Remember when?

A oat cover crop grows on the field where we will plant vegetables next year. A sweet comforting sight as we go into our quiet break season of the year.

A lush oat cover crop grows on the field where we will plant vegetables next year. A sweet comforting sight as we go into our quiet break season of the year.

Well, friends — another CSA season comes to a close this week. This is the final week of our tenth season! To commemorate the occasion, I put together a fun CSA newsletter comprised of favorite photos of the last ten years. We think long-time CSA members will smile at the shared memories, and newer members will probably learn some things about the history of our farm!

But, first! I want to make sure I deliver important news up front so folks see it! Here are three important pieces of news for you this week:

  • Have you signed up for our 2016 CSA yet? You can do so at pick-up this week, or you can sign up now using our handy online form. The price remains the same for all share sizes. We hope you’ll join us! If you’ve already signed up, you’ll be receive your confirmation materials from us through snail mail and email after the holidays. Your first payment will be due before our first pick up on January 14 (but no need to pay until after the New Year!).
  • In the meantime, you can keep eating our yummy food through our two upcoming Holiday Harvests. The first is next week, on Wednesday, November 25. You’ll need to place your order ahead of time, and you can find the list of available items and online order form here. Our second Holiday Harvest will be on December 22 — we’ll send out emails ahead of time. Also, you can buy farm meat from the freezer and eggs at the Holiday Harvest as well!
  • And … this one’s not technically just about the farm. I want to invite you to attend the McMinnville Women’s Choir’s winter concert on Saturday, December 5. I have been singing with this group for two years now, and many of the choir members are also friends or customers of the farm. Our winter concert offers a unique take on the season — we will be singing songs from many traditions: Nigerian and Spanish carols and songs for Hanukkah and solstice. Shows are at 3 pm and 7 pm, and you can buy tickets at Oregon Stationers ($5/person for presale or $8 at the door — children 18 and under are free).

And, now, as we close this season, let us reflect on our decade of farming (so far) and all its wild challenges and joys. Enjoy the trip back in time:

2006 — We began! How young were we? So young!

2006 — We began! How young were we? So young!

2006 - We farmed our little one acre of rented ground and kept it like a garden.

2006 – We farmed our little one acre of rented ground and kept it like a garden.

2006 - Our first CSA pick-up ever!

2006 – Our first CSA pick-up ever!

2006 - After a whirlwind year of activity, that fall we were planting garlic on our very own 17.5 acres that we bought here on Grand Island. That's where we've been ever since!

2006 – After a whirlwind year of activity, that fall we were planting garlic on our very own 17.5 acres that we bought here on Grand Island. That’s where we’ve been ever since!

2007 - But before we moved out here, we had to build ourselves a house.

2007 – But before we moved out here, we had to build ourselves a house.

2007 - Lots of CSA members and friends helped, and on Earth Day we moved in to our new house!

2007 – Lots of CSA members, family, and friends helped, and by Earth Day we moved in to our new house!

2007 - That summer our over-wintered sweet onions were bigger than our kittens.

2007 – That summer our over-wintered sweet onions were bigger than our kittens.

2007 - We spent many years hosting our winter CSA pick-ups in the food bank warehouse space at the old YCAP building.

2007 – We spent many years hosting our winter CSA pick-ups in the food bank warehouse space at the old YCAP building.

2008 - So much of our winter time in the early days was spent developing our infrastructure. We built our pole barn and greenhouses for starts.

2008 – So much of our winter time in the early days was spent developing our infrastructure. We built our pole barn and greenhouses for starts.

2008 - We had a fabulous three summers selling at the McMinnville Farmers Market (06-08).

2008 – We had a fabulous three summers selling at the McMinnville Farmers Market (06-08).

2008 - In July of '08, an attempted fix of a faulty irrigation well resulted in it breaking beyond repair ... mid summer! We scrambled to get another well driller out as quickly as possible. The new driller took his time getting us a powerful well. Casey enjoyed the flow test, when we learned just how much volume our new well could produce (a lot!). That was a very scary and expensive time for our farm, and we were overwhelmed with the loving support of our community!

2008 – In July of ’08, an attempted fix of a faulty irrigation well resulted in it breaking beyond repair … mid summer! We scrambled to get another well driller out as quickly as possible. The new driller worked hard to get drill us a powerful replacement well. Casey enjoyed the flow test, when we learned just how much volume our new well could produce (a lot!). That was a very scary and expensive time for our farm, and we were overwhelmed with the loving support of our community!

2008 - December. Snowmageddon hit Oregon, making us grateful for sturdy greenhouses. We also felt kind of bored and lonely being stuck on the farm for all those snow days, which led to some big changes in the following year ...

2008 – In December, Snowmageddon struck Oregon, making us grateful for sturdy greenhouses. We also felt kind of bored and lonely being stuck on the farm for all those snow days, which led to some big changes in the following year …

First, we hired our first interns, Daniel and Erika!

2009 – First, we hired our first employees ever, interns Daniel and Erika!

2009 - Next we set in motion another plan to increase the fun factor on the farm (especially on future snow days). I definitely slowed down my pace toward the end of this pregnancy, but I worked on the farm until the very end (literally until the day of going into labor). I also learned that my rain gear fit a big round belly just fine.

2009 – Next we set in motion another plan to increase the fun factor on the farm (especially on future snow days). I definitely slowed down my pace toward the end of this pregnancy, but I worked on the farm until the very end (literally until the day of going into labor). I also learned that my rain gear fit a big round belly just fine.

2010 - And life was changed forever by these new little feet in the field.

2010 – And life was changed forever by these new little feet in the field.

2011 - We hosted our best attended open house ever this fall, thanks I'm sure to the draw of our first (but not our last) musical act — The Davis Street Band (high school bluegrass sensation). I'd estimate over 100 people came out to hear the tunes, pick their pumpkins, and taste potatoes.

2011 – We hosted our best attended open house ever this fall, thanks I’m sure to the draw of our first (but not our last) musical act — The Davis Street Band (high school bluegrass sensation). I’d estimate over 100 people came out to hear the tunes, pick their pumpkins, and taste potatoes.

2011 - At some point in our experience of winter farming, we started getting serious about heaps and piles of winter storage crops. They always make great photos — so much food in one spot!

2011 – At some point in our experience of winter farming, we started getting serious about heaps and piles of winter storage crops. They always make great photos — so much food in one spot!

2012 - The 12th biggest flood event on record forever changed how we see the Willamette River and Grand Island. The water came up so high on the roads that we were "stuck" on the island for several days.

2012 – The 12th biggest flood event on record forever changed how we see the Willamette River and Grand Island. The water came up so high on the roads that we were “stuck” on the island for several days.

2012 - This was quite the year to say the least. We expanded our acreage from 17 to 100 acres and added a huge number of operations to the farm. We bought our first dairy cows (Willa and Annie), the first of many animals to join us on the farm.

2012 – This was quite the year to say the least. We expanded our acreage from 17 to 100 acres and added a huge number of operations to the farm. We bought our first dairy cows (Willa and Annie), the first of many animals to join us on the farm.

2012 - We also prepared ourselves to welcome another new addition to the farm ...

2012 – We also prepared ourselves to welcome another new addition to the farm …

2012 - By Fall, we had a baby who was almost as big as our kohlrabi.

2012 – By Fall, we had a baby who was almost as big as our kohlrabi.

2012 - We have been told many times over that this was one of the most memorable days for many of our (many) employees at the time — high water was predicted and we had to dig our potatoes before they flooded! The crew dug potatoes as fast as they could in a driving rainstorm. Fun was had, because it was just crazy.

2012 – We have been told many times over that this was one of the most memorable days for many of our (many) employees at the time — high water was predicted and we had to dig our potatoes before they flooded! The crew dug potatoes as fast as they could in a driving rainstorm. Fun was had, because it was just crazy.

