We are bringing the first of our 31 varieties of heirloom tomatoes plants to Market on Saturday (see the availability list on the left). These plants have been individually cared for, but not "babied", so they are hardy and ready for transplanting. Each plant is in a 3" pot and has been fed with organic fertilizers.

 

New this year is the Zapotec Pleated Tomato from Seeds of Change. This rare deeply pleated, pink to dark-red fruit originated in the Zapotecs of southern Mexico. This tomato's rich, earthly flavor was rated # 1 by the Seeds of Change staff so we had to give it a try! They say it's excellent stuffed, baked, or sliced.

 

We are starting tomatoes every 3 weeks this year so if you have been delayed by the cool weather or a busy schedule, don't worrry. We will have young plants available through June for your first or second planting.

 

For a complete list of our varieties and to reserve your favorites, visit www.windcrestorganics.com.

 

This sun-loving flowering herb, also known as "pot marigold", has an almost continuous blooming season. The orange and yellow petals are used to naturally color butter and fabric as well as being used for their curative properties. For hundreds of years the flower petals have provided an effective poultice for bites and stings and the juice of the plant can be found in many modern day ointments and lotions for chapped or burned skin. Click here a Calendula Ointment recipie...

From national to local media, from Time Magazine to the Charlotte Observer, the buzz about the benefits of supporting your local agricultural community is growing and people are reaching out to find our area's farmers as well as local farmers reaching out to find each other. Over the last several weeks we have received 5 calls from businesses and communities that want to offer fresh, local produce through neighborhood and commercial markets. There is certainly a growing demand! While this is very exciting, I have also learned through these calls that there still needs to be more education on what produce is available locally at this time of year and what it takes to get local produce from the farm to these markets.

 

You can't get more local than growing food on your own land - whether that's on a small acreage farm, in a neighood backyard or in containers on the deck. This week we began an Organic Gardening Workshop at the farm with five wonderful and eager folks that are here to share and learn about soils and seeds, weeds and watering, pests and patience. I am grateful for the opportunity to share what we have learned in the greenhouse and in the field. Every day we learn something new (if we are lucky!).

 

Thanks for taking time to read this newsletter. I hope to hear from you!