It has been a long winter.......

With school kicking into high gear, 2 new sets of standards for 5 grades, 2 brand new curriculum series for 2 subjects at 5 grade levels, posting to my website has been a challenge and honestly haven't had time. If I did have time, I usually filled it with something else that had to be done! Well this is what we have been doing this winter. Due to school and a very late spring, everything got pushed back last fall and we didn't get crops in the ground as soon as I would have liked. Therefore I paid the price. I don't have as much produce this winter. That was a double edged sword. Less produce meant, I was unable to do our online market, less winter income. However, I am thankful that we don't have much produce available because we have had a little more family time and I haven't had to run myself ragged to get everything done. Also with the winter we have had so far, I probably would have been more upset with loosing crops. So in the end it all worked out! We have had enough produce to supply the winter market we attend in Manhattan. We got enough planted to make a nice big display and I feel as if I am the largest locally grown produce vendor in the winter there. If I had all 6 high tunnels in production right now, I know I would say I was. Well I try to take a picture at each market before anyone shows up to buy. Sometimes they are good, sometimes I am an in a big hurry! Here is what our winter market offering have looked like this winter. November 2nd November 23rd December 7th December 21st The day following this market, I got sick and eventually was diagnosed with walking pneumonia, needless to say it was a very uneventful Christmas break! January 4th February 7th We still have 3 more winter markets. I am hoping to plant a few things to try and attend the last two. We will be out of town for the next market in February. Winter markets have been very good for us, it is just a challenge to get everything harvested and processed when there is snow on the ground or freezing temps. It is a challenge that I am use to. I just wish I was able to afford to build a nice indoor packing facility!

It has been a long winter.......

December 1st Farmers Market in Manhattan

We have been getting ready for the December 1st Farmers Market in Manhattan at Pottorf Hall. We will have the following items. Orange and Yellow Carrots, Salad Mix, Spinach, 5 types of head lettuce, Romaine Lettuce, Winterbor Kale, Red Russian Kale, Tuscano (Dinosaur) Kale, Swiss Chard, Cilantro, Red Bok Choy, Green Bok Choy, Tokyo Bekana, Napa Cabbage, Green Onions, Haikuri Turnips, Daikon Radishes, Garlic, Red Ripe Tomatoes, and 16 flavors of Jams and Jellies. We will have an even larger offering than last month, a full 40 feet of locally grown produce! Please let everyone know, the more the merrier! Hope to see your there!

December 1st Farmers Market in Manhattan

First Winter Market

While it didn't feel like winter, we had our first Winter Market on November 3rd in Manhattan. Here is what you missed. Don't worry, we will be back on December 1st, January 5th and 25th. You can also order though our online market, www.rvp.locallygrown.net

First Winter Market

Consistancy and Winter Farmers Markets

We are in the second year of year around growing. In addition to our online market, this year we added a monthly Winter Market in Manhattan. What I try to do is to offer a variety of products consistently over a long period of time. So, if you look at the next three pictures, you will see what I mean.

December 3rd,



January 7th,





February 4th,





Of course without customer support, I would be just a guy with a lot of veggies! Thank you to everyone for your support!

Consistancy and Winter Farmers Markets

January Farmers Market in Manhattan

On January 7th we had our second winter market of the season. It was another great success, in my opinion.  It was so nice to see so many people out supporting the local farmers.

I really look forward to our February and March Markets too!

Here is what our table looked like. I didn't get too many pictures, but I did get these.



Here it is from the other end.




This is what it looked like in December. The only difference is the tomatoes!

January Farmers Market in Manhattan

First Winter Market in Manhattan, December 3rd

Our first winter market was on December 3rd. It was a successful day. We need to build this market. I took alot of stuff and brought home a bunch. Way over picked, but you never know.

Jay

First Winter Market in Manhattan, December 3rd

Last Farmers Market

I almost never get a chance to take pictures of our market stand in the summer. We are usually sooo busy, we are just lucky to get the produce on the table. Opposite direction Another Market

Here are the tomatoes and cherry tomatoes. Enjoy!

Last Farmers Market

Introducing Republican Valley Produce

What is it?

Republican Valley Produce (RVP) is an online Farmers Market, the first of its kind in Clay Center. Also known as a Community Supported Agriculture or CSA, we offer fresh homegrown produce, meats, baked goods and jams and jellies. RVP is a group of farmers who are reaching out to those too busy to visit a Farmers Market or those who just like to sleep in on Saturdays.

How does it work?

