Groundswell

2-24-2009

Hi all,
Anna and I are now the proud owners of 7 acres of good land. After months
of delay with floods and onslaughts of work, with lots of time to wonder and
imagine, Groundswell Community Farm is now farmer-owned. The Joles' were
always great to lease the land from, but owning has been a goal from the
start and here we are. Anna and I were quite nervous and without a realtor
we had many glitches and details to pull together. We're thinking that
perhaps to celebrate there will be an odd-shaped chocolate cake, like an
aerial photo of our bit of rich, dark dirt. Or maybe to celebrate we'll
just grow a gigantic organic garden full of 200 varieties of vegetables--all
colors, flavors, nutrients. A kind of chlorophyll confetti.

Much and many thanks to all who have supported the farm, to new members and
to those first few families that joined before a greenhouse was built or a
tractor bought. Especially last year, it is the CSA which has allowed us to
make this farm work. Whether that was dedicated members washing carrots for
hours (literally!) before we had the veggie merry-go-round, or simply
helping us to find new CSA members by telling your friends about the farm.
It's people that care about local food enough to eat it that are protecting
local lands.

Celebrations for land and all hopes for spring.
-Katie

1-24-2009

Hi Groundswell Member,
Many of you have sent in your deposits/ full payments for 2009 season. We
thank you!
(If you have you can ignore part of this e-mail).
I realized we hadn't sent any reminders to you and we will again before
March 1st, the due date for deposits from returning members.
Again if you are sure you are not returning for 2009 please let us know so
we can open up spots for next year. To confirm your place for 2009 we need
to hear from you in the form of a $100 deposit and a signed membership form
that you can find on our website www.groundswellfarm.org. or see attached.
Let us know if you would like us to send you one by mail.
The price has gone up to $425 for 2009.
Let us know if you would like to arrange a different method of payment we
are open. Full payment is due the first pick-up date in June.

So what is new for 2009!!!??
Yes we are getting those strawberry plants and raspberry plants although we
don't expect any yields from the strawberries this first year and few from
the raspberries. So more exciting for 2010 hahah.

We will have a few new greens- more spinach, a milder cress, new kale
variety and new herbs, cumin, and rosemary. Also we are optimistic about
our melon patch and a plentiful potato season. I am personally excited
about a wonderful celery crop of new varieties and the chocolate cherry
tomato, Yum! Also we are going to be growing some new drying beans. We are
excited and hope you are too.

Katie is going to school full time with a little teaching on the side. We
are looking forward to her cucumber beetle experiments this summer for her
masters!
I am cross country skiing a lot with all the beautiful snow (let me know if
you want to go sometime) and getting ready for a permaculture course in
Georgia in February. I am working on creating a Fair Trade Status for the
City of Grand Rapids with a local Fair Trade group too.
Have a great winter and stay warm out there!!
Lots of