Our Spring 2016 CSA is right around the corner! We will start in mid- to late-April, depending on the weather, with salad greens, kale, turnips, spinach, onions, garlic, and more. This year we are adding several new varieties to the CSA, including Lacinato Kale (also known as black kale or Tuscan kale). CSA shares will be delivered to Memphis on Saturdays begnning in mid-April.
Pending our market application, we hope the delivery point will be the Cooper-Young Farmers Market.
We are also looking for ways to accept EBT/SNAP benefits. Fresh, local food shouldn’t be just for those who can afford it–everybody deserves good food. Watch the blog for more details as the season progresses!
Apple blossoms on newly-planted trees, April 13, 2014
On Saturday, April 12, we had a visit from a large group of volunteers for apple tree planting. Our friend Robin works for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital where she manages immigration services; she organized the volunteers and the whole tree planting day. The volunteers included friends as well as researchers from over 20 different countries–all of them came to plant apple trees, and many of them brought their families.
“An acre of orchard each season fixes about 20 tons of CO2 from the air, releases 15 tons of oxygen, and provides over 5 billion BTU’s of cooling power.” (Lakso, 2010)
All together, more than 50 people sponsored trees, and we now have an orchard of 50 apple trees! We purchased the trees from The Stockyard nursery in Arlington–they worked with us on the price, and the trees were all healthy. Now, nearly two weeks later, all 50 trees are still alive and well. The trees are red and golden delicious, fuji, McIntosh, and Anna, and so they are variously suited for pies, eating fresh, and cider. With some tender loving care and cooperative weather, we may have a few apples as soon as this year, and many, many more in years to come.
We have dreamed of adding more fruit trees for years, and then this gift came to us unexpectedly. A huge thank you to everyone who helped! Look for photos as the seasons progress!
