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LDF News: A2 tomorrow Nov 25th then back at markets Dec 5th. Happy Thanksgiving!

11/24/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
We planning and purpose, Jim headed up getting plastic over hoop house 1! This is the last big task to check off with many hands and doing it on the last day of full crew makes sense! And now, those little lettuces and boh choys can rock choy our taste buds in a bit! We got the thumbs up from Jim, everything must be okay! Great work Jim!
Picture
A final group photo for 2020! Thanks to this fab crew for all your tenacity and hilarity. We love you big time!
Picture
Finally, a view we have been looking forward to for a couple years- the plastic has been pulled onto Hoop House 1! Microclimate of warmth Ensue!
PictureEvery evening the sun falls from the sky. Earlier and earlier it drops! The farmers' relief, the farmers' lament. Thank you world for your cycles.

Picture
We should all follow Boomer's lead, under the blankets! Amazingly, even without thumbs, this guy manages to get a good blanket nest all on his own!
Ahoy!
​
Well, the tunnels were recovered and then put to the test. Last Thursday and Friday had gusty winds to 50 mph and the cats offered barely a rustle. We will keep our eye on it but it seems finishing the job really does the trick!

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 will close pre-ordering for Ann Arbor Wednesday at 10 pm Tuesday night.
    • No Saturday markets this week (November 28th) We will be back December 5th with all the quality vegetable that you have come to love.
    • CSA members- if you pre-ordered online last week, your balances were not updated to reflect that. We they have now been updated! 
  • Recipe: Apple Cabbage slaw!
  • Notes from the farm
  • Fresh From the Field- What are we bringing to market this week!
  • Staying active and engaged with social change- (Updated Oct. 20th)
  • Market Details-
    • Find our vegetables and other local goods in Stockbridge at Plane Food Market! 
  • Ordering with Local Line: register and troubleshoot
  • CSA members- what to do if your account is low

Recipe: Apple Cabbage cole slaw
From my brain. You can waffle around on the dressing ingredients if you care to. You can scale this up or down as needed but I always need more delicious apple cabbage so not sure why you would go up or down. 

Ingredients
  • 1 large cabbage- red or green!
  • 2 or 3 apples
  • Rice wine vinegar
  • Tahini
  • Garlic or garlic powder
  • Ginger
  • Optional- walnuts, dried cranberries
Directions
  1. Finely chop cabbage. I used to love to shred the cabbage for my coleslaw. I recently found that a fine chop leaves more substance to the cabbage, more of a crunch! 
  2. Mince the garlic
  3. Shred the apples. I don't even peel them or cut them. Just shred them right to the core!
  4. Mix it all up!
  5. Dressing- 1/4 cup rice wine vinegar, 1/4 cup tahini, ginger.
  6. Toss in those extras and salt to taste.
  7. It is delicious right away, and even more so after a day in the fridge. I love it.

Notes from the Farm:
The end of one season, the beginning of another. And just like every season is different, as is every season's crew. Every year we are lucky to work with a collection of steadfast and determined folks that are serious about getting vegetables to your plate. This year's crew is no exception and in many ways is exceptional. Today is the last day on the farm for the majority. They have all worked so so hard and have been so tenacious through one of our most challenging years yet. We are so grateful to have had the chance to get to know them better and the farm is better for them having been here. 

While for many this time of year usually entails great gatherings and heaps of food, for Jim and I, it is usually a time of rest and reflection. A time to give ourselves some space to gather and refold the the pieces of ourselves into a something familiar. We look for the places to offer gratitude. We look for the windows to offer forgiveness (mostly to ourselves). We search for acceptance. And we sleep until we can read complex sentences. I feel that this break is going to be closer to what we need it to be than the last three year's end of season breaks have been. And we are grateful for that. We are both carrying a deep tired. This is our first big reflection. The second comes  closer to the new year. 

We invite you to join us in rest, reflection, and self care.  Make some of your favorite dishes. Give yourself space to have your feelings. This year has been strange. It will continue to be strange. The strangeness has accreted on our backs as the year scraped by in a vacuum. Let's shake it off and give ourselves some room to remain flexible and fresh. 

We also want to say thank you to you, our food loving friends. Thank you all so much for sticking with us through this strange strange year and getting ready to embark on a fresh on together. You believing in us and enjoying our vegetables gives us space to do better and better at what we do. And in a year like this, it helps us hold on tight to the streamers flying of the back of the train. We are almost back on board and will never stop giving our all.

So eat lots of food, care your yourselves and your loved ones, and we'll see you back in a week!

Onward and upward friends!

Helen & Jim and The Lake Dividers: Lizz, Malcolm, Kyla, Rachael, Amy, Alyssa, Kathryn, Shana, Annie and Eva! 


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!

Quick note: You may notice that the crop list in the email does not always match the crop list in our online store. Items not found online may have sold out or we may not have posted them online. We sometimes do not post crops online that have not come into abundance yet because we don't always know how much (or how little) of a crop will be harvestable by the end of the week so we can't offer it for sale on Tuesday. These items go to market in small quantities. When they come fully into season, we will list them online. This is the best way we have come up with to manage these crops.

That said, you can always add to your order when you pick up at market.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we troubleshoot a whole new (to us) way of doing things.

Greens:

Arugula
Chard
Collards
Kale
Microgreens! Mustard Mix, Just Broccoli, Just Radish, Arugula
Mustard Greens (Ruby streaks)
Pea Shoots 
Tatsoi

All manner of deliciousness: 
Brussel Sprouts!
Cabbage- Round Green,  savoy, green arrowhead, red, red arrowhead
Napa cabbage
Garlic
Radish- Watermelon, purple daikon, spicy black, and maybe some long white Daikon!
Rutabaga
Turnips- purple top
Onions- Red and yellow
Wintersquash: Dumpling, Futusu, Butternut, Pie Pumpkins

Herbs:
Parsley (?)
Sage

Coming Soon:
Purple carrots- not sure these made it... sorry folks :(

Staying Active: Something to keep the gears of progress engaged:
Our intention is to update this list monthly. It was last updated September 29th. Just because we are posting new links, the links from previous emails are still relevant. Additionally, you will find some links repeated. This month, I found a whole boatload of great resources from the Michigan Libraries Association. I am particularly excited about the "21 day racial equity challenge" because it specifically relates to Michigan Policy. 

