SUMMARY: TENTH Week of Summer 2020! - FALL Shares Available!! - ACI DONATED SHARE APPLICATION DEADLINE! - EXTRA VEGGIES! - CLASSES AND TOURS - VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT- ACI DONATION UPDATE AND DONATE TODAY! - DID YOU KNOW? - LOCATIONS AND TIMES - WHAT TO EXPECT THIS WEEK - WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT WEEK
Week 10 - TENTH Week of Summer CSA 2020!
HELLO DEAR MEMBERS! We are smiling our way through Summer and we hope you are too! We are so proud of how this year has turned out so far. Everything from my (Yosef) cancer treatment to the abundance of the crops to the beautiful souls that make up our team - given all that has happened in 2020 in addition to that, this year has been a fairly successful year! Considering all the obstacles and the way the Spring season started, I am so proud of this year! We didn't know what was going to happen with Covid, and although it hasn't been perfect and the struggle has been real (and EXPENSIVE), given our expectations (particularly given last year's Bomb Cyclone and my diagnosis and a new baby - oh my goodness!), how could we be anything but absolutely grateful for all that has happened!? Amazing!
However, as much gratitude that I have for even writing this e-mail to you today, we are forward-focused on Fall 😎. It looks like it is going to be one of our best seasons yet! The downside? Not many pumpkins or winter squash. I know, I know, that's what fall is all about. Unfortunately, if you remember, we did get smashed by hail 5 times this year😢! The first one though, that was a big one and it set us back the most. We lost over half of our plants and by the time the new replacements were ready, it was too late. So, we may not have pumpkins (for the second year in a row!!!!!), but that doesn't mean we won't have a killer season! Just wait! As long as we maintain through the end of Summer we will be way ahead for the Fall season and the Winter. Loads of root vegetables like beets, carrots and turnips are in the ground, tons of leafy greens like kale and swiss chard are ready to go, we have bins of fantastic-smelling herbs that are all dried and we will have piles and piles of storage crops like potatoes and onions included in the CSA regularly. Add to this all the celeriac, leeks, microgreens, parsley root, spinach, pak choy, living herbs, lettuce and more! It's going to be a GREAT season (Psst...see below for an announcement regarding Fall😉).
As for the rest of THIS season? Well, that's looking great too! One of the lessons we learned regarding the tomatoes being so early is that maintaining them for such a long season is very difficult. The longer the plants are in the ground the more nutritional needs they have and the more prone they are to pests and disease. We'll see if they continue till the end. The other summer vegetables are still doing great and the peppers are coming on strong. This week there are green beans too, and your share is looking amazing!
One thing to keep in mind: We have been having some severe pest pressure. The grasshoppers are killing our tomatoes and many of our greens. NONE of this reduces the quality of the produce besides the cosmetic damage. So, enjoy it just the same - it may just not be as pretty!
Enjoy your share this week and don't forget to join the fun and share your recipes and pictures in the Facebook Community Group!
!!FALL CSA SHARES AVAILABLE!!
Now that all the dust has settled and our waiting list has been contacted, we are opening up a few more shares immediately. We will have 15 Medium shares, 15 Small shares and 5 Large shares available for purchase. The season is 13 weeks long, or 12+1 (Holidays).
FALL DONATED SHARE APPLICATION
DEADLINE, SEPTEMBER 1st!
ACI is donating up to 20 CSA shares for the Fall of 2020 to families in need.
If you or someone you know is struggling to feed their families pure, unadulterated local organic food but are struggling to afford it, please apply or share the application today!
Even if you have applied in the past or have received a donated share in the past, if you still have need, we want you to apply.
Deadline to Apply is September 1st!!
EXTRA VEGGIES FOR SALE
Lots of Extra Veggies Available for Purchase at Your CSA Location!
DON'T FORGET THAT SNAP MEMBERS GET 50% OFF
&
ALL PRICES ARE SUGGESTIONS ONLY AS WE ALWAYS OFFER PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN-AFFORD!
See the weekly "What's in your Bag" e-mails that get sent on Wednesdays for your "extras" list.
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 or by paying with credit card over the phone.
CLASSES AND TOURS
Plenty of Room in our Upcoming Tours
Classes are full, and our tour for tomorrow, 8/25 is full. However, we have one more tour for you to register for on 9/29, It's completely open, so register now!
Tour Schedule:
Tours: NEXT TOUR COMING UP: 9/29! Tours are always a good time and we always learn a lot too! Educational tours are centered on environmental stewardship and the pure standards we have set for our farm. We walk the entire farm and learn about biodiversity, microbiology, the benefits of no-till and our other sustainable farming methods. We talk about energy, nutritional density of our food and we even tour the wash-rooms, the nurseries, our blacksmith shop, our storage facilities and more.
