Newsletter for Week 4 of Summer CSA 2022
Hello FaRmily! Raise your hands if you have been LOVING this rain! 👋 I don't know how Denver has been fairing, but down here in Peyton and in the Springs, we have been getting a very fair amount of rain and it feels like such a blessing! Yes, we could definitely do more, but we take what we can get and we celebrate it! with the rain has come great crops! The outdoor crops like potatoes, cabbage, onions and squash are all looking abundant, while all of the indoor crops are looking nearly perfect. We do have some weeds, but for the most-part the farm is looking great all over. The cucumbers are really starting to produce while the squash is also turning on the high-gear. The tomatoes are lagging a little but they, along with the peppers, will be around before you know it.
In the coming weeks we have a lot of really great events coming up including a microgreen growing class with Lorin this week, a tour and blacksmithing demo at next week's market and Story time with Ms. Tracy the following week. Of course we have all of our regularly scheduled Farmer's Market happening every Friday with kid activities and tons of local vendors too. As a reminder we decided to nix this years Summer Fest in favor of having just one large event in October instead of having two. So please update your plans for the evening of Sunday the 24th and note that the event has been cancelled.
We have a great newsletter for you this week with all new sections, articles, updates and new videos. It's a full newsletter, so please share it with your friends and community and please send us a note to let us know how we are doing! Thanks so much and we look forward to seeing you at a CSA location near you or here on the Farm!
Have a blessed week and enjoy the newsletter!💓
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ATTENTION
REMINDER:👉 Every week we will be sending out this newsletter on Monday/Tuesday and every Thursday we post to the blog and to the Ahavah Community Facebook Group all the details of your bag contents, the extras available for purchase and what to expect to be available for Market-Style members. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO BE AWARE OF CHANGES AND UPDATES DUE TO WEATHER AND CHANGES DUE TO HOLIDAYS OR OTHER UNPREDICTABLE SITUATIONS THAT MAY ARISE (we are a small family farm, not a grocery store, after all😄 )
👉Please see the weekly updates below including a word from Farmer Yosef, some educational articles, announcements, changes, interviews, highlights and more.
📢See below for event updates, new articles and announcements!📢 ⭐Enjoy your shares this week and don't forget to join the fun and share your recipes and pictures in the Facebook Community Group!⭐
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🚨FALL Registration is NOW OPEN!!
👉Less than 100 SHARES ARE STILL AVAILABLE.👈
Don't Miss the Best Season of them All!
Sign up today to our Fall Veggie-Share CSA program and secure the purest, most nutrient-dense veggies available for 14 weeks (September through December)!
As other farms are shutting down until next year, we will be starting yet another season - a season full of beautiful produce! In the fall we will continue to have all the favorite greens like kale and lettuce. We will also have most of the summer crops like tomatoes, peppers, carrots and beets for a while, but most importantly, we will also have all the pumpkins, squash, potatoes and onions coming in then too! Fall is a great season - it's the only season of the year where almost everything we grow is available! We hope you will join us! But beware - there are only 100 memberships now available. July 1st is the day to sign up, don't miss it!
✔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 for more! ✔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!
Go to www.ahavahfarm.com/csa to learn more and to sign up today!
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Ahavah Farm & Ahavah Community Initiative
UPCOMING Schedule
👉July 15th: Adult Education! Grow Your Own Microgreens Class With Lorin!
👉July 15th @ 9am to 12pm: Community Event! Farmer's Market with vendors of all kinds!
👉July 22nd @ 9am to 12pm: Community Event! Farmer's Market with vendors of all kinds!
👉July 22nd @ 9am to 10:30am: SEE THE FARM! Farm Tour!
👉July 22nd @ 9am to 12p,: Blacksmithing Demo!! Blacksmithing demonstration from 9a to 12p during the market!
👉July 29th @ 9am to 12pm: Community Event! Farmer's Market with vendors of all kinds!
👉July 29th @ 10am: KIDS CLASS! Storytime w/ Ms. Tracy!
👉August 5th @ 9am, 10am and 11am: Blacksmith Class! - Forge a Garden Tool w/ Asher!
Go to www.ahavahfarm.com/classes to learn more, to register and to see the rest of our schedule of events and classes!
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👩🌾Around the Farm This Week👩🌾
*(Yosef is under-the-weather this week and will not be updating this section. Please look for new updates next week. Sorry for the inconvenience, and thank you for understanding.)
