From: "Jeffrey L. Hawkins" <jeff@hawkinsfamilyfarm.com>

Date: January 7, 2007 1:59:15 PM EST

To: HFF.Friends@host.wishost.net

Subject: fryin' chicken and other things

The seed catalogs have been arriving, with beautifully-colored pictures of ripe vegetables under sunny blue skies.  Typically these arrive when there is snow  on the ground, and they stir us to long for spring.  This year, however, we are stirred not at all, but rather annoyed.  We've had enough "spring."  We are tired of  rain and mud.  Perhaps it is  the same for you.

What's the solution?  Our minds generally run toward food as the one thing that promises to solve any problem.  So last evening we rubbed Hawkins Family Farm chicken with salt and pepper and coated it with buttermilk before refrigerating overnight.  Today we will dredge with flour and fry it.  It is a compelling recipe we saw in a Williams-Sonoma catalog (you can access it at this very long web address:  http://www.williams-sonoma.com/recipe/recipeDetail.cfm?objectId=9CE188DA-DBA7-EF97-18388AD0D89F4BD2&flash=on&cmrf=http%3A//www.google.com/search%3Fclient%3Dsafari%26rls%3Den%26q%3Dwilliams+sonoma+fried+chicken%26ie%3DUTF-8%26oe%3DUTF-8)   It is not likely to be as good as Mom's fried chicken, but good nonetheless, especially as an antidote to the problems of weather.

If you are looking for good food as the solution to your problems, let us bring the following good news.  First, the 2007 Hawkins Family Farm will soon be in the mail to you and is currently available on the web site.  We aim to sell only 20 full shares this year, and have fewer beef cattle available than in past years (it takes two years for a calf to get to butcher weight--we'll be back up to speed next year), so you may want to send in your order early.  Second, in the brochure you'll notice that we are selling 13-week egg shares, as well as eggs by the dozen, since the hens are laying well now.  Third, both Hawkins Farm STEAKBURGER ($4.50/lb)and BRATWURST ($5.50/lb) are available now (frozen)--perhaps there is a silver lining to the cloud of this unseasonable weather, the chance to grill outdoors. 

You don't hear this wish often at this time of year, but here it is:  Think Winter.

Peace and plenty,

Jeff

From: "Jeffrey L. Hawkins" <jeff@hawkinsfamilyfarm.com>

Date: March 26, 2007 12:48:23 PM EDT

To: HFF.Friends@host.wishost.net

Subject: post-mud, pre-bug

Hello, friends of Hawkins Family Farm!

This will be a short note--mostly because I'd rather be in the greening outdoors than at the desk typing!  It is currently partly-sunny and 71 degrees, there is a gentle breeze, the ground is drying and the bugs have not fully awakened yet.  Coupled with the typical unsettledness of a hundred farm tasks that await me, you can understand why I can clearly hear the siren song of Spring beckoning me to go outside!

And beckoning you, too, if you like safe spinach and fresh eggs.  The late-summer planted spinach in BED 8 is growing nicely now, ready for Vegetable Shareholders to pick.  And the hens have been laying steadily--beautiful large eggs with bright orange yolks.  You might want to call or e-mail before you visit the farm, since this is "pre-season" we are not fully set up yet (and won't be for a while--the Shareholder Shed is not cleaned out; the egg refrigerator is not turned on...).  

A few of you have purchased full shares thus far--thanks.  I still have about 15 yet to sell.  Supplies of beef are very tight this year; full-harvest shareholders get priority.  We should have plenty of chicken, turkey, and pork.

OK, enough.  I'm heading outside!

Peace and plenty,

Jeff

From: "Jeffrey L. Hawkins" <jeff@hawkinsfamilyfarm.com>

Date: April 1, 2007 3:01:15 PM EDT

To: HFF.Friends@host.wishost.net

Subject: Easter eggs

Hello, friends of Hawkins Family Farm!

As the laying hens range farther and wider on these warming Spring days--prior to being put in a moveable pasture pen for the summer--they find new places to lay their eggs.  So the hunt has begun here prior to Easter--and will continue for a few days more.  (Giving in to the temptation of the preacher, I reflected on this in my most recent blog, which can be read from the "Ruminations" link on our websites.)

While writing the blog,  I remembered a Spring season when our children were young.  On the spur of the moment we decided to color Easter eggs and were surprised to discover that we had no white ones.  Not wanting to make a special trip into town, we risked coloring the brown eggs from our own hens.  The result was pleasantly stunning:  deep, rich colors!

We currently have plenty of eggs.  They sell for $4 a dozen.  Or you can purchase a 13-week egg share for $40 which translates into $3.07/dozen, considerably cheaper than Meijer @ $3.99)  They are kept in a tiny refrigerator in our garage until we get the Shareholder Shed cleaned out for the season.  Let me know if you'd like some.

Happy Easter!

--Jeff and Kathy

From: "Jeffrey L. Hawkins" <jeff@hawkinsfamilyfarm.com>

Date: April 14, 2007 2:30:35 PM EDT

To: HFF.Friends@host.wishost.net

Subject: Signs of Spring

Greetings from the damp, windy, farm!

I admit it:  I am getting antsy.  I'd prefer to have potatoes and peas planted by now, but the garden soil is too wet to work, and even the spinach leaves are bleached from the recent freezing temperatures.  I'd like to have the fencing project finished, but the lanes and fields are too muddy for vehicle traffic--I know, I've been stuck more than once this year.  The growth of the pasture grass has stalled; I'm thinking of throwing a few bales of hay out to the cattle to make sure they have enough.  To get things going in the right direction, I've been humming the Beatles' "Here Comes the Sun," but it hasn't yet produced the hoped-for results....

Ah, but it's not all gloom under these Indiana clouds.  Then hens continue to lay large eggs with bright orange yolks.  And on Friday, 550 baby chicks arrived by United States Postal Service.  Fifty will be laying hens when they mature next Fall.  Five hundred will be sold as meat birds in June.  Kathy posted pictures on her blog at http://kathyhawkins.blogspot.com/

The first meat chicken pick-up is in June.  Order now!  

We still have Full Harvest Shares left to sell:  weekly vegetables, 20 meat chickens, a Thanksgiving turkey, half pork, quarter beef.  Download an order form from the website, complete it and send it in.

Hurry!  Look:  Here Comes the Sun!

Peace and plenty,

Jeff

From: "Jeffrey L. Hawkins" <jeff@hawkinsfamilyfarm.com>

Date: April 26, 2007 3:03:47 PM EDT

To: HFF.Friends@host.wishost.net

Subject: from pothole to birdbath

Hello, friends of Hawkins Family Farm,

As many of you know, we live in the middle of a 99 acre farm, which means that a long limestone lane connects the farmstead to the county road.  Rain and use shape the lane's surface into a washboard with potholes demanding periodic grading.  I've been bumping down this washboard for a few weeks now, each time making a mental note of yet another job I must get to soon:  I need to grade this lane before it jars apart the car or its occupants.

