Well, its messy out there! Snow's melting fast as we speak and there was a good share of it this year. Soil should have plenty of moisture going into early spring, especially with record rainfall in December. The house's addition, which will feature a sun-room for starting plants as well as a basement for storm shelter, has seen significant progress and, though not yet complete, will be in functional mode for spring activities. Four trays of onions and some other early starts are mostly germinated and on their way.

Do you ever wonder what life is like on an organic vegetable farm? Do you have a desire to learn about growing and distributing healthy vegetables and fruits? Do you yearn to make an impact on local food justice? Do you want to get serious about lowering your carbon footprint? How about gaining experience in community-based, consensus decision-making? Mustard Seed Community Farm would be an excellent place for you, and we have great opportunities for interns this 2016 season.

Hey Folks, hope you can make it to our potluck this Saturday and bring friends! See below for details. Gio, a farm team member and host for this potluck requests you bring your own plates and silverware, in addition to food to share. Thanks so much. It should be a fun sharing time and there'll be a great slideshow w narration of farm happenings over the last 8 years!

Cheers, Nate

re;

Mustard Seed Farm will be having a potluck on Sat. Jan 16th in Ames, 1239 Wisconsin.

Please join us from 6-8 to share food and learn about farm happenings.

we are making some progress on our construction!
i know it's december and almost Christmas, but we're doing the best we can.



we're actually further than this, and i will try to post some better pictures tomorrow.

this past week I went to the practical farmers of iowa cooperator meeting where I had a lot of fun hearing about farmers fun practical on farm research this past year and we brainstormed and starting designing potential research projects for next year. if you want to read the full reports of two of our projects from last year - check out their website:
for the pepper report, go to:
http://practicalfarmers.org/farmer-knowledge/research-reports/2015/bell-...

a note from 12.17.15. our swap was a great success with great food, great folks, and lots of exchange of wonderful things. there was plenty leftover and lots of helpers so we were able to give good donations to the Bethesda clothing pantry, Clothing for Work, and the goodwill. we all had so much fun that I don't think anyone took any pictures. sorry about that! - alice

Mustard Seed Farm would like to invite everyone to a swap and potluck at 6:00 pm Dec. 12th, at Community of Christ Church, 104 N Wilmoth Ave, Ames, Iowa 50014

a beautiful frosty morning and some other pictures...

some encouraging progress on our basement. not really sure how it's humanly possible to finish this project now that it's December - any ideas?

and some dyed fabric

Native Revegetation; Forbes and Grasses at Mustard Seed Farm
Fall 2015 report; summary and planning

Prairie Restoration.

hello mustard seed friends,

would you like to come out and harvest the last of the things in the field?

Hey Folks, we're looking for volunteers for . . . .

Garlic Planting Day, Sat Oct 17th, 9-5

Its that time of the season to get next year's garlic in the ground. It seems like we just got done processing this years, but here we are. We'd love to have you join us. Its a very satisfying work day to be involved in, speaking from 6 years of experience, and it should be a sunny day, though very cool in the morning, so dress accordingly. Come whenever you can if you can't make the whole thing and we'll get you rolled into to the fun. Bring home some garlic to eat too!