CSA DELIVERY WEEK of 9/1-Important please read

Dear CSA Members,

 

Yesterday I told you about the death the Alfaro Family (the family that works with us) is experiencing. Your emails of kind thoughts and prayers have poured in-your willingness to come together as a community and help the farm and step up for the Alfaro family is just wonderful.

 

So we've decided based upon the email help we've recv'd to go ahead with next week shares without our crew. Here's what we need from you. Please do not feel bad if you are not able to help. We should be ok based upon the amount of members that are offering to come out.

 

If you are able to come out and help on Saturday 8/30 Danny will organize some mass picking -like potatoes, onions. Monday 9/1- Labor Day we'll need as many people as we can to help prepare for Tuesday & Wednesday shares. If you can come please know you can arrive as early as 8am- we'll need help up until we finish come early, come later -just come. Pack a lunch, wear comfortable clothes you will probably get wet & or dirty. Mud boots or shoes you don't care about. Hats are a must in the prep area or you'll have to wear a hair net. We have gloves & aprons for adults.

 

Just to confirm we are going ahead with next week shares. CSA members and farmers are going to need to step up to help our food community here. I'm confident we can!

Thank you again for all your kind emails. I will print them off and give them to the Alfaro family when they return.

 

A very special thank you to my husband Danny for really stepping up and picking everything besides the tomatoes that went into Fridays shares this week. We both feel we owe to the the Alfaro family, a family that is SO close, and so hard working to take care of the business at hand.

 

If I could just share one thing I really want everyone to know about them-is that they are the closest, happiest family I have ever met. Anyone that has been out here helping, and has had lunch on the porch with us knows what I am talking about. Our thoughts and prayers are with them.

 

Thank you again for being the BEST csa members we've ever had. This is one great group!!

 

Sincerely,

 

Danny & Michelle

Maple Creek Farm

 

 

 

It's a sad day for Maple Creek

This morning one of the members of the family that work with us was killed in a car accident. Needless to say we all have broken hearts. We have told the Alfaro family to take as much time as they need to deal with this tragedy.

 

Danny & I plan on finishing the week-we will do Friday 8/29 CSA delivery. Our concern is next week. We do not yet know when they will be able to come back and I do know it won't be the full crew I am sure of that. So for right now next weeks csa share delivery is undecided. I need you to please watch for updates. I will keep you informed as how things progress. If we do have to skip any deliveries next week we will make it up by adding it to the end of the season.

 

Here's what we could use help with. If you are able to come out tomorrow Thursday 8/28 and help then please come. If we do decide to make shares next week, we'll need all the help we can get. Monday, Tuesday will be the biggest need days. Once again I will let you know if/and how short crew we are.

 

Thank you for your understanding. Please keep the Alfaro family in your prayers. They need them.

 

Sincerely,

 

Danny & Michelle & kids & crew too!

 

 

Farm Conditions for Farm Tour 8/24

It seems like all we have to do to get some rain out here is schedule a farm tour!

 

Just got back from looking around-we did need the rain we got last night. 1.3 inches. things are a little sloppy -so mud boots are going to be required today.

 

We'll only be offering tours by wagon today-walking is just too muddy. We can get you around most of the farm today-there are a few areas we'll have to avoid due to sloppy soil-although last nights rain may hamper the farm tour today, it is defiantly worth it :)

 

If the drive way is full park on the road.

 

Time 2-5 you do not have to arrive at 2, we'll have time to do a couple tours. If you arrive while one tour is going on-hang out until the wagon returns and we'll show you around on the next wagon load.

 

Heads up on this weeks shares: cantaloupe, radishes, watermelons, tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, onions, and more...starting to harvest celery this week too. if you didn't get purple beans last week in your share it will be your turn this week.

 

Farmer Danny has been really busy planting. We have new beans sprouting and fall green mixtures along with more peas and beets for your fall shares. 1/2 of the crew spent the entire day Wednesday planting more lettuce, swiss chard, broccoli & cabbage for the fall. Our most recent plantings of cucumbers and summer squash are really taking off now that the current plants are fading.

 

We're really proud that the planting has continued. This season is one of our more successful with the lettuce this time of year-we've worked hard to keep seeds going in the greenhouse so that in the next few weeks we can go back to a regular supply of lettuce for the fall for your csa shares. It's not easy keeping lettuce going in the months of July & August due to the heat. It takes a commitment on everyone here to keep the greenhouses watered several times a day. Conor our daughter has been diligent about this responsibility and has been an impact of the success of the lettuce crop-along with Juan, Jr. & Anna who commit their Wednesdays to planting while Fernando & Carmen weed.

