2023-03-05 newsletter

Greetings to the residents of Sanibel and Captiva from 12 Seasons
Farm,

The farm is getting busier and busier these days with lots of
vegetable production and high demand at markets and restaurants.
Strawberry production is very high and cherry tomato and cucumbers
continue to increase.

Thanks to those who continue to come and share about the Tuesday
market with friends and neighbors. The Captiva market continues to grow
and grow. That is fun to see.

We have some nice cucumbers and tomatoes coming on in the greenhouses
we recently built. They are fully screened to exclude damaging pests–
mainly stink bugs and virus carrying insects like whiteflies– which are
big problems this time of the year.

I send out 2 newsletters a week: 1) for Sanibel and Captiva residents
and 2) general one for all our customers on the mailing list. If you
know of anyone who would like to receive the Sanibel/Captiva weekly
newsletter, please have them email us at [email protected] as we
have to manually add them to Sanibel/Captiva mailing list. Thanks.

We look forward to being at McCarthy’s Marina again this Tuesday,
9-11 am. We will have a market stand of produce for those who want to
buy off the table. For those that pre-order, we will have your orders
prepared for pick up.

Thanks to Captain Bob and Jenny Rando with Captiva Cruises for this
continued opportunity!

If you would like to place an order for Tuesday pick up,
please do so before 8 pm Sunday at www.12seasonsfarm.com.

Here is our weekly schedule:

TUESDAY PICK-UP FOR SANIBEL & CAPTIVA: Place an
order online before Sunday, 8 pm, if you want to pick up an order at
McCarthy’s Marina in Captiva on Tuesday, 9-11 am. Extra produce will be
available for those who want to buy off the table. ****

 ** WEDNESDAY LAKE’S PARK FARMERS’
MARKET:** We will be at the Lakes Park Farmers’ Mkt. each
Wednesday from 9 am to 1 pm. in Ft. Myers. Parking is free during the
farmers’ market.

THURSDAY DELIVERIES & FARM PICK-UP: Please place
an order online before Tuesday, 8 pm, if you want home delivery or farm
pick-up for Thursday.

SATURDAY FARMERS’ MARKET AND PREORDER PICK-UP :
Market runs 8 am to noon. Please place an order by Thursday, 8 pm to
pick up your preorder at the Bonita market. If preordering, please pick
up preorders after 10 am.

Orders can be placed online at ** www.12seasonsfarm.com**

This is what we are harvesting:

• Strawberries

• Summercrisp Lettuce

• Baby Butterhead Lettuce

• Romaine lettuce

• Large Leaf Butterhead lettuce

• Cherry tomatoes

• Heirloom/Specialty tomatoes

• Red Slicing tomatoes

• Arugula

• Curly kale

• Flat kale

• Mixed kale

• Broccoli

• Broccoli greens

• Cauliflower (limited)

• Rainbow carrots

• Cucumbers

• Zucchini

• Sweet Peppers

• Eggplant

• Round radish

• Daikon radish

• Watermelon radish

• Green onions

• Large sweet onions

• Dill

• Cilantro

• Italian flat parsley

• Curled parsley

• Saw Palmetto Honey

• Sunflowers

The avocadoes are blooming strong right now. Here is Mary Ann in the
background. She has worked for us 3 seasons and is a wonderful gardener.
She is cleaning out clogged irrigation heads as we are having to
irrigate more frequently with this heat. We are hopeful for a strong
avocado crop as we lost most of this year’s to the storm.

The Italian large leaf basil is a strong attractant to bees, as you
can see one in the photo. We have a good crop of basil right now. It
prospers in this hot, dry weather.

Yesterday was Simeon’s 11th birthday. He had a fun day and I got a
day off from the market as Carrie graciously filled in for me so I could
be home with family.

We had a pleasant stop at Starbuck’s last Tuesday after market. We
were grateful for the free drinks they gave for their opening and Annika
enjoyed bringing the staff some sunflowers to brighten their day.

We look forward to coming each Tuesday to McCarthy’s Marina. In some
ways, we have a shared history having all sustained some kind of damage,
flooding, and/or loss from the storm. We have had to rebuild and
replant– many of you much more than us; but, there is that odd kinship
of having been impacted so significantly by Ian. We are grateful to have
such supportive and generous customers as we find in you, the residents
of Sanibel and Captiva in spite of these hardships. Annika and I enjoy
visiting with you and bringing fresh produce from the farm each
week!

Thanks for your support!

Cheers!

Danny, Vicki, the kids, and the 12 Seasons Team