2024-12-10 newsletter

Greetings from 12 Seasons Farm,

The 12 Seasons Team continues to expand in numbers. I think this is
one of the largest teams we have ever had. Perhaps after Hurricane Ian
the team was larger with so many helping but this is really close to
being the biggest. We are very grateful to have such good help.

We just started harvesting a limited amount of beets, carrots, and
cabbage. Tomatoes continue to be very limited.

We will continue to offer on Thursday the following:

1. Home deliveries to most of Southwest Florida
2. Farm pick-up
3. Sanibel pick-up at MacIntosh Books and Paper– For Sanibel orders,
   please pay by credit card only! Rebecca is simply hosting the drop site,
   not managing any money. Thanks.

Please place your orders before 8 pm Tuesday for all three of those
options.

For those picking up orders at the farm, please use the old farm
entrance, 14840 Old Olga. Rd. Please drive in slowly. Kids are around
the farm! For those picking up in Sanibel at MacIntosh, please do so
between 11 am and 2 pm.

For those wanting to pre-order for pick-up at the Saturday market in
Bonita Springs, please order before 8 pm Thursday. If something is out
of stock, you can request those items in the customer notes.

We plan to return to the Captiva Farmer’s Market on Tuesday,
Dec. 17.

If you have questions, please feel free to text or call Danny at
239-229-3579.

Here is our schedule for this week:

THURSDAY SANIBEL MACINTOSH BOOKS DROP SITE: Please
place your order before 8pm on Tuesday. The pick-up time is between 11
am and 2 pm at MacIntosh Books and Paper on Sanibel. Please thank
Rebecca for providing this great service! Credit card only orders
please!

THURSDAY FARM PICK-UP & HOME DELIVERY: Place an
order online before 8 pm Tuesday for Thursday all day pick-up at the
farm or to receive a home delivery. For farm pick-up, use original farm
entrance, 14840 Old Olga Rd. Order is usually split between cold produce
in walk-in cooler and the air conditioned structure just left of walk-in
cooler.

 SATURDAY BONITA SPRINGS FARMER’S
MARKET: Market runs from 8am-noon. For those interested in
pre-ordering for the market, please do so before 8 pm on Thursday for
pick-up at the Saturday market.

****Place orders at 12seasonsfarm.com

This is what we are harvesting:

• Swiss Chard
• Arugula
• Lettuce
• Heirloom and specialty tomatoes (still extremely limited)
• Cherry tomato (very limited)
• Round radish
• Watermelon radish
• Daikon radish
• Broccolini
• Cucumbers
• Zucchini
• Eggplant
• Basil
• Cilantro
• Dill
• Papaya (very limited)
• Passionfruit
• Navel oranges
• Lemons
• Pummelo
• Bananas (very limited)
• Starfruit
• Avocado
• Sunflowers
• Saw palmetto honey
• Wildflower honey
• Sea of Cortez salt
• Mango, Monkey, and Strawberry Butter

Probably the most common crop question we get at the market is “What
is this?” referring to the large radishes on the table. The displayed
ones in this photo are radishes belonging to a class called daikons. The
daikon radish is known for its larger size and are different from the
common small round radish we typically see in North American and
European markets. While the same species, the daikon are different in
that they perform well in heat and can be mild despite attaining large
sizes. Both the purple on the left and 2nd one from left can be huge but
still fairly mild in their pungency. The large purple has the uncanny
name of ‘Mini Purple’ and the red one is called ‘Red King.’ ‘Mini
Purple’ is somewhat spicy but great flavored especially when sliced
thin. If roasted it turns sweet. And its internal purple star pattern is
stunning. ‘Red King’ has much the taste of a mild round radish but in a
larger size and is easy to handle for slicing. It is white-fleshed. The
brilliant red/pink daikon types are often given the name ‘Watermelon’
radish. The two on the right in the above photo are watermelon types.
Aretesia, the third from the left is slightly sweet and mild with a
beautiful pink pattern. Starburst is the fourth radish and has a very
typical deep pink flesh associated with the classic watermelon types.
The ‘Starburst’ should be sliced very thin as they tend to be slightly
tougher skinned.

Vicki makes a great radish salad alternating very thin slices of
radishes with white balsamic vinegar, olive oil, and sea salt. She keeps
layering the radish with the splashes of oil, vinegar, and salt. Then
she lets it marinate for 30 minutes in a well ventilated area as the off
gas can be strong from all the exposed surface area on the radishes.
After 30 minutes, let it chill for a time and serve cool. It is amazing!
We learned this from our friends in Germany and all our children look
forward to supper when Vicki has prepared fresh raw radish salad! The
spice is neutralized by the vinegar– just remember to slice thin! The
photo above is of ‘Mini Purple’ Daikon radish

“Do not despise these small beginnings…” I try to take this to heart
as the yields are so underwhelming right now. We have a lot of healthy
vines with lots of fruit. We are hoping within 2-3 weeks to have a more
readily available supply of delicious tomatoes again.

Thankfully, we have seen the first fruits of strawberries! Here is
Kiki with daughter Lucia getting one of the firstfruits! This is earlier
than normal. The strawberry plants are still small but looking good.

The papayas took a hard hit in the storms. We lost a bunch and have
staked a bunch. They are not the typical deep green plants laden with
fruit we are use to seeing but we are hoping they recover and begin
producing again soon.

Some of you might be looking for other healthy options at the
farmer’s market. Iliana with Pleyoo Microgreens grows an amazing array
of microgreens she custom cuts right in front of you. They make a
wonderful salad and we enjoy trading tomatoes for her marvelous
microgreens later in the season when we have an abundance.

It is great to have Carrie Bell back. She is starting her 6th season
with us. She will be running the Captiva market for us again this
season! The kids and we are glad to have her back.

Last night the kids, Vicki, 12 Season workers Elena and Sophia, and
friends Lindsay and daughter Havilah all danced in the Deck the Halls
performance at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall. In the
background is the Gulf Coast Symphony and the Ft. Myers Symphonic
Mastersingers. It was a fun and great performance.

Here is the Kellyn Celtic Arts Dance group that did the Irish dancing
at the Deck the Halls event. You can see Simeon in blue and Josiah in a
green shirt. Annika is to the right of Simeon with Vicki in background
between them. Havilah is on bottom left. Elena who has worked over 8
years for us is just above Mrs. Clause on top right. Sophia started last
season for us and is just left of the gentleman in back. Our good friend
Lindsay (mother of Elena and Havilah) is behind Simeon to the left of
Vicki. It was a very festive evening.

The team continues to grow. Here we are gathered for our morning
meeting to discuss the goals and jobs for the day. We are fast getting
the farm in order as the actual work of harvesting is much less than
normal for this time of year. We are getting all kinds of back burner
projects moved to the front and accomplishing a lot each day. We
anticipate bigger harvests soon but in the meantime the farm is moving
into a more orderly and beautiful landscape.

We wish you a great week!

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