Friends of the Gainesville Organic Blueberry Farm

Hello Friends of the GainesvilleOrganic Blueberry Farm,
 
U-Pick is in full swing now and the berries are $4/pound. You must bring your own bags and buckets to U-Pick, and if you have a card please dont go through U-Pick, and above all dont ask Ken about getting a card, he is only handling U-Pick. He will also be selling ornamental plants and Mr. Whiskey Phillips will be selling callaloo grown on the farm and watermelons grown somewhere else (His phone number is 352-281-9053) Both are delicious!
Please read the pickin pointers, and U-Pick pages on our website if you havent already www.GvilleBlueberryFarmFriends.org.
 
Hopefully everyone who wants a pickin card has gotten one because I have been asked not to issue any more cards to people who havent worked yet. If youo have worked some toward this season and still havent received a card, and want one, please send me a reply. I am not planning on issuing any more cards unless you contact me.
 
 Ken has found a couple of people picking without cards (or with someone elses card) and without going through U-Pick, and this has led to his crack down on issuing new cards, necessitating me to re-iterate: PLEASE DO NOT SHARE THE LOCK COMBO, OR YOUR CARD WITH ANYONE, AND PLEASE DO NOT BRING ANY ADULTS WHO DO NOT HAVE CARDS ONTO THE FARM UNLESS YOU SEND THEM TO U-PICK!
 
Please DO tell everyone you meet about U-Pick at the farm – there are still tons of berries out there!
 
Thanks to all our hard workers!

maureen
www.GvilleBlueberryFarmFriends.org
maureenreschly@hotmail.com

Hello Friends of the Gainesville Organic Blueberry Farm,
 
Happy Summertime! Hope everyone had a good Summer Solstice. Many of you have asked about U-Pick at the farm and Im happy to say that Ken Bostwick co/owner of the farm, will be providing that opportunity this week starting in the morning between 9 and 10 – if the gate is open drive in and honk if you dont see anyone. The berries will be $4/pound and there are still plenty of them. You must bring your own bags and buckets for picking, and of course hats and plenty of drinking water – there are no waterfountains or flushing toilets at the farm so plan accordingly. Please check out the ‘Pickin Pointers’ and U-Pick pages on our website www.GvilleBlueberryFarmFriends.org for important things to remember when  picking at the farm!
 
Also he has asked that I only issue cards to people who have already worked some toward this year (or last) So tomorrow (wednesday June 23rd) I will be at the farm beehives from 6 to 7 pm issuing pickin cards to folks who have worked some in the last 2 years. Remember all hours worked toward last years pickin rights will be credited to this year because the harvest was so meager in 09′ due to the late freeze. I will also be issuing cards on Saturday morning from 8 to 9am at the beehives to folks who have already worked some toward this year. Sorry to everyone else. You can come during U-Pick and still get lots of berries without even pledging to work, and maybe Ill get permission to issue cards to new folks next week. We will see.
Please dont ask to sign up for a pickin card at U-Pick, Ken is not dealing with this – only U-Pick – pay for your berries by the pound. 

Again I ask that all members try to keep a running total of how many pounds or gallons you have picked and let me know at the end of the season becuase this could help with getting grants next year!
 
And Finally, read on about the exciting plans that the Citizens co-op and our own dear Dr. Kristin Joos and Melissa Miller and their fabulous ‘Young Entrepreneurs for Leadsership and Sustainability’ have for an acre of community garden space in the Porters Community! All of these folks are great community builders and have helped the farm out in many ways – lets show them appreciation and help them help the community! Read on about how!
 

