Cedar Grove Farm:  CSA Availability for 8/13

Hi all,

We are open for business! You order, we pick, you eat. Simple.

Enjoy the offerings!

Cedar Grove Farm

Dawson Local Harvest:  August Update

August Update

Dawson Local Harvest

Still plenty of Produce for you this week. BRADLEY FARMS is adding Okra and Blue Lake Green Beans. LEILANI’S has plenty of big Tomatoes and recommend any pepper lovers try the wonderful Giant Marconi Pepper, a big delicious Italian grilling pepper, and GRACE ACRES FARMS is adding Fresh Eggs and still accepting deposits on their Free-range Chickens.
Take a look at what;s on the menu this week at The Market.

THE MARKET IS NOW OPEN! REMEMBER! You can order until Tuesday night at 8pm. Pick up your order at Leilani’s Gardens Friday afternoons from 4 to 7pm.

You’ll find the DAWSON LOCAL HARVEST at http://dawsonville.locallygrown.net

We thank you for your interest and support of our efforts to bring you the healthiest, the freshest and the most delicious locally-produced foods possible! We guarantee your satisfaction with all products in DAWSON LOCAL HARVEST.

Savannah, GA:  Biodynamic Farming

By Dr. Mercola

Industrial chemical-based agriculture, which produces the vast majority of US food crops, is actually destroying the soil that makes the growing of food possible in the first place.

This is not true in other countries. Worldwide, 70 percent of the food is grown in backyards or small farms. That number is likely well under two percent in the US. It is my goal to motivate, inspire, and encourage tens of millions of people to start growing their own food so we can radically change these numbers.

You likely know I have been active in supporting the labeling of GMOs and I think this is great, but even better would be to eliminate their market and one of the ways we can do this is by growing our own nutrient-dense food in our yards or community gardens.

The featured film, One Man, One Cow, One Planet, presents one inspiring alternative—"A blueprint for a post-industrial future, revealing what an environmentally friendly biodynamic food system capable of feeding everyone could actually look like."

However, I strongly believe that there are far simpler and less expensive ways that would allow most of you to effortlessly grow your own food. And in the coming years, I will seek to inform you on how to easily and inexpensively do that.

The Drawbacks of Chemical Agriculture Make It Unsustainable

One particularly destructive aspect of industrial agriculture, which for the most part is little more than 50 years old, is the proliferation of genetically engineered (GE) seeds—seeds that, in India, for example, cost farmers up to 400 percent more than conventional seeds, and produce 30 percent less yield…

One 2006 study found that 60 percent of Indian farmers using GE seeds could not recoup their investment, causing more than 250,000 farmers to commit suicide. Many can’t even feed their own families. And yet farmers are increasingly left with few options, as Monsanto and other chemical technology companies are buying up seed companies, effectively eliminating the competition.

Proponents of genetic engineering claim GE seeds is the most effective way to feed the world, by producing plants unnaturally equipped with internally-produced insecticides, or with genes making them resistant to chemical herbicides. Some are advertised as drought resistant, and/or higher yield producing. But, the truth turns out to be quite different.

GE plants produce foreign proteins making them highly allergenic, and more often than not, they actually require more water to thrive, and therefore end up producing less than conventional seeds. In the end, everything and everyone suffer more because of the “chemical marvels” of modern agriculture, and the corporate control of our food supply.

Additionally, the industrial farming practices that use GE seeds waste massive amounts of water and contribute to large losses of our precious topsoil. Simple inexpensive alternatives can virtually eliminate the need for irrigation and create, rather than decimate topsoil.

GE Crops Destroy Soil Fertility—Possibly Irreversibly

As GE plants increasingly take over the major food-producing areas of the world, including the US, China, India, Argentina, and Brazil, reduced soil fertility has a high probability of leading to worldwide famine on a scale never previously seen.

The mechanisms for this loss of soil fertility are just beginning to be understood, and what was recently only theory has inched closer to reality as science shines more light on the consequences of introducing genetically engineered organisms into the soil.

Special genetic elements (vector DNA) are present in all GE plants. This vector DNA enables unrelated microorganism species to mate, but can also be transferred to soil microorganisms.

Soil fertility depends on the presence of a diverse blend of microorganisms, all serving different roles in balancing and optimizing the soil. But when unrelated species mate, the soil ecosystem loses diversity, which is proven to damage fertility.

Until recently, the transfer of genes between GE plants and soil bacteria was only theoretical. However, this mechanism has now been demonstrated by science, and it’s our soil’s worst nightmare. It should be noted that this same process of gene transfer has also been shown to occur in your gastrointestinal tract when you eat GE foods—turning your intestines into a virtual pesticide factory…

Biodynamic Farming Benefits Earth and Man

The video features Peter Proctor and Sarvdaman Patel, two biodynamic farmers working in India. Over the past 15 years, Proctor has watched a slow but steady grassroots revolution occur, with biodynamic farms spreading across India’s countryside.

