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| Jenny, the A2 Farmers Market assistant manager, at the Frog Holler Farm stall |
We hope you'll come see us at the market now that the CSA is over! We will be there for at least a few more weeks until the veggie cupboard is bare. But here is what's in your CSA cupboard this week (as far as we know):
BEANS beans - glorious beans - some are yellow and some are green!
CARROTS are loaded with carotene - that's why they're orange and, well, not green!
GARLIC - protect yourself as Halloween nears; eat plenty of cloves to ward off "vampeers"!
WINTER SQUASH - once again it's Butternut; try this recipe if you're in a rut!
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| Savory Butternut Squash Pie |
This LETTUCE is protected throughout the night; at this time of year, the pushy deer need a fright. We traverse the hill in our funky golf cart - every few hours, to give them a start!
RADISHES add color and spice; in salad or roasted, they are always nice!
SAGE and THYME will give you flavor enough, or dry for Thanksgiving if there's a bird you want to stuff!
We might add BANANA PEPPERS - if so, they will be sweet. You'll have to look elsewhere if you want the heat.
What no kale? Hey, where's the leaf? Not this week!
After we thought we were contributing to your immortality for 17 weeks, we saw this cartoon and gave up.
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| Does gallows humor have any place in a CSA newsletter? :-) |
BEYOND THE BOX: as promised, here are our suggestions to keep buying fresh and local at the Ann Arbor Farmers Market. There are lots of dedicated growers at the market; these just happen to be the ones that we know the best. The market is vibrant in the fall; come explore! (Sorry to our members who live near us - we aren't aware of a farmers market close by, but we will continue to take orders from our online ordering site until we are done harvesting.) Or ... field trip to Ann Arbor!
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| Two Tracks Acres will be at the market into December |
Couldn't get a photo, but also for longer-season produce, check out Tantre Farm (well-established CSA with hundreds of members and many pickup times and locations; also just opened a U-Pick fruit operation close to Ann Arbor) and Green Things Farm Collective - good veggies and good people.
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| Nick Raterman bakes hearty loaves in the Old World tradition - also tasty "twists" and snacks |
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is partner in life and family to Nick (see above) and has started Tiani Body Care |
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| You can even get your coffee at the market! Rene will be happy to serve you some "deep local" RoosRoast java! |
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| You may have heard of The Brinery, for all your fermented needs. Started in Ann Arbor by David Klingenberger, a former Tantre Farm intern and friend of Frog Holler, Brinery products are now distributed across the state. David wasn't at the market when the photo was taken, but his helper showed the enthusiasm that many folks feel for these unique and healthy products! |
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| Cheryl Wagner of Wagner's Greenhouse is the go-to stall for flower starts in the spring. Cheryl is finished with market for the winter but remember her for next spring! She is our market neighbor just across the way and we get to look at her beautiful flowers all day! |
Many growers use hoophouses to extend their seasons so you can keep your Saturday veggie tradition going throughout the fall and winter! Of course there are many options for shopping in a foodie town like Ann Arbor, but the area is also fortunate to have such a dynamic and thriving market for over ninety years. If the parking challenge is what stops you, consider shopping on Wednesday, when the congestion is less and the parking spots are plentiful. (However, there are fewer growers on Wednesday.)
When we first stumbled onto this abandoned and overgrown, but beautiful, piece of land, we really didn't know how we were going to support ourselves. There were some stutters, but once we started going to the Ann Arbor Farmers Market, our income stabilized and we were able to make a life, if not what some folks would consider a living. Other than a CSA (2008-20016, and then 2020-2021), the Farmers Market has been the only outlet for our produce. We are grateful for the support of the Ann Arbor community in general, and our CSA members in particular!
As we consider, in 2022, fifty years of living with this land, we are taking time to reflect - searching our souls and the soil for best practices of stewardship and sharing. We don't know exactly how things will take shape for next year, but if you would like to stay in touch with Frog Holler and receive occasional farm news and reflections, please add your name to our mailing list using this link: https://forms.gle/3NrnNW6KxKDEEeDs6
We hoped to get one more photo of all of the farm crew, family and critters - but it was just too wet! The chickens' tail feathers were literally drooping, so here's a photo from a sunny day:
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| Perching and posing! |
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| Birds of a feather... |
The dogs decided that this soggy day was best for chillin' inside -
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| Freya demonstrating best practices for a rainy day |
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| Cinder demonstrating the two-rug nap |
The bedraggled folks without fur or feathers were not photogenic enough for a picture today :-) so we will also share some from sunnier times.
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| Ashleh and Cale have stuck with us the entire season (and two years before). Here they are in spring, helping to prep the seedling orders. |
and the King family, back at the pond on a sunny fall day -
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| Emily Foley - Edwin's partner (fr.) In back (l. to r.) Cathy, Billy, Kenny and Edwin King |
Have a great fall everyone - and thank you!
