Week of November 3, 2014
Abbreviated Weekly Farm Report
From Friendship Farms & Fare
http://www.fffsite.org/
A Community Service To the Local Farming Community
Visit Us At EcoFest/EcoMart Next Week
November 8 and 9
Sims Park, New Port Richey
As a sponsor and strong supporter of Pasco County EcoFest, Friendship Farms & Fare and Ecology Florida will have a table at the EcoFest EcoMart in Sims Park, in downtown New Port Richey. We’ll have brochures, vegetable seeds, seedlings, and loquat trees. The event is a lot of fun, and a very important part of the developing consciousness of sustainability in Pasco County.
3F to team with Ecology Florida and Market Off Main To bring Seed Saver Exchange Seeds to New Port Richey
Heirloom Seeds Coming in November to Market Off Main In New Port Richey
Through a cooperative arrangement with Friendship Farms & Fare and Ecology Florida, the Market Off Main, in New Port Richey, will soon offer a wide range of organic, heirloom, non-GMO seeds exclusively from Seed Savers Exchange. The seed display and sales area will be presented to the public in November.
Programs and Plans
Our 5th Year
Thanks to everyone who has renewed. Your support is empowering and encouraging. If you have any questions, send us a message, and we’ll answer or clarify.
So far, we have ten shares. We are expecting one new share this week, which will give us eleven – just one short of our goal of twelve, which is about what we need to break even.
We often receive questions about the Friendship Farms & Fare project. We are happy to send an information brochure with details on our mission and our various programs. Here is a brief sketch of our programs:
We offer heirloom organic seeds, including seeds from plants acclimated to local climate and soils. We have a good stock of several types of okra (including the much desired Red Burgundy), robust arugula, and our famous Calabrese Broccoli. Friendship Farms & Fare is a licensed seed dealer in the State of Florida, and a member of Seed Savers Exchange (with several listings in the SSE Yearbook). Later this year, in cooperation with local markets, we will begin offering an extensive line of Seed Savers organic seeds.
Organic seedlings are available throughout each growing season. We use our own seeds from previous years whenever possible, and otherwise, we use only organic seeds and heirloom varieties when available. We never use seeds from for-profit seed sellers, and we do not offer seedlings grown from such seeds. Friendship Farms & Fare is a licensed nursery in the State of Florida.
A developing area of our mission, is our fruit tree project. At present, we offer loquat and avocado trees, with a few native flowering shrubs. We are a state-registered nursery, and among a small number of nurseries in the region offering loquat trees. We also are pleased to host (along with Ecology Florida) the Florida Loquat Festival, held each spring in New Port Richey.
Our original project, and still our central focus is a Community Supported Agriculture program. This is a small (“boutique”) CSA, featuring organic produce from our gardens and local cottage industry foods. We are 100% organic and have a no-kill policy. Our program is recommended for single persons, couples, or (at most) three-person families.
When quantities are sufficient, we offer produce to the general public through local markets, such as Tasty Tuesdays and Market Off Main in New Port Richey. Folks can also make requests through our website. Non-members can request any and all items on the share list for $20.
Our newest project is a community garden, dedicating a portion of the 3F farm for use by others in the community. The community garden is located in New Port Richey, and operates through the City’s urban agriculture ordinance. The 3F community garden follows the standard policies of Friendship Farms & Fare. We are 100% organic, non-GMO, and have a no-kill policy. With the exception of the predatory Marine Toad, no animals are harmed on our farm. We follow permaculture principles, and working with and within our natural systems.
If you would like to know more about any of these programs or would like to volunteer to share in our mission, just let us know. Folks interested in the Friendship Farms & Fare project can contact us through our website. http://www.fffsite.org/ See the “Let’s Talk” section for an email connection.
Contributions to Friendship Farms & Fare are now tax-deductable. If you would like to offer financial support, your contributions will be a wonderful enhancement to our project – and they will be tax deductable.
Garden Overview
Fall Planning and First Plantings
(additional details and assessments follows)
As noted previously, shares are relatively light, although production is increasing. We have arugula and the small shares of collards. We might have enough late-season eggplant for most shares, but we cannot guarantee. Sweet potatoes are finished and leaves are on last call. Okra is unlikely, but there are still some pod producers.
See the Share Report for all items.
Arugula
Arugua is thriving now. There is almost enough for full shares for all shareholders. We were going to start some seeds, but there have been so many volunteers springing up all over the gardens, we will probably skip the formal seeding.
Kale
Kale is coming along slowly, but stronger by the day. We should have some leaves in a week or so. We started more seeds this week, and installed the remaining seedlings from Cadle’s Cove Farm.
Collards
Georgia Southern Collards are trendsetters for the fall garden. Plants established before the first wave of rain and heat are now producing leaves large enough to harvest. Vates collards are developing more slowly.
Swiss Chard
Some of the swiss chard is starting to leaf out. It looks like it might be a couple more weeks before we have enough to harvest, but the cooler temperatures may accelerate growth. 5-Color chard is out pacing the others.
Broccoli
We have started over 300 seeds in the past week, and had 100% germination – remarkable. These are our (3F) Calabrese broccoli seeds. We still only have about a dozen or so in the gardens. We’ll plant more this week.
If you are starting a garden, please check with us first for seeds and seedlings. Our seeds are from our own harvests of heirloom varieties that have become locally acclimated. They are heavy producers with extended seasons. They typically out perform any commercially produced and packaged seeds. Also, by acquiring seeds from us (or other responsible local growers), you are keeping resources in the community. All 3F income goes directly back into the farms. Friendship Farms & Fare operates as a not-for-profit business under the charter of Ecology Florida, a 501 C3 corporation.
Spinach
We missed our start date, and will start spinach next week – a week behind.
Cucumbers
Cucumbers are not a typical fall crop, but we’ve had success before, so we are trying again this year. These are a Japanese variety, Suyo. We started seeds last week, and had 90% germination. Seeds are from Seed Savers.
Eggplant
We are still harvesting eggplant, but it won’t be with us much longer. Many plants are still floweing and many are still setting fruit. We will probably have several this week. Include in your share request if you like, but we cannot guarantee supply. Look for eggplant for another week or so.
3F Produce for non-shareholders
Non-shareholders may order shares for $12 per week. For this nominal amount, contributors may request any items they desire from the weekly Share. Although we will assist with transmissions, it is the responsibility of the contributor to make arrangements for pick up of the share.
As always, non-shareholders may request single items from the share list for $5 per item. A full share for one week (any/all items) is $12.
Just reply using the website contact link if you desire anything on the list. We suggest non-shareholders start an account to cover costs of items.
The 3F Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Project
Friendship Farms & Fare operates a unique small-scale (boutique) CSA, involving few participants, and using very basic management techniques. We are 100% organic and use permacultrures principles. Our program is recommended for single persons, couples, or (at most) three-person families. The cost of a share is low by typical CSA standards: $300 per garden year (October through September). This works out to a bit less than $6.00 per week. Donations are also gratefully received, with all donations going to maintenance and improvement of the gardens and groves.
If you are interested, contact: friendshipfarmsfare@gmail.com
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Visit the Friendship Farms & Fare website for the Weekly Farm Report:
http://www.fffsite.org/#!report/c1tuh
Friendship Farms & Fare is a branch of Ecology Florida, a not-for-profit corporation. Contributions to Friendship Farms & Fare and Ecology Florida are tax deductible. To learn more about Ecology Florida, please visit the website:
http://www.ecologyflorida.org/
If you would like to support our mission and individual projects, you may share donations through our website (above) or at our mailing address:
Ecology Florida
PO Box 596
New Port Richey, FL 34656-0596
Friendship Farms & Fare reaffirms, restores, and advances agrarian ideals to reestablish a sustainable culture
Ecology Florida advances the harmonious integration of healthy natural, cultural, and economic ecologies to regenerate a resilient world
