News From Hunters' Greens CSA Farm

This season feels like we're getting off to a solid early start. The garlic crop looks great, more than a foot tall and virtually weed free since we weeded in January. The dry weather has allowed us to work up the fields for the spring vegetables, while we leave cover crops to continue growing on the summer vegetable ground. The first planting of peas is about an inch high, while the second planting is just poking shoots through the surface. We've planted some short rows of Walla Walla onions, and seeded two long rows of the sweet Mokum carrots. We've never got carrots in this early before. Carrots need well worked soil, and it is usually too wet to do that this early. The catalog suggests around April 1, so we fudged it a little.

Another reason for the early start is the inspiration that having another farmer on the property has provided. Jim has always envied how early Brenda Millar of Rosemattel CSA gets crops harvested, and this year we get to watch it happen. Brenda's passion seems to really be for growing things, so she is chomping at the bit the minute the sun peeks out. She already has all the ground we've allotted her tilled up with her little "pony" tiller, and is looking for spaces to interplant between the rows of existing crops. Brenda is a much more savvy composter than we are, and uses the compost as a mulch to retain water, reduce compaction and feed her plants (which explains the lovely tilth in her garden beds). Jim has never been much of a mulcher and tills organic matter into the soil, prior to planting. It will be interesting to watch our two systems side by side.

It is of course the time of anxiously waiting for new members to sign up. We're approaching half full with two months to go.

So that's the news from the farm. We'll keep you posted.

Diane & Jim Hunter, greens@huntersgreens.com
Hunters' Greens CSA, http://huntersgreens.com
Brush Prairie, WA. (360) 256-3788

Hunters' Greens CSA 2010 Shares Available NOW!

Dear Folks,

Just a quick note in case you might be interested in our 2010 Community Supported agriculture shares. Details are at huntersgreens.com. This year's shares are $450. The winter share will be $100. A couple changes from the past are that we no longer deliver to Fisher's Landing and our delivery hours in uptown Vancouver start an hour earlier at 5:00 p.m. Wednesdays.

Hoping all is well with you.

Diane & Jim Hunter, greens@huntersgreens.com
Hunters' Greens CSA, http://huntersgreens.com
Brush Prairie, WA. (360) 256-3788

Spoken & Written Word Services Available From Local CSA Farmers

Hello Community Members!

On behalf of two local community supported agriculture farmers, we would like to present to you our public service outreach and article writing services at no charge! Seasonal eating on a local level is becoming more and more popular yet many folks do not know how to get in touch with the all of the options local csa farmers have to offer. We would like to share with your group/organization to illustrate a version of community supported agriculture and how that ties in to the farming viability of the Clark County areas your members may not be aware of.

Feel free to return this email or give us a call to find out how we would are able to tie in a monthly article for your monthly or quarterly newsletters and 20 minute presentation of what a CSA farm operation is. We will also include the details of efforts and benefits behind it all.

Looking forward to hearing from you soon!

Sincerely,

Brenda Millar and Jim Hunter
Rosemattel's and Hunters Greens CSA Farmers
(360) 576-9767

2010 VSA Shares and CSA Coffee Talk w/ Rosemattel's CSA & Five Star Farms

Open House CSA Farm Produce Subscription Information Night Every Monday of November at 8806 NE 159th Street Battle Ground WA 98604. Learn how your subscription to a CSA farm is healthy for your family and the "growing" community! By supporting your local Clark County Farmerettes you are keeping agriculture alive! Free admission!

Free coffee or tea and take home an organically grown winter squash. Other farm products available for purchase as well.

Don't have time for an open house? Already know what a CSA is?

Also accepting payment plans for 2010 CSA Season! Pick up days are as follows:
Monday Afternoon at 159th farm from 1-3
Monday evenings at Barberton Grange 4:30-5:30
Wednesday Afternoon from 2-4
Friday Afternoon from 2-4
Saturday at BG Farmers Market located at 199th and 503 (BG Cinemas Shopping Center) 9-3

For pricing and harvest week details, please see
rosemattelscsa.com
fivestarfarms.biz

Southwest Washington CSA Farms @ the Clark County Fair

News from the Southwest Washington CSA Farm group:

Southwest Washington CSA Farms will be the Featured Agriculture event at the Clark County Fair this season. We are super excited to have a large stall to showcase what your local CSA farmers are doing. We will have hands-on dirt digging for the children, as well as a raised bed to see. Come by and see us! We're very excited to be given this opportunity, and to be sharing it with you!

