HighCross Farm CSA NewsletterSpring Newsletter - May 12, 2014

In This Issue

Woodland Ramps & Flowers

Welcome to the 2014 CSA Season!

Re-scheduled Delivery Starting Dates

2014 Summer CSA Sharesare Available

News from the Farm

I’m a Worker Shareat HighCross Farm

Photos from the Farm

HighCross FarmFresh Market Produce

Steve & Kath VogelmannW2292 Rustic Drive

Campbelsport, WI 53010-3126920-533-FARM (3276)

H i g h C r o s s F a r m

C S A M E M B E R N E W S L E T T E R

Finest Q

uality

Fi n

est

Qu

ali t

yHIGHCROSS FARM“To everything there is a season, a time to plant and a time to pluck up that which is planted.”

C S A M E M B E R N E W S L E T T E R

Dear HighCross Farm Friends,

We trust that you survived the very cold winter and are ready for temperate weather and delivery of fresh, clean, delicious produce from the gardens at HighCross Farm.

Your farmers Steve and Kath made it through the winter in good shape, although December and January were a bit rough, as they had to take many extra measures to protect the livestock from the bitter cold.

We’ve been busy for the last three months in the greenhouses, the hoophouse, and the gardens, preparing for deliveries of beautiful produce, free from chemical pesticides and fertilizers.

Our goal is to bring delight into your home every Thursday. We look forward to serving you!

- Steve, Kath & the Farm Team

“I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good

health, just as your soul prospers.” 3 John 2

Welcome to the 2014 CSA Season!

Re-scheduled Delivery Starting Dates

Our delivery starting dates are target times,

which need to be be adjusted as necessary by conditions on the ground.

This year, due to the cold winter and cold spring,

we have re-scheduled the 2014 Spring Share to May 15 and May 29.

We have tentatively rescheduled the 2014 Summer Share to begin Thursday, June 12,

although we will need to wait a few more weeks to confirm that date.

Hoophouse with veggies sizing up on Mother’s Day 2014

2014 Summer CSA Shares are Available

Shares for the 2014 Summer CSA seasons are available.

(The 2014 Fall/Winter Share will again be offered and open for enrollments in late summer.)

Up to this point in time, we have been able to hold the line on the cost of our CSA shares

for the third year!Howsoever, due to potential volatility in the economy

and the possibility of price increases from our suppliers and for fuel, we may eventually have to raise prices for new sign-ups.

Lock-in the same price as 2012 and 2013 by signing-up and making payment now.

Make your payment in full, or the first half of the 2-payment installment plan

(2nd payment due July 1, 2014). Or contact us to make other arrangements,

as we do not want to turn anyone away.

To sign-up click here: CSA 2014 | HighCross Farm

Lettuce seedlings for the Summer Share(most of this batch has now been transplanted into the gardens)

Consider giving a 2014 Summer Share to someone you care about

–a gift that keeps giving all season long.

News from the Farmby Farmer Steve

Here’s a letter updating you on news since our last newsletter of December 19, 2013:

Where did the time go!?

Seems like it was just a couple of months ago that we packed that last box of the 2013 season, just before Christmas.

Packing Crew - December 19, 2013

Yet here we are, well underway into another growing season. We started in the greenhouses planting the onions and Spring Share crops in February.

One ton tote of organic potting mix

Every year we go through several one-ton totes of potting mix.

The Way We Do Business

We wish to emphasize to you that we are a small family-run farm business which prefers doing business the old-fashioned way, with personal integrity and lots of caring about our CSA members.

We think of you as our extended family. We put our heart and soul into everything we do here. We believe in what we’re doing. And it gives us great satisfaction to know that the product we provide will help keep you and your family in good health.

We welcome you to join us as partners and friends. We understand and appreciate that you are making a serious trust commitment to HighCross Farm by paying up-front, and we intend to return every penny back to you in complete customer satisfaction.

Your notes of encouragement really make our day. It’s really not about the money. (There are no rich CSA farmers–financially, that is.) Yet Kath and I consider ourselves rich indeed, in countless other ways. It’s about bringing joy into other folks’ lives.

It’s about being in the right place at the right time doing what the Good Lord intended for us to be doing. And we could not do it without you. CSA is a unique partnership, it’s a special relationship and bond between us, with the goal of win-win.

Photo by Craig John | Commercial Photography

Farmer Steve holding forth with CSA members on the hay wagon ride August 31, 2013

News from the Farm Page 2

Economics

So far, we have been able to hold the line on the cost of our CSA shares (no price increase in three years!), but will continue to monitor the situation.

We increased our share members last year, ending the 2013 Summer Share season with 308 memberships, setting a new record. We are expanding our operation again this year to take advantage of our existing infrastructure, and are pleased to report that sign-ups are ahead of last year at this point.

Nevertheless, your referrals are greatly appreciated. Note that we’ll credit your CSA account with a $10 “Farmigo Credit,” good for purchases on the web store, for each new member mentioning your name when signing up.

Last Fall/Winter CSA Share- 12/19/13

Keep in mind that with the California drought, food prices are expected to continue to rise. By signing up now, you lock in some food security for 20 weeks, for a quality of food which you cannot find at the local grocery store. See: Attention Shoppers: Fruit and Vegetable Prices Are Rising - Real Time Economics - WSJ

Tomato seedlings at HighCross Farm

And concerning potential drought here at HighCross Farm, every year we install an irrigation system for virtually 100% of our crops, so we are always “drought-proof.”

