycle this soil, let's talk about the soil itself.
The type of soil we use is called Roots Organics (pictured below) and we have found this to be some of the most sustainable, pure and successful soils we have ever used. The ingredients in the soil are as follows: Coarse Peat Moss, Composted Virgin Forest Material, Perlite, Coco Fiber, Pumice, Earthworm Castings, Feather Meal, Bat Guano, Non GMO Soybean Meal, Fishbone Meal, Greensand, Volcanic Rock Dust, Kelp Meal. Also contains beneficial mycorrhizal fungi: Funneliformis mosseae, Rhizophagus intraradices, Septoglomus desertícola - how cool is that!? They actually add fungi into the soil mix in order to increase the root biomass and to reduce the stress on the plant! It is very much some of the best potting soil available and it meets all of our sustainability and purity objectives and goals.
Next, let's talk about our process, and lastly we will talk about the benefits to the farm and what we do with it.
Our program is very passive, requires very minimal effort and is not complicated in anyway:
After growing and harvesting the microgreens there will be a root mass that forms which creates a sort of cake of microgreens. These roots and the green remains of the plants are very easily removed from the trays and they break down within mere weeks (without turning, without composting or heat). We simply dump these "cakes" into a pile and continue to pile them week after week, allowing them to simply rot down and turn back into soil. We use a first-in-first-out system, separating our area into 5 sections, piling up one section at a time until it is all filled. Once one section is filled, we simply begin the new section and on and on we go. By the time the last section is being filled the first section is ready to use. Below you can see all the stages, which occurs within mere weeks:
This process is completely passive, requires no heat or aeration and is not a composting process because it does not include any brown material, as you would find in typical composting piles which get really hot, can breed negative bacteria and must be monitored. Our process simply uses a minimal amount of time, and since the green material is so immature (microgreens) it breaks down immediately - in fact, leaving a bunch of the organic green material in the soil is fine for us to re-use because as long as it doesn't contain seeds, then we aren't worried about re-using it.
After we wait a few weeks for the soil to break down we simply apply it to our garden beds in lieu of compost. Now, we still utilize compost, but the truth is that this potting soil is almost a better solution that compost itself, and it's already been paid for as part of our regular budget for the nursery and microgreen plants. As you noticed from the ingredients list, the amount of organic material in this potting mix is very high, and actually the majority of it's make up. In addition, the green material in the form of the broken down root mass and stems from the immature microgreens is an additional boon. The kicker? The microgreens take nearly 0% of the nutrients from the soil over a 10 day growing cycle and any nutrients that are taken from the soil are generally stored in the roots anyway - in short, this recycled soil is just as nutrient dense as the original soil that came in the bag!
Imagine, taking hundreds of bags of potting soil and adding it directly to your garden beds...think you'd have some beautiful crops? Well, so do we, and that's just one more reason that the food you get from our CSA is as nutrient-dense and as beautiful as it is!
Ahavah Community Upcoming Schedule
UPCOMING EVENTS
👉April 19th @ 10am - 1pm: FAMILY FRIENDLY! Ahavah Community INDOOR / OUTDOOR Spring Market
👉April 22nd - April 26th: Week of Passover - EXPECT changes to the CSA pickup schedule.
👉April 26th @ 10am - 1pm: FAMILY FRIENDLY! Ahavah Community INDOOR / OUTDOOR Spring Market
👉April 29TH - MAY 3RD: 2ND Week of Passover - EXPECT changes to the CSA pickup schedule.
👉May 3rd @ 10am - 1pm: FAMILY FRIENDLY! Ahavah Community INDOOR / OUTDOOR Spring Market
👉May 10th @ 10am: ADULT EDUCATION! How to Grow Your Own. Part 3 of 4. w/ Lorin Mattemore. Email Beth at contact@ahavahfarm.com
👉May 10th @ 10am - 1pm: FAMILY FRIENDLY! Ahavah Community INDOOR / OUTDOOR Spring Market
👉May 10th @ 10am - 1pm: FAMILY FRIENDLY! Homeschool Day @ Ahavah Farm! Ziplines, activities, storytime and more!