The Clark County Fair starts Friday and runs from August 7th to August 16th.

Wishing You Had Signed Up For A CSA This Season?

Well you're in luck! The growing season is just starting to ramp up and there is plenty of time left to enjoy the bounty of our awesome Southwest Washington CSA farms. Here is a short list of a few CSAs that still have space for one or two more shareholders.


Dancing Crane - Battle Ground - SHARES AVAILABLE
Bernie Crane - 360-687-1210
incana@teleport.com


Gee Creek Farm - Ridgefield - SHARES AVAILABLE
Lyle Stanley - 360-887-0463
www.geecreekfarm.com

Gus & Co. - Ridgefield - SHARES AVAILABLE
April Jones - 360-601-6671
www.gusandco.org

Providence House Farm - LaCenter - SHARES AVAILABLE
Tammy Woltersdorf - 360-904-2578
providencehousefarm@gmail.com

Red Basket Farm - Battle Ground - SHARES AVAILABLE
Kate Rae - 360-687-7030
bkaterae@comcast.net

Rosemattel’s CSA - Vancouver - SHARES AVAILABLE
Brenda Millar-Stanton - 360-576-9767
otbgsm@yahoo.com

Wisteria Gardens, Inc. - Vancouver - Brush Prairie - SHARES AVAILABLE
Kevin & Jo Lyn Cornelsen - 360-907-1151
www.wisteriaphotos.com

Call around to a few farms and talk to the farmers. They all have different personalities, different crop varieties, and different programs. I know you'll find one that feels like a good fit for you. These folks are some of the most passionate growers you'll ever meet and they are all dedicated to providing you and your family with the healthiest, freshest food available ANYWHERE. If my little, amateur, urban plot is any indication of how productive this season is going to be, I am confident that the pros will have you up to your ears in outstanding food for the next few months.

Now go and git yer CSA on!!

WSU Master Gardeners Presents: A Tour of Clark County CSA Farms

WSU Master Gardener On the Road Tours
Tour of Clark County CSA Farms
Thursday, June 18, 2009
8:30 - 4 p.m.

This final "Master Gardeners on the road " tour of the year will give residents of Clark County an up close look at four farms and gardens that offer community supported agriculture memberships as a way to be self supporting.

WSU educators and the farmers themselves will provide commentary throughout the tour.

The $35 registration fee includes a catered luncheon prepared from local ingredients by Anna Petruolo of "A Dinner Together".

Registration for the tour can be made online at:
https://ocrs.wsu.edu/Signup/?eventid=534

Please call Carolyn Gordon with any registration questions at:
360-397-6060 X7718.

The four tours stops include:

Garden Delights is a Brush Prairie farm run by a mother-daughter team who enjoy working in the gardens and flower beds, then sharing delightful edibles and crafts with you. They feature dried herbs and flowers grown without herbicides, pesticides or chemical fertilizers.

Wisteria Gardens: is a picturesque small family farm nestled on 20 acres of gently rolling meadows and groves of shady trees. Guests will enjoy strolling around the formal farmhouse landscape, visiting the peacocks in the cottage garden and relaxing in the shelter of the park pavilion.

Rosemattels CSA Farm located in Vancouver has had such success that they have expanded to a second growing field in Felida. The tour will enjoy a catered luncheon while exploring the vegetable beds and learning about how to run a CSA.

NW Organic Farm: The owners purchased their farm in Ridgefield, and since no pesticides had ever been used on the land, were able to "go organic". Fortunately, organic farming was becoming more accepted commercially so they were able to start out right. No land reclamation or purification was needed. Their goal is to help the education of the consumer in any way they can.


Carolyn Gordon
WSU Extension Clark County
Master Gardener Coordinator
11104 NE 149th Street C-100
Brush Prairie, WA 98606
360-397-6060 X7718
FAX 360-397-6122

WSU Extension programs and employment are available to all without discrimination. Evidence of noncompliance may be reported through your local WSU Extension office.