In the meantime, 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.

To read: This list is by no means whatsoever all inclusive.
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."

Essays and articles (links to arcles):
Five truths about Black History from ACLU
A litany of Survival: Giving birth as a black woman in America. By Naomi Jackson
The Restlessness of Black Grief: We are in the middle of a black bereavement crises and we do not have the privilege or time to grieve. By Marissa Evans

Books (links to authors website): This list taken from the Michigan Library Association's website
  • Black Feminist Thought by Patricia Hill Collins
  • Eloquent Rage: A Black Feminist Discovers Her Superpower by Dr. Brittney Cooper
  • Heavy: An American Memoir by Kiese Laymon
  • How To Be An Antiracist by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi
  • I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
  • Invisible No More: Police Violence Against Black Women and Women of Color by Andrea J. Ritchie
  • Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson
  • Me and White Supremacy by Layla F. Saad
  • Raising Our Hands by Jenna Arnold
  • Redefining Realness by Janet Mock 
  • Sister Outsider by Audre Lorde
  • So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
  • The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
  • The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin
  • The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness 
  • by Michelle Alexander
  • The Next American Revolution: Sustainable Activism for the Twenty-First Century 
  • by Grace Lee Boggs
  • The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson
  • Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
  • This Bridge Called My Back: Writings by Radical Women of Color by Cherríe MoragaWhen Affirmative Action Was White: An Untold History of Racial Inequality in Twentieth-Century America by Ira KatznelsonWhite Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo, PhD

To Listen and Watch: This list taken from the Michigan Library Association's website
  • 13th (Ava DuVernay) — Netflix
  • American Son (Kenny Leon) — Netflix
  • Black Power Mixtape: 1967-1975 — Available to rent
  • Blindspotting (Carlos López Estrada) — Hulu with Cinemax or available to rent
  • Clemency (Chinonye Chukwu) — Available to rent
  • Dear White People (Justin Simien) — Netflix
  • Fruitvale Station (Ryan Coogler) — Available to rent
  • I Am Not Your Negro (James Baldwin doc) — Available to rent or on Kanopy
  • If Beale Street Could Talk (Barry Jenkins) — Hulu
  • Just Mercy (Destin Daniel Cretton) — Available to rent for free in June in the U.S.
  • King In The Wilderness  — HBO
  • See You Yesterday (Stefon Bristol) — Netflix
  • Selma (Ava DuVernay) — Available to rent for free in June in the U.S.
  • The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution — Available to rent
  • The Hate U Give (George Tillman Jr.) — Available to rent for free
  • When They See Us (Ava DuVernay) — Netflix

Something to do:
<>The 21 day Racial Equity Challenge From the Michigan League for Public Policy. You can do this either on your own or sign up to work through it with a group. 
In their words: "Welcome to the Michigan League for Public Policy’s 21-Day Racial Equity Challenge! We would like to thank Food Solutions New England, whose Challenge we have used as a model and adapted to highlight racial inequity and our related policy priorities here in Michigan.
Several years ago, the League made a decision to apply a racial equity lens to the anti-poverty work at the heart of our mission. The disparities in health, wealth and well-being that we seek to eradicate are largely a result of racism enshrined in public policy over the course of U.S. history. Today, we cannot hope to achieve our mission of economic security for all Michiganders without understanding the origins of the concept of race, how it influences us as individuals and as an organization, and how it functions to preserve inequity in our laws, institutions and systems.
<>Organize a reading group. 

<> Show up! Detroit Will Breathe has been marching for Justice daily since March. 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/

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

To contribute monetarily:
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.


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:  
 
The Ann Arbor Farmers Market, Wednesday with Kyla 7 am to 3 pm, Pre-ordering, curbside pick-up, On site vegetables sales! Pre-ordering from Tuesday afternoon until Tuesday at 10 pm. 

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.

Check out the A2 website for information on what to expect.

ONE WEEK OFF FROM ANN ARBOR SATURDAY, EASTERN, AND ROYAL OAK!!

The Ann Arbor Farmers Market, Saturday with Alyssa and Jim "The Flame of the North" Neumann!:
 7 am to 3 pm, 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, Saturday with Shana! 7 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 Helen 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 Amy!
Preorders only please! When you get to the farm, stay in your car and Amy will bring you your order. Please let us know if you would be comfortable with a self serve in the coming weeks. 


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
0 Comments

LDF News: Preorder now available for Stockbridge & A Wicked Wizard's Winter Wind seeks to destroy farm, but the Lake Dividers fight back!

11/17/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
The winds this past weekend were intense and sustained all through Sunday. Our day of rest quickly transformed into a day of battle against the relentless winds. Helen and I raced around the farm with sledge hammers in hand to try to protect the hoophouses and the caterpillar tunnels. Wind gusts exceeded 60mph and pulled the plastic off 2 of the tunnels. We drive an 8ft t-post 4ft into the ground on either end of each tunnel as well as ropes tied to rebar between each hoop to hold the plastic down tight against the hoops. In a dramatic show of force, the wind ripped the t-post from the ground. Impressive.
Picture
Helen and Malcolm have been on repair duty all morning. The 2 tunnels have put back together and reinforced. Nice job you guys!
Picture
The Western roll up door on the main greenhouse was also ripped apart in the wind. Helen and I pulled of an emergency repair during the storm. Here's Malcolm putting the finishing touches on the permanent repair.
Picture
While Helen and Malcolm were racing around fixing the damage form the storm, Rachel, Kat and Alyssa have been pushing bulk harvest forward! With the colder temps coming in, it's time to harvest everything left in the fields and get it into long term storage. We let storage crops size up in the field as long as possible, this makes for some very cold bulk harvest days.
Picture
Alyssa and I aren't afraid to sling some vegetables in the cold! You can find the both of us at the Ann Arbor Saturday market.
Ahoy!