👈This little girl absolutely steals my heart away! This broccoli leaf is bigger than her and she is sooo excited! 🥰
👉Tess, our Production Manager be like "What's better than an Ahavah Farm carrot!? -n Nothin'!"
👈This greenhouse was donated to us two years ago when we lost one due to a major storm. We are just now putting it up in hopes that we can sell more Fall and Winter CSA shares.
👉We are starting the cabbage harvest. They are looking beautiful, as you can see here. Remember, there are only so many to go around - we hope every member can get one!
👈This is the FIRST time we have ever had a successful broccoli harvest and it is 100% due to the shade cloth. Now, with that said, there are very limited broccoli's, but with such a success, I can see lot's of broccoli next year - Maybe this Fall?!
👉As tradition would have it, every Friday for 4 years now, Eliana and I make wildflower, "community" bouquets for Shabbat. Well, this is our first one! The flowers sure are coming late this year!
The Farmer's Market's, here on the farm are always so much fun! There's always something new!👇
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The nursery is STILL going strong! Our 4th of July sale went wonderfully and we are so grateful for all the community members who came by and saved 20%! Also, keep in mind that as the season progresses we are rotating OUT all of our summer crops, like squash, tomatoes and peppers and we are starting to phase in the fall season crops like broccoli, kales, lettuces and more. Keep coming by for all your favorites until we close the doors for the season in September!
We will continue to offer the purest, locally grown plant starts (the majority are heirloom crops and they are all tested to be successful to our area, started from seed - all Organic with no fertilizers or chemicals of any kind!).
We will also have planter boxes, pots, soil and other items available. Come check us out and support us as we start small and aim for a bright future of supporting our Calhan, Peyton, Falcon communities!
✨Open Monday - Friday 9am to 3pm✨
📢As always, current CSA members receive 10% off EVERY DAY!📢
Come to 7545 Log Rd, in Peyton CO 80831 and get your garden started and save 20%!
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Soil - The Building Block of Life - Part 1 of 6
-By Yosef Camire
Over the next 6 weeks I will be introducing 6 topics related to building healthy, regenerative soils in your garden. We all know, or perhaps we all should know, that soil is the very foundation to growing nutrient-dense vegetables. Yet, most don't understand how to care for our soils, the most important part of any garden. The purpose of the next 6 weeks will be to present a very basic outline of both the value of caring for your soil and also some fundamental actions that you can take and apply to your very own garden. My hope is that you would then take this information, build on it, experiment with it and grow (intellectually and literally!😁).
Soil is the very foundation of life and is one of, if not the single, most important and precious resource on our planet. In fact, 95% of all living species on the earth live below our feet with over a billion living organisms within a single square yard of soil. Our soil is our number one carbon sink and it is estimated that we can store all of the world’s excess greenhouse gases in our soil, if it is managed correctly. Without healthy soil, our world and our civilization will simply cease to exist.
Currently, conventional farming is destroying our soil at a rate that is considered to be 13 to - a staggering - 50 times faster than what is considered to be sustainable. They say that nature takes thousands of years to replace an inch of topsoil. Less than one hundred years ago our most fertile farm land in the US had about 18 inches of rich topsoil, and we are currently approaching an average of just 6 inches today! If we do not reverse this trend soon, especially with a growing population and greater demands from our farms, we will end up like other great civilizations, like the Mayans, who have collapsed from this very real issue. We must learn from our mistakes
Some Facts about our soil:
Allen Savory said, “There are 3 great issues of the day: Biodiversity loss, desertification and climate change.”
If only 11% of the world’s cultivated soil is managed correctly, we could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 3ppm per year! (REDUCE!). Currently, 22% of the world’s cultivated land is fallow at any given time. This is doable!
The largest crop in the United States are our lawns, followed by corn. One lawn and one garden at a time and we can make a huge difference!
Conventional agriculture uses 32 billion pounds of chemical fertilizer per year!
Only 50% of the fertilizer is actually used for the plants. It takes 100 pounds of nitrogen in order for the plants to uptake 50 pounds worth!
Each ton of carbon stored in the soil is the equivalent of 3 tons of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
It is estimated that up to ½ of ALL sea water rise is due to agricultural run-off. We are therefore pumping our aquifers dry and a huge portion of it is pouring right into the ocean.
