20 Apr Fri 2012
Modern "barn raising" and market tomorrow
Greetings shareholders and friends,
The market tomorrow is in Springville, 9:00 until 11:00, at the Community Center downtown. I have another appointment tomorrow, but I expect all the other regular vendors will be there. For sure, both Mary from Buffalo Ridge and the Strabala sisters will have lots of produce. There's also a lady now who is bringing hand loomed rugs that are quite wonderful. I hope you will stop in.
I have a lot of spinach and lettuce in the hoophouse, plus green garlic for another week. If you would like to stop by and buy any of those things some afternoon, just give me a little warning so I can make sure I have enough harvested. I'll be in the field most of the upcoming (dryish) week, but I can leave bags of vegetables in the Pepsi cooler in the shed so you can get what you want without me.
We've sure had some nice rain, but I'm ready for another break. We've got a few thousand more onions to plant, then two racks full of bedding plants that are ready to go to the field. The fields are nearly perfect. It's going to be a very busy week.
If you're up for an adventure and you've got time early tomorrow morning, David Miller is having a modern "barn raising". He's built himself a new hoophouse and tomorrow is the day the giant piece of plastic is being stretched over the roof. Should only take an hour or two, and I'm sure he would be happy to have your help. Lots of things can go wrong in the 10 minutes that a 3000 square-foot piece of plastic is unattached to anything solid! We had about 30 helpers when we put the plastic on mine and it was actually kind of fun. (And almost no one was lifted off the ground.) He's promising juice and chocolates for the crew. Below is his note:
I apologize for the early 7am start time; however, the wind is calmest in the morning.
Before I give you the location, I have to stress that you NOT use GPS or online maps to assist you getting there. They will likely lead you down a dirt road and you could get stuck in deep mud. (Some of you may recall the farmers' market email about the folks from Chicago who used GPS...and never made it to our place.)
Directions (See attached maps.)
-From Mount Vernon, travel north on Highway 1 approximately 2 miles.
-Turn right on Ellison Road.
-Travel east approximately two miles. (Ellison Road becomes 30th Street across the Linn-Jones County line)
-You will see the frame of the high tunnel just before a curve. The road curves left and in mid-curve take a right.
-The sign cautions you about a B-grade road, but it doesn’t turn to dirt for a half mile. Park here and walk toward the high tunnel frame (about 400 feet).
-The actual address is 24501 30th Street.
What to wear
-Dress in layers. However warm it is in town, it will feel about ten degrees colder on the prairie.
-Wear old clothes you don’t mind getting dirty (you shouldn’t get very dirty, but it could happen).
-Depending on sun exposure, you may get warm and need to peel off layers too.
-Wear old shoes or, preferably, rubber boots if you have them.
-Bring gloves and a hat just in case.
Just so you know
There is no bathroom—not even an outhouse.
There will be coffee, juice, water and hand-made croissants. And, of course, my wife's candy.
You do not need to stay until the final end of the project. If you can assist for one hour, great. Two hours is better.
If it rains, stay home. Be on the lookout for a cancellation e-mail should the forecast for mild winds change.
Thanks again.
If you have any problems finding the place, contact me at 319-310-6299 or Mickey at 319-310-6399
See you soon,
Laura