Well, how about that wind! It was almost as strong as the wind storm we encountered our first year on the farm. Well, not quite. But there were moments I was swept off my feet but it wasn't a romance. Not everything stayed in place (see pictures) but we got things resituated (also see pictures). 

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 will close pre-ordering for Ann Arbor Wednesday at 10 pm Tuesday night.
    • Stockbridge farm members and customers can pre-order for pick up on the farm on Saturday.
    • We will not be at Saturday markets November 28th (not this Saturday but the following.) We will be back December 5th with all the quality vegetable that you have come to love.
  • Recipe: Pan Braised Radishes (great for the purple daikon!) and greens!
  • Notes from the farm
  • Fresh From the Field- What are we bringing to market this week!
  • Staying active and engaged with social change- (Updated Oct. 20th)
  • Market Details-
    • Find our vegetables and other local goods in Stockbridge at Plane Food Market! 
  • Ordering with Local Line: register and troubleshoot
  • CSA members- what to do if your account is low

Generally Important Notes:

Ann Arbor Wednesday pre-ordering closes at 10 pm Tuesday night!

Stockbridge farm members and customers 

If you signed up as a Farm Member online, please note, you can also use your account at market. Pre-ordering is not required!

If you had trouble ordering, please scroll down our "Ordering With Local Line" section.

Recipe: Pan-Braised Radishes and Greens
From Food 52

Ingredients
  • 2 large bunches radishes and their greens (I recommend the purple daikon bunches!)
  • 1 shallot (or one of our delightful onions)
  • 4 teaspoons butter, or more or less, divided
  • Kosher salt and pepper to taste
  • Water
  • 1 bunch fresh tarragon (can substitute dried rosemary, dill, oregano, or marjoram)
  • Splash Vinegar (optional)
Directions
  1. Trim the greens from the radishes, leaving a bit of the green stem intact. Place greens and radishes in a large bowl of cold water and let soak for at least five minutes. Remove greens and set in a colander to drain. Dry off radishes and slice in half. Note: Quarter larger radishes; leave small ones whole.
  2. Mince the shallot. In a large sauté pan, melt three teaspoons of the butter and sweat the minced shallots over medium heat for a minute or so -- you don't need any color here. Add radishes to the pan and season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Pour in water to almost cover the radishes -- the top surfaces should be peeking out a bit. Bring to a simmer, partially cover the pan, and cook until the radishes are knife tender, about 5 to 8 minutes depending on the size of the radishes. Remove the lid and add the greens to the pan. Cover and cook for a minute or two more, until the greens have somewhat wilted. Use tongs to stir them a bit. Transfer greens and radishes to a large mixing bowl leaving juices remaining in pan.
  3. Bring juices to a simmer, and reduce until no more than a quarter cup remains. Add a teaspoon more of butter and stir to incorporate it with the juices.
  4. Finely chop the tarragon and add it to the bowl. Pour reduced juices overtop and toss to coat. Taste. Add more salt and pepper if necessary. Add just the smallest sprinkling of vinegar for a touch of brightness if necessary. Transfer greens and radishes to serving platter.
Notes from the Author:
Pan braising mellows a radish's spice and changes its texture, making it tender and moist, almost beet-like in nature. This recipe is inspired by a recipe in Deborah Madison's The New Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone. The overall flavors are simple, and lots of chopped tarragon and a splash of vinegar at the end give this cooked dish a lovely brightness. --Alexandra Stafford

Notes from the Farm:
As you saw, the big news on the farm was big wind. Gale force winds in fact- sustained 35-45 mph winds. We even had gusts up to 60 mph! That devilish draft thoroughly vented two of our caterpillar tunnels and tried to give the rest an airflow make-over. To no avail, Jim and I prevailed on Sunday, heaping soil on the ends of the tunnels. We were able to hold down the majority. I was in  fuzzy pajama bottoms with a partially finished coffee. Jim was wearing sneakers that are not in the least waterproof. We were ready for action despite. After battening down the loose pieces as best we could, I sloshed the remaining coffee on one of the market vans in a dramatic slip. It was cold anyway... and of course, there was another cup inside ready to be warmed, despite the coffee shift being over.

We have to hope that a night out in the open did our kale good. Last night was more than a little cold. The plants didn't look so happy about it this morning when Malcolm and I were working on pulling the plastic back on. Even so, I think they will recover. Malcolm and I spent more than a few minutes holding on tight, waiting for the wind to die down so we could tie it down. It amazes me how a mild wind transforms into power when you are holding a giant sheet of non-porous material. And so loud! At one point, Malcolm was no more than 15 feet from me, sound and self obscured by plastic. I didn't even know he was there! More than once I envisioned the tunnel as a tornado that we would ride into the sky. 

After we got the ends secured, we worked our way down the tunnel, throwing ropes (and in some cases ropes with rebar on the end) over the not quite transparent plastic. "This one has rebar" "Okay, ready!" Don't need one of those in the noggin'. As we shuffled along we knew it was working because it got quieter and quieter. Eventually, we could hear each other again. 

All the while, the crew is hustling, collecting tender roots that won't appreciate a dip into the low twenties tonight. Lots of our winter radishes are a mite smaller than we would like, but I sampled a few and let me tell you, they make up for it in flavor. 

Onward and upward friends!

Helen & Jim and The Lake Dividers: Lizz, Malcolm, Kyla, Rachael, Amy, Alyssa, Kathryn, Shana, Annie and Eva! 


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!

Quick note: You may notice that the crop list in the email does not always match the crop list in our online store. Items not found online may have sold out or we may not have posted them online. We sometimes do not post crops online that have not come into abundance yet because we don't always know how much (or how little) of a crop will be harvestable by the end of the week so we can't offer it for sale on Tuesday. These items go to market in small quantities. When they come fully into season, we will list them online. This is the best way we have come up with to manage these crops.

