Basil growing in our high tunnel greenhouse. Photo by Scott David Gordon

Things are warming up out there, and it won't be long until Summer is here.  We are making progress on all those tomato stakes, but we still have more to go!  Meanwhile, the tomatoes we have growing in our high tunnel greenhouse look great!  Thanks, Scott, for documenting the process and for getting shots of this week's harvest.

Tomatoes growing in our high tunnel greenhouse. Soon, they will be growing in the fields, too! Photo by Scott David Gordon

High tunnel greenhouse tomatoes. Photo by Scott David Gordon

Tomato close up. Photo by Scott David Gordon

 

Collard harvest as seen from above. Photo by Scott David Gordon

A collard leaf catches the sun. Photo by Scott David Gordon

We're still getting all of those stakes in the ground! Photo by Scott David Gordon

Squash blossom. Photo by Scott David Gordon

All CSA members - join us for a potluck on May 9th! Photo by Scott David Gordon

CSA Members!  Mark your calendars for the CSA Potluck on the afternoon/evening of May 9th from 6pm to 8pm at 4008 River Road!  This event is free and is exclusively for current CSA members and their families.  Here at JBG, we want to have the chance to personally thank you for supporting us week-in and week-out through your membership.  The CSA has always been at the heart of our farm, and we hope all members will come out on May 9th to celebrate being part of this amazing community.  We will have live music - and the food is certain to be out of this world since we have some really good cooks in this fine group of people!

Please kindly RSVP by clicking here if you can make it.  Hope to see you there!

Farmgrass Fest 2015 is coming up soon on Sunday, May 3rd!  Ticket proceeds benefit the Growers Alliance of Central Texas' Farmers Emergency Medical Fund, so come hear some good tunes and help support the farmers in our community!  Here are the details:

When: Sunday, May 3rd from 1pm to 9pm

Where: Simmons Family Farms in Niederwald, Texas

Musical Lineup: The Gravy Brothers + Special Guests, Whiskey Shivers, The Lost Pines, Brennen Leigh & Noel McKay's High Plains Jamboree, Fog & Bone, Devin Jake, Rock Bottom String Band, and Four Fights Per Pint

To get your tickets, please click here!

CSA Box Contents Week of April 27th

Our GARFIELD farm. Photo by Scott David Gordon

I have always liked looking at maps, so it's no wonder that I also love using Google Earth.  It's funny, I don't get to leave the farm much, but using Google Earth I can tour the world.  I probably spend way too much time looking at farmland online  - it's kind of like spending my day in the real fields and then turning to virtual fields at night. It's not that bad - I don't do it every night - but I do love to see what I can find out there.  And, you would be amazed at what can be learned and the ideas I get just by using Google Earth.

It was through looking at maps that I recently made a discovery about our farm.  All this time, I thought our farm at River Road was in Cedar Creek, TX.  It turns out, though, that almost 80% of our land is in Garfield, TX.  I did some research, and when you have property like ours that is split between two towns, your address is determined by access to the property.  We have three access points at JBG, but the primary one is in Garfield.  To me, this is big news!  I love Garfield, and I'm thrilled to know that JBG can officially claim to be part of this quaint little Texas town.  I am so happy about it that I want to change the way we refer to our farm out here.  As you know, I usually just call it River Road.  Not any more - now, it is the Garfield farm!

I have been getting onto some of our employees about using the new name - so much so that I've been a bit like a broken record....  "Not River Road...Garfield!"  I think they finally get it though - check out this picture that's been going around:

I said Garfield! Photo by Scott David Gordon

So, all CSA members - I hope to see you out at the Garfield farm on May 9th from 6pm to 8:30pm for the CSA potluck.  This event is free and is exclusively for our current CSA members and families.  It will be much more intimate than the hoedown.  I really love connecting one-on-one with the people who eat what we grow - plus, I need to thank you for supporting us every week through your CSA membership.  Since we are the Live Music Capital of the World, we will have to have some good music and, since it is a CSA member potluck, I know we will have really good food. Come hang out, bring the kids to play in the big sand pile, and bring a dish to share and your favorite beverage of choice.  I want you to see how the crops are doing and to see where your food is grown - out in Garfield!  For more information and to RSVP, please click here.

Hit the Spot is located inside the Garfield Library

And on your way out here, be sure to check out the little town of Garfield -  I say "little" because it's population is less than 2,000, but it's full of charm.  It is the only place I know of that has a library that also shares space with a diner!  This diner/library is right on 71, and it is called Hit the Spot.  To me, this seems like a great community/business partnership.  Plus, they serve really good food for breakfast and lunch - go check it out and see what you think.  Maybe then you'll understand why I'm so happy to be located in Garfield!

Tomato stakes go into the ground. Photo by Scott David Gordon

It's hard to believe it's that time of year - time to get the tomato stakes into the ground.  Yes, Summer is coming, whether we want it or not.  At least there are lots of summer vegetables to look forward to - including all of those tomatoes!

Lots of rows to go. Photo by Scott David Gordon

Eric pounds in a stake. Photo by Scott David Gordon

Soon, we will have tomatoes! Photo by Scott David Gordon

Lots more to go... Photo by Scott David Gordon

Yellow squash! Photo by Scott David Gordon

Check out those blossoms! Photo by Scott David Gordon

Galdino harvests leeks. Photo by Scott David Gordon

Just harvested leeks. Photo by Scott David Gordon

A lady bug at the Garfield farm. Photo by Scott David Gordon

Our Garfield farm. Photo by Scott David Gordon

Vote for Farmshare & help them grow vegetables for our community. Photo by Carrie Kenny

Here's a way you can help Farmshare Austin - all it takes it a click-a-day online between now and April 27th! Farmshare is in the running for a Seeds of Change Grant that will enable them to continue operating a farmers market at the Safe Place shelter once a week. Vegetables for the market are harvested at Farmshare's educational farm and then the produce is donated to the Safeplace residents.

Please help Farmshare Austin maintain this worthy program by clicking here.  To ensure that your vote goes to the right place, first click on the Vote Now tab and search under "Garden Name" using Farmshare Austin.

You can also help by spreading the word and getting your friends to vote for Farmshare.  Thank you for taking the time to vote between now and April 27th!  Farmshare needs all of the clicks it can get to win!