maureen
www.GvilleBlueberryFarmFriends.org
maureenreschly@hotmail.com 
Read ON=> 

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Summer Schedule

Road Construction on South Main Summer Workplans Dear Friends -    We are poised and eager to get underway with renovations on the Co-op as we await the approval of the first round of permitting. We are also converting an acre lot in Porters Neighborhood, just a few blocks from the Co-op, into a thriving community garden, art walk, and meditation space. Many thanks to Kristin Joos and Melissa Miller for connecting us with a team of students from the Young Entrepreneurs for Leadership and Sustainability to help us with this project. If you’ve been looking for a way to participate, helping with the Garden will be a great way to get involved. We love garden tools, supplies, and giving hands to help us build the raised beds.   Garden Workdays: June 28th – August 6th, Monday thru Friday, from 2:30pm-5:30pm. Location: We will either be in the co-op or at the plot on SW 5th Ave & 3rd St.  Bring Tools: Shovels, Hoes, Rakes, Buckets, Seeds, Organic Compost & Other gardening supplies.    There are no Food Credits available for garden work. This is a community building venture that we are offering in order to unite our neighbors around the celebration of art, food, and culture.   Summer Member Potluck Wednesday, June 30th, 7-9pm. Graciously being hosted at our neighbors, the Civic Media Center (they have A/C!). Help us kick off the Summer construction, view a 3D model of the renovated space, meet the  Board of Director nominees, and share some local food. All members are encouraged to come and bring friends and family. No fee, just bring a dish, plate & utensils, and your preferred beverage.   535 Members & Growing Investors Wanted We have sold 15 Investor Shares this week! Thank you all for your continued support. Only 85 more Shares are available for purchase by August 31, 2010. Shares will begin accruing dividends at 8% in 2011. Fill out the Application today and become a Local Investor in your hometown community. Earn more than a typical Savings Account with less risk than the unregulated stock markets.   After three years of holding your shares, you can request the co-op to repurchase them through an economically feasible repayment plan.  Investors do not have any extra voting rights or power over business operations, beyond their one vote as a member. Stock is non-transferable. The co-op has budgeted for an 8% annual dividend in its financial projections. These are preferred dividends, and will be paid before any membership rebates are issued at year-end.  In the unlikely event of liquidation of the business, Investors have preferential status to receive a return of their investment and accumulated dividends before member equity is paid back.   Ted Lacombe, Doug Nesbit, Gretchen McIntyre, Elizabeth Nesbit, Ed Brown, Noah Shitama A Trip to BALLE Recently, the co-op helped to send 10 participants to the annual BALLE conference in Charleston, SC. If you’re unfamiliar with local, living economies, please read up on this wonderful business network. Some of the most inspiring lessons learned: Flow like water. Collaborate with projects that are easy to work with, share the same goals, and make sense for you. [SeaCoast Local] Share the vision. Communicate the milestones of your project and your progress in fulfilling them. [Zing Train] Deepen your roots where you are planted. Make small strides in your hometown that will have lasting effects for good [Annie Leonard, Story of Stuff] Art has a powerful and transformative effect in healing and building communities. [Lilly Yeh, Barefoot Artists (watch her presentation!)] We don’t expect to change the world by opening a small co-op in Gainesville, but we do plan to provide access to fresh, healthy, local and seasonal foods to our community, improve and expand a dependable and viable market for our local producers, and to create a collaborative and cooperative model for doing business. This we can all be proud of.

 Hello Friends of the Gainesville Organic Blueberry Farm,
 
Welcome to all of our new members! We look forward to picking and working with you – the more folks working to save the berries, the more certain that the farm remains a farm. Thank you all for telling your friends about our group! And thanks again to the die hard mowers who keep opening up more rows! Now we just need to recruit more folks to sign up for cards to pick them all! We are about at the peak of the season now so please come out this week and get your pickin cards. You can sign a pledge to work after the season – now is the time to pick! Many of you who have worked already have not picked up your cards – what are you waiting for?;)
 
Please remember to keep a rough estimate of how many pounds, or gallons of blueberries you pick as this could help us get grants later.  And if you see any interesting wildlife, let me know I would like to make a species list for the farm
 
I will be creating a webpage on our website www.GvilleBlueberryFarmFriends.org with answers to frequently asked questions and some things to remember when picking- please check it out before you come out for the first time, I hope to have it up by this evening.
 