That said, you can always add to your order when you pick up at market.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we troubleshoot a whole new (to us) way of doing things.
Greens:
Arugula
Chard
Collards
Kale
Microgreens! Mustard Mix, Just Broccoli, Just Radish, Arugula
Mustard Greens (Ruby streaks)
Pea Shoots 
Tatsoi

All manner of deliciousness: 
Brussel Sprouts ?
Cabbage- Round Green, savoy and some coneheads, red, red arrowhead
Napa cabbage
Garlic
Radish- Watermelon, purple daikon, spicy black, and maybe some long white Daikon!
Rutabaga
Turnips- purple top
Onions- Red and yellow
Wintersquash: Dumpling, Futusu, spaghetti, Butternut, Pie Pumpkins

Herbs:
Parsley (?)

Coming Soon:
Purple carrots
: 
Staying Active: Something to keep the gears of progress engaged:
Our intention is to update this list monthly. It was last updated September 29th. Just because we are posting new links, the links from previous emails are still relevant. Additionally, you will find some links repeated. This month, I found a whole boatload of great resources from the Michigan Libraries Association. I am particularly excited about the "21 day racial equity challenge" because it specifically relates to Michigan Policy. 

In the meantime, 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.

To read: This list is by no means whatsoever all inclusive.
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."

Essays and articles (links to arcles):
Five truths about Black History from ACLU
A litany of Survival: Giving birth as a black woman in America. By Naomi Jackson
The Restlessness of Black Grief: We are in the middle of a black bereavement crises and we do not have the privilege or time to grieve. By Marissa Evans

Books (links to authors website): This list taken from the Michigan Library Association's website
  • Black Feminist Thought by Patricia Hill Collins
  • Eloquent Rage: A Black Feminist Discovers Her Superpower by Dr. Brittney Cooper
  • Heavy: An American Memoir by Kiese Laymon
  • How To Be An Antiracist by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi
  • I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
  • Invisible No More: Police Violence Against Black Women and Women of Color by Andrea J. Ritchie
  • Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson
  • Me and White Supremacy by Layla F. Saad
  • Raising Our Hands by Jenna Arnold
  • Redefining Realness by Janet Mock 
  • Sister Outsider by Audre Lorde
  • So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
  • The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
  • The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin
  • The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness 
  • by Michelle Alexander
  • The Next American Revolution: Sustainable Activism for the Twenty-First Century 
  • by Grace Lee Boggs
  • The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson
  • Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
  • This Bridge Called My Back: Writings by Radical Women of Color by Cherríe MoragaWhen Affirmative Action Was White: An Untold History of Racial Inequality in Twentieth-Century America by Ira KatznelsonWhite Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo, PhD

To Listen and Watch: This list taken from the Michigan Library Association's website
  • 13th (Ava DuVernay) — Netflix
  • American Son (Kenny Leon) — Netflix
  • Black Power Mixtape: 1967-1975 — Available to rent
  • Blindspotting (Carlos López Estrada) — Hulu with Cinemax or available to rent
  • Clemency (Chinonye Chukwu) — Available to rent
  • Dear White People (Justin Simien) — Netflix
  • Fruitvale Station (Ryan Coogler) — Available to rent
  • I Am Not Your Negro (James Baldwin doc) — Available to rent or on Kanopy
  • If Beale Street Could Talk (Barry Jenkins) — Hulu
  • Just Mercy (Destin Daniel Cretton) — Available to rent for free in June in the U.S.
  • King In The Wilderness  — HBO
  • See You Yesterday (Stefon Bristol) — Netflix
  • Selma (Ava DuVernay) — Available to rent for free in June in the U.S.
  • The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution — Available to rent
  • The Hate U Give (George Tillman Jr.) — Available to rent for free
  • When They See Us (Ava DuVernay) — Netflix

Something to do:
<>The 21 day Racial Equity Challenge From the Michigan League for Public Policy. You can do this either on your own or sign up to work through it with a group. 
In their words: "Welcome to the Michigan League for Public Policy’s 21-Day Racial Equity Challenge! We would like to thank Food Solutions New England, whose Challenge we have used as a model and adapted to highlight racial inequity and our related policy priorities here in Michigan.
Several years ago, the League made a decision to apply a racial equity lens to the anti-poverty work at the heart of our mission. The disparities in health, wealth and well-being that we seek to eradicate are largely a result of racism enshrined in public policy over the course of U.S. history. Today, we cannot hope to achieve our mission of economic security for all Michiganders without understanding the origins of the concept of race, how it influences us as individuals and as an organization, and how it functions to preserve inequity in our laws, institutions and systems.
<>Organize a reading group. 

<> Show up! Detroit Will Breathe has been marching for Justice daily since March. 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/

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

To contribute monetarily:
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.


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:  
 
The Ann Arbor Farmers Market, Wednesday with Kyla 7 am to 3 pm, Pre-ordering, curbside pick-up, On site vegetables sales! Pre-ordering from Tuesday afternoon until Tuesday at 10 pm. 

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.

Check out the A2 website for information on what to expect.

The Ann Arbor Farmers Market, Saturday with Alyssa and Jim "The Flame of the North" Neumann!: 7 am to 3 pm, 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, Saturday with Shana! 7 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 Helen 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 Amy!
Preorders only please! When you get to the farm, stay in your car and Amy will bring you your order. Please let us know if you would be comfortable with a self serve in the coming weeks. 
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
0 Comments

LDF newsletter: Still November but who can tell?

