NEWS FLASH

Canning Farm is coming to Olin-Fox Farms with their new state-of-the-art freezer truck full of USDA certified, grain-fed beef. It is hormone and antibiotic-free. Email or phone us of your interest. Watch our website and the Weekly Weeder for arrival dates and more information.

This Week's News from the Farms

  Perfect weather for growing things!  Farmers and plants are rejoicing over the recent spate of rainy weather. The gentle rains on Monday were sufficient to give John, Alice and Danica time to get into the greenhouse and it now looks ‘simply mahvelous’!  They managed to stalk the tomatoes and weed and mulch the produce plots, so that the peppers, marigolds and basil interplanted with the tomatoes all have plenty of room to grow. 

  Thanks to the rain, they were even finally able to place support stakes for the trellises around the tomato plants outside the greenhouse.  Up until recently, the ground was just too hard! 

  We are pleased to report that the gravel has been laid and the frame has been installed for our new packing shed.  If all goes well, farm pick-ups this week will take place in the new shed which will be easier and more efficient for everyone.

  Many people have expressed interest in visiting Olin-Fox Farms as well as our member farms.  In response, we are in the process arranging tours and events with our fine family of farms.  We hope to have the trails open at Olin-Fox Farms by mid-July and envision an event there for later in the season. 

  Mark your calendars and plan to attend Locusville Plantation’s  4th annual Music Festival on Saturday, September 16, 2006 from 1 to 8 pm.  This is a fine opportunity to tour one of our member farms using heritage farming techniques while enjoying live music outdoors.  This event offers something for people of all ages including a good variety of music.  Sharon at Locusville operates a lovely store featuring products from the farm as well as other hand-made and interesting items.  It is located in Lancaster County not far from Lively at 583 Slabtown Road.  If you would like to visit the Locusville Plantation store, it is open Thursday through Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm.

  Due to our field requirements and high volume of inquiries, email responses may take a day or two.  If the email is critical, we will do our best to respond immediately.  Please be assured that current members are responded to first.  Busiest times are Wednesdays and Thursdays as we prepare your shares for the week.

With only two more weeks remaining until the end of our spring program on June 30th, plans are well underway for the summer season.  As we reported last week, both of our Alexandria locations are already sold out, but we do have a waiting list for the 2007 season.  To ensure your spot for the Summer Program, sign up by Friday, June 23rd.  You can find a membership form on our website, www.olinfoxfarms.com.  Or, you can call us for a brochure (804-453-4125) or visit us at the Farmer's Markets in Irvington and Heathsville.

Crop Report:  Thanks to the much needed rain, things are really booming now.  Tomatoes are flowering and even a few little ones are visible.  Lettuce loves this cool, wet weather, so it’s thriving as well.  The vigorous horseradish is growing by leaps and bounds.  We let our Arugula go to seed (remember those yummy flowers in the Winter Shares?) and now we can see some sprouts emerging.  The squash is really going crazy, coming in large amounts.  Cucumbers are also coming on strong.  The corn is almost growing before our eyes and we should have some in the 1st or 2nd week of July.  Beets will be available this week.

Weekly Weeder, June 14, 2006 Page 2

In Your Produce Basket This Week

Asparagus, beets, Pontiac red potatoes, yellow & zucchini squash, Red Russian kale, cucumber, English peas, cauliflower.

Fruit Shares: Black Berries