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Lake Divide Farm Newsletter: Tis the Season!

9/19/2018

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It's a very colorful time of year!
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I think I should have made a Left turn at Albuquerque
We had a few more surprises this week, and ended up backed into an email-punting corner. Our "new" market vehicle, a delightful 2004 Dodge Sprinter, is in the shop again. When we purchased it earlier this season with just under 200,000 miles, we anticipated that there would be a few mechanical hiccups with it this year. So far: new harmonic balancer, 1, no 2, wait, 4, yup 4 new brake lines, new pads and rotors on the rear as well as one caliper replaced. While that isn't the shortest list of repairs, it still felt like it was within our repair expectations for a used work vehicle with that many miles. The part of the situation that we're less jazzed about, is having to play musical market vehicles with such frequency! The brakes have been particularly problematic, as we repaired one damaged line, another line would spring a leak a few days later. It led to a roller coaster ride of, "Hey the vans fixed", "Oh wait maybe not", "Alright, now it's definitely fixed!", "Maybe I should just stop making such declarative statements regarding the van". Each hill and loop of the roller coaster translated to a frantic change in plans and the shuffling of lake dividers between the weekly markets. Of course, this is what you have to accept when you don't have redundant vehicles, and honestly, despite the hiccups, we really love the "new" market vehicle. In a day or so it will have a new master brake cylinder, essentially leaving us with a wonderful older van with a brand new braking system. Until then, Ann Arbor is getting a double dose of Helen! That's right she'll be there Wednesday and Saturday this week, have a blast! Oh that reminds me! We wanted to mention to you that we get shuffled around week to week in Ann Arbor, so we're not always able to set up in the same spot, but I can GUARANTEE you that we are there. If you ever have trouble finding us or any other vendor at the Ann Arbor market, we're likely there, but in a different spot. The good folks in the main office can tell you where to find us, or any of your other favorite vendors. Well guys I have to cut it short, so that I send this email out at a quasi-reasonable time. Don't forget to take advantage of the season of abundance! We have plenty of delicious tomatoes still (full trays and sale prices still available), lots of greens, soup vegetables, peppers, garlic, herbs. Tis the season to east fresh! Have a great weekSee you at market!
Jim writing for the Lake Dviders 

Fresh From the Field!

Greens:Arugula
Mizuna
Mustard
Tatsoi
Tokyo Bekana- Bok Choi lettuce!
Kale: flat leaf, green curly, and red curly
Microgreens: Spicy and mild. 
Salad mix?
Shoots: Sunflower and pea!
Swiss Chard- limited while it reaches capacity
Herbs: 
Cilantro and Dill- coming back shortly
Mint
Oregano
Parsley: The stems of the curly parsley are incredibly sweet!
Sage
Thyme
All manner of deliciousness:
Beets!
Broccoli
Carrots- perhaps
Cabbage
Celery
Eggplant: Roast, stirfry, sandwich
Fennel: Fresh licorice-y fronds with crispy bulbs.
Garlic
Ground Cherries: Little lanterns of deliciousness. Word on the street is that they are great raosted!
Kohlrabi- big and little
Onions: petite and pungent.
Potatoes- thin, thin skin- you barely have to cook these delights!
Fingerling potatoes?
Peppers: Bells and friars
Hot peppers: Hungarian hot wax, cayenne, jalepeno, serrano, and poblano
Shishito peppers: Toss in hot oil with the lid on while the pop, remove from heat and toss in salt, then eat the whole thing minus the stem!
Radish Classic
Watermelon radishes: Spicy and sweet! 
Tomatoes: Hierlooms, slicers, beefsteaks- all tasty!
Cherry Tomatoes!! 

​Markets, always rain or shine!Wednesday: Ann Arbor
The Ann Arbor Market is located in the Kerrytown District at 315 Detroit St, Ann Arbor, MI. The market runs from May thru December, 7 am to 3 pm and January thru April from 8 am to 3 pm.

Thursday: Northville
The Northville market is located at 195 Main St, Northville, MI 48167 and it runs May thru October, 8 am to 3 pm.

Friday: Stockbridge
The Stockbridge Open Air Market is located on the square in downtown Stockbridge. It runs from May thru October from 4 pm to 7 pm

Saturday: Ann Arbor and Chelsea
The Ann Arbor Market is located in the Kerrytown District at 315 Detroit St, Ann Arbor, MI. The market runs from May thru December, 7 am to 3 pm and January thru April from 8 am to 3 pm.

The Chelsea Farmers' Market is located in the lower library lot along Park St. It runs May thru October from 8 am to 1 pm.

Sunday: Howell
The Howell Farmers' market can be found in the heart of Howell at State st and Clinton st, adjacent to the historic Livingston County Courthouse. It runs May thru October, 9 am to 2 pm.
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Lake Divide Farm Newsletter: Feasting on Tomatoes while planning for next year