11/10/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
Kyla, Malcom and Rachel are just a darn pleasure to work with!
Picture
The winter plantings in the caterpillar tunnels is almost ready to harvest!
Picture
We pushed the final massive project of the season forward. The garlic planting is well underway. We took advantage of the warm weather opening this past week and got all the ground prepped. We're planting 24 beds this year. Given the spacing and bed dimensions, that's almost 29,000 plants!
Picture
These farm dogs really know how to brighten our spirits!
With this weather it is hard to feel down. Sun. Warmth. This is not your average November. I am not complaining. We ran the irrigation on Sunday and it was easy as ever. We didn't have to wait for anything to thaw. Now, needing to irrigate in November? That's something a little new! All this sunshine displaces the ages of rain we usually experience in this time of year. I'm not complaining though. Certainly not. 

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 will be closing pre-ordering for Ann Arbor Wednesday at 10 pm Tuesday night.
  • Recipe: Roasted turnips or Rutabaga- simple and succulent.
  • Notes from the farm
  • Fresh From the Field- What are we bringing to market this week!
  • Staying active and engaged with social change- (Updated Oct. 20th)
  • Market Details-
    • Find our vegetables and other local goods in Stockbridge at Plane Food Market! 
  • Ordering with Local Line: register and troubleshoot
  • CSA members- what to do if your account is low

Generally Important Notes:

No Ann Arbor Wednesday this week. We still need a little time to get the winter in gear. Look for us Saturday and next week.

If you signed up as a Farm Member online, please note, you can also use your account at market. Pre-ordering is not required!

If you had trouble ordering, please scroll down our "Ordering With Local Line" section.

Recipe: Roasted Turnips or Rutabaga
From The Spruce Eats
  1. Gather the ingredients.
  2. Preheat the oven to 400 F.
  3. While the oven heats, trim and peel the turnips. Tender baby turnips can be simply scrubbed instead of peeled, but their peel will still be a bit more fibrous than the tender insides. Leave baby turnips whole; cut bigger ones into a little larger than bite-sized pieces. (NOTE FROM HELEN: I rarely if ever peel our turnips. I do not find the skins fibrous at all and enjoy the texture and flavor the add)
  4. Put the prepared turnips in a baking pan or on a baking sheet. Drizzle them with olive oil. Use your hands or 2 large spoons to toss the turnips around a bit to coat them thoroughly with the oil. Sprinkle them with salt.
  5. Roast the turnips until they're tender and browned. Start checking them after about 30 minutes. Depending on their size and age, it may take them up to an hour or more to become completely tender.
  6. Sprinkle with more salt and pepper, if you'd like. Serve and enjoy.
Are Turnips an Anti-Inflammatory?In general, fruits and vegetables have the capacity to reduce inflammation because of the antioxidants and other nutrients they contain. Turnips contain fiber, vitamin C, and minerals such as potassium, phosphorus, folate, calcium, and magnesium but have no fat or cholesterol. Some research indicates that turnip's various compounds have the capacity to help fight inflammation in the body.
Instructions
  1. Heat the olive oil in a pot over medium heat. Add the shallot with a pinch of salt, and stir frequently until starting to brown, 3-5 minutes. Add the ginger, garlic, and chili, and cook for 30 seconds. Add the cinnamon, cumin, and turmeric with another pinch of salt, and cook for another 30 seconds or until fragrant. Stir in the Thai red curry paste and cook for 2-3 minutes until starting to stick.
  2. Stir in the coconut milk, pumpkin puree, and chickpeas, and bring a boil. Reduce the heat, stir in the broccoli, and cover the pan. Cook for about 10 more minutes, stirring occasionally, until the broccoli is bright green and tender. Stir in the lime juice and season to taste with additional lime, and soy sauce or salt. (As a reference point, in my soy-free version I used about 1/4 tsp additional salt. When making this with low-sodium soy sauce I added about a tablespoon.)
  3. Serve hot, with rice or other accompaniments of choice. (Pictured is white jasmine rice and steamed sweet potato).
Recipe Variations
  • After 20 minutes, add a few grinds of coarsely ground black pepper over the turnips.
  • When you take the turnips out of the oven, toss them with a tablespoon or two of minced fresh herbs such as parsley, thyme, sage, and/or rosemary.
  • Drizzle the roasted turnips with romesco sauce or homemade pesto when you serve them. If it's spring and you have baby turnips, they are a particularly good match for green garlic pesto.
  • When the turnips are almost done, add about 1 tablespoon of butter, toss to melt and coat the turnips, then sprinkle them with about 1/2 teaspoon garam masala, and toss again to coat them evenly. Roast for another 5 to 10 minutes.
  • If you're cooking a chicken or a pork roast, simply add the turnips to the pan to roast with them. The juices from the roast will flavor the turnips beautifully.
  • Mix things up by roasting other root vegetables—potatoes, parsnips, carrots, and rutabagas are all goods choices. Cut the vegetables into similarly sized pieces so they cook evenly. Beets are tasty, too, but know that they will stain the turnips pink when they touch.

Notes from the Farm:
There was a bat in the house. We opened the door and let it find its way out. It was so silent in flight. I felt so lucky to get to see one up close. We see them every night hunting insects. The mostly likely candidate for that mammalian miracle circling our rooms last night is a Big Brown Bat. These species consume many agricultural pests, as well as mosquitos! Although bats are fantastic, they don't make the best housemates. Because of this, I was grateful to not find more of them when I carefully inspected the house. Tonight, I will sit out as the sun sets and watch a few key locations just to be sure. 

And in other farm news, we are rounding the bend on garlic. We have just over a third of it planted and the rest just about cracked and ready to head out for its winter slumber. The cloves are edging out root nubs, ready to dig in to the ground and gather some nutrients to prep for the spring sprint. That is what we are ready to do as well!

Helen & Jim and The Lake Dividers: Lizz, Malcolm, Kyla, Rachael, Amy, Alyssa, Kathryn, Shana, Annie and Eva! 


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!

Quick note: You may notice that the crop list in the email does not always match the crop list in our online store. Items not found online may have sold out or we may not have posted them online. We sometimes do not post crops online that have not come into abundance yet because we don't always know how much (or how little) of a crop will be harvestable by the end of the week so we can't offer it for sale on Tuesday. These items go to market in small quantities. When they come fully into season, we will list them online. This is the best way we have come up with to manage these crops.