Sweet Deal for CCF&F Readers From Rosemattel's CSA Farm

As a supporter of Clark County Food & Farm, Rosemattel's CSA farm would like to make the following offer to our fellow Clark County Food and Farm fans. For anyone who purchases and pays in full a full share from Rosemattel's and mentions the code CCFF09, Rosemattel's will give the purchaser a discount of 50.00 for a full share and 25.00 for half shares.

You can read all about Rosemattel's CSA Farm by visiting our web site www.rosemattelscsa.com, and blog Rosemattel's Blog.

Please contact Brenda for more info and a copy of the Rosemattel's 2009 CSA Shareholder Contract Form.


Thanks!
Brenda Millar-Stanton
Rosemattel's CSA Farms
(360)576-9767

Dee Creek Farm CSA Openings!

Just in case you've been procrastinating with your commitment to a CSA subscription this year, I just got word from Summer @ Dee Creek Farm that they have a few spots left for their CSA this year. They also run a poultry CSA as a separate offering that still has a few spots open as well. Here's the scoop from Summer:

Produce CSA

If anyone is interested in a Produce CSA subscription with Dee Creek Farm, please email, as we have a few openings. Our season goes from July 1st - October 31st, and is $400, half due up front. With limited space, let me know as soon as possible!

Poultry CSA

Well folks, I've been promising this long enough, and usually have it out by January, but alas, here is the Poultry Order Form for 2009! Please let me know if you have any trouble opening it, or if you'd rather a print out. You can also order via email, and I can fill it out for you. Your order is not final until I confirm your order directly, and then receive your deposit.

To learn more about how we handle our poultry, check out our website, where you can find descriptive information about how we raise our chickens. We take pride in growing quality-pastured chickens that are healthy, tender, juicy, and tasty!

What Makes Our Poultry Unique

- I (Summer) am a board member with the American Pastured Poultry Producers Association

-Our pastures have been chemical-free for over 35 years

-We use fresh grains from a local mill to supplement foraging,

using custom recipes, and working with animal nutritionists

-This summer we will mix and mill on the farm for quality assurance

-We are the only licensed facility in SW Washington, legally able to offer

our poultry with options (cut up, delivery, farmers market, etc)

- On-farm processing promotes humane, healthy, and sustainable practices

- We offer a diverse array of products produced at the farm, supporting a more

full "shopping" experience, as well as promoting healthy, well-rounded land,

based on permaculture practices

For various reasons, this year there are several local poultry farmers that are cutting back in a big way, or not raising poultry at all. Because of this, and since often we're already sold out many months in advance, I'd suggest you place your order sooner rather than later.

Also because we raise our poultry for 7-24 weeks, it is imperative that you place your order sooner than later. Please prepare for the "off season" (November-April) when putting in your order as well.

Below I've attached the Poultry Order Form (*NOTE: You'll have to e-mail Summer for a copy of the order form because I can't post a Word document here @ Blogger*) . Please read through it, fill it out, and email me your order or me to confirm before you send/give payment. We can arrange for you to mail a check, or pay at deliveries.

How it works, in a Nutshell

We generally get our baby chicks in March, and finish in October. That way our chickens are raised during the most nutritious seasons for foraging. This means that we have chicken available May through October. Our turkeys will be ready early this year, near late-September.

This season our meat chickens are Cornish Cross. Our stewing hens are various breeds of layers: Sexlinks, Black Austrolorps, Aracauana, and others (and only available when I put it in a Thursday Locavore Delivery email, not by pre-ordering). Our heirloom turkeys are all bronze - no white broad breasted this year!

We offer a Seasonal Chicken CSA, or one-time purchases. For either, we need your order as early as 8 weeks in advance of pick up. For our Seasonal CSA offering, you will need to commit to a minimum of 4 chickens per month, for at least 3 consecutive months. This will ensure that your order will be filled, and at an excellent rate of $13.00 per 3.5-4 pound bird (approximately 10%-15% discount from our retail price). If you choose to make an order for one-time pick up, our price per pound is $3.85 for chickens & turkeys. We expect our turkeys to be 15-23 pounds each.

