At the Farm is located on Highway 5 in Carver County, Minnesota - 2.5 m. East of Waconia - 4.5 m. West of Victoria - 10 m. West of Chanhassen
Donna Frantz, Proprietor - 8880 East Highway 5, Waconia MN 55387 - imthefarmer@earthlink.net - 952-442-4816

At the Farm Newsletter

Sent May 28, 2008 Hello, Planting conditions here are getting a lot better! I have only one field left to open, but it's still just too wet. The thousands of onions are all planted, wow! Zucchini, cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, ground cherries and melons are still waiting their turn. Still a bit too cool for them. Remember two weeks ago when I told you about Iceman Days? Well this is the weather they were talking about! Cold winds and chance of frost as late as May 20-22. All my cold crops have been planted for the first go 'round. I will continue planting the cold crops in cycles throughout the growing season so they are ready to be harvested at different times. My garden peas, leaf lettuce, beets and shallots are up! Many people inquire about the varieties of vegetables I plant. All my tomatoes are mid-season to late-season. I do not have early-season varieties . . . they are not worth bending over for in my opinion! My tomato choices are: John Bear, Wisconsin 55, Big Beef, Better Boy, Celebrity, Roma, Grape, Cherry and Yellow. For heirloom tomatoes I especially like the blacks, but also alot of other varieties. Some heirloom varieties crack so bad or get so large they rot before they ripen. The heirloom tomato flavors are excellent but their shelf life bites (its short)! For pepper plant varieties I plant: Lady Bell (this green pepper is really a winner!), Yellow Belle, Yellow Banana, Carmen Red (red Italian horn-shaped) and Jalapeno. Remember to pinch off the first set of blossoms, the energy needs to go to the growth of the plant, not to setting peppers early on. My eggplant variety choices are: Icheban (long, almost black), Night Shadow (egg shaped, dark purple), Italian Pink Bicolor (egg shaped, pink), Zebra (egg shaped, purple and white). I have patio/deck pots of tomatoes, peppers, herbs and lettuce. Its so fabulous to have a garden right on your patio or deck! Happy Spring! Donna

Go Green - Buy Local, Eat Fresher! Locally grown produce is fresher and its fun to meet the farmer! I have been 'green' forever! I'm an organic farmer and that can be a challenge. Last season the bugs almost carried me away! The prolonged heat and lack of rain was the reason the bugs were so awful. Hopefully this year will be better, that's the farmer's mantra! As an organic farmer I don't use any chemicals on my vegetables. There are some good natural, organic treatments for pests and I use those when necessary. Buying vegetables grown locally also makes 'green sense' because the product has not been transported hundreds of miles. Think of the fuel conservation! And my produce is the very best quality because it is picked fresh, by hand, daily. The only way you could get vegetables fresher would be if they were from your own backyard garden or deck! So shop for produce At the Farm! I'm right here in your 'backyard'. And I can give you cooking hints on how to prepare the vegetables I sell. I'll teach you new ways to cook old favorites or the best way to cook vegetables you've never tried before. You can't beat that for personal service! Plus its fun for me to be able to meet and visit with all of you! So, go green, buy local, eat fresher and better!