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LDF News: Saturday markets and hustle on the farm!

6/10/2021

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After a long day of lots of work and rushing to beat the storm... we didn't get a drop. We planted and did tractor work, and spread nutrients, all under eminent gray skies, lightening alerts, and clouds stacked as tall as Marge Simpson's hair. At the end of it all, the sun came out and blasted us, and we scrambled to make sure all the tender plants we entrusted to the earth had the water they needed for life. Irrigation can be a soggy job. Here I am front soaked, back dry, a classic look for the farm. Behind me- celeriac, parsley, a row of our overhead sprinklers and a beautiful sky.
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Amy got trained on the Allis G! We use these tractors mainly for cultivation (weeding) but we also use them to put guides on the bed tops to help us plant at the proper spacing and in nice straight rows. In the end, this helps us cultivate- less wiggly lines to follow with the tractor! It was an exciting day and we are glad to have another machine operator on board. Blurry picture from helen's phone...
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The brassicas in midtown are growing, and so are the weeds! The arms race between the wiles of humans and the weeds. They grow quickly, taking advantage of dew and tolerating less than ideal conditions, putting on mass, while we rush to cut them down before they get too powerful. This field has been cultivated and while in the beds, the weeds are kept at bay, the aisles could use some "refurbishing". Hopefully that happens soon!
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Allium Alley: Shallots, scallions, and onions! These are some of my favorite vegetables. Toss some onions in olive oil and the scent signifies dinner to all who didn't know it was coming. Mince some scallions and fold them in raw or cooked for a gentle flavor lift. Sauté some shallots and thicken your sauce while adding a delicate flavor. These crops fight the weeds for a long season, and they don't do it well. They need lots of help because of their narrow leaves and shallow roots. Luckily, we don't mind!
I wrote an extremely lovely email, with much poetic insight and appreciation and it was cruelly deleted by the internet gods. Here is my reanimation of what once was:

Word on the farm is HOT. We start the day glistening from the heat and within moments are dusted with earth. Even so, we end the day beaming with the joy of of a job well done. June is when the hustle truly rises. 

Keep coming out to the market to support your local growers and if you begin feeling worried about the crowds, remember you can pre-order. If you need help figuring it out, check out our trouble shooting guide at the bottom of the email. Need more help? Just email!!
In this email:
  • Generally important notes- 
    • We are at market this week and the online store is open
    • We may still be looking for good crew candidates. If you would like to keep your name in the hat, please send us an email!
    • We may be looking for market volunteers for the months of August and September due to the impending baby. It is a fast-paced and boisterous Saturday morning activity. If that sounds like something you would be good at and enjoy, please email or talk to one of us at market.
  • Recipe: Lettuce Wraps
  • Farm News
  • Fresh From the Field
  • Staying active and engaged with social change
  • Market Details
  • Ordering with Local Line: register and troubleshoot
  • CSA members- what to do if your account is low
Lettuce Wraps!
For those of you that want more from your lettuce than a rough chop, drizzled with olive oil and good salt- lettuce wraps! A crunchy delivery system for savory treats!
There are so many filling options- lentils, meats, sautéed vegetables, grains, cheeses, raw vegetables sliced thinly... Here is just one of the googleable options:

From Vanilla and Bean

Vegetarian Thai Lentil Lettuce Wraps
Quick, easy and nourishing, Vegetarian Lettuce Wraps with a crave-worthy Miso Sriracha Peanut Sauce make a hearty yet light lunch or dinner. Packed with garlicky, gingery lentils and mushrooms, these lettuce wraps are hearty and filling. This recipe is vegetarian and vegan 