Web Store

There are a very limited number of items available on the web store during the first part of the season, but will steadily increase as the season progresses. See the the CSA Member Handbook for more details about how the web store works:

CSA 2014 Member Handbook | HighCross Farm

Good news regarding our egg supply

Note that we have ordered 25 additional laying hens which are due to arrive at the farm during August 2014. If there is enough interest, we may eventually initiate a weekly egg share option, for CSA members who want eggs delivered on a regular basis.

For now, eggs are available on a first come, first served basis.Eggs are supplied by our own very small flock and several friends with small farm flocks; the birds are allowed to run around, breathe fresh air, and dig in the dirt looking for good things to eat; they also receive lots of scraps of fresh organically grown veggies.

Happy HighCross Farm hens chowing down on bugs and fresh grass today

News from the Farm Page 3

Overwintered Crops

We still have some crops from last fall which have been preserved in our walk-in coolers, including cabbage and root crops, some of which may be included in the first several shares this year.

In addition, we were more than pleasantly surprised to discover that our fall-planted spinach, as well as carrots and parsnips, made it through the winter in the gardens (protected with metal hoops and row cover)!

Overwintered Spinach at HighCross Farm

Help Wanted

We are always on the lookout for committed workers to join the team here at HighCross Farm. Yes, we work hard, but we have a good team spirit and enjoy working together for the common goal of providing the finest CSA produce available.

Several of the HighCross Farm Team Members in 2013

Anna Jonker

Starting in March 2014, our Nutrition Columnist, Anna Jonker, has taken on a two-year stint with the Peace Corps in Nicaragua, counseling women and families on nutrition and healthy lifestyle. So we’re not sure if she will be able to contribute any articles this season. Perhaps we can coax a note or two comparing the food scene from that part of the world. Best wishes to you, Anna!

Anna, on adventure in Nicaragua

Baby Milk Goat!

This baby doe was born about two weeks ago; here she is at two days old

News from the Farm Page 4

Current and Previous HighCross Farm CSA Members:

You may access your CSA Online Account at the link below, or click the green button “Manage Your Account” available on the CSA 2014 webpage. Please use your existing CSA Account email and password when, for instance, signing-up for an additional share season. You may toggle between your share subscriptions using the drop-down menu at the upper left.

CSA 2014 | HighCross Farm

Note that your Privacy is important to us. We will not sell or release your contact information to anyone for any reason ever.

All 2014 CSA Members - Before the Season Starts:

Please review the important information regarding your online CSA account, the Web Store, and Protocol for Picking Up your Share at this link:

CSA 2014 Member Handbook | HighCross Farm

Please bear with us for the first few deliveries, as we work out all of the many details and train new crew members.

Leaping about today, she is delighted with her nimbleness

It was difficult to snap a photo where she stayed still long enough

Mama doesn’t want to play right now, instead she just wants to chow down on this yummy new tender grass.

I’m a Worker Share at HighCross FarmBy Tom Raveret

Hi there. My name is Tom Raveret. I’m a worker share at HighCross Farm.

Farmer Steve and I were talking last week about share members’ involvement, and he asked if I’d like to write something for the newsletter, since it is my first year with HighCross Farm CSA. I’ve been helping out throughout the 2014 spring season and I am really enjoying my time there. At first I thought I’d just come and volunteer for a couple of shifts. However, I was having so much fun, I decided to do a worker share. It really is a lot of fun, with some hard work, but still a great time.

I recently heard the phrase “Know your farmer, know your food.” It got me thinking about the connection we can each make to the land our food comes from by spending a little time on the farm and volunteering a shift or two during the season.

On average, the produce we buy at the grocery store comes from about 1500 miles away. The farm is an easy 45 minute drive from Milwaukee and is really easy to find. The headwaters of the Milwaukee River meander through the property.

Adrianna harvesting fresh herbs at HighCross Farm

I doubt you can get fresher produce or grown more naturally if you did it yourself. Farmer Steve and Kath really take the time to do it right and have been quite generous with their time to teach me about why they do what they do at HighCross Farm.

It really is a special place. If you can take a half day or two to experience what’s going on at HighCross, it will increase your appreciation for all that goes into the beautiful, tasty box of produce delivered weekly to us, so conveniently.

HighCross Farm Share - Week #20, 2013

Even if all you can spare is a couple hours, contact Farmer Steve (email is best) and see what his needs are. I had no farming experience and wasn’t even that good in the garden. There is such a variety of things to do, most of which you can learn or be coached by Farmer Steve, Kath or their crew of skilled helpers there.

HighCross Farm Team Members 2013

This experience has been a true blessing for me. I’m confident you will get more out of your time at HighCross Farm than you might realize. I hope to see you out there sometime this season.

Photos from the Farm

The first of many thousands of 2014 seedlings

6 inches of rain about 3 weeks ago caused the Milwaukee River overflow its banks…

...and cause flooding in the gardens

The woods here are are becoming carpeted with woodland beauty

M/M Robin decided that a tractor would make a good nesting spot

Another robin on a nest in some field equipment! How’s Farmer Steve supposed to get anything done around here?!

At least she’ll be off the nest by the time we will need it.

Photos from the Farm

Kath is second cousin to Elly May Clampett. Here she is with some of her menagerie.

Cousin Elly May with her Pa, Granny, and Jethro