Archive for November, 2011
City Gardens 2012 CSA Details
Posted by castironidaho in Farm and Garden on November 21, 2011
City Gardens 2012 CSA (Community Supported Agriculture)
10 week season starting in late April ending around 4th of July
$250 subscription = $25 a week
Veggie pick-up Tuesday or Thursday from 4:30pm to 6pm at 3878 N. Adams
$50 deposit secures your share. Total due March 1st.
There are only 20 shares available and they fill up fast.
Let me know if you want to pick up on Tuesday or Thursday when you send your check. Delivery can be arranged for $50 a season.
City Gardens 2012 CSA will focus on the early season vegetables like lettuce, garlic, radishes, kale, cabbage, carrots, peas, beets, cilantro, carrots, spinach, new potatoes, basil, chard, turnips, spring onions… Guaranteed 8 to 10 items a week! We are going to start as early as possible (most likely the last week in April). I am also looking at doing a Fall CSA and the details for that will be forthcoming… I want to help extend the local food season by offering options in parts of the year most gardeners aren’t harvesting.
For the traditional summer powerhouses like tomatoes and beans, I hope you grow a garden. If growing your own isn’t your thing, Global Gardens has offered to pick up CSA members at the end of the City Gardens season, and will continue through September. With this option you will get 10 weeks of the famous City Gardens’ greens and 10 weeks of the bounty of the summer crops from Global Gardens. Global Gardens’ 10 week shares will also be $250. And if you want to continue the fresh vegetables into winter, you can come back to City Gardens for the Fall CSA.
If you need anything else don’t hesitate to contact me, Farmer Marty.
208-713-1675
Make checks payable to:
City Gardens
3878 N. Adams Garden City, ID 83714
Marty Camberlango
The Whys and Hows of 2012 City Gardens
Posted by castironidaho in Farm and Garden on November 21, 2011
For this CSA farmer this is the most challenging time of year. Now is when I am to sell you vegetables I have not yet grown. This is also the magic of Community Supported Agriculture where eaters pay today (winter) for a bounty in the spring. It’s a loan of cash paid back in vegetables! I love it, but it isn’t as simple as it sounds.
Eight years ago, when I started farming, the CSA concept had to be explained, but today’s savvy foodies, like yourselves, have already experienced (or heard about) the bounty of a local farmer. Experienced farmers, like me, know the realities of farming in the high mountain desert. Today, I stare at the dirt dreaming up a garden where even the most adventures foodie and the good old veggie lover can find something to satisfy their taste. While simultaneously, I must balance this with the realism of what our garden on Hill road can pull off and what your farmer can physically do (not to mention pay for).
As a fellow person on a budget, one of my first priorities when coming up with 2012’s CSA Veggie Subscription was affordability and value. Eaters need to get their money’s worth. I also want to improve on last years’ service by focusing on things we are good at and what people like. I also have to consider my new responsibilities of being a dad and how that will affect my farming. In short, I want to make the best use of my time, make as much money as possible and provide a deal for fellow foodies.
In 2012 City Gardens will have a new shop that includes a pack-out where the veggies will get a certifiable scrubbing in our new wash station! In an attempt to increase my income, this shop will be used to pack and ship salad mix. City Gardens’ 2012 CSA will be loaded with salad mix, greens and early spring veggies. If you love your greens or want to get healthy this is the CSA for you. The great thing about focusing on these crops is I can grow them over and over on the same land with minimal inputs. These crops, I have come to believe, are the best for urban plots with no room to expand or let the soil rest a season or two.
One thing I am going to give up on this year is summer crops. I believe everyone should experience the joys and sorrows of gardening. The hot crops are the most popular, but take the most inputs – go grow ’em! I will help in any way I can to assist you in your gardening adventures, just ask. I will be harvesting your CSA veggies while you are just planting your garden. The CSA season will end and you will just begin harvesting. If you know gardening isn’t your thing (or can’t grow enough for your family) Global Gardens will offer City Gardens’ members a summer veggie subscription as soon as our CSA ends (around 4th of July week). Global Gardens has the land and people power do a much better job with hot crops than I.