9/12/2018

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Looks like folks are gonna have to fight Brianna for these sunflower sprouts!
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We found this excellent looking puffball mushroom while adventuring yesterday
Despite the cooler weather and the shorter days, we are still in the depths of harvest. The tomato heaven continues. We have 2-3 weeks left of intense tomato eating, then a drop off, then an absence altogether. If you are considering canning, please send us an email or talk to us at market for information on bulk deals. Don't forget to revel in the glory of the summer! We managed to haul in all the onions last week. We also  got our seed garlic ordered to supplement the garlic from our own harvest that we will be planting. We planted out the last of the field lettuce. All remaining plantings, barring one of scallions, will be under cover of temporary or permanent hoop houses. There is still a lot of work laid out before us but we are rising to the challenge. 
By the end of the week, if all goes well, the first big round of cover crops will be in. Cover crops are the plants that we grow to take care of our soil. We don't harvest or sell them, we just grow them and for that, they offer all kinds of rewards. They hold the soil in place, store nutrients for later use, increase soil organic matter, thus increasing our soils capacity to hold water and nutrients, suppress weeds, improve tilth, feed our soil microbes, and offer a place for beneficial insects and other creatures to live and eat. We love the look of a nice full swatch of cover crop. 
This year, the soil has been given a chance to be rid of one flush of weeds and is is nice and moist, ready and awaiting seeds. Cover crops can be used in many combinations for different benefits. We are keeping it simple while we learn how to best utilize them. Oats and peas for ground that will be planted early in the spring. Oats and spring peas typically put on some good growth in the fall but don't survive the winter, leaving an easily workable field in the early spring. We will use winter peas for land that will be planted later in the spring or in the early summer. Like the oats and spring peas, they can put on a lot of growth in the fall but unlike the oats and peas, they will likely survive the winter and keep offering cover in the spring. For the ground that is planting and being harvested from until November, will seed winter rye and medium red clover, both hardy crops. Although the rye may not get a chance to put on growth this winter, the seed will survive and rise up in the spring, likewise, so will the clover. We are using this same combination for all land that is going on sabbatical for 2019. The hope is that the clover with close cover, protecting our soil and feeding our microbes so that when we revisit the land in 2020, it will be refreshed and more powerful than ever. 
A cool thing that we are trying out this coming year is rolling our cover crops to be used as a mulch. This will minimize tillage while reducing weed pressure. They way it works? We seed our cover crop at a high rate, creating a dense planting. In the spring, we pull a crop roller over it. There are all kinds of crop rollers, but the idea is that crop is laid flat in a thick mat prevent weeds from breaking through, and the stem of the plant is crushed but not broken, reducing the likelihood of regrowth. The crops can then be planted into this mat and because the cover crop isn't all chopped up, like it would be from mowing, it will take longer to decompose. There are some other tweaks to this plan and it depends on a few things to make it work. We need to find something that will work as a crop roller. I think the chances of this working out are high. There are various farm attachments that can be used to this effect. Our cover crop (we are planning on doing this with the winter peas) must survive the winter and put on some good growth in the spring. We must figure out how to make the mat plantable and how to add any needed soil amendments. Our approach to this is some early tillage over the field (strip tillage) clearing a narrow area of cover crop put leaving the rest of the crop unscathed. And perhaps most importantly, when we roll the crop, it has to make a thick enough mat that the weeds won't instantly peak their way through.  As usual, there are a lot of moving parts. You will know how it works out next year, as will we. For now, the first step-- seeding the cover! 
It is going to warm back up but for now I encourage all of you to eat some soup while the temperatures are low. Celery, fennel, onions, broccoli, potatoes, yes!!
Picture
Lizz and Tony spreading oat and pea cover crops
​See you at market!
Helen writing for the Lake Dviders (Jim's punt makes my punt look meager.)

Fresh From the Field!

Greens:Arugula
Mizuna
Mustard
Tatsoi
Tokyo Bekana- Bok Choi lettuce!
Kale: flat leaf, green curly, and red curly
Microgreens: Spicy and mild. 
Salad mix?
Shoots: Sunflower and pea!
Swiss Chard- limited while it reaches capacity
Herbs: 
Cilantro and Dill- coming back shortly
Mint
Oregano
Parsley: The stems of the curly parsley are incredibly sweet!
Sage
Thyme
All manner of deliciousness:
Broccoli!
Carrots- perhaps
Cabbage
Celery!
Eggplant: Roast, stirfry, sandwich
Fennel: Fresh licorice-y fronds with crispy bulbs.
Garlic
Ground Cherries: Little lanterns of deliciousness. Word on the street is that they are great raosted!
Kohlrabi- big and little
Onions: petite and pungent.
Potatoes- thin, thin skin- you barely have to cook these delights!
Fingerling potatoes?
Peppers: Bells and friars
Hot peppers: Hungarian hot wax, cayenne, jalepeno, serrano, and poblano
Shishito peppers: Toss in hot oil with the lid on while the pop, remove from heat and toss in salt, then eat the whole thing minus the stem!
Radish Classic
Watermelon radishes: Spicy and sweet! 
Tomatoes: Hierlooms, slicers, beefsteaks- all tasty!
Cherry Tomatoes!! 

​Markets, always rain or shine!Wednesday: Ann Arbor
The Ann Arbor Market is located in the Kerrytown District at 315 Detroit St, Ann Arbor, MI. The market runs from May thru December, 7 am to 3 pm and January thru April from 8 am to 3 pm.

Thursday: Northville
The Northville market is located at 195 Main St, Northville, MI 48167 and it runs May thru October, 8 am to 3 pm.

Friday: Stockbridge
The Stockbridge Open Air Market is located on the square in downtown Stockbridge. It runs from May thru October from 4 pm to 7 pm

Saturday: Ann Arbor and Chelsea
The Ann Arbor Market is located in the Kerrytown District at 315 Detroit St, Ann Arbor, MI. The market runs from May thru December, 7 am to 3 pm and January thru April from 8 am to 3 pm.

The Chelsea Farmers' Market is located in the lower library lot along Park St. It runs May thru October from 8 am to 1 pm.

Sunday: Howell
The Howell Farmers' market can be found in the heart of Howell at State st and Clinton st, adjacent to the historic Livingston County Courthouse. It runs May thru October, 9 am to 2 pm.
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Lake Divide Farm Newsletter: Vacation in September! Broccoli and Celery!

9/5/2018

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Vacation is a state of mind!
Hey all! So, last week Helen had to punt on the email. We really don't like doing it, because we value the opportunity to speak with you, and tell you about all the adventures down on the farm. So, generally it's something we only do when we're really inundated with work, and it's something we try to never do twice in a row. Unfortunately, this week is proving to be even more jam packed than last week! Helen came to me and said "there's just no time to write the email, there's not even enough time to keep up with the weeding. I can't punt on the email again, I just did that last week!" So, at about 10:30 last night, I replied to my exhausted wife "You're right, you can't punt on the email... I'll have to do it. I haven't used my punt for 2018 yet". Does it really count as two punts in row by Lake Divide? Or is more a case of two independent punts that just so happen to be sequential? I hope you'll join me in embracing the latter perspective! 
Email punting aside, we are very busy this time of year. I usually refer to September as the third wall. You hit this wall particularly hard. Harvest is in full swing, as is weeding and planting but the key difference when dealing with said third wall is that you've already used a lot energy earlier in the season to break through the first two walls (April and July). We expect lots of different tasks to fight for our attention this time of year, and we expect some unexpected tasks to deflect us from our plans (the exploded faucet in the camper comes to mind). In years past we've dealt with this in various ways: 
  1. Soldiering on, ignoring the exhaustion
  2. Turning on each other and fighting well into the night
  3. Email punting (this one hardly counts)
This year we're adopting a new strategy. We've decided to take vacation, at least mentally! Helen and I invited the rest of the Lake Dividers to join us, and it ended up being a group vacation! Our destination: A beautiful Organic farm in Stockbridge called Lake Divide. It's been wonderful, we get to do all the things that we enjoy doing, but in a low stakes vacation setting. Whenever things get a little too hard, we loudly exclaim "WE'RE ON VACATION!" and the frustration and exhaustion just rolls right off (at least momentarily). It's been great taking a break from the grind, really restorative. I just wish we had figured this out years ago: Vacation is a state of mind. 
Helen decided to use some of her "vacation" time to attend the Ann Arbor Wednesday Market with the newly repaired van! That's right! Ann Arbor is getting a double dose of Helen this week, and double Helen = Double the fun! I know what you're thinking, she should be at the farm working in the field! Well, yeah that's true, but it's vacation rules right now, anything goes! Well guys, I best get back to vacationing: I'm planning on taking a super fun trip to the gas station to get fuel for our various vehicles! Who knows what fun "vacation" adventures I might get into along the way?! Have a great week and please feel free to join us in our vacation state of mind! 
 See you at market!
Jim punting for the Lake Dividers

Fresh From the Field!

