Quick Links > > Annie's Main Page Newsletter and Article Archives Return to 1887 Brand < < Quick Links

What's In The Box Tips and Recipes Drop-off Points Calendar

New beginnings for 2008!

Well, the huge snow drifts have started to subside! My measuring stick is a steel post in the garden that is visible from my office. What was once almost 4 foot of snow is now down to about 1 1/2 feet. This year will definitely bring us a late planting season but things are rolling with flats of plants under the grow lights. Even with all this snow, our thoughts are turning to getting our hands back in that beloved, warm soil!

We so enjoyed working in the gardens and being able to provide really healthy food that folks can eat with confidence. As we begin 2008 with Annie's Acres, last years experience tells us that things will have to be done differently. We have found that enormous amounts of time were spent last year both in the gardens and in packing and delivery of the boxes. That will need to change as less help will be available this year with both Vannesa and Teresa pursuing full time jobs. One of the obvious changes will have to be a better application of natural weed control. Here are some additional changes we feel will have to be made in order for Annie's Acres to be more successful this year.

1.) It was good to be able to offer individualized boxes that contained just wanted items. That also made the packing process very difficult and time consuming. It was just too much to keep track of. We feel the only sensible way to approach 2008 is to pack standard boxes with what is available at that time from the gardens. It may have been different if a group of members could provide help at time, but we found everyone to be very busy and that opportunity was rare. Of course, if you visit us to help, you'll have the option of packing your box just as you wish!

2.) Delivery of boxes needs to be far more efficient. We have in mind changing from the cardboard box, to a set of two inexpensive coolers (CFC free) that members would own. That way, a cooler full of produce could be iced, and left on a members porch or other drop-off place. They would have the empty cooler cleaned and left at the designated place to be picked up as the full one is dropped off. To keep it simple, members would leave a note in the cooler if they wanted eggs or honey the next time or wanted to skip a delivery. Also, there would have to be at least 3 individuals in a community for us to be able to deliver there. Our intentions are to focus on the closest communities and do them well.

3.) Things in general must be much simpler! Too much time was spent on newsletters, articles, and upkeep of the web site. That time will not be available this year. The web site will have to be there as a reference only and basically not change a lot. Newsletters will be brief and not fancy. You may or may not get one every delivery but then the food is the important thing, right?

4.) More community! Part of why we are doing this is to encourage a way of life that brings us closer together. I have to say that I admire the Amish in our area for the sense of community they have. The only reason most of us don't have the same is that we don't invest of our time and ourselves to make it happen. We'd like to start this year by inviting you to a weekend get together on the farm. It would be a chance to do some like-minded talking and just get to know each other better. We will be working to improve the "garden grounds" to make them a more attractive place to gather and enjoy the summer and can envision some picnic tables in the shade that become well used.

There may be other changes that would make sense as well and I guess for right now, I'd be open to hear some ideas. Please regard this "E-Newsletter" as a heads up of our intentions for this year and look for more information to come. One thing we of course will want to do, is get a sense of how many potential members we might have this year. We have posted fliers around town hoping to draw a few more members but intend to keep things small this year. Please note the deadline for membership for 2008. This is very important for our garden planning. We'll probably be calling original members to talk about this and then we'll go from there.

Your Gardeners,

Mark and Annie

P.S. Please read the article "The Unfolding Food Crisis in America" if you haven't. It really sums up why Annie and I are doing the "Annie's Acres" CSA.

No boxes yet.

Day of the week: Wednesday Time: 5:00 - 6:00 PM Place: As arranged with individual members.

Dodgeville:

Day of the week: Wednesday Time: 1:00 - 3:00 PM Place: As arranged with individual members.

Day of the week: Friday Time: 4:00 -5:00 PM Place: As arranged with individual members.

 Mineral Point

Day of the week: Saturday Time: 8:30 - 11:30 AM Place: Water Tower Park at Farmers Market

Top of Page

April 10, 2008 - Greenhouse receives plants.

April 15, 2008 - Tilling begins (late this year

April 31, 2008 - Deadline for applications for new and current members.

Week 1, about June 1, 2008 - "Normal delivery" week for all 1/2 share customers.

Saturday, June 28, 2008 - Tentative date for membership picnic on the farm. More news on this later.

Top of Page