Green Gate Farms News: Floral Tattoos this Saturday, New Intern (CSA, Week 8)
FARM STAND/ADVANCE ORDERS
Farm Stand at Big Red Barn, East Austin (8310 Canoga Ave., Austin 78724) Open to all, Saturdays, 10-12 Veggies, Flowers, Garden Plants and Breathtaking Beauty at our 1902 Historic Bergstrom Farm. SNAP accepted (soon!)
This week at the farm stand you’ll find:
- Greens: Kale, Swiss Chard, Lettuce, Arugula
- Root Veggies: Radishes, Beets, Carrots
- Onions (Red & Yellow), Garlic Chives, Garlic
- Herbs: Parsley, Fennel Fronds, Mint, Thyme
- Other: Artichokes, Napa Cabbage, Kohlrabi, Zucchini, Zephyr Squash
- Plants for your Garden and Flower Bouquets!
AND MORE!
Advance Orders via “REKO Ring” Place your order weekly at private Facebook page for touchless pick up on Saturday mornings.
CSA NEWS
- Spring Veggie and Flower CSA Snapshot:
- Veggie CSA Spring Season, 10 weeks: March 31st - June 2nd, $25 share weekly/prorated
- Flower CSA Spring Season, 12 weeks: April 7-June 26, $20 bouquet weekly/prorated. (Or join for one month in May and/or June.)
- 5 pick-up locations in Austin and Bastrop, Wednesday/Saturdays
- Got a question about your food or flowers? Contact your Community Organizer, the volunteer who manages your pickup site and handles any issues that might arise.
FLOWER NEWS
What a soggy week. As the lilies, larkspur and snaps wind down, the suns, lisianthus and zinnias should be stepping up; however, daily rain has slowed down blooms for all but the beggars lice (no, it is not Queen Anne’s lace) and Johnson grass.
This week your bouquets feature a little of this and a little of that. If you don’t get a bundle of white and scarlet lilies, you may receive the first of the dahlias or calendula. Some may receive one of my favorites: strawflower. This stiff flower (pictured above the lily) is unlike any other and works well fresh or dried. A good flower to tuck into your hat band as we wait for the skies to clear. Hope you enjoy the novelty of this seasonal bridge time.
Pick up a bouquet at our farm stand or join the remainder of our 12-week Flower CSA (prorated from the week you join-this is week 5 of 12). You can also join for just One Month of Flowers in May and/or June. Guaranteed to put a smile on your face, and help our flower farm to thrive!
FLOWER FUN --Don’t miss:
- This Saturday! Tattoo class. Make flowers you can wear or afix to your pet’s collar. Easy, fun. Children welcome. After farm tour and creative instruction in the Big Red Barn, you’ll go home with a portrait.
- Crown Class - June 19. Just in time for Father’s Day. Create a flower crowns for your guy/partner. We’ll show you how to use grapevine, wildflowers and herbs to create a one-of-a-kind headdress. Fun for birthdays, celebrations, all ages. Last chance to enjoy a class on the farm until Fall. $75/
FARM NEWS & EVENTS (see www.greengatefarms.net):
- Farm Camp for Adults. Have a farm or want one? The founders of GGF share their secrets (and mistakes), while advising on tools and techniques, Sunday morning, 9-12, June 27.
- Cooking Class. Get some fresh ideas as our Farm-to-Table Intern Reese Bergschneider leads a cooking class at the Bergstrom farmhouse next month in June.
- Green Gate Gift Cards Available: Need something special for your friends and family? Give the gift of fresh, organic food while supporting our farm. We have Farm Bucks for all your celebrations.
AGRIHOOD NEWS
Hey Agrihood Supporters! Here’s a chance for you to help an initiative that has been proposed in Wisconsin that addresses the need for affordable housing. They would appreciate letters of support (see their website.) Read about it here.
* June 9th, be sure to attend our monthly Garden Club meeting, 5:30-7:30 at the Big Red Barn.
GET INVOLVED
- Volunteer on our farm! Shifts available in east Austin and Bastrop. No experience necessary. Just complete the volunteer form on our website and we’ll be in touch!
- Speak up Your voice is needed as the legislative session winds down and rules affecting farmers, gardeners and eaters get slammed through or dropped. Bills HB1686 and SB1062 assures your right to grow your own food. See Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance for more info.
- Make a difference: Texas Organic Farmers & Gardeners Association (TOFGA) is the leading voice of education and advocacy for organic food production in Texas. As a member-run/funded organization, TOFGA includes farmers, ranchers, gardeners, dairies, cheese makers, soil amendment producers, nurseries, food markets, farmers markets, educators, students, eaters and more. Volunteers and donations welcome, see www.tofga.org.
FARMER UPDATE
Notes From the Field: Meet Our New Intern, Reese! by Reese Bergschneider
In January I started my search for a potential summer internship. After having studied chemical engineering for the past two and a half years at the University of Louisville and having interned at two separate chemical engineering companies, I knew that I wanted my last summer before graduating to be filled with meaningful and memorable experiences. With a passion for food and sustainability, I began to search for places that combined the two fields. My search eventually led me to Austin and the website of Green Gate farms. I filled out my information on the ‘Contact Us’ tab and typed out an email explaining who I was, what I was hoping to accomplish, and what I had to offer and clicked ‘Submit.’
After having sent out several other emails to similar organizations and receiving no responses, I was surprised to see an email from Green Gate a few days later. I got in touch with Skip and Erin, and they were interested in my coming, so long as I could handle the Texas heat.
Over the course of the next few months, we exchanged several email conversations, a handful of phone calls, and a couple of Zoom meetings where we ironed out the details for my stay, right up until May 1st, when I embarked on the 16-hour drive from Louisville to Austin. Since then, I’ve been living and working out at the River Farm most days and spending my weekends on the city farm to help out with the Saturday farmstand. I can’t wait to see how much I’ve learned by the end of my stay here when August rolls around. Until then, I’ll be harvesting and weeding in the Texas sun and maybe baking some treats to sell at the farmstand. I look forward to meeting you.
# Veggie CSA:
Spring CSA - Week 8 (of 12) Veggie Share
- Napa Cabbage
- Beets
- Summer Squash
- Garlic Chives
- Lettuce OR Arugula
- Thyme
- Fingerling Potatoes
- Swiss Chard
Sneak Peak Of The Week 9 Veggie Share:
- Onions
- Swiss Chard OR Kale
- Carrots
- Summer Squash
- Green Beans
- Cucumbers
- Beets OR Radishes
- *Items are subject to change based on availability
Recipes From Kalina:
- Fingerling Potatoes with Rosemary and Thyme - These are our first potatoes of the season, and they are a buttering and wonderful treat! Try this very simple recipe to enjoy the potatoes in a simple form.
The BEST Fingerling Potato Recipe | Alexandra's Kitchen
This is the best way to cook fingerling potatoes: First, boil the potatoes. Second, crisp them in a pan stovetop.
- Beet Tostadas with Fried Eggs - I have been really enjoying making beet tostadas this spring! This recipe is one of my favorites that I’ve tried!
Beet Tostadas Recipe | Bon Appétit
Beets’ sweet earthiness and firm texture are ideal for making meatless chorizo. You have to try it.
- Napa Cabbage Rolls - Try this fun and delicious recipe with your napa cabbage this week!
