The Weblog

The Online Market is open for ordering from 8 AM Wednesday till 8 PM on Thursday.
Spring time is upon us again. The planting of vegetables and flowers is in full spead as we work to provide an aboundance of fresh new products. Please feel free to make your selections from the great products available this week.

Remember the New Customer Referral Program
From March 20 through June 30

How it Works
1. Tell a friend about the CUMMING HARVEST farmers market.
2. Have them register at cumming.locallygrown.net. (the market managers will contact all new customers to ask who referred them)
3. After their third purchase (3 different weeks), your credit will be applied to your account.
Thank you for sharing your love of healthy food and for helping to support our local growers!

Stephen Daniels
770-905-9155



 
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This Week at The Cumming Harvest


Market News

The Cumming Harvest is open for orders!

We got word last week that another location is available for us and will be moving in the next few weeks. Stan and Carla Rutledge have been and continue to be so generous with their support of the market and our local farmers. They offered us the Colony Park space 5 years ago with no strings attached and now have offered us a warehouse space that is going to be even better. Truly, we wouldn’t have The Cumming Harvest without their overly generous support!

From now on I’ll continue to update you on our new location and the final move date to 165 Enterprise Drive, Suite I, Cumming, GA 30040. Just up the road from our current location.

MARKET LOCATION
Building 106, Colony Park Dr. in the Basement of Suite 100, Cumming, GA 30040.
Google Map

PICK UP HOURS
Saturday from 10-12pm.
106 Colony Park Drive, Suite 100 Cumming, GA 30040
Please contact me if you have any questions, problems or suggestions. EMAIL ME

To view the harvest today and tomorrow till 8pm, visit “The Market” page on our website, The Cumming Harvest

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!

Reminder - Ordering Closes Tonight at 8pm


Just a friendly reminder that the market orders are due today by 8 pm.

Thank you for placing your order and supporting local farms and businesses!
See you on Saturday!

Click Here To Order

This Week at The Cumming Harvest


Market News

The Cumming Harvest is open for orders!

This week I’d like to focus on Cane Creek Farm, a fantastic local farm and outdoor classroom.

CANE CREEK FARM ANNOUNCES 2016 EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS
Opportunities for the Backyard Gardener, Experienced Farmer, and Children

At Cane Creek Farm plans are well underway for spring and the 2016 growing season with organic growing courses, a “Lunch ‘N Learn” series, and summer farm camps for children. Cane Creek Farm is located in the western part of Forsyth County with almost eighteen acres along Cane Creek. The farm has four acres in cultivation in fields of vegetables and flowers, orchard and fruit trees, berries, pastures of sheep, cows and chickens, and over 200 shitake mushroom logs.

“Providing educational opportunities is a way to live our passion of encouraging others to create a more sustainable lifestyle for themselves, their families and their communities,” says owner and farmer Lynn Pugh, a former science teacher in the Forsyth County school system who has owned and operated Cane Creek Farm since 2001.
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Organic Growing Courses
The three organic growing courses offered by Cane Creek Farm build on each other and serve to discover and deepen an understanding of using sustainable, chemical-free growing practices. Students include those wanting to begin a garden at home or enhance their current garden and the aspiring or experienced farmer wanting to learn more about organic growing practices. Although these courses are now in their 10th year, this is the first year the classroom component is offered online with an optional on-farm field experience. Lynn Pugh teaches the courses from the Georgia Organic’s organic curriculum, which she helped to develop. Classes are limited to 25 participants, and advance registration is required at www.canecreekfarm.net.

“We want to reach those who may not live nearby by offering much of the course content online, and those who are able will find the field experience to be fun hands-on learning and a good way to connect with classmates,” says Pugh. “About a third of our past participants now own and operate their own farms, and almost all students are successful backyard gardeners.”

Courses:
OGC 101 Fundamentals of Organic Growing- Online
Four sessions over eight weeks
February 27 to April 16

OGC 101F Fundamentals of Organic Growing Field Experience – On Farm
Four Saturday mornings, 9 AM to 1 PM, every other week.
March 5 – April 16

No pre-requisite or experience necessary. Topics include soil, soil management, plant anatomy and physiology, and plant reproduction.
Cost: OGC 101 and OGC 101F- $250.
OGC only 101- $150.

