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- UPDATED please note!
- Recipe: Sautéed Radishes with Spinach
- Farm News
- Fresh From the Field- What are we bringing to market this week!
- Staying active and engaged with social change- (Updated December 8th)
- 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
From Food Network
Cook 2 bunches trimmed and halved radishes and 1 sliced red onion in a skillet with olive oil over medium-high heat, stirring, until tender, about 8 minutes; season with salt and pepper. Stir in 5 ounces baby spinach, the juice of 1/2 lemon and a pinch each of salt and pepper; cook until wilted, about 1 minute.
Notes from the Farm:
Winter showed. I thought we were being stood up, but no, it came with gusto. If it was a date, winter pulled out all the stops: Buried us in snow, dipped us below freezing, stayed cold for weeks at a clip, did you see the icicle offerings? Jagged edges of every eave!
But despite all this, spring is cracking through. These are the big cycles I find most comforting. Daylight will come, spring will come, the moon will become full. The birds know. I have heard their voices shift. Every slip in the mud is a sign (and an opportunity to work your core!). With the forecast we have, it looks like mud is on the menu. I say a fair trade for the warmer weather.
So, what will it look like for eatin? The kale and chard survived, but they need a few weeks to refresh themselves. Tatsoi is on the menu this week, as well as spinach. We are waiting to see if the sweet turnips tolerated the freezing temperatures and should know by this weekend. In the meantime, we are starting this year's first rounds of microgreens and peashoots. Those should be ready in a few weeks, and as the always do, carry us through with their freshest of fresh green tastes.
Roots? Well the rutabaga met a fate I did not anticipate. We did not get it out of the field before these last few cold weeks. I hoped that the snow was thick enough to insulate them from the cold so we could haul them in sweeter than ever. The community had other plans. The deer ate them to the ground. Honestly I was stunned. They really must have been hungry.
In other root news, we still have delicious purple and green daikon as well as spicy black radishes, onions, cabbage and carrots from Tantre, and potatoes from Titus farms.
This week we welcomed Elisa to the fold, and just in time. We have been seeding up a storm. Onions, shallots, tomatoes, celery, and celery root, all tucked in soil and heading toward the daylight! Hope is on the horizon. Honestly this rings true in so many ways. These have been some hard months that made up a hard year. Hang in there folks. It isn't just spring that is around the corner.
We hope to see you Saturday!
Helen, Jim, Amy and Elisa: 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!
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:
Spinach
Tatsoi
All manner of deliciousness:
Cabbage from Tantre- only available at Eastern Market, Royal Oak and pre-order.
Carrots from Titus Farm and Tantre- only available at Eastern Market, Royal Oak, and pre-order
Radish- Purple daikon, spicy black, sweet and spicy green!
Onions- yellow
Kennebec Potatoes from Titus farm- not certified organic but admired practices.
:
Staying Active: Something to keep the gears of progress engaged: Last update December 8th, 2020
Our intention is to update this list regularly. Just because we are posting new links, the links from previous emails are still relevant. Additionally, you will find some links repeated.
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.
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
To read: Definitely use the MLPP list for this (linked above). They have some many valuable reads listed there.
Read books by people of color and indigenous people. There are many great booklists to be found.
Anti Racism books for children- from Book Beat in Royal Oak.
This blog also included a few resources to help children cope with crises. Specifically the National Black Children Development Institute's "An Activity Book for African American Families: Helping Children Cope with Crises."
Soul Fire Farm's Food Sovereignty Action Steps: “If we are not acting to change the system, we are complicit, casting our silent vote to maintain the status quo.” The following food sovereignty action steps were compiled by the Soul Fire Farm community and Northeast Farmers of Color alliance It is divided into seven sections
To Listen and Watch:
There are so many TED talks on talking about race and racism, race, race relations, and the history of racism. Here is one to get you started.
What I am learning from my white grandchildren -- truths about race | Anthony Peterson | TEDxAntioch
Ted Talks on Racism
Something to do:
<>The 21 day Racial Equity Challenge I still recommend it!
<>Organize a reading group.
<> Show up! Detroit Will Breathe has been marching for Justice daily since March. While they are not marching daily now, they are very active. Check their website for their schedule https://detroitwillbreathe.info/
<> Join an organization: A few listed below, again more can be found on the Michigan Library Association's website
- Be the Bridge, led by Latasha Morrison at Be the Bridge www.bethebridge.com
- EmbraceRace www.embracerace.org
- GARE – Government Alliance on Race and Equity https://www.racialequityalliance.org/
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
"On Monday, August 31, 2020, Detroit Will Breathe and fourteen individuals filed a federal lawsuit against the City of Detroit, Mayor Duggan, and Chief Craig. Detroit Will Breathe is represented by attorneys Jack Schulz and Amanda Ghannam of Schulz Law PLC, William Goodman and Julie Hurwitz of Goodman Hurwitz PLC, and Sean Riddell of the Riddell Law Firm.
The City, through the Detroit Police Department, has continuously violated demonstrators’ First Amendment right to protest, Fourth Amendment right to be free from excessive force, unlawful arrest, and punitive conditions of detainment; and the right to be free from state-sponsored retaliation for conveying a message of racial justice under 42 U.S.C. 1981."
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: NOT AT MARKETS THIS WEEK
The Ann Arbor Farmers Market, Wednesday- We will be back in the spring
The Ann Arbor Farmers Market, Saturday (Jim "The Flame of the North" Neumann): 8 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 Market, shed 5, 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 Amy team!
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
- Don't worry about this. We had to set up a work around to get Local Line to fit the needs for our business.
- 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"
How to create a Local Line Account:
- Head to the link at the bottom of these steps.
- Register using the green button to the right.
- You will be asked to enter a bunch of information and there are a two things that are very important
- 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.
- 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)
- 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.
- At last! You can order!
- Here is the link to use to create your Local Line account: https://www.localline.ca/lakedividefarm