I will be issuing pickin cards tomorrow and Thursday, 6/16 &6/17 from 6 to 7pm and Friday and Saturday 6/18 & 6/19 from 9 to 10 am, at the beehive patch. You will be asked to sign a liability waiver and pledge whatever hours you have left to work for the year (or all 8 if you are new to the group) and you will get a pickin card and the combo to the lock so you can pick whenever you want during daylight hours. Please dont give this combo to ANYONE. Please bring plenty of water and long pants and sleeves (where there is lots of wildlife, there are lots of ticks and the farm is no exception – check yourself all over when you go home) Kids are welcome and dont need cards but ALL ADULTS need cards to pick, or be on the farm -NO EXCEPTIONS! Please leave pets at home, and bring plenty of bags and buckets to pick lots of sweet berries – there are at least 5 patches which are mostly accessible and have berries, and the pond is full of blooming american lotus! The Passionflower is in full bloom – collect some flowers and dry them for a mild tea to help you sleep! And the Elderberries are covered with bouquets of white flowers – breaded and fried Im told they’re delicious.
 
So come out one of these times, and get ready to pick your blues away! Please check the website tomorrow morning and look at the ‘pickin pointers’ section for some frequently asked questions and tips. I hope to have that page done tonight.
 
And, I want to thank our outstanding, and very patient, webmaster who has taken our group to another level by setting up such a beautiful and useful site! I am working on getting some photos from the farm to grace the header – so much beauty, such a cheap camera;) Anyone wanting to send photos for use on our site is encouraged to do so. If we use them on the site you will get an hour’s work credit (all human subjects in said photos need to be asked if they are willing to appear on our site, but the animals probably wont care).
 
If you are receiving duplicate emails please let me know, and if someone you know believes they are on the list but are not getting notices, ask them to check their spam folder and then email me if its not there. A few email accounts are not allowing our notices to be sent to them.
 
Finally, Please forward this message and encourage your friends to sign up for our email notices on the ‘email sign up’ page of our website www.GvilleBlueberryFarmFriends.org – the more the merrier, the more dreamers, the more certain the dream is realized and our grandchildren will be able to pick at the farm too.
 
If you have questions not answered in this email or the ‘pickin pointers’ page on the site, look over a few old posts and you may find the answers.
 
And finally THANKS to you who have given your sweat at the farm – it is really showing, how much love this community has for this beautiful farm - I am more hopeful than ever that we will KEEP THE FARM A FARM!
 
Please forward this to your friends and lists – there are enough berries for the whole community! Lets share this treasure!
 
Hope to see you down on the farm!

maureen
www.GvilleBlueberryFarmFriends.org
PS – PLEASE FORWARD!

Hello Friends of the Gainesville Organic Blueberry Farm,
 
Berries, Berries, Berries!!! So many and so sweet – let me give you your card so you can pick this treat!
Before I start, I have one request. Please try to keep a rough estimate of how many pounds you pick, and at the end of the season, let me know. This could help us with getting grants and other things!
 
I will be at the beehives today (Tuesday), tomorrow and Thursday from 6 to 7pm, and Sunday from 9 to 10am issueing pickin cards.
 
Please use the entrance near the church, not the main gate by the barn, and go straight back (no right turns) to where the beehives are. Bring bags or buckets with you so you can pick.
 
If you have any questions you can look at the last couple of posts on our website www.GvilleBlueberryFarmFriends.org for answers. If you dont find answers there send me an email and I will try to answer in a timely manner. Please forgive me for not getting to every email but I am swamped at this time and doing the best I can.
 
Thanks!

maureen
www.GvilleBlueberryFarmFriends.org

Hello Friends of the Gainesville Organic Blueberry Farm!
 