OGC 102 Practices of Organic Growing- Online
Four sessions over eight weeks
April 22 – June 11

OGC 102F Practices of Organic Growing Field Experience – On Farm
Four Saturday mornings, 9 AM to 1 PM, every other week.
April 30 – June 11

OGC 102 has a pre-requisite of OGC 101 or previous OGC. Topics include cover crops and weeds, pollinators, pests, pathogens, crop rotation and composting.
Cost: OGC 102 and OGC 102F – $250.
OGC 102 only – $150.

OGC 103 Business of Organic Growing – Online
Four sessions over eight weeks
June 17 – August 19

No pre-requisite required. Topics include marketing, certification, record keeping and finances.
Cost: $150

Discount if registering for all three courses with field experiences- $600.
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*Lunch ‘N Learn Series

Cane Creek Farm’s Lunch N’ Learn Series is held on the second Wednesday of each month, March through October. The active learning experiences take place at the farm, 11 AM – 1 PM, and include a simple lunch made from farm produce and ingredients. The variety of topics are geared towards the backyard farmer who can take the learnings home and implement a new sustainable practice or hobby. The classes are $35 per person, limited to 10 participants, and advance registration is required at www.canecreekfarm.net.

Topics and dates:
March 9 – Start your own vegetable and flower transplants
April 13– Plant an organic raised vegetable bed
May 11– Plant an organic cut flower bed
June 8– Herbs in the kitchen
July 13– Arrange garden flower bouquets
August 10- Plant an organic fall garden
September 14 – Identify medicinal plants and their uses
October 12– Grow shitake mushrooms, inoculate a log
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Summer Farm Camps
Cane Creek Farm offers two sessions of weeklong summer 2016 farm camps where children unplug, experience nature and learn where food really comes from. Campers participate in activities like feeding chickens and gathering eggs, composting, learning about pollinators and other beneficial insects, planting seeds, harvesting fruits and vegetables, and preparing fresh-picked produces for healthy snacks. The children gain a sense of place by exploring creeks, fields and forests while becoming familiar with the plants and animals that live in the area.

Camps are limited to 10 children per session, and advance reservation is required at www.canecreekfarm.net.

Session 1 – June TBD, 9AM – 3 PM, ages 8 to 12. $275 per child with a discount for multiple children in the same family.
Session 2 – June TBD, 9AM – 3 PM, grades 6 – 8. $275 per child with a discount for multiple children in the same family.
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About Cane Creek Farm
Cane Creek Farm has been in the Pugh Family since 1984. Its purpose is to produce fresh, healthy food to nourish the body and beautiful flowers to nourish the soul. Using sustainable growing practices, the farm protects the environment while preserving and improving the land for future generations of growers and consumers. The farm does not use chemical-based fertilizers, herbicides or pesticides, or hormones or antibiotics to their livestock.

Cane Creek Farm is the realization of farmer/owner Lynn Pugh’s dream to live a sustainable lifestyle surrounded by a community of people interested in the same pursuit. She gardened on a small scale during the 18 years she taught high school and college science while she and her husband, Chuck, raised their family. In 2001, Lynn began applying her knowledge to transform the land into the productive farm it is today.

Cane Creek Farm is a Certified Naturally Grown Farm, as this grass-roots organization best fits the farm’s philosophies and goals as a small-scale producer selling locally and directly to their customers. Seasonal CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) shares are available for purchase via the website and include a weekly variety of vegetables, fruits and fresh cut flowers.

Cane Creek Farm is located at 5110 Jekyll Road in Cumming, Georgia. For more information, call 770-889-3793 or visit www.canecreekfarm.net.

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MARKET LOCATION
Building 106, Colony Park Dr. in the Basement of Suite 100, Cumming, GA 30040.
Google Map

PICK UP HOURS
Saturday from 10-12pm.
106 Colony Park Drive, Suite 100 Cumming, GA 30040
Please contact me if you have any questions, problems or suggestions. EMAIL ME

To view the harvest today and tomorrow till 8pm, visit “The Market” page on our website, The Cumming Harvest

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!

Reminder - Ordering Closes Tonight at 8pm


Just a friendly reminder that the market orders are due today by 8 pm.

