Greetings from 12 Seasons Farm,
We saw a very perceptible drop in market attendance at both the Captiva and
Bonita farmer’s markets last week… not surprising given the change of
seasons. In spite of really warm temperatures and prolonged dry weather, we
continue to have good diversity and production on a number of our crops.
The sourdough workshop was well attended and people seemed to really enjoy the
workshop led by Anna. Thank you, Anna, for all the workshops you led this
season! You are a treasure to the SWFL community!
Our plan is to be at the Captiva market through Tuesday, May 13. We hope to
continue the drop site at Melissa Lehman’s home through May and into June. We
plan to continue the Bonita market until it ends through May 31.
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.
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 (very limited)
- Flat Parsley
- Curled Parsley
- Dill (very limited)
- Mint
- Chocolate Mint (very limited)
- Rosemary
- Basil
- Turmeric
- Papaya
- Grapefruit (limited)
- Zipper skin Tangerines (Limited!)
- Bananas (very limited)
- Mulberries
- Watermelon
- Sunflowers
- Saw palmetto honey
- Wildflower honey
- Farm fresh eggs (pastured, organically raised)
- Sea of Cortez salt
- Mango, Monkey, and Strawberry Butter
Simeon and Carrie at the Captiva market last Tuesday. We plan to be there 3
more times this season.
We have beautiful vine-ripened tomatoes right now!
Kathy and Murry have been volunteering with us for 6 or 7 seasons. They head
back to their home in Vermont this week. They live nearby the farm and come
once a week during the winter and spring to our farm. They both are very
skilled gardeners and enjoy making 12 Seasons a more productive farm with fewer
weeds! We really appreciate their help!
The first mini personal size watermelons were ready to harvest. We brought them
to the Saturday market. We should have more next week though the crop is small
overall. I added them to the online inventory.
This is the first season the Po Pyu Kalay mango has bore fruit on the farm. It
is a Burmese mango also known as ‘PPK’ or ‘Lemon Meringue’. It is a very early
mango and might be ready in 10-15 days.
The boys on break drinking a mulberry fruit sorbet. Simeon has the purple
mustache to show for it. The Harrington Family left this morning back to Maine.
They were a big help the past 3 weeks.
Indy and Benjamin had a lot of fun playing together! It is great having
laughter on the farm with the Harrington boys back for a visit!
Paul Brown has been with us most of the season and will head north to work
at his grandparents grain farm in Michigan toward the end of this week. He has
picked a crazy tonnage of tomatoes this season. He is a hard working young man
with great character and farming skills. He has worked in farming most of his
young life at his parents’ farm in North Carolina where they raise vegetables,
grain, fruits, and animals. He will be missed!
We took him to the beach on Saturday after market. He and the kids had a blast
after a long hard day.
On Sunday afternoon we hosted a Weston A. Price Foundation chapter meeting.
There was also a talk by Dr. Patrick Vickers on the Gerson therapy for treating
cancer and diabetes. The members seemed to really enjoy learning about 12
Seasons and touring the farm. The kids set up a market stand after the tour.
A long time friend and tropical fruit legend, Crafton Clift, came with the
group on Sunday. It was great to see him. He came on my tour which was special.
I met him over 30 years ago when I first came to Florida and was working at
ECHO. He was a fun mentor in the tropical fruit world. God bless him!
We celebrated Vicki’s birthday last week. Annika made a sheet pancake and we
had a tasty breakfast together. The kids love their mama! Fun times!
Vicki and Josiah at the Saturday Bonita market. We still have a good spread of
produce available. We aim to bring you food that is still alive, fresh, safely
grown, and delicious! We appreciate all your continued support over all these
years. Thanks for growing with us!
We hope you all have a great week!
Danny, Vicki, the kids, and the 12 Seasons Team
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