My CSA progress report, more than just carrots

Even though Spring is mighty slow to come to Winnipeg, the response to the membership drive is going well. Thought I should offer some nitty gritty details about what a CSA is.  

 Sign up now to get our food box for this summer into the fall harvest, only  a few spots left to ensure that there is abundant harvest for all the share holders. .

How does it work?  Every second week for 14 weeks, mid-July till the end of September you get to pick at the urban farm 273 Enfield Cr., between 5-7 pm.   alternates are welcome if you send me a heads up email at nancyblokland@msn.com

What do I grow??  The season will start with leafy greens and herbs (tea, culinary and medicinal), edible flowers like pansies, zucchini blossoms and calendula. The unsung hero of Manitoba,  rhubarb. then there are the beans are usually mid July and there will be many different kinds, then zucchinis yellow green and striped and cucumbers.   August is always the most bountiful with squashes, tomatoes, peppers, sometimes the apples beets and carrots. In September and early October  I hope for pumpkins and butternut squash that grow high into the hedges,, so it is always a  treasure hunt. If there is surplus it will go to market, but this is an idea of the nutritious beauty we harvest every year.

When things get slow there's baking from cookies to zucchini chocolate cake, muffins , chutneys, salsa and surprises!




The cost for an Casi Cielo share?   325.00 for the season covers 14 weeks between July and the end of September, Mother Nature will decide some of the specific pick up dates, but there will be pick ups every second week during that time period.

How do I sign up?  You can email info@aurorafarm.ca to let us know that you will be taking a box.  You can send an email transfer or Paypal to nancyblokland@msn.com , with the message casicielo.  check out our group on Facebook for updates, photos, recipes and more Nancy Blokland Casi Cielo.

Don't delay.  We have limited spots left.   

Spring Planning on my CSA Casi Cielo

February has begun, and with it my urge to get back into the outside earth and

zucchinis 3 kinds great for all kinds of things including salt and vinegar chips!

apples from my tree in a handbuilt altered casserole

grapes are bearing fruit in September

That means I need to shift my lens slightly to the outside of my home. yep, Casi Cielo 2016 will be taking shares and in full swing.  Thursday afternoons were just not the same last summer without harvesting and having families coming to pick up their food boxes.

Of course, things are being tweaked and improved to be more effective and efficient. This is the link on Facebook to the group where folks can find photos, recipes an updates on what is happening in the garden.  This year I hope to have more involvement by families in the growing and harvesting of food, and to incorporate a barter system of sweat eqity.
Really hoping that there wont be any woodchuck updates this season.
Here is the link to the group:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/492776387465846/

Details forthcoming shortly, room for 10 families over the season with bi weekly pick up!

My name is Nancy Bokland and my   Community Supported Agriculture project or micro Urban Farm, called Casi Cielo or Almost Heaven for 2016  I have a small house on a big yard in Norwood/St. Boniface where I am living out the principle of grow food, not lawns and working to make it all an edible landscape. Since my “farm” is quite small, my plan is to offer a crate of fresh, organic (not certified) , locally grown fruit and vegetables on a bi weekly basis starting in mid- July until the end of September for a total of 14 weeks. I may take a break of a few weeks in July if we have a stall in growth like last year, but will “beef” up any slow weeks with baking and preserves. 

I love growing food and flowers.  I love sharing the fruits of my labours with others, and would love to grow full time.  I want my customers to know how I grow the food, and even have input into what I grow, to match the needs of their family’s diet.  If you cannot pick up your vegetables due to travel or other summer time issues, please call and let me know if you are sending an alternate. 

 

This year,  a full family  share in the Casi Cielo project will 325.00 per food box.    The food will be fresh, full of nutrients and hand picked.  There is risk in any farming or gardening venture, but I will aim ensure a good quantity, with high quality food throughout the season.  Amounts  and types of produce will vary with the seasons, and the weather conditions. So far the list is potatoes, tomatoes, carrots, 3 kinds of beans, beets, cucumbers, 2 types of zucchini, peppers, kale, lettuce, spinach, rhubarb, butternut squash, spaghetti squash, ground cherries, hascaps, raspberries, okra, eggplant, basil, thyme, oregano, chives, lemon balm, snap peas. The list will grow based on demand, and always open to suggestions.  

My aim is to supply enough vegetables for a family of four, or two vegetarians for each week.  Pick up locations will be one mid city (downtown) point and my home in St. Boniface.  Pick ups will be on Thursday afternoons between 5-7 pm.

If you want to be a part of my farm dream comin alive; email me at nancyblokland@msn.com, with your name, address, and phone number.  deposit of 50.00 required by April 15^th, with the remainder due June 1, 2016. Please call me with questions, concerns or requests at 204-799-3792

 

 

End of Year looking back on 2014

2014 was to be my year to burst forth. I am proud that I took risks with new ventures, some were more successful than others, but overall I am pleased with this year. I promised myself that I was going to launch a new line of urban pots, in a minimalist black and white theme. The reception has been mixed but I am going to forge ahead

I will continue to make more espresso cups and shot glasses.

The christmas ornaments, in particular the polar bears did well and are a good symbol of Winnipeg and Manitoba.

Yarn bowls and fiber festivals with my buttons are fun and financially rewarding.

The Pop Up shops supporting local and handmade have had ups and downs, but I have been really happy about feeling a greater sense of community and support from makers.   We will see how that goes in 2015, but paying rent for 2 shops was harder than I anticipated, and will have to consider that more carefully for the coming year. Gman is becoming a good support and help when on the road, we will do more of those in 2015 and find more travelling companions, where we can split costs when doing out of town shows. I know that I am doing the Fiber Festival at the Norwood community centre on January 10 and the Big One in Brandon in October. Other than that the year is an Open Canvas! Here are a few of my favourite pots from the year.

Community Supported Agriculture for Casi Cielo (almost Heaven)

Casi Cielo-CSA



I am developing a Community Supported Agriculture project for my micro Urban Farm, called Casi Cielo or Almost Heaven for 2013. I have a small house on a big yard in Norwood/St. Boniface where I am living out the principle of grow food, not lawns.



Since my “farm” is quite small, my plan is to offer a crate of fresh, organic (not certified) , locally grown fruit and vegetables on a weekly baiss starting at the end of June until mid September for a total of 13 weeks. A share in the Casi Cielo project will 300.00 (or 23.07 per week). The food will be fresh, full of nutrients and hand picked. There is risk in any farming or gardening venture, but I will aim ensure a good quantity, with high quality food throughout the season. Peter Rabbit ensures that we have well naturally fertilized soil that is augmented by compost. Amounts and types of produce will vary with the seasons, and the weather conditions. I will grow a variety of greens, root vegetables, squashes, herbs and beans. My aim is to supply enough vegetables for a family of four, or two vegetarians for each week. Pick up locations will be one mid city (downtown) point and my home in St. Boniface. Pick ups will be on Friday afternoons.

My Philosophy

I love growing food and flowers. I love sharing the fruits of my labours with others, and would love to grow full time. I want my customers to know how I grow the food, and even have input into what I grow, to match the needs of their family’s diet. If you cannot pick up your vegetables due to travel or other summer time issues, please call and let me know if you are sending an alternate. Food should not be wasted!!
I will offer 13 weeks of produce from the end of June to mid September, with produce available based on early to late producing vegetables and fruit and herbs.  I will be growing rhubarb, spinach, kale, lettuce,onions, raspberries, strawberries, apples, tomatoes, peppers, ground cherries, beans, carrots , beans and a variety of squashes.  Each share is 300.00, breaking down to 23. 10 per week with a wooden crate of produce every week!

I need 3 more families to make this viable and hope that you will support me in this new adventure. 
If you want to be a part of my farm dream comin alive; email me at nancyblokland@msn.com, with your name, address, and phone number. deposit of 50.00 required by April 15th, with the remainder due June 1, 2013. Please call me with questions, concerns or requests at 204-799-3792