👉May 10th @ 10am: FAMILY FRIENDLY! Tour of Ahavah Farm! Come and learn, see, ask and do!
👉May 12th @ 10am: REGISTRATION DEADLINE! ACI Applications for FREE FOOD closes. Come and learn, see, ask and do!
👉May 17th @ 10am: ADULT EDUCATION! Composting 101 w/ Farmer Mark Robinson. Email Beth at contact@ahavahfarm.com
👉May 17th @ 10am: FAMILY FRIENDLY! Tour of Ahavah Farm! Come and learn, see, ask and do!
👉May 24th @ 10am: ADULT EDUCATION! Biblical Agriculture Class 1 of 4 w/ Farmer Yosef Email Beth at contact@ahavahfarm.com
👉May 24th @ 10am: FAMILY FRIENDLY! Tour of Ahavah Farm! Come and learn, see, ask and do!
Go to www.ahavahfarm.com/classes to learn more, to register and to see the rest of our schedule of events and classes!
🥕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 (Week 3):
(see Farmer's Market Section, above, for market selection this week)
Please take the time to read the article above regarding our availabilty
✅Lettuce
✅Mustard Greens
✅Dried Herbs
✅Spinach
✅Red Russian Kale
✅Chives
✅Living Plants (basil, cilantro, mint, succulents and more)
✅Pea Shoots
✅Sunflower Shoots
✅Radish Microgreens
✅Broccoli Microgreens
✅Barley 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.
🚨Got SNAP? Save 50% Off Automatically!🚨
‼️🛑STOP - Please do not miss this section🛑‼️
⚠️ATTENTION MEMBERS! Please share this information with your friends and family members! ⚠️
People on SNAP NEED this information! Ahavah Farm offers 50% off all of our memberships, vegetables and market items! This is the healthiest, MOST nutrient-dense, MOST regeneratively grown produce for less than non-organic Walmart prices. EVERYONE who is on SNAP should know about this!! - PLEASE HELP GET THE WORD OUT🙏!
🥕If you receive EBT (aka SNAP) you will receive 50% off of your membership automatically!
In addition, all extra veggies sold at the market or the CSA locations and also all nursery plant starts are also 50% off when paying with SNAP!
Follow these steps to purchase your SNAP membership 👉
Signing up for a CSA share using SNAP is as easy as 1 - 2 - 3!
1.
Go to ahavahfarm.com/csa and select the size share you want.
2.
When checking out and select "CASH PAYMENT"
3.
Send us an e-mail and let us know you will be paying with SNAP. We will automatically discount your share 50% and set you up on a bi-weekly payment plan to pay with your SNAP card!
Please spread the word and let us know if you have any questions!
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 at least one dollar 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!🙏
"Shade Cloth: An Essential Tool for High Elevation and Hail-Prone Colorado"
- By Yosef Camire
As gardening enthusiasts in Colorado, we’re no strangers to the challenges presented by the state’s unique climate. With intense sun exposure and the ever-looming threat of hail, protecting our delicate plants can often feel like an uphill battle. Fortunately, for you and fortunately for our farm, there’s a simple yet highly effective solution: shade cloth. Yes, that's right, shade cloth works wonders against hail and against sun exposure and is much more reasonable in price compared to the exorbitant costs of hail cloth.
Understanding Shade Cloth
Shade cloth is a versatile gardening tool designed to provide shade and protection to plants. It’s typically made from a durable, woven material that allows air and water to pass through while blocking out a percentage of sunlight (depending on which cloth you choose, different percentages are selected and manufactured - see below). This shading effect helps to mitigate the stress caused by intense sunlight, creating a more hospitable environment for plants to thrive in.
Different Weights and Materials
Shade cloth comes in a variety of weights, typically measured as a percentage of shade
provided. Common options include 30%, 50%, 70%, and 90% shade cloth, with each offering different levels of protection from sunlight. The choice of weight depends on factors such as the specific needs of your plants and the intensity of sunlight in your area. For instance, tomatoes don't like more than a 40% shade cloth, typically, but here in Colorado you can get away with up to 60% shade cloth for tomatoes and still have plenty of success - especially if you are in a hoop-house or greenhouse.
When it comes to materials, shade cloth is often made from high-density polyethylene (HDPE), a durable and UV-stabilized material that ensures longevity and effectiveness even in harsh conditions (we have had much of our shade cloth for 7-10 years and it still works great (though we did have one year where we bought cheaper stuff and it was a disaster - so make sure it is HDPE).
Benefits of Shade Cloth in Colorado
1. Sun Protection: In the high elevations of Colorado, the sun’s rays can be especially intense, posing a risk of sunburn and heat stress to plants. I remember one year, the drought was so bad and the temperatures were so extreme that our squash was literally burned from the sun - no matter how much we watered it! Shade cloth provides a reliable solution by diffusing sunlight and reducing its intensity, helping plants to thrive without succumbing to sun damage. This reduces the stress on the plants as well, allowing for increased pest and disease resistance as well.
2. Temperature Regulation: By creating a cooler microclimate beneath its canopy, shade cloth helps to regulate temperature fluctuations, preventing overheating during hot summer days and minimizing frost damage in colder months - believe it or not! This temperature stability is particularly beneficial for sensitive plants that are prone to heat stress or cold damage, and as mentioned above, a stress-free plant is a happy plant!
3. Hail Protection: I have been known to say that if you run a CSA in Colorado, take advanced payments from members and do not protect your crops by utilizing hail protection of some sort, you are stealing from your members! Why? Because in Colorado, you WILL get hail damage and you WILL eventually get hailed out. Utilizing shade cloth is a fantastic means of protecting your crops from hail damage - as we have witnessed many times!
4. Water Conservation: By reducing the intensity of sunlight and limiting evaporation, shade cloth helps to conserve moisture in the soil, ensuring that plants have adequate access to water even during dry spells. This water-saving benefit is especially valuable in Colorado’s arid climate, where water efficiency is essential for sustainable gardening.
In conclusion, shade cloth is a valuable asset for Colorado gardeners seeking to protect their plants from the harsh realities of high elevation sun exposure and hailstorms. By providing shade, temperature regulation, hail protection, and water conservation, shade cloth offers a multifaceted solution to common gardening challenges, enabling us to cultivate thriving gardens despite the odds and gardening without it is very risky.
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?
SPRING Week 3 - April 18th and 19th
Market-Style Members Selection - Week 3
Mustard, Radishes, Red Romaine, Lettuce, Arugula, Dried Herbs, Living Herbs, Red Russian Kale, Turnips, Spinach, Chives, Lettuce, Sunflower Shoots, Pea Shoots, Broccoli Microgreens, Radish Microgreens, Barley Grass
CSA Tip of the Week!
"Get Your Share Delivered To Your Door"
To get the most out of your CSA experience, you've gotta go to the CSA pickup locations, and to get the best experience possible, it's definitely at the Farm itself - where we have music, activities, a full farmer's market with multiple vendors and, of course, you can see the farm!
HOWEVER, picking up your CSA every week can be a chore, especially when the kids have school activities, work calls, or the car breaks down and is in the shop. For some of us, we simply can't fit it into our schedule and from time to time, most of us can't commit to being at the drop every-single-week. Having your CSA delivered directly to your door can alleviate these inconvenient times and allow you to still get the freshest, most nutrient-dense vegetables available, without the hassle of lugging the kids across town!
Farm to door deliveries are available for a fee and signing up for the whole season, or just part of the season, or just a single day from time to time is easy to do!
Signing up is easy.
1. Log in to your dashboard at www.ahavahfarm.com
2. Next, click on "CSA- Delivery Signup" to see door to door delivery options.
3. All door to door delivery purchases must be made no later than Tuesday afternoon at 5pm, the week of delivery.
There is a cost for delivery of $11.00 ($10.00 if you pay for the whole season at once) and the deliveries are easy and convenient. Just make sure you leave a cooler outside your door, pay before Tuesday night of the week of delivery and you are good to go!
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)
Spinach - Truly, and without exaggeration, this spinach is the sweetest spinach you have ever tasted in your life! The best way to enjoy this spinach is raw, but if you are so inclined, it is fantastic simply cooked down, sautéed or to use in a soup.