Thank you for placing your order and supporting local farms and businesses!
See you on Saturday!

Click Here To Order

This Week at The Cumming Harvest


Market News

The Cumming Harvest is open for orders!


Five Hens Farm has bratwurst, while supplies last! A great addition to the grill for Super Bowl weekend!


Shady Acres, is back with eggs this week. Non-GMO and soy free feed for their pastured chickens.

Great Lakes Collagen I’ve placed an order for the Beef Hydrosolate (non gelatin) powder, should be in this week.

Raw cheese from Meadow Valley Farm, you can find them on the website under “Dairy/Cheese”.


Good Shepherd Herbals has brought us some bottles of her wonderful Elderberry Syrup. It’s great for treating colds and flu, plus my kids (11 and 14) love it. Made from organic elderberries in a vegetable glycerin base. Elderberries have antiviral and immune stimulating properties. The berries are quite high in procyanidins (phytochemicals having antioxidant capabilities). No refrigeration is necessary.


Southern Essentials brought in some new bars of soap last week and he’s listed several on the website. All of their soaps are handmade using natural oils and no animal products. Each listing details the ingredients in the description.

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CANE CREEK FARM
Our Lunch N’ Learn series will be held on the second Wednesday of each month, March through October, 11 AM – 1 PM. Enjoy an active learning experience and a farm lunch! More information on our website (and registration coming). Topics and dates:

March 9 – Start your own vegetable and flower transplants
April 13– Plant an organic raised vegetable bed
May 11– Plant an organic cut flower bed
June 8– Herbs in the kitchen
July 13– Arrange garden flower bouquets
August 10- Plant an organic fall garden
September 14 – Identify medicinal plants and their uses
October 12– Grow shitake mushrooms, inoculate a log

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MARKET LOCATION
Building 106, Colony Park Dr. in the Basement of Suite 100, Cumming, GA 30040.
Google Map

PICK UP HOURS
Saturday from 10-12pm.
106 Colony Park Drive, Suite 100 Cumming, GA 30040
Please contact me if you have any questions, problems or suggestions. EMAIL ME

To view the harvest today and tomorrow till 8pm, visit “The Market” page on our website, The Cumming Harvest

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!

This Week at The Cumming Harvest


Market News

The Cumming Harvest is open for orders!
A few things are worth noting this week…

My Daily Bread has their cinnamon rolls and gluten free brownies on sale $1 off. These items are located under “Bakery Goods”.

Welcome, Southern Grass Meat, read about them at http://cumming.locallygrown.net/growers/show/7356

Ancient Awakenings is selling this week, you can find their products under “Probiotic and Fermented Foods”.

We have butter at the market but this may be the last batch until spring. Email me if you’d like to add some to your order. They are $6.50 each.

We also have Raw cheese from Meadow Valley Farm, you can find them on the website under “Dairy/Cheese”.

LOCATION
Building 106, Colony Park Dr. in the Basement of Suite 100, Cumming, GA 30040.
Google Map

PICK UP HOURS
Saturday from 10-12pm.
106 Colony Park Drive, Suite 100 Cumming, GA 30040
Please contact me if you have any questions, problems or suggestions. EMAIL ME

To view the harvest today and tomorrow till 8pm, visit “The Market” page on our website, The Cumming Harvest

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!

Tomorrow's Pick Up Time


We will have pick up tomorrow from 3-4pm instead of 10-12pm. Please contact me with any questions.

Drive Safe!
Suzanne
404-702-2601

Reminder - Ordering closes at 8pm tonight


Just a friendly reminder that the market orders are due today by 8 pm.

Thank you for placing your order and supporting local farms and businesses!
See you on Saturday!

Click Here To Order

This Week at The Cumming Harvest


Market News

As you know winter has set in and only a few select farmers can continue growing produce if they grow under hoop houses/greenhouses. Cane Creek Farm and Heirloom Gardens are the two farmers we have that continue to sell through the winter months, thank goodness for them!

This week…Heirloom Gardens is taking off to help her mom move, (she’ll be back next week) but we are fortunate to have Cane Creek Farm providing all the produce for us this week with carrots, turnips, kale, lettuces and two great mixed combo bags.

