2023-04-23 newsletter

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

The SW Florida growing season is long for us. Our season normally
begins in October and continues until July. The season is bookended by
heat which limits what kinds of crops will prosper at the beginning and
toward the end. We find cooler locations to plant certain crops as we
get into the hottest time of the farming season. We take advantage of
shadier locations and focus on varieties that are better adapted to
these warmer conditions.

As summer approaches here in SW FL, we have seen a perceptible change
in traffic and market presence as many people seek cooler locations in
the country. For those of you who remain here in SW Florida, we hope you
are enjoying a slower pace of life. We look forward to continuing to
serve you.

One of the privileges of being a family farm where our children
participate in the day-to-day activities is having them accompany us to
markets. Annika and I enjoy coming to the market together. She has come
a long way even this season since I put a money bag on her in January at
the Captiva market. Thank you for your patience with her and helping her
learn math and become more comfortable assisting you all.

We look forward to being with you at McCarthy’s Marina on Tuesday
from 9-11am.

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

Continued thanks to Captain Bob and Jenny Rando with Captiva Cruises
for this 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:

• Blueberries (from certified organic farm in Central
  Florida)

• Strawberries (very limited)

• 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

Here is a bin of recently harvested turmeric. We have it available in
both 1/4 lb. and 1 lb. quantities online. We grow the turmeric under the
shade of trees in our citrus orchard. Here it seems to prosper well.
These ones were harvested after their 2nd year.

Yesterday at the Saturday Bonita Springs market, we served people
kale massage salad. This is our preferred way to use kale. We usually
use the curly kale for this.

Annika was again a trooper at market and together with her brothers
probably served around 150 or more plates of kale massage salad. It was
fun to introduce people to a new way of using this wonderful green.

Here are the signs we had hanging up at market. The one on the right
gives the general instructions/recipe for making it. Massaging the kale
really makes it much more tender and enjoyable to eat! You can even
enjoy it the 2nd day as it keeps well, even after having dressing on
it.

After market we celebrated the birthdays of our good friend Tim
Watkins and Vicki whose birthdays are one day apart. Journeying through
life with such great family friends is a precious gift.

Look forward to seeing you Tuesday.

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