It’s important to realize that the entire food chain is connected, from soil, plant, and insect health, all the way up to animal and ultimately your health. That is why it is so important to pay attention to the details as supporting the diverse set of soil microbes at the bottom of the food chain ultimately supports your health.

Biodynamic farming is a spiritual-ethical-ecological approach to agriculture that was initially developed by Dr. Rudolf Steiner1 (1861-1925). This approach can provide far superior harvests relative to conventional chemical based agriculture. It provides superior crops both in volume and increased density of nutrients, and biodynamic farms are completely self-sustaining.

Biological gardening has been one of my passions for the past few years, and I have read many books, every issue of ACRES USA for the past few years, and interviewed many experts in this area. So far, I’ve attempted to apply this by converting about 50 percent of the ornamental landscape around my home to an edible landscape.

Over these past few years, I have applied many different strategies to improve plant growth, such as vortexed compost tea, rock dust powders, magnetic structured water, ionized water, biochar, many types of foliar sprays, and ground covers like woodchips.

I really enjoy this challenge as to me it is like a puzzle, and if I solve it there are massive benefits to large numbers of people, not only myself. My three decades of studying health and treating tens of thousands of patients helped provide me with the basic science necessary to understand these systems, which has helped accelerate my solving this puzzle. I have learned that complex and expensive solutions are rarely the foundational answer. Just as in human health, the final answer is actually really simple… And although I haven’t carefully studied biodynamics and read Dr. Steiner’s voluminous work, I believe I’m familiar enough to form a few conclusions

Martin's Farmstand:  Where is the honey?

The online market is open for orders. We have a big planting of beans that is getting ready this week. We can fill lots of bulk orders as this planting has grown as nice as can be. It is also time to make your winters supply of pesto. Basil is abundant now. Later as the nights get cool the basil is not near as nice. Canning tomatoes should become abundant in the later part of August.
Dad had 9 hives of bees this spring of some very good Russian stock that is doing well in this climate. He has been aggressively dividing these bees so there is 4 times as many hives now as there was. This splitting weakens each hive and they will need most of there own honey for winter and to build up in the spring. If the fall honey flow is good there may be some honey for us also but Dad says not count on it. Daniel

CLG:  Opening Bell: Jalapeno Sauce, Cukes, Herbal Tea, Apples, Tomatoes...

Good afternoon,
The gardens keep producing during this very unusual summer, so let’s keep enjoying all the local goodness while we can! Green Acres has some wonderful apples and Barnhill Orchards has bulk okra. Don’t miss out on the meat specials Falling Sky Farms and Farm Girl Natural Foods are offering. Stock up or give as gifts. Hardin Farms will be taking a few weeks off to get ready for fall crops: 20 acres of 25 varieties of decorative and winter squash, along with pumpkins of every shape and color.

Check out all the Featured Products as well. Use the SEARCH field on the main Market page to quickly find the items you want.

Come early for the best selection from the EXTRAS table.

The market is now +OPEN +for orders. Please check your email about 5 minutes after you place your order to make sure you get an order confirmation. Thank you for being a valuable part of CLG!

Have a great week!
Steve

How to contact us:

DO NOT REPLY TO THIS EMAIL. Instead…

Phone or text: Steve – 501-339-1039

Email: Steve – kirp1968@sbcglobal.net

Our Website: www.conway.locallygrown.net

On Twitter: @conwaygrown

On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Conway-Locally-Grown/146991555352846

Local Farms First:  Garlic and MUSTARDS!!!

Greetings Local Farms First food lovers!

New Products

Ostara Farm has new different kinds of mustards!! These local condiments will brighten up your weekly dishes!!

Also there are a few different kinds of Garlic on the market!! Order them this week and taste the different varieties and flavors!!

This is your last chance to order!! Please log on to the website and place your orders before monday at 7AM! Dont forget how important it is to support local farmers!! Thank You!!

Here is a list of other items on the market this week! ENJOY!

Arugula,Basil,Beef,Beets,Bok Choy,Cabbage,Carrots,Chickens, Chives,Cilantro,Collards,Cucumbers,Eggs,
Ellens Pickle Products,Crafts,Greens
Flowers,Garlic,Exotics,Gooseberries,
Honey ,Hot Peppers,Plants,Turnips,Juice,
Kale,Lamb,Lavender,Thyme,Mint,Jam,
Onions,Oregano,Plums,Pork,Radishes,Sage,Salad Mixes,Swiss Chard,Tomatoes and Zucchini

Thanks for supporting local family farms,
Amy Konash- Market Manager
LocalFarmsFirst.org – a 501c3 non-profit
970-641-7682
click here to start shopping on the website:
www.LocalFarmsFirst.com

Russellville Community Market:  RCM Opening Bell

Welcome to another RCM Market Week!

Be sure to check out the newly listed items this week! Lots of great, local products to be had!

Happy shopping! Eat Local!

Check out the “Featured Items” section as well as the “What’s New” section at the top of the market page for all the latest products available.

Be sure to “Like” our Facebook page for updates and food-related events in your community!

To ensure your order is placed, make sure you click the “Place My Order” button once you have completed your shopping. Remember, you have until 10:00pm Tuesday evening to place your orders.

