Agriculture Supported Communities: Notes from the Field

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May 7, 2013: Greetings from the farm! As you can see from the photos below, we are doing all kinds of transplanting and seeding right now. Broccoli, kale, cabbage, napa cabbage, peas, carrots, beets, radishes, onions, leeks, lettuce, pac choy, mesclun mix, spinach, turnips and beans are all in the ground.

We just got a wonderful new water wheel transplanter that makes our job a little easier. I am so excited about it! We still do some transplanting by hand, but the water wheel transplanter not only makes the job go a little faster, it also waters in the baby plants right away ensuring that their roots are hydrated well for their transition into the field. We can even use a compost extract mix to give them a little nutritional boost!

We also cover a lot of things in early spring with a thin white cottony blanket that is called row cover. It helps to protect our leafy crops from flea beetles and also creates a lovely micro climate underneath that encourages things to grow a little faster.

When is the first delivery?

The question on everyone’s mind! This spring has taken its time to warm up. The nights are still fairly cold and rain has been inconsistent. All of this affects the rate of plant growth. I cannot tell for sure yet when your first deliveries may start, but I am beginning to estimate around the last week of May or perhaps the first week of June. I will keep you posted. Don’t worry it will be here before you know it!

NEW! Sacred Heart Hospital
Sigal Center, 450 W. Chew Street in Allentown
Tuesdays, 3:00 – 5:00 pm

Lehigh Valley Academy
NOTE: This location is slightly different from last year
1560 Valley Center Parkway, Bethlehem
Tuesdays, 4:00 – 5:00 pm
Tuesdays, 5:00 – 6:00 pm (only if your credit card is on file or you have pre-paid your share)

Rodale Institute
611 Siegfriedale Road, Kutztown
Tuesdays, 4:00 – 5:00 pm

13th and Green Elementary School
501 North 13th Street, Reading
Thursdays, 2:30 – 4:00 pm

Rodale Inc. (For employees only)
Thursdays, 4:00 – 5:00 pm

New partnership!

This year the Rodale Institute’s ASC Program has partnered with Buy Fresh Buy Local, Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation, Jordan Heights Neighborhood Community Action Development Corporation, and Sacred Heart Hospital to create the brand new pick up site at Sacred Heart Hospital, Sigal Center, 450 W. Chew Street in Allentown! Pick up days are: Tuesdays 3:00 – 5:00 pm.

If you know of anyone interested in participating in the ASC program who would like to pick up in Allentown please have them contact me at cynthia.james@rodaleinstitute.org.

New sponsorships!

This season we have also been fortunate enough to receive donations in the form of seeds and tools from several companies. We’d like to shout out a big thank you to: High Mowing Organic Seeds, Johnny’s Selected Seeds, Seedway, Corona Tools and Nolt’s Produce Supplies for their contributions to the Rodale Institute’s ASC Program.  We encourage you to check out their websites and support these companies through their quality products.

New and returning members!

We’d also like to thank you for participating in your local food system and supporting the Rodale Institute’s ASC Program. Through your membership you are also supporting research and education for organic agriculture as well as a program that trains our future organic farmers. We look forward to seeing you soon!

If you know of anyone else who would enjoy receiving fresh, local, organic produce all season long for an affordable price, we do still have a few memberships available. Please have them contact me at cynthia.james@rodaleinstitute.org for more information.

I will be in touch soon with more information and fun facts!

Until then,
Eat well!

Cynthia James
Food Production Specialist
Rodale Institute’s ASC Program
610-683-1439
Cynthia.james@rodaleinstitute.org