GROWER & MARKET NOTES

Mother’s Day: Yes, we know not everyone who receives this newsletter is a mother, but you do have one! We hope you have sweet memories if you’re not able to appreciate her personally this year.

We are resuming our regular weekly schedule with Friday pickup this week. Right now the next scheduled Market break is July 2 – July 8. We may take off additional weeks late summer depending on how vegetables are holding up.

With this newsletter being drafted on Friday evening we don’t have an update on New and Relisted products for next week, so be sure to check the listings for your favorite items. You never know what you may find!

If you enjoy cooking videos or new ways of cooking familiar foods then Przepisy od Katarzyny might be for you.

Przepisy od Katarzyny is a youtube.com channel we learned about this week when a sweet sister shared this video:

We thank you for your interest and support of our efforts to bring you the healthiest, the freshest and the most delicious locally-produced foods possible!

GROWER & MARKET NOTES

We’re very aware that some of you do not care for the hustle and bustle during these events and to avoid that we request that you pull up to the Market Shed, “covid style” for curbside delivery. That way you don’t even have to get out of your car if you don’t want to!

AVALON FARMS: So happy to finally be able to offer a few veggies. This week we’ve added Leeks, Spring Onions (from our Kinston Sweets!) and really new for us, Lettuce!

Saw the first squash bloom this morning! So about 2 weeks or so on those. Sugar snap peas are also blooming. Oh, and little tomatoes and pepper blooms! Spring is like that…super fast and super slow at the same time. Ha ha

So many things “coming soon”. Don’t lose faith. 

HORTONS FARM: If our farm had a gossip column the latest headline might go something like this:

All would fit and yes, moi is the dog, mouse and grandmother who climbed up on this bad boy and did some WORK last week.

The backstory is I’ve always been secretly envious of ladies who drove tractors like my mom and others I’ve known. And my Mr. seldom let me near the controls of any of the heavy equipment he used to operate. But when this came home last year he sat me in the seat and let me operate all the controls in case I ever needed to do something heroic. (Like I would remember what each of 3 joysticks, each with multiple functions would do without practice. Plus it has tracks instead of wheels.)

So I’m getting in some practice! So far I’ve moved a lot of dirt, pulled out some roots and debris doing prep work for my first new raised bed in the original garden in a bit over 25 years. With a little help from friends we were able to get some root vegetables in. I’m eager to get back at the controls to prepare for the next installation.

We thank you for your interest and support of our efforts to bring you the healthiest, the freshest and the most delicious locally-produced foods possible!

GROWER & MARKET NOTES

While we announced it April 9, with all the Easter hustle and bustle we neglected to mention in last week’s newsletter that M@D is holding to a bi-weekly schedule until Open House on May 7.. There are several things that factored into this decision:

1. Several vendors are not listing product till they heal from injuries. This means less yummy selection to order from.
2. More vegetables soon, we promise!
3. Gas Prices

We’re thankful to hear that Viki (Richter Farms) and Kathy (Grows In Rows) are improving and know they will return when the time is right. And those veggies over at Avalon aren’t getting smaller! We have it on good authority Avalon will have lettuce next week.

We’re all using this time to be still and know, to renew, to grow and maybe even plant something else.
Hopefully you are too! And if you are caring for things in your own soil let me throw some ideas your way.

• Dothan Nurseries has a great selection of vegetables including potato and onion sets . . . and asparagus!!!! If you’re into herbs like your market manager consider horseradish too. It’s also a perennial that comes back year after year.

• Don’t get carried away with the latest garden fads as illustrated below. With the World Wide Naked Gardening Day being one week from today just . . don’t. While the technique is safe and even sustainable it’s not necessarily effective and might not be legal.

Just Saying.

• Invest in a citronella plant. Scrappy Chic says moving potted ones to where they’re working or relaxing outdoors cuts down on the need for insect repellent. Potting them also means they can be moved indoors during winter freezes.

• Odd containers are a lot of fun. Recently my grandsons had a fit over a plastic dump truck hauling a load of succulents I had pinched from around the house.
• A little color can go a long way. We were so smitten by the Gerbera Dasies at Dothan Nurseries yesterday a couple followed us home.

