Turtle Times

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Vol. 15, No. 7, June 22, ‘10    7260 NW 58th St., Johnston 50131  278-4522 (577-9208)

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Rain:  6/14, 1.3”, 6/15, 0.5; 6/17, 0.4”; 6/18, 0.3”

In the Box . . .

Strawberries ‘Jewel’ (last quarts to some Tuesday sites)

Garlic scapes

Peas ‘Sugar Snap’, edible pods, no need to shell

Broccoli ‘Nutribud’, ‘Green King’

Scallions ‘Evergreen hardy’

Lettuce ‘Jericho’, ‘Merlot’ or ‘Outredgeous’

Endive

Pansies, edible flowers

Ala carte options:  dill, parsley, oregano, tarragon, thyme, mint, choc. mint ($1 ea.), Red  Russian kale, mustard greens ($3/bag)          

Free: Sage, kohlrabi

(Please email angela@turtle-farm.com or call 278-4522 to request ala carte or free items.)

Farm Update

It was rather ironic that Doug Nichols, the man who singlehandedly built my barn, dropped by earlier this week to say hello. Friday when the weather sirens went off as we were harvesting veggies, I felt relatively safe in the barn because of his sturdy handiwork. Eight of us were hovering there, bagging lettuce and peas, watching the amazing clouds, listening to the repeated warnings on the weather radio, wondering if we should take cover someplace else, waiting it out, and trying not to step out too soon with lightening all around.  Just a typical day at the farm  .  .  .

Other visitors to the farm this week included ISU researchers looking at beneficial insect populations that they will update us on later.  And Saturday Ben recruited some youth from Dowling to fulfill part of their service projects to come and pick the last of our radishes, to wash and find a home for them at the Emergency Food Pantry.

Garlic Harvest and Weeding

One of the ways many of you have volunteered on the farm one year or another has been helping harvest garlic.  What a delicious, aromatic duty that is!  This year’s date for that event is scheduled for the morning of Saturday July 10.  Helpers can dig (potentially pull, if the ground is still moist) or tie garlic, which is then hung in the barn rafters.   Older children can even help with some of the tasks.

This year because of the continuous rains, I am asking for volunteers to consider helping us weed when weather conditions allow.  Is there a crop you treasure and want to help us guarantee that it survives?  Herbs, okra, Swiss chard, leeks . . . the list is long.  It may be mostly hand weeding at this time until the soils dry out.  Please call ahead to arrange a good time between rains!  Thanks.

Outstanding In Our Fields

Want to know more about the people helping grow, weed, harvest and clean your food? In addition to regulars Ben, Sue and Angela, here’s this year’s wonderful crop of helpers:

Hello! I'm Anthony Bradley. I've been working at Turtle Farm since mid-May learning organic growing techniques and meeting awesome people. At the end of July my wife Rachel and I are moving to Eugene, Oregon to learn about permaculture and how to design sustainable communities (and because the scenery is excellent.) I'm a big fan of artistic expression, eastern philosophy, ancient history, organic gardening, astronomy, biology, cooking, camping, hiking, and bike riding. Hopefully I'll see you around.

I am a second year M.F.A candidate in Creative Writing and Environment at ISU in the English department. I also teach first and second year courses in writing at ISU while I work toward my degree. The M.F.A. degree is interdisciplinary, focusing on the natural world and human beings connection to it. We participate in writing workshops and other English courses, but a strong emphasis is placed on courses outside of English that focus on the environment. The program also includes 90 hours of fieldwork experience, which is how I came to be picking strawberries and washing ‘plum purple’ radishes at Turtle Farm this summer. Though only a few weeks into June (and after a few hundred thunderstorms, it seems) all I can say about working for Turtle Farm and getting to know the people who devote their time and energy to organic, locally grown food is, "amazing." (Angie Sebastian)

I am a retiree who loves gardening and spending time outdoors.  A chance to work at Turtle Farm came along that provided me the opportunity to work outdoors and spend more time gardening.  Even though I have been gardening for thirty-five years, it has been a great learning experience.  The work at Turtle Farm has given me new ideas that I can apply to my garden at home.  Besides gardening, I spend time with my wife biking, hiking, visiting with family and friends, and relaxing with a good book.  The time spent at Turtle Farm is made even better because of the camaraderie of all of the workers. (John Bargman)

I'm Leah Belknap, a junior in English/Pre-Law at Iowa State and a fellow vegetable lover!  I found out about Turtle Farm through the Iowa State job board and wanted to work here because I love working outside and learning how to work the land to harvest and enjoy the food we eat.  Much of my interest in gardening came from my Grandpa Orville, who has been so patient with me and shown me everything I know about vegetable gardening.  I've expanded on that base interest working here and am looking forward to learning much more from Ben and Angela in following weeks and seasons!

(Watch for Recipes to return in this space next week.)