Milk Heritage Farm has put milk on sale this week. Did you know you can freeze milk? It’s really helpful to freeze milk if you are trying to stock up and have the space. Thawed milk that has been frozen is just as tasty if consumed straight but you may notice that the cream doesn’t mix completely smooth into the milk. Many people will use previously frozen milk for baking recipes.

Butter and Cheese Last week we received a fresh order of raw butter and raw cheese from our Amish friends in Indiana. Just add these items to your order when you come in to pick up.

This week I’ll tell you more about the market guidelines.
The decision to let a new grower into the market is always made by me alone. There’s no committee, and no formal application process. We have a closed market, and it’s not open to just anyone to sell through. A good number of our growers also go above and beyond to only bring “the best of the best”, and that pushes the de facto standards even higher. Here’s a summary of what it takes to be able to sell through The Cumming Harvest:

  • All growers must use sustainable practices and never use synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. I’ll come back to this later.
  • All growers can only sell what they themselves have grown, made, or otherwise produced.
  • All growers must be within about 100 miles of Cumming.
  • All growers must be willing to be part of our TCH community, and not think of us as just a dumping off point.
  • All animals raised for meat or eggs must be pastured or sustainable wild-caught
  • Prepared foods must use organic ingredients if at all possible, and locally grown ingredients if at all possible
  • All proper licenses, when required by law, must be obtained

“Sustainable practices”. There’s no set definition of that, and there’s really a sliding scale. There is a generally accepted definition of what is “conventional” agriculture, and that includes the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, and confined and grain-fed animals. Those are easy to exclude. At the other end, there is the USDA Organic Certification and Certified Naturally Grown certification. Few small diversified growers can meet the expense of USDA certification, but a good number of our growers are CNG certified. This program uses the USDA rules as a starting point, made a few things more strict, and uses a system of growers certifying other growers to keep things honest. If a new grower does not have a certification, then I talk to them, get information about them, and visit their farm in person when necessary.

In short: the growers have satisfied my standards, and I personally have approved them for inclusion in TCH. However, I want you to not just take my word for it. All the farmers welcome visitors to their farms, just call them and set up an appointment. We occasionally have a “meet the farmer” table on Saturday’s so you can talk with the growers yourself face-to-face. We encourage them to take photos for their online photo album, to describe their practices, and to take care with their product listings. We want to facilitate communication between you and them, so when you place an order, they see your name and email address in case they need to clarify a request or offer a substitution, and likewise for most of our growers you can see their contact info when you view their grower profile (while logged into the site) so you can get clarification from them when needed.

I often wrestle with some of those edge cases. Doug’s Wild Alaska Salmon was one such case. The salmon and halibut they sell was caught in Alaska, but Doug and his family live here (well, just over the line in South Carolina). They own their own small boats, and catch the fish themselves. Their practices are certified sustainable by a reputable organization up there, and their products are high quality. They’ve worked out the logistics of getting fish to you every week (by keeping a supply at the market in a freezer they own). I have in the past talked with dairies from across the state, fisherman from Savannah, olive growers from Savannah, and other people making items we just can’t get from growers located right here. Often, the logistics of getting their items from there to here on a regular and timely basis is what breaks down, but I hope that over time we’ll be able to expand the items at our market without compromising our community of growers located right here.

Hopefully that explains how our growers get into TCH, what standards they have to meet, and so on. It’s a very important topic, perhaps the most important one for our market, but much of it goes on behind the scenes. I know you’ve put your trust in me, and I take that very seriously, If you’d like to talk with me in person about this or any other aspects of TCH, I’d love to do so. Just pull me aside when you come by to pick up your order.

LOCATION
Building 106, Colony Park Dr. in the Basement of Suite 100, Cumming, GA 30040.
Google Map

PICK UP HOURS
Saturday from 10-12pm.
106 Colony Park Drive, Suite 100 Cumming, GA 30040
Please contact me if you have any questions, problems or suggestions. EMAIL ME

To view the harvest today and tomorrow till 8pm, visit “The Market” page on our website, The Cumming Harvest

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!

Reminder: Place your co-op order before 8pm today!


Just a friendly reminder that the market orders are due today by 8 pm.

Thank you for placing your order and supporting local farms and businesses!
See you on Saturday!

Click Here To Order