We thank you for your interest and support of our efforts to bring you the healthiest, the freshest and the most delicious locally-produced foods possible!

GROWER & MARKET NOTES

With this being the weekend we celebrate the Resurrection and new life we’re very aware that everyone is busy with plans/family/activities, etc. So this newsletter will be very brief! Several things to share:

1. Our vendors have been reminded to update their products but if they’re like many of you (and this editor) they may get to it . . . . whenever! So if you place an order over the weekend you may want to check back Monday or Tuesday in case anything has been added. Sometimes this happens normally anyway, but we’re especially aware of the possibility on holidays.

2. The vegetables are coming! Locally grown foods are seasonal and while tomatoes have little blooms right now, they are still some weeks out from being ready to eat.

3. WE APPRECIATE YOU SO MUCH! This market exists to serve you and we treasure the trust you continue to give us through life’s ups and downs.

We thank you for your interest and support of our efforts to bring you the healthiest, the freshest and the most delicious locally-produced foods possible!

GROWER & MARKET NOTES

I don’t know about you, but April excites me! It’s officially spring, flowers are blooming everywhere, the honeybees are in full swing bringing in nectar, days are warm, nights are cool – life is bursting every which way you turn. For us at Hortons Farm April Fools Day brought a sweet surprise – puppies! We have five sweet little ones, now with fat little bellies, to tend to. There’s nothing like new life to remind us of the miracle of life.

RICHTER FARMS will be offline for the foreseeable future as Viki heals from a fractured wrist sustained in an auto accident. She sends thanks for your understanding and desires prayer for healing and for the family as they cope with the situation. If anyone would like to send cards feel free to message us (marketatdothan@gmail.com) for the address.

AVALON FARMS: And suddenly it’s Spring! Ha Ha The blackberries and blueberries are blooming. The onions and garlic are thinking about bulbing. There might even be a tomato bloom out there. Put the first round of squash and cucumber seeds in the ground. It just snowballs from here!

We’re trying our hand at lettuce this year. We grew a few heads last year, which did pretty well and tasted great. So we are going bigger this year. Lettuce will start in the greenhouse then be transplanted out in the field at 3 or 4 weeks. This means every week lettuce has to be started and transplanted. Currently there are 2 sets in the field and 3 more sets growing in the greenhouse. Hoping the first ones will be ready to harvest in a few more weeks. 

We thank you for your interest and support of our efforts to bring you the healthiest, the freshest and the most delicious locally-produced foods possible!

GROWER & MARKET NOTES

Good Saturday Afternoon! We just finished the books for the first quarter of 2022 and had to reflect on how very BLESSED we are to do something we love so much. All of our local growers are so thankful for your support of our sustainable ventures, however large or small. At the same time we’re deeply aware of how much you enrich our lives with your encouragement, your friendship and the knowledge you freely share whether it be chatting at pickup, business calls that turn into great conversations or Facebook posts. Life is better because of you. It’s one of the things about local interactions that you just don’t get in the produce section or a box from FedEx. Of course they have their place – nobody is denying that – but for real community, you can’t beat dealing with real people.

Do You Like Fresh Herbs? The quality of the new herbs at Dothan Nurseries far surpasses any we’ve run across since . . . well, last year when they had them! If a kitchen garden is your thing we strongly recommend checking them out. The Pesto Basil especially is divine!

HORTON’S FARM: One question that comes up at least once a year concerns sourcing for seed, plants, trees, etc. I wish I could say I have an answer for each question. Seed is easy enough as there are multiple excellent suppliers of top quality organic seed. In my opinion starting from organic seed in organic soil is the ONLY way to be sure it’s organic from seed to plate.

And I have not started anything from seed this year. As it is I’m thrilled to have two of my new raised beds filled with fresh organic material and a few bedding plants in them that will live our their fruitful existence in sustainable luxury. This week I added several tomato varieties.

These sets were planted three days apart. I was pleased by how much the first one (on the left) had grown when the one on the right was planted. We have always planted deep and down: the bottom of a 18-24 inch hole is layered with a bit of Epsom salt, chicken guano, and peat moss. The tomato is stripped of all but the top leaves then planted above all that with only the top leaves above soil. This encourages the existing roots to push deep into the soil while developing new roots on the buried stalk.