But perhaps not too soon, I discovered today.  Yesterday's rains have filled the potholes with water.  Today the birds are using them as birdbaths, since the metal one remains in its winter position on its side in the flower bed.  I think it was their animated movement that caught my attention so I stood and watched for a moment:  a flock of birds, two-to-a-bath, side by side, scooping up water with flitting wings, pausing to let it run down like oil on the beard of Aaron.

The timely rains will likely cause the gardens and pastures to "pop" with growth.  I'm guessing that next week's e-mail will announce asparagus and spinach ready for picking by vegetable shareholders.  (If you'd like to purchase a vegetable share, we still have a few left to sell.  Order form for this and other farm products is attached.)  Planted ahead of the rains were strawberry plants (which won't be ready for harvest until next year...sorry!); onions;  broccoli; red, blue, white, and gold potatoes; carrots, radishes, cabbage, kohlrabi, lettuce, snow peas, and purple cauliflower.  In a few weeks, toward the end of May, we'll plant tomatoes, peppers, beans, and other later-season crops, for which we will need planting help.  (Let me know if you are interested in helping.)

The baby chicks are now two weeks old, growing well.  The laying hens continue to lay wonderful eggs.  The cattle are happy to graze lush pastures.  Pigs and baby calves come to the farm over the next few weeks.  Soon we may get a few "heritage breed" turkeys that take 6-7 months to grow out, a smaller but more delicious bird than the conventional Broad Breasted White turkeys we normally raise (which arrive as day-old birds on the farm in July).  The two guineas are still wandering the farm, making too much noise while eating lots of bugs. The two dogs, Maggie and Moe, are poised to greet you.

The growing season is upon us!

Peace and plenty,

Jeff and Kathy

From: jeff@hawkinsfamilyfarm.com

Subject: velvet spinach soup or asparagus frittata?

Date: April 30, 2007 8:57:36 AM EDT

To: HFF.Friends@host.wishost.net

VEGETABLE SHAREHOLDERS, COME AND GET IT!

We are moving from pre-season to in-season at Hawkins Family Farm. Come and get a large bag of spinach (Bed 8) and a couple of bunches of asparagus (from the Shareholder Shed refrigerator--I will be picking the asparagus for you because it needs to be picked selectively in this 2nd year, with many stems left unpicked in order to feed the roots to fully establish the new plants. Next year we can pick all we want!).

Eating local food has its drawbacks, one of which is the dilemma of which recipe to use for supper tonight. Should it be?...

VELVET SPINACH SOUP: http://www.hobbyfarms.com/food-and-kitchen/spinach-velvet-soup.aspx

OR

MINTED ASPARAGUS FRITTATA: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/recipe_views/views/101309

What do you think?

--Jeff

P.S. Vegetable shares still available for purchase. Also, get your chicken orders in soon. The birds will be ready in about 6 weeks, and then not again until September.

Jeffrey L. Hawkins

North Manchester, Indiana

www.hawkinsfamilyfarm.com

www.hopecsa.org

From: jeff@hawkinsfamilyfarm.com

Subject: one hour Saturday?

Date: May 3, 2007 6:29:44 PM EDT

To: HFF.Friends@host.wishost.net

Hello, friends of Hawkins Family Farm,

Depending on the weather, my plan is to move three-week old chickens from the brooder to pasture pens at 10am on Saturday and need help to do so.  With enough help, it will take about an hour.  Let me know if you may be able to assist.  (I'll be in touch later to confirm the event--I still have work to do to get the pasture pens ready and hope that by 10am Sat the pens are done!)  Thanks!

--Jeff

Jeffrey L. Hawkins

North Manchester, Indiana

www.hawkinsfamilyfarm.com

www.hopecsa.org

From: jeff@hawkinsfamilyfarm.com

Subject: where the wind blows

Date: May 7, 2007 9:07:36 AM EDT

To: HFF.Friends@host.wishost.net

Good morning, friends of Hawkins Family Farm!

It's a crisp morning on the farm, still a bit breezy.  Nevertheless, the sun is shining, warming the soil, beckoning tiny lettuce and radish plants upward!  

VEGETABLES:  The promise of upcoming harvest will need to tide us over for the next couple of weeks.  We need to quit harvesting asparagus in order to let the growing plants feed the roots (we'll be able to take more next year!).  So, vegetable shareholders, only two things are available:  SPINACH in Bed 8 (take all you want!) and PARSLEY in the Peter Rabbit Garden (take a few sprigs to garnish your plates.)

BEEF:  I've scheduled to take 4 calves to W-W and 2 calves to Krider's at the end of May.  I have 12 quarters left to sell before that date, so please get your orders in SOON.  The next opportunity for beef is not until Fall.  I am sold out of burger and am not sure when it may be available again.

PORK:  I've sold 6 halves thus far and have 18 left to sell.  Feeder pigs come to the farm at the end of this week.

TURKEY:  We gladly take turkey orders now for fall.  A new wrinkle this year:  in addition to our regular turkeys, we hope to have about 20 "heritage" breed turkeys available (if we can get the fragile birds started).  These are old-time birds that are not as large as but are much more flavorful than the commercial Broad Breasted Whites that we typically sell.  They take twice as long to grow out.  We get about the same price per bird (which means that they are more expensive per pound @ $5.95).  If  you would like one, let me know.  

CHICKEN:  the birds are now happily out on pasture, thanks to 3 Debbies, Kathy, Conrad and Glenn.  PICK UP dates for fresh chicken are June 7 & 14 (and then not again until September).  We have fewer pick up dates this year, in part as a way to be more frugal since feed prices have nearly doubled.  So get your orders in NOW.  We will NOT have frozen birds available.  At this stage I have plenty of  birds available.

LATER:  Near the end of May we will be planting late crops, such as peppers and tomatoes.  We need extra help to do this, so at the proper time I'll send out an e-mail with the request.  If you'd like a couple of hours out in the glorious sunshine digging in the dirt, come and join us!

Peace and plenty,

Jeff

J.L. Hawkins Family Farm

North Manchester, Indiana

www.hawkinsfamilyfarm.com

May 22, 2007

Turkey time

Dear friends of Hawkins Family Farm,

OK, you'd expect to see the title "turkey time" in November.  But it's May.  What could I possibly mean?  Fortunate to have freezer space, we keep a few turkeys in the freezer.  Last week we hosted three clergy groups for their regular meetings on the farm, and served roast turkey for lunch.  Mostly we heard this comment:  "This is really good!  Why don't we have turkey throughout the year?  Why do we wait until Thanksgiving to eat turkey?"  We don't--if we thought to have an extra turkey in the freezer from last November's batch.  Planning ahead to avoid this mistake in the future, perhaps you want to order TWO from Hawkins Family Farm?  :)   We've been eating leftovers all week long without complaint.

TURKEY:  We will have two options for turkey when Fall arrives: the regular, broad-breasted whites; and some of the the old-fashioned heritage breeds.  The heritage birds do not get as large as the commercial birds, but they are more tasty.

VEGETABLE SHAREHOLDERS:  The spinach is pretty much gone, but LETTUCE is nearly ready.  I think by the end of the week some of it can be taken, especially if we get some rain. RADISHES are ready also, as is PARSLEY.  In a couple of weeks we may have snow peas, too!

