If you are involved in any way with Farm to Folk, we want to talk to you!  Iowa State students are looking for producers and members of Farm to Folk to interview for a class project.  We would like to examine the role technology plays in Farm to Folk communication, and how that technology could be improved to better suit your needs.  Interviews would be conducted over the phone or in person, whenever and wherever works best for you.  If you are interested in participating, please contact: Catherine Peloquin email: peloquin@iastate.edu, phone: 515-294-5318 during working hours, 319-290-5829 evenings

Meet the Members

This week we have a little different take on the usual member introduction.  Greta Anderson is new producer this year at Farm to Folk and she also has been working with the folks at Beyond Welfare to find ways improve nutrition for the group.  She submits the following report on their apple picking activity at Berry Patch Farm:

A Healthy Turn-Out 

Last Saturday, about 25 people in poverty and their middle-class friends picked as many apples as they could carry, enjoyed beautiful Iowa fall weather, picnicked in the shade, socialized with each other on a hay ride, and were nudged closer to the healthy lifestyles we all aspire to -- without pressure or shame.  

The occasion was a grant to Beyond Welfare by Ames Noon Rotary, supported also by Farm to Folk. Beyond Welfare is an Ames-based organization that meets once a week on Thursday nights to work to nurture friendships between people of means and those without, to create a genuinely inclusive community. In a survey, this community identified “nature topics” as something they’d like to explore further.

One problem people in poverty face every day is adequate nutrition; the cheapest and “fastest” foods, as we know, are heavily dosed with subsidized simple carbohydrates. As a result, diabetes rates have been reported to be twice as high among people of poverty. Obesity is also a class-based food issue. As part of the grant, we discussed these issues with the group, and the health, social, and economic benefits of eating locally.

The apple-picking group included a teenager with diabetes and an obese mother of a multi-diagnosis (including ADHD), unruly 10-year-old boy who pleaded with his mother for apples the day we discussed the possibilities for our grant. It also included my foster son, who was raised on McDonalds and "doesn't do" vegetables, most fresh fruits, milk, potatoes, etc. Kind of frustrating for a vegetable farming family! He could not resist the Henrys’ sweet apples, and has been eating literally at least three Golden Delicious apples a day since!

What was great was how the experience and the conversation that preceded it created a buzz for fresh, local food. One person asked whether we could write a grant for a rototiller to create garden patches; others have promoted a pumpkin carving (and seed-roasting) evening – which BW has scheduled for next Thursday, using pumpkins from our patch! 

It was great working with Farm to Folk, the Henrys, and of course our major sponsor, the Ames Noon Rotary Club. The trees are just dripping with apples – and they are so luscious! Everybody, I recommend you take a couple hours out of your week and get out there and enjoy the lovely weather yourselves!

 

--Greta Anderson

 
 

Berry Patch Farm

Free Hayrides Saturday and Sunday 1 - 5 pm.
Now harvesting several varieties of apples.  Quantity discounts!

Sale price on red raspberries!  
Pick your own or pre-picked available at the farm.

Full Circle Farm

We will now be delivering on the first and third Tuesdays of the month.

Grains of Wisdom

We'll deliver weekly through October 14, then go to every other week delivery.

Iowa Fresh Produce

Small Potatoes Farm

Hello Everyone,   Deliveries   For the extended share we will at least be bringing 'Elba' potatoes, carrots, peppers, beans, remaining tomatoes, arugula, winter squash, beets, and greens.    Happenings   It seems like October came fast this year. Having a challenging growing season, labor problems and a new baby kept us very busy. We were glad things worked out in the end. The advantage of having such diverse crops is that something will always grow well at some time of the year. We hope you enjoyed the regular season. If you think of questions or comments, please keep them recorded as we'll have an opportunity this winter to discuss them. I'll also be preparing a year-end report to send to everyone this winter.   The summer crops such as basil, summer squash and tomatoes are waning. They do not grow well when the nights and days are so cool. They are all at the end of their life cycles and we've been selecting the remaining fruits that are left. Winter squash vines are dying back, but since plantings were behind this year, the earlier maturing acorn squash has been the only good producer of mature squashes so far.      What's Happening In The Kitchen and What Stacy's Mom Is Doing   Our first combined categories. Our kitchen creativity has been stifled by the major construction efforts on the house. Stacy's mother has gifted new insulation, new doors, some windows and siding for the warmth and comfort of her daughter and baby. Everything is in complete disarray and dirty, but very exciting. Working on such an old house has proved to be a challenge for the crews. Installing a window here causes plaster to fall there, and so on. The biggest challenge, however, is keeping Stacy calm amidst a mess she can't clean up.   Have a great week.   Rick, Stacy and Matilda

Recipes: