Happenings on the Ranch

This year we will be going into our 5th season with our Community Supported Agriculture program.  There are many, many changes in store for the farm this year (more on that later) but our CSA program will continue mostly business-as-usual.  We are hoping to add many more unique items this year for your culinary experimentation along with all the staples you’ve come to love!

If you haven’t reserved your spot to receive 24 weeks of wonderful organically grown veggies, now’s the time!  Just $50 reserves your spot for the season.  If you’re not sure what a CSA is all about, visit our CSA page then visit our Program page for more details about how ours works..  If you’re ready to sign up, download the registration form, send it in or email it and put down your deposit.  All final payments are due no later than March 1st.

As always, if you have any questions about the program, deliveries, etc. don’t hesitate to contact us!

Here’s looking forward to spring!

~Karin

If you saw my post warning those of you that live within the city limits of Kansas City on the Missouri side that the city council was working to pass an ordinance regarding urban ag, here’s a follow up.

After an outpouring of emails and phone calls with folks unhappy about the proposed ordinance, the city council modified the code slightly to be a bit more accomodating while still trying to make the higher end neighborhood associations happy.  While the ordinance is not perfect it’s better, and the council is required to review the code again in 6 to 12 months.  Here’s what was changed in the new ordinance:

- Home gardeners can sell their excess produce from their home, no permits required.
- Community gardens can sell produce on-site.
- Market gardens (defined as Crop Agriculture) can have employees, but need a special use permit to sell on-site.
- “Row crops” are now allowed but no one that sells on-site can grow row crops in their front yard.  So, essentially, you can grow row crops in your front yard so long as you don’t sell it on-site, but you can take it off-site for sale.  If you want to sell on-site, you can’t grow row crops.  Make sense?
- Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) needs a Special Use Permit to operate in residential districts. If you get a special use permit, you can run your CSA, have on-site sales, and accept apprentices and interns. (Big step forward from the previous version of the ordinance).

Overall, the ordinance changes are much better but still strict enough to make the neighborhood associations happy.  I see it as a nice compromise.  Yay for urban agriculture!

Well, the rain has finally stopped (for now) and I’m hoping it will be dry enough by this afternoon to actually get something done outside.  We are really behind in planting because it’s been too wet to get anything in the ground.  I’ll be trying to play catch up on weeding and seeding for as long as the rain holds off, since we’re expecting more rain the rest of this week.  Usually farmers love the rain … right now, I’ve had enough.  It’s a good thing I have a good pair of mud boots!

Thankfully Sunday there was a break in the wind, too.  After the greenhouse collapsed during the massive wind storm we had, Arcenio was quick to get the structure back up.  However the wind wouldn’t cooperate and we hadn’t been able to get the plastic back on.  All the seedlings and flowers were relegated to the garage and the sun porch; less than ideal conditions.  But Sunday the wind was nonexistent and the plastic went back on the greenhouse.  I’m now in the process of putting the tables back up and moving all the plants back into their proper home.  Woohoo!

And I’m happy to say the time has come.  This week starts our 2010 CSA season.  The pick up schedule is as follows:

Wednesday:  Lee’s Summit Farmer’s Market, 8am to noon.  We will be located four spots from the end at the southwest corner of the lot.

Thursday: Belton Farmer’s Market, 4pm to 7pm.  The market has not started yet, but we will be in the parking places where the market is normally held on Loop Rd.  If the weather is nice, we will have our table set up.  If it’s nasty, we’ll be sitting in the back of the truck with your share.

Friday:  On the farm, 4pm to 7pm.  We will either be under the farm stand by the greenhouse or have your shares waiting for you on the porch.  Weave your way through the chickens to the door!

Saturday:  Lee’s Summit Farmer’s Market, 8am to noon.  We will be located three spaces from the end in the northeast corner of the lot.

Of course, those of you that aren’t part of the CSA can still come and see us during those times and check out what else we have to offer.  We’ll have chicken and eggs available at all locations.  We’ll also be at the VA Medical Center Farmer’s Market beginning this week.  The market there runs from 7am to noonish.  Of course, they’re predicting rain on Thursday so bring an umbrella.

We’re looking forward to another successful season full of farm fresh goodies.  Leafy greens are coming in nicely along with green onions and radishes.  Cabbage is strong, strawberries are just about ready and I’m excited to start pulling all this good stuff!

Until next time!

~Karin