70% of world water goes to agriculture (80% in mid-western states). We can reduce this number by 40% or more by taking care of our soil and using more efficient irrigation.
The word “organic” literally means “carbon chains.” Healthy soil is full of carbon chains that feed the soil and microbes. Carbon is the most important nutrient for plants and soils.
In the following articles we will discuss some actions that you can be taking toward the goal of having pure, nutrient-dense soils.
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WORD FROM YOUR FARMER:
*(Yosef is under-the-weather this week and will not be updating this section. Please look for new updates next week. Sorry for the inconvenience, and thank you for understanding.)
Weekly video update for Ahavah Farm CSA members and Non-members. There's always a ton happening on the farm, so we make a new video every week and talk about what to expect in the CSA, any special updates and events and sometimes a little ramble or two. Enjoy!
0:01 - Intro
0:30 - Farmer's Market Update.
2:40 - Microgreen Class
3:05 - Next Week: Tour and Blacksmithing Demo.
4:08 - Fall Registration is Open - ZERO PRICE INCREASES!
5:00 - IMPORTANT - We Need Your Help!
9:20 - Summer Fest / Fall Harvest Fest.
10:18 - This Week's CSA
11:20 - Reminder of How CSA Works.
13:26 - Outro
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We are now on Twitter!
Yes, Twitter has been in the news a lot lately, and no, that's not why we are jumping in. Actually, this has been in the "thought-shed" for quite awhile now. Well, it's here. Join us - we'll see how much we utilize it and go from there!
Come Follow Us
Click the bird to follow us!
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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 8AM 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!
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Weekly Farmer's Market Update
Ahavah Farmer's Market is Every Friday from 9a - 12p
Every week I say the same thing over and over and over..."It was another great market this week!" But it's true! Every market we have had so far has been amazing! The vendors, the activities, the community, the music, the kids...oh my goodness, it's all about the kids, isn't it!?
This week sure didn't disappoint in that area as our park was LOADED with kids - as it is every week! I mean, who wouldn't want to come out to a free event with their kiddos every Friday?
I know that our kids love the market, and they live here! They jump on the bounce house, they buy treats, they play on the slides and at the park and then they do all the activities like Painting With Ms. Tess, or Storytime with Ms. Tracy, or many of the other activities we hold. Meanwhile, you get to meet your community, support your local vendors and treat yourself to a cold kombucha and a yummy treat!
What'dya think, did I convince ya? I hope so, and I hope to see you soon - every Friday, here at the Farm from 9am to 12pm.
We Love Our Community!❤️
📢More and More Vendors Every Week!📢
We are so excited about our current line-up of vendors, but we are still seeking more!
👉If you are a local vendor and are interested in attending our FREE farmer's market, please reach out directly at contact@ahavahfarm.com and we will send you information and the vendor agreement.
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NEW - JULY 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 1 FREE item!
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 coupon for 1 free item of your choice 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!🙏
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👉 CLICK HERE TO GIVE US A GOOGLE REVIEW AND RECIEVE A FREE ITEM!
*reward coupons will be e-mailed to you after the survey is completed in August.
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🥕🍅🥒🧅🌳🌵EXTRA VEGGIES and PLANTS FOR SALE - Every Week!
Please be sure to check out the extras table, 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!
And as always, remember: SNAP PARTICIPANTS ALWAYS RECEIVE 50% OFF!! & all prices are
"Pay-What-You-Can-Afford."
For Payment: Cash or Check at the drops or the balance can be sent via PayPal to contact@ahavahfarm.com or Venmo to 719-233-7828
FOOD PRODUCING GARDEN PLANTS ALSO QUALIFY FOR SNAP AND DOUBLE-UP BENEFITS!!!
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Try traditional. Try market. Try them both!!
Change Any Time!
Did you know that you can choose either Traditional OR Market-style for your CSA membership? That's right, and it's one of the things that makes the Ahavah Farm CSA program unique. Not sure which one to try? Try them both - feel free to change your share selection any week. Simply e-mail Jessie and let her know that you would like to change from a Market to Traditional or vice-versa any time you choose. PS. You can do the same with your locations!
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Got SNAP (EBT)?
Save 50% off your veggies, garden plants, meat, treats and more!
👉Did you know that Ahavah Farm accepts EBT / SNAP? Did you also know that we are partnered with the State of Colorado to offer our members and non-members 50% off every purchase!?