WEEDS:  Despite dry conditions, the weeds are growing well.  If you want to take a few extra minutes when you are here harvesting and pull weeds, feel free!

CHICKEN:  Chicken pick up is soon here, just a couple of weeks away...and then not again until September.  Order NOW to be sure you will have chicken for your summer grill!

BEEF:  I have three quarters left to sell for June (this calf will be butchered by Kriders-Columbia City).

BURGER:  sold out

PORK:  Ten halves left to sell.

EGGS: The hens are laying!  Come and get 'em!

Peace and plenty,

Jeff

Jeffrey L. Hawkins

North Manchester, Indiana

www.hawkinsfamilyfarm.com

www.hopecsa.org

May 28, 2007

Outdoors

Dear friends of Hawkins Family Farm,

Daughter Sarah perceptively commented recently that "people are looking for an excuse to be outdoors on Memorial Day."  If you are one of these, we have peppers to plant and weeds to pull on the farm--all outdoors, of course!  Let me know if you can help sometime this week.

VEGETABLE SHAREHOLDERS:  LETTUCE is now ready to be harvested.  RADISHES, too - as a matter of fact, radishes need to be pulled in the carrot beds to make way for the carrots to grow, so come and get bags full!  PARSLEY is still beautiful in the Peter Rabbit garden.

CHICKEN:  Chicken pick up is soon here, just a couple of weeks away...and then not again until September.  Order NOW to be sure you will have chicken for your summer grill!

BEEF:  I have two quarters left to sell.   (this calf will be butchered by Kriders-Columbia City on Friday).

PORK:  Ten halves left to sell.

TURKEY:  Order now for fall.

EGGS: The hens are laying!  Come and get 'em!

Peace and plenty,

Jeff

J.L. Hawkins Family Farm

North Manchester, Indiana

www.hawkinsfamilyfarm.com

June 3, 2007

Peas, please

Hello, friends of Hawkins Family Farm,

We're still praying for much-needed rain.  Despite the dry weather, things are growing, particularly the Sugar Ann sugar snap peas!

THIS WEEK FOR VEGETABLE SHAREHOLDERS:  Lettuce, radishes, parsley, and Sugar Ann peas.  (Continue to take radishes from the carrot row, and weeds too!)

THIS WEEK IS CHICKEN-PICK UP WEEK (as is next week, and then not again until September).

THANKSGIVING TURKEYS:  still available for order.  Broad-breasted whites are $2.95/lb and Heritage turkeys are $5.95/lb

BEEF - sold out for June.  Still available for October.

PORK:  halves still available for October.

FRESH EGGS:  $4/dozen

Check out the 4 baby calves that arrived on the farm this week, and the dozen rambunctious pigs!

Peace and plenty,

Jeff

J.L. Hawkins Family Farm

North Manchester, Indiana

www.hawkinsfamilyfarm.com

June 8, 2007

Fresh chickens and parsley

ello, friends of Hawkins Family Farm,

With the subject line of "fresh chicken and parsley" you may think that I'll lead into a great recipe recently enjoyed at the Hawkins family table.  The truth is, these items were on the diet of our pigs this week (didn't expect that, did you?)  Zach cut the tops off the parsley plants from the herb garden and threw them to the pigs.  I cut up 25 fresh chickens and threw a few of the leftovers to them.  Have you ever seen a pig smile?  

Humans can enjoy fresh chicken and parsley from our farm as, well, of course.  Thursday is the last chicken pick up day (until September).  Lettuce, radishes, and snow peas are still available for vegetable shareholders.  Recently we planted a number of herbs in the Peter Rabbit garden, including basil, rosemary, thyme, oregano, chives, dill, and more.  We re-planted poor stands of broccoli and Oregon snow peas.  Green, yellow, and purple-pod beans are growing nicely, though the harvest is a few weeks away.  

Pray for rain!

Peace and plenty,

Jeff

Jeffrey L. Hawkins

North Manchester, Indiana

www.hawkinsfamilyfarm.com

www.hopecsa.org

June 14,2007

Garlic scapes

Just a quick update and reminder:

VEGETABLE SHAREHOLDERS: Snow peas are still available, but are likely coming to their end, especially in this dry, hot time. The lettuce still seems OK. Lack of rain has meant that green beans, which I had hoped would be coming on soon, will instead be delayed (though the stand looks promising for a good harvest once they begin to produce). Finally, GARLIC SCAPES are available. What is a garlic scape? Here's info from one source: "scapes are the flower stalks found on members of the Allium family (onions, leeks, chives, and garlic). Garlic scapes, which only appear on the finest hardneck garlic varieties, curl upward as they grow, ultimately straighten, and then grow little seed-like bulbs. When the garlic scapes are still in full curl, they are tender and delicious.” Use them as you would the garlic clove.

June 19, 2007

Rain-washed air

Dear friends of Hawkins Family Farm,

It's been a long time since I've seated at the desk for more than 5 minutes at a time.  Relentless sunny days have claimed me for relentless outdoor work.  Until now.  This morning came the blessing of rain, which soaked me to the skin as I finished the feeding chores, and now washes and sweetens the air coming in through the open windows.  I look out over gardens that seem to be, well, sighing for the direct experience of the "dew of heaven."

VEGETABLE shareholders:  I'm hoping that the rain will move along some of the vegetable crops, particularly the beans and broccoli.  I'll keep you posted.  The Sugar Ann PEAS (north end of bed 15) are spent (the pods are tough, though you may check and see if the peas, when shelled, are not yet bitter).  The Oregon Snow peas, at the south end of bed 15, are still good, though they may be tough to find in all the weeds.  (It is strange.  I  sowed both the Sugar Anns and the Oregon on the same day, in the same manner.  The Sugar Anns germinated wonderfully.  The Oregons germinated erratically, giving plenty of space in between for weeds.  Go figure.  I replanted Oregon peas in the north end of Bed 8 which have not yet germinated due to lack of moisture.)  I think the LETTUCE in bed 13 is beginning to turn bitter - check it before you cut and bag it.  Some may still be OK.  I replanted SPINACH in the south end of Bed 8 and tried to water it, such as it is.  The rains may bring it on so that we can begin to harvest next week.  The GARLIC SCAPES (curly stems) need to be taken off this week so that the plants can put energy into the cloves underground.  You can use the scapes in cooking.  The tomatoes are flowering; the green, yellow, and purple beans are holding their own, the carrots are growing.  The promise of harvest is still at least a couple of weeks away.)  We've been spending hours weeding, as the weeds continue to grow.  There is still more to do, of course, (there is an ongoing "needs to be weeded" list on the blackboard) so if you need an hour away from the rush of city life, come to the farm and we'll offering you the relaxing work of pulling weeds.  The work will likely pay off:  we are currently weeding cosmos and zinnia beds, which, once they bloom, will invite you to take a bouquet home each week.

CHICKEN:  pick-up went well, with large birds being delivered.  Next pick up is Sept 6 and Sept 13.  You can order now to be sure you get birds for your winter freezer.

THANKSGIVING TURKEYS:  still available for order.  Broad-breasted whites are $2.95/lb and Heritage turkeys are $5.95/lb.  Order forms available for download on the website.