Greens:Arugula
Mizuna
Kale: flat leaf, green curly, and red curly- Our first harvest from the fall planting. 
Microgreens: Spicy and mild. 
Shoots: Sunflower and pea!
Swiss Chard
Herbs: 
Cilantro and Dill- coming back shortly
Mint
Oregano
Parsley: The stems of the curly parsley are incredibly sweet!
Sage
Thyme
All manner of deliciousness:
Broccoli!
Carrots
Cabbage
Celery!
Eggplant: Roast, stirfry, sandwich
Fennel: Fresh licorice-y fronds!
Garlic
Ground Cherries: Little lanterns of deliciousness. Word on the street is that they are great raosted!
Kohlrabi- big and little
Onions: petite and pungent.
New Potatoes- thin, thin skin- you barely have to cook these delights!
Peppers: Bells and friars
Hot peppers: Hungarian hot wax, cayenne, jalepeno, serrano, and poblano
Shishito peppers: Toss in hot oil with the lid on while the pop, remove from heat and toss in salt, then eat the whole thing minus the stem!
Watermelon radishes: Spicy and sweet! Classics coming back next week.
Tomatoes: Hierlooms, slicers, beefsteaks- all tasty!
Cherry Tomatoes!!

​Markets, always rain or shine!Wednesday: Ann Arbor
The Ann Arbor Market is located in the Kerrytown District at 315 Detroit St, Ann Arbor, MI. The market runs from May thru December, 7 am to 3 pm and January thru April from 8 am to 3 pm.

Thursday: Northville
The Northville market is located at 195 Main St, Northville, MI 48167 and it runs May thru October, 8 am to 3 pm.

Friday: Stockbridge
The Stockbridge Open Air Market is located on the square in downtown Stockbridge. It runs from May thru October from 4 pm to 7 pm

Saturday: Ann Arbor and Chelsea
The Ann Arbor Market is located in the Kerrytown District at 315 Detroit St, Ann Arbor, MI. The market runs from May thru December, 7 am to 3 pm and January thru April from 8 am to 3 pm.

The Chelsea Farmers' Market is located in the lower library lot along Park St. It runs May thru October from 8 am to 1 pm.

Sunday: Howell
The Howell Farmers' market can be found in the heart of Howell at State st and Clinton st, adjacent to the historic Livingston County Courthouse. It runs May thru October, 9 am to 2 pm.
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Lake Divide Farm Newsletter: Burning daylight, no time to talk!

8/29/2018

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Moonshadows are one benefit of the shorter days. Yes, this has been a Cat Stevens reference.
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Undaunted by August exhaustion, Exie the Dog is still hard at work patrolling the field
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Lake Divide Farm Newsletter:
A window into the production path of your food.


​Darkness is upon us. In the morning I mean. I said it would happen and now it is. The sun rises at 6:58 am. We are going to have to start a little later in order to be able to see what we are doing. But that doesn't mean there is less to do! 
Care for plants weeding and thinning, watering and seeding
Harvest harvest harvest- did you know last week we harvested over 250 pounds of delicious cabbage, along with around 1,000 pounds of tomatoes, a couple hundred pounds of kohlrabi? And that is just the big stuff. 
Finish ground prep and seed our cover crop!
Order our seed garlic and prepare to plop it in the ground.
So much weeding (yes, it is on the list twice...)

I barely have time for canoeing!
Gotta go, burning daylight over here!​

See you at market!
Helen writing for the Lake Dividers

Fresh From the Field!

Greens:Salad Mix: Limited
Kale: flat leaf, green curly, and red curly
Microgreens: Spicy and mild. 
Shoots: Sunflower and pea!
Swiss Chard
Herbs: 
Basil- getting close to the end of our basil season so get it while you can!
Cilantro and Dill- coming back in a couple weeks
Mint
Oregano
Parsley: The stems of the curly parsley are incredibly sweet!
Sage
Thyme
All manner of deliciousness:
Carrots
Cabbage and Napa cabbage
Eggplant: Roast, stirfry, sandwich
Fennel: Last week before a break in the fennel action.
Garlic
Ground Cherries: Little lanterns of deliciousness.
Kohlrabi- big and little
Onions: petite and pungent. FYI most of our onions are going to be on the small side this year. They are perfect for roasts, salsas, pickling, sandwiches, salads, and of course, for eating.
Peppers: Green bells and friers along with some colorful ones coming along.
Hot peppers: Hungarian hot wax, cayenne, jalepeno, and poblano
Shishitos: Toss in hot oil with the lid on while the pop, remove from heat and toss in salt, then eat the whole thing minus the stem!
Radishes: red, pink, and french breakfast! We have had these all along and forgot to keep them on the list!
Tomatoes: Hierlooms, slicers, beefsteaks- all tasty!
Cherry Tomatoes!! 

​Markets, always rain or shine!
​Wednesday: Ann Arbor
The Ann Arbor Market is located in the Kerrytown District at 315 Detroit St, Ann Arbor, MI. The market runs from May thru December, 7 am to 3 pm and January thru April from 8 am to 3 pm.

Thursday: Northville
The Northville market is located at 195 Main St, Northville, MI 48167 and it runs May thru October, 8 am to 3 pm.

Friday: Stockbridge
The Stockbridge Open Air Market is located on the square in downtown Stockbridge. It runs from May thru October from 4 pm to 7 pm

Saturday: Ann Arbor and Chelsea
The Ann Arbor Market is located in the Kerrytown District at 315 Detroit St, Ann Arbor, MI. The market runs from May thru December, 7 am to 3 pm and January thru April from 8 am to 3 pm.

The Chelsea Farmers' Market is located in the lower library lot along Park St. It runs May thru October from 8 am to 1 pm.

Sunday: Howell
The Howell Farmers' market can be found in the heart of Howell at State st and Clinton st, adjacent to the historic Livingston County Courthouse. It runs May thru October, 9 am to 2 pm.
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Lake Divide Farm Newsletter: The setting sun and a Metal Wizard

8/22/2018

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Picture
Lizz and Brianna try to shirk work, blending in with some of our volunteer sunflowers. They couldn't fool me though!
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It took some help from the community to get it done, but the disc hitch has been reforged! While I could certainly do without the consequences of the timing of this break, I have to admit it was a great learning experience getting this put back together.
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LakeDivide Farm Newsletter:
A window into the production path of your food.

Remember when the disc broke? Well, it will be back in action this Wednesday and just in time too, since we are seriously hoping to seed more cover crops next week in hopes of creating fields with reduced weed pressure next year. Carrying out the repair took a group effort. After the crucial step of breaking it, (hahaha), Jim took the piece to a tool and die shop in Jackson and made some friends. Tool and die folks are the sorcerers of machinery. Boyers Tool and Die is family owned and operated and has been in the family for generations. The accumulated wisdom shows in their skill and comfort with the trade. They have been around so long that their assembly of equipment and technique could serve as an educational walk through of the evolution of tool and die. As the family brought in another generation, so did they bring in another generation of technology and in this way they have remained competitive. The shop is an industrial wonderland filled with well used whale-sized equipment and around a dozen very busy people. There are 20 foot lathes, industrial grade presses made of dark steel, and computer controlled fabrication machines. Shiny corkscrews of metal adorn the floor at the base of these steel giants. Despite the imposing scene, Jim was greeted warmly by a friendly and down to earth machinist. The folks over there are able to look at pieces and see how they work together and what needs to happen for them to function. Jim brought in the broken pieces, they returned them functional, but still pieces. 
To remedy this, we called upon our neighbor for a welding lesson. Jim learned about using hot hot metal and some sparks to create strong bonds. I hear that he is a natural. I am looking forward to all kinds of fancy welds now. With the pieces reassembled, and with some new information, all that remains is for the piece to be reattached. Hopefully, by the time you read this, it will be done.
In exchange for our neighbor's help, Jim shared some of his surveying knowledge, which he enjoys doing. Honestly, exchange-exsmange, we know Jim would have shared it anyway, likewise so would our neighbor have. but it is always nice to return a favor. We seriously love the community aspect of farming. We love learning from people what they are willing to teach and offering what we know as a resource to others. We are all always moving forward together. 
The days are seriously getting shorter. By the end of the month we will have lost one full hour of daylight. I don't know if you have noticed, but we have. Lost light in the evening, lost light in the morning. We are taking heart in knowing that the weeds are going to slow down, giving us a little relief from our frantic pace. 
Our fall greens are looking mighty good. We will give them a good weeding this week and maybe, just maybe, they will be back next week. I'm talkin Arugula, mizuna, mustard, tatsoi. Seriously. We may also luck out with some incoming turnips and fall radishes in the next couple weeks. 
There is still a lot left to do before the main season can be tucked away to be considered and learned from later when the wounds aren't quite so fresh. We are beginning to get serious about hauling our potatoes in. We are getting serious about collecting our pungent onions and stashing them. We are getting serious about our fall cover crops. We are getting serious about our winter planting. We are getting so, so serious, while staying seriously silly. 
Come see our serious selves at market this week.
Picture
Helen and a very large specimen of Pokeweed. It is one of the weeds I love to grow, despite its poisonous nature. This one came up in "the pile"; the place where we keep miscellaneous, weather tolerant, bulky items
Picture
Exie decides, with all the breaking equipment, she will be in charge of mowing from now on. — with Exie the Dog.
​See you at market!
Helen writing for the Lake Dividers

Fresh From the Field!

Greens:Salad Mix: Limited
Kale: flat leaf, green curly, and red curly
Microgreens: Spicy and mild. 
Shoots: Sunflower and pea!
Swiss Chard
Herbs: 
Basil- getting close to the end of our basil season so get it while you can!
Cilantro and Dill- coming back in a couple weeks
Mint
Oregano
Parsley: The stems of the curly parsley are incredibly sweet!
Sage
Thyme
All manner of deliciousness:
Carrots
Cabbage and Napa cabbage
Eggplant: Roast, stirfry, sandwich
Fennel: Last week before a break in the fennel action.
Garlic
Ground Cherries: Little lanterns of deliciousness.
Kohlrabi- big and little
Onions: petite and pungent. FYI most of our onions are going to be on the small side this year. They are perfect for roasts, salsas, pickling, sandwiches, salads, and of course, for eating.
Peppers: Green bells and friers along with some colorful ones coming along.
Hot peppers: Hungarian hot wax, cayenne, jalepeno, and poblano
Shishitos: Toss in hot oil with the lid on while the pop, remove from heat and toss in salt, then eat the whole thing minus the stem!
Radishes: red, pink, and french breakfast! We have had these all along and forgot to keep them on the list!
Tomatoes: Hierlooms, slicers, beefsteaks- all tasty!
Cherry Tomatoes!! 

Markets, always rain or shine!Wednesday: Ann Arbor
The Ann Arbor Market is located in the Kerrytown District at 315 Detroit St, Ann Arbor, MI. The market runs from May thru December, 7 am to 3 pm and January thru April from 8 am to 3 pm.

Thursday: Northville
The Northville market is located at 195 Main St, Northville, MI 48167 and it runs May thru October, 8 am to 3 pm.

Friday: Stockbridge
The Stockbridge Open Air Market is located on the square in downtown Stockbridge. It runs from May thru October from 4 pm to 7 pm

Saturday: Ann Arbor and Chelsea
The Ann Arbor Market is located in the Kerrytown District at 315 Detroit St, Ann Arbor, MI. The market runs from May thru December, 7 am to 3 pm and January thru April from 8 am to 3 pm.

The Chelsea Farmers' Market is located in the lower library lot along Park St. It runs May thru October from 8 am to 1 pm.

Sunday: Howell
The Howell Farmers' market can be found in the heart of Howell at State st and Clinton st, adjacent to the historic Livingston County Courthouse. It runs May thru October, 9 am to 2 pm.
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Lake Divide Farm Newsletter: August abundance ensues

8/15/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
Helen picking monster sized tomatoes in hoop house 1
Picture
Getting ready to install the new AC unit in the shipping container
Picture
​Lake Divide Farm Newsletter:
A window into the production path of your food.


