If anyone wants to contact me directly you can, I am your farmer!!! You can text, email, call!!!
Please don't call or text too late please! PLEASE FEEL FREE TO GET A HOLD OF ME FOR ANYTHING!! I am here to grow your food and answer your questions along the way!
Work Phone: 1-319-895-6480
Cell Phone: 1-319-558-8199
Email: Chris@bassfarms.org
If I don't answer please leave a message, I am most likely in the field tending the crops for you! Or call or text cell.
Thz Chris
From our Fields to Your Table
Monday, April 9, 2012
C.S.A. MEMBER: Farm Update!
Hello Everyone,
Well I just don't know where to start we have been so busy at the farm This is the busiest time of the year for us. Life is bursting at the seems of our greenhouse!! The plugs are massive. The cabbage, Kohlrabi, Bok Choi, etc...Looks Amazing and is Huge! We had them outside today to harden them off for them to go into the ground. They have to be introduced to the outside slowly. This process is called hardening them off. This weather has everything pushed up a few weeks. We should be starting the C.S.A. The first week of June!!!Yippeee!!! Today we finished up with the potatoes, they are all in the ground. The potatoes went in the ground flawlessly! We have a very special planter from Italy that plants them for us. You can see pictures of it on facebook! We cut the potato's a while ago. We put in around three acres in just a few hours time. Their are many steps to prepping field, but the planting itself does not take too long. The weather has been great. The farm has been totally disced and field is ready to go. We just have to rototill but we don't do that until we pull the plastic. Our tiller makes the ground feel like a down pillow. So far we have had an exceptional spring for the farm. As said before we are way ahead of schedule with our chores because we have had so many opportunities to work outside. The garlic still looks amazing and I can't wait to harvest it to see how it turned out. All of the pepper & tomato flats and all of the veggie plugs for that matter look great. We have actually had trouble keeping the greenhouses cool enough if you can believe that. If anyone is confused about the farm perks for members I posted a blog on it tonight. Also I have not sent out the orientation letter yet because the printers put the wrong address on the membership card, but they will be coming soon. So no worries! The store is ready to go and we are now open during the day so if you want to stop out and meet us or see the progress of the farm please do. Actually the store is packed to the brim with locally made goods. If you eat Beef I have heard our is exceptionally good:) At this point of the year we are approaching 500 flats in the greenhouse. They start to go out like wildfire though. We are so close to putting plants in the ground! Our transplanter which is my hands is ready to go. We have 40k or more plants that we plant for our members. Hopefully this membership base grows to 150 so my sweat, blood, and tears are all worth it. We are trending upwards with last year having roughly 100 members. Also the onions starts for this year are in and they will be planted in the plastic. We have found with experience that onions typically grow better in plastic which is a more controlled environment then bare dirt. The onions that are in the bare dirt we will only use for their greens which are excellent in stir-fry. This afternoon I set up the wash station. This consists of a 16ft vegetable washing line, + two custom made tables we made for cabbage and brussels. So that ends is up and operational. We have checked all the refrigeration units and have performed a soft-opening. The cooler is ready to be filled to the brim with chemical free veggies. The bee's have also been enjoying this weather they are everywhere around the farm. Especially in the greenhouses pollinating our hanging baskets. They are truly miracle workers in nature's ecosystem. Also If you have any questions feel free to stop by the farm and ask! I can't stress enough how much we encourage our members to get to know where their food is coming from. I almost forgot that we ordered out 500 tree's for the shelter-belt on the farm. They should be here sometime soon. If anyone want's to help drop me an email they are only 16-24 inches tall so It is a quick flick of the spade.