BEEF - sold out for June.  Two calves (four halves or 8 quarters)  still available for October.  (I may have more, depending on how the calves grow.  Once I sell out, I'll start a waiting list for these in case they are ready.)

PORK:  9 halves still available for October.

FRESH EGGS:  $4/dozen

If you visited the farm recently, you may have seen the 5 just-a-few-days-old calves near the barn.  We have been bottle feeding them twice a day as a favor for their owner.  The most-often-heard comment:  "Awwww, how cute!"

Peace and plenty,

Jeff

Jeffrey L. Hawkins

North Manchester, Indiana

www.hawkinsfamilyfarm.com

www.hopecsa.org

June 25, 2007

Green Acres

Hello, friends of Hawkins Family Farm,

Green has returned to Hawkins Family Farm, thanks to a total of 2.5" of rain this past week.  I got soaked doing morning chores and didn't complain at all!  It is amazing how quickly plants respond to moisture.  Vegetable shareholders:  the replanted spinach is producing-take a half bag.  It will be a meager harvest for a couple of weeks, but then watch out!  The harvest from the first planting of lettuce, peas, and radishes is done, but lettuce and peas have been replanted and will now germinate due to the rain.  Beans are growing and I saw one plant with a blossom, which, as you may know, leads to an actual bean!  The tomatoes are flowering and a couple of the Italian plants have set fruit.  I am hopeful for broccoli, purple cauliflower and kohlrabi in a couple of weeks.  As much as we tried to sequence our planting, it looks like Nature will have her way and it will all come at once, so get ready to eat vegetables during July!  And to enjoy flowers:  I'm guessing that we'll be able to pick fresh cosmos and zinnias in a couple of weeks as well.

Green acres also means weeds, of course.  We have an overwhelming amount of pigweed in the cosmos, such that there is a near takeover.  If you have a free hour to come and pull a few weeds, especially this week, it would be greatly appreciated!

Peace and plenty,

Jeff

Jeffrey L. Hawkins

North Manchester, Indiana

www.hawkinsfamilyfarm.com

www.hopecsa.org

July 2, 2007

Holiday, holy day

Greetings, friends of Hawkins Family Farm,

Independence Day is Wednesday, and it is likely we will be here on the farm, as usual.  Feel free to come and get your vegetables that day; you don't need to avoid a visit due to the holiday.  We would ask, however, that you avoid visiting the farm Friday through Sunday this week, since our eldest is being married on our farm on Saturday, July 7.  Thanks for your patience and good will!

Vegetable shareholders:  the SPINACH looks great; take a produce bag full.  The Peter Rabbit herb garden is beginning to offer more (we'll help you harvest these items):  there is still PARSLEY, and now BASIL (take 5-6 leaves for now); ARUGULA (half  a produce bag); BON JARDIN MIX OF GREENS (half a bag).  You can begin to take 1-2 of the largest ONIONS.  Check the BANANA PEPPERS to see if any are ready to take - perhaps only 1 or 2 for now.  Green beans are flowering and ought to be available next week.

FROZEN AND PACKAGED BEEF AVAILABLE NOW!  I have a recently-butchered split-side quarter of beef in the locker at Krider's-Columbia City that is available for sale immediately.  Let me know if you are interested or know of someone who may want it.  I also have in my freezer on the farm frozen STEAKBURGER in one-pound packages of patties (4 patties per package) available for $4.95/lb.

Peace and plenty, freedom and joy!

--Jeff

Jeffrey L. Hawkins

North Manchester, Indiana

www.hawkinsfamilyfarm.com

www.hopecsa.org

July 10, 2007

All together now…

Greetings, friends of Hawkins Family Farm,

(Kathy urged me to begin this e-mail with a KITTEN ALERT.  As you drive into the barn lot, be aware that there are a couple of litters of small kittens that can easily be stepped on or run over.  Be careful, with our thanks.)

(Since we are beginning with alerts, let me report a WEED ALERT as well.  I'm having trouble keeping the beds weed free and would welcome any help you may offer - even a half-hour some evening!  Thanks again.)

As predicted, and despite trying to sequence-plant them, many of the vegetable crops are coming "all together now..."

VEGETABLE SHAREHOLDERS:  

PETER RABBIT GARDEN:  take a quarter bag each of BASIL and PARSLEY; a bag each of BON JARDIN GREENS MIX and ARUGULA

BED 5 - dig about 5-6 bulbs of GARLIC.  It is useful right away or, if you want to keep it, lay it out to dry before storage.

BED 7 - Take 1-2 of the larger ONIONS each week.

BED 8 - there is still some SPINACH available, though the heat is causing many of the plants to bolt (go to seed).  Take half a bag.

BED 10 - Take 1-2 purple KOHLRABI "bulbs" (actually, this edible part is an enlarged section of the stem)  Be careful not to tramp on the recently sowed lettuce in the middle of the bed (among the weeds).

BED 12 - Take 1-2 beautiful heads of BROCCOLI. 

BED 29 - at the south end you will find JALAPENO PEPPERS.  Take whatever you may use.

BED 34 - The dry weather has delayed the beans, though they are beginning to come on.  We may have some of harvestable size by the end of the week, especially if we get rain.  Keep checking.  Take a half-bag this first time.

BED 35 - The regular marketmore cucumbers at the north end of the bed are flowering but not yet setting fruit.  The specialty CUKES at the south end are beginning to produce lovely cucumbers.  Take 1-2 this week.

BED 39 - the east side of the bed is PURPLE-POD BEANS.  The west side is YELLOW WAX BEANS.  Check this bed over the next week or two for harvestable beans.  Though we weeded 3 times, the weeds are bad, making the beans harder to find.  Sorry!

BED 40 - ZINNIA flowers.  The Japanese beetles damaged a lot of the flowers last week, but seem to be leaving them alone this week, so the newer blooms look OK.  Take a bouquet home, along with some COSMOS greens from the large Bed 0 next to the Peter Rabbit garden, for a lovely dinner table centerpiece.

FRESH CHICKEN:  baby chicks arrived by mail on Saturday morning.  Unfortunately, 200 out of the 500 ordered succumbed to the heat during the shipping process.  We may or may not get replacements for them, in large part due to competition for the brooder space (baby turkey poults need to use the space in a couple of weeks).  If you are thinking of ordering chicken, you may want to get your order in now while I still have 100 left to sell.

FRESH THANKSGIVING TURKEY:  Plenty available for order, both the "regular" commercial Broad-Breasted white @ $2.95/lb (16-24 lbs) and the Heritage birds (probably 12-18 lbs) @ $5.95/lb.

PORK:  Three-and-a-half pork halves yet available for sale, ready in October.

BEEF:  I have a half-beef left to sell for Fall, for certain.  It is likely that I will have quite a bit more, perhaps a half dozen animals, but I'm not sure how well they will grow between now and October.  So I will start a waiting list, hopeful for good growth, (but, in the interest of caution, making no guarantees.)

STEAKBURGER:  I have about 40 lbs of frozen patties available, 4 patties to a pound package.