A deposit of $5 per chicken, and $25 per turkey, is due with y
is due with your order, and will be applied to your total. The remaining balance is due when you retrieve your meat.

Generally your meat pick up should coincide with our weekly deliveries. If not, you will get a heads up so that you can make arrangements!

Please understand that the weather plays a big role in things. We will only have what is available in season. This keeps in tune with nature, and promotes quality rather than quantity - on various levels (soil, animal health, etc). As a reminder: be sure to plan ahead for the winter months, when there will be no chicken or turkey available.

Summer & Spark
Email
Farm Phone: 360-225-9711
Cell Phone: 360-903-6956 (no service at the Farm)

Agriculture is Dead in Clark County? Really? Are you sure?

So I went to the 78th Street workshop last night and all I can say is WOW. What a turnout and what an awesome, intelligent, thoughtful, and community-conscious group of folks who participated. Looks like the TAC report got some heavy support thrown behind it by participants of the workshop (God bless you Deston) and people had all sorts of excellent ideas about how the property could be developed as a catalyst for the future of agriculture in Clark County and yet stay true to the historical, agricultural use of the site. Seems like we've come a long way from the relatively recent comments and reports that agriculture was dead in Clark County. Looks like it's time for a few folks to pull their chair up to the table and eat some crow...

I want to express my most sincere thanks to Commissioner Marc Boldt, the county planning staff, and the many volunteers who helped facilitate last night's workshop. Great job everyone!

And I'd like to let the members of the 78th Street Aggies how much I love you folks for all you did last night and for everything you do for our community every day. I know that many, many of the folks were there last night because of you. You are the lifeblood of the sustainable agriculture revolution taking place in our community. Here's to making the 78th Street site the heart of the revolution!

It was so cool to see folks from the Farm Bureau Clark County agriculture's "Old Guard", earthy young folks, CSA farmers, Master Gardeners, Vancouver Food Co-op members, Tom Wagner of Tater-Mater Seeds (independent plant breeder and educator extraordinaire) and the 2009 Tom Wagner Great Tater Mater Grow Out, the WSU Extension, folks who are just plain passionate about local agriculture and farming, young professionals, folks from the Clark County Food Bank Coalition, permaculture enthusiasts, Clark County's very own cowboy poet Boyd Johnson and ag geeks like yours truly all together and all working towards a common goal.

I am positively stoked about the energy that filled the Gaiser Middle School cafeteria. And at the end of the night, as we all strolled around the room and stuck our dots on the uses for 78th Street that we were in favor of, it was rapidly apparent that we have given our county government and WSU a mandate to develop the site as a center for agriculturally focused sustainability, education, research, community programs, and agriculture/food related recreation & business. development. Woo-Hoo!

We are on the verge of raising the national bar for what community supported sustainability and agriculture means. The 78th Street site has a long way to go before it represents the dreams of the participants in last night's workshop, but we're off to a strong start. Let's keep the momentum going!

If you missed the workshop or if you have never heard of the 78th Street/former WSU Extension/Old Poor Farm site, click on the links below and you can get up speed.

http://www.clark.wa.gov/78WSU/
http://www.abundancepermaculture.com/papers.html
http://clarkfoodfarm.blogspot.com/2009/03/wsu-78th-st-master-plan-whats-happening.html
http://clarkfoodfarm.blogspot.com/2009/03/wsu78th-street-project-update.html
http://clarkfoodfarm.blogspot.com/2009/03/comment-regarding-wsu78th-street.html
http://clarkfoodfarm.blogspot.com/2009/03/78th-street-aggies.html
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=59654344791&ref=nf
http://clarkfoodfarm.blogspot.com/2009/03/78th-street-project-april-9th-workshop.html

Meet the Farmers CSA Event Tonight!

Hosted by the Loo Wit, SW Washington Sierra Club Chapter
SW WA CSA Farms "Meet the Farmers"

When: February 11th, 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Where: Clark PUD, Downtown Vancouver, 1200 Fort Vancouver Way
MAP

This event will feature local community supported agriculture (CSA) farms from southwest Washington.

We will learn about community supported agriculture, how to determine if a CSA is right for you, and be able to talk directly with the farmers.

Organic edibles, crafts and even pet food is provied by our local farmers!!

