SUMMARY: NINTH Week of Summer 2020! - Classes and Tours! - EXTRAS! - Volunteering Opportunities - Did you know? - The MOST important part of being a CSA member is... - Donate today! - Weekly Updates and Harvest for the Week - What to expect NEXT Week.
Week 9 - NINTH Week of Summer CSA 2020!
HELLO DEAR MEMBERS! We have another beautiful harvest for you this week! Peppers are in, cucumbers (though not the best harvest), tomatoes and squash are all coming this week along with a ton of other beautiful items (see below).
This week we are focusing on seeding, seeding, seeding and more seeding! The fall crops are all going in, the shade structure (aka the "Carrot Crib," aka the "Lettuce Lounge.") is coming down, we have a class on Friday and today we rocked out at Mark Robinson's (previous intern) new farm to celebrate Lorin's birthday! The kids had so much fun at the Greenhill Farm pond and the team took a tour of the whole farm while Mark shared some of his techniques and plans. As Mark begins to roll-out his purpose and mission, we plan to stand by him 100% of the way to help support his dream of training up and building up new farmers in conjunction with Ahavah Community Initiative and Ahavah Farm. Oh, did I mention that Mark is a fellow CSA member and one of the amazing volunteer board-members of ACI? Pretty cool! We are so excited to see how Mark's dream is coming to fruition and to see how we can help him in the future!
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!
We could use some volunteers for packing bags on Thursday and for weeding throughout the week. E-mail us if you are interested and see below for more info. 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 AUTO RENEWAL REMINDER
Reminder that the Fall season auto-renewals will be charged on August 22nd. If you would like to make changes to your subscription size, location or to make other changes, please let us know prior to August 22nd. Thank you!
Large: $540 minus 5% discount = Total to be charged: $513.00*
Medium: $431 minus 5% discount = Total to be charged: $409.45*
Small: $322 minus 5% discount = Total to be charged: $305.90*
*a 3% processing fee will be added on for all credit card payments.
_________________________________ 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!
This week we are anticipating the following items for sale:
Small Onions (dried and cured) - $3 per 1/2lb
Tomatoes - $2.50 per 1/2lb
Microgreens (spicy and mild) - $3.00 per container
Pea Shoots - $5 per bag
Radishes with greens - $3 per bunch
Sunshoots - $5 per bag
Swiss Chard- $3.50 per bunch
And more...
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, but our educational tours still have openings. To register, simply respond to this email. Remember, that classes are free for all CSA members, though we do recommend a $20.00 donation to ACI for each class and a $10.00 donation for each tour to cover expenses.
Tour Schedule:
Tours: NEXT TOUR COMING UP: 8/25! 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: 8/25 (OPEN) , 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. _________________________________
VOLUNTEERS!
This is Charles. Charles has been a volunteer with our farm and Ahavah Community Initiative for almost three full years now! Disabled from the military, and walking mostly on a cane, Charles still finds a way to dedicate himself to the Ahavah mission. Known mostly as the "Tomato King," he also manages the cucumbers and helps out at the CSA drops locally in addition to about a million other things! Charles and his children have been some of the most active and impactful families of this organization and he doesn't get enough credit! For three years, multiple times per week, in the good weather and in the bad, Charles truly has dedicated himself to making an impact in his community; a community he consistently praises and proclaims his love for. Yet, he's quiet. He keeps to himself a lot and is humble about his impact on the farm. If you see Charles at a CSA pickup location, or you see him in the Community Group on Facebook, make sure to tell him "Thank you" for all he has done for this farm and for this community. It's really something special, and we can't fully express how much we appreciate everything the Charles and his family has done!
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
Don't forget to "BRING-A-BUCK!" Donation your change, your dollars and your checks in your "Bring-A-Buck" jar at all the CSA locations! 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:
FALL DONATED SHARE APPLICATION
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.
CLICK HERE FOR THE APPLICATION _________________________________ DID YOU KNOW?
