Waiting for Spring

Waiting for Spring

With the nighttime temperatures nearly at zero, we are desperately searching for some significant signs of spring.  Here is today’s list of cabin-fever-beaters:

• Today is the equinox, and the days are noticeably longer. 

• The sun melts the snow and ice off of our solar panels much more quickly than it did a few months ago. 

• The crab apple tree in our yard that holds its fruit all winter long is this week attracting robins, deer, turkey and squirrels. 

• We think that a pair of bald eagles may be sitting on eggs in a new nest down the valley from our farm.

Food Democracy Now

Here is a short message from organizers at the national Food Democracy Now group.  There have been many voices raised against the corporate bullying of Monsanto over the years, and this lawsuit is but the latest attempt to curb the huge power Monsanto wields in agriculture and in Washington.  No matter what your feelings are regarding tampered genetics and food production, we can all recognize the dangers of allowing a monopoly corporation to put small farmers out of business.  Following is a simple summary from the FDN, followed by a short paragraph that I added to a letter to the DC court.

On January 10, family farmers will enter a courtroom in Washington DC to take part in the appeal of OSGATA vs Monsanto et al, a court case filed to protect farmers from genetic trespass by Monsanto’s GMO seed, which contaminates organic and non-GMO farmer’s crops and opens them up to abusive lawsuits. In the past two decades, Monsanto’s seed monopoly has grown so powerful that they control the genetics of nearly 90% of five major commodity crops including corn, soybeans, cotton, canola and sugar beets.

In many cases farmers are forced to stop growing certain organic and conventional crops to avoid genetic contamination and potential lawsuits. Between 1997 and 2010, Monsanto admits to filing 144 lawsuits against America’s farmers, while settling another 700 out of court for undisclosed amounts. Due to these aggressive lawsuits, Monsanto has created an atmosphere of fear in rural America and driven dozens of farmers into bankruptcy.
Farmers need your voice today. Please spread the word.
http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/sign/farmers_vs_monsanto/

As a small-scale vegetable farmer, I need to have all options possible to make a living - gmo-free seed, access to open-pollinated and hybrid seed, organic seed and the ability to save my own seed.  Having a corporation control any of those historically vital agricultural essentials threatens my ability to produce food for my community.  This is not a time to be swayed by corporate lobbyists and high-paid lawyers.  Rather, it is a time to stand with America's farmers and all consumers for basic human rights and dignity, and to begin to return our food system to a human, not corporate, scale.  Thank you, from Erik Sessions,  Patchwork Green Farm, Decorah, Iowa

Holiday Greetings from Patchwork Green Farm!

2012 was a more challenging growing season than we have had for a number of years.  The dry, hot spell during the summer lasted way too long, and there was only so much we could do to help the withering crops.  Although we lost a few crops and had diminished yields of many others, we were amazed by the resilience of the plant kingdom in the face of adverse conditions.  The bounty we were harvesting in October bore witness to the power of plants to survive and thrive once conditions allow.  How about those sweet fall carrots in November?

In 2012, our CSA members helped us donate $1200 worth of fresh produce to the Food Pantry at Decorah Lutheran Church.  We sent regular bags of summer squash and cucumbers, jalapeno peppers and onions through the summer.  This fall we hauled in large bags of cabbages, lettuces, winter squash and rutabagas.  The volunteer staff at the pantry conveyed the gratitude of participants for all the local produce, and I think it all got used!  Demand for food pantry services is up significantly again this year, and we thank our CSA members for helping us contribute healthy fresh food to our neighbors.

The seeds have been ordered for 2013, and, after last season, I am working on a beefed-up drip irrigation system.  I would like to grow more carrots next spring and fall, and we’ll of course be trailing some new tomato varieties.  We (and our customers and members) love sweet potatoes, and although I have had mixed success with them in the past, we are going to make a concerted effort to produce a great crop this year.  As our family is finishing the last of the late-fall lettuce and kohlrabi, we are already anticipating spring spinach and asparagus!

We are updating our CSA materials for the 2013 season, and welcome your patchworkgreen.com browsing after the first of the year.  

Grab one of our Sunshine winter squash at the Coop this week, and make an easy, beautiful and nutritious bisque for a cozy winter meal after the holidays.  See you next season …..

Erik Sessions and Sara Peterson, Patchwork Green Farmers

New benefit at Luther for CSA's

Here is some information on the program from the Luther's site on this program:

"Luther will pay for half my vegetables?

Wellness and Sustainability are collaborating to offer Luther College faculty and staff a 50% reimbursement on their CSA vegetable share. To receive the reimbursement you will simply need to attend 2 summer book discussion and luncheon events and 2 local foods cooking classes. Very important to note: Reimbursements will not be made to individuals that do not meet the aforementioned requirements. September 1st is the date by which you can expect to be reimbursed, given that you meet all the requirements.

Find out how Luther will help you pay for your CSA and start enjoying your locally grown produce. Employees must enroll with a CSA program by May 1st. "

https://www.luther.edu/sustainability/food/education/csa/

Alliums!

Lots of onions, leeks and shallots are growing in our heated greenhouse. Spring is here! Erik is nervously checking the forecasted low temps. for the next week. I am hoping we don't have to move too many flats into our living room because of frost.

Diversifying a Vegetable Farm...

Erik was recently part of a workshop on Diversifying a Vegetable Farm through Wholesale Markets held on Dec. 8 in La Crosse, WI. Learn more: http://www.landstewardshipproject.org/pr/11/newsr_111110.htm

How to peel a head of garlic in 10 seconds...

How to Peel a Head of Garlic in Less Than 10 Seconds from SAVEUR.com on Vimeo.

New workers?

We start them young at Patchwork Green! Cousins walk up the path to the garden last weekend...

Did you see our ad?

Patchwork Green was part of the recent Inspired Magazine (http://theinspiredmedia.com/):

2011 Updates Made

Hello all,

The website has been updated with new dates, veggies and more. We are also working on a new brochure: