Black Dog Farms

That is one of the questions that I ask potential new clients/customers. Most do not seem to know, or care. So I take a few minutes to point out that the food we buy in the grocery store comes from around the globe. Think of all the hands that have touched it before we eat it. Yuck!

Sure most of us wash our food, but does that really do the trick? Food grown with dirty water (by that I mean water containing pesticides, nasty chemicals, and who knows what else) is still an integral part of the food.

Then the food is transported to us, on average 1500 miles according to some sources, in a frozen or refrigerated state. At the store, frozen produce is then thawed and set out on the shelf for us to look at. Refrigerated food is allowed to warm up to room temperature.  When we get it home, we re-refrigerate it. No wonder if looks and tastes so bad.

When you buy locally grown food, you know what you are getting. Go visit your farmer and see how the food is grown. See who is touching your food. See how the food is transported.

Know where your food comes from!

Now is a great time to join a CSA. It is also a great time to be a grower. 

In some areas  grocers are reporting that the price of certain types of produce, most notably, lettuce, have doubled in price in a few scant weeks. Both corn and wheat prices have doubled in the last year and sugar prices are right behind at a stiff 65% increase. Yikes!

While I could obviously write a very long thesis on this subject, I will not bore anyone further. We all know what is going on in the world and in our own country that is contributing to these rising food prices. Most of us have very little, of any, control over that.

But we can help Americans save money on the food that they eat. We can also help those same Americans save at the pump. At the same time we can assist those same folks in their desire to eat better and fresher food.

Spread the word about community supported agriculture and what it can do in your community. Let people know that you will make sure they get great fresh food at a great price, and if they sign up now, they can lock in their prices for the summer and fall.

Times a wastin'

This is a lot harder than I thought it would be. Even though we have been selling farm shares for the last 5 years, we have never advertised before. In years past, we simply sold by word of mouth, and had no problem selling out. At the end of last year, we decided to increase the number of shares to 15, and I must admit, I was a bit nervous that we would not be able to sell enough.

Here it is the end of March, and we are almost sold out. Our 15 share owners are able to see exactly which part of our farm is dedicated to the business that they have bought into. We usually run a smaller plot in which we grow certain more gourmet ( for lack of a better work or phrase) vegetables. These we direct market to a few of the eateries in our area, and do pretty well at it. This year I am considering making a small change and would love any feedback from the more experienced out there.

I am considering offering late season shares. These would be marketed towards folks who did not get a garden in on time, or decided to late to buy one of my full season shares. I am not sure what the price point would be, but feel about $200 for 8 weeks might be a great test zone.

Does anyone have any input?

Darn. I think Punxatawney Phil was wrong this year. I really do. Everyone's favorite little furry guy came out on February 2nd and did not see his shadow. That is only supposed to mean one thing, and that is only 6 more weeks of winter.

Looking at the calendar hanging right next to my computer here I see that we are 7 and half weeks past that date. I do not know how spring is coming along in your area, but this morning we are at 32 degrees, and the snow is coming down like a well shaken snowglobe.

Life could be worse I guess.

It seems like I just made the final delivery of the 2010 season, and now, here we are about to sell our last share for 2011. At the risk of sounding like my grandfather, "where does the time go?"

5 years ago my wife and I started Black Dog Farms, as a means to eat good wholesome food at a very low price and maybe make a few bucks from it in order to offset our food costs. From that small beginning we have grown into a 15 share farm, and this year will even feature a 5 share winter program of goodies grown in our soon to be expanded greenhouse. Exciting!

In addition, we have teamed up with some other artisans in our area and are offering, for the first time, naturally grown beef and pork, brown chicken eggs, quail eggs, and local honey. 

For the consumer in Twin Falls this bodes very positive. With the price of gas and food continually going up, what we offer is plain old cheap, cheap, cheap. Last years full share holders each received just over 200 pounds of naturally grown vegetables and fruits, over a 20 week period, for $350. And we deliver to you! This year we are keeping our prices the same as last year, with a full share costing only $350 as long as it is paid by April 20th. After that the price goes up to to $425. We offer a half share for $175 that is delivered every other week but will probably discontinue it after this season as most of our customers opt for the full share.

Call me today to discuss how you can purchase one of the last remaining shares for 2011.