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That's right, with #doubleupcolorado you can receive 2x your veggies, meat or bread (etc) purchases either as a CSA member or as a customer at the Ahavah Farm Nursery & Garden Center as well as the Ahavah Farmers Market on Fridays.
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Want to Change Your Location!?
We Invite You!
Switch your CSA pickup location to the Farm and visit the farmer's market happening at the time of pickup, join the classes and events, view the farm, visit the nursery and meet YOUR community!
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⚠ ⚠ ⚠ 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!
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REFERAL PROGRAM!
Refer a friend to Ahavah Farm's CSA and you BOTH will receive $35 in credit to use ANYTIME you want! Use to buy extra vegetables, or take $35 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 $35 certificate! It's that easy!😁
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📢DID YOU KNOW? 📢
LOCAL - SUSTAINABLE - PURE
By Yosef Camire
You will see this statement, "Local - Sustainable - Pure," our trademark, on our t-shirts, our hats and anywhere you see our logo. it is essentially, a summarizing of our mission. But what does it mean, and why does it matter?
Many business' clout themselves as SRC's (Socially Responsible Corporations), but when it comes down to it, many times it can be a mere marketing campaign and a way to advertise. With Social Responsibility being as important as it is, many people are waking up to the missions that their money supports and therefore many companies are falling in line and becoming quote, "socially responsible," themselves, or at least acting like they are. Ideas and slogans such as "Environmentally Friendly," "Organic," "Sustainable" etc. get thrown around regularly and many times they are simply meaningless phrases that catch the eye's of the consumer, luring them into supporting their business.
The term "Organic" is one such term that really get's under our skin. It's also a word that we refuse to use to refer to ourselves and it is something that we refuse to get certified as. Let me explain why.
With "Organic" pushing the envelope and walking a fine line between pure food and your typical CAFO (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation, or Commercial Agriculture Farming Operation), the range of "Organic" farmers is very wide. From your small-town and family-owned, truly "organic" farmers, to your large and thousands-of-acres, corporate owned-and-operated giant multi-national corporations, the term "Organic" has lost much of it's meaning. In many cases, it has been corrupted by those very multi-national corporations and the government certifying agency that they, essentially, run.
For instance, did you know that "Organic" certification allows for 38 synthetic chemicals to be used on your food? Did you know that a percentage of GMO's (Genetically Modified Organism's) can still be considered "Organic?" http://gmo-awareness.com/2011/05/05/is-organic-always-gmo-free/. Did you know, that sewer sludge (aka, human waste) and irradiated food can still be considered "Organic?" (http://evergreenfarm.typepad.com/evergreenfarm/2007/06/why-we-choose-n.html). Did you also know that the Organic Certification could care less how the soil is treated (in terms of tillage, carbon and actual organic matter), how our environment is impacted, how much water is wasted, how much emissions and petroleum products are consumed and emitted and ultimately how the animals are treated? (http://www.peta.org/issues/animals-used-for-food/free-range-organic-meat-myth/)
Certainly, purchasing organic food is MUCH better for you than purchasing non-organic food and I am not saying that there aren't amazing Certified Organic growers. My "beef" is not with those that call themselves "Organic" because many are wonderful, but with the Certification itself. It's a sham. Does Organic mean that it is sustainable? Is it as fresh as local food or as economically responsible as local food? Is it really considered pure? Are the animals really that much healthier, happier and humanely treated? The answer, sadly may be a resounding "NO!" with a few exceptions, including us. We claim to be "Better Than Organic" and this is why...
Local. By being a "Local" farm, not only do you the consumer have the opportunity to "Meet the Farmer" and visit the farm and see first-hand what and how we are growing and producing our food, but you also get to support the local economy and support the "little guy." In addition, by being local, the food you get is usually picked either the same day, or pretty close to it. Ripe, fresh and not shipped in from Mexico, California or worse, China. You know where your food is coming from. You know that it is fresh. You know how it is produced. You know who you are supporting.
Sustainable. Sustainable goes hand in hand with "pure." In order to be sustainable, you have to be "organic" but being "organic" doesn't make you automatically "sustainable." In fact, Organic farming can use many of the same farming methods as non-organic like having an enormous carbon footprint, the destruction of the soil by over-tilling and the extreme waste of other resources like water and fossil-fuels (most synthetic fertilizers are oil-based, even "Organic" ones). Sustainable agriculture takes care of the soil, uses compost, no-till methods and preserves water. There is minimal water waste, fossil fuel waste and other un-natural methods of farming are not used.