I am sure I am forgetting A bunch! Although I am still rattling from the tractor So,
Until Next Time
Chris
Well I just don't know where to start we have been so busy at the farm This is the busiest time of the year for us. Life is bursting at the seems of our greenhouse!! The plugs are massive. The cabbage, Kohlrabi, Bok Choi, etc...Looks Amazing and is Huge! We had them outside today to harden them off for them to go into the ground. They have to be introduced to the outside slowly. This process is called hardening them off. This weather has everything pushed up a few weeks. We should be starting the C.S.A. The first week of June!!!Yippeee!!! Today we finished up with the potatoes, they are all in the ground. The potatoes went in the ground flawlessly! We have a very special planter from Italy that plants them for us. You can see pictures of it on facebook! We cut the potato's a while ago. We put in around three acres in just a few hours time. Their are many steps to prepping field, but the planting itself does not take too long. The weather has been great. The farm has been totally disced and field is ready to go. We just have to rototill but we don't do that until we pull the plastic. Our tiller makes the ground feel like a down pillow. So far we have had an exceptional spring for the farm. As said before we are way ahead of schedule with our chores because we have had so many opportunities to work outside. The garlic still looks amazing and I can't wait to harvest it to see how it turned out. All of the pepper & tomato flats and all of the veggie plugs for that matter look great. We have actually had trouble keeping the greenhouses cool enough if you can believe that. If anyone is confused about the farm perks for members I posted a blog on it tonight. Also I have not sent out the orientation letter yet because the printers put the wrong address on the membership card, but they will be coming soon. So no worries! The store is ready to go and we are now open during the day so if you want to stop out and meet us or see the progress of the farm please do. Actually the store is packed to the brim with locally made goods. If you eat Beef I have heard our is exceptionally good:) At this point of the year we are approaching 500 flats in the greenhouse. They start to go out like wildfire though. We are so close to putting plants in the ground! Our transplanter which is my hands is ready to go. We have 40k or more plants that we plant for our members. Hopefully this membership base grows to 150 so my sweat, blood, and tears are all worth it. We are trending upwards with last year having roughly 100 members. Also the onions starts for this year are in and they will be planted in the plastic. We have found with experience that onions typically grow better in plastic which is a more controlled environment then bare dirt. The onions that are in the bare dirt we will only use for their greens which are excellent in stir-fry. This afternoon I set up the wash station. This consists of a 16ft vegetable washing line, + two custom made tables we made for cabbage and brussels. So that ends is up and operational. We have checked all the refrigeration units and have performed a soft-opening. The cooler is ready to be filled to the brim with chemical free veggies. The bee's have also been enjoying this weather they are everywhere around the farm. Especially in the greenhouses pollinating our hanging baskets. They are truly miracle workers in nature's ecosystem. Also If you have any questions feel free to stop by the farm and ask! I can't stress enough how much we encourage our members to get to know where their food is coming from. I almost forgot that we ordered out 500 tree's for the shelter-belt on the farm. They should be here sometime soon. If anyone want's to help drop me an email they are only 16-24 inches tall so It is a quick flick of the spade.
I am sure I am forgetting A bunch! Although I am still rattling from the tractor So,
Until Next Time
Chris
How To Optimize C.S.A. Experience @ Bass Farms!
The C.S.A @ our farm is awesome. You must come out and see the farm to truly appreciate the work that is being done on a daily basis to build a better foods system for our local community. Since we have a C.S.A and they are all different I will give in my opinion on how to get the most out of ours.
When you get your membership card this allows thirty percent anything off in Nature's Harvest. This is good for the length of the season. So if you purchase jams, jellies, honey, meat & many other great tasting local treats purchase them @ our store because you will save money.
Member's also receive 10% anything off G. Endeavors for the season. Use this to your advantage.
Members Also Receive:
15lbs of additional produce for those occasions you might have family coming in.
20lbs of Canning Tomatoes (Upon Request)
3 Decorative Pumpkins (per member family)
Members will get the freshest herbs if they pick up their box @ the farm. The herb beds are available so you can have your pick.
Many people ask me about sharing. If works for some, and it doesn't for other's. Pick your partner carefully and always remember we do offer a half share.
Free Hay-Rides the entire month of OCTOBER!!!
Access to our Beautiful Farm for a Pic-nic with the kids
Access to our Beautiful Fire-Pit (Must Purchase Wood)
FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK & TWITTER & BLOG
This is how I communicate. Please follow the blogs for corresponding recipe's each week and farm news.
Thanks Chris
P.S. MOST IMPORTANTLY GET TO KNOW US!!! We love Growing Food For YOU!!!!
When you get your membership card this allows thirty percent anything off in Nature's Harvest. This is good for the length of the season. So if you purchase jams, jellies, honey, meat & many other great tasting local treats purchase them @ our store because you will save money.
Member's also receive 10% anything off G. Endeavors for the season. Use this to your advantage.
Members Also Receive:
15lbs of additional produce for those occasions you might have family coming in.
20lbs of Canning Tomatoes (Upon Request)
3 Decorative Pumpkins (per member family)
Members will get the freshest herbs if they pick up their box @ the farm. The herb beds are available so you can have your pick.
Many people ask me about sharing. If works for some, and it doesn't for other's. Pick your partner carefully and always remember we do offer a half share.
Free Hay-Rides the entire month of OCTOBER!!!
Access to our Beautiful Farm for a Pic-nic with the kids
Access to our Beautiful Fire-Pit (Must Purchase Wood)
FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK & TWITTER & BLOG
This is how I communicate. Please follow the blogs for corresponding recipe's each week and farm news.
Thanks Chris
P.S. MOST IMPORTANTLY GET TO KNOW US!!! We love Growing Food For YOU!!!!
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Can Weather Affect A C.S.A. Program?
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
Thanks For Reading Chris
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
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