 

Danny is always busy rovating, planting, repairing-you name it, and Michelle is on delivery. It's a busy time of season-thanks for letting me share it with you.

 

I'll get the photos I took this morning soon.

Eat & Be Well,

 

Michelle Lutz

Maple Creek Farm

www.maplecreekfarm.com

some really great sweet corn

This Saturday 8/16 at Royal Oak Farmers Market I will have the pleasure of offering some really nice organic sweet corn. We're there from 7-1 and we are inside the building. Our banner hangs above our tables-we're near the east enterance.

 

We'll have some other great food too, but the sweet corn is a one time offer-there will not be another Saturday of Maple Creek Farm organic sweet corn-this is it, so tell your friends and come grab some great ears.

 

Hope to see you there. Royal Oak Farmers Market is located on E 11 Mile-one block from Main Street. Across from the library and police station.

 

I know it's Dream Cruise weekend, so come early before Woodward gets busy :)

 

Your Organic Farmers,

 

Danny & Michelle Lutz

Maple Creek Farm

 

What's in your share week#9

Hello CSA Members,

 

Your share's today are some of the best so far this season. Let me warn you they are heavy –but hey that's a good thing!

 

We're passing out sweet corn this week and it looks like this will be a one week special crop. Our goal is to give every share a dozen ears of sweet corn. I really don't brag a lot about our produce, but this sweet corn is the best corn I have ever had. Remember to best enjoy sweet corn you want to consume it as quick as possible after it's been picked (the sugars start turning to starch). So have some for lunch or dinner J

 

Sometime this week I will be posting the 2009 csa season info for current csa members. This info will include a renewing member discount and it will include a special opportunity for the first 100 members to sign up and pay in full for their 2009 csa season. We are going to be offering special 15 year celebration tote bags designed by csa member Joan Tobin (her company eat local food) in your first share for the 09 csa season!  If you are anxious to renew, don't worry your opportunity to do so will begin soon and as promised current csa members will be given about a month to have first choice to sign up for the next season.

 

What's in your share this week? Week #9 8/12 

 

Onions yellow, more of a pungent onion this week

 

Green Peppers (sweet)

 

Hot Pepper mild to medium heat level, mixture

 

Spaghetti Squash

 

Cabbage

 

Sweet Corn

 

Watermelon-yellow doll (yes, the flesh is supposed to be yellow, very sweet!)

 

Enjoy!

 

 Danny & Michelle, kids & crew too!

Maple Creek Farm
810 387 4365
www.maplecreekfarm.com

 

 

A few csa memberships have opened up

We have a few csa memberships that have opened up. There are only 2 locations on Friday that we have a some room to add members. Our New Baltimore location (members home near Green Ave & Base Street) on Friday mornings & our St. Clair Shores location near 14 Mile & Jefferson) also a members home on Fridays) have room to add a few more members.

 

If you are interested please contact Michelle at the farm 810 387 4365 or by email mlutz@maplecreekfarm.com

 

Membership cost will be prorated to reflect that the beginning of the season was missed. If you are interested please let me know.

 

Michelle Lutz
Maple Creek Farm
810 387 4365
www.maplecreekfarm.com

 

 

Tingular(?) shorts,...

Tingular(?) shorts, covered shorts, pick up numbers. I have been able to walk the boxes down to your pick up location. Yes, the road is close, you can get about a half a block parking distance from where the house is. If you have any questions please feel free to call me on my cell phone. I did e-mail you that number this morning. Thank you. listen Powered by Jott

Maple Creek Farm Tour Date 8/24

Our next farm tour date has been selected.

 

Sunday August 24th from 2-5pm

Maple Creek Farm

11841 Speaker Road

Yale, MI 48097

 

This is a casual gathering of people who want to see our farm. Depending on farm conditions we might be able to walk, but we for sure can take people around on the wagon so you can see the farm where your good food is growing.

 

Join us a meet lots of other people that care about local organic agriculture-just like you do!

 

My recommendations: wear shoes that are comfortable that you don't mind getting dirty. Bring refreshments and snacks if you think you will need them. Wear sunscreen and hats as there is no covered area out in the fields.

 

A wagon ride takes about an hour so we should have time for a few tours around the farm. You do not have to arrive exactly at 2, if you come a little later, we'll just put you on the next wagon ride.

 

There is no need to rsvp, just come.

 

This tour will be cancelled in the event of serious weather (thunder and lighting).

 

This event is open to the public, so yes, you can bring a friend. Our September pot luck is reserves for only current csa members and is not open to the public. We will be sending out info about the potluck soon.

 

Come see us on the farm!

 

Sincerely,

 

Danny & Michelle Lutz

Maple Creek Farm

www.maplecreekfarm.com