We are now on our every other Friday Winter Market schedule from 3:30 - 6:30: Please see Previously Announced section for dates of the Winter Market.
IT'S CSA TIME
Yes, it's time to sign up for the Honey Tree Acres CSA. There is a limited number of spaces available in the CSA. For more info or to sign up http://www.honeytreeacres.com/#!csa/cewk You may also obtain further information by stopping by their booth at market. To learn more about their farm, their philosophy, and their growing practices, please read their story below.
Honey Tree Acres is a small family owned and operated farm located 3 miles north of St. Leon, Indiana. Our farm has gone thru many transformations over the last 40 years – beef cattle, hogs, a dairy, corn and soybeans, etc. In 2010, our Dad decided to pursue his dream of implementing a different farming model that would support our families and our community through responsible farming practices. While our Dad didn’t live to see his dream fulfilled, we have continued to carry on his legacy by making his dream, and ours, come true. In 2014, we began building the infrastructure to support a sustainable farming model by building greenhouses and high tunnel houses to allow us to start all our plants from seed and extend the growing season. In addition to the Soy Free, Non-GMO eggs and poultry we had been raising for years, we also began raising and selling vegetables and cut flowers.
We believe being a sustainable farm requires going “Back to
the Future” - learning from the past to be successful in the future. Honey Tree Acres has no desire to compete
with the large, mega-farmers. Like our family’s
ancestral farmers, we feel that small, family owned farms can still be
economically viable and successful today by partnering with the community to
provide fresh, nutritious produce without the use of modern day synthetic
and/or chemical fertilizers, herbicides or pesticides. We want to be a trusted partner with our
community and consumers through openness, honesty and integrity. Developing relationships built on a
foundation of trust is critical to our success and a cornerstone of our vision.
Yes, it's time to sign up for the Honey Tree Acres CSA. There is a limited number of spaces available in the CSA. For more info or to sign up http://www.honeytreeacres.com/#!csa/cewk You may also obtain further information by stopping by their booth at market. To learn more about their farm, their philosophy, and their growing practices, please read their story below.
Honey Tree Acres is a small family owned and operated farm located 3 miles north of St. Leon, Indiana. Our farm has gone thru many transformations over the last 40 years – beef cattle, hogs, a dairy, corn and soybeans, etc. In 2010, our Dad decided to pursue his dream of implementing a different farming model that would support our families and our community through responsible farming practices. While our Dad didn’t live to see his dream fulfilled, we have continued to carry on his legacy by making his dream, and ours, come true. In 2014, we began building the infrastructure to support a sustainable farming model by building greenhouses and high tunnel houses to allow us to start all our plants from seed and extend the growing season. In addition to the Soy Free, Non-GMO eggs and poultry we had been raising for years, we also began raising and selling vegetables and cut flowers.
In 2015, we significantly expanded our vegetable, cut
flowers and greenhouse offerings and introduced CSAs (Community Supported
Agriculture) into our model. We
completed all of our major infrastructure projects in 2015 and now have 2
greenhouses and 4 high tunnels ready for production in 2016. We also completed our walk-in cooler and
cooler house in 2015 which will facilitate our harvesting and storage of
vegetables and cut-flowers. The
completion of our infrastructure projects will allow us to completely focus on
our vegetable and cut flowers production in 2016.
Our major initiatives for 2016 are increasing our CSA memberships
and offerings, expanding our vegetable offerings and availability, increasing
our cut flowers and greenhouse offerings and begin developing farm based
programs for the community.
While Dad may not be with us physically, we know he is here
in spirit and can feel him smiling down on us every day.
While we are not yet certified organic, we follow organic
practices to ensure that our produce is nutritious and healthy. We use only non-GMO seeds for our produce and
raise soy-free, non-GMO eggs and poultry.
We also believe that, much like the foundation of a house is
critical to the longevity and stability of a home, the soil is the foundation
of the farm – it all starts in the soil.
We continue to expand our comprehensive soil management program using
cover crops, composting and mulching to ensure that our crops reap the benefits
of a well-balanced eco-system. We use
soil testing to track our progress and make necessary adjustments prior to
growing the produce.
We also follow safe food handling processes
and procedures and require everyone who helps us on the farm to do the same.
NOTICES
- Be sure to check out the next newsletter for information about how Jenny the Pie & Much More Lady will be expanding her offerings.
PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED
Some of you are long-time readers of the newsletter; others are new to the market and are reading the newsletter for the first time. This section is included each week to bring your attention to important happenings around the market and around town.
WINTER MARKET DATES AND INFO
Other pertinent information: We will continue with our very successful pre-order program (more details below). A plethora of produce is expected throughout the Winter Market thanks to our farmers who make use of their greenhouses. Our vendors will be adding new items throughout the winter, so stay tuned for all the yummy updates.
Of course, Jenny will continue to make her wide array of baked goods, energy bars, doggie treats, and all your other favorite items. However, like all the other vendors, she brings only a limited number of items over and above what customers have pre-ordered, so please let our vendors know what you would like for them to bring for you. If you are not yet part of our pre-order program, please see further details below.
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Pre-ordering Pays Off
Have you ever arrived at market to purchase your favorite item/s from your favorite vendor/s only to be disappointed because the vendor/s sold out of the item/s? Did you know that no longer has to happen? At LEWFM you can pre-order your items and pick them up any time during regular market hours. Pre-ordering not only pays off for you, it also helps the vendors know how much to prepare/harvest, which greatly reduces waste. Pre-ordering is a real win-win for all, and it only takes a few minutes of your time to plan ahead and place your order. Given the importance of Eating Well, getting into the habit of placing your pre-orders each week will likely become a high priority on your weekly To Do List.
There are two easy ways you can place your pre-orders, in person at market or via email. Here's how the email ordering works: Email me at LEWFMLOCAL@GMAIL.COM and ask to be added to the vendor email pre-order list. Each week you will receive an email from the vendors detailing the items they have available for you to order that week. Reply to their email, letting them know the items you wish to order, then come to market on Friday to pick up your items.
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For a full listing of our vendors, their products, and services including:
Newsletter compiled by Mary A. Hutten, Market Manager
The remaining dates for the Winter Market are February 19, March 4 and 18, April 1, 15, and 29.
All vendors will be at market on the above dates except Mahlon. Mahlon and his pastured pork will be at market on the following dates: March 4, April 1.
All vendors will be at market on the above dates except Mahlon. Mahlon and his pastured pork will be at market on the following dates: March 4, April 1.
Other pertinent information: We will continue with our very successful pre-order program (more details below). A plethora of produce is expected throughout the Winter Market thanks to our farmers who make use of their greenhouses. Our vendors will be adding new items throughout the winter, so stay tuned for all the yummy updates.
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We're Going Noodles at LEWFM
Yes, thanks to Jenny the Pie & Much, Much More Lady, we now have homemade
noodles at our market. Please be aware that the noodles are a pre-order only item. Jenny makes the noodles from locally grown certified organic spelt flour and NON-GMO eggs from her own chickens. Yet another reason I often refer to Jenny as the "Queen of Local." She takes local quite seriously. Jenny uses these locally grown, superior ingredients to ensure that you have access to the highest quality products around. Thanks, Jenny, for all you do to help make our market great!
Of course, Jenny will continue to make her wide array of baked goods, energy bars, doggie treats, and all your other favorite items. However, like all the other vendors, she brings only a limited number of items over and above what customers have pre-ordered, so please let our vendors know what you would like for them to bring for you. If you are not yet part of our pre-order program, please see further details below.
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Have you ever arrived at market to purchase your favorite item/s from your favorite vendor/s only to be disappointed because the vendor/s sold out of the item/s? Did you know that no longer has to happen? At LEWFM you can pre-order your items and pick them up any time during regular market hours. Pre-ordering not only pays off for you, it also helps the vendors know how much to prepare/harvest, which greatly reduces waste. Pre-ordering is a real win-win for all, and it only takes a few minutes of your time to plan ahead and place your order. Given the importance of Eating Well, getting into the habit of placing your pre-orders each week will likely become a high priority on your weekly To Do List. There are two easy ways you can place your pre-orders, in person at market or via email. Here's how the email ordering works: Email me at LEWFMLOCAL@GMAIL.COM and ask to be added to the vendor email pre-order list. Each week you will receive an email from the vendors detailing the items they have available for you to order that week. Reply to their email, letting them know the items you wish to order, then come to market on Friday to pick up your items.
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For a full listing of our vendors, their products, and services including:
- Kids & Krafts, 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!
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