October 10, 2015 - Last Share!

Scariac Celeriac!

WHAT'S IN THE BOX: (Not Celeriac!)


POTATOES

GARLIC

RADISHES

KALE

CARROTS

BRUSSELS SPROUTS

SWEET POTATOES

SWEET PEPPERS

HOT PEPPERS

PASTE TOMATOES

Boo!

WHAT TO DO WITH YOUR SHARE: Enjoy it! NPR's Lynn Rosetta Kaspar, on a recent Splendid Table episode titled "Tasting the Dirt", spoke with celebrity chef Mario Batali, who has just published his latest book, America Farm to Table, and tells us, "To make more delicious food at home, celebrate a local farmer."(!) This author of numerous award-winning cookbooks, goes on to say that although people ask him for specific recipes, or techniques, or kitchen equipment in order to create outstanding food at home, Chef Mario replies, "The most delicious things we make are often grown in and around our world. The idea of supporting a local farmer and getting the most tasty, local-specific ingredients in their season - which is almost intuitive to all of us - is where this book wants you to go."
  
And, as CSA members, you know that! And, as your local organic growers, we have tried to provide you with our best shot at a variety of thoughtfully chosen seasonal fare in each share. The flavor is all there in the freshness and "geo-specifity" of the veggies - just use your intuition to combine flavors, textures and colors to create your own personal expression of the season!

Of course Chef Mario does include recipes in his book and if you have a hankerin' to make a Potato and Salami Cheesecake with the potatoes in your share - have at it!

Chef Mario also suggests to not only look for the fruit and produce that is in season, but "...also find someone whose story you love... To taste the specific varietals that (a) family has treasured and held close to their heart, it's tasting the soul of American geology. It's tasting the dirt itself."

The front garden

So what's the story with the dirt of Frog Holler Farm? Nestled in the gently rolling Irish Hills, the first thing you might notice about the land is its beauty. Heavily wooded, with a two-acre pond at its center and very little flat ground, Frog Holler is more of a nature preserve than an agricultural machine.  

To be honest, when a group of idealistic young people purchased the abandoned property in 1972, they asked a county agent for the best agricultural use of the land.  They were told the best use of the land was for recreation! And thus they proceeded to farm.


Or at least to garden. Due to the topography, Frog Holler gardens are comprised more of "patches" than farm-sized fields. The glacial rubble deposited by the glaciers that formed this hilly part of Southeast Michigan has placed an infinite number of rocks in most of these patches - hard on machinery and knees!

Billy King drives by "Down Low" with "The Slope" behind.

The names for these various patches are journeyman titles, also reflecting the topography of the land: The Rocky Terrace, The Slope, The Top of the Hill, Down Low.  It's gardening on a slant, and always with the challenge to draw back up the nutrients and water that gravity pulls down the hill.





But despite these obstacles to an easy pass in farming, the beauty of the land prevails. We farm to appreciate the land; we farm to protect the land and critters thereon ( and sometimes to feed them!); we farm to learn from the land; we farm to share it.

The two-track to the back garden and Holler Fest site

The farm pond

Farm pooch Cinder heading to the pond

And who is "we"?

Ken King

Ken King first came to Frog Holler in 1972, struck by the beauty of the land and compelled by the desire to grow organic vegetables for the natural foods restaurant he and that aforementioned group of young idealists had started in Ann Arbor. Things sorted themselves out and soon it was Ken and Cathy King on the land and learning how to farm. Three strapping young sons came along and Frog Holler, as a family farm, was on its way.

Ken's untimely passing in 2009 left a big hole in the organic community. You can see the tribute that the People's Food Coop has established in Ken's memory on the wall at the Coop. Each year a "Ken King Life as Art" award is given to a local individual, group or couple who have shown fearless determination to live their ideals and contribute in a creative and positive way. We are fortunate that the Ann Arbor community has so many deserving recipients.

After Ken's passing, Cathy King and sons continued to farm and cultivate the seeds Ken had planted. Infrastructure has been added; some new ground has been plowed, but the ideals remain the same: organic, local, human-scale and people-to-people.



Oldest son, Billy King, handles much of the maintenance and tractor work at the farm so is rarely seen at market. He is often seen at musical venues around town, especially in the winter months. A lifelong musician, Billy contributes his musical talents to several bands in the area as well as performing his original material. (Next solo show: Crazy Wisdom, November 9!)

Billy on the tractor

Billy on the mando (at Crazy Wisdom)

Kenny King

Without middle son Kenny's graphic design skills, there would be no Frog Holler web site, no on line forms to access, no Holler Fest program, and maybe even no CSA newsletter. The tech-challenged newsletter editor would probably have to send you all a postcard in the mail! Kenny is a graduate of the College for Creative Studies and also lends his design skills to area non-profits. Kenny plays bass with his brother and the Huber family of musicians ( and CSA members!) in a new band, Eyes Unclouded. Catch them at the Brewery Becker in Brighton, October 15.

One of Kenny's designs

Kenny with bass

Edwin King

Youngest son Edwin is a familiar face at market. He rarely misses a Saturday and his attention to detail and quiet competence keep the table stocked and orderly, the produce accessible and appealing. Edwin manages much of the harvest at the farm; his long history of playing chess helps keep myriad details organized in his mind. During off hours Edwin can be seeing doing damage at area volleyball nets and spending time with his girlfriend Emily, who
helps at the market whenever in town and is also a familiar face to many of you.

Emily with baby chicks

Edwin stocking the market table

Cathy King, l-o-o-ng time resident of Frog Holler, handles the farm correspondence, keeps the books and writes this newsletter. Thanks for reading this far! She also fusses with the chickens and is the designated (by Cinder) chief dog walker. For the past twenty years, Cathy has taught yoga in and/or around Ann Arbor during the winter months.

Time for a walk?

So that's some of the story that goes along with the Frog Holler dirt. And this story is also peopled by the customers and members who have supported us over decades (!) and the energetic crews of interns who have planted and weeded and harvested to bring the produce to market. There would be no story without them and without all of you.

So thank you for being a chapter in this story! Enjoy the rest of fall, have a wonderful winter, and we'll contact you after the first of the year with information on next year's CSA.

Frog Holler Farm