Time flies! The tomatoes are at long last in abundance enough to merit a tomato sale! If you get more than five pounds, the price drops to $2.50 per pound. If you get more than 10 pound the price plummets to just $2.00 per pound! Get a tray to can or freeze. Roast a batch and make a soup. Make some a family sized batch of salsa! Eat decadent tomato sandwiches on boats with friends! 
Meanwhile, we are still busy in the field. Another round of planting happens this week- more storage radishes, kohlrabi, broccoli, greens. All the good things that we love about fall. Our storage carrots are coming along nicely. We flame weeded them just before their cotyledons poked through the soil. We then weeded them again (ongoing) to keep them in good, uncrowded shape. Hopefully, if all goes well, we will have carrots through the winter.
We have also finally started harvesting our potatoes. They were planted so late due to wet weather in the spring. I know it is hard to remember that! This shuffled all the potato timing forward. We had a touch of new potatoes at market last week. Hence forth we shall be flush with potatoes. 
I had a conversation last week about farming practices and regenerative agriculture. There is huge focus on caring for the soil and the biodiversity within as a means to grow food. As our overarching goals of ecological farming and spaces shared with the wild rose to the surface, I was momentarily dismayed. I couldn't shake the feeling that we weren't achieving a balance and were not working with the natural systems that exist on our farm to reach our goals but rather trampling over them, especially after doing all that plowing. It is so important to me that we cultivate a safe haven for wildlife big and small. But I was rejuvenated as the idea crept back in that we are on the path. We are learning and won't be complacent. This is my life's work and there will be no plateau. A friend of mine sent me a snippet of Wendell Berry's poem "The Farm". In fact it was a poetry bomb, sent by text and unexpected but it brought me to tears, being aligned with my musings of finding a place within the elaborate systems of the natural world and the reality of the extent of my individual power. You can read the whole poem here, below is the snippet that I found so moving: 
 
And you must walk the fields
With hoe in hand, to cut
The thistles and the docks.
There is no end to work — 
Work done in pleasure, grief,
Or weariness, with ease
Of skill and timeliness, 
Or awkwardly or wrong,
Too hurried or too slow.
One job completed shows
Another to be done. 
And so you make the farm
That must be daily made
And yearly made, or it
Will not exist. If you
Should go and not return
And none should follow you,
This clarity would be
As if it never was.
But praise, in knowing this, 
The Genius of the place,
Whose ways forgive your own
And will resume again
In time, if left alone.
You work always in this
Dear opening between
What was and is to be.
And so you make the farm,
And so you disappear
Into your days, your days
Into the ground. Before
You start each day, the place
Is as it is, and at
The day’s end, it is as
It is, a little changed
By work, but still itself,
Having included you
And everything you’ve done.
And it is who you are,
And you are what it is.
Reading this reminded me of several things. If offered me comfort knowing that I am small drop in the bucket. The farm is including me in its life and I am including it. Time is perspective. All of these abstract things. But another more concrete thing that this poem offered me was this: I love reading. This time of year, I am deep in the madness of work, so much so that finding an interesting book to read is sometimes beyond my ability. If you feel inspired to send me suggestions, please don't hold back. I have a library card and am not afraid to use it!

Hope you are eating well and enjoying life! See everyone at markets this week!
Picture
Watching the sun go down on the lake with a little stolen time
See you at market!
Helen writing for the Lake Dividers

Fresh From the Field!

Greens:Salad Mix!!
Kale: flat leaf, green curly, and red curly
Microgreens: Spicy and mild. 
Shoots: Sunflower and pea!
Swiss Chard
Herbs: 
Basil- it is still pesto time!!
Cilantro
Dill and dill flowers
Mint
Oregano
Parsley: The stems of the curly parsley are incredibly sweet!
Sage
Thyme
All manner of deliciousness:
Carrots
Cabbage and Napa cabbage. Have you ever made a stir-fry with napa cabbage? I really recommend it.
Garlic nice and fresh
Eggplant: LIMITED- Still coming to its full potential.
Fennel
Kohlrabi
Onions: petite and pungent. FYI most of our onions are going to be on the small side this year. They are perfect for roasts, salsas, pickling, sandwiches, salads, and of course, for eating.
Peppers: Green bells and friers
Hot peppers: LIMITED - hungarian hot wax, cayenne, jalepeno, and poblano
Shishitos: LIMITED - Toss in hot oil with the lid on while the pop, remove from heat and toss in salt, then eat the whole thing minus the stem!
Radishes: red, pink, and french breakfast! We have had these all along and forgot to keep them on the list!
Tomatoes: Hierlooms, slicers, beefsteaks- all tasty!
Cherry Tomatoes!! 

​Markets, always rain or shine!Wednesday: Ann Arbor
The Ann Arbor Market is located in the Kerrytown District at 315 Detroit St, Ann Arbor, MI. The market runs from May thru December, 7 am to 3 pm and January thru April from 8 am to 3 pm.

Thursday: Northville
The Northville market is located at 195 Main St, Northville, MI 48167 and it runs May thru October, 8 am to 3 pm.

Friday: Stockbridge
The Stockbridge Open Air Market is located on the square in downtown Stockbridge. It runs from May thru October from 4 pm to 7 pm

Saturday: Ann Arbor and Chelsea
The Ann Arbor Market is located in the Kerrytown District at 315 Detroit St, Ann Arbor, MI. The market runs from May thru December, 7 am to 3 pm and January thru April from 8 am to 3 pm.

The Chelsea Farmers' Market is located in the lower library lot along Park St. It runs May thru October from 8 am to 1 pm.

Sunday: Howell
The Howell Farmers' market can be found in the heart of Howell at State st and Clinton st, adjacent to the historic Livingston County Courthouse. It runs May thru October, 9 am to 2 pm.
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Lake Divide Farm Newsletter: Organic inspection and rain

8/8/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
With our second annual organic inspection behind us, Exie Decided to celebrate the occasion!
Picture
Lake Divide Farm Newsletter:
A window into the production path of your food.
​We had our organic inspection this past Sunday. It wasn't so bad and it was nice to see that all of the work we have put in to record keeping is working. The documents that I put together over the winter when the organic management plan was turned in still make functional sense! 
It rained for real! We got 1.75" inches of rain! Hooray! Much needed. Everything is happy. There is nothing like a good rain.
We went to a farm tour and potluck at the Student Organic Farm at MSU. It was wonderful to see all the great work that is being done over there and to take some time to eat food with friends and farmers alike.
We voted! I hope you did too!

See everyone at markets this week! See you at market!
Helen writing for the Lake Dividers

Fresh From the Field!

