Back in the Swing of Things

2 varieties of blueberries from Trachte's Berry Farm in Pittsville

  We are really excited about box 3 this year!  One of our unique specialties to how we highlight other local farms in our CSA box.  This helps us (like this year with our very wet spring that we are recovering from) and it helps them to get the word and produce out .  In this box, you can experience garlic and chard from Sunny Sky Farm (Amherst2), delicious blueberries from Trachte's Berry Farm (Pittsville) and fresh potatoes from Malek's Berry Ranch (Nekoosa).  It is always a special treat to go berry picking at Trachte's.   It is best to go hungry and time your picking with the mosquito schedule and bring the whole family! 

Craig filling boxes for the Nekoosa summer schoo2l lunch and backpack program

 Last weekend we were hit by a pretty crazy storm.  There was plenty of lightening and a massive amount of wind that took down a few very large spruce trees on our property causing a fair amount of structural damage (3 stall garage, 2 trailers, RV, greenhouse and external wood furnace) and again, flooding our fields.  Luckily the chickens and most of the crops withstood the flurry and we have a big jump start on our wood gathering for winter fuel collection.  My grandpa always said, and my dad always says and now my husband too says that the lightening adds nitrogen to the equation which boosts crop growth so we should have a bumper crop of all that survived.

Arlo loves his new hangout...

   So we are feeling that we are getting back on track here given the weather situations that have been ongoing.  Round 2 of chickens are growing really well in the field and our new shelter design has been tested well by the last storm and we are very happy with those results.  If you haven't picked up your chickens, give us a call or watch your email for more pick up times.

what is blossoming here at VG

carrot hunters (solar array, asparagus and flashy trout back lettuce photo bomb)

Box 2 (or 3 depending on how you look at it)   :)

We can officially say that we have never had a spring like the spring of 2015 before!  It was a record wet season and we got off to a rough start.  A few of our early crops were lost in the 15+ inches of rain we received.  I knew that this was the year we should have planted rice...We thank all our members for their patience as we formulated a plan that doesn't change the amount of veggies we plan to deliver this year; only changes the timing of delivery.  The original box 2 has been delayed and will be filled at a later date to today is the "new" box 2 and we are sure you will be thrilled to see the treats inside!   From us you will have some tender white turnips, delicious sweet carrots, gigantic Vespertine Garlic and both sweet and lemon basil.

Why hello gigantic Vespertine Garlic, nice to eat you!

We like to highlight other local farmers in our area sometimes and today's box is a real winner in that regard!  You will drool over the maple syrup from our neighbor and long time friend Pat Ruesch.  You will also find red potatoes from Okray Family Farms in Plover.  These potatoes are not organic but they are local.  Then, there is a delicious basket filled with peas and cucumbers from a farm near us called Maple Ridge in Neillsville.  You may have seen them at the Stevens Point Farmers Market.

carrot forest

good ol' speckled trout back lettuce (coming soon)

aren't these striking?  They grab your eyes and say "look at me!!!"

tender turnips