Backpacks, lunch boxes, and soccer cleats all mean one thing around our house; it is back to school time. And I have to admit that I celebrate it. Summer is a blast and pretty carefree, but there is something almost comforting about getting back into the routine of the school year. I eat better, sleep better, and probably just live a little bit healthier than the chaos that we call Summer Break. And to ease you back into the routine, let me point out some pretty cool things that we have been working on recently.
What’s In the Harvest Box Next Week?
Tart cherries. Not for everyone, but the people I know who like tart cherries, love tart cherries. You cannot find these easily and to find Organic ones is next to impossible. We took the harvest this year and put them into freezer bags with no stems on them, but still with the pits. I could not find anyone with the commercial machine to pit these little dudes, so you will have to enjoy that process yourself. Or hire small kids with tiny little hands to do it.
We have a limited amount and once they are gone, we will not have any for another 11 months. So whether you want a fresh cherry pie or scones now or for Thanksgiving dinner, I urge you to dive in now. Early bird will get the worm and the second mouse will Not get the cheese in this case. Look on the web site and in the Harvest Boxes to find them.
What goes well with cherry pastries? Coffee. I love coffee. I drink coffee before, during and after I brush my teeth in the morning. There is never a bad time for coffee.
With that, I had a member suggest that we needed to start carrying a line of Ground coffee, not all whole bean. I always grind my beans, but I felt horrible that we have not been providing all the coffee folks with their daily fix. So I am happy to announce that whether you like your beans ground for you or you like to grind them yourself, we have finally got you covered. I strongly suggest that you splash some water on your face and then check out our awesome (and growing) coffee selections. You’ll thank me.
Last thing that I would like to highlight this week is our new beef provider, Ranney Ranch. About a year and a half ago I met an amazing woman, Nancy, who ran (runs) her family ranch in the most incredible way you will ever find. Set in the rolling hills around Corona, New Mexico, she has created nothing short of a new ecosystem on her land.
She decided to break away from the herd (pun intended) and ranch in a way that very few people will even attempt. She uses rotational grazing to not only improve the herd, but to improve the land. Let me explain.
Traditional grazing allows cows to roam from fence line to fence line whenever and wherever the herd wants to go. What invariably happens is that the herd will sit at one spot and graze the heck out of it until they have trampled baby plants and eaten existing tufts to the ground. Once that land is bare, they move to the next spot and the scenario plays out all over again.
So what rotational grazing does is break this cycle of trample, kill, then move to new land. Rotational grazing allows the cattle to enjoy a spot, then you “kick them off” before damage is done to the land. And through this management practice, you actually expand your pasture land because the cows will eat seeds, then “plant” those seeds in their manure. Then seeds will germinate undisturbed and fill-in the pasture. It is an incredible sight to see and I have to say that it feels like you are walking in the midst of the Serengeti.
Besides this rotational practice, all calves are born from their mothers on the land. There is no barn with a bunch of baby calves. All calves are born under a tree (typically) and then are raised on the land by the side of their mother within the protection of the herd. It is an absolutely fascinating ranch. And it is a ranch that we are fortunate to have on board with our CSA members. Please look for her pastured, grass-fed beef on the web site available now.
Farmer Monte