This is a tricky one that many farmers have trouble answering. Of course! Their are many issues that can affect a C.S.A. It is our Job as farmers to manipulate mother nature in our favor. Which can't be done totally because the weather is unpredictable. Although their are many things that farmers can do to reduce their risk of weather related crop failure. Weather is always on everyone minds when you belong to a C.S.A. This is another beauty of being part of a local C.S.A because you begin to respect mother nature in a new way. The main issue is water. We are way due for a dry summer. This is not a problem @ our farm because we irrigate all our veggies under plastic from the day they are put in the ground. We have a really extensive irrigation system that covers around fifteen acres and is just for veggies. So what I am trying to say is that it can be dry as a dessert out their and our garden is as lush as the rain forest. The next main issue is too much water. This is one of the many reasons that we plant all of our veggies in raised plastic beds on the farm. Rain can't permeate through the plastic so their is no root washout or waterlogged plants. So those are some of the many examples of tools that we use to minimize risk of crop failure on the farm. Their are always those black swan events that no one can control, even me. Some examples of these type of events would be massive hail storm, direct tornado hit, Etc. We try not to think of these issues but they are out their and we should be aware of them if you are going to be a part of a C.S.A. This is why the community is important in a C.S.A. model because the community and the farmer absorb the losses of a freak event. This is another reason it is called community supported ag.
Thanks For Reading Chris
From our Fields to Your Table
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Bass Farms Retail Store Questions!
A lot of people are wondering what we are going to carry in our store this year. So far the line looks excellent. We have an outstanding line of locally made gluten-free products. Everything from dinner to desserts. Also we are known for our large selection of gourmet Jams & Jellies! One of my personal favorites that we carry is our locally made honey. The honey that we sell in the store is coming off the hives on the farm that pollinate all of our produce. This year we are upping our hive count to 24 hives. We have an extremely healthy population of bee's. They love living in a garden without any chemicals. Me and Martin will be selling the candles we made on the farm in the store as well. We expanded our large organic line of salad dressing's to. Jon Blin has been nice enough to provide locally raised beef with excellent bloodlines out of Oklahoma. He raises his cattle in Independence, Ia. We will only be getting limited quantities and the quality is a cut above the rest truly. Our soaps are ready to clean. They are glycerin based. So progress in the store this week has been great and most our items are in. I am sure I forgot a ton such as organic coffee that is just coming to mind, but the store has great items that will enhance the quality of what you put into your body.
Thz Chris
Thz Chris
C.S.A. MEMBERS PERKS!!!!!! READ TO SAVE MONEY!!!!
Being a C.S.A member @ Bass Farms has some wonderful perks and we want all of our members to know.
- 10% off Green Endeavors
- 30% off Bass Farms
- 15lb extra produce per full share
- 10lb extra produce per half share
- 3 pumpkins per paying member (members that share are responsible for splitting free pumpkins)
- 10lb Canning Tomato's (upon request, not everyone cans)
When we have our C.S.A Orientation we will issue you membership cards and if you are unable to attend we will mail it to you. With this card you will receive these benefits NO QUESTIONS ASKED!
Thz Chris
The Difference Between A full Share & A Half Share!
Full Share:
This is a share that is excellent for families. The amount of food that is typically in this box will provide enough veggies for the average family of four for a week; two adults, two children. We don't grow everything so this might not supplement all of your veggie needs but most. Example: Pineapple LOL!
This share is distributed every week, Thursday and Friday! Their are only two options for price, delivery and pick-up. If you pick up at a drop point IT IS THE SAME PRICE AS PICK UP AT FARM. This is the beauty of the drop-point. Please try to support these local businesses that go out of their way to provide a drop-point. The farm does not compensate any of these drop-points. They believe in what we are doing and want to spread the word.
Half Share:
This is a share that is excellent for someone who just wants to get their feet wet first before diving in. A half share will typically provide enough veggies for two people for a week. Their are two options for a half-share. We implemented due to customer demand and increases in gas prices. I hate oil.
Option 1:
You can pick up a full size share every other week. This is for people who don't live close to the farm but still want to support us and eat chemmi free veggies.
