Blue Fox Farm

What’s at Market? Week of August 24th

I won’t be at market tomorrow, sending our top notch crew to take the market on. I have a lot of field work to get done to start preparing for fall cover crops, more fall plantings, and some of our remaining plantings that will overwinter.

Hopefully you saw the email I sent out about Tomatoes. We have a lot of Heirlooms and Slicers right now, so we’re offering a flat price. Also if you want #2 tomatoes for saucing please let us know, we can put a box together for you.

This weather is ideal for veggies to grow. Our fall plantings of broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, and lettuce are all glowing. Should make for a bountiful fall. Our winter squash is getting close to finishing up as well.

This week is the first week that we have our potatoes at market. (The fingerlings are all done) The two varieties we’ll have at market right now are the Carola (Yellow, perfect flavor, our favorite variety) and Rio Colorado (A red skin, white flesh). Try’em out and let us know what you think.

Oh, one more thing, our boy Demian turns one next week and he just started walking this past week. Life is never dull in these parts. We’re loving it!

See you at market!

At market this week:

• Basil
• Beets
• Beans
• Bok Choy
• Braising Mix
• Napa Cabbage
• Carrots
• Chard
• Cilantro
• Cucumbers
• Eggplant
• Garlic
• Kale
• Leeks
• head Lettuce
• Sweet Onions
• Red Onions
• Parsley
• Strawberries
• Bell Peppers
• Potatoes
• Salad Mix
• Spinach
• Tomatoes
• Zukes
• Kohlrabi

What’s at Market? Week of August 17th

Melanie, Demian, and I actually got off the farm and out of the county for the weekend. We visited some friends up in Corvallis. What did we do while visiting up there? Well our addiction to farming shines through… we went to the Corvallis Farmers Market and visited Gathering Together Farm . Yep we’re definitely into farming. Visiting the market was great. We got some new ideas for displays and presentation for our own market stand as well as getting to see the wonderful wares of the senior farmers we aspire towards: Springhill Farm, Denison Family Farm, and Gathering Together Farm. Amazing produce these farms have.

Our trip out to Gathering Together was really nice too. They grow around 45 acres of produce as well as having a separate farmer that has a seed growing operation, and an onsite farmstand/restaurant. And a little secret that I must pass along: They had some weeds in their field too. Just made me feel better seeing/knowing this. We were able to walk around the fields, oggle at their tractor cultivation setups, check out their wash/pack area, and take in the beautiful fields of produce. There is something to be said for growing produce at such a scale. There are a lot of efficiencies that you can’t achieve at our 6 acres of production scale, but that being said there are advantages to our size too. But that’s a whole chapter to write about in the winter.

All in all the weekend vacation of sorts was great. And Demian is walking like a madman now too. I think it was our friend’s two year old that prompted Demian to try and “catch up” even though we’re fine with him progressing at whatever pace works for him. But he’s a real go getter so we won’t stop him.

On to the food for the week:

• Arugula
• Basil
• Beets
• Beans
• Bok Choy is back.
• Napa Cabbage is here.
• Carrots
• Chard
• Cilantro
• Collards
• Cukes
• Dill
• Eggplant
• Garlic
• Kale
• Leeks
• Melons (Cantaloupe and Watermelon)
• Red Onions
• Sweet Onions
• Parsley
• Strawberries
• Bell Peppers
• Fingerling Potatoes
• Salad Mix
• Spinach is back for the rest of summer/fall
• Tomatoes- still here but in a lull between Hoophouses so not as many this week
• Zukes
• Kohlrabi

What’s at Market? Week of August 10th

Melanie and I have been married for six years as of today the 11th of August. We’ve been farming in southern Oregon for almost all of those 6 years (minus just a few months). What a ride it’s been and yet we feel like we’re just getting started with our farming venture. It seems that we’re just starting to catch a glimpse of what is really possible as far as growing on a small scale but in a very effective and efficient manner. Thanks to all of you for being so supportive of us whether you’ve joined us from the very first season or if this is the first time you’ve been along for the ride- it all makes it happen for us at the farm- knowing we have a community behind us.  We have a load of ideas for next season already, and yet we’re fully immersed in the bounty of this season. Things couldn’t be better. And our son Demian turns one year old in less than a month. Bounty everywhere.

