Just because fall is here and winter is around the corner doesn’t mean you have to stop eating locally-grown produce from farmers you know and trust. This year, Where the Redfearn Grows Natural Farms is offering our first ever Winter CSA!
Winter growing is actually what got Dave started in organic gardening and farming in the first place. Dave first geeked out about winter growing back in 2009 after reading a couple books from his farming hero Elliot Coleman: The Four Season Harvest and The New Organic Grower. Ever since then, even back in our suburban lot, we’ve been experimenting with low-tech season extension and winter production of nutrient-dense foods. One of the first things we built in 2013 was a high tunnel. Now we have a greenhouse and two huge unheated high tunnels along with dozens of mini-low tunnels where we pump out winter production.
Growing in winter in Independence, MO is a challenge, but it’s a lot of fun as well. We grow a wide variety of cold-hardy crops that can withstand the freezing temperatures even under protection. Top producers are spinach, kale, carrots, radishes, lettuce, arugula, green onions, asian stir-fry mix, bok choy, cilantro, parsley, salad turnips and collards. We also grow some novelty greens that make excellent winter salads like minituna, mache, claytonia and endive. We’ll also throw in some storage crops we’ve held over like sweet potatoes, winter squash, garlic and maybe some daikon radishes.
You can’t imagine how good a fresh carrot tastes that has been nipped by the frost! The starches turn to sugar as part of the carrot’s winterizing process which makes them the sweetest carrots you can imagine. Something similar happens to the greens as well. We think the spinach and kale are particularly at their peak in winter. Our winter produce will knock the socks off of the hydroponic stuff sprayed with who-knows-what and trucked-in from who-know-where. Isn’t it awesome to have the chance to eat locally and seasonally right here in KC?
So here’s how the program works: Sign up now to become a member and to get a box of produce just about every other week throughout the season. The Winter CSA will consist of 9 pickups at the farm in Independence, MO on the following Mondays: Nov 20, Dec 4, Dec 18, Jan 29, Feb 12, Feb 26, Mar 12, Mar 26, and Apr 9. Pickup time will be 3pm to 6pm. You’ll receive a total of 7 items per pickup. We’ll try to offer choices between a few items whenever possible, but given the challenge of winter production, the boxes will be mostly determined by the winter growing conditions.
The first pickup will be before Thanksgiving so you can pick up your sweet potatoes and other Thanksgiving fixings at the farm! We’ll also have some of our on-farm raised ham’s and steaks available for sale at all the pickup times.
This is your chance to eat fresh even in winter! There is no work requirement associated with the winter CSA. Just come on out to the farm and enjoy the magic of winter growing! And of course be prepared for the main season CSA staring up in the spring!
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