Option 2:
If you don't mind coming to the farm every week. We will give you a half share every week. Which is half the amount that a full share members gets. Thus will feed two people.
Drop Point Prices ARE SAME AS PICK UP AT FARM FOR HALF SHARE'S TOO.
Yes their are some pro's and con's to both options. If you eat a lot of herbs I would recommend coming to the farm every week. You can pick your own at the farm. They are right where you get your box and we have an outstanding array of normal and exotic herbs. Option 1 pro is that you get more produce at once and save a little on your gas bill.
Drop Points
Rockwell-Collin's (Cedar Rapids,Ia) Delivered Tuesday by Bill Maurer.
Whollistic Wellness (Boyson Road) Thanks to Dr. Cooper. Arrives Thursday 3:15 (Only Thursday)
Alphagraphics (North Liberty) Thanks to Nick Tallman Arrives Friday 3:15 (Friday Only)
* You get to select these options when we have our C.S.A. Orientation.
Thz Chris
This is a share that is excellent for families. The amount of food that is typically in this box will provide enough veggies for the average family of four for a week; two adults, two children. We don't grow everything so this might not supplement all of your veggie needs but most. Example: Pineapple LOL!
This share is distributed every week, Thursday and Friday! Their are only two options for price, delivery and pick-up. If you pick up at a drop point IT IS THE SAME PRICE AS PICK UP AT FARM. This is the beauty of the drop-point. Please try to support these local businesses that go out of their way to provide a drop-point. The farm does not compensate any of these drop-points. They believe in what we are doing and want to spread the word.
Half Share:
This is a share that is excellent for someone who just wants to get their feet wet first before diving in. A half share will typically provide enough veggies for two people for a week. Their are two options for a half-share. We implemented due to customer demand and increases in gas prices. I hate oil.
Option 1:
You can pick up a full size share every other week. This is for people who don't live close to the farm but still want to support us and eat chemmi free veggies.
Option 2:
If you don't mind coming to the farm every week. We will give you a half share every week. Which is half the amount that a full share members gets. Thus will feed two people.
Drop Point Prices ARE SAME AS PICK UP AT FARM FOR HALF SHARE'S TOO.
Yes their are some pro's and con's to both options. If you eat a lot of herbs I would recommend coming to the farm every week. You can pick your own at the farm. They are right where you get your box and we have an outstanding array of normal and exotic herbs. Option 1 pro is that you get more produce at once and save a little on your gas bill.
Drop Points
Rockwell-Collin's (Cedar Rapids,Ia) Delivered Tuesday by Bill Maurer.
Whollistic Wellness (Boyson Road) Thanks to Dr. Cooper. Arrives Thursday 3:15 (Only Thursday)
Alphagraphics (North Liberty) Thanks to Nick Tallman Arrives Friday 3:15 (Friday Only)
* You get to select these options when we have our C.S.A. Orientation.
Thz Chris
Monday, March 26, 2012
Farm Update! Current C.S.A. Member's
Helloo ALL,
I hope everyone is doing very well and have enjoyed this beautiful weather recently. We are still very busy at the farm. We have taken a break from seeding flats because we have now I think around 273 flats. We will start seeding again, in about a week. All of the little babies in the greenhouse are doing well. The cabbage and Cauliflower are growing like weeds. Today and this week we will be getting the store ready for our spring season. We will be opening the store on April 2, 2012 which is a Monday!! Yippeee! We are just waiting for our glycerin based soaps. They are made in a kitchen in Monticello and cut by hand. Me and Martin Will also make one more batch of Candles before we open the store.We have been cleaning up the fence rows on the farm as well. I will be reseeding waterways as soon as the weather gives me a chance. If anyone wants to come out to the farm and meet us during the day next week feel free, or check out the greenhouse. The C.S.A membership base is growing, I have contacted almost all of you. We have 39 members which is good for this time of the year! If you know anyone that is interested give them my cell and they can call or email me. (319-558-8199) The garlic is doing good still. I am glad it kind of got cold today because it will stunt the growth a little bit. Also I went to last year's onion patch today to see what was going on. Last fall I decided not to disk because their were tons of onions in the ground. I can almost guarantee we will have green onions the first couple weeks of the C.S.A. season. The green onions are shooting out of the ground at-least twelve inches now. It is really cool they have been in the ground almost a year. The herbs that we planted last year are showing good regrowth which I had mentioned I think in a previous blog. We are currently expanding the size of our current bed to allow room for our wonderfully diverse varieties of herbs. Today I mowed the farm for the first time. I think this is the earliest I have mowed it. I was very chilly. While I was on the mower I got a chance to take a peak in the pond. The Koi are getting huge. They are three years old now and I think I might have to start feeding them. They are extremely abundant in the pond so if you get a chance, take a peak. We are attending the Farm to Market Fair on April 22nd from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. This will be held at the Cedar Rapids Public Library. This is another chance to get to know us or learn more about our farm.