Thanks to all of your hard work, the farm is more beautiful (and delicious) than ever! The blackberries are ripe and abundant and the blueberries just need another week or so to turn beautiful blue. For those of you who still need to work a few hours, we will be having work parties tomorrow and Saturday at 9 and 5 both days. Instead of entering through the gate by the barn, please go north to the corner of the chainlink fence near the church (opposite side as the playground) and drive in the dirt road between the fence and the ditch. If this is unclear, please send an email and I will attempt to clarify. Drive back along the ditch(keep left) until you come to the beehives – we will be working in the beehive patch. The berries are almost ripe and we will not have work parties after they are ripe so if you need to get some hours in this is your chance. If none of the times fits your schedule, let me know and I will try to work something out. As always kids are welcome but please leave pet friends at home. I will have tools, you bring gloves and long pants and sleeves and plenty of water!
 
I am happy to report that the bear (yes bear!) that knocked over one of my hives 3 days in a row a little over a week ago must have moved on because he hasnt struck since. Check out the attached photos with the tell- tale paw print that let me know it was a bear – pressed right into one of the frames from that hive. So exciting that a bear came through (and as a beekeeper, such a relief that he passed through and hasnt struck my hives since). A wildlife officer came out and confirmed it was a bear and set up an electric fence around my hives in case he returns.
 
Just to clarify since I have had a few questions about this – Only adults with pickin cards (and the kids they bring) are allowed to come on the farm during pickin season (unless they are working at a work party). If you do not owe any hours from years past you may pledge to work remaining hours and get your pickin card during a work party. With it you will receive the combo to the entrance by the ditch. No adult guests or spouses are allowed unless they are willing to sign a liability waiver and pledge to work their hours. Without fairness our whole structure falls apart – all adults must have a card to pick – please bring your card with you and carry it while you are picking. If your adult family members or friends wish to join you, they must sign a liability waiver and pledge to work 8 hours over the coming year, just like the rest of us. Please be out by sunset and no pets are allowed.
 
Hope to see you down at the farm – bring a bag or bucket for blackberry picking – and you will thank yourself for wearing long pants and closed toed shoes if you want to pick blackberries!

maureen
www.GvilleBlueberryFarmFriends.org

Hello Friends of the Gainesville Organic Blueberry Farm,
 
Well word must be getting out about the incredible crop of berries coming on, because we have been getting some great new volunteers and wonderful participation! I am always amazed when people thank me for facilitating the work trade arrangement we have with the farm – people seem to really enjoy getting out to the source of some delicious local food, to sweat and laugh together in the rows while we save the berry bushes from vines and trees. It is I who want to thank all of you, again, because if not for you we would hardly be able to see the bushes by now, and there wouldnt be near the crop we are expecting this year. I know that when I work out in the rows, then go back to pick, it is a unique feeling of empowerment and satisfaction, and the berries are much sweeter than if I had just paid for them with money. And I love teaching new folks what I have learned about tending the berry fields and blueberry and bee culture, as well as showing people the beautiful jewel that is the farm – how much more beautiful it would be if we managed to clear all the rows and cultivate crops where there are no berries – all possible I believe with time, patience and co-operation!
 
So c’mon out to the farm this Friday at 5pm and Sunday at 9am, 11am and 5pm. We will be working in the bee patch all of these times except for 11 on Sunday when Michael will be leading a crew to the ballfield patch which he maintains.  If you dont know where these patches are please arrive within 1/2 hour of start times so we can show you.
 
As always, kids are very welcome but please leave pet friends at home. I will be by the barnyard gardens, with plenty of tools, you bring plenty of water, snacks for the kids, and long sleeves and pants and a hat.
 
Hope to see you soon, down on the farm!

maureen
www.GvilleBlueberryFarmFriends.org

Hello Friends of the Gainesville Organic Blueberry Farm,
 
Thanks again to all the phenomenal workers and mowers who are making the farm a paradise – full of baby bunnies, bevies of bobwhite quail and big beautiful bunches of blueberries and blackberries with  busy bees buzzing by – BEAUTIFUL!  When we all work together the farm gets better and better!
 
I hope all you Mommies out there had as relaxing a Mother’s day as I did – the weather has been a dream!
 
I know it is short notice but we will be having a work party tomorrow at 9am. Hopefully it will be as pleasant as today! Time is flying by and the season is rapidly approaching so time to finish up those hours for your pickin cards. (Folks who finish their hours before the season get their pickin cards first. People pledging to work the remainder will have to wait a week or 2, after those who have completed them already (the ‘Super Friends’). If you were a superfriend last year, you are this year too, since all hours applied to last years season will also be applied to this years because of the sparce crop last year (due to a freak mid-april freeze which killed most of the berries) And if you come out and get a gander at those berries you wont need any more pep-talks from me!
 
So, c’mon out to the farm tomorrow at 9am and bring plenty of drinking water. Kids are very welcome but please leave pet friends at home. I will be by the barnyard gardens with plenty of tools, you bring drinking water, long sleeves and gloves, and snacks if you bring kids. If you have any questions please send me a reply and I will try to get back to you as soon as possible.
 
Hope you have a beautiful day!

maureen

Hello Friends of the Gainesville Organic Blueberry Farm,
 
We had a lot of fun at the May Day Farm Fest out at the beautiful Swallowtail Farm on Saturday, and met a lot of wonderful new folks. Thanks, Swallowtail Farmers, for inviting us to this fun event, Joey had a great time on the slip-n- slide, and the farm is gorgeous! And thanks to all the hard working volunteers who have been coming out to help out at the blueberry farm, working in the rows to help the berries thrive! Without all of you the berry bushes would be buried in vines and shaded by trees – not the fruit-laden beauties that they are now. And thanks, Bubba for the courageous, hard core mowing which allows us access to help the bushes! Bubba watched a Bobcat resting at the farm last week – Im so jealous, all Ive ever seen of them,there, is their scat! Coming to the farm is a good opportunity to see wildlife and birds, from otters and an alligator (in the pond) to bobwhite quail, coyotes and turkeys, and lots of deer and rabbits!
 
The summer is barreling down on us now and there is still plenty to do in those rows to get your hours in before the season starts. We will be cutting weedy trees and vines which compete with the berry bushes for water and light, but not pulling them out so as not to disturb the growing berries – and there are lots of berries, getting bigger by the day!(see attached pictures)
 

So c’mon out to the farm this Thursday at 9am and Friday at 9 and 5, I will be in the barnyard gardens with plenty of tools, you bring plenty of water, a hat, and long sleeves and pants. Kids are very welcome but please leave pet friends at home. If you bring kids its a good idea to bring extra water and snacks, and dress them in closed toed shoes and long pants. Kids love coming out to the farm, especially in the cool parts of the day.
 
And read on about the Master Gardeners Plant sale, it looks like a good opportunity to get some plants and help out what looks like a really interesting and beneficial program.

Hope to see you down at the farm!

maureen
www.GvilleBlueberryFarmFriends.org

Date: Mon, 3 May 2010 10:35:35 -0400
From: msexton@alachuacounty.us
To: maureenreschly@hotmail.com
Subject: Press Release: Master Gardener Plant Sale

Communications Office – Press Release CONTACT: Mark Sexton, Communications Coordinator PHONE: (352) 374-5204; CELL (352) 283-2317 EMAIL: msexton@alachuacounty.us  …stay engaged For Immediate Release   Master Gardener Plant Sale   May 3, 2010 10:30 a.m. ALACHUA COUNTY, FL - The Alachua County Master Gardeners Annual Plant Sale takes place on Saturday, May 22, 2010 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Extension Office (2800 NE 39 Avenue, Gainesville, corner of Waldo Rd & NE 39 Ave.)  All year Master Gardeners start from seed or propagate their favorite plants for this sale. A variety of herbs, annuals, perennials, natives and more will be available.  Master Gardeners will be on site for advice on caring for your plants. This annual plant sale is a fundraiser for the Alachua County Master Gardener Volunteer Program.  In 2009 these volunteers gave over 5,700 hours of service to the citizens of Alachua County and made contact with nearly 20,000 people seeking gardening advice.  There are currently 11 school gardens throughout Alachua County elementary schools run by these volunteers.  School children are learning about growing fruits and vegetables. Last year over 75 pounds of food grown at schools was donated to Bread of the Mighty Food Bank. Community gardens are continually being established for local residents.   Admission and parking is free. Bring a box, bag or wagon to carry plants in.   For more information on the plant sale or to ask a master gardener for advice, contact the Extension office at 352-955-2402.   -30-