Happy Shopping! See you on Thursday!

Russellville Community Market

FRESH.LOCAL.ONLINE.

The Wednesday Market:  Weekly Reminder to Order; Eggplant Experiment

Good afternoon to The Wednesday Market community. We hope you are having a good weekend!

The Wednesday Market is open for orders. Please place your orders by 10 p.m. Monday. Orders are ready for pick up between 3 and 6 p.m. Wednesday. See the website for all of this week’s offerings. Here is the link: http://wednesdaymarket.locallygrown.net/market

Do you like to cook? What kind of a cook are you? I am a “by the recipe” kind of a cook. The way I see things, my life is just too busy to spend time working on something that might or might not work out correctly. By using a recipe, I hedge my bets that my project will be successful.

Once in a while, though, I experiment. Such was the case on Friday night when we did not have plans to go anywhere. Having been given a big bag of Japanese eggplant, I decided to figure out something to do with them. They were long and skinny. How would I make eggplant Parmesan out of these?

I started by slicing the eggplant into thin round slices, so that they looked like large coins. I put them on a parchment lined baking sheet, brushed them with olive oil and sprinkled them with salt and freshly ground pepper. Into the oven at 400 degrees they went. At this point, I left the project with my capable sous chef and better half, Joe, so that I could run down to Freshway for some Parmesan cheese. By the time I returned, the eggplant was successfully roasted, and Joe had put them into a pan on the stove and poured a jar of tomato basil spaghetti sauce over the top; the sauce and eggplant were simmering gently. Joe had also made a big pot of angel hair pasta. The kitchen smelled heavenly with the aroma of garlic and basil wafting through the air! I sliced a big loaf of Italian bread and toasted it in the oven. I pulled a jar of artichoke bruschetta from the pantry, and we headed to the table.

Dinner was served: roasted eggplant and tomato basil sauce over angel hair pasta topped with grated Parmesan cheese and artichoke bruschetta on the side. It was delicious! Even our boys, Stephen, 10, and Charlie, 5, gave the meal two “thumbs up.” The moral of the story: It is fun to experiment once in a while. You just might discover something really good!

We hope that you will be inspired by the bounty of The Wednesday Market farmers and try something new, too.

See you on Wednesday!

Thanks,

Beverly

ALFN Local Food Club:  Ding! Ding! Ding! The Market is OPEN!

Merry Sunday Morning, Y’all!

In case you haven’t noticed, there’s an impressively oppressive combo of heat and humidity in the air. It sure does make me thankful that I can order a week’s worth of fabulous, locally grown groceries from the climate controlled comfort of my couch. What am I planning to order this week? I’m so glad you asked!

Pasture raised eggs. A staple in almost every household, when it comes to versitility eggs can’t be beat. (Ha!) Whatever your favorite farm, don’t forget to add a dozen or two to your order. Breakfast just wouldn’t be the same.

Bratwurst. Arguably the easiest hot dinner for those days when there’s precious little time to cook. Boil brats for about half an hour. (Bonus flavor points for boiling them in beer!) Meanwhile, make a salad or roast a veggie. Plop brats in buns with mustard and a tasty fermented relish, or the condiments of your choosing, and enjoy! The best part is, with so many farmers offering so many flavors, there’s bound to be something for even the pickiest eater.

Peppers. Green, red, or purple. Sweet, spicy, or downright flaming hot. The Market is full of a myriad of peppers suited to any possible purpose you can imagine. Stuffed bells? Fresh salsa? Homemade pepper vinegar? Order now, and you can have it all!

-Rebecca Wild
Program Manager

Do you have questions or comments about this, or any, weblog? Thoughts on local food, goods, or events? Reply to this email and let us know what’s on your mind. Your feedback is always greatly appreciated!

Fresh Harvest, LLC:  Fresh Harvest for August 10th

Market News

Hello!

Last week there was a mild computer glitch that held up the email, so many didn’t receive it on Sunday night. Thanks to those of you who let me know so that I could resend another on Monday morning! Please know that you can always go directly to the website, Freshharvest.locallygrown.net , to place your order on the Market page. You don’t need to have received the email to place an order. The Market will always be open Sunday through Tuesday nights.

We got some good soaking rain the past few days, and now it is feels like a steaming jungle out there! The rain really helped the ground for prepping for Fall planting so now we can finish getting in those cool season crops like kale, lettuces, radishes, beets and and carrots.

We are feeling pretty wealthy in tomatoes right now, and are thoroughly enjoying sharing that wealth with you all. Please gracefully accept the riches that fall upon you this season. Do not be burdened by abundance. Rejoice in your good fortune, and eat tomato sandwiches!

There is no regular ‘Genovese’ basil this week, but it will be back in a week or two. If you haven’t tried it yet, the cinnamon or lemon basils are a really great change of pace.

We continue to have blueberries this week, although supplies are dwindling!

Once again, thanks so much for your support, and we look forward to seeing you on Wednesday!

John and Tallahassee

Coming Events