Our Tomato harvest has begun, and Summer Squash and Cucumbers are abundantly producing their fruits. (Botanically speaking, if there are seeds inside, it is a fruit, even though we call it a vegetable.) Our harvests get more colorful this time of year as reds, yellows, orange and purples appear as our foods. Cabbage is also fantastic right now and won't be around for long, so scoop some up and enjoy the crunch it brings to your salads.
Here on the farm it has been a week of peaceful work outside while closely following the tumult in our country. As biologists and farmers, we have a bit of a unique perspective on diversity: Our work as organic farmers is to mimic nature as much as possible, and nature tells us that a healthy environment encourages and supports diversity. This is why we grow more than 50 different crops AND facilitate biological diversity IN the soil (macro and micro). We have the same approach to people and we believe our farm is healthiest with a diverse range of race, heritage, religions, etc., represented amongst our staff. However, small scale organic farming in our country is tremendously dominated by white people - both the farmers and the customers. We are trying to change this in the small ways that we can while acting against the racial oppression that started on this continent 400 years ago. We deliberately seek diversity through our staff recruitment. We confront diversity on many fronts during our early season staff training as well as facilitating kind and productive discussion throughout the season. We strive to listen to Black and Brown voices in our community and amplify their message. And now this season we are also donating food to BIPOC-led (Black, Indigenous, or People of Color) groups preparing meals for those engaged in peaceful demonstration. If you would like to donate money so that we can donate more food, many people will be most grateful. You can donate through the "Donation to Food Bank" item here in Harvie and send us an email stating that you would like the donation to be to a meal-prep group. Harvie keeps 10% of any payment through this site, so if you'd like 100% of your donation to go toward this food, you can write us a check with that information in the memo line. (Any "Donation to Food Bank" item without specific instruction gets donated to the Food Pantry at St. Stephens Episcopal Church.)
If you would like to do more and support Black led farming organizations, Soul Fire Farm has compiled an excellent list of entities here. As Soul Fire authors state: "The food system was built on the stolen land and stolen labor of Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian and people of color." This is true. We need to eat, and if those with the financial means to support agricultural justice can help rectify the food system, we will all benefit.
Thank you for the ways in which each of you are spreading peace in our community.
In case you missed the details below in the first week of your Farm Share, please read to the end.
- When you arrive at pick up: Find the bin with your name, take the contents, and leave us the empty green bin.
Check your label for any circled items that will be separate from the bag. (Ie: Tomatoes, Bread, Flowers.) Collect those items.
Blessings on your meals, and wash your hands often ~
