You're My Little Potato

This week we had a phenomenal potato harvest. We pulled up the 3 beds of potatoes that we'd planted under landscape fabric earlier this year, and ended up with a grand total of 700 pounds of German Butterballs. We planted 10 1/2 beds of potatoes this year and we have 5 1/2 beds to go. We were lucky to have some excellent volunteers by our side in the process: Maryanna, Ben, and Nile were a huge help. Check out this little guy to the left--he thought he might grow wings and fly!

The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation Employee Giving Luncheon

Pictured: Jean Hochron, Jerry Dillon, Woody Woodroof, Amy Kleine and Jack Dillon
We are pleased to announce that on July 21st Red Wiggler was presented with a $10,000 unsolicited contribution as a special "Employee Giving Grant" via Amy Kleine and The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation! Amy Kleine awarded our group last week during their Annual Employee Giving Luncheon.

About a month ago I was walking into the office from the fields and I got an unexpected call from Amy Kleine who is a program officer at the Weinberg Foundation. She informed me that she had chosen Red Wiggler to receive her 2009 Employee Giving Grant. I was speechless. We were unaware that such a program existed and this contribution came at just the right time. While many of our regular donors continue to make contributions to our Annual Fund it is true that the economy is effecting our donors and Annual Fund gifts are down. This gift bridges the gap! And for us this recognition is a tremendous shot in the arm at this time. Our team here at Red Wiggler is so grateful to Amy Kleine and The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation Trustees for this special gift. This gift will go a long way as we work to "create fertile ground to nourish a healthy and inclusive community."
Click here to see the notes for Amys' award speach

We're back!! Harvest Week #9

We're back in CSA action and continuing to bring ya the good stuff!

This week:
Beets
Beans
Peppers
Eggplant
Potatoes
Hot Peppers
Red Tomatoes
Cherry Tomatoes

Yeah for veggies!

FARM TOUR IS HERE!

It's the moment we've all been waiting for (Drum roll please!) It's the Montgomery County Farm Tour! Red Wiggler will be hosting an amazing open house for you, your friends, and all the friends of the farm. We hope that you will join us for freshly picked produce, local honey, wagon rides, baby bluebird spotting, farm art, bluegrass in the barn, and tours of our very own solar powered home. If you haven't been out to the farm before, this is a great way to get to know the place. We're located at 23400 Ridge Rd, Germantown, MD, close to a slew of other farms who are also participating in the farm tour. There's something for everyone, so come join us!
When: Saturday July 25th 10am-4pm
see our web site for more

No CSA this Week--It's the Annual Montgomery County Farm Tour

Howdy,

Just in case you didn't get the message, there is NO CSA this week, we're prepping for the Annual Montgomery County Farm Tour. Red Wiggler will be open Saturday, July 25th from 10am-4pm offering farm based fun, fresh veggies and local honey for sale. Hope you can make it out for a visit!

Here's the official link for the event:
http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/agstmpl.asp?url=/content/DED/AgServices/agfarmtour.asp

Harvest #8--NO Pick up next week!

Hi All,

Next week is the Annual Montgomery County Farm Tour and Red Wiggler will be closed for CSA pick up and open on Saturday, July 25th as a stop on the Farm Tour 10am-4pm.
This weeks Worms Voice- our CSA newsletter
For this week's harvest:
Beets
Turnips
Garlic
Summer Squash
Cucumbers
Potatoes
Peppers
Eggplant
Red Tomatoes

and the ever lovely PYO and wildflowers! (Basil is available)

Head Lettuce Heading Out

Dear Friends,

The time has come. Our lovely friend the head lettuce, is passing on to better things (like your salad bowl) and won't be back until the fall. We've really enjoyed the time we've got to spend with the head lettuce, and hope you've enjoyed the four glorious weeks it made it into your CSA Share.
We've loved all of our head lettuces, and choosing a favorite is a little bit like choosing a favorite child---impossible. So that's why we thought we'd let you choose. Please tell us who your favorite head lettuce was and we'll keep that in mind as we plan for the fall and next spring. (We promise we won't tell them!)

Your choices are:

Malawi Red Oakleaf ------------ Garrison Red Oakleaf









Simpson Elite -----------------Sylvesta Green Butterhead









New Red Fire Red Leaf
Write us a comment or let us know at pick up who the winner was for you! Thanks!

Internship Photo Journal Week One

Hello Folks,
This summer we're welcoming several interns to the farm. One of them, Stephen, will be posting a photo journal on the blog, sharing some of what he has been up to on the job. This week we laid straw for the winter squash and pumpkins to grow over. The straw helps control insects and weeds, and lets the long winter squash and pumpkin vines spread out comfortably. Here's what Stephen captured on camera of the task, and what he had to say about it.

Hi I am Stephen this is my photo of hay on July 10. I had fun.

Harvest #7-A

Sorry for the delay, it's been busy around here...but isn't it always?

What we've got for ya:
This weeks Worms Voice- our CSA newsletter

Head Lettuce (the last of it)
Turnips
Radishes
Kohlrabi
Spring Onions
Chard OR Kale
Summer Squash, which includes Zucchinis
Cucumbers
Garlic--the first of many!!!

Happy Eating! Yum!

Request for Share Pick up Switch

Our CSA member, Michele, is going to be out of town for two Saturday pick ups: August 8th and August 22nd. She is normally an alternate Saturday B share. She would like to switch for any day other than those, Saturdays and Wednesdays are both OK. Please email her directly if you would like to switch with her. She can be reached at michelenutrition@aol.com

Thanks!

Return of our slithering friend

Guess which favorite buddy of ours left us a little present on the roof of the milk barn! Just our old pal, the black rat snake of previous post's fame. Do you see her shed skin flapping in the breeze by the old flower pot? She must have crawled up in the roof there where it's nice and warm to shed. And who can blame her? I certainly can't think of a better place to keep my skin!