EGGS:  The hens continue to lay better than expected, so I have plenty of eggs @ $4.00/dozen, or $40 per 13 dozen ($3.07/dz) if you buy an egg share.

Peace and plenty, 

Jeff

P.S.  This page is posted on the bulletin board in the shareholder shed.

Jeffrey L. Hawkins

North Manchester, Indiana

www.hawkinsfamilyfarm.com

www.hopecsa.org

July 18, 2007

Bloom where you are planted

Dear friends of Hawkins Family Farm.

Dreams come true.  Miracles happen.

We know this by experience.  It doesn't mean, of course, that they are predictable or guaranteed.  If you are looking for fulfilled dreams and miracles, prepare to be surprised.

On July 7 Zach and Kira were married at an outdoor ceremony on our farm.  They dreamed of a perfect day, of meaningful worship, the affirmation of love and faithfulness, loved ones, good food, great weather.  Their dream came true, much to my surprise.

Among other things, my dream for July 7 was to feature a huge bed of blooming cosmos, an uncharacteristic extravagance.  It didn't happen; there were three flowers, declaring the hope of things unseen.  Now, however, the flowers are beginning to bloom.  When you visit the farm, take a bouquet while you give thanks for beautiful things.

VEGETABLE SHAREHOLDERS:  

PETER RABBIT GARDEN:  take a quarter bag each of BASIL and PARSLEY; a bag each of BON JARDIN GREENS MIX and ARUGULA

BED 5 - dig about 5-6 bulbs of GARLIC.  It is useful right away or, if you want to keep it, lay it out to dry before storage.  If the bed is empty, we may have it already dug and drying up in the Shareholder Shed.

BED 7 - Take 1-2 of the larger ONIONS each week.

BED 8 - there MAY still some SPINACH available, though the heat is causing many of the plants to bolt (go to seed).  Take half a bag.

BED 10 - Take 1-2 purple KOHLRABI "bulbs" (actually, this edible part is an enlarged section of the stem)  Be careful not to tramp on the recently sowed lettuce in the middle of the bed (among the weeds).

BED 12 - Take 1-2 beautiful heads of BROCCOLI before they get to big, or a few"side shoots".

BED 13 - check to see if there is some LETTUCE ready.  Check to see if it is bitter due to the heat.

BED 29 - at the south end you will find JALAPENO PEPPERS.  Take whatever you may use.  Also check to see if there are TOMATOES that are ripe (the cherry tomatoes seem to be coming on first).  Take a sample this week; more later when the bulk of them ripen.

BED 31 - the PEPPERS are beginning slowly.  Take as many BANANA peppers are you want.  Take one green BELL pepper this week, until the bulk of them begin to come on - then you can take more!

BED 33 - the ZUCCHINI are beginning to bear fruit; you won't find much this week but will likely find more next week..  There are 3 kinds of ZUC and one GOLDEN YELLOW SUMMER SQUASH.  Take a couple.

BED 34 - The dry weather has delayed the beans, though they are beginning to come on.  We may have some of harvestable size by the end of the week, especially if we get rain.  Keep checking.  Take a half-bag.

BED 35 - The regular marketmore cucumbers at the north end of the bed are flowering but not yet setting fruit.  The specialty CUKES at the south end are beginning to produce lovely cucumbers.  Take 1-2 this week.

BED 39 - the east side of the bed is PURPLE-POD BEANS.  The west side is YELLOW WAX BEANS.  Check this bed over the next week or two for harvestable beans.  Though we weeded 3 times, the weeds are bad, making the beans harder to find.  Sorry!

BED 40 - ZINNIA flowers.  The Japanese beetles damaged a lot of the flowers last week, but seem to be leaving them alone this week, so the newer blooms look OK.  Take a bouquet home, along with some COSMOS greens from the large Bed 0 next to the Peter Rabbit garden, for a lovely dinner table centerpiece.

FRESH CHICKEN:  200 replacement baby chicks arrived by mail today, all healthy and happy.  We are experimenting with them by trying to brood them out in the pasture, since the other birds are taking up the brooder space.  Stay tuned.  ORDER NOW for the fall batches.

FRESH THANKSGIVING TURKEY:  Plenty available for order, both the "regular" commercial Broad-Breasted white @ $2.95/lb (16-24 lbs) and the Heritage birds (probably 12-18 lbs) @ $5.95/lb.

PORK:  Three-and-a-half pork halves yet available for sale, ready in October.

BEEF:  I have a half-beef left to sell for Fall, for certain.  It is likely that I will have quite a bit more, perhaps a half dozen animals, but I'm not sure how well they will grow between now and October.  So I will start a waiting list, hopeful for good growth, (but, in the interest of caution, making no guarantees.)

STEAKBURGER:  I have about 40 lbs of frozen patties available, 4 patties to a pound package.

EGGS:  The hens continue to lay better than expected, so I have plenty of eggs @ $4.00/dozen, or $40 per 13 dozen ($3.07/dz) if you buy an egg share.

Peace and plenty, 

Jeffrey L. Hawkins

North Manchester, Indiana

www.hawkinsfamilyfarm.com

www.hopecsa.org

July 30, 2007

Sweet corn

Greetings, friends of Hawkins Family Farm!

Your fortunes are rising, VEGETABLE SHAREHOLDERS!  I'll have a dozen ears of sweet corn for you this week and next, for pick up on the farm.  I'll have it here this week on WEDNESDAY EVENING, after 6pm.  I'm not sure of the timing next week, but it will likely be Tuesday evening (watch your e-mails).  Other vegetables include:  

PETER RABBIT GARDEN:  take a full bag GREEN BASIL and 6-8 leaves of PURPLE BASIL.  Take what you need of ARUGULA, SAGE, ROSEMARY, OREGANO, THYME.

BED 0 - take a bouquet of COSMOS with you each week to brighten your home!

BED 7 - Take 1-2 of the larger ONIONS each week.

BED 12 - Take 2 beautiful heads of BROCCOLI before they get too big.  Also take some of the fresh "side shoots".

BED 13 - Take 1 bag of LETTUCE

BED 29 - at the south end you will find JALAPENO PEPPERS.  Take whatever you may use.  You may take a bag of TOMATOES.  The cherry and grape tomatoes are ripening nicely.  The italian (such as Roma) are beginning to ripen.

BED 31 - Take a couple of green bell PEPPERS.  Take as many BANANA peppers are you want. 

BED 33 - Take a few ZUCCHINI There are 3 kinds (regular green, white, and "rampicante" that grows in interesting curly shapes!)  and one GOLDEN YELLOW SUMMER SQUASH. 

BED 34 - Take as many GREEN BEANS as you want before they become too mature.  The north end of the bed are "Provider" beans, an earlier variety that are becoming very mature;  the south end are "Jade" which are long and narrow, even as they mature.

BED 35 - The regular marketmore cucumbers at the north end of the bed are flowering but not yet setting fruit.  The specialty CUKES at the south end are beginning to produce lovely cucumbers.  Take 1-2 this week.

BED 39 - Take as many yellow or purple-pod beans as you want before they become too mature.  The east side of the bed is PURPLE-POD BEANS.  The west side is YELLOW WAX BEANS.  