Everyone welcome! Hope you can join us.

For more Information: Geri Rowe at rowe9629@comcast.net

News from Summer & Spark @ Dee Creek and Locavore/Farm Connect Delivery for 2.11.2009

From Summer & Spark @ Dee Creek:

Yesterday we awoke to snow again! Not much, just enough to be absolutely beautiful! We got news over the weekend that our county did qualify for some disaster assistance, and will know more details in a week or so.

Yester-eve was spent preparing our 'parts list' for a hoop raising party here at the farm this coming Sunday. More details on our website calendar. Please contact the farm or Anne if you'd like to participate! While you're on the website, check out our Blog for several new entries!

We have a few new events scheduled for February, also on our website calendar. Tomorrow night is our second (and last for this season) Meet the Farmers event at the Clark County PUD building - across from the library on Mill Plain Blvd. Come and explore your CSA options! This event is FREE to the public.

This week we have extra 'tea party' goodies -- jam, teas, cheeses, soap (okay, not very tea-like, but still a new something!). And for all you love birds out there, happy Valentines Day! ~Summer

*****

Cheeses,
All of the milk produced for our deliveries cheeses are from goats raised at Dee Creek farm. The cheeses are handmade here, too! Just in time for V-Day: Two styles of red pepper spiced aged cheese.

Hot-4-U, $6-8.75/4.3-6.3oz packages
Good plain for snacking, grating, or melted on a burro or pizza! This heart-shaped cheese with locally grown red peppers in a spicy, aged, unpasteurized, goat cheese.Somewhere between Gouda and Cheddar with ZING! Check out the photo below!

Valentella, $5.50/4 oz packages
Heart-shaped, goat cheese similar to above, but melted and hand-stretched before molding.

Wyatt, $1.38oz/sizes vary from 4oz-7oz packages
This semi-hard, Gouda-style, unpasteurized goat cheese was aged with a natural rind, rubbed with Olive Oil.The character is recumbent of a wild bleu cheese, with an untamed, musky note.

Aged Feta, $5.50/container retail, $5.00/container CSA - block or crumble
Creamy block or crumbles of unpasteurized aged feta. Try in rice dressing, warm pasta dishes, pear & hazelnut salad, deviled eggs, bowl of beans.


Eggs,
$5/dozen
$2.50/half-dozen (limited)
Through February eggs will be less predictable, and so we are not offering the CSA option this month. This week we will have eggs from DCF (at last!), Creative Outlet, and Nature's Choice. Be sure to recycle egg cartons that you pick up at our deliveries with us!


Raw Honey,
Quart/$12, Pint/$7, Half-pint/$4
Raw honey in glass (sometimes plastic) jars form Honey House Farm in Brush Prairie - super local! Great for allergies! Assuming all goes well, we'll stop in at their place on Thursday for honey before deliveries.


Dried Herbs, $4/packet
From Garden Delights in Brush Prairie, these herbs were hand prepared from chemical-free herbs. There are several mixes available, including: Dilly Dip, Italian Blend, Mexican Blend, Herb Dip, Herb Butter, Herbal Dressing. All great in soups, dressings, dips, butters, cheeses...


Jellies, $5/8oz jar
Strawberry, low sugar
Apple, low sugar
Raspberry, low sugar
Blackberry, low sugar
White Grape, NO sugar
The above also come from Garden Delights, in Brush Prairie. A multi-generational farm, this Mom and daughter team work hard on creating healthful, local, and delicious foods. Generally known for their herb packets & natural doggy treats, they are also a produce CSA farm!


Herbal Teas, $3/each
Minty Cocoa (chocolate mint, peppermint)
Cold Calming (sage, dutch tea time, lemon balm, chamomile)
Lemon Mint Medley (lemon balm, peppermint, spearmint)
Stress Relief (lemon balm, chamomile, lavendar)
Hand blended by the ladies at Garden DElight with chemical-free herbs, mostly grown at their farm, these blends are sure to be delicious! �Each comes with 4 tea bags.