This week at market:

• Arugula
• Basil
• Beets
• Green Beans
• Braising Mix
• Cabbage
• Carrots
• Chard
• Cilantro !!!!!!!!!!
• Cukes
• Dill
• Eggplant
• Garlic
• Kale
• Leeks
• Cantaloupe
• Watermelon
• Red Onions
• Sweet Onions
• Parsley
• Bell Peppers
• Fingerling Potatoes
• Salad Mix
• Tomatoes
• Zukes
• Kohlrabi

What’s at Market? Week of August 4th

My mom has been here visiting for a week. It’s been really awesome to have her around. She and Demian get along great! And it’s been a nice break for Melanie and I to have Mom watch him for a bit while we get farm chores done. She’s always been a great mom to me and now she’s a fantastic grammy. She might be at market with us tomorrow (Tuesday) so if you see her say “Hi”.

So this week at market more summer veggies are showing up. Here’s what’s on the plate:

• Basil (It keeps getting chewed on by the cucumber beetles this year. Frustrating but it still tastes great!)
• Beets
• Beans (We’ll be getting into a new succession of “Jade” beans next week)
• Braising Mix
• Cabbage
• Carrots
• Chard
• Cucumbers
• Dill
• Eggplant
• Garlic (Music is the variety- a hardneck)
• Kale
• Leeks
• Cantaloupe !!!! The first melons. Very sweet. A limited number so show up early to get these.
• Red Onions
• Sweet Onions
• Parsley
• Strawberries
• Green Bell Peppers (and some white and purple too. but same flavor as greens)
• Fingerling Potatoes
• Salad Mix
• Tomatoes
• Zucchini

I’ve had several CSA members mention that maybe the best way to get recipes out and around is for you to email your recipes to me and then I can cut and paste to the blog. Sounds great and easy to me. So please feel free to email any recipes you have.

See you at market!!!!

What’s at Market? Week of July 27th

Not sure how it happened but it’s almost August. I ate a Watermelon today from the garden. It wasn’t ripe though. But still refreshing. I can’t believe the weather we’ve been having- all the veggies are simply loving it. There haven’t been gigantic flushes of anything, just nice steady flow o’ veggies. That’s what we like.

Still more of the same on the farm- harvest a lot, transplant and seed more produce, keep up on the weeds once in a while and go to farmers market 3 times a week. That 8th day could come in handy- although we’d probably find another market to go to anyway.

So this week at market:

• Arugula
• Basil
• Beets
• Green Beans
• Braising Mix
• Scallions
• Cabbage
• Carrots
• Chard
• Cucumber (Slicing andd Striped Armenian)
• Dill
• Eggplant (Both Globe and Japanese)
• Kale
• Leeks
• Sweet Onions
• Red Onions
• Parsley
• Strawberries
• Fingerling Potatoes
• Salad Mix
• Tomatoes !!!
• Zucchini

And I must say you can stamp a FAIL on my forehead in the recipe department. It’s not that I don’t want to share recipes with all of our great members, it’s just that I keep physically running out of time in the day. For instance if you’ll notice I’m typing this up at around 11pm and I’ll be up at 4:30 to leave the farm by 5 to make deliveries and then setup at market. So fitting recipes in is tough. I think next season might be easier. Anyone have any ideas how we can get recipes out to the greater CSA community? If you do, please drop me an email. (Available on our contact page here on the website)

Finally, last thing…. The folks we bought our new farmland from are selling their newly built home that sits on 17 acres. If you or anyone you know are looking for a brand new custom built home and need someone to farm organic veggies on the acreage, let me know. Or if you just want to live across the street from some interestingly dedicated organic farmers, that’s great too! The land has been certified organic for several years already as pasture for organic dairy cows. Beautiful wonderful soil and the new house really is something else. Here’s a link if you want to check it out.

See you at market.

What’s at Market? Week of July 20th

Whew! There’s a lot of food out there. And we’ve been picking a lot of it:

• Arugula
• Basil
• Beets
• Beans
• Braising Mix
• Brocoli
• Scallions
• Cabbage
• Carrots
• Chard
• Cucumbers
• Kale
• Sweet Onions
• Parsley
• Strawberries
• Fingerling Potatoes
• Salad Mix
• Tomatoes
• Zucchini

The first Saturday Ashland Market was great! So many new folks I’d never seen before. That’s a good thing- it means folks who can’t or don’t normally make it to market are now making it there. The location is great and I couldn’t believe how many people walked and biked, and was even more amazed at how many people actually asked for bags for their produce. I would estimate 80% used their own bags. Good stuff!