Thz Chris
I hope everyone is doing very well and have enjoyed this beautiful weather recently. We are still very busy at the farm. We have taken a break from seeding flats because we have now I think around 273 flats. We will start seeding again, in about a week. All of the little babies in the greenhouse are doing well. The cabbage and Cauliflower are growing like weeds. Today and this week we will be getting the store ready for our spring season. We will be opening the store on April 2, 2012 which is a Monday!! Yippeee! We are just waiting for our glycerin based soaps. They are made in a kitchen in Monticello and cut by hand. Me and Martin Will also make one more batch of Candles before we open the store.We have been cleaning up the fence rows on the farm as well. I will be reseeding waterways as soon as the weather gives me a chance. If anyone wants to come out to the farm and meet us during the day next week feel free, or check out the greenhouse. The C.S.A membership base is growing, I have contacted almost all of you. We have 39 members which is good for this time of the year! If you know anyone that is interested give them my cell and they can call or email me. (319-558-8199) The garlic is doing good still. I am glad it kind of got cold today because it will stunt the growth a little bit. Also I went to last year's onion patch today to see what was going on. Last fall I decided not to disk because their were tons of onions in the ground. I can almost guarantee we will have green onions the first couple weeks of the C.S.A. season. The green onions are shooting out of the ground at-least twelve inches now. It is really cool they have been in the ground almost a year. The herbs that we planted last year are showing good regrowth which I had mentioned I think in a previous blog. We are currently expanding the size of our current bed to allow room for our wonderfully diverse varieties of herbs. Today I mowed the farm for the first time. I think this is the earliest I have mowed it. I was very chilly. While I was on the mower I got a chance to take a peak in the pond. The Koi are getting huge. They are three years old now and I think I might have to start feeding them. They are extremely abundant in the pond so if you get a chance, take a peak. We are attending the Farm to Market Fair on April 22nd from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. This will be held at the Cedar Rapids Public Library. This is another chance to get to know us or learn more about our farm.
Thz Chris
Thursday, March 22, 2012
What in The Heck is A C.S.A. ?
So as I have been talking to people about C.S.A's, it has amazed me how many people that don't know what they are. In this article I am going to explain what a C.S.A. is; how it benefits you; and how it benefits local farmers.
C.S.A. stands for Community Supported Agriculture. It is a type of business model where the community "you" commit to supporting sustainable agriculture locally by purchasing a share in our farm. In return you get a percentage of the veggies that the farm produces each week. Bass Farms C.S.A. runs a hybrid of this system. As we grow we have had a produce store @ the farm to supplement our income as the C.S.A. grows to a size where it can sustain the entire farm. This pretty little number is 150 Shares. Last year we had roughly 86 so we are getting their. Starting a C.S.A. is like running a marathon; except you don't slow down after the finish line. Our long term vision @ Bass Farms is to have a farm totally sustained by a C.S.A only. This is why we have been "running" the past four years.
A C.S.A. is an excellent purchase for a family. We are now more aware then ever that we need to be more conscious about our health. C.S.A.'s range in price from $350-$900. They are between 15 and 22 weeks long. Some of the farms are organic some are not. Must know the farmer you are purchasing it from. It benefits you because you are eating fresher, healthier produce. You are supporting local farmers and fair wages. Our C.S.A is pesticide and herbicide free. We fertilize with kelp and other amendments.
The boxes weigh between 12-14lbs per week. We run our C.S.A. typically 16-18 weeks depending on the weather. Joining our C.S.A. also has many fringe benefits. You get 30% off anything in our store, 10% of anything in Green Endeavors. Three pumpkins per members family. 15 pounds of additional produce taken @ your leisure as well as extra dozen ear's of sweetcorn. Hay-Rack Rides are free, and we have many activities for your children on the farm. We also post recipes on our blog that correspond with the produce that our members receive each week. All current members will receive membership cards and on this card you will receive punches on it, if you decide to take extra's ever.
C.S.A. benefits the farmers in many ways. With 150 members we are able to maintain a staff of 2 year round and 4 part time employee's. It gives me the opportunity to sell my produce before I grow it because we are so busy in the summer maintaining the gardens we really don't have a lot of time to sell.
It gives the public an opportunity for great locally grown produce at a fair price and gives the farmer some sense of sustainability. It is more important now than ever to support your local economy, and put your dollar in what you believe in. Chemical free locally grown produce!
Thz Chris
C.S.A. stands for Community Supported Agriculture. It is a type of business model where the community "you" commit to supporting sustainable agriculture locally by purchasing a share in our farm. In return you get a percentage of the veggies that the farm produces each week. Bass Farms C.S.A. runs a hybrid of this system. As we grow we have had a produce store @ the farm to supplement our income as the C.S.A. grows to a size where it can sustain the entire farm. This pretty little number is 150 Shares. Last year we had roughly 86 so we are getting their. Starting a C.S.A. is like running a marathon; except you don't slow down after the finish line. Our long term vision @ Bass Farms is to have a farm totally sustained by a C.S.A only. This is why we have been "running" the past four years.
A C.S.A. is an excellent purchase for a family. We are now more aware then ever that we need to be more conscious about our health. C.S.A.'s range in price from $350-$900. They are between 15 and 22 weeks long. Some of the farms are organic some are not. Must know the farmer you are purchasing it from. It benefits you because you are eating fresher, healthier produce. You are supporting local farmers and fair wages. Our C.S.A is pesticide and herbicide free. We fertilize with kelp and other amendments.
The boxes weigh between 12-14lbs per week. We run our C.S.A. typically 16-18 weeks depending on the weather. Joining our C.S.A. also has many fringe benefits. You get 30% off anything in our store, 10% of anything in Green Endeavors. Three pumpkins per members family. 15 pounds of additional produce taken @ your leisure as well as extra dozen ear's of sweetcorn. Hay-Rack Rides are free, and we have many activities for your children on the farm. We also post recipes on our blog that correspond with the produce that our members receive each week. All current members will receive membership cards and on this card you will receive punches on it, if you decide to take extra's ever.
C.S.A. benefits the farmers in many ways. With 150 members we are able to maintain a staff of 2 year round and 4 part time employee's. It gives me the opportunity to sell my produce before I grow it because we are so busy in the summer maintaining the gardens we really don't have a lot of time to sell.
It gives the public an opportunity for great locally grown produce at a fair price and gives the farmer some sense of sustainability. It is more important now than ever to support your local economy, and put your dollar in what you believe in. Chemical free locally grown produce!
Thz Chris
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Farm Update! Current C.S.A. Member's
Today was another busy hectic day on the farm. I arrived at the green house @ 4:30 a.m. I have trouble sleeping this time of year. Mostly due to all the green children I am raising. I forgot my key, I was super bummed out. So Martin drove to the farm and bailed me out so I could get in the greenhouse. This morning we seeded another 65 flats of veggies.(Many Varieties of Peppers & Tomato's). My greenhouse is just exploding at the seams with life. Then we went to pick our potato digger up and our trailer was too narrow. So we will be picking that up another day. This weather has the herb bed starting to get crazy. Their are actually garlic chives 6 inches tall already. Not normal, but very cool. The veggies that are above the surface are loving this heat and are growing rapidly. They will be ready just in time to put in the soil. We are watering all of the plugs with a solution of kelp and water. We use a water soluble kelp which works great to feed the plants and is certified organic. We will be seeding again tomorrow as well. Also the BeeKeeper has brought me the honey from the hives it will be available when we open. I have sampled a little bit ;) and it is good.
Thz Chris
Thz Chris
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