2013 - Many babies besides our own have now been born on the farm. The calves were often the most exciting (and cute too!).

2013 – Many babies besides our own have now been born on the farm. The calves were often the most exciting (and cute too!).

2013 - We're pretty good at doing seemingly impossible things, and I think this dinner probably topped the list of almost impossible things we have pulled off beautifully. A sit down dinner for CSA members offered for free — five courses served up on plates, everything produced on the farm. This effort required a ton of help, notably the amazing cooking skills of Jason and Laurie Furch (formerly of Red Fox). It was a night to remember (and we have not yet felt up to attempting it again!).

2013 – We’re pretty good at doing seemingly impossible things, but I think this dinner probably topped the list of almost impossible things we have pulled off beautifully. A sit down dinner for CSA members offered for free — five courses served up on plates, everything produced on the farm. This effort required a ton of help, notably the amazing cooking skills of Jason and Laurie Furch (formerly of Red Fox). It was a night to remember (and we have not yet felt up to attempting it again!).

2013 - What a joy it has been to plant fruit trees, tend them, watch them grow, and then harvest. The fruit trees are the visible sign of our many years in this place — there are no shortcuts here. We love the shapes, colors and flavors of fruit as much as annual vegetables. These are four plum varieties.

2013 – What a joy it has been to plant fruit trees, tend them, watch them grow, and then harvest. The fruit trees are the visible sign of our many years in this place — there are no shortcuts here. We love the shapes, colors and flavors of fruit as much as annual vegetables. These are four plum varieties.

2014 - And then the babies grew to children who could help us plant potatoes (CSA member children — and their parents — were out there helping too!).

2014 – And, then our farm babies grew into children who could help us plant potatoes (CSA member children — and their parents — were out there helping too!).

Oh, how many photos I could have included to tell more and more and more stories about the farm! Ten years is rich, folks. But the children and I enjoyed scrolling through all those years to choose these juiciest ones for you. I hope you enjoyed it too.

The process of putting this together is a sweet way to end the season. This week has been stormy — rainy and windy — and we feel the call of our winter rest. Because we spent then winter of ’12 preparing for our former “Full Diet CSA” and then ran that program year round in ’13 and ’14, we figure we haven’t had a real good solid rest since the winter of 2011-12. It is time! The farm and our lives need a little bit of extra attention!

And, then we will be back, raring to go with the extra energy of renewal, in January! We hope to see you all then (and/or at our Holiday Harvests this fall!)

And, as always, we end in gratitude. Thank you for this season and for all the ones that came before it! Enjoy this week’s vegetables!

Your farmers, Katie & Casey Kulla

~ ~ ~

Meet this week’s vegetables:

  • Goldrush apples — Voted the best apple in our recent variety tasting here on the farm!
  • Walnuts!
  • Arugula
  • Kale
  • Rainbow chard
  • Mustards
  • Cabbage
  • Cauliflower & broccoli
  • Butternut squash
  • Acorn squash
  • Spaghetti squash
  • Delicata winter squash
  • Pie pumpkin
  • Carrots
  • Sweet potatoes
  • Potatoes

~ ~ ~

And this week’s extra goodies from the farm:

  • Eggs — $6/dozen
  • Bratwurst — Artisan-made no-nitrates added pasture-raised pork Bratwursts! $12/lb.
  • Ground beef — $7 for 1 lb packages
  • Stewing hen — $3.50/lb
  • Lamb — Roasts and ground lamb are $8/lb. Lamb chops are $12/lb.
This entry was posted in Weekly CSA Newsletters. Bookmark the permalink.

2 Responses to Remember when?

  1. I really enjoyed looking through your photos and trip down memory lane!

    Cheers to another 10 years, and a well deserved winter break!

    Andrea

  2. Timothy says:

    Yes!!! That WAS a fun day!!! I have good memories of it and of all the other days I worked there!! :) Thanks for posting.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *