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    • Our Market Blog

    Don’t know how to cook your new veggies? Google recipes for Market veggies. Then share your cooking experiences, and find new ones, on our Market Community Food Blog!

    Stop the Presses

    What Are We Up To?



     
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    Market NOW OPEN - Early start! - Feb. 22, 2016


    Ready To Order?

    sign in & shop now
    FIRST TIME CUSTOMERS You are invited to watch our Market Tutorial before you begin. If you do not receive an email confirmation immediately after you order, then you did not click the SUBMIT ORDER button and we did not receive an order from you. Call your Market Manager for help.

    Message from Your Market Manager

    Local Co-op Welcoming New Members
    If you are interested in purchasing Certified Organic veggies ONLINE on a bi-weekly basis, I invite you to explore this option nearby. The Indian Rocks co-op (now operating in nearby Largo) has an online ordering system that opens for 24 hours. Before you dismiss Largo as too distant, consider that I’ve traveled there biweekly while collaborating with them to get our organic apples, pears, onions, potatoes, and whatever else we’ve not found available locally. Anything sold through my Market as Grower “SPLG Market Organics” has come through this group. I get to Largo very quickly by taking I-275 to 118th Ave. N. and then west to Starkey Road. It’s a quick trip with little traffic if I stick to this route. Cost is a one-time $10 to join (NOT $20 as stated on the website) and paid on your first order. Other fees apply. No obligation to purchase and you choose what you want. They don’t currently offer delivery. Get all details at Indian Rocks Co-op and email them with questions or to join. You have to request a signup by email and wait to receive your login information. Note that you cannot sign in to see what’s available until their Market opens for customers. I’ve already signed up and will sign in today to get a feel for what to expect. I encourage you to signup in advance (with no obligation) so you too can see if it’s a fit for you in April. NOTE: SPLG Growers are encouraged to email Kristin at the co-op and apply to sell your veggies. They are looking for local Growers!

    Update on beef and pork
    If you have not yet PRE-ORDERED, please read about PRE-ORDERS on our Q&A page, before you place an order.

    • This is the FINAL week for Beef PRE-ORDERS. I will deliver all beef orders the week of March 7th.
    • PRE-ORDERS for pork are closed. However, if you ordered pork and have not received it, I have it waiting for you. Please contact me or place an order so we can deliver it to you. Thanks!

    Helpful Info on Market Produce and Product

    • We’ve probably all done this with onions but I am tempted to get some celery and plant the cores in our garden so we don’t have to start from scratch. If you want to try it indoors then here are the instructions for Growing Celery Indoors: Never Buy Celery Again
    • Did you know that comfrey leaves ARE NOT RECOMMENDED for internal use? Here is some background info on Summer Feasting – Comfrey, to eat or not to eat? so that you can make your own decision. Plus, here are At least 12 reasons to plant comfrey…. Composting is one of them!
    • Speaking of which, did you know about using fire wood ashes and embers in your garden soil? This natural Ph raiser is the by-product from pine and oak fires. It deters “cabbage worms”, and other destructive caterpillars such as tomato hormworms and cutworms due to the sharp, microscopic edges on the partially burned embers/ashes. Ash adds valuable trace minerals (Magnesium, Potassium and Phosphorus)and makes an excellent amendment for improving the health of your vegetables and in turn, an improved nutrient-dense product. Farmer Ray Wunderlich of Pioneer Settlement Garden reports that “I have had little to no leaf damage to my Swiss chard since introducing wood ash/embers around the plants.”
    • Nathan and I have decided to purchase a Red Sugar Apple plant this week. The weather is warming here considerably year round such that I’m willing to bet it will survive Tampa Bay Area climate. This article from IFAS Extension Service on Sugar Apple Growing in the Florida Home Landscape was helpful ALTHOUGH it did not mention our area as a good growing spot.

    SPLG’S FRUIT BASKET
    Starfruit aka carambolas & papayas (ripe & green!) locally grown in St. Pete. Non-local: Valencia oranges and Meyer lemons from California.

    ECONOMY SIZED PACKAGING
    FRESH picked greens still in abundance this week: arugula, bok choy, broccoli greens, collard greens, Lacinato kale, Swiss chard, turmeric.

    ON SALE THIS WEEK
    Earthworm castings, ground beef, apples, honey, onions, bacon, pork chorizo sausage, smoked Alaskan Sockeye Salmon, and turmeric.

    KITCHEN GARDEN INTERNATIONAL
    Vertical gardening can be a great space saver regardless of yard size. This recent article from KGI is has lots of great hints on building and installing trellises in your garden. Check this out! “Open up Space in Your Garden with Easy Trellis Installation”

    MARKET MEMBERSHIP FEE is $20 if paid this month
    If you have never ordered from us, you should know that the membership fee is $10 per month and doesn’t get charged until your SECOND order. Our Market Season is ending on March 31st when we close permanently.

    Upcoming Events

    WORKSHOPS & EVENTS

    • *"Monthly Potluck Social" is scheduled for February 27th and I so hope to see you all at Rita’s. Please do RSVP?

    We thank you for your interest and support of our efforts to bring you the healthiest, the freshest and the most delicious locally-produced foods possible!

    Posted by: Tina Levy at Sunday February 21, 2016 03:50 PM EST