Each member of the CSA starts up an account, with a $10 membership fee and $20 minimal balance. Each week, we will total your purchases, and this total will be deducted from your credit on your account or, if your purchase is more than the balance on your account, you will pay when you pick up your order. Our season will run from September 28th –November 2nd Guaranteed!
Extended season will run from November 9th- December 21st (if weather allows.)

Membership will be limited to 20 memberships this fall, more in years to come.

What does a typical week look like?

Thursday: Our growers submit what they will have for sale and the quantity.

Friday: The market will open up for orders. You will get an email from the market manager and will have until Sunday at 5:00 pm to place your orders online.

Sunday: Orders are compiled and totaled.

Monday: Your order will be picked, baked, and prepared for you.

Tuesday: At 5:30 p.m., you can pick up your order at one of two locations: Clay Center or Clifton. Other locations maybe added if there is enough interest.

What will be available through the market?

September: Tomatoes, Cherry Tomatoes, Peppers, Leeks, Carrots, Haikuri Turnips, Okra, Green Beans, Hot Peppers, Radishes, Potatoes, Cucumbers, Zucchini, Buffalo, Jellies, Pork and much more

October: Tomatoes, Cherry Tomatoes, Peppers, Leeks, Carrots, Haikuri Turnips, Okra, Green Beans, Hot Peppers, Radishes, 9 types of Lettuce, Salad Mix, Arugula, Bok Choy, Napa Cabbage, Spinach, Kale, Green Onions, Tatsoi, Kohlrabi, Beets, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Sweet Potatoes, Jellies, Eggs, Buffalo Meat and Pork

November: Tomatoes, Cherry Tomatoes, Peppers, Leeks, Carrots, Haikuri Turnips, Radishes, 9 types of lettuce, Salad Mix, Bok Choy, Napa Cabbage, Spinach, Kale, Green Onions, Tatsoi, Beets, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Kohlrabi, Sweet Potatoes, Jellies, Eggs, Buffalo Meat, and Pork.

December: Leeks, Carrots, Haikuri Turnips, Radishes, 9 types of lettuce, Salad Mix, Bok Choy, Napa Cabbage, Spinach, Kale, Green Onions, Tatsoi, Beets, Kohlrabi, Jellies, Eggs, Buffalo Meat, and Pork.

We are also looking at adding locally made cheeses and honey.

Why should I become a member?

Through the RVP, you will get first pick of locally grown produce, meats, baked goods and more. You will know who your farmer is and where you food is originating. You can shop online for your groceries and pick them up at a location convenient to you. And, you will be supporting area families with your purchases.

How do I become a member?
Sign up today by contacting me, RVP manager:

Jay Sleichter
1282 21st Road
Clay Center, KS 67432
785-630-0772
jaysjellies@yahoo.com

Introducing Republican Valley Produce

Pests

The crabgrass is winning, in the battle of the west squash patch. Jay and Anthony have weeded and weeded and mowed and trimmed, but the crabgrass continues to overtake the veggies. I guess that's what you get for planting in a (former) pasture.

The mosquitoes are insane. On Saturday morning, when Jay got in his truck at 6 a.m. to load for the Market, he literally turned on his windshield wipers to swipe the live mosquitoes off his truck. We haven't sprayed the yard or garden for them, for fear of hurting the bees and other insects we need for germination. The sprays and lotions we use to cover and protect ourselves provide minimal help, and it is just too too hot to wear jeans and long-sleeves. And so, we pick after the mosquitoes quiet down for the day and we quit when they reappear each night, around 9 p.m.

Bindweed is always a battle here, but at least it's an old foe. We know there isn't much to do but pull, pull, pull. When the surround terraces are white with bindweed blooms and the nasty weeds have years head start on us, the best we can do is keep pulling.

And yet, despite these and other pests, it has been an amazing, outstanding Market month. The past week alone far surpassed our expectations. Thank you to all of you who support our Farmers Market or any market. We appreciate it, more than words can express!

Pests

Some like it hot

Heat is good for tomatoes to turn red, good for some veggies, good to cut down on some bugs, but not good if you are selling at an afternoon Farmers Market.

We will be at tonight's markets, and Jay will stay for the duration. But the girls and I are going to be less hardy and plan to leave after an hour or so. I like the heat, but the littlest ones can't handle it for too long.

So, if you are planning to come to our markets tonight, come early!

