2023-04-17 newsletter

Greetings from 12 Seasons Farm,

It is great to finally get some significant rain. SW Florida really
needed some relief from this prolonged dry spell. It certainly helps our
farm. We grow most of our crops on raised beds to have better control
over moisture levels in the soil. If we flat-planted everything
(planting level with the soil), the crops would suffer after a large
rain event due to lack of appropriate oxygen levels.

The disadvantage of raised beds that are comprised of mainly sand is
their ability to hold water especially on the edges. These tend to dry
out after prolonged dry spells when just using drip tape. This has to do
with the high sand content in Florida soils. The sand makes for poor
water-holding capacity due to its large individual grain size (as
compared to silt or clay particles that are more ideal for holding
moisture and nutrients). Occasional rains like what we just had help
keep the bed edges moist and improves overall crop health with cooler
soil temperature and more optimal soil moisture. We keep working to
improve the carbon content of the soil, mainly through additions of
compost and cover-cropping in the off season to improve the soil and
water conditions to better mitigate against the infertile, drought-prone
Florida soils.

This week has been a bit like homecoming for us with Cate and Elisha
both visiting along with some other visiting friends from out of town.
When Cate is here, my mind is more at rest. She is so adept at
shouldering the demanding load and remaining buoyant in the process.
What a blessing to have them both here, even for a short week.

We had a well attended Saturday market. It is such a crazy amount of
work to prepare the day before and set up a market. But the result is a
masterpiece of color and delight, and we enjoy bringing the farm’s best
to you.

Thank you to those that pre-order and pick up your orders at the
market! This is much appreciated.

If you would like to place an order for Thursday delivery or
farm pick up, please do so before 8 pm Tuesday 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:

• Blueberries (from certified organic farm in Central
  Florida)

• Summercrisp Lettuce

• Baby Butterhead Lettuce

• Large Leaf Butterhead lettuce

• Cherry tomatoes

• Heirloom/Specialty tomatoes

• Red Slicing tomatoes

• Arugula

• Curly kale

• Flat kale

• Mixed kale

• Broccoli

• Broccoli greens

• 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

• Nasturtium Flowers

• Sunflowers

Jedilo and Elisha bunching the broccoli. Elisha and Cate were able to
hit the road running having worked with almost every crop here.

Our campari mix has been very popular this season. We describe the
red campari akin to getting the great taste of a delicious red tomato
with the sweetness of a cherry tomato– and this combined with a long
shelf life.

We had a nice diversity of root crops available at the market.

We are always glad to see these little guys doing their role to keep
down pests on the farm. The photo is of a ladybug on a broccolini
stem.

Doing a delivery of tomatoes to a local produce stand in Alva.

We are so pleased to share that little Levi’s skull surgery went well
and he is recovering very well. The Mashburn Family should be returning
to the farm sometime next week or shortly after.

Justin headed back to his home in Ephrata, PA last weekend. We are
grateful to him for another season here.

Justin originally came to us 9 seasons ago. He has been working on
organic farms for over 2 decades, split between Pennsylvania in the
summer and now Florida in the winters. We are so thankful for him. He,
like Cate, takes a huge load off my shoulders. He is very knowledgeable
of vegetable crops and he is a good friend and farmer!

The Young Family also left this weekend. We are grateful for their
faithful service to 12 Seasons Farm and wish them a blessed journey
ahead together as a family!

We had a great short week with Cate and Elisha both here. It softens
the blow of folks leaving when such great friends return! I know many of
you enjoyed seeing them as well! We wish them all the best and look
forward to reconnecting in future visits!

We ended work early on Friday to get together as a staff. It was a
good time of sharing and reflecting on this season. For those leaving
they shared where they were going to next. We reminisced on the season,
retold some of the events of the hurricane, and celebrated as a team how
12 Seasons has recovered.

We also distributed the tip money that we saved all season. Each team
member was able to get a $100 with well over $2,000 in tips from all of
you. The kids also got a meaningful amount as many of them contribute
with 1-3 hrs/day. That was so fun for them to get a portion. I clearly
explained that these were gifts of gratitude from you who have given
generously to us all. Thank you!! Thank you!! Thank you!!

We truly are grateful to you all.

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