Tours start at 9am on the following Tuesdays: 9/29 (OPEN).
We would like to offer more classes, specifically on food preparation etc. If you are an individual that would be interested in using our facilities to host a class we would love to encourage this. Please reach out to us with your ideas.
VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT
This is Rabbi Shapiro. I don't know if it is possible to write a long enough dedication to him or to give him enough credit or praise for all he does for our community, but I will try! For starters, Rabbi lives all the way in Denver and makes a trip to the farm every, single, week! That in and of itself is worthy of recognition. However, Rabbi Shapiro doesn't just drive 3 hours every week to sit under a tree and put his feet up. No, he gets on his knees and digs in the dirt, hauls bins and breaks his back with the rest of the team (often putting some to shame, SHHH! lol😂). He pulls the weeds, harvests the carrots, packs the bags, helps at the CSA locations and has had his hands in nearly every aspect of this farm. To top it off, he teaches our farm and our family Bible-lessons every time he comes! Still not to be outdone, the man actually lived here for a full two weeks as a caretaker, and I'd say he knows his way around here just about as well as anyone!
Full of wisdom, a kind word or an encouraging comment is always on his tongue and his ability to connect with the team and make us all laugh has been a huge blessing! Rabbi Shapiro is truly a righteous and holy man who steps into our world once, twice or sometimes up to three times per week to bless us with his cheerful countenance and his grace-filled words. Thank you Rabbi for allowing us to be a part of your life. Your sacrifice for our family and this farm and this whole community does not go unnoticed in the least! We are honored to know you.
Want to get involved? E-mail us to let us know. We are always looking for volunteers and we would love for you to join the party!
AHAVAH COMMUNITY INITIATIVE
Donations have been way down lately. However, the community is grateful for the $68.00 raised this week for Bring-A-Buck! It's not perfect, but every-single-dollar makes a BIG difference!
How can we make this more succesful? Can you help? Let us know!
Help create access to the purest food on the planet and DONATE TODAY! We truly believe that Ahavah Community Initiative (501C3) is one of the best ways to make a direct impact on YOUR community. Our mission is simple and the finances are completely transparent. 100% of your donations go straight to supporting our mission to "connect under-served people to locally-farmed, regeneratively-grown produce..." etc. Our board is 100% volunteer and there is no paid staff. Our meetings are public and our minutes are available at request.
Please consider a tax deductible donation to ACI by clicking the button below, and please consider making it a monthly donation by clicking the box:
DID YOU KNOW?
Did you know that just because something is "Certified Organic" that it does not necessarily mean it is "pure" for you or the planet?
There are a lot of things to take into consideration when purchasing your Organic food. For instance: Tractors and all their emissions, leaks, oils, brake dust (not to mention the damage they do to the soil) and more, are allowed and highly prevalent in Organic agriculture. What about pesticides and other chemicals? Yup, there are those too. There are Certified Organic pesticides and all types of chemicals, herbicides, fertilizers and more that are "Certified Organic," yet they are completely poisonous to you, other mammals, bugs and to the environment. Deep-tillage and destruction of our top-soil and the soil-food-web, over-irrigation and soil erosion and water waste are all allowed in "Organic" agriculture. Then there are the non-organic chemicals and synthetics that are used and there are many, many
more examples of this, too many to list here. Here is an article with 14 of these little tidbits about the "Organic" industry that I am sure the majority of people have never known: https://dontwastethecrumbs.com/14-facts-the-organic-industry-doesnt-want-you-to-know/
By knowing your farmer and being a member of Ahavah Farm you have a huge benefit that only a small minority of people in this country have - so take advantage of it already 😁 ! We, as a community, are blessed to be able to know exactly where our food comes from and how it is grown. Every CSA member should know that not only can you ask as many questions as you would like (please do!), but you can also look and tour, inspect, volunteer and essentially, you should be able to know every step of production on our farm and what we use and how we use it. We want you to know how pure your food is. We want you to be proud of your food-purchase decisions and that you are feeding your family the purest, safest food possible. That's really what these "Did you know" sections are about - to answer the questions you may not even know to ask!
What you put in your mouth, or the mouths of your children, should never be a mystery - and who wants to rely on someone else to "ensure" the purity of your food when you can inspect it yourself!? We encourage you: Join the classes, come to the tours, join the Facebook community group, ask questions and be involved in your food choices!
CSA PICKUP LOCATIONS AND TIMES
NOTATE TIMES: Times are subject to change.
(photo credit: Megiddeh Goldston)
THURSDAYS:
COS North / Monument @ Beasts and Brews (7 Spectrum Loop, Ste. 140)
12pm to 1pm (Drive Thru)
NOTE: Beasts and Brews IS OPEN for business! They are doing take out orders and still offering a special discount for CSA members. Inquire inside or call ahead to pick up lunch to go! Go to www.beastsandbrews.com to learn more.
