Thursday, October 29, 2009

Field Interviews

Ever wonder how some of our younger volunteers see their farm experiences? Tobias, age 6, was kind enough to share his thoughts in an interview:

What did you do at the farm today?

I planted garlic and picked kale and got radishes and beets.

How do you pick kale?

You look for the ones that don't have holes in them. The bigger leaves, the better.

And what about the radishes and beets?

You see the ball and pull it out. If it's too small, ask if it's big enough. If it's ugly [has yellow leaves, or insect or other damage], just put it down on the ground.

Now, how do you plant garlic?

You make the soil loose, and then put down the garlic pieces. Have the pointy side up, and push it down in the ground. Make sure the pointy side stays up. Press it down so far that you can't see it. Then cover up the hole.

And when I got home, I planted garlic, just like you're supposed to [the way I learned at the farm].

Why do you volunteer at Red Wiggler?

It is fun to work pulling stuff out, putting stuff on tractors, picking tomatoes and all sorts of stuff like that.

Thanks, Tobias!
Field InterviewsSocialTwist Tell-a-Friend

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Extended Harvest #2 2009

It's the second week of the extended season harvest. It's a little yucky out if you don't like a little rain, but thank goodness it's fairly warm out. We've got a ton of volunteers helping out today--thanks! Makes everything go faster.

This week's harvest looks like:

Braising Mix
Tatsoi
Head Lettuce
Kale--so beautiful
Carrots
Potatoes
Sweet Peppers
Hot Peppers
Eggplant
Winter Squash
Garlic
Your choice: Beets or Turnips or Radishes!
Extended Harvest #2 2009SocialTwist Tell-a-Friend

Friday, October 23, 2009

Web Site Under Construction

We appear to be experiencing a disruption with our web site www.redwiggler.org today. We hope to resolve this asap.

Contact us by phone at 301-916-2216(Office) or 301-802-2386 (cell)
also our regular email addresses are working fine.

For directions to Red Wiggler search for adress on google or mapquest
23400 Ridge Rd
Germantown MD
20876

Thanks,
Woody Woodroof
Executive Director
Web Site Under ConstructionSocialTwist Tell-a-Friend

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

1st week of the Extended CSA Season

We've harvested some beautiful vegetables for the Extended CSA program which begins today (and continues thru to the week before Thanksgiving).
Generally CSA members can expect lots of green peppers and hot peppers, eggplant, lots of cooking greens, turnips (with tops), winter squash, garlic and perhaps a few other surprises.

In other news- we have started planting garlic for next season. Our cover crops of rye, clover, forage radishes, hairy vetch, oats, and winter peas have germinated and will help fix nitrogen for next years crops while keeping the soil protected from wind and weather this winter.

We are grateful to the over 120 CSA member households for your business and your enthusiasm. For those of you in our winter extended CSA program we hope you enjoy your veges!

This harvest was SO beautiful that we just had to share the snapshot!

And the veggies for today's pick up include:
Braising Mix
Tatsoi
Pac Choi
Kale
Radishes
Turnips
Beets
Sweet Peppers
Hot Peppers
Eggplant
Winter Squash
1st week of the Extended CSA SeasonSocialTwist Tell-a-Friend

Tuesday, October 06, 2009

Harvest #18 B The last of the 2009 Regular Season

Hello Folks!

This is THE last of the 2009 Regular Season Harvest and Pick up. We want to extend a HUGE thank you to all our CSA members for all their support and patronage this season. Thank you and enjoy your food!

** Please note for all you right at 2 o'clock Wednesday pick up people, we've got a huge tour bus of people having a late lunch and talk with us, so most likely we'll have you pick up your shares in the bottom of the barn. Once there out, we'll transition back upstairs. Thanks in advance for your patience!


This week:
Garlic
Winter Squash
Potatoes
Carrots
Sweet Peppers
Hot Peppers
Eggplant
Pac Choi (Bok Choy)
Kale or Collards or Chard
Beets or Turnips or Radishes
Arugula
Lettuce Mix

Enjoy!!!
Harvest #18 B The last of the 2009 Regular SeasonSocialTwist Tell-a-Friend

Friday, October 02, 2009

Tour Red Wiggler's 800 Sq. Ft. Solar Home Saturday October 3rd from 11am-5pm


The Red Wiggler Solar House - a 21st-century farmhouse powered by the sun - was fully installed at the end July as a year-round staff residence. Originally one of 20 entries in the 2005 US Solar Decathlon, the 800-square-foot house is a fully solar-powered prototype designed and built by University of Maryland students for competition on Washington DC's National Mall; and was generously donated to the farm by the University of Maryland.

The house is grid-tied to the local electric utility, but has been completely self-sufficient - generating enough electricity during peak-demand summer months to power the house (air-conditioning, general electricity, cooking and laundry) and produce extra power that can go back into the grid. The house also has a solar hot-water system.

Join us Oct. 3rd for a free tour of the house and learn more about its eco-friendly features: radiant heating, natural ventilation, recycled and recyclable materials, FSC-certified woods, Energy Star appliances and more.

Useful Links

Tour Red Wiggler's 800 Sq. Ft. Solar Home Saturday October 3rd from 11am-5pmSocialTwist Tell-a-Friend