Thai inspired flavors highlight lentils and mushrooms topped with seasonal veggies and a Sriracha peanut sauce all wrapped up in leafy butter lettuce. Lettuce wraps are simple to pull together and meal prep ready! This recipe is vegetarian and vegan.*There is some overlap in the cook and prep time, but overall, this recipe comes in at under an hour.IngredientsFor the Filling:
  • 3/4 C (145g) French Green Lentils
  • 2 C (472g) Water
  • 2 tsp Sesame Oil
  • 8 oz (200g) Shiitake Mushrooms
  • 1/4 C (50g) Purple Onion diced,
  • 1 tsp grated ginger*
  • 1 tsp grated garlic*
  • 1 1/2 Tbs Tamari
  • 2 tsp Maple Syrup
  • 2 tsp Prepared Thai Red Curry Paste
  • 1 tsp Sriracha
  • 1 1/2 tsp Liquid Aminos or more Tamari
For the Sauce:
  • 1/4 C (70g) Peanut Butter smooth or chunky
  • 1 T White Miso Paste
  • 1 tsp Grated Garlic*
  • 1 tsp Grated Ginger*
  • 1 Lime juiced
  • 1 tsp Sriracha
  • 1 tsp Maple Syrup
  • 3-5 Tbs Hot Water increase or decrease depending on consistency
For the Toppings:
  • 1 C (100g) Snow Peas or Snap Peas trimmed and sliced into 1/4" pieces on the bias**
  • 1 C (75g) Carrots julienne or grated
  • 3 Tbs Scallions sliced thin on the bias
  • 1 Tbs Sesame Seeds
For Garnish:
  • Thai Basil and/or Cilantro
  • Lime wedges
Instructions 
For the Filling:
  • In a small saucepot add the lentils and water. Bring to a boil then simmer for about 27 minutes. The lentils will be soft but still firm enough to hold their shape and texture.
  • While the lentils are simmering, destem the mushrooms and slice the caps thin. The stems tend to be tough so discard them. Add the sesame oil to a large saute pan and heat on medium high until shimmering. Add the onion and saute for about two minutes, or until soft. Add the mushrooms and cook on low for 10 minutes.Allow the mushrooms to set in the pan for 2-3 minutes at a time, without stirring to get a bit of a sear on them. About two minutes before the mushrooms are done, toss in the ginger and garlic. Stir well.
  • To the onion and mushroom mixture add the tamari, maple syrup, curry paste, Sriracha, and liquid aminos. Stir and cook on low for 2-3 minutes to incorporate all the flavors. Add the lentils to the mushroom mixture and stir to incorporate. Remove from heat. Taste for seasoning adjustment and add a few pinches of salt if necessary.
For the Sauce:
  • In a food processor, add the peanut butter, miso paste, garlic, ginger, lime juice, Sriracha, maple syrup and 3 Tbs of hot water. Process until smooth, adding additional water if needed to adjust consistency. The sauce should be pourable and smooth but not runny.
To Assemble:
  • Rewarm the lentil mixture if necessary or serve the filling chilled. Spoon 3-4 tablespoons full of filling in the bottom of a piece of lettuce. Top with snow peas, carrots, scallions and a sprinkling of sesame seeds. Spoon a tablespoon of sauce over the wrap and garnish with leaves of fresh Thai basil. Serve with a wedge of lime and more sauce for drizzling.
Notes:
  • Packing it out for Lunch: If lettuce wraps seem too fussy or you’d rather pack this out for lunch and eat it with a fork, these lettuce wraps turn into a salad with ease. Simply chop the lettuce into bite size pieces and combine with the filling and toppings. Dress it with sauce.
  • Meal prep ready! Make the lentil filling and lettuce wrap sauce at least two days in advance and store in the fridge in a lidded container, separately. Assemble when ready to enjoy. 
  • To make these even heartier, add cooked and chilled thin rice noodles to the lettuce wraps.
  • When snow peas are out of season, sub thinly sliced cabbage.
  • The filling can be served warm or chilled.
  • To prep the carrots with ease, I use a julienne peeler.  It’s fast and works like a charm.
  • *Use a micro plane to grate the garlic and ginger or finely mince.**When Snow Peas are out of season, I use thinly sliced raw cabbage in this recipe.

Notes from the Farm:
We are off to the races, sprinting from task to task. And the farm is growing and the plants are thriving. Our late potatoes are out of the ground, there are blossoms on the tomatoes, the onions have recovered from the shock of being left to fend for themselves, and the whole farm is being devoured by green.

We are trying to get plants in the ground: tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, summer and winter squash, melon, cucumbers, fennel, herbs-- so many delicious ingredients! But just as we narrow our focus to this task, we look behind and realize we have to devout some love to all that has been planted already! We sprint from field to field, adjusting valves and tightening connections so we can move water to all the plants that a need it. We weed. We trellis. We cover and uncover. And as we settle into this, we look in the greenhouse and see more plants to get planted, that need more field to be prepped, that need more irrigation line to be run. And we look ahead to the fall and see we need to seed our fall crops soon! We have a lot of spinning plates! 