Farming is so much more than just growing calories. For us, it's about growing absolutely pure, about repairing our earth and caring for our resources. It is about putting love into our food, our employees, our animals and our community.
It's been a while since our pledge was reviewed. Now is as good a time as any, and so here it is:
⁕We pledge to never compromise on the purity of our food. This includes the use of any chemicals or anything synthetic (even if it is certified “Organic”). ⁕We pledge to use microbiology, composts, green manures (plant residue) and other organic matter to build and sustain healthy soils. ⁕We pledge to use beneficial insects to control pests and to increase the bio-diversity on our farm. ⁕We pledge to never use pesticides or fungicides. ⁕We pledge to never use GMO’s (Genetically Modified Organisms). ⁕We pledge to use only NOP “Organic” certified seeds, our own saved seeds or locally grown seeds from farms that we trust and are assured of their growing practices. ⁕We pledge to always be transparent in all of our growing practices. ⁕We pledge that we will utilize pure, regenerative practices and we coined the phrase: “Just because it is ‘Organic’ doesn’t mean that it is pure.” ⁕We pledge that we will never use antibiotics or hormones on our animals – unless the animal is sick and the only way to save the animal is through these measures. ⁕We pledge to give our animals adequate shelter, water and food and to feed them before we feed ourselves. ⁕We pledge to reduce emissions and to use as many alternative fuels and sources of energy that are renewable and that our financial capabilities will allow. ⁕We pledge to use water conservation methods and to completely avoid inefficient irrigation practices and systems such as flood irrigation. ⁕We pledge to strive to be as sustainable and regenerative as we can possibly be within the financial parameters and budget of the farm. ⁕We pledge to raise our animals in a humane and loving manner that allows them to live as free, happy and loved animals. ⁕We Pledge to utilize no-till / minimal-till techniques and to only use tillage in extenuating circumstances to protect our soil and the soil-ecosystem. ⁕We pledge to be transparent in all of our business practices and marketing. ⁕We pledge to give back to our community by being a voice for environmental stewardship and the importance of local, sustainable and pure food. ⁕We pledge to allow visitors to our farm and to show them our fertilizer, our growing practices, our soil and water reports and our seeds or anything else they would like to see which is related to our growing practices. ⁕We pledge to use local sources, when available, and when they meet sustainable and purity standards as set forth in this pledge, for all inputs and feed on our farm. ⁕We pledge to continuously improve and to strive to be greater stewards of the earth, supporter of our local community and to never stop learning and increasing our awareness of growing practices that bring health to our community and our planet. ⁕We pledge to allow customers to pay-what-they-can-afford and to never turn away a hungry person when within the financial parameters and reasonable ability of the farm and our family. ⁕We pledge to always pay our employees the best we can and to NEVER give ourselves a raise until we give them one first. _________________________________
CSA PICKUP DAYS 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 - It may or may not come this week. It is "on the edge" or being ready to harvest.
Beets - CYLINDRA is the variety and they are AMAZING! Long cylindrical beets with a juicy and sweet flavor. Oh, we love these! They are also HUGE - and the greens - OH MY!!!!!
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.
Daikon Radishes - Absolutely STUNNING daikon radishes this week! These purple "Bravo" radishes are gorgeous and they have that daikon bite to them. Absolutely perfect for pickling!
Basil - Remember to dry this if you don't use it! We give you a bunch too, so it's great for pesto!
Fennel - The fennel is here again this week and will be for a few more. The fronds on these are huge! If you haven't dried them, make sure you do! Sprinkle dried fennel on pizza or pasta and I bet you will love it!
Lettuce - Not much lettuce this week. It may all be 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.
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:
Expect more of the same next week, an abundant share! Arugula will come back next week and so will baby kohlrabi greens. We can also expect scallions and more kale, radishes, turnips and carrots. That's it for this week! Love you to pieces! Yosef, Havah, Kids and Team The Camire Family