Pure. Pure ties this all together. As mentioned above, because we use sustainable farming practices, your food is pure. It's not "organic" it's better-than-organic. No synthetic chemicals, fertilizers, sprays or genetically engineered seeds etc. are used. In fact, every vegetable that we sell is heirloom. This means that it hasn't been altered in any way. In addition, we use row-covers, hand-tools and old-fashioned pure and natural farming methods to avoid pests and to control weeds. Your food is picked fresh and ripened on the plant and not on a truck. The same goes for our animals. Our chickens and ducks get to roam the land eating bugs and grasses as well as our kitchen scraps and our left-over produce. All supplemented feed is "organic" and soy and corn free and the animals are loved, well-cared for and simply the cleanest birds you have ever seen! In short, there is no possible way to get fresher, healthier and more pure produce than you can from our farm or from your own garden.
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Taking Applications: ACI BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEMBER OPENING
ACI currently has a few board openings and we are taking applications until vacant positions are filled. If you are interested in being considered as a member of our board we would love to hear from you!
All board appointments are two year commitments with monthly board meetings, events and official activities requiring board presence. We anticipate that all board members provide a personal, anonymous, donation to ACI as well as be an active participant in serving our community.
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AHAVAH COMMUNITY INITIATIVE BRING-A-BUCK!
"Hi, nice to see you! Did you bring your buck today!?"
These are the words you should hear every week when you show up at the CSA locations to get your veggies.
That's because, supporting families in need through ACI, is the MOST IMPORTANT and BEST part of being a CSA member with Ahavah Farm! Don't say your $1 isn't important! IT IS!! The Bring-A-Buck program is how ACI has sustained its food donations, so we thank you members! - EVERY DOLLAR COUNTS!
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Meet YOUR Community!
*(Yosef is under-the-weather this week and will not be updating this section. Please look for new updates next week. Sorry for the inconvenience, and thank you for understanding.)
Interview #11 With Casey
"It was...in a very weird way, quite frankly a little scary yo work for such a friendly, happy, 'get-along-with-everybody' type of staff and boss."
That was a quote from this this week's interview, which was a blast to make, with a lot of laughs! Casey is one of our amazing team members, and it shows. Enjoy the interview! We love sharing our community with you! Our interviews introduce you to our employees, family, volunteers and friends. Enjoy them all by going to www.ahavahfarm.com/blog and sign up for all of our newsletters!
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Microgreen CSA Shares Are Available! Sign Up Today and SAVE 💲💲💲!
Love our microgreens but haven't signed up for a Microgreen CSA?
✔ You can sign up anytime after January 26, 2022 to receive your weekly Microgreen CSA starting the first week of February. You can cancel anytime in 2022 too!✔
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
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Be a part of our ZERO-WASTE mission here at Ahavah Farm and bring us your compost! PLEASE REMEMBER - NO PLASTIC BAGS or Animal products (except egg shells). Want more information? CLICK HERE to learn about the program. Thank you everyone who has been bringing their compost! We are so excited that we can help on your personal mission to become Waste Free!
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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 newsletter at www.ahavahfarm.com/blog for updated information and changes.
North Colorado Springs @ Colorado Mountain Brewery
- THURSDAYS
- 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM
- 1110 Interquest Parkway,
Colorado Springs, CO 80921
Go to cmbrew.com to learn more about this location.
Denver @ Jewish Community Center
NOW INSIDE! Turn left, park then use main enterance. Bring ID. Thanks.
- THURSDAYS
- 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM
- 350 S. Dahlia St, Denver CO 80246
Go to www.jccdenver.org to learn more about this location.
Peyton @ Ahavah farm
NEW CSA LOCATION AT AHAVAH FARM!!
- FRIDAYS
- 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM (All)
- 7545 N. Log Rd.,
Peyton, CO 80831
Central Colorado Springs @ Ranch Foods Direct
NOW INSIDE! Enter the bay right of the main enterance.
- FRIDAYS
- 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM (All)
- 3:31 PM to 6:00 PM (Traditional ONLY)
- 4635 Town Center Dr., Colorado Springs, CO 80916
- Go to www.ranchfoodsdirect.com to learn more about this location.