It is a lot to focus on, but when you are in it, it feels pretty good. I love it, my appendages wheeling while thinking about what is next. And I love that the shape of the clouds mean something to me, and the luster of the leaves speak to me, that I notice when the swallows are back, hear the first crickets, and know the early fireflies. I relish being part of this world that is so much bigger than me. 

And this crew! Let me tell you! We have been working some long, intense, hot, days! And we don't let up. We are putting our best in. And at the end of the day, there is smiling and laughing, mentions of "great days" and satisfaction. I am so glad to be working with these animals! 

Onward and upward! See you at market friends! 

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

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

Fresh From the Field- We are at Market this week
​

Greens:
Arugula (from Tantre- Royal Oak and Eastern only)
Chard (limited)
Head Lettuce! 
Kale- Baby kale and bunched Red Russian. You may see some damage on the Red Russian Kale. It is so so tender and a favorite of some beetles. This damage doesn't make it any less delicious and we hope that you will try it, despite its "ugly"  vegetable status.
Microgreens (Arugula, Radish, Brassica Mix and Broccoli)
Pea Shoots 
Spinach 

All Manner of Deliciousness
Summer Squash (limited)

Herbs

Sage
Oregano
Mint 
Chives 
Thyme (limited)

Coming Soon:
Cucumbers
Garlic Scapes
Beets

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

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

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

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

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

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

Another good resource: Racial Equity Tools

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

<> Join an organization: A few listed below, again more can be found on the Michigan Library Association's website
  • Be the Bridge, led by Latasha Morrison at Be the Bridge www.bethebridge.com
  • EmbraceRace www.embracerace.org
  • GARE – Government Alliance on Race and Equity https://www.racialequityalliance.org/
<> Speak up: If you are in a group and the opportunity presents itself to have a discussion do it! It can be scary but it is worth it. Have the difficult conversations is part of the work. Here is a helpful article from AARP (a surprising source) about how to have constructive conversations on the topic of racial justice.
How to Have a Respectful Conversation About Racial Justice


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

To contribute monetarily:

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Ann Arbor Farmers Market, Saturday with Amy: 8 am to 3 pm (or till sold out), pre-order walk-up or curbside pick-up, on site vegetables!. All orders must be picked up by 1 pm. All curbside orders must be picked up by 12 pm. 
The market runs until 3 pm but we may leave early so it is important that you pick up your order by 1 pm.

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

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

Royal Oak, Saturday with 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 Jim, Asia and Elisa!
Preorders only please! When you get to the farm, stay in your car and shoot us a text. We will bring you your order!
If you are a CSA member and your account balance is low:
  • If you want to continue on as one of our members and your balance does not cover your current order
    • Order what you want
    • Add money into your account either by
      • Putting a check or cash in your trunk/backseat Saturday for pick-up and emailing to let me know
      • Mailing a check
      • Using the online store
  • If you just want to add more to your account, go for it! Use any of the methods listed above.
  • If you no longer want to be a farm member
    • We ask that you do not go over your balance.  

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

Trouble shooting:If you have filled your cart but your order isn't going through: If the answer to one of these questions is yes, that is the cause of your problem.
  • Is your total less than $10? We have a $10 minimum to help us deal with the extra cost of packing orders.
  • Is it between Friday morning and Tuesday afternoon? Ordering is open from sometime Tuesday afternoon until Thursday at midnight
Are you a CSA member but your order receipt says balance due in 30 days?
  • Don't worry about this. We had to set up a work around to get Local Line to fit the needs for our business. 
You have made an account but can't log in:
  • Did you verify your email address? After you create your username and password, Local Line sends a confirmation email. You can find it by searching your inbox for and email from localline.ca and the exact phrase "please verify your email address"  
If you still need to register with Local Line, follow these instructions. To avoid difficulty, PLEASE READ THROUGH THESE INSTRUCTIONS:
How to create a Local Line Account:
  1. Head to the link at the bottom of these steps.
  2. Register using the green button to the right.
  3. You will be asked to enter a bunch of information and there are a two things that are very important
    1. Be sure to use the email address that this email went to. If you don't, you may be asked to pay using a credit card.
    2. Please use the Lastname.First for the Account name. (Your last name follow by a period followed by your first name, with no spaces. For example Chandler.Helen)
  4. You will then need to verify your email address by going to your email inbox and responding to the email that comes from Local Line.
  5. At last! You can order!
  6. Here is the link to use to create your Local Line account: https://www.localline.ca/lakedividefarm
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