Greens:Salad Mix!!
Kale: flat leaf, green curly, and red curly
Microgreens: Spicy and mild. 
Shoots: Sunflower and pea!
Swiss Chard
Herbs: 
Basil- it is still pesto time!!
Cilantro
Dill and dill flowers
Mint
Oregano
Parsley: The stems of the curly parsley are incredibly sweet!
Sage
Thyme
All manner of deliciousness:
Carrots
Cabbage and Napa cabbage. Have you ever made a stir-fry with napa cabbage? I really recommend it.
Garlic nice and fresh
Eggplant: LIMITED- Still coming to its full potential.
Fennel
Kohlrabi
Onions: petite and pungent. FYI most of our onions are going to be on the small side this year. They are perfect for roasts, salsas, pickling, sandwiches, salads, and of course, for eating.
Peppers: Green bells and friers
Hot peppers: LIMITED - hungarian hot wax, cayenne, jalepeno, and poblano
Shishitos: LIMITED - Toss in hot oil with the lid on while the pop, remove from heat and toss in salt, then eat the whole thing minus the stem!
Radishes: red, pink, and french breakfast! We have had these all along and forgot to keep them on the list!
Tomatoes: Hierlooms, slicers, beefsteaks- all tasty!
Cherry Tomatoes!! 

​Markets, always rain or shine!Wednesday: Ann Arbor
The Ann Arbor Market is located in the Kerrytown District at 315 Detroit St, Ann Arbor, MI. The market runs from May thru December, 7 am to 3 pm and January thru April from 8 am to 3 pm.

Thursday: Northville
The Northville market is located at 195 Main St, Northville, MI 48167 and it runs May thru October, 8 am to 3 pm.

Friday: Stockbridge
The Stockbridge Open Air Market is located on the square in downtown Stockbridge. It runs from May thru October from 4 pm to 7 pm

Saturday: Ann Arbor and Chelsea
The Ann Arbor Market is located in the Kerrytown District at 315 Detroit St, Ann Arbor, MI. The market runs from May thru December, 7 am to 3 pm and January thru April from 8 am to 3 pm.

The Chelsea Farmers' Market is located in the lower library lot along Park St. It runs May thru October from 8 am to 1 pm.

Sunday: Howell
The Howell Farmers' market can be found in the heart of Howell at State st and Clinton st, adjacent to the historic Livingston County Courthouse. It runs May thru October, 9 am to 2 pm.
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Lake Divide Farm Newsletter: It rained!

8/1/2018

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Picture
Driving the repaired Case 695 with the repaired disk in tow. This was the first time either moved in over a week... well, the first time they moved in the x and y, the disk changed elevation a few times while I was testing the hydraulics.
Picture
Lake Divide Farm Newsletter:
A window into the production path of your food.
Picture
It rained! We'll take it!
First things first, last night, we were gifted with a luscious 0.45 inches of rain. With no dust rising from our foot prints, we are so happy to be able to walk and take deep breaths at the same time. We are so happy that all of our plants got a taste of the good life. We are so happy to take a mini break from our irrigation escapades. And direct seeded fall crops loved it. Honestly, I don't want to post it too publicly. While the storm had a sweeping breadth, I fear it may not have reached everyone. But we will take what we can get.
We seeded our last round of carrots last week and have been keeping the soil moist to aid in their germination. Along with those, we seeded chard, parsnips, turnips, radishes, salad mix, spinach, choi, cilantro, dill, along with our favorite brassica greens (arugula, tatsoi, mizuna, mustard, and Tokyo bekana). I can't wait for all that fall goodness. Today we are preparing to plant our last round of cabbage, broccoli, and kohlrabi, plus our fall kale and chard and some more fennel. I don't believe that fall is on the way. While I can't wait for all the glory of the fall harvest, a lot has to happen between now and then. Like eating many, many tomatoes, stir-frying as much eggplant as possible, and roasting peppers. Yes. 
And along with that, all the planting, cultivating, and nurturing, harvesting and storing, that goes along with August on a vegetable farm. It is a busy month. 
Also this week, Jim carried on with our new tradition of having him fix many things. He repaired an old commercial walk-behind mower that we traded for with a neighbor for. He is working on moving the disc repair forward. That's right, a new break. See the picture. Learning to weld is in his future. When that happens, all bets are off. I am voting for a watchtower.
And on a more human note, I went canoeing this past weekend! First I went out Saturday with some friends. It was the first time I got off the farm for a while and it was wonderful! We are so lucky to live close to so many diverse natural areas and so much water. The water lilies were blooming and so was the button bush. We saw a muskrat! The next day, I went back with some peanut butter sandwiches and binoculars and really settled in. It was a restorative weekend. Everyone needs one sometimes and it is a good thing that we got a little before steeling for The Long End Of Summer.
On a market note, Northville was excellent and you can expect to see us there weekly for the rest of the season.

Hope to see you at markets this week!
Picture
I replaced both tie rods on the Case to play it safe, it was just a matter of time before the other failed.
Picture
Following the fleeting sensation of satisfaction from having prepared the Fall beds, the disk seperated from the tractor! The bolt that held the tougue on to the disk exploded its way through solid steel. Unfortunate, but kinda cool in a strength of materials sort of way. I am coming to accept the fact that I'm almost a full time mechanic this time of year. Not such a bad thing.
​See you at market!
Helen writing for the Lake Dividers

Fresh From the Field!

Greens:Kale: flat leaf, green curly, and red curly
Microgreens: Spicy and mild. 
Shoots: LIMITED- Sunflower shoots. We ran out of seed and so will miss one week of harvest. But never fear! They will be back big time next week. In the meantime, if they are one of your must haves, I recommend getting to market early.
Swiss Chard
Herbs: 
Basil- it is still pesto time!!
Cilantro
Dill and dill flowers
Mint
Oregano
Parsley: The stems of the curly parsley are incredibly sweet!
Sage
Thyme
All manner of deliciousness:
Broccoli: LIMITED
Carrots
Cabbage and Napa cabbage. Have you ever made a stir-fry with napa cabbage? I really recommend it.
Garlic nice and fresh
Eggplant: LIMITED- Still coming to its full potential.
Fennel
Kohlrabi
NEW Onions: petite and pungent. FYI most of our onions are going to be on the small side this year. They are perfect for roasts, salsas, pickling, sandwiches, salads, and of course, for eating.
Peppers: Green bells and friers
Hot peppers: LIMITED - hungarian hot wax, cayenne, jalepeno, and poblano
Shishitos: LIMITED - Toss in hot oil with the lid on while the pop, remove from heat and toss in salt, then eat the whole thing minus the stem!
Tomatoes: Really coming into their own this week. Tomato sale season will be upon us before we know it!
Cherry Tomatoes!! 
Summer squash- May be limited

​Markets, always rain or shine!Wednesday: Ann Arbor
The Ann Arbor Market is located in the Kerrytown District at 315 Detroit St, Ann Arbor, MI. The market runs from May thru December, 7 am to 3 pm and January thru April from 8 am to 3 pm.

