THERE'S SO MUCH HAPPENING ON THE FARM!
(super dense post, with some editing and pictures coming soon!!)

The plants are popping, the frogs are peeping, the birds are singing, and there's just SO MUCH work to do!!  Work is in full swing here on the farm; we started direct seeding on Easter weekend with potatoes, spinach, beets, peas, and lettuce. The greenhouse is filling up with seedlings, and some will soon be transplanted into the fields. Spring work is so exciting, and we hope you'll join us for some! 
We are also very happy to have found our summer crew, and we will be welcoming our first interns to the farm in early May. 
Spring Work Days
Spring is a time for starting seeds, greenhouse work, prepping beds, planting and transplanting. There is usually something for everyone on a work day. 
Here are the upcoming weekend work days you can RSVP to:  Saturday, April 13, 9-noon, 1-4 PMSaturday, May 4, 9-noon, 1-4 PM We are also looking for help every Friday until harvests start, if that's of interest to you, please fill out the form or RSVP directly to Alice. If you haven't yet, make sure you fill out our volunteer interest form to get on the list. Please RSVP to Alice at mustardseedbee@gmail.com or text 978-471-8414.  For a weekend workday, No need to wait for a reply before showing up, unless the weather looks iffy.  For other days, make sure you get a confirmation.
(extra note from Alice: Right now, WE COULD USE HELP ON A LOT OF DAYS!  - this week and next, I think we could use so much help, that I'm open to folks coming Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and/or Saturday.         exciting work to do:  So many choices!Uncovering perennials - Strawberries, sage, blackberrieslot of detailed greenhouse work - starting new seeds, transplanting prairie plants to bigger pots, dividing trays to give plants more spaceprepping beds for plantingplanting in the field - onions, potatoes, brassicas, turning composts 
April-May Upcoming Events April 27. SEED AND PLANT SHARE with the Seed Library and Ames Repair Cafe
Celebrate Earth Day with Seeds, Plants, and another Ames Repair Cafe hosted at the Ames Public Library. Volunteers will help repair broken items at no charge.  Bring plants and seeds to share, or just come find something new!  You don't need to bring a plant in order to take home a plant - there should be enough plants for everyone! At the very least, there will be some native trees offered by the City of Ames, and little packets of greens seedlings grown by us.  The Seed Library will be open to check out seeds and there will be members of the Mustard Seed team helping with seed and plant activities.  

May Events!
Saturday, April 27th, 10am-4pm: Earth Day Seed Library Event - see above - more details to come about specific times Library Repair Cafe LInkSaturday, May 11: Ames Downtown Farmers Market - we'll have garden kits, succulents, and crafts for sale!Saturday, May 18 from 10 AM - 12 PM: Annual Plant Share - IN the yard of the Romero House, 709 Clark Ave, Ames.  Another chance to share your extra seeds and plants with the community, and to find something new to grow.   Potentially followed by a fun open house at the Burnett Urban Farm.   More details to come.Friday, May 31, 6-8pm Potluck on the farm.Flowerpots??     We would like to give new life, beauty, and joy to the pots that you aren't using.  We are looking for: - Any seedling pots that you got from us in the past - especially, the CONE-TAINERS that our prairie plants come in. - Ceramic flower-pots in decent condition to make cute succulent plant arrangements for mother's day.    Right now, they are in plastic pots, but I thought a pottery pot would be much better for a gift for a mother.  We are looking for small or shallow (not more than 5" deep) ceramic pots that aren't broken.  (text alice 978-471-8414)Looking for Farmers Market Volunteers
We will be at the Ames Downtown Market this year, selling prairie plants, garden plants, houseplants, crafts, and sometimes veggies and flowers. Are you interested in a volunteer opportunity that is in town on the weekends? We are looking for farmers market helpers to work at our booth. The farmers market is downtown on Main Street from 8:00 AM - 12:30 PM (we usually set up around 7:30 and are finished by 1 PM). We try to have 2-3 people at the booth at a time to talk with customers about the farm (harvest mornings, events, etc.) and to make sales. All volunteers will be trained and you will always have a buddy with you! If you are interested, please email Amie at outreach.mustardseed@gmail.com for more information and the sign up sheet. These are the dates that we will be at the Ames downtown farmers' market:May 11June 1June 8June 15June 22June 29    plus a few more in late August/early September 
Workshares Begin in May, RETURNING and NEW workers - click here to sign up to be a 2024 workshare! We are only about 4 weeks away from beginning our Harvest season! We will begin our season with two weeks of harvest training. Mark your calendars for May 7,10,14,17!!! if all goes well, we will start delivering May 21 or 28.
Help Us Recruit Volunteers! The farm team is looking for more workshares, and we are hoping that you can help us out. A few of us got together and created the Mustard Seed Media Kit. If you click this link, you will be taken to a folder that contains a printable flyer, several images you can share via email or on social media, and a document with customizable messages that you can text/email to a friend, share on social media, or submit to a newsletter. 

Flower CSA Openings
We're excited to offer a flower CSA again this season! We love nourishing our community with healthy food, and offering flowers gives us another way to nurture and nourish: through beauty.  A flower share includes six bouquets: 2 per month in June, July, and August (specific dates TBD). CSA pick up will be at Wheatsfield. Cost: $150. If you are interested in a flower share, please email mustardseedbee@gmail.com. 
Vegetable CSA OpeningsWe have a few more openings for full shares in our paid vegetable CSA this season. The Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) model is a committed relationship between an eater and a grower. You pay upfront to join our CSA for a whole growing season, and we will bring good food to you every week. Our vegetable CSA is approximately 20 weeks (May-October) and shares cost $500. We have sliding scale options available for those who need it. Learn more about the CSA. If you are interested in a vegetable share, please email mustardseedbee@gmail.com. 
Follow Us on Social Media
If you haven't already, connect with us on these platforms to stay up-to-date on farm news and events. WebsiteFarm Calender  did you know that we have a posted calender???
Facebook for Mustard SeedFacebook Group for Mustard Seed Community Farm FriendsInstagramYouTube ChannelEnjoy the rest of April and we hope to see you soon! 
Love from Amie, Alice and the whole Mustard Seed Team!