​Farmward! We managed to get some ground prepped, even with the inconvenient storms. The peppers are considering joining the market table fold. Some tomatoes are trickling in. We are keeping our chins and our spirits up. 

Stockbridge Farm Members! You can preorder using this link: https://forms.gle/emqHPvSFR7qmCjPV8

Keep coming out to the market to support your local growers!

Your farmers: Helen, Jim, Amy (in spirit), Shana, Elisa, Asia, Tyler and Brandon: The Lake Dividers!

Lake Divide Farm: Good for the Earth, Good for the Farmers, Good for the People. The Trifecta of sustainability. Good for the earth: Taking care of the natural world is a important, after all, it takes care of us; Good for the farmer: We believe farmers should have livable hours and livable wages; Good for the people: We believe in food equality and bringing our produce to market at an affordable price and keeping it accessible is important to us.
 
In this email:

• Generally important notes- 
  • Stockbridge Folks Order here: https://forms.gle/emqHPvSFR7qmCjPV8
  • We are looking for good crew candidates. If you would like to keep your name in the hat, please send us an email!
• Fresh From the Field
• Staying active and engaged with social change!
• Market Details
• CSA members- what to do if your account is low

​Fresh From the Field-

Greens:
Kale- Green Curly, Red Curly, and Tender Red Russian
Pea Shoots 
Swiss Chard

All Manner of Deliciousness
Beets- limited
Cabbage- Round green and sweet cone!
Carrots!
Cucumbers
Eggplant- asian and italian
Fennel- some with flowers
Garlic- fresh and tasty
Kohlrabi- green and red
Scallions
Summer Squash- green and golden zucchini
Cherry tomatoes (limited)
Tomatoes (limited)

Herbs
Basil- pesto, basil water, squash and basil
Cilantro
Dill
Dill with flowers (limited)

Coming Soon:
Celery
Peppers of all sorts!
Potatoes

Ahoy!

The rain keeps coming and the mosquitos are here and they are singing to us about it. We are not happy to have them, these uninvited dinner guests. I can almost imagine being carried off by them. I did learn, however, that male mosquitos are pollinators and feed on nectar! What a delightful surprise! A reason to love all 'squitos? I am not so sure about that, but...

Keep coming out to the market to support your local growers and if you begin feeling worried about the crowds, remember you can pre-order. If you need help figuring it out, check out our trouble shooting guide at the bottom of the email. Need more help? Just email!!

In this email:

• Generally important notes- 
  • We are at market this week and the online store is open
  • We may still be looking for good crew candidates. If you would like to keep your name in the hat, please send us an email!
• Recipe: Cucumber salad
• Farm News
• Fresh From the Field
• Staying active and engaged with social change!
• Market Details
• Ordering with Local Line: register and troubleshoot
• CSA members- what to do if your account is low

Cucumber Salad!
From my mind!

• 1 large cucumber
• 2 teaspoons oil
• 2 teaspoons vinegar of choice (white wine, rice, or apple cider are my top three for this venture)
• salt and pepper
• 1 cup Brown rice
• 1/4 cup Sunflower seeds
• Optional- minced dill, crumbled feta

Cube the cuke! I never peel them. Add all ingredients to container with lid and stir them up. Eat right away or let sit overnight. The rice adds protein and some chew. The sunflower seeds add a nutty flavor, plus protein and antioxidants! This is a great afternoon meal on a hot day. 

Notes from the Farm:
We had a big storm. Our farm is situated to allow us to watch storms roll in. In years past, we begged so many of the storms that we watched along the horizon to no avail. The would split and we would watch them pass to the north and south. 

That generally hasn't happened this year. We watch them get close. Then we hear the rain. Then we feel the wind. Then the rain drops. Yesterday we had a storm that soaked me in under 30 seconds. It was like having 25 gallon bucket overturned over my head. My walkie-talkie filled with water and I sounded like an adult in charlie brown (one of the only times I sound like an adult, I promise). My boots filled with water. We were all filled with water. At least the sun didn't come back out after that. 

My preference is if it is going to dump rain, at least stay gray for the rest of the day, otherwise you get steamed! At least I got my way in that respect. Although it was barely dried out long enough to get to it, we managed to get some of the more important tractor work in- hilling the potatoes, cultivating cabbage, kohlrabi, and celery- but we didn't get to all of it.

Onward and upward! See you at market friends! 

Helen, Jim, Amy, Shana, Elisa, Rose, Asia, Tyler and Brandon: The Lake Dividers!