BED 40 - ZINNIA flowers.  Take a bouquet home.

UPCOMING:  Bed 36 - more Jade green beans.  Soon we will be planting crops for Fall, such as lettuce, spinach, Bon Jardin mix, broccoli, snow peas, and more green beans.  The rain is a gift that may allow these mid-summer planting to germinate well.  Hooray!

PLENTY OF FRESH CHICKEN available for order:  The experiment with the new chicks is going better than imagined.  Plenty of very healthy birds are growing well.  Order now for farm pick up Sept 6 & Sept 13.

FRESH THANKSGIVING TURKEY:  Plenty available for order, both the "regular" commercial Broad-Breasted white @ $2.95/lb (16-24 lbs) and the Heritage birds (probably 12-18 lbs) @ $5.95/lb.

PORK:  Three-and-a-half pork halves yet available for sale, ready in October.

BEEF:  I have a half-beef left to sell for Fall, for certain.  It is likely that I will have quite a bit more, perhaps a half dozen animals more (24 quarters), but I'm not sure how well they will grow between now and October.  So I will start a waiting list, hopeful for good growth, (but, in the interest of caution, making no guarantees.)  Let me know if you'd like me to put your name on the list.

STEAKBURGER:  I have about 40 lbs of frozen patties available, 4 patties to a pound package.  $4.95/lb

EGGS:  The hens continue to lay better than expected, so I have plenty of eggs @ $4.00/dozen, or $40 per 13 dozen ($3.07/dz) if you buy an egg share.

Peace and plenty,

Jeff

Jeffrey L. Hawkins

North Manchester, Indiana

www.hawkinsfamilyfarm.com

www.hopecsa.org

Aug 6, 2007

Feed the pigs

Greetings, friends of Hawkins Family Farm!

Your fortunes are rising, VEGETABLE SHAREHOLDERS!  I'll have a dozen ears of sweet corn for you this week and next, for pick up on the farm.  I'll have it here this week on WEDNESDAY EVENING, after 6pm.  I'm not sure of the timing next week, but it will likely be Tuesday evening (watch your e-mails).  Other vegetables include:  

PETER RABBIT GARDEN:  take a full bag GREEN BASIL and 6-8 leaves of PURPLE BASIL.  Take what you need of ARUGULA, SAGE, ROSEMARY, OREGANO, THYME.

BED 0 - take a bouquet of COSMOS with you each week to brighten your home!

BED 7 - Take 1-2 of the larger ONIONS each week.

BED 12 - Take 2 beautiful heads of BROCCOLI before they get too big.  Also take some of the fresh "side shoots".

BED 13 - Take 1 bag of LETTUCE

BED 29 - at the south end you will find JALAPENO PEPPERS.  Take whatever you may use.  You may take a bag of TOMATOES.  The cherry and grape tomatoes are ripening nicely.  The italian (such as Roma) are beginning to ripen.

BED 31 - Take a couple of green bell PEPPERS.  Take as many BANANA peppers are you want. 

BED 33 - Take a few ZUCCHINI There are 3 kinds (regular green, white, and "rampicante" that grows in interesting curly shapes!)  and one GOLDEN YELLOW SUMMER SQUASH. 

BED 34 - Take as many GREEN BEANS as you want before they become too mature.  The north end of the bed are "Provider" beans, an earlier variety that are becoming very mature;  the south end are "Jade" which are long and narrow, even as they mature.

BED 35 - The regular marketmore cucumbers at the north end of the bed are flowering but not yet setting fruit.  The specialty CUKES at the south end are beginning to produce lovely cucumbers.  Take 1-2 this week.

BED 39 - Take as many yellow or purple-pod beans as you want before they become too mature.  The east side of the bed is PURPLE-POD BEANS.  The west side is YELLOW WAX BEANS.  

BED 40 - ZINNIA flowers.  Take a bouquet home.

UPCOMING:  Bed 36 - more Jade green beans.  Soon we will be planting crops for Fall, such as lettuce, spinach, Bon Jardin mix, broccoli, snow peas, and more green beans.  The rain is a gift that may allow these mid-summer planting to germinate well.  Hooray!

PLENTY OF FRESH CHICKEN available for order:  The experiment with the new chicks is going better than imagined.  Plenty of very healthy birds are growing well.  Order now for farm pick up Sept 6 & Sept 13.

FRESH THANKSGIVING TURKEY:  Plenty available for order, both the "regular" commercial Broad-Breasted white @ $2.95/lb (16-24 lbs) and the Heritage birds (probably 12-18 lbs) @ $5.95/lb.

PORK:  Three-and-a-half pork halves yet available for sale, ready in October.

BEEF:  I have a half-beef left to sell for Fall, for certain.  It is likely that I will have quite a bit more, perhaps a half dozen animals more (24 quarters), but I'm not sure how well they will grow between now and October.  So I will start a waiting list, hopeful for good growth, (but, in the interest of caution, making no guarantees.)  Let me know if you'd like me to put your name on the list.

STEAKBURGER:  I have about 40 lbs of frozen patties available, 4 patties to a pound package.  $4.95/lb

EGGS:  The hens continue to lay better than expected, so I have plenty of eggs @ $4.00/dozen, or $40 per 13 dozen ($3.07/dz) if you buy an egg share.

Peace and plenty,

Jeff

Aug 22, 2007

Chicken change

Hello, everyone,

We had over 4 inches of rain this week.  The pastures are a happy green, the pigs are going hog-wild in the mud, the newly-planted vegetable seeds are nicely bathed and sprouting.  In addition, the weeds seem to have a wicked sneer as they race skyward, and the humans are starting to dream about Fall temperatures (or at least the lack of humidity).  Life on the farm is satisfyingly unpredictable.

When we made up the brochure late last winter, we published scheduled chicken pick-up dates based on scheduling with our longtime processor, Hiatt's Poultry of Rochester, Indiana.  Hiatt's is an Indiana custom inspected processing plant.  Since that time we've been visited by the Wabash County Board of Health and the Indiana State Board of Animal Health.  The visits were good; there is no problem with the cleanliness of our operation.  But apparently the old rules are changing and there are regulations with which we must now comply, most notably, the regulation that any chicken sold must be processed at a state- or USDA inspected plant.  (Actually there is another option, which is to sell each customer LIVE birds before they leave the farm, but there are a number of complications with this method that need to be worked out.  It is likely that we will use this method when we do the turkeys later this fall--stay tuned.)  What this means is that the SEPTEMBER BATCH OF CHICKENS cannot be delivered as, well, predicted.

Thankfully, we have an option.  Our plan is to take the chickens you ordered to a USDA-inspected facility east of LaGrange, Indiana.  Each bird will be vacuum-wrapped, weighed, and labeled according to USDA regulations.  We will transport the processed whole chickens in coolers on ice rather than in the tank of ice water.  There will BE ONLY ONE PICK UP DATE, TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 11, 10am-6pm (rather than the two pick-up dates originally scheduled, Sept 6 & 13.)  It's when we can get in at the new processor.  Please make the change on your calendar.  We are sorry for the inconvenience and hope that this new date will work for you.  Contact me if you have questions.

Thanks!

