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market-farming - Re: market-farming digest: November 13, 2002

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Subject: Market Farming

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Chronological Thread  
  • From: "Hook Family" <guldann AT ix.netcom.com>
  • To: "Market Farming" <market-farming AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
  • Subject: Re: market-farming digest: November 13, 2002
  • Date: Thu, 14 Nov 2002 09:27:03 -0500


Phil wrote:We run around a total of 30 acres figuring in sweet corn, we do
not have
enough water to water it all, even the town around us has nothing to spare,
we did buy a lot of water until we got shut off.

Then Marie answered:
Regards to the list:

This year, all our early crops were drowned (believe it or not). I gave
our CSA customers a choice of a refund or more stuff later if we had
anything later. They all took more stuff later and they ended up
getting their money's worth. I know we weren't obligated to give their
money back but I don't think I could have kept it if we hadn't come
through with the food. I hope it's something I don't ever have to find
out what I'll do.

My 2 cents:
Phil on your 30 acres what do you grown just corn or varied veggies for
famer's market or ?

From various andecdotes I have heard Maries above story is about right on.
A post sometime ago a CSA farmer said she made bread to include in a few
less than stellar weeks and the next year when things were on track members
asked if she was going to do bread again :).

Phil most CSAs are no where near 30 acres of cultivation. We are only 2 of
varied crops if one doesn't like drought its neighbor might. Plus we can
use drip lines. There is a CSA an hours west of use that has 100+ members
and I think the farm about 10 acres (from casual observation I think their
share is a bit smaller than ours, plus alot are boxes to city which of
course negates a bit of space needed for that many folks to upick).

In the back of our mind we knew we would not expect our members to stand for
a complete failure however that seems to be the beauty of such varied crops
and a membership. Most crops do fine and you tell them x did not. Our
lettuce was worst ever, although I somewhat blame the grocery stores and
corporate ag for that :). Lettuce is a cool crop tomatoes warm and we are
expected to have both together :). I know I know try a heat tolerate type.

But the peppers were stellar. Tomatoes also good yield if a tiny bit later
than would have like. Potatoes past two years tons and tons. Every year it
is not a perfect mix of what is on my harvest chart that goes into the
brochure. But while there might be a crop thats is not great or even 2.
Most crops do as promised and quite a few are great.

Part of my job is to each week tour the gardens (its sort of continuing all
summer process to keep a mental inventory) and say ok this up coming week I
can offer x of these and x of these etc. Our upicks are great as well its
an activity so helps keep folks here to enjoy the farm (yes darn it that is
part of their job to have fun) and the upicks are basically take what you
want. So you might have no lettuce but you've got 8 pints of string beans,
yum cold pasta salad.

My multi year members are good at using what they get. I love one's
comment, that she loved not having to decide. She gets here and x is ready
and then she goes to store if necessary and gets pasta or cheese etc to go
with it. Many have learned to go to grocery store after pick up. I also
love the feed back "Oh I had guests this week for supper and they could not
believe how good x was"

All that said in a questionable year; the year before last for me; it can be
stressful when you have to argue each week with garden "Look garden I've got
40 memberships showing up this week and you've got 10 zucchini ready" Thats
the year I invented (ok stole the idea) the assorted table. On one table
I'd put the few zucchini and the few watermelon and few whatever else there
was not enough of and I'd say take one item off this table. People didn't
hate it one said she liked it. Every veggie is not everyone's favorite and
the assorted table let a few take their favorite and leave something else
behind.

Well ramble ramble must be off season, Beth







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