Mustard Seed Community Farm Fall Newsletter
from Alice McGary

Short summary of email contents:
1. We had a good season
2. next years goals
3 join our farm team
4. upcoming dates

It’s really fall now. Not only have we had a few frosts, but we have passed the equinox and the days are now shorter than the nights. This morning, our Tuesday harvest crew worked their last shift of the season (and I was pleased to hear them asking about spring!) and Friday will be our last full delivery. Our season is ending a little early, but overall, it has been very good.

We are already thinking about next year, dreaming and scheming about what we’d like to improve, change, or keep the same. We’d really love some ideas and feedback from our greater community, and we would especially love some new team members and volunteers to help us expand our vision and our work.

Some goals for next year:
Strengthen our connections with the people that eat our food. We partner with groups like Food at First and different food pantries and shelters that distribute our food to those who need it. These are great organizations with a lot of volunteers (just like us) who serve a lot of people, and sometimes it can get confusing. We’re looking for some consistant relationships with these groups, and also with people who want to eat our food.

Continue educating ourselves and others about issues of Environmental Stewardship, Social Justice, Agriculture, Spirituality, and more (perhaps healthy food preparation from fresh vegetables?).

And of course – it’s a goal to have a strong farm team!

Do you have any creative ideas to help us achieve these goals, or do you have other goals in mind for us? We really do need some more farm team members, and if you have any interest in possibly joining us, I’d like to encourage you to call me and/or come to our next planning meeting: this Friday afternoon at 3:30 PM at the farm (366 W Ave).

This Friday’s probable meeting agenda:
Planning the winter pot-lucks
Finding new farm team members?
Harvest and garden report from the whole season

Other dates of interest:
Friday October 14 – garlic planting 9am-4pm
friday night, first "winter" pot-luck
Saturday Oct 15 – possible continued work day if we don’t get it done Friday (9am-3)

Winter pot-lucks are the second Friday of the month 6pm dinner, 7pm discussion. These will be in the town of ames – check the website for locations and topics which will be posted soon. (if you would like to host or lead one of these, please let me know)

Thanks for the great season!