Denver @ JCC (350 S. Dahlia St.):
2:30pm to 4pm (Drive thru)
FRIDAYS:
Colorado Springs @ Ranch Foods Direct (4635 Town Center Dr.):
1pm to 2:30pm (Drive Thru)
2:30pm to 6pm (Inside store)
NOTE: The Ranch Food Direct Store IS OPEN! Please go in and support your local food producers - bread and baked goods, meats and veggies and so many other local goods and necessities. They are stocked! Go to www.ranchfoodsdirect.com to learn more!
Peyton @ Ahavah Farm (7545 Log Rd.):
10am to 11am (Drive Thru)
COMPOST
Be a part of our ZERO-WASTE mission here at Ahavah Farm and bring us your compost! PLEASE REMEMBER - NO PLASTIC BAGS. 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 mission to become Waste Free! __________________________________
BAGS! We need your bags!!!
Thank you everyone for recycling your 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!
__________________________________ What to expect THIS week:
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
Cilantro - Gorgeous cilantro. Full of flavor and an incredible aroma! If you are not a usual fan of cilantro, try ours at least once. It may make you a believer, like it did Lorin!
Arugula - Oh, that lovely and oh so tasty green that is unique and loved by many and hated by some. For us, arugula is a must - but it must be cooked! Others absolutely rave about eating it raw. It's all up to you! To help, check out these recipes: https://www.thekitchn.com/tip-keep-a-bag-of-arugula-on-hand-to-liven-things-up-176862
Turnips - White globes of sweetness! Nothing beats these...so you tell me😁!
Salad Mix - Beautiful salad mix this week. Very tender and fluffy and not bitter at all!
Scallions - Long, green and tender! Use the whole thing and you can put them on the counter in a glass of water for multiple cuts!
Barley Grass - More common during the winter season, we have been inundated with requests for our barley grass so we decided to include it for all the members this week. We may do it again one more time before the end of the Summer. Perhaps 2x per season? Try it and you may love it! It gives a huge boost of energy and nutrients and has tons of uses. Check it out here: https://yurielkaim.com/11-barley-grass-benefits/
Radish Microgreens - The spicy variety of microgreens that we will be offering this week, though they will only be for sale and won't be included as part of the CSA this week.
Cabbage Microgreens - The sweet variety of microgreens. Like the radish micros, they will only be for sale and won't be included as part of the CSA this week.
Tomatoes - Tons of tomatoes. Some minor grasshopper damage on some.
Basil - Remember to dry this if you don't use it! We give you a bunch too, so it's great for pesto!
Radishes - Depending on the harvest this week, we may only include them for sale.
Parsley - Such delicious parsley this week and beautiful too!
Peppers - Yes, the peppers are in! Hopefully we will have them for a few weeks.
Squash - Squash is starting to come in, but as you saw above, we got hailed out yesterday so we aren't so sure about the yield.
Sunshoots - Our sunshoots have been on a roll for 4 straight weeks and the feedback is continuing to roll in about how much you all love these! We have had a few people say that once they got creative with them they fell in love with them. Here are a few great ideas for your sunshoots, the most nutritious thing we grow: https://www.martinsgardenacf.com/sunflower-shoots-recipes
Pea Shoots - We love these raw as an anytime snack. We also add them to soups. Like peas? You will love these.
Cucumbers - Not a ton of cucs this week as it is our first real harvest, and as I mentioned last week, it won't be a huge harvest. It will probably be large shares only at first.
Celeriac Greens - Similar to celery we love this in soups and stews, added to salads or used to add an extra "celery" crunch to a dish. We don't use the leaves, however, they can be hung upside down to dry and used as a sprinkle or added to a stew.
Swiss Chard - Big beautiful chard. Some minor grasshopper damage, but waxy and beautiful none the less.
Is that it? It's a lot, but I think so! I may be missing something...who knows, you might be surprised with something else too!
What to expect NEXT week:
The CSA's continue to be abundant week after week, however, there may be a dip here soon. I know, I say that all the time and it doesn't happen, but that's because we work really hard to get creative during those weeks. You may see more microgreens or storage crops during a dip or two, and don't expect loads of sales of extras to continue forever. As we move into cooler temperatures the yield starts to shrink and the extras will most likely dry up as well. For next week you can definitely prepare for more dill and chives. You can also plan on more peppers, squash, cucumbers and tomatoes. Of course the carrots and beets will also be included. Enjoy! That's it for this week! Love you to pieces! Yosef, Havah, Kids and Team The Camire Family