“What will you do all summer?” is the question people usually ask when I tell them my plan for 2012. “Work,” is always my reply. I will be on full-time dad duty and cooking my ass off. My long-time assistant Farmer Damiano will take off for Alaska to make real money fishing. And money is really the issue, Treasure Valley veggie farming doesn’t pay a father enough to raise a child even when he loves both very dearly. In 2012 we are going to chase the money, so we can plow it back into the farm and go huge in 2013! Help a farmer and join a CSA.
Eating for Two!
Posted by castironidaho in Events on November 8, 2011
19 weeks, at Crater Lake!
If you haven’t heard, we have some big news at Cast Iron Idaho. We are expecting a baby, sometime around March 29, 2012! Marty and I are super excited about our growing family. Not to mention my growing belly, and what to feed it!
So far, pregnancy has been wonderful. Besides the inherent joy in growing a new little one, pregnancy requires moms to actually take care of their bodies at a higher level than usual, including things like not drinking, not skipping meals, exercising regularly, and going to bed early. All of these make me feel amazing!
Pre-baby belly, 8 weeks!
Pregnancy these days also comes with a long list of rules for eating. Sushi, certain cheeses, excessive caffeine, and other things are prohibited, and your body needs extra of other things. I read a great book called What to Eat, Before, During, and After Pregnancy, by Judith E. Brown. It goes into a lot of detail, but the big-picture message is; When pregnant, moms need an extra 300 calories a day. This isn’t much, but women need almost double the amount of protein, and extra calcium and iron. So, those 300 calories should be protein-rich.
We’re continuing to eat our regular healthy diet, but pumping up my meat intake a little, and trying to satisfy my extra hunger with protein-rich snacks. So far I like raw almonds, apple slices with peanut butter on them, and plenty of yogurt and cheese.
We also heard on NPR that the little guy/girl can develop tastes for certain foods later on, based on what mom ate during pregnancy. So we are trying to feed him/her the foods we want him/her to like. Like kale.
Early on in pregnancy, I had no nausea (lucky!) but had headaches more frequently than usual. Since I couldn’t take Ibuprofen, it was hard to kick them. So, I came up with a natural headache tonic, suggested in one of my pregnancy books: One quart of water and about a tablespoon of powdered ginger. Less if you don’t like it too spicy. Shake and drink very cold. It’s delicious, and seemed to help relive the headaches. Maybe I was just dehydrated.
12 weeks, last of the summer flowers!
Anyway, enough rambling. You’re probably not pregnant, and I’ve been pregnant long enough to know what you really want to know:
Cast Iron Baby FAQ:
Q: How are you feeling? A: Awesome! See above.
Q: Do you know if it’s a boy or a girl? A: It’s a little too early to know, but we’re not going to find out til it’s born! Surprises are better!
Q: What did Marty say? A: A lot of things, but he’s excited.
Q: Where are you getting prenatal care? A: Treasure Valley Midwives. Check out their webpage.
Q: Names? A: We’re taking suggestions. Marty likes flower or tree names. I’ve vetoed Dandelion and Cedar Bark.
Q: Are you accepting donations of used baby goods? A: Why yes. We haven’t had a baby before and will need to get some things. People have given us some things already. Things I think we need: cloth diapers, car seat that isn’t expired, stroller that attaches to a car seat and/or jogging stroller, co-sleeper, baby carrier, bumbo seat, breast pump, crib bedding, moderate amount of clothes and baby blankets. And probably a million things I haven’t thought of. Marty does not want any plastic toys, only wood or cloth, and books. He doesn’t want the little one gnawing on petroleum products just yet. If you haven’t a clue about babies and want to send us something, send me some new music to listen to while I’m in labor. Workout music? Soothing music? Dunno! Music for the baby would also be great. What do your kids like?
We are excited about this adventure!
– Katie