Thursday: Northville
The Northville market is located at 195 Main St, Northville, MI 48167 and it runs May thru October, 8 am to 3 pm.

Friday: Stockbridge
The Stockbridge Open Air Market is located on the square in downtown Stockbridge. It runs from May thru October from 4 pm to 7 pm

Saturday: Ann Arbor and Chelsea
The Ann Arbor Market is located in the Kerrytown District at 315 Detroit St, Ann Arbor, MI. The market runs from May thru December, 7 am to 3 pm and January thru April from 8 am to 3 pm.

The Chelsea Farmers' Market is located in the lower library lot along Park St. It runs May thru October from 8 am to 1 pm.

Sunday: Howell
The Howell Farmers' market can be found in the heart of Howell at State st and Clinton st, adjacent to the historic Livingston County Courthouse. It runs May thru October, 9 am to 2 pm.
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Lake Divide Farm Newsletter: Breaking things, the saga continues, plus, dry, plus insight into August for a vegetable farmer.

7/25/2018

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Picture
Helen in the Case posing for a pic right after the tie rod tired of being a team player. It stuck it out pretty good.
It is hard to believe, but the last chance to plant for 2018 yields happens for several crops over the next couple weeks, among them carrots, cabbage, broccoli, and brussels sprouts. We are hustling to get them in the ground. Some of them, from transplants, others seeded directly into the earth. One thing that has tripped our hustle, adding to the saga of everything breaking, the tie rod on our Case 695, the big tractor, broke, leaving us without the ability to steer and preventing us from carrying out the final ground preparation required for planting. It was a break that was a long time coming but it certainly did pick an inconvenient time to do it. Jim has already ordered the replacement part, which didn't set us back too badly and has done the required reading to carry out the repair.
We count on our 695 for plowing, discing, incorporating nutrients and seeds, pulling the transplanter, pulling the wagon, and some cultivation. Just before the tie rod broke, we had spread the sudan grass that we talked about last week. We did it with the hand spinners because the farmall has been having issues with its hydraulics. More on that later. But for spreading seed, Lizz and I marched around the field like drummers in band. From a distance, I caught a glimpse of Lizz, and realized it really isn't apparent what is being done. Get closer and you hear the sound of the seed hitting the spinner, the whirring of it as it spins, and the sound of the seed being flung out 15 feet to either side. With the seed spread, I set out on the Case with the disc attached, to incorporate it. That was when the tie rod broke. So, our seed is laying on top of rough soil when it wants to be 1 to 2 inches in the soil and it is vulnerable. A giant flock of blackbirds has been frequenting the field, devouring seed as though we laid a feast out before them. I hate to think about the rate of consumption. I find myself wishing for a hard rain, something a vegetable farmer rarely wishes for, just so the water could wash the seed into the soil. Or no rain, another uncommon wish when it is so dry, just so the seed doesn't germinate on the surface and struggle to thrive. It looks like we are getting the no rain pseudo wish which doesn't really feel great. 
Throughout the week, Jim has been diligently working away at learning and making repairs. In the last week, he has moved forward the hydraulic issue with the farmall to a place where the tractor is usable; repaired a small hydraulic leak in the Case; replaced the hydraulic hoses on the disc, where an unfortunate crunching had befallen some of the fittings, making them high risk for future abrupt failure; read about and ordered the parts to repair the Case's tie rod and prepared himself to carry out the replacement when the part comes in; and fixed the tail lights and rust on the market van. All this in addition to carrying out his routine farmbligations- payroll, greenhouse, farmers markets and more. 
It starts to feel personal when everything keeps breaking on me. Admittedly some of it is a learning curve but most of it is that we are putting old equipment to hard use. I am so grateful that Lake Divide has a dedicated repair person and rapidly leveling up mechanic- Jim. It means that I can keep pushing the field work forward and stay focused on production while he gets our equipment back online. Being on his team helps me take things in stride, but it is still stressful. With the planting deadlines for fall crops fast approaching, the lack of water, and other minor breaks in addition to the big ones, it is easy to feel mired in the work before you work. Here is a reminder to future Helen and anyone that knows a vegetable farmer: July is hard. August is a little harder. Nothing ever happens just how it is supposed to and everything needs to happen at the same time. And because nothing happens just right and everything needs to happen at the same time, that means that everything thing is happening just a little off kilter all at once. There are lots of event paths that need slight navigational adjustments, which takes time, attention, and energy. It is hectic. It is okay to feel tired. Hopefully, once this rash of breakdowns subsides, we will feel a little less overwhelmed, but even without them, this time of year is a real challenge. I am reminding myself, it is only about six weeks to get through. By the time the second week of September rolls around, things will slow and we can ease up a little too. 
 
And a market note! We are trying out the Northville market this Thursday. It runs from 8 am to 3 pm and has lots and lots of amazing vendors. There is fruit, meat, cheese, arts, vegetables, flowers, and even a knife sharpener! The address is 195 Main St, Northville, MI 48167. Feel free to come check it out with us.

Farm on, farm positive! Even in all this, I can't think of anything I would rather be doing. Because I am too tired to think, you say? NO! Because I love what I do! See you at markets.
Picture
Jim installed new hydraulic lines for the disc. After we discovered a minor leak on one of the fittings, we decided it would be best to avoid certain inconveniences and possible injury by going ahead and replacing the lines.
Picture
Things break and we try to roll with it. Here is a picture of the tie rod hanging loose from the tire. You really can't steer without that! We were just grateful it didn't happen in the dippy field but instead on the shores of the great cultivation.
​See you at market!
Helen writing for the Lake Dividers

Fresh From the Field!

Greens:Baby Head lettuce: LIMITED- Butterhead, green leaf, red leaf, summer crisp, and romaine, mixed and bunched
Kale: flat leaf, green curly, and red curly
Microgreens: Spicy and mild. 
Shoots: Lite in the beginning of the week and heavier toward the end of the week. We are admittedly still working out the kinks.
Salad Mix: Still LIMITED but showing improvements. We should be back in full salad by next week.
Swiss Chard
Herbs: 
Basil- it is pesto time!!
Cilantro
Dill and dill flowers
Mint
Oregano
Parsley
Sage- Have you tried fried sage? Heat up some olive oil and flash fry those big flat leaves. Toss them in some salt- SAGE CHIPS!!
Thyme
All manner of deliciousness:
Broccoli: LIMITED
Carrots!
Cabbage and Napa cabbage. Have you ever made a stir-fry with napa cabbage? I really recommend it.
Garlic nice and fresh
Eggplant: LIMITED- Still coming to its full potential.
Fennel
Kohlrabi
Onions? This could be the week we bring some tasty tiny onions to market.
Peppers: LIMITED- Green bell peppers, a touch of hot peppers, and maybe a few shishitos!
Tomatoes: Really coming into their own this week. Tomato sale season will be upon us before we know it!
Summer squash- get ta grillin!
Sunflowers!