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Hello Friends of the Gainesville Organic Blueberry farm,

Glory, soggy glory, it finally rained! Twice! This a big prayer answered – THANK YOU RAIN! And THANKS to all who have been coming out to pitch in – if we keep getting such great attendance we will surely have to buy more tools The bees are doing their busy work, the 20 year old berry bushes are stretching their roots, thriving without irrigation, or fertilizer for years, and turning soil and water and air into exquisite organic fruit (almost 1/2 size already, and the branches are loaded), with only the care that we have been giving them for the past few years – congratulations friends, you have helped to maintain and preserve a precious resource in our community, and soon it will be picking time! 

 

And Thanks to the folks at the Citizen’s Co-op, and Chain Reaction and everyone else responsible for arranging the first annual Gainesville Garden Bike Tour, and including the farm as a featured stop! Almost a hundred signed up – amazing! It was really great to have droves of bicyclists show up, and check out the work we and the Edible Plant Project have been doing at the farm, and to meet so many great members of our vibrant community, Welcome all who joined our groups that day! To find out more about our groups go to www.GvilleBlueberryFarmFriends.org and www.edibleplantproject.org ‘about’ pages. We look forward to working with you! Bikers love the Gainesville Organic Blueberry Farm because its such a quick and pleasant ride from campus or downtown!

 

Spring is in full swing and its time to get to work again, cutting vines and weedy trees, but trying not to disturb the ripening berries. The season starts in about a month, so c’mon out and get your hours in before June! I will be by the barnyard gardens this Thursday at 9 and 4,and Sunday at 4 with hand tools. You bring gloves and plenty of water (and snacks if you bring kids). Kids are very welcome but please leave pet friends at home. For those of you who have been out before, we will be working in the bee patch or the 2 bridges patch in case you arrive late, if you’ve never been out working with us before please arrive within a 1/2 hour of start times so you’ll know where we are working. Work as long as you like – there will be a few more work parties before the season starts. But now we are having great weather – its not sweltering yet – a great time to get those hours in

 

And next Saturday come and visit us at the May Day Farm Local Food and Music Fest out at Swallowtail Farm (see below and attached flyer for details) It looks like a great way to celebrate May Day and support local farms and community sustainability – and it looks like a blast for the kids - my son, Joey is very excited, as am I!

 

Hope to see you down on the farm!

maureen

www.GvilleBlueberryFarmFriends.org

 

Swallowtail Farm Local Food & Music Fest – May Day! Swallowtail Farm Food & Music Fest – May Day! An all-out celebration of Local Food & Music featuring the Local Food Roadshow from 1-3 pm, a sampling of local cuisine prepared by The Jones, Leonardo’s 706, The Top, and local chefs & cooks! Kick-off event for the Hogtown Homegrown Eat Local Challenge! Local Farm & Food Expo – Meet your Farmers, Meet your Food! Slow Food, CSA’s, Citizens’ Co-op, Comet Farm, The Family Garden, Glades Ridge Dairy, Cognito Farm, Shepherd’s Hill, Abundant Edible Landscapes, Gainesville Farm Fresh, Earth Pets, UF Organic Garden Club, and on and on! G’ville’s best Music – 3rd Stone, Patrick Koch, and a holy host of others for your listening pleasure! Kids Fair, with Hoops, Bubbles, Fountains & Hayrides! Raffle – Grand Prize: Sanctuary Yoga Studios 1 yr unlimited Membership! and of course, your best chance yet to visit Swallowtail Farm! $10 Suggested Donation to benefit the farm When Sat, May 1, 12pm – 9pm GMT-04:00 Where Swallowtail Farm 27431 N CR 1491 Alachua, FL 32615