Well time to get some sleep. 4 am comes early. Have to load the tomatoes for market before we go!

See you at market!

Ashland Saturday Market

Bring your own bags. Please help reduce plastic bag consumption.

Key of C Coffee House will be offering a .15 cent discount
to market customers who bring their own mugs.

Rogue Valley Growers & Crafters Market now accepts EBT/Oregon Trail, ATM and credit card payments.
ATM & CCs are charged a small transaction fee.

Please forward this announcement; show the farmers your appreciation for all the hard work and love they put into growing our food. Let’s send the farmers home with empty trucks.

more information: 261-0577

What’s at Market? Week of July 13th

Today finally felt like a summer harvest day. It was hot and muggy, and we picked Green Beans, Zucchini, Eggplant, Potatoes, and a bunch of Strawberries. That sounds like summer to me. Around 4 this afternoon smoke from a California fire rolled into the valley- you couldn’t see the hills behind the farm. That sounds like summer to me.

This week at market:

• Arugula
• Rooted Basil !!!!
• Beets
• Green Beans
• Braising Mix
• Broccoli
• Scallions
• Cabbage
• Cauliflower
• Carrots
• Chard
• Collards
• Cucumbers
• Eggplant
• Kale
• Pearl Drop Onions
• Sweet Onions
• PArsley
• Strawberries
• Fingerling Potatoes
• Salad Mix
• Tomatoes
• Zucchini

So I’m hoping everyone can find something in that list that they like to eat.

If you haven’t heard, this Saturday the Ashland Market begins. Yep, it’s actually going to be a reality. Very exciting. It will be at the new parking lot across from the Post Office in downtown. The hours are 9 am - 1pm. We’re very interested to see what comes of the Saturday market and how it affects (or doesn’t) the Tuesday market. The best part of the whole thing is how many folks that can’t make it during the week will be able to attend. Tell your friends! Tell your enemies! Tell everyone you know that eats. We’ll be there with food, and so will others.

See you at market,

Chris, Melanie, and Demian

Growing Optimism

Oregon State University’s Extension has a magazine, Oregon’s Agricultural Progress. There’s a story this month highlighting the new generation of farmers.

We were one of those interviewed.

If you’d like to check out the story it’s here

Really nice article, aimed at OSU extension supporters that read the magazine. It’s good to let people know there’s a few of us (farmers) left. And Lynn Ketchum takes some amazing photos. He and Tiffany were really fun folks to talk with too.

The only downside to the story is the fact that the farming couples are profiled with the implication being the man of the team running the show. Or so it is presented. That’s somewhat frustrating to me. Our farm wouldn’t be what it is without Melanie or I. But time and time again (not just this article, but throughout the ag movement) it’s assumed that the man is running the show. This has been true more often in the past, but I really feel this has changed in the last 20 years or so. At least it has within the organic farming movement. Couples work together as a farming team. You almost have to. When a farm grows 50 or more different veggies there’s just too much to be tackled for one person. And I feel that men and women have a very different eye for certain aspects too. Whether it’s noticing a bug infestation, or a bunch of carrots that were bunched too big, it works really well to have multiple perspectives. So I just want to put it out there that we and many other farms owe great respect to our respective partners and how equal of a part they play in the madness we call farming.

After thinking about this for a few and rereading the article, maybe it’s not that it’s implied that the man’s running the show so much as the fact that the “team effort” side of things is a really important angle to be addressed and paired with this upcoming/future generation of farmers. That’s maybe a clearer picture of what would have made me more content with the article.

What’s at Market? Week of July 6th

No new pictures of the farm this week. It seems that there isn’t a cell phone made yet that can withstand the rigors of farm life, i.e. dirt. So I’m back to my old phone that just makes phone calls. No camera in the field till I get the new one in the mail.

At market this week:

• Basil (loose, the rooted basil is another week or so out)
• Beets
• Braising Mix
• Broccoli
• Scallions
• Cabbage
• Cauliflower
• Carrots
• Chard
• Collards
• Cukes (The first few.)
• Kale
• Lettuce (Probably the last of it for a month or so)
• Pearl Drop Onions (How do people like these? Grow again next year? Comments?)
• Walla Walla Sweet Onions
• Parsley
• Strawberries (Making a comeback)
• Fingerling Potatoes (Yes, potatoes are back)
• Salad Mix
• Spinach
• Tomatoes (The first few)
• Zucchini

That’s all we have for the week. Guess it’ll have to do.

See you at market!