Happy Holidays!

2:34 PM Adrian 1 Comments

Happy first day of Winter! Holidays are coming up soon! Whatever you end up celebrating-- Christmas, Hanukkah, Solstice, etc.-- we hope it's filled with happiness, warmth, and of course, great food.

Our official Fall CSA ended last week. Big "Thank you's!" out to all of you who participated in Fall CSA! We are continuing a week-by-week basis CSA through the winter. What with all the exceptionally warm weather, we've still got lots of veggies! If you would like to sign up for a week's worth share, contact us: echocsa@gmail.com or call (319)325-3910.

What we might have for you:

• Salad mix
  
• Braising mix
• Vitamin greens
• Garlic
• Onions
• Daikon radishes
• Squash
• Potatoes
• Maybe more: just ask

A reminder to you all that our 2012 season CSA signup will be coming soon....look out! It usually happens in January, but we will let you know!

Grant Wood Farmers Market still continues, come on out and visit our booth for some tasty veggies. Get them while you still can!

Besides our usual protection and weekly harvests of our plants, we've had a few other projects and happenings hereabouts. I just finished my first herbal salve for treating arthritis inflammation, and an herbal cough syrup for colds and flu. Perimeters and plans have been set up to build a few new permanent structures here, and more work is being done on our haybale barn/farm home. A film crew might be coming in sometime soon to film us doing a few things, such as setting up our "cats" or moveable greenhouses. I believe it will be featured on an Iowa City public television station in a weekly show about sustainability. This winter might harbor a time for our resident mushroom-farmer Will to possibly grow some Japanese gourmet mushroom varieties.

Winter is also an excellent time for birds, especially on our property, for some reason. I think there must be something just a tad bit magical about our land, because it seems that a lot of awesome birds take "refuge" out here....and surprisingly rare ones. Our resident birdsman Randall has identified a local "merlin," a little bird of prey that looks much like a peregrine falcon, except with a red chest and hardly larger than a dove. Apparently these birds are incredibly rare. Along with a merlin, there have been rough-legged hawks, several bald eagles and the occasional golden eagle! Several weeks ago I saw two trumpeter swans fly over our house. There are also several pileated woodpeckers that have moved into our woods, quite uncommon as well. Randall also says to look out at suspect white spots out in the country and fields-- take a second look. They might be migrant snowy owls from far north! If you are ever interested in bird watching, our place is a hot spot. We also have lots of common flying critters, like chickadees, cardinals, meadowlarks, bluejays, finches and nighthawks.

See you next week, and once again, happy holidays!