So far we have Romas, an heirloom Stripey and yellow salad tomatoes growing. There’s another bed to fill as soon as we get the ground leveled.

A Note About Goat’s Milk: As announced a few weeks ago, selling goats milk in Alabama for human consumption is NOT LEGAL. This is why we request the name of your pet when you order. Well . . . it happened – an order without a pet name – for multiple quarts no less! Mighty Suspicious if you ask me! As it turned out Mrs. Debbie will be using her goat’s milk to make SOAP. Say no more! This is a legal and legitimate use for this product and if soap making is your thing what better than fresh from the source!

We thank you for your interest and support of our efforts to bring you the healthiest, the freshest and the most delicious locally-produced foods possible!

GROWER & MARKET NOTES

Good Afternoon! We hope you’ve enjoyed this glorious day after the beating Mother Nature gave us yesterday. THANK YOU to everyone who got those orders before the downpours yesterday and you great Enterprise folks who graciously collected your orders today.

AVALON FARMS:

We are trying folks. My inspectors keep me honest. Ha ha These 2 we’re keeping a close eye on the installation of this ground cover. This will be the 3rd season this piece of row cover has been used. Baby lettuce transplants will be going in tomorrow.

Vendor Spotlight: I expect 3C Apiary won’t be happy with us for “outing” them a little, but we felt it only fitting that with the bees a buzzing and Mr. Steve spending many hours every week with his own hives and serving others through beekeeping that we spill a bit of the honey about these great folks.

Steve Loveland started keeping bees in 2017 after retiring from Forestry. It was a natural fit for him and he took to the craft like a fish to . . . no, a better analogy would be like a bee to a flower. He spent a lot of hours studying, learning, working with his own bees and became a conscientious beekeeper within a short time. He and Mrs. Anne have a heart for ministry and service and became lovely friends as well. (no pun intended)

Steve has volunteered with Aunt Katie’s Garden for several years now and recently taught an extended course that included beekeeping to a homeschool group. We have it on good authority that he included God’s original “shake your bootie” dance that honeybees do on comb to communicate where food sources can be located. In addition he is the webmaster for wiregrassbeekeepers.com.

Market at Dothan had a honey supplier (wink, wink) before 3LC joined the Market. We were glad to welcome them as their honey is produced within the city limits of Dothan, making it more LOCAL for some of our customers than the other which is produced in the countryside.

We thank you for your interest and support of our efforts to bring you the healthiest, the freshest and the most delicious locally-produced foods possible!

GROWER & MARKET NOTES

Tax Time Blues: It’s that time of the year and it’s a chore we all dread and love putting in the rearview mirror. Businesses are no different, even very small ones like M@D; every dime has to be accounted for. One thing we’ve noticed this year are our electronic payment fees and this is an area you can help us with if you use Paypal to prepay your order. We love it when you do, but have noticed that their fees (if you don’t use friends and family) are HIGH, about 160% higher than the standard fees we pay when you present a debit or credit card in person.

So that’s our request, please use friends and family settings when prepaying with Paypal, or just pay in person at pickup. M@D LLC is structured like a non-profit which means we operate on a shoestring in order to maximize our grower take home payments. The difference will help ensure we can keep the fire extinguisher inspected, purchase business licenses and cover incidentals. THANKS SO MUCH!

So. COLD. At Hortons Farm And it’s about to get worse! Up here on our hill in Echo we’ve had plenty of stuff knocked down and have heard lots of wind howls today. Reminds me of that old saying about March blowing in like a lion! Just finished building a nice hot wood fire and will be going out to cover herbs, brussel sprouts, cauliflower and lettuce in a bit. Many of those plants enjoy some cold but I don’t think tonight’s temperatures will leave them unscathed without intervention.

TWO CALENDAR ITEMS:
1. Dothan Nurseries will be hosting two Saturday events in the weeks to come, Saturday, April 9 and Saturday May 7, our annual Mother’s Day Open House. Both will be fun special days with vendors, sales and lots of cool fun things to do!

2. The 2nd item . . . (you knew it was coming . . .) Be sure to set your clocks tonight!

We thank you for your interest and support of our efforts to bring you the healthiest, the freshest and the most delicious locally-produced foods possible!