Below is another installment in the Walking a Mile in the Farmers' Shoes series. Actually, it would be more accurate to say walking several miles in the farmers' shoes. As you will learn by reading about all the preparation work they have been doing over the winter, at Honey Tree Acres they go the extra mile - and then some more miles - to bring you the very highest quality products. Why do they go to such lengths in their production methods? Because they care, and they know you also care, about how their methods affect their customers and the environment, of which we are all a part.
Currently, Honey Tree Acres is harvesting and bringing to market spinach, kale, several varieties of radishes, breathtakingly beautiful potted plants, and perhaps some last minute surprises from their fields and greenhouses. They grow all their produce and flowers from seed or bulbs.
They are also currently accepting members for their 2015 CSA. See Previously Announced section below for further details about their CSA.
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They are also currently accepting members for their 2015 CSA. See Previously Announced section below for further details about their CSA.
It all starts with the soil:
We strive to build a good foundation for the soil in an effort to
have healthier plants – translating to healthier produce for our
consumers. Soil prep is key AND it is
more than just tilling or hoeing. What
follows is a little explanation of what is involved in developing a Soil
Management Plan to provide the highest quality food – but, unashamedly, not at
the cheap grocery store prices. I share
costs in the explanation – not to cry poor or to try and justify our prices,
but to help educate everyone in what it really takes to raise high quality,
nutrient dense foods without the use of synthetic chemical fertilizers. Please read this for what it is intended to
be – an educational write up from the perspective of Honey Tree Acres Farm.
Our Soil Management Plan starts with soil testing to determine
what nutrients and trace minerals our soil has in sufficient supply or
insufficient levels. The results of
these tests are used in recommendations of what needs to be added to address
deficiencies (or an over abundance of something to the point of being harmful
to the plants). We attended the Acres Organic and Sustainable
Farming Conference in Columbus last December.
While there, we met and evaluated a couple of different soil consulting
companies with the goal of selecting a partner that we felt would be able to
most help us in developing our plan.
Once we selected our partner based on numerous conversations and developing a personal relationship (much like we do as a farmer with our consumers) we began the process for the soil samples. Late last fall we drew many samples from 8 different “zones” over our 4 acre growing area and sent these 8 core samples off to a soil consultant partner who specializes in detailed level analysis of nutrients and minerals. These guys get down to the nitty gritty detail of the micro nutrients and minerals that are needed. These tests, along with the recommendations, cost over $70 for each core sample (8 core samples) – a worthwhile investment in the development of a Honey Tree Acres Soil Management Plan - as opposed to a strategy built on hope (let’s plant these vegetables and hope they produce something). Based on these recommendations, we then work with the consultants to develop organic soil amendment blends and fertilization plans for the growing season – all at an additional cost over and above the soil testing – at least $1,500 for the growing season.
Once we selected our partner based on numerous conversations and developing a personal relationship (much like we do as a farmer with our consumers) we began the process for the soil samples. Late last fall we drew many samples from 8 different “zones” over our 4 acre growing area and sent these 8 core samples off to a soil consultant partner who specializes in detailed level analysis of nutrients and minerals. These guys get down to the nitty gritty detail of the micro nutrients and minerals that are needed. These tests, along with the recommendations, cost over $70 for each core sample (8 core samples) – a worthwhile investment in the development of a Honey Tree Acres Soil Management Plan - as opposed to a strategy built on hope (let’s plant these vegetables and hope they produce something). Based on these recommendations, we then work with the consultants to develop organic soil amendment blends and fertilization plans for the growing season – all at an additional cost over and above the soil testing – at least $1,500 for the growing season.
So, now we have our results, soil amendment and organic
fertilization plans for the growing season…now what? Our amendments were ordered and
blended and shipped in from Topeka, IN on the Michigan border. We applied these to the soil as soon as
they arrived. In the meantime, we are
also working into the soil compost that we have been developing since late last
summer. This compost will add good organic
matter to the soil that will help build the soil sustainably – again, without
use of synthetic chemical fertilizers.
All this is done when the ground is fit and typically before we plant anything
in the soil.
Once the amendments and compost are added, the soil is tilled and
the beds are ready, we are finally able to plant!! Next steps: plant and implement our
fertilization plan. More to come...
NOTICES
- This Friday marks the last day of the winter market schedule of 3:30 - 6:30. Next Friday, May 1, the market starts its summer schedule of 3:00 - 6:00.