Lake Divide Farm: Good for the Earth, Good for the Farmers, Good for the People. The Trifecta of sustainability. Good for the earth: Taking care of the natural world is a important, after all, it takes care of us; Good for the farmer: We believe farmers should have livable hours and livable wages; Good for the people: We believe in food equality and bringing our produce to market at an affordable price and keeping it accessible is important to us.

​Fresh From the Field- We are at Market this week
Greens:
Chard- limited
Head Lettuce- from Tantre- only available 
Kale- Green Curly, Red Curly, and Tender Red Russian
Microgreens (Arugula, Brassica Mix and Broccoli, Radish)
Pea Shoots 

All Manner of Deliciousness
Beets
Cucumbers
Eggplant- limited
Fennel
Garlic Scapes
Kohlrabi
Radishes
Scallions!
Summer Squash 

Herbs
Basil- pesto, basil water, squash and basil
Dill with flowers
Oregano- sauces and salad
Sage- roasts

Coming Soon:
Cabbage
Carrots
Parsley
Cherry Tomatoes
: 
Staying Active: Something to keep the gears of progress engaged: Last update May 13th, 2021
While the movement keeps moving, I struggle to keep up with updating the list. This doesn't mean that this work is any less important.

There are a lot of good seeds here. We need to keep working to raise them up. I will continue to add resources as they come up. 

Keep learning, listening, speaking up, and showing up. We have to continue providing energy for change. There is much to be done. No one can do everything, but everyone can do something. 

If you come across resources, readings, or movements that you feel are powerful, please send them our way so we can share them.

I have included below a couple links to readings and some ideas on how to work towards racial equity within your community as well as links to some places where dollars can make a difference.

Because the Michigan Library Association had so much great information, I have linked to their Racial Equity Resources page here. You will find a wide range of resources including books, films, action plans, and organizations. https://www.milibraries.org/racial-equity-resources

Another good resource: Racial Equity Tools

To read: Definitely use the MLPP list for this (linked above). They have some many valuable reads listed there.

Read books by people of color and indigenous people. There are many great booklists to be found.

Anti Racism books for children- from Book Beat in Royal Oak. 
This blog also included a few resources to help children cope with crises. Specifically the National Black Children Development Institute's "An Activity Book for African American Families: Helping Children Cope with Crises."

Soul Fire Farm's Food Sovereignty Action Steps: “If we are not acting to change the system, we are complicit, casting our silent vote to maintain the status quo.” The following food sovereignty action steps were compiled by the Soul Fire Farm community and Northeast Farmers of Color alliance It is divided into seven sections

To Listen and Watch:
There are so many TED talks on talking about race and racism, race, race relations, and the history of racism. Here is one to get you started.
What I am learning from my white grandchildren -- truths about race | Anthony Peterson | TEDxAntioch
Ted Talks on Racism

Something to do:
<>The 21 day Racial Equity Challenge I still recommend it!
<>Organize a reading group. 

<> Show up! Detroit Will Breathe has been marching for Justice daily since March. While they are not marching daily now, they are very active. Check their website for their schedule https://detroitwillbreathe.info/

<> Join an organization: A few listed below, again more can be found on the Michigan Library Association's website

• Be the Bridge, led by Latasha Morrison at Be the Bridge www.bethebridge.com
• EmbraceRace www.embracerace.org
• GARE – Government Alliance on Race and Equity https://www.racialequityalliance.org/

<> Speak up: If you are in a group and the opportunity presents itself to have a discussion do it! It can be scary but it is worth it. Have the difficult conversations is part of the work. Here is a helpful article from AARP (a surprising source) about how to have constructive conversations on the topic of racial justice.
How to Have a Respectful Conversation About Racial Justice


If you come across a good community organizing tool kit, please send it our way so we can share it. 

To contribute monetarily:

Zinn Education Project: Teaching People's History. 100% of Zinn Education Project funding comes from individuals. 

The Zinn Education Project promotes and supports the teaching of people’s history in classrooms across the country. For more than ten years, the Zinn Education Project has introduced students to a more accurate, complex, and engaging understanding of history than is found in traditional textbooks and curricula. With more than 110,000 people registered, and growing by more than 10,000 new registrants every year, the Zinn Education Project has become a leading resource for teachers and teacher educators.