That said, you can always add to your order when you pick up at market.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we troubleshoot a whole new (to us) way of doing things.

Greens:
Arugula (limited)
Bok Choi
Collards
Kale
Microgreens! Mustard Mix, Just Broccoli, Just Radish, Arugula
Mustard Greens (Ruby streaks)
Pea Shoots 
Radish greens
Spinach (limited)
Tatsoi (?)

All manner of deliciousness: 
Broccoli (limited)
Brussel Sprouts ?
Celery root- mini orbs
Cabbage- Round Green, savoy and some coneheads, red, red arrowhead
Napa cabbage
Garlic
Radish
Rutabaga!
Turnips- purple top and maybe sweet!
Onions- Red and yellow
Wintersquash: Dumpling, Futusu, spaghetti, Butternut, Pie Pumpkins

Herbs:
Parsley
Sage

Coming Soon:
Swiss chard
Baby romanesco
Purple carrots
: 
Staying Active: Something to keep the gears of progress engaged:
Our intention is to update this list monthly. It was last updated September 29th. Just because we are posting new links, the links from previous emails are still relevant. Additionally, you will find some links repeated. This month, I found a whole boatload of great resources from the Michigan Libraries Association. I am particularly excited about the "21 day racial equity challenge" because it specifically relates to Michigan Policy. 

In the meantime, 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.

To read: This list is by no means whatsoever all inclusive.
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."

Essays and articles (links to arcles):
Five truths about Black History from ACLU
A litany of Survival: Giving birth as a black woman in America. By Naomi Jackson
The Restlessness of Black Grief: We are in the middle of a black bereavement crises and we do not have the privilege or time to grieve. By Marissa Evans

Books (links to authors website): This list taken from the Michigan Library Association's website
  • Black Feminist Thought by Patricia Hill Collins
  • Eloquent Rage: A Black Feminist Discovers Her Superpower by Dr. Brittney Cooper
  • Heavy: An American Memoir by Kiese Laymon
  • How To Be An Antiracist by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi
  • I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
  • Invisible No More: Police Violence Against Black Women and Women of Color by Andrea J. Ritchie
  • Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson
  • Me and White Supremacy by Layla F. Saad
  • Raising Our Hands by Jenna Arnold
  • Redefining Realness by Janet Mock 
  • Sister Outsider by Audre Lorde
  • So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
  • The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
  • The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin
  • The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness 
  • by Michelle Alexander
  • The Next American Revolution: Sustainable Activism for the Twenty-First Century 
  • by Grace Lee Boggs
  • The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson
  • Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
  • This Bridge Called My Back: Writings by Radical Women of Color by Cherríe MoragaWhen Affirmative Action Was White: An Untold History of Racial Inequality in Twentieth-Century America by Ira KatznelsonWhite Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo, PhD

To Listen and Watch: This list taken from the Michigan Library Association's website
  • 13th (Ava DuVernay) — Netflix
  • American Son (Kenny Leon) — Netflix
  • Black Power Mixtape: 1967-1975 — Available to rent
  • Blindspotting (Carlos López Estrada) — Hulu with Cinemax or available to rent
  • Clemency (Chinonye Chukwu) — Available to rent
  • Dear White People (Justin Simien) — Netflix
  • Fruitvale Station (Ryan Coogler) — Available to rent
  • I Am Not Your Negro (James Baldwin doc) — Available to rent or on Kanopy
  • If Beale Street Could Talk (Barry Jenkins) — Hulu
  • Just Mercy (Destin Daniel Cretton) — Available to rent for free in June in the U.S.
  • King In The Wilderness  — HBO
  • See You Yesterday (Stefon Bristol) — Netflix
  • Selma (Ava DuVernay) — Available to rent for free in June in the U.S.
  • The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution — Available to rent
  • The Hate U Give (George Tillman Jr.) — Available to rent for free
  • When They See Us (Ava DuVernay) — Netflix

Something to do:
<>The 21 day Racial Equity Challenge From the Michigan League for Public Policy. You can do this either on your own or sign up to work through it with a group. 
In their words: "Welcome to the Michigan League for Public Policy’s 21-Day Racial Equity Challenge! We would like to thank Food Solutions New England, whose Challenge we have used as a model and adapted to highlight racial inequity and our related policy priorities here in Michigan.
Several years ago, the League made a decision to apply a racial equity lens to the anti-poverty work at the heart of our mission. The disparities in health, wealth and well-being that we seek to eradicate are largely a result of racism enshrined in public policy over the course of U.S. history. Today, we cannot hope to achieve our mission of economic security for all Michiganders without understanding the origins of the concept of race, how it influences us as individuals and as an organization, and how it functions to preserve inequity in our laws, institutions and systems.
<>Organize a reading group. 

<> Show up! Detroit Will Breathe has been marching for Justice daily since March. 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/

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

To contribute monetarily:
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.


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:  
 
The Ann Arbor Farmers Market, Wednesday with Kyla 7 am to 3 pm, Pre-ordering, curbside pick-up, On site vegetables sales! Pre-ordering from Tuesday afternoon until Tuesday midnight. 

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.

Check out the A2 website for information on what to expect.

The Ann Arbor Farmers Market, Saturday with Alyssa and Jim "The Flame of the North" Neumann!: 7 am to 3 pm, 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, Saturday with Shana! 7 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 Helen 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.


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
0 Comments

November is here! Winter season is upon us!

11/3/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
We scrambled all though Friday to cover up our crops to protect them from the coming frost, nature had other plans. Despite succeeding on Friday, gusty winds up to 50mph rampaged through the farm Sunday and into Monday. Ugh! Few things illustrate wind as well as row cover lol
Picture
All 10 caterpillar tunnels have been completed! Nature tested our upgraded design with heavy winds immediately following completion, looks like we passed this test! Great job build team!
Picture
Here's the other 3 tunnels hanging out on the other side of the field... it just kinda worked out this way
Picture
It's sweater weather on the farm. Even Boomer is getting ready winter!
Picture
We're filling up the second walk-in cooler. All of the winter squash had to get moved from the greenhouse into storage this past week. It's a heavy time of year!
Picture
Alyssa dressed up as a business bear for Halloween at the Ann Arbor market. A tie on a bear means one thing, business!
​The main season markets have completed their run this year. This means Northville, Stockbridge, and Farmington. Although Farmington has one more optional market for this coming weekend and will have many vendors there, we won't be attending. We need to gather the steam under our sails. We want to thank all of our beautiful customers from these towns for coming together to eat and enjoy local farms and business. Community is so important and coming together as people is the only way forward. 

You will continue seeing us at Ann Arbor, Eastern, and Royal Oak year round. This year we will be creating an attendance schedule so we can cultivate some rest and rejuvenation for the farmer folk. You will be the first to know when this calendar is completed. 

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-  Back at Wednesday Ann Arbor this week. Look for us Saturday and next week.
  • Recipe: Pumpkin Curry! (It was so delicious)
  • Notes from the farm
  • Fresh From the Field- What are we bringing to market this week!
  • Staying active and engaged with social change- (Updated Oct. 20th)
  • Market Details-
    • Find our vegetables and other local goods in Stockbridge at Plane Food Market! 
  • Ordering with Local Line: register and troubleshoot
  • CSA members- what to do if your account is low

Generally Important Notes:

No Ann Arbor Wednesday this week. We still need a little time to get the winter in gear. Look for us Saturday and next week.

If you signed up as a Farm Member online, please note, you can also use your account at market. Pre-ordering is not required!

If you had trouble ordering, please scroll down our "Ordering With Local Line" section.

Recipe: Pumpkin Curry
from Yup.. it's vegan! 

I made this last week with one of our beautiful, smooth pie pumpkins (the long ones!) and it was fantastic. I doubled the recipe to accommodate the size of our pumpkin and never looked back. I had a little leftover to freeze in the end which is my favorite- low effort, local delicious meals for later. 

Some notes:
To prepare your pumpkin in the oven, cut it in half lengthwise and roast it cut side down at 350 until easy to stab with a fork (about 4o minutes). Scoop out seeds for roasting and flesh for curry.
Your pumpkin can also quickly be prepared in an instant pot if you have one. 
I used an onion instead of a shallot, added some cabbage in the beginning when sauteeing and it was a fantastic addition.
I don't recommend using the lime juice or soy sauce. While I added the lime juice as the recipe suggested for me, it unbalanced the already perfect spice balance I had going on. IngredientsSaute mixture:
  • 2 tsp olive oil or other oil
  • 1 large shallot diced
  • 1 and 1/2 inch fresh ginger peeled and minced or grated
  • 3 cloves garlic minced or grated
  • 1 chili pepper finely chopped (I used a cayenne chili)
  • 1/2 tsp ground cumin
  • 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp ground turmeric
  • 3 tbsp Thai red curry paste
Remaining vegan pumpkin curry ingredients:
  • 1 and 1/2 cups full-fat canned coconut milk (1 standard can)
  • 1 and 1/2 cups pumpkin puree (canned or fresh; be sure not to use pumpkin pie filling)
  • 1 and 1/2 cups cooked chickpeas rinsed and drained (1 standard can)
  • 2 crowns broccoli cut into small florets (about 8 oz)
  • 1 and 1/2 tbsp fresh lime juice
  • salt to taste (or use soy sauce if not soy-free)
Instructions
  1. Heat the olive oil in a pot over medium heat. Add the shallot with a pinch of salt, and stir frequently until starting to brown, 3-5 minutes. Add the ginger, garlic, and chili, and cook for 30 seconds. Add the cinnamon, cumin, and turmeric with another pinch of salt, and cook for another 30 seconds or until fragrant. Stir in the Thai red curry paste and cook for 2-3 minutes until starting to stick.
  2. Stir in the coconut milk, pumpkin puree, and chickpeas, and bring a boil. Reduce the heat, stir in the broccoli, and cover the pan. Cook for about 10 more minutes, stirring occasionally, until the broccoli is bright green and tender. Stir in the lime juice and season to taste with additional lime, and soy sauce or salt. (As a reference point, in my soy-free version I used about 1/4 tsp additional salt. When making this with low-sodium soy sauce I added about a tablespoon.)
  3. Serve hot, with rice or other accompaniments of choice. (Pictured is white jasmine rice and steamed sweet potato).
Recipe NotesVEGETABLES: Mix and match this one pot pumpkin curry with other veggies such as cauliflower, asparagus, kale or collard greens (added when the broccoli is added), regular or sweet potato (added with the red curry paste), spinach or bok choy (wilted in toward the end of cooking). Baked or fried tofu can also be substituted for the chickpeas.

Notes from the Farm:
Cats constructed? Check! Crops covered? Check! Garlic planted? Not just yet. This big task still lingers on the to do list and its not a small one. We plant enough for all of us to get our fill (is that actually possible?) and to replant the following years crop. For us that means almost a half acre! 

First we weigh out how many pounds of each variety we will need to meet our planting goals. Then we "crack the heads", separating each head into individual cloves. Then we head out to the field to plant into the carefully (or in this year's case, hastily) prepared ground. We push the cloves into the ground seed plate side down, pointy side up, every 6 inches, in 4 rows, in beds 150 feet long. This year we will likely plant 22 of these beds! 

Then if we are on the ball, we will mulch the garlic with a thick layer of straw. In terms of temperature, the garlic would prefer bare ground, but we mulch to prevent the fierce weed competition that would ensue otherwise. Many years we have mulched in the spring. This year, we hope to get it all tucked away before the years end. Sooner if I dare hope.

For now, it is time to get crackin'! Fall cheer and hopes for peace and community. 