Some like it hot

Definitely Tomato Time

Last week, the cherry tomatoes came on full-force. Jay picked 90 pints of cherry tomatoes to sell for Saturday's market, and that doesn't include the baskets picked and sold for Wednesday's markets. Don't they look lovely, all lined up? Almost good enough to eat!

Varieties shown here include (top to bottom) Black Cherry, Snow White, Isis Candy, Sweet Gold, Sungold, Golden Sweet, Yellow Pear, Red Pearl, Tumbling Tom, Red Pear, Tomato Berry, and Sweet Million.

Definitely Tomato Time

Happy July Fourth Weekend!

Thanks to the Independence Day celebration in downtown Clay Center, we are hoping and prepared for a bigger-than-usual turnout at tomorrow's Farmers Market. Jay picked 90 -- Yep, NINETY -- pints of cherry tomatoes, and 5 tubs of red, white, and blue potatoes. As our own little way of celebrating the July Fourth weekend, and as a way of saying thanks to our customers, we made a huge batch of red and blue potato chips. Not for sale, but just to sample and enjoy.

How did we make the chips? I washed and scrubbed the Rose Mountain and Purple Majesty potatoes, then ran them through my salad shooter. That made them into consistent, thin slices. I soaked them in water for an hour. Then, Jay fired up our turkey fryer, using the short pan. The short pan is only 5 inches deep, which means it doesn't need as much oil. Jay heated the oil to 350 degrees, then fried the potatoes in small batches.

The fried potatoes then went through a series of drying and draining stages: first on the cookie sheet, then on a cooling rack, then on a different cookie sheet, and finally in a large tupperware. I know how delicious they were fresh from the fryer; I only hope they are at least half that tasty tomorrow.

So, if you are in the Clay Center area tomorrow morning, make your way downtown. Eat some potato chips, enjoy the pancake breakfast and kiddie games, dunk your favorite celebrity in the water tank, and experience an old-fashioned Fourth of July community celebration, complete with fresh, locally grown produce.

Happy July Fourth Weekend!

Tomatoes!

They are here! The tomatoes are ripe and are coming to a market near you. In fact, we brought a few cherry tomatoes to the markets this week; we'll have lots of baskets for Saturday's market.

We'll also be bringing these Cherokee Purple big tomatoes. Don't let their appearance fool you; these tomatoes are delicious! All the recent rain has caused them to grow uglier than usual -- and Cherokee Purples aren't known for being pristine -- but they taste fabulous.

Tomatoes!

Potatoes are Here

Potatoes are here. While we aren't digging bucket fulls, yet. We are digging a few to sell at markets. We have Red Norland, Yukon Gold, Mountain Rose and Purple Majesty. Tonight the Purple Majesties were a real good seller at the Manhattan Farmers Market. Check out this picture!



That was last year's crop. This year's crop is just getting started:

Potatoes are Here

Wednesday Double Market begins

Tonight is the maiden voyage for the Wednesday Farmers Market in Clay Center. We hope the additional time and location will allow us to reach the customers who sleep in or chase ball every Saturday. I'm looking forward to it, because I get to cover the Clay Center market while Jay goes to Manhattan. That means the girls and I have an excuse to stay at Dexter Park and listen to the City Band concerts all summer long.

Wednesday Double Market begins

It's harvest time!

Updating the blog is going to be a lot harder in the weeks to come. We're just going to be so darn busy! Not only are we heading to 4-5 markets per week, we are also picking and harvesting tons of produce. Well, not tons yet... last year it took until mid-July to reach an actual ton harvested.

Today, Jay picked 45 zucchini and 14 heads of broccoli, so far. He also finished weeding, mulching, and weaving the tomatoes and peppers, and has brother Anthony continuing to weed the leeks and onions. And, insane fellow that he is, he planted another 120 pepper plants, 70 of which are Habaneros. It's going to be a hot summer, in more ways than one.

It's harvest time!

Market Prep

The thing about a family farm is that everyone has a job. Idle hands are rare, when there is always some other task that needs completed. For our oldest daughters, that translates to bagging lettuce this week. As you can see, they actually enjoyed it ... even if we did get to sneak in some math lessons, while they were sorting:

Market Prep

Let the Season Begin!

Saturday kicked off the 2010 Farmers Market season for us, with a cold morning in Clay Center. We had a few cool season crops for sale (spinach, lettuce, onions, radishes, turnips), our jellies, and lots and lots of plants. After about an hour, we had to put the pepper plants away, though; they didn't take too kindly to the 40-degree temps. All in all, it was a successful start to the season.

Let the Season Begin!