Donate generally to Zinn to help share the People's History.
Or Donate to Zinn's campaign to send people’s history books and lessons to Mississippi teachers and librarians

Detroit Will Breathe: 
While their general fundraising GoFundMe currently redirects donations to support their Federal Lawsuit fund, you can find lots of information about the work that they have been doing and what they have accomplished on that page (found here)
Here is a direct link to support their federal lawsuit. Below is a bit of what the lawsuit is about. You can read more about it on their gofundme page. 
Link to copy paste if needed: https://www.gofundme.com/f/detroit-will-breathe-federal-lawsuit-fund.

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
The NAACP is at the forefront of the movement to build political power and ensure the wellbeing of communities of color. Underscoring the advocacy of our 2,200 local units across the country, we empower our communities to make democracy work for them. Your donation to the NAACP helps further our mission to ensure the political, educational, social and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate racial hatred and racial discrimination. Donate today to become our newest monthly sustainer.  

Market Details: We are at market this week
 
The Ann Arbor Farmers Market, Wednesday- We will be back soon.

The Ann Arbor Farmers Market, Saturday with Helen and Amy: 7 am to 3 pm (or till sold out), pre-order walk-up or curbside pick-up, on site vegetables!. All orders must be picked up by 1 pm. All curbside orders must be picked up by 12 pm. 
The market runs until 3 pm but we may leave early so it is important that you pick up your order by 1 pm.

For curbside pick-up: Email us to let us know. On market day, pull up and park along Detroit street and tell a volunteer your name and that you are picking up an order from Lake Divide.

Eastern Market, shed 2, Saturday with Shana 6 am to 2:30 pm, pre-order, walk-up or curbside, onsite purchases. *If you feel strongly or need to have a trunk pick-up because you are high risk, please email me and I can arrange to have your order dropped at your car. 

Royal Oak, Saturday with Jim "The Flame of The North" Neumann, Rose and Lisa! 7 am to 1 pm, pre-order, walk-up or curbside, onsite purchases.
Find us inside in our usual spot. 

*If you feel strongly or need to have a trunk pick-up because you are high risk, please email me and I can arrange to have your order dropped at your car. I will email you the instructions Friday after all orders are in.

Stockbridge, Saturday on the farm with Asia and Elisa!
Preorders only please! When you get to the farm, stay in your car and shoot us a text. We will bring you your order!


​If you are a CSA member and your account balance is low:

• If you want to continue on as one of our members and your balance does not cover your current order
  • Order what you want
  • Add money into your account either by
    • Putting a check or cash in your trunk/backseat Saturday for pick-up and emailing to let me know
    • Mailing a check
    • Using the online store
• If you just want to add more to your account, go for it! Use any of the methods listed above.
• If you no longer want to be a farm member
  • We ask that you do not go over your balance.  

Ordering: How to Register with Local Line
If you have already registered with Local Line, just log in and use your account to order. If you haven't already done it, please make sure your account name is in the format Lastname.First as in Chandler.Helen or Neumann.Jim. This isn't required but it helps us when we are entering data, packing, and handling pick ups. 

Trouble shooting:If you have filled your cart but your order isn't going through: If the answer to one of these questions is yes, that is the cause of your problem.

• Is your total less than $10? We have a $10 minimum to help us deal with the extra cost of packing orders.
• Is it between Friday morning and Tuesday afternoon? Ordering is open from sometime Tuesday afternoon until Thursday at midnight

Are you a CSA member but your order receipt says balance due in 30 days?

• Don't worry about this. We had to set up a work around to get Local Line to fit the needs for our business. 

You have made an account but can't log in:

• Did you verify your email address? After you create your username and password, Local Line sends a confirmation email. You can find it by searching your inbox for and email from localline.ca and the exact phrase "please verify your email address"  

If you still need to register with Local Line, follow these instructions. To avoid difficulty, PLEASE READ THROUGH THESE INSTRUCTIONS:
How to create a Local Line Account:

1. Head to the link at the bottom of these steps.
2. Register using the green button to the right.
3. You will be asked to enter a bunch of information and there are a two things that are very important
   1. Be sure to use the email address that this email went to. If you don't, you may be asked to pay using a credit card.
   2. Please use the Lastname.First for the Account name. (Your last name follow by a period followed by your first name, with no spaces. For example Chandler.Helen)
4. You will then need to verify your email address by going to your email inbox and responding to the email that comes from Local Line.
5. At last! You can order!
6. Here is the link to use to create your Local Line account: https://www.localline.ca/lakedividefarm

: ​