New use for an old barn

A new use for an old barn: curing our 2011 garlic crop in the hay mow of our turn of the century dairy barn.

New this season:  Thursday delivery for a more diverse box, Free u-pick raspberries & strawberries, Several new pick-up sites.

We are excited for the 2012 season to begin!

Field Crew:

• Participate in harvesting a large variety of mixed vegetables and fruits
• Planting in the field, greenhouse and high tunnel as needed
• Hand weeding and hoeing, field clean up, mulching, and other tasks around the farm
• Ability to work in all weather conditions, lift 50 lbs, and perform monotonous but detailed tasks.
• Ability to work quickly, follow instructions, work with others, and pay attention to details

Packing Shed Crew:

• Work with packing shed manager to execute weekly post-harvest handling
• Wash and pack produce for variety of customers and markets
• Ability to work quickly while paying close attention to details
• Help in the field with harvesting, planting and more as needed
• Ability to lift 50 lbs, stand in one place for many hours, and perform monotonous but detailed tasks

Delivery Driver:

• A clean driving record is a must!
• CDL not required but preferred
• Ability to follow road map directions and lift 50 pounds required

To apply:

submit:

(1)   Work history/resume,

(2)  Letter of interest: describe how you see fitting into our farm, your desired position

(3)  Two or three references

Send application materials to :

Ridgeland Harvest

E5538 Nelson Road

Viroqua, WI 54665

rharvest@mwt.net

Once the farm receives your order form and payment, a welcome letter and receipt will be mailed to you.  From that point on, all communication will be done through email.

If you have any questions or comments, please contact us by email or phone.

Thank you for your continued support.  We are excited for the coming season and glad you’ll be part of it!

Cate & Mat

Here is part 2 of packing the boxes.  This shows how we actually the a produce in 300 boxes.

Thanks so much for a great CSA! I think this was a good amount of food for the money– quality produce and convenient pick up!

Thanks so much for a great year. We had belonged to another CSA but yours gave us much more produce. I loved receiving the herbs, especially the garlic scapes and dill.

Our boxes were consistently “packed smart” and items always arrived nicely cleaned, not dripping wet, uncrushed and still fresh – that is not easy, so I know you cared. Thanks.

Last year we said there was too much fennel – this year we only received fennel two or three times and I actually would have enjoyed it a few more times! It’s funny how the “weird” veggies don’t seem so weird now…..

We are sad the season is over. We SO appreciate all you go through to work the soil and the farm to provide us with clean and healthy (and beautiful!) veggies. Truly, you impacted our lives so greatly during this growing season. We Thank You so very much.

Thanks you so much for all the beautiful food! You have definitely added a richness to our lives and the satisfaction in supporting hard working local farmers.

Great variety..the produce came in great shape and we really pretty much snarfed it all down. I think you gave fair amounts and I loved the variety from week to week. If I wanted more of something, I just hit a local farmers market. Have been in CSAs for 15 years and know great quality..even in a challenging weather year, you gave us great value and delicious food.  When we had unusual food, your great recipe ideas were always a hit and worked swell.

Thanks for a bountiful season and for making us feel like partners. It is good to know that much of our food comes from your farm.

A fantastic 1st year experience and will continue for a 2nd.

I absolutely loved the CSA. By participating in this program, I learned about lots of new vegetables and ways to eat/store them. My family ate healthier all summer. I planned my meals around what I got in the CSA box. It was wonderful to have vegetables on hand. I didn’t have to run to the store. Thanks so much for bringing the food to my worksite, also. Really appreciated this time saver!!!

Your half share is about the same size as other farm’s full share (I’ve had two other CSA in the last 5 years). You might want to mention that in your literature. I was really glad I didn’t opt for the full share, or I would have been overwhelmed!

First time we’ve done a CSA and we loved it. We have never eaten so well.

Planning for the 2011 growing season is underway and we’re excited to share with you our thoughts on the upcoming season. We decided not to expand the CSA membership for 2011, and will maintain our size of about 250 families. We do expect shares to sell early this year perhaps as early as mid April. Our 2011 order form can be downloaded from the website here: 2011 CSA Order Form Please note that we are again offering an early-bird discount until March 1 as well as a payment plan.

SURVEY:

Your survey comments and enthusiasm are truly humbling. Thank you to the members who took the survey, and for the many kinds words! We are very honored to grow food for you and your families, and equally honored that you are sharing the bounty with friends and neighbors who may need the food. Your feedback is valuable.

2010′s Six Favorite vegetables: tomatoes, carrots, salad mix/raw greens, garlic, potatoes, green beans.

2010′s Six Least favorites: cooking greens, winter radishes, turnips, beets, celery root & eggplant.

OUR PLAN:

What we plan to incorporate into the upcoming season: More snap peas, another planting of beans, potatoes, zucchini and sweet corn, more varieties of disease resistant tomatoes, and more fruit. We hope that the strawberries will be a success this year and that we can get more raspberries into your boxes along with more lettuces, salad mix and spinach. We plan for less eggplant, turnips, dill, and brussels sprouts, and less kale’s and chard.

WINNER OF $100 CERTIFICATE:

The winner of the $100 gift certificate towards their 2011 CSA share or meat bundle are The Maursetters of Madison, WI! We will be contacting you directly to be sure you hear the news.

Again the 2011 order form can be downloaded here 2011 CSA Order Form

Sincerely,

Cate and Mat