Fern-Tanaka Farms CSA - Update!

Hi Everyone,

We hope everyone enjoyed the first delivery!  Remember, you can always send a message to FernCSA@gmail.com or visit the Tanaka Farms web site at www.tanakafarms.com/CSA_Newsletter.html  for information about your produce. 

We will include the Tanaka Farms Newsletter link in each update - they write every week about what's going on at the farm.  Here is this week's update in full...

"LETTUCE, LETTUCE, LETTUCE!!!!!!!!! It is fall and almost winter and that is what grows best! No more limp and smog burned leaves but bright, plump, succulent and juicy!!! Enjoy that crisp salad. Be adventurous, slice the radishes and turnips and toss into that salad to give it some crunch! Oh, what radishes.....what turnips??????  We have a new pest in our mists, the Bagrada Bug, also called a painted or harlequin bug, was first found in June 2008 in Los Angeles Co. California, and is now widely distributed in LA and Orange Counties.


The following info came from the UC Riverside website concerning this pest. "Damage is inflicted on host plants when adults and nymphs insert their needle-like mouth parts and suck juices from the plant. Feeding results in large stippled or wilted areas on leaves. Often the growth of newly formed central shoots or heads of plants become stunted. Populations can build up quickly reaching damaging densities that require control. Heaviest infestations are typically observed in organic farms, community gardens, and residential vegetable gardens were little or no pesticides are used."

It was quite a sight to see. I walked the field one morning feeling proud and wonderful admiring what a wonderful crop of radishes and turnips that would become from the row that I was looking at that had just germinated a few weeks ago. The tiny leaves had that beautiful shade of green and not a leaf had been touched by a worm or not a seedling was pecked out of the ground by birds. The next afternoon as I walked the farm I came across that row of radishes and turnips. They were looking even better than the day before! As I walked down the row to the other end of the field. something looked strange. Those beautiful tiny little leaves were looking wilted and brown. The farther down the row I walked, the worse it looked. Many seedlings were so shriveled, it looked as though they would not make it. The next day, the damaged area spread, and the day after that it spread some more. As I looked at the soil surface, there were so many bagrada bugs that it looked as if the soil was moving. They were all over the tiny speedlings sucking the life out of the plants. As I stood there in amazement, I notice them all over my boots. It gave me the heebie-jeebies.

So, what do we do? There are synthetic pesticides that will take care of them but since we grow things organically, it is a tough battle. I will have to plant more crop in hopes of having enough to survive to supply all of my subscribers and spray more often with our organic material that will hopefully repel the bugs. Both approaches are very costly and there are no guarantees that they will be the solution.

You may be asking, "Why plant radishes and turnips anyways, I don't really care for them." I worry about them because the badraga bug loves everything in the Brassicaceae (Cruciferae) Family, which includes important foods like cabbage, kale, cauliflower, mustard, broccoli, turnip and radish. The Bagrada bug has also been recorded attacking papaya, potato, maize, sorghum, cotton, capers, and some legumes. Yes I am worried and concerned.

Wish me luck in my new battle!!!!"



Since the first delivery, we've had one more member join!  We are now up to 16 members - a very healthy group - we'd like to grow by about 10 more over the next couple months if possible.  We know there are others out there who have expressed an interest  and we hope to welcome them as word gets around!

If you'd like to get information on local orgainc farmin in the area, there is a great blog by LA Farm Girl at http://lafarmgirl.blogspot.com/ ... we highly recommend her site - it contains a wealth of information!  She even wrote a book entitled "Farming in Torrance and The South Bay" - we plan to get a copy from her and we'll pass on a review as soon as w e read it.

Weekly members remember to pick up your delivery this Tuesday!

Eri & Jason

http://ferncsa.blogspot.com/

Fern CSA...Here We Go!!

Hi Fern-Tanaka CSA Members!

Mark your calendars! We will OFFICIALLY begin picking up our CSA produce at Fern on Tuesday November 3rd!

Note: If you have not dropped off your check at the Fern office yet, please do that this week by Wednesday, October 28 before deliveries start!!

THANKS TO ALL OF YOU -- We’re going to get the program off the ground and charge ahead!!!! We even managed to pick up a local corporate sponsor who will promote the Fern-Tanaka CSA program within their company as part of an employee wellness and community outreach program. If you know of a local Torrance company that may also be interested in our CSA, please let us know! This is a great way to grow the support for Fern.

A big “thank-you” to everyone who has been telling your friends and neighbors! “Word-of-mouth” has been the best form of advertising and has obviously been very effective!

We are going to have a display in front of the school this Tuesday Oct 27 from 1:40pm to 3:20pm - if you know of anyone who is interested ask them to come by!

So now that we are on our way, what do we do???

Here’s how the pick-ups will work:

- Pick-ups will be on Tuesdays from 1:40pm – 3:30pm
- You will receive a reminder message on Mondays if you have a pick up scheduled that week
- You can pick up your fruits and veggies inside the main entrance ofFern Elementary School
- Eri, or another CSA member will be around during the pick-up time each Tuesday to help with any questions
- Make sure to sign next to your name on the “Pick-Up Form” so we know you received your produce!
- Bring a bag or two! Reusable grocery bags are perfect.
- Transfer your fruits and veggies from the box to your bags and stack your empty box for pick up later on
- ENJOY your freshly harvested food!

As of right now, everyone is scheduled for the first pick-up on Tuesday November 3rd. You can postpone a delivery ahead of time if you will be out of town – the best way to do this is to use the FernCSA@gmail.com e-mail.

If something has come up the day of your delivery and you can’t make the pick-up, we can take the box home for you and bring it back to school the next day. Just e-mail or call if you can to let us know.

Congratulations to everyone on helping to form this group and getting it up and running successfully!

We’ll be doing our best to keep everyone updated on scheduled pick-ups and news – but if you have questions any time, e-mail us at FernCSA@gmail.com.

That’s all for now!

Eri and Jason
Fern PTA - CSA Volunteers

Fern-Tanaka Farms CSA

The Fern-Tanaka Farms CSA is a
parnership between the Fern Avenue Elementary
School PTA (Torrance, CA) and Tanaka Farms,
an organic family owned farm in Irvine, CA.

Community Supported Agriculture means going
back to the basics - CSA members have a
direct relationship with small local farms and the
farms provide weekly or twice-monthly deliveries
of fresh, locally grown produce!

Tanaka farms has teamed up with about 70 local
schools to offer a CSA program to parents and
community members. The school benefits too!
By joining the Fern-Tanaka Farms CSA you get
fresh, delicious fruits and veggies - and you help
Fern Avenue Elementary raise money for school
programs!

To learn more, visit our website.