Peace and plenty,

Jeff

Jeffrey L. Hawkins

North Manchester, Indiana

www.hawkinsfamilyfarm.com

www.hopecsa.org

Aug 28, 2007

Sweet…

Dear friends of Hawkins Family Farm,

...as in "sweet potatoes" which are now ready for digging by Vegetable Shareholders. 

It is also sweet to be outdoors during a time of less intense heat and humidity.  My hunch is that the weather also will be sweet and delightful on Sunday, September 23, 1pm-3pm, for the Second Annual Hawkins Family Farm Festival.  See the information below.  Please join us for fresh Hawkins Family Farm pulled pork and the entertainment of musician James Hersch!

VEGETABLE SHAREHOLDERS:

PETER RABBIT GARDEN:   Ready to harvest are LEMON CUCUMBERS, which can be found in the southeast corner of the Peter Rabbit garden.  Take a couple.  Also, there is GREEN BASIL, PURPLE BASIL, SAGE, ROSEMARY, OREGANO, THYME CHIVES.

BED 0 - take a bouquet of COSMOS with you each week to brighten your home!

BED 1 - Take some heads of SUNFLOWERS, pick out the seeds, and roast them or feed them to the birds!

BED 6 - Take a dozen or so CARROTS each week.  

BED 7 - Take 1-2 of the larger ONIONS each week.

BED 10 - check the cabbage.  If a head is ready, take it!

BED 13 - check to see if any heads of PURPLE CAULIFLOWER are ready.  If so, take 1 per week.  The color is not only attractive, but indicates the same anti-oxidant found in red wine.

BED 29 - at the south end you will find JALAPENO PEPPERS.  Take whatever you may use.  You may take as many as you want of TOMATOES - they are ripe and won't last forever.

BED 31 - Take 3-4 green bell PEPPERS.  Take as many BANANA peppers are you want. 

BED 33 - Take a few ZUCCHINI There are 3 kinds (regular green, white, and "rampicante" that grows in interesting curly shapes!)  and one GOLDEN YELLOW SUMMER SQUASH. 

BED 35 - Most of the CUCUMBERS are too large and turning yellow, but there may still be an occasional small one for you to take.

BED 36 - This bed of GREEN BEANS is nearly done.  There may still be some that have not over-matured - take what you can use.

BED 37 - SWEET POTATOES - take a bag per week. 

BED 40 - ZINNIA flowers.  Take a bouquet home.

FRESH CHICKEN will be ready for pick-up on Tuesday, September 11 ONLY.  It will be USDA-inspected, vacuum-wrapped, with giblets tucked inside.  There is still some available for pre-order @ $2.50/lb.

FRESH THANKSGIVING TURKEY:  Plenty available for order, both the "regular" commercial Broad-Breasted white @ $2.95/lb (16-24 lbs) and the Heritage birds (probably 12-18 lbs) @ $5.95/lb.  

PORK:  Three-and-a-half pork halves yet available for sale, ready in October.

BEEF:  I've started a waiting list, hopeful for good calf growth, (but, in the interest of caution, making no guarantees.)  Let me know if you'd like me to put your name on the list for Fall.

STEAKBURGER:  I have about 30 lbs of frozen patties available, 4 patties to a pound package.  $4.95/lb

EGGS:  The hens continue to lay better than expected, so I have plenty of eggs @ $4.00/dozen, or $40 per 13 dozen ($3.07/dz) if you buy an egg share.

2ND ANNUAL FARM FESTIVAL!!!

Sunday, SEPTEMBER 23  1:00pm-3:30pm

COME TO EAT farm-fresh pulled pork and lots of other good local food.  COME TO ENJOY the music of James Hersch!  COME TO PLAY a fun family lawn game!  COME TO CELEBRATE the goodness of God through the ministry of HOPE CSA!

Where:

 Under the big tent at J. L. Hawkins Family Farm

10373 N 300 E / North Manchester, Indiana

How:

Reservations required – use enclosed envelope, phone or e-mail.  $3/person.  Additional contributions gladly accepted!

Who:

Supporters of HOPE CSA that’s YOU!

P.S.  If you would like to volunteer to help with this event,

contact Jeff right away.

Jeffrey L. Hawkins

North Manchester, Indiana

www.hawkinsfamilyfarm.com

www.hopecsa.org

Sept 8, 2007

Cluck, cluck, gobble, gobble

Dear friends of Hawkins Family Farm,

This morning, immediately after getting out of bed, I walked by an open window and heard a "different" kind of gobble coming from the pasture, in the direction of the Heritage turkey pen.  Yes, the peculiar quality of the gobble-sound caught my attention, and for good reason:  three turkeys were out, and seemed both delighted and worried about it (my interpretation, of course).  They were walking round and round the pen, wondering how to get back in, but not quite sure that they wanted to do so.  I put on my farm clothes, went out, and made the decision for them.  With access to fresh feed and water, they seemed OK with my decision.

At the same time, I also fed the MEAT CHICKENS for second-to-the-last time.  These birds receive their final feeding on Saturday night; they are not fed Sunday morning (so that the feed that they have already eaten works its way through their system, making for a cleaner butchering process).  On Sunday evening they are taken to LaGrange, where they will be butchered Monday morning, chilled for a day, and packaged Tuesday morning.  I'm told that I can pick them up around noon on Tuesday, vacuum-wrapped.  By the time I get them back to the farm, it will be around 2pm.   So CHICKEN PICK UP WILL BE TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2PM-7PM.  A list of orders can be found below.  I will be bringing EXTRA CHICKENS back to the farm for sale, so if you want any, now's your chance to e-mail me with your order.

VEGETABLE SHAREHOLDERS:  There are some already-picked items in the Shareholder Shed for you to take:  tomatoes, butternut squash, and potatoes.  Help yourself to as many tomatoes and squash as you want.  Tare FOUR POUNDS of potatoes (French Fingerlings, All-Reds, and a thin-skinned white - mix-and-match).

...as in "sweet potatoes" which are now ready for digging by Vegetable Shareholders. 

It is also sweet to be outdoors during a time of less intense heat and humidity.  My hunch is that the weather also will be sweet and delightful on Sunday, September 23, 1pm-3pm, for the Second Annual Hawkins Family Farm Festival.  See the information below.  Please join us for fresh Hawkins Family Farm pulled pork and the entertainment of musician James Hersch!

PETER RABBIT GARDEN:   Ready to harvest are LEMON CUCUMBERS, which can be found in the southeast corner of the Peter Rabbit garden.  Take a couple.  Also, there is GREEN BASIL, PURPLE BASIL, SAGE, ROSEMARY, OREGANO, THYME, CHIVES.

BED 0 - take a bouquet of COSMOS with you each week to brighten your home!

BED 1 - Take some heads of SUNFLOWERS, pick out the seeds, and roast them or feed them to the birds!

BED 6 - Take a dozen or so CARROTS each week.  

BED 7 - Take 1-2 of the larger ONIONS each week.

BED 10 - check the cabbage.  If a head is ready, take it!

BED 13 - check to see if any heads of PURPLE CAULIFLOWER are ready.  If so, take 1 per week.  The color is not only attractive, but indicates the same anti-oxidant found in red wine.