Rouge D'Hiver (Red Romaine) - a wonderful salad lettuce, and perfect for sandwiches etc - nice and flat. Beautiful too!
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.
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 - Everyone gets a plant of living herbs this week - See our article on living herbs HERE.
Arugula - Love it or hate it, it's the best arugula you've ever had. With a slight peppery taste, it is fantastic raw, but it is even better when cooked down, added to a fritatta or included amongst an array of veggies in a raw salad. We LOVE the arugula!
Red Russian Kale - See our featured vegetable of the week this week!
Radishes- Radishes are most often served raw, halved and sprinkled with salt, shaved into salads, layered over butter-smeared baguettes, or shredded into slaws. They also can be marinated with olive oil and lemon and mint for a refreshing salad, and they can be pickled with a classic vinegar-sugar-salt mix. PS. if you have never tried roasted radishes - you are missing out on a delicious treat! It's our favorite way to eat them (with a drizzle of honey, of course!😊)!
Head 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!
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!"
Carrots- The best carrots around! You will be amazed by how much flavor our carrots pack. Many of our members have commented that they cannot go back to store-bought after tasting our pure, beyond organic carrots!
Dried Herbs - We have a mixture of dried herbs for you this week. We have dill, basil, mint and fennel.
Barley Wheat Grass - Many of our members absolutely love our barley grass and use it religiously. We hope you take the time to learn and enjoy this most amazingly nutritious green! More nutritious than wheat grass and less bitter, barley 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.
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 as
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
Living Herbs - We have an abundance of beautiful living herbs for you. Choose from cilantro, oregano, parsley and more. Each plant counts as one serving.
Veggie of the week!
Red Russian Kale
This week, I'm shining the spotlight on red russian kale, a vibrant and nutrient-packed member of the kale family. With its beautiful red stems and delicate, frilly leaves, red russian kale is as visually appealing as it is nutritious....and this is the last week (for awhile) that we will have it in the CSA - so don't miss out!
Benefits of Red Russian Kale:
1. Nutrient Powerhouse: Similiar to its more well-known kale counterparts (like our amazing redbor and winterbor and blue curly), red russian kale is loaded with essential vitamins and minerals. It's particularly rich in vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K, and calcium, making it a vital vegetable for supporting overall health and immunity.
2. Antioxidant-Rich: Red russian kale is packed with antioxidants, including flavonoids and carotenoids, which help to combat inflammation and oxidative stress in the body. These antioxidants play a key role in protecting against chronic diseases, like cancer.
3. Heart Health: Incorporating red russian kale, or any kale, can be a huge boon to your heart-health. Studies suggest that regular consumption of kale can help to lower cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart disease.
4. Detoxification Support: Kale contains sulfuric compounds, known as glucosinolates. These compounds support the body's detoxification processes, helping to eliminate harmful toxins and promote liver health.
Yummy Ideas for Red Russian Kale:
1. Sautéed Kale with Garlic and Lemon: Heat olive oil in a skillet, add minced garlic and chopped red russian kale, and sauté until wilted. Squeeze fresh lemon juice over the kale and season with salt and pepper for a simple and flavorful side dish.
2. Kale Salad with Cranberries and Almonds: Toss chopped red russian kale with dried cranberries, sliced almonds, and a tangy vinaigrette dressing for a refreshing and nutrient-packed salad. You can have it all alone, or you can mix it with some of the microgreens, lettuces and other greens that come in your CSA too.
3. Kale Chips: Our favorite! Create crispy, addictive kale chips by tossing the leaves with olive oil, salt, and your favorite seasonings, then baking until crispy.
Vegan Recipe: Red Russian Kale and White Bean Soup
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 cups vegetable broth
- 1 can (15 oz) white beans, drained and rinsed
- 2 cups chopped Red Russian Kale
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions:
1. Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add diced onion and minced garlic, and sauté until softened.
2. Pour in vegetable broth and bring to a simmer. Add white beans, chopped kale, and dried thyme to the pot.
3. Simmer for 15-20 minutes, until the kale is tender and flavors are well combined.
4. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
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!