​Markets, always rain or shine!
Wednesday: Ann Arbor
The Ann Arbor Market is located in the Kerrytown District at 315 Detroit St, Ann Arbor, MI. The market runs from May thru December, 7 am to 3 pm and January thru April from 8 am to 3 pm.

Thursday: Northville
The Northville farmers market is located at 195 Main St, Northville, MI 48167. The market runs from May thru October from 8 am to 3 pm

Friday: Stockbridge
The Stockbridge Open Air Market is located on the square in downtown Stockbridge. It runs from May thru October from 4 pm to 7 pm

Saturday: Ann Arbor and Chelsea
The Ann Arbor Market is located in the Kerrytown District at 315 Detroit St, Ann Arbor, MI. The market runs from May thru December, 7 am to 3 pm and January thru April from 8 am to 3 pm.

The Chelsea Farmers' Market is located in the lower library lot along Park St. It runs May thru October from 8 am to 1 pm.

Sunday: Howell
The Howell Farmers' market can be found in the heart of Howell at State st and Clinton st, adjacent to the historic Livingston County Courthouse. It runs May thru October, 9 am to 2 pm.
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Lake Divide Farm newsletter: Helen breaks things, Jim fixes them

7/18/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
Break a plow, buy a plow, break that plow, fix it, break the repaired plow, fix the plow etc
Plowing was a real ordeal this last week. That's what I get for acting like I had it figured out. Honestly, I don't even want to get into it. Broke original plow on a rock, purchase a new old plow (and went to pick it up), broke an integral part, fixed said integral part, broke the part again, made work around, over heated the tractor- causing worry but no damage. Bottom line? We got it done and running fine now and took the opportunity to get a lot of ground ready to accept seeds and plants. What better to carry out our intricate cover cropping plan for the fall. It will hopefully leave our spring ground in ideal planting condition and the ground that will not be worked in lush green.
What else are we doing this week? Playing catch up! The plow incident of 2018 took several days of our time and some of our morale. To top it off, there was one sprained ankle and one crew member on a well planned excursion. Even so, we brought in all our garlic which is now curing in the barn, and carried on with harvest, irrigating, and planting.
So this week, we hope to whip our weeds into shape, put up the caterpillar tunnel for our cucumbers, seed some sudan grass cover crop, and get another big round of fall crops in the ground. On that list, another round of kale, chard, cabbage, roots, carrots, salad mix and more! It is kind of terrifying to put any new plants out there in to the dry, dry world. The challenge of irrigating what we already has is like trying to evenly fill ten cups with holes in the bottoms, while juggling and eating spaghetti. We could use some rain. All of the raucous thunderstorms of Monday swung North and South, past our farm. We got one spray from the bottle -- a dust settler -- , which made plowing more bearable (dust storm doesn't feel good in the heart or the eyes), but didn't give our plants and soil the deep drink they really need. 
As far as markets go, we regrettably inform you that we will not be attending the Jackson market any longer. There was not enough business to keep the balance even. That being said, we are in the market for a market. It is a strange time of year to do that. Most markets already have their vendors picked out. We will keep you updated.
Farming into the future! And enjoying the lightening bugs as we go!
Picture
Helen plowing the buckwheat into the delicious soil
Picture
Field complete! Sundan grass will be seeded here. It produces extensive biomass. We will mow it several times and then allow it to grow tall before winter. When winter arrives, it will perish in the cold and we will lay it flat on the ground. The plan is that we will have created a mulch thick enough that in the spring we can plant right into it without a worry of weeds. We shall see...
See you at market!
Helen writing for the Lake Dividers

Fresh From the Field!

Greens:Baby Head lettuce: Butterhead, green leaf, red leaf, summer crisp, and romaine, mixed and bunched
Kale: flat leaf, green curly, and red curly
Microgreens: Spicy and mild. 
Shoots: Lite in the beginning of the week and heavier toward the end of the week. We are admittedly still working out the kinks.
Salad Mix: LIMITED - This dry weather in combination with deer pressure has our previous salad mix planting screaming uncle. Luckily, the following planting isn't so concerned. Give us a wee or two and we will be flush with mixed lettuce once again! 
Swiss Chard
Herbs: 
Basil- it is pesto time!!
Cilantro
Dill
Mint
Oregano
Parsley
Sage- Have you tried fried sage? Heat up some olive oil and flash fry those big flat leaves. Toss them in some salt- SAGE CHIPS!!
Thyme
All manner of deliciousness:
Broccoli: LIMITED
NEW: Carrots! Well, they are back anyway!
Cucumbers
Cabbage
Garlic nice and fresh
Eggplant: LIMITED- Still coming to its full potential.
Fennel
Kohlrabi
Peppers: LIMITED- Green bell peppers, a touch of hot peppers, and maybe a few shishitos!
Tomatoes: A handful of slicers and cherry tomatoes. LIMITED, but not for a limited time! 
Summer squash- Go squash crazy now folks! The season is upon us!
Sunflowers!
​
​Markets, always rain or shine!Wednesday: Ann Arbor
The Ann Arbor Market is located in the Kerrytown District at 315 Detroit St, Ann Arbor, MI. The market runs from May thru December, 7 am to 3 pm and January thru April from 8 am to 3 pm.

Friday: Stockbridge
The Stockbridge Open Air Market is located on the square in downtown Stockbridge. It runs from May thru October from 4 pm to 7 pm

Saturday: Ann Arbor and Chelsea
The Ann Arbor Market is located in the Kerrytown District at 315 Detroit St, Ann Arbor, MI. The market runs from May thru December, 7 am to 3 pm and January thru April from 8 am to 3 pm.

The Chelsea Farmers' Market is located in the lower library lot along Park St. It runs May thru October from 8 am to 1 pm.

Sunday: Howell
The Howell Farmers' market can be found in the heart of Howell at State st and Clinton st, adjacent to the historic Livingston County Courthouse. It runs May thru October, 9 am to 2 pm.
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