What to Expect! (for Thur 9.10.09)

Full Shares: Butternut Squash, Tomatoes, Collards, Baby Bok Choi, Beets, Lettuce, Potatoes, Peppers – Bell & Hot, Eggplant, Cukes (pickling), Squashes – summer, Green Beans, Farm Herb , Apples – Mac

Half Shares: Butternut Squash, Tomatoes, Collards, Baby Bok Choi, Lettuce, Potatoes, Peppers – Bell & Hot, Cukes – (pickling), Green Beans, Farm Herb, Apples – Mac

Note From The Farmer:

"As we labor to pick and pack your shares today, we are struck by how blessed we are individually and collectively. We are encouraged by the support of almost 700 members, who have enabled us to grow to over 25 delivery locations. With our collaborative farm partners, we are growing and providing for literally thousands of families and individuals. All of these consumers are supporting local, sustainable, organic and viable farms. Collectively over 1500 acres of farm land is dedicated to these practices on behalf of this generation and many successive ones to come.

Ethel and I couldn’t be happier (even in the midst of some very troubling weather circumstances for the 2^nd consecutive year) that our children and their mates are working side by side with us to live the dream of helping many to come into their best health physically, emotionally and spiritually.

Please know that we value each of you and want you to feel free to call or email us with both your concerns and favorable comments. Just this week I received two emails from the same local drop site, one person raving about the produce and signing up for the fall share, and another who was disappointed because there were yellow leaves on the Bok Choi and holes in the Chinese cabbage. They also were concerned about the quantity of the produce in a half share.

First, this is an organic farm and the produce is not perfect nor do we make claims to such. Farm life and the produce mirror our weather and other variables such as field diseases and pests of many kinds. We believe, as do our fellow growers, that the single biggest reason to grow organically is to lessen the toxic overload that is all around us today. Everyday we are subjected to over 1400 toxic substances especially so if you live in an urban environment. All of these threaten our health in subtle and significant ways. My good friend Dr. N Thomas LaCava (who is a board certified pediatrician and a clinical ecologist and specializes in treating enviromentally ill patients) tells me the single most important aspect of recovery from ill health is to eat organic vegetables and fruit as well as organic meats! I have known Dr. LaCava for over 25 years and he is responsible for helping me to recover my health in my middle 30’s. I was very close to dying having suffered with cyto-megla virus, eppstein-barre virus, crohns disease and serious life threatening asthma along with being allergic to literally everything. I say this to encourage all of you to consider why you support us. It isn’t about perfection…it is about working together for everyone’s best, most especially our next generation. We are so grateful that our son and daughter-in-law have raised our little Siena (who is 15 months old and incredibly healthy) in a truly healthy way. Organic food, breast-feeding healthy play all of which have produced a loving, contented (as much as any baby can be )and very healthy child.

This is what we stand for. If you believe that a farmers market or a grocery store would better serve you then by all means purchase your vegetables there. Be aware that produce that is certified organic or IPM at least, local and sustainable ensures your ability to best nourish your whole person. We are 100% committed to continuing this process, now and for the foreseeable future.

Please join us for our Fall, Winter and Spring shares. We will continue to buy the best organic produce from the same sources that you see at Whole Foods like Lady Moon Organic Farms and Cottles Organic Farms from Florida and North Carolina during the off-season. With Enterprise farm as our off-season partner, we have developed relationships with many organic farms that will grow for us as well as receive our in-season produce in return. What better way to encourage regional distribution pathways, farm to consumer. No warehouses, limited transit time and fresh direct to you."