Helen & Jim and The Lake Dividers: Lizz, Malcolm, Kyla, Rachael, Amy, Alyssa, Kathryn, Shana, Annie and Eva! 


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!

Quick note: You may notice that the crop list in the email does not always match the crop list in our online store. Items not found online may have sold out or we may not have posted them online. We sometimes do not post crops online that have not come into abundance yet because we don't always know how much (or how little) of a crop will be harvestable by the end of the week so we can't offer it for sale on Tuesday. These items go to market in small quantities. When they come fully into season, we will list them online. This is the best way we have come up with to manage these crops.

That said, you can always add to your order when you pick up at market.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we troubleshoot a whole new (to us) way of doing things.

Greens:
Arugula (limited)
Bok Choi
Collards
Kale
Microgreens! Mustard Mix, Just Broccoli, Just Radish, Arugula
Mustard Greens (Ruby streaks)
Pea Shoots 
Radish greens
Spinach (limited)
Tatsoi (?)

All manner of deliciousness: 
Broccoli (limited)
Brussel Sprouts ?
Celery root- mini orbs
Cabbage- Round Green, savoy and some coneheads, red, red arrowhead
Napa cabbage
Garlic
Radish
Rutabaga!
Turnips- purple top and maybe sweet!
Onions- Red and yellow
Wintersquash: Dumpling, Futusu, spaghetti, Butternut, Pie Pumpkins

Herbs:
Parsley
Sage
Thyme

Coming Soon:
Swiss chard
Baby romanesco
Purple carrots
: 
Staying Active: Something to keep the gears of progress engaged:
Our intention is to update this list monthly. It was last updated September 29th. Just because we are posting new links, the links from previous emails are still relevant. Additionally, you will find some links repeated. This month, I found a whole boatload of great resources from the Michigan Libraries Association. I am particularly excited about the "21 day racial equity challenge" because it specifically relates to Michigan Policy. 

In the meantime, 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.

To read: This list is by no means whatsoever all inclusive.
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."

Essays and articles (links to arcles):
Five truths about Black History from ACLU
A litany of Survival: Giving birth as a black woman in America. By Naomi Jackson
The Restlessness of Black Grief: We are in the middle of a black bereavement crises and we do not have the privilege or time to grieve. By Marissa Evans

Books (links to authors website): This list taken from the Michigan Library Association's website
  • Black Feminist Thought by Patricia Hill Collins
  • Eloquent Rage: A Black Feminist Discovers Her Superpower by Dr. Brittney Cooper
  • Heavy: An American Memoir by Kiese Laymon
  • How To Be An Antiracist by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi
  • I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
  • Invisible No More: Police Violence Against Black Women and Women of Color by Andrea J. Ritchie
  • Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson
  • Me and White Supremacy by Layla F. Saad
  • Raising Our Hands by Jenna Arnold
  • Redefining Realness by Janet Mock 
  • Sister Outsider by Audre Lorde
  • So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
  • The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
  • The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin
  • The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness 
  • by Michelle Alexander
  • The Next American Revolution: Sustainable Activism for the Twenty-First Century 
  • by Grace Lee Boggs
  • The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson
  • Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
  • This Bridge Called My Back: Writings by Radical Women of Color by Cherríe MoragaWhen Affirmative Action Was White: An Untold History of Racial Inequality in Twentieth-Century America by Ira KatznelsonWhite Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo, PhD

To Listen and Watch: This list taken from the Michigan Library Association's website
  • 13th (Ava DuVernay) — Netflix
  • American Son (Kenny Leon) — Netflix
  • Black Power Mixtape: 1967-1975 — Available to rent
  • Blindspotting (Carlos López Estrada) — Hulu with Cinemax or available to rent
  • Clemency (Chinonye Chukwu) — Available to rent
  • Dear White People (Justin Simien) — Netflix
  • Fruitvale Station (Ryan Coogler) — Available to rent
  • I Am Not Your Negro (James Baldwin doc) — Available to rent or on Kanopy
  • If Beale Street Could Talk (Barry Jenkins) — Hulu
  • Just Mercy (Destin Daniel Cretton) — Available to rent for free in June in the U.S.
  • King In The Wilderness  — HBO
  • See You Yesterday (Stefon Bristol) — Netflix
  • Selma (Ava DuVernay) — Available to rent for free in June in the U.S.
  • The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution — Available to rent
  • The Hate U Give (George Tillman Jr.) — Available to rent for free
  • When They See Us (Ava DuVernay) — Netflix

Something to do:
<>The 21 day Racial Equity Challenge From the Michigan League for Public Policy. You can do this either on your own or sign up to work through it with a group. 
In their words: "Welcome to the Michigan League for Public Policy’s 21-Day Racial Equity Challenge! We would like to thank Food Solutions New England, whose Challenge we have used as a model and adapted to highlight racial inequity and our related policy priorities here in Michigan.
Several years ago, the League made a decision to apply a racial equity lens to the anti-poverty work at the heart of our mission. The disparities in health, wealth and well-being that we seek to eradicate are largely a result of racism enshrined in public policy over the course of U.S. history. Today, we cannot hope to achieve our mission of economic security for all Michiganders without understanding the origins of the concept of race, how it influences us as individuals and as an organization, and how it functions to preserve inequity in our laws, institutions and systems.
<>Organize a reading group. 

<> Show up! Detroit Will Breathe has been marching for Justice daily since March. 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/

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

To contribute monetarily:
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.


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:  
 
The Ann Arbor Farmers Market, Wednesday with Kyla 7 am to 3 pm, Pre-ordering, curbside pick-up, On site vegetables sales! Pre-ordering from Tuesday afternoon until Tuesday midnight. 

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.

Check out the A2 website for information on what to expect.

The Ann Arbor Farmers Market, Saturday with Alyssa and Jim "The Flame of the North" Neumann!: 7 am to 3 pm, 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, Saturday with Shana! 7 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 Helen 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.


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
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