Wild & Naturally Preserved Eats,
Mushrooms, Fresh - 1/4 lb bags
Maitake, $4.00
Shiitake, $3.00
Mushrooms, Vacuum packed Frozen 1/4 lb packs
Porcini 4.50
Chanterelle 4.00
Mushrooms, Dried half-pint jar
Chanterelle, $5.00
Porcini, $5.00
Berries, Vacuum packed Frozen 1 lb packs
Elderberries 5.00
Himalayan Blackberries, $3.50
Wild Huckleberries $9.00
Organic Blueberries $4.00

Dried Snack and Meal Helpers -
(Already chopped, diced, sliced, portioned, and packaged just right for 1-2 meals)
Org. Walla Walla Onions (great for snacks, sandwiches, salad toppings...) $1.25
Org Red Onions (great for stir-fry, burgers, sandwiches, macaroni & potato salads...) $1.25
Org. Heirloom Tomatoes (snacks, great for pasta or rice dishes, saute` w/vegs...) $2.00
Dried Wild Elderberries $2.00
Frozen or Dried Rosehips, $2.00
The above comes from Nature's Choice, a Vancouver business, operated by a couple who collects & sells wild eats, and prepares naturally preserved foods.


Natural Soap, $4/bar
This was hand crafted by Summer (me!) for the holidays, but with the snow and flooding, our holiday specials sort of went by the wayside. No worries! With a bit of snow, the peppermint bars will still be glorious! They are made with various oils, and contain no fragrance, just essential oils! The vapors are soothing and head-clearing.

*****

Remember that in an effort to be more efficient, and less wasteful, we're going to stop writing individual receipts when you place your order, if possible.

Anyone and everyone can order from our deliveries, not just "subscribers"! To any newcomers on the e-list, welcome! Also rest assured that all farms contributing to our deliveries all meet several standards: chemical-free, sustainable, natural, family farming... If you have questions about any of them, don't hesitate to ask, or check them out yourself!

To order, click here and specify what you would like.
All checks go to "Dee Creek Farm", or bring cash.
**BRING YOUR OWN BAG**
We fill pre-orders first, then it's first come, first served!
We do mostly pre-orders at deliveries, rather than Farmers Market style.
Please help us in this by pre-ordering what you can!

Summer & Spark
Email: summer at deecreekfarm dot com
Farm Phone: 360-225-9711
Cell Phone: 360-903-6956 (no service at the Farm)

Looking for a Few Good CSAs

Bill and Laura Cole of Nature's Choice are looking for CSA farmers who are interested in some added value for their subscribers. The Coles have offered the freshest wild gathered mushrooms, berries, fiddleheads, nettles, etc. to folks frequenting local farmer's markets and the Locavore/Farm Connect crowd for years. I can personally vouch for the quality of their product. Sounds a great deal to me! If you are a CSA farmer who is interested in the Nature's Choice product line, read on for more details. If you are a CSA subscriber, let your farmer know about this added value offer and get 'em onboard.

WE’RE LOOKING FOR A FEW GOOD FARMS !!!

After several suggestions from customers and brainstorm discussions with a few of our farming friends, Bill and I put our heads together to come up with ways we could work with others in meeting the needs of our growing locavore & health minded community. We have put together a special CSA supplemental package of strictly wild-crafted edibles that can serve as a wonderful compliment to seasonal CSA produce, meat and dairy packages already offered by local farmers. The cost is expected to be just under $20.00 per week and we will offer membership flexibility and a payment plan so folks can try us out.

We are hoping that after you have a chance to review the details, you might find us a nice fit as a ‘value added’ package to offer alongside your CSA subscription offering. We are open to tailoring a brochure to compliment your own materials, and would love to offer a 5% discount for anyone who signs up through your CSA, just for being your customer. We can make arrangements to deliver the weekly basket to you in time for one of your regularly scheduled deliveries or farm pick-ups, and are open to other ways that we might accommodate a joint effort, such as offering some of your products through our own weekly delivery efforts.

If this sounds like something that might interest you, I would love to get together at your convenience either by phone or over a cup of coffee to answer any questions and to discuss how we might work together. My direct number is 360-852-7851 or you can drop me an email.

Hope to talk with you soon.


Cheers

Bill & Laura Cole





Laura Cole
Nature's Choice
(360) 852-7851 Phone
(360) 852-8835 Fax
www.natureswildharvest.com
laura at natureswildharvest dot com