NEWLY ADDED ITEMS
Although I'm not quite ready to make an announcement, be on the look out for something new within the next week or two. (A hint: it will be part of the Mt. Kofinas line of products.)
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Would
you like to do some very worthwhile work? Come join the fun at the
farmer's market. Your help with setting up the market between 2:00 and
3:30 and/or helping to take down the market between 6:30 and 7:30 will
be greatly appreciated! For further information you may email me (Mary)
at LEWFMLOCAL@GMAIL.COM or call me at (513) 481-1914. Thank you in
advance.
PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED
While some of you are long-time readers of the newsletter, people who are new to the market are reading the newsletter for the first time; therefore, this section is included each week so new folks can see what's happening around the market and around town.
COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE
Honey Tree Acres invites you to
share in our vision of a sustainable
future. New in 2015...we are launching the next phase of sharing our
vision of a sustainable future by partnering with a dedicated community
of 15 or so consumers through CSA (Community Supported Agriculture)
memberships. For those not familiar with a CSA, it is a partnership
between the farmer and a dedicated community of supporters who enter
into an agreement to share in the cost of the season's harvest in
exchange for "shares" of the harvest during the growing season. We will
harvest a wide variety of produce from mid-May through early
October to share with our members on a weekly basis. Details are
available on the Honey Tree Acres website http://www.honeytreeacres.com/
For a full listing of our vendors, their products, and services including:
PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED
While some of you are long-time readers of the newsletter, people who are new to the market are reading the newsletter for the first time; therefore, this section is included each week so new folks can see what's happening around the market and around town.
COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE
Honey Tree Acres invites you to
share in our vision of a sustainable
future. New in 2015...we are launching the next phase of sharing our
vision of a sustainable future by partnering with a dedicated community
of 15 or so consumers through CSA (Community Supported Agriculture)
memberships. For those not familiar with a CSA, it is a partnership
between the farmer and a dedicated community of supporters who enter
into an agreement to share in the cost of the season's harvest in
exchange for "shares" of the harvest during the growing season. We will
harvest a wide variety of produce from mid-May through early
October to share with our members on a weekly basis. Details are
available on the Honey Tree Acres website http://www.honeytreeacres.com/
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For a full listing of our vendors, their products, and services including:
- Kids & Krafts (available starting at about 4:15), where the kids can have loads of fun so you can leisurely shop the market
- Many food and non-food items
- and a list of vendors who accept credit cards
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Please share this newsletter with friends and family to help spread the word about LEWFM!
Produce Perks
For
those who noticed the logo at the bottom of the newsletter recently
and wondered what it means, here is the good news about a new program. Produce Perks is an incentive program that is
meant to encourage and help those who receive EBT (formerly known as
food stamps) purchase more produce. Produce Perks is a dollar for
dollar match (up to $10), with the matching dollars used on produce.
The Produce Perks website offers the following additional information:
Please
help us spread the word about this very worthwhile program. One way to
help get the word out is to stop by the market management booth to pick
up brochures to share with those you know who receive EBT benefits. You
could also leave brochures at your church, doctor or dentist's office,
or any locations that would permit you to do so. For
those who noticed the logo at the bottom of the newsletter recently
and wondered what it means, here is the good news about a new program. Produce Perks is an incentive program that is
meant to encourage and help those who receive EBT (formerly known as
food stamps) purchase more produce. Produce Perks is a dollar for
dollar match (up to $10), with the matching dollars used on produce.
The Produce Perks website offers the following additional information:“Produce Perks” is an initiative modeled after a similar program in Cuyahoga County. It is administered by OSU Extension, Hamilton County as a partnership of OSU Extension, Hamilton County; the City of Cincinnati Health Department; and the City of Cincinnati Creating Healthy Communities initiative. Focus is on access and affordability of healthy fruits and vegetables for under-served consumers.
Produce Perks are incentive tokens given to customers at participating farmers’ markets who use an Ohio Direction Card (“electronic benefits transfer” or EBT card) to purchase food. A customer wishing to use their food assistance benefits can swipe their card at one central terminal, located at participating market’s information booths, and ask to withdraw a desired amount. The market provides tokens for the transaction and additional Produce Perks that can be spent on fruits and vegetables. As the name suggests, Produce Perks are only good for purchasing fruits and vegetables. All other tokens purchased with the Ohio Direction Card are good to use on eligible items at the market.
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Please share this newsletter with friends and family to help spread the word about LEWFM!
We hope to see you real soon at Lettuce Eat Well Farmers' Market!
Newsletter compiled by Mary A. Hutten, Market Manager
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