BED 29 - at the south end you will find JALAPENO PEPPERS.  Take whatever you may use.  You may take as many as you want of TOMATOES - they are nearly "over."

BED 31 - Take 3-4 green bell PEPPERS.  Take as many BANANA peppers are you want. 

BED 33 - GOLDEN YELLOW SUMMER SQUASH may be too mature by now; there may be a few "Italian" zucchini that are still OK.

BED 37 - SWEET POTATOES - take a bag per week. 

BED 40 - ZINNIA flowers.  Take a bouquet home.

FALL CROP of lettuce, broccoli, green and purple-pod beans, carrots, and spinach are now growing, hopeful for a late frost!

FRESH THANKSGIVING TURKEY:  Plenty available for order, both the "regular" commercial Broad-Breasted white @ $2.95/lb (16-24 lbs) and the Heritage birds (probably 12-18 lbs) @ $5.95/lb.  

PORK:  Three-and-a-half pork halves yet available for sale, ready in October.

BEEF:  I've started a waiting list, hopeful for good calf growth, (but, in the interest of caution, making no guarantees.)  Let me know if you'd like me to put your name on the list for Fall.

STEAKBURGER:  I have about 25-30 lbs of frozen patties available, 4 patties to a pound package.  $4.95/lb

EGGS:  The hens continue to lay better than expected, so I have plenty of eggs @ $4.00/dozen, or $40 per 13 dozen ($3.07/dz) if you buy an egg share.  There are also smaller "pullet" eggs available for $2/dozen.

Sept 25, 2007

Clean up, cover up

Hello, friends of Hawkins Family Farm,

Glorious was the day of the 2nd Hawkins Family Farm Festival!  Approximately 130 people enjoyed pulled pork, great music, the lawn game Kubb, and, best of all, magnificent weather.  We are grateful to God for a wonderful celebration of community life, the growing season and its harvest, the ministry of HOPE CSA (continuing education for pastoral leaders that makes use of our farm), and more.  Thanks to all who participated and sent good wishes.  By Monday evening, the tent was down, the chairs and tables were gone, the leftover food was in the freezer, the trash was collected...and the memory still brought smiles to our faces.

Clean up is what Fall is about, not only Festival clean up but whole-farm clean up, especially the proper clean-up and storage of equipment so that it is ready to go next Spring.  Additionally, there is the "clean up" of the gardens.  What happens in the off-season is as critical as what happens in the on-season when it comes to the gardens.  Our strategy is to employ cover crops to enhance the soil.  At the far west end of the gardens you will see lovely green oats growing.  The oats will winter-kill and form a nice mulch.  Today I sowed rye and hairy vetch in the middle beds.  These crops will stay alive all winter and grow like crazy next spring.  

There are still veggies available for VEGETABLE SHAREHOLDERS, as follows:

Beds 0 and 40 - LOVELY FLOWERS  (take all you want)

Peter Rabbit garden - basil, chives, rosemary, thyme, arugula, mixed greens, sage.  (There will likely be more lemon cucumbers next week.)

Bed 6 - CARROTS - dig 12-20 each week

Bed 10 - CABBAGE - take 1-2 heads per week, as they are available.  The red cabbage heads are small but OK.  The green heads are disappointing.

Bed 13 - There are still a few PURPLE CAULIFLOWER heads growing.  Take 1 or 2.

Bed 28 - The broccoli plants are growing, but no heads yet.

Bed 29 - JALAPEÑO peppers- take all you want.

Bed 30 - SNOW PEAS - take 1/2 bag.

Bed 31 - PEPPERS - take a bag

Bed 32 - fresh LETTUCE - take half a bag

Bed 37 - Take all the SWEET POTATOES you want

Bed 38 - Green and purple snap beans may be ready next week!

BEEF and BURGER- sold out

CHICKENS - sold out

EGGS - available for $4/dozen jumbo eggs or $2 dozen small eggs

PORK - still some available.  The pigs are scheduled to be butchered at the end of October, but I may decide to keep them a bit longer so that they get bigger.

THANKSGIVING TURKEY - Plenty available for order, both the "regular" commercial Broad-Breasted white @ $2.95/lb (16-24 lbs) and the Heritage birds (probably 12-18 lbs) @ $5.95/lb.  Order today (order form available on website).

Peace and plenty,

Jeff

Jeffrey L. Hawkins

North Manchester, Indiana

www.hawkinsfamilyfarm.com

www.hopecsa.org

Oct 3, 2007

The right snap

Hello, friends of Hawkins Family Farm,

This morning I ignored my "to do" list for 15 minutes in order to pick green and purple-pod beans for supper.  At this stage the beans are young and tender, and have just the "right snap" when picked and, well, snapped.  There are few vegetables that I personally like better than fresh green beans, and there are plenty for vegetable shareholders to harvest.  I was so enthused that I further delayed my day's work by also picking lettuce, radishes, and purple cauliflower, and digging a few carrots.  There will be a wonderful salad at the Hawkins table tonight.  VEGETABLE SHAREHOLDERS:  last week's list still applies, though you may take a whole bag of lettuce and a whole bag of beans, and a couple dozen eggs if you can use them.

As a matter of fact, we have a surplus of EGGS at this point, while we make a transition between the "old hens" (soon to be gone) and the "new hens."  Jumbo eggs are $4/dozen; small eggs are $2/dozen.  Come and help yourself.

PORK - only one half left.  The pigs are scheduled to be butchered at the end of October, but I may decide to keep them a bit longer so that they get bigger.

THANKSGIVING TURKEY - Plenty of BBW available for order, and about 10 of the Heritage birds.  Broad-Breasted whites are $2.95/lb (16-24 lbs) and the Heritage birds (probably 12-18 lbs) are $5.95/lb.  Order today (order form available on website).

BEEF and BURGER- sold out

CHICKENS - sold out

Peace and plenty,

Jeff

10/23./2007

Pumpkin recycling station

Greetings, everyone,

I just got off the phone with Amy, who said:  "I'm bringing you a pick-up truck load of pumpkins for the pigs!"  I'm grateful for her effort--pigs love pumpkins, and I like the diversity of diet it provides.  Thanks, Amy!  If you, too, would like to recycle your fall pumpkins by using our porcine rapid composting system, bring them out to the farm.  Starbuck's may boast a pumpkin-spice latte, but it's nothing compared to our pumpkin-infused pork!

Amazingly, the fall continues as "growing season."  For vegetable shareholders, we have lettuce, radishes, and snap beans available.  And, I'm seeing the beginnings of heads on the broccoli.  And there's still a few carrots to dig, a few herbs left to pick, and plenty of flowers to make a nice bouquet.

Cattle will be taken to the butchers this week for those who ordered fall beef.  It's usually a couple of weeks before the meat is ready for your freezer.

The two large pigs will be taken to Krider's this week.  The rest, which are smaller, will wait until December 5 before making the trip (to W-W).  

TURKEY is still available.  I have about 20 Broad-breasted whites to sell, and about 6 Heritage birds.  An order form is attached.

Enjoy the Fall!

--Jeff