2023-01-02 newsletter

Greetings from the farm,

We hope this newsletter finds you well as we embark into 2023!

We look forward to being on Captiva tomorrow. We received a good
number of orders for tomorrow and look forward to seeing so many of you
there between 9 and 11 am at McCarthy’s Marina.

The crops are growing well with this warmer weather. The strawberries
are starting to really produce well. Tomatoes and sweet peppers continue
to ramp up. We have a great supply of lettuce and kale. We recently
added mixed kale to our online inventory which is from a seedling mix
comprised of 9 varieties of kale. Vicki enjoys making the kale massage
salad from both the mixed kale and the curly kale. It is well
appreciated by me and the kids, especially now that we finally have
tomatoes to add to it too!

Here is a summary of our schedule this week:

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. ****

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.

Beginning next Wednesday, January 11, we are invited to set
up a stand at the Lakes Park Farmers’ Market in Ft.
Myers, 9 am to 1pm, each Wednesday.

If coming on Thursday to the farm, the address for picking up orders
is the old farm entrance at 14840 Old Olga Rd. Farm pick up can be from
9 am to 5 pm. Contact Danny at 239-229-3579 for any questions.

Orders can be placed online at ** www.12seasonsfarm.com**

This is what we are harvesting:

• Strawberries (new!)

• Summercrisp Lettuce

• Baby Butterhead Lettuce

• Romaine lettuce

• Large Leaf Butterhead lettuce

• Cherry tomatoes (still limited)

• Heirloom/Specialty tomatoes

• Red Slicing tomatoes

• Arugula

• Cabbage

• Curly kale

• Flat kale

• Mixed kale (new!)

• Broccoli

• Green beans (almost done)

• Rainbow carrots

• Cucumbers

• Zucchini

• Sweet Peppers (limited.)

• Eggplant

• Round radish

• Daikon radish

• Watermelon radish

• Green onions

• Dill

• Cilantro

• Italian flat parsley (new, limited)

• Saw Palmetto Honey

• Avocado (limited)

• Sunflowers

Here is an aerial photo of 12 Seasons Farm from a young man named
Gio, 17 years old, who was visiting his Uncle James and Aunt Kelly, who
work on our farm. He has a passion for flying drones and flew his drone
that took this great photo. He happily shared a number of photos with us
to use as we wish. Thanks Gio!

We are getting closer to having 2 new greenhouses on the farm. Here
is a photo of one of the final arches being installed. It is great to
see this progress. With the complete loss of 2 other greenhouses from
Hurricane Ian, these will be a welcomed help for tomato and cucumber
production. We still need to put greenhouse plastic on, but will install
a screened vent on top first to help the heat escape.

This photo is a couple days later after the arches were installed. We
had many plants ready to get in the ground. The crew is planting the
next flight of cucumbers. We try to keep a steady supply of cucumbers by
planting every 4-5 weeks. Justin Snyder in the green shirt is back
working with us for the winter season. He was our first paid staff
member 9 seasons ago. He comes with a lot of valuable organic vegetable
growing experience from Pennsylvania and helps us out nearly each
winter. It is great to have him back!

Here is Ekachai Jaja who does most of our tractor work and seasonal
greenhouse construction. He is a talented engineer, builder, and farmer.
He is a great man. He is one of the reasons 12 Seasons Farm has been
able to produce such amazing tomatoes! He has an amazing story of
escaping Burma on foot when just about 5 years old with his family. They
crossed the border into Thailand. He grew up with his family farming
rice and other crops in Northern Thailand. As a young adult, after
military service, he worked for a training farm that partnered with ECHO
(Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization in N. Ft. Myers). He met
his future wife Bianca, an American/South African woman working as a
linguist in Thailand. They came to the US where Bianca began working for
ECHO and Ek came to work for us. What a gift to have him on the farm
these 5+ years. He now is an American citizen and wonderful dad to their
son Mikha. If any of you ever come out to visit the farm, it will be my
privilege to introduce you to him.

The strawberry harvest is starting to really increase. Josiah and
Benjamin like to be my assistants and help eat the #2s.

The strawberry quality so far is superb in my estimation!

Here is Hudson Mashburn out with the kale picking crew. Jeanna Small
is in the background harvesting some flat kale.

The sprouting broccoli is doing well. We have had a decent supply at
the market and available online. We should soon have the next flight
coming in too. It is so tasty!

Here is Simeon at last Saturday’s market. He wanted me to say in the
newsletter that he enjoys seeing you all each week. Thank you for your
patience and helping him hone his math skills.

Last night we went to the Edison and Ford Winter Estate in Ft. Myers
to see it decorated for its Holiday Lights event. We enjoy seeing the
gardens, house construction and being reminded and inspired by the
unique history of this area.

As we reflect on the past year, we are so grateful and encouraged by
how well supported we have been by you all. Thanks so much for your
concern, affirmation, and generosity toward us.

As we begin this new year, we look forward to bring you fresh,
heathy, and tasty produce. It is our privilege and pleasure to serve
you.

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