Greetings from 12 Seasons Farm,
We had an impressive last week with amazing produce demand through markets,
home orders, and restaurants. We had one of our strongest weeks of the season
for which we are so grateful. Our team has dwindled in size but we work hard
and well.
Our plan is to be at Captiva market through Tuesday, May 13. We hope to
continue the drop site at Melissa Lehman’s home through the entire month of May
and into June. We plan to continue the Bonita market until it ends through May
31. From that point, we plan to host a Saturday market at the farm while
continuing home deliveries and farm pick-ups still on Thursdays.
The two Tuesday produce options for Sanibel and Captiva residents remains the
same: 1) the Captiva Farmer’s market where preorders can be picked up and 2) a
drop site at Melissa Lehman’s home on Tuesdays between 9 am and 3 pm. Please
order by 8 pm each Sunday and remember to use a credit card payment for the
Sanibel drop site.
For the rest of SW FL, we have Thursday farm pick up, Thursday home deliveries
and Saturday market pick up. Please place your order by 8 pm Tuesday for
Thursday options; and for Saturday market pick up, place orders by Thursday, 8
pm.
As a reminder, there is planned a sourdough workshop at the farm this
Tuesday, April 22, 3-5 pm in the afternoon.
Tuesday, April 22nd from 3-5pm
14820 Old Olga Rd, Ft Myers Florida 33905
Come learn the easy and ancient art of using sourdough. Topics will include how
to tend sourdough culture and use in in simple recipes such as pancakes, pizza,
muffins and bread. Participants will all take home a jar of sourdough starter
culture. Please RSVP with Annaliese Klein at [email protected]. I
think there are still spots open in the class.
Suggested donation $30-$50, all proceeds will go to support 12 Seasons farm and
help them on their mission to provide healthy organic food for our
community. This event will be led by local Herbalist Annaliese Klein, A.P,
Diplomat.O.M.
Here is our schedule for this week:
TUESDAY
CAPTIVA FARMER’S MARKET: Market runs from 9am-1pm. For those wanting
to preorder for the market, please do so by 8 pm on Sunday for pick-up at the
Tuesday market.
TUESDAY
SANIBEL DROP SITE: A free drop site in Sanibel each Tuesday from 9 am
to 3 pm. This site is hosted by Melissa Lehman. Her address and phone # should
be on your order confirmation email. This will be a self-serve option. Pick up
at their home in their screened foyer which is easily accessible from their
driveway. Produce will be on shelves. There should be 1 spot open their
driveway for a quick pick up. Order online and please pay by credit card (no
cash or checks please). If you see Melissa,
please thank her for providing this option. Order by 8 pm Sunday for this
option.
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 at the Promenade at Bonita Bay in Bonita Springs. For
those interested in preordering for the market, please do so before 8 pm on
Thursday for pick-up at the Saturday market.
If you have
questions about the farm or your orders please feel free to text or call Danny
at 239-229-3579.
Place orders at
12seasonsfarm.com
This is what we are harvesting:
- Strawberries
- Swiss Chard
- Curly Kale
- Flat Kale
- Mixed Kale (a mix of multiple kale varieties)
- Arugula
- Summercrisp lettuce
- Baby Butterhead lettuce (very limited)
- Heirloom and specialty tomatoes
- Red Slicing tomatoes
- Cherry tomatoes
- Carrots
- Beets
- Round radish
- Watermelon radish
- Daikon radish
- Spring green onions
- Lg. Florida Sweet onions
- Leeks
- Broccolini
- Cauliflower
- Cabbage
- Cucumbers
- Zucchini
- Eggplant
- Sweet Peppers
- Cilantro
- Flat Parsley
- Curled Parsley
- Dill
- Mint
- Chocolate Mint (very limited)
- Rosemary
- Basil
- Turmeric
- Papaya
- Grapefruit (limited)
- Zipper skin Tangerines (Limited!)
- Bananas (very limited)
- Mulberries
- Sunflowers
- Saw palmetto honey
- Wildflower honey
- Farm fresh eggs (pastured, organically raised)
- Sea of Cortez salt
- Mango, Monkey, and Strawberry Butter
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A most wonderful and impressive event happened at the farm recently. Chloe Ruth
Caswell was born to Will and Launa. Will worked this winter season for us. They
had planned to go to the hospital but the baby came fast and she had a great
home birth experience at 12 Seasons.
Launa worked for us many seasons ago when she was single. She returned in early
2020 with husband Will right after their wedding and worked amazingly well
during that covid season. Now they returned this season 5 years later. We
rejoice with this beautiful young family that continues to grow.
Beautiful cherry tomato vines laden with fruit!
Thankfully, we had a tremendous tomato harvest last week that corresponded well
to the largest restaurant week we have had in the history of the farm. It took
several of these trips in the golf cart bringing tomato flat boxes that we
assemble at the honey house to our tomato packing area. I am so impressed with
how our smaller team managed the incredible demand this past week.
Paul Brown is one of our main tomato workers now. He is doing a brilliant job
keeping up with the increased work load. He is 18 years old and his family has
an organic farm in North Carolina that grows all kinds of fruits, vegetables,
animals, grains, etc. We are grateful he joined us this season. He brings a
very hard work ethic, self determination, and varied, useful skills. Many of
you are seeing Paul at the farmer’s market in Bonita on Saturdays now that Mike
and Justine returned home in Canada.
A pretty good job being able to sweep with one hand and eat a tomato with the
other!
While pummelo season is over, someone found a good one under one of the trees.
We served it at break time on Friday and Enoch enjoyed his pummelo peel helmet.
4 chimpanzees climbing in the bamboo and drip tape fort! There seemed to be
endless laughter coming from this area while I was working in the nearby tomato
greenhouse.
A local produce stand in Alva, Rooster’s on Route 80, carries tomatoes from 12
Seasons. It is fun to see a local and very busy produce stand showcase
organically grown produce that tastes great. I remember vividly visiting a
German apple farmer during a field trip in one of my master’s courses. The
farmer exclaimed to our group, “Bio must taste the best!”. Bio is the word for
organic. In other words, to make organic have a good name, the produce should
also taste extraordinary. We work hard at 12 Seasons not only to deliver to you
safe and healthy produce, but also high quality, fresh, and superbly delicious
produce!
One of our customers, Betty, gave the kids cards with such kind words of
affirmation and each a generous gift for their hard work in contributing to the
production of healthy food. We are blessed as a family and farm staff to have
such affirming kind customers. Thank you for your investment in us, our kids,
and our team!
Many of our customers have let us know they are returning to their northern
home soon. We wish those of you who are venturing back north or have already
returned, a wonderful summer.
Thank you all for a fabulous season!
Danny, Vicki, the kids, and the 12 Seasons Team
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