As The Rose Grows
Official Newsletter of Urban Eden Farm - Spokane, Washington
As The Rose Grows Archive
Issue 3 - 12/22/2006
2006 Urban Eden Farm Year End Review
To get you warmed up a bit, we've compiled some reminders from down on the farm this last spring and summer. Check out Urban Eden Farm's 2006 Spring and Summer Review
Here are some pictures I took around the place about 11 A.M. on the 21st of December, 2006. Talk about a short and dark day, the flash on the camera still went off with every click even though it was the middle of the day!
Hitchhiking In Seattle with Olsen Farms
A 2 A.M. train trip out of Spokane last week landed me in Seattle for a four day weekend. One of those days I was down at Pike Street Market, looking…looking and there was Angelia from Olsen Farms of Colville selling a rainbow variety of eye catching p’taters. I talked to her a little bit and she told me that Brent was up at the Farmer’s Market up by the University District.
Many of you probably buy potatoes from Brent and Angelia here in Spokane’s Farmer’s Market and they’re always super-friendly. You can visit them online at: www.OlsenFarms.com . So anyway, later that day I start off on a hike from where I’m staying downtown. I headed up to the U-district on foot, cause it sure doesn’t look too far on the map and besides I needed a destination to walk towards. So I walked and walked for almost 2 hours. I quizzed someone on the street and they pointed me towards the market, warning me that it had closed at 2.
Well, by the time I hoofed it another dozen blocks it was almost 3. I was sure Brent would be gone. It would be a long trudge “home”. I walked in the entryway to the parking lot and…there he was. He and his helper Al were putting the last dozen things on the ‘tater truck. I yelled, “Hey! Ya got anything there that goes good with butter?” As I gave them a token helping hand I ask Brent if I could mooch a ride back downtown, if it fit into his route. Fortunately, I must have looked worn down enough that he readily agreed. We piled in the truck and were off!
He dropped me off about 15 minutes later, practically in the shadow of the Space Needle. Thanks a million!
Thanks Jamie and neighbor Jesse for help down on the farm this year.
Thank you Savanna and Brian for your help on the newsletter.
Thanks to the Spokane Farmer’s Market for posting my website on theirs at: http://www.spokanefarmersmarket.homestead.com/
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Ever wonder that I thumb thru to read when I’m tired of sitting on my thumbs in the winter? Just click here and you’ll see the tip my iceberg of a reading pile.
Issue 2 - 6/7/2006
Feral Witness Relocation Program
Where are all the varmint eaters? So far I’ve caught and relocated 21 marmots down here on the farm and I still see a few more out on the edge of the field. I’ve caught all but one in the same live traps in the same spot. I’m catching all different sizes of the stinky mammals, I’d estimate the biggest at about 15 furry pounds. You can click here to see a picture of one of my friends hearing ‘bon voyage’ before they go to their new neighborhood.
What’s Eating You? That’s what I ask my vegetable plants every day. So far it’s gophers, voles, bugs and birds. The quail like to use the seed beds as dust baths. The cats like a freshly plowed “litter box” and visiting dogs just plain like a clear run of dirt to rove thru. I heard a healthy crunching, munching sound the other day and there’s Misty, the cat, pigging out on the catnip plant. Hey! That’s for medicinal purposes only!
This year’s garden volunteers are making the garden look better than it would be otherwise. Plants are coming up on their own, all over the place. I found a patch of hundreds of tiny onion plants about the thickness of a thick horse’s mane hair. Well, while it rained over the weekend, I took the opportunity to transplant a bunch of them. What size onions they’ll be, I know not! The borage patch is flourishing. The sunflowers are growing taller everyday. I’ve been transplanting them as quick as I can, so they don’t eclipse whatever’s growing under their future shadow. I even transplanted a mullein plant for the same reason.
Somebody (Me) didn’t dig up the Sunchokes (Jerusalem Artichokes) after last year’s season, so they’re coming up like crazy in about three places in the garden. It’ll be gopher heaven underground as they grow out. Last and not least, the turnip greens are growing on their own in a big swath thru the middle of the garden. I’ll be having greens and ham hocks soon.
Still No Show At The Spokane Farmer’s Market
Well faithful readers, I’m still not at the market this year. Business is so good at Earthworks Recycling that I’m having a hard time finding time away. We’re making hay there at the junkyard while the sun shines. I did get a few things planted this week, at least in small amounts. Here’s some of them: Shallots, Zucchini, Tomatoes, Eggplant, Broccoli, Okra, Beets and Beans.
Fundraising Dinner for Chef’s Collaborative:
FARMERS' MARKET DINNER AT BRIX RESTAURANT, Wednesday, June 14, 2006, at 317 Sherman Avenue, Coeur d' Alene. The Chef's Collaborative is a national organization that seeks to seeks to encourage sustainable practices and improve the quality and taste of food by connecting chefs and consumers with local and artisinal food producers. Chef Adam Hegsted will be hosting a special multi-course benefit dinner on June 14th featuring foods from several local farms and paired with wines. For more information or to make reservations, email ahegsted@yahoo.com or call (208) 665-7407.
(Urban Eden Farm will be donating some watercress for this tasty event, assuming no natural or unnatural disasters.)
Check out new screen wallpaper for your computer. Scenes from the farm can’t help but brighten your day!
Keep checking out the Spokane Farmer’s Market down near 2nd and Division here in Spokane. Even if I can’t make it there yet, you can! Jim
Hey! What Happened? I thought the world was supposed to end yesterday on 6-6-6? I quit shaving, showering and brushing my teeth a few days ago. I spent all the money in my checking account and stopped paying bills. I gave my credit card to a homeless dude down by the freeway exit. I started telling everyone what I really thought about them. I ate raw meat and past date milk, ‘cause…who cares, the world is ending anyway. I did, however, start working out at the gym yesterday, because fitness is very important to me.
Then I woke up this morning and….oh no!
I guess I’ll see you next issue, too. Jim
As The Rose Grows Archive
Issue 1 - 4/26/2006
Hi, Jim Schrock here, Welcome to my first newsletter issue for Urban Eden Farm. I’m putting this out at the office of my other business, Earthworks Recycling, with the critical help of Brian Schumacher. This year I’m trying to make a mighty effort to participate at the Spokane Farmer’s Market down near 2nd and Division. Look for me there. Kinduva “Where’s Waldo” where there’s a possibility Waldo isn’t in the picture yet. I need to be less of a poser and more of a garden hoser and to get watering and growin’.
Yesterday I think I heard the first baby starlings shrilling for food and attention. The eggs have broke!
Napweed Update: Out of the base of each old dried up skeleton grows a new green obnoxious weed.
Marmots! They’re out and about with NeverEnding Nibbling. Last week I live trapped two of the bucky-toothed critters and humanely relocated them to…a secret location. The war on marmots never stops!
Dandelions…aren’t really our enemy but a lot of people like to complain about them.
Water Cress growing above the waterline down in the creek.
The Stinging Nettles are reaching for the sun, up on the banks. I’ve had them in a couple of meals.
The Bee Balm patch is spreading, the Garlic and divider Onions are doing their thing.
Chives. They won’t last forever, so I’m putting them in everything they deserve to be in. Sandwiches, Soup, Eggs…
Volunteer Babies: I’m seeing some Sunflowers and Borage popping up in the garden.
I’ll have more in my next issue. Be sure to have you friends and enemies sign up. Stay tuned for “As The Rose Grows.”
Chow for Now!
Jim