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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
Medium = 7-9 items per week
Large = 10-12 items per week
Redbor Kale and Darkibor Kale - Some of the most amazing kale you have ever seen or tasted! Taste is NOTHING like in the store - those that know, know! Try some this week, massage is real good, follow one of THESE recipes and let your tastebuds have a party!
Carrots - Oh sweet and amazing carrots, you are so beautiful this week!
Scallions - Who doesn't love scallions!? Did you know that if you leave the roots on and stick it in a glass of water the scallions will re-grow for a second cut!? It's true - try it!
Detroit Dark Red Beets - Our favorite heirloom red beet. Deep in color, deep in flavor. Here is an interesting recipe for the picky beet-eater in your home.
Cilantro - Who doesn't love cilantro!? Well, it turns out, up to 14% of people have a unique gene that makes cilantro taste like soap! It's true, check it out here. If that's not you, check out this page for some ideas: CLICK HERE
Garlic - An heirloom hardneck variety, from our own stock, it is potent and amazing garlic! Ready to store if you aren't ready to eat it. The bulbs are small, but still delicious! 2 Small bulbs per serving.
Baby Leeks - Yep, you heard right. They are similar to scallions but taste like leeks and they are super-tasty to eat by themselves, to add to a saute, stew or other dish.
Parsley - Parsley is one of my (Yosef) favorites! Who doesn't like parsley!? Ready to eat raw or hang and dry to save for later. Need some recipe ideas? GO HERE.
Hakurei Sweet Turnips - The absolute best turnips on the planet - they are SO sweet and delicious, kids eat them like apples and they are extraordinarily versatile. Definitely a CSA staple and favorite for so many!
Heirloom Tomatoes - Of course these are everyone's favorite, but they are just now coming in so they are limited in supply. First come, first serve!
Summer Squash - Similar to the tomatoes and cucumbers, they are just coming in so they are limited in supply, but they are so so so good!
Swiss Chard - One of my absolute favorite greens to saute' and wilt deeply. I love garlic, oil and salt and taking this amazingness and adding it to a bed of rice or quinoa and adding in different vegetables, some tofu (or meat) and then we love an asian peanut-based dressing and it's to die for.
Mint - A specialty herb that will be coming every few weeks throughout the summer. Never used mint? Oh, you are in for an AMAZING treat! there are so many ways to use mint, here is a list of 63 recipes for you!
Salad Mix lettuce- A beautiful and soft/fluffy salad mix (with some arugula and flowers mixed in - YUM!). perfect for a salad base or even a bed of rice etc.
Cucumbers - Two kinds of cucumbers: Pickling and tendergreen. Our favorite? The tendergreen, but they are all delicious!
Arugula - Wonderful baby arugula is similar to mustard with a bite, but a change in flavor after cooking. Very versatile and a specialty green with a high demand. Here is an article with 30 ways to serve arugula.
Plants - There will be plenty of plants to choose as an item this week, even some garden varieties. Enjoy!
Living Herbs - We have basil, chamomile, mint and a lot more!
Red Russian Kale - Baby kale is always so tender! Sauté' it, eat it raw, add it to stews...there so much to do. Here are some ideas.
Garlic - Our garlic is harvested and ready! We are so excited for garlic season, but unfortunately, much of our garlic turned out smaller than we had hoped due to an "oopsie" while growing. BUT, it's still absolutely delicious garlic (the largest ones we will keep for seed come Fall)!
Dried Herbs - Basil, dill, mint and fennel (our herb room smells like heaven!😇).
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 - Stalk and all, these amazing greens are delicious! I love to eat them similar to collards, or broccoli greens, sautéed in butter with some garlic and salt, but they have a unique flavor that is very nice! Absolutely delicious greens!
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-shoots
Beets - Absolutely stunning beets are coming this week! we have two kinds: Boldor (golden) and red baby beets. Both are delicious, but they have unique flavors. here are some recipes for GOLDEN BEETS. Here are some for RED BEETS.
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
That's it for this week! We love you to pieces, are incredibly grateful for each and every one of you and we are blessed to the core to be YOUR farmers!! ❤️
-Yosef, Havah, Asher, Aiden, Israel, Eliana, Ovadya, Elisheva, Nedira and of course our amazing team: Josh, Tess, Lorin, Evan, Katie, Holly, Casey, Jessie, Joe and Charles! ❤️
