Greetings from 12 Seasons Farm,
Southwest Florida received much needed rain this weekend! These hotter days are
definitely exacerbating the dry conditions we have had until Sunday’s
meaningful rain.
While technically the first day of summer is a long way off, we are currently
getting summer-type of heat. April and May weather is generally hard on the
crops as the daytime heat and resulting evapo-transpiration rate are very high.
The evapo-transpiration rate is the combined water loss from both soil
evaporation and transpiration loss from the plants. Plants are constantly
drawing water and nutrients from the soil in their roots and moving the water
up through their vascular (“plumbing”) system and evacuating a portion of the
water out as vapor through its leaves. This upward water movement and release
keeps the plants cool (their natural air-conditioning system)– this is why
plants are always cool to the touch (unlike a black trash bag or car roof in
the sun) until they are pruned and separated from their mother plant. Then the
prunings get warm because they are no longer effectively moving cool soil water
through their vascular system.
This process of transpiration is an enormously significant way the earth keeps
itself relatively cool. This movement of water through plants and its dynamic
change from liquid to vapor at the leaf’s surface results in the absorbance of
significant heat from the atmosphere. This is the earth’s cooling mechanism
making life so much more enjoyable in forested, well-canopied areas. This is
generally my main focus in discussing climate change with my own kids, students
I teach, workers on the farm, etc.– I am not so focused on cars and factories
as much as the exponentially devastating loss and reduction of the earth’s
canopy. This is one of many reasons I like to farm with a lot of trees on our
land, property line, etc. and why my heart grieves when seeing the loss of
God’s blanket over the earth. Regenerative farming practices and forested urban
and wild places help keep the earth’s crust cooler and more pleasant for life
to abound!
At this time of the season we strategically plant a number of the crops closer
to shaded areas to mitigate against the heat and water loss. In spite of the
harshness of spring in SWFL, we still are pleased with the level of diversity
and crop production.
This same heat which is hard on our crops is hard on us humans resulting in a
mass exodus out of Florida for those seeking cooler places. 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 May 31.
The two Tuesday produce options for Sanibel and Captiva residents remain 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. Overall, we hope to be able to continue vegetable production into July!
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
- 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
Annika and Carrie at Captiva market last week. We have market 2 more times in
Captiva this season.
The tomato quality continues to be superb! While our team has dwindled in size,
we had a spectacular group of individuals who managed the tomato crop
maintenance this season. This set us up for a strong finish with tomatoes. We
have strong demand from restaurants even though farmers’ markets have shown
significant decline in numbers. We are grateful to the area restaurants and
produce stands that continue to support us.
One of the many enjoyable aspects of farming is being surrounded with all the
splashes of color and diversity in taste and appearance of the crops we grow.
The cherry tomatoes are abundant right now!
But picking them is a laborious task. Carrie Bell is an absolute rock star when
it comes to managing the cherry tomato harvesting. This lady works incredibly
hard! We are so blessed to have her on the farm now 6 full seasons! The kids
love going to her place for visits and snacks!
Without Paul harvesting tomatoes, Simeon has stepped up. He harvested 45+ bins
on Monday. Wow!
Being shorter staffed, the kids have been helping out more. But it is a full
life for them balancing between farm chores, school, music, Irish dance, and
ice hockey lessons!
Josiah and Benjamin helping gather the black tomatoes (Cherokee/Carbon
tomatoes). We had a lot of split Cherokee/Carbon tomatoes after the rain. The
internal pressure is greater than the skin can handle and on these heirloom
type tomatoes with thin skins, they pop. We are having to harvest them earlier
before they crack. I am proud of the boy and how hard they worked! They take
pride in being part of the family farm!
Maybe a little too much fun with mulberries! Great to have the Mashburn kids
visit. James and Kelley are expecting their 6th kid! They live in Punta Gorda
now. James is still a pilot for Allegiant Airlines. He has been coming down and
picking up tomatoes to deliver to a produce stand, Jersey Acres, near them in
Arcadia. We are grateful for their continued help and happy to see this
wonderful family.
We took Paul to the airport last Thursday evening. He worked hard and well for
us this season! He is missed by the farm team and the family!
Early Saturday morning breakfast at the farmer’s market. Once we get set up,
the kids get a quick break for food!
This photo is from Saturday morning’s market in Bonita. We still have a diverse
offering of vegetables and fruits at the market.
Thank you for your continued and generous support of 12 Seasons Farm! We are
grateful for the privilege to grow quality, fresh, living, nutritionally dense,
and delicious food for you!
We hope you all have a great week!
Danny, Vicki, the kids, and the 12 Seasons Team
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