2019 Market CSA Enrollment Open and a Note on Getting Creative!

I had the chance right before Christmas to go to a goal setting workshop hosted by one of my farmers market customers.

Through out her goal workshop we were asked to pull out our theme for 2019 from what we had written down.

For me creatively is the word that kept coming up.

So 2019 you are the year of Creativity (and if you were curious also the year of the pig).

Last year was a violent weather year. The farm flooded 3 times to the point where the irrigation (lay flat as it's called) was floating on the water. Crops were completely submerged in water. We lost a large portion of our tomato crop and almost all of our peppers.

So when you have a more limited offering how do you keep your beloved customers excited for the next season? This is a question I rolled around prior to opening up enrollment for 2019.

You get creative.

I've been compiling a list of creative things to bring you fresh inspiration, interest and excitement around being part of our Market CSA.

So here's a few things we're working on:

More recipes. I have put together quite a few recipes over the years but there's a need for more. Especially on those harder to tackle items like escarole for example. I love escarole and I know you will too if you give it a try.

Partnering with other vendors we love to have a few more things for you to pick up at the farmstand.

Creating an interesting new flower concept.

And trying to be more diverse in our offering by trying our very best to have beans this year (sadly deer love green beans as much as I do), more melon options, and a goal of having summer squash/zucchini available each week in August and September.

Showing you more of the farm via video clips on the blog and instagram stories.

And a few other treats you'll be getting delivered to your inboxes.

Interested in getting in on the fresh and fun food?

Click the link to join the Market CSA: HERE

Questions? Please email: robsonsfarm@gmail.com

Floral Book Review: "Fluent Forever" by Gabriel Wyner

My floral review of "Fluent Forever"
I had a small (actually rather large) mishap when I was checking the first 3 photos I took on my camera the entire arrangement toppled over, incidentally smashing the lillies. So sadly for this review this is my only photo but I still think it turned out pretty good! 

Language fascinates me.

This fascination was triggered by two things.

1. By my many bi-lingual customers
and
2. The high school I work at during the winter has an English as a Second Language class

There is grossly disturbing view shared by many Americans (especially American young people who are not yet very worldly) that they have no need for another language since they have the gift of being raised in an English speaking nation.  

Everyone speaks English and those that don't should learn. 

Why would you allow your world to be so small when it has the potential to be so vast? 

Yes, I took Spanish in high school and even went on the trip to Spain that they offered. I was even had the incredible opportunity of being raised in an environment with access to many kind hearted native Spanish speakers. 

Alas my Espanol is mas o menos. 

I started doing this neat thing with one of my customers from India. Each week when she and her very patient husband would come to shop she'd teach me a new word in Hindi.

I just found language completely enchanting. 

So I got it in my head to take my mas o menos Spanish to fluency which I am in progress. 

But why on Earth would I shop there? 

After Spanish I will move on to French, Navajo (yes, the language of the native people of the Southwest United States), and Portuguese.  I would also like to have some knowledge of Greek, Italian, and Arabic. 

There is nothing more frustrating then wanting to communicate with someone but having no common speak other than what are usually bazaar hand signals. So, for myself I'm addressing that problem by meeting with the people I encounter where they are instead of expecting them to meet me where I am.

Gabriel Wyner offers his system to help readers learn. This book is thick with information. A completely informative book that I find to be especially helpful.

For example he says that if you encounter a word that looks exceptionally scary start by breaking down the word backwards in small pieces. 

Take  desarrolladores (developers)....start by saying dores then rrolladores and finally desarrolladores. 

Or how about sonrojado (blushing)...start with ado...then rojado...and sonrojado 

Ta-Da!!!! 

He also has this neat ideology that he shares: 

"Make memories more memorable. 

Maximize laziness.

Don't review. Recall.

Wait, wait! Don't tell me! 

Rewrite the past" 

Wyner further writes, "These principles will enable you to remember more in less time. Combined, they form a system that can insert thousands of words and grammar rules so deeply into your mind that you'll be able to recall them instantly.  Most attractively, this system can take what little spare time you have and steadily turn it into a usable foreign language." 

His system is largely based on spaced repetition of flashcards which plays into his advice to not translate but learn using the word in the language you're learning and a picture. I am extremely visual so this picture system is like a dream come true! 

There are also quite a few other tips and tricks and resources he gives. It's a lot to digest but it's so darn exciting. 

Too many people say I'd love to learn another language.

Ok! Great! Start today then.  

  

Peary's First Birthday

Peary, my little chicken nugget.

Today is his first birthday.

Our life together is basically like these two photos.

Animated.

our first week together

a more recent photo

He has thankfully passed the phase where he thought rocks might be a hardy snack. What can I say Peary experiences the world through this mouth.

He, like you and I, wear a seat belt because when Peary saw people at the farm there's no way he could wait until the vehicle has come to a full and complete stop. No way! He needed to smother them in kisses and jumps so he leaped out the window in a single bound from the passenger seat to the driver side. (Disclaimer: he now wears his puppy seat belt at all times while in the car and he was completely unharmed and unapologetic about jumping out of a moving truck...I on the other hand was traumatized).

He destroys so called "tough toys" in 23 hours from time of purchase.

He sleeps on the top of the couch like a cat.
He eats his food slowly through out the day like a cat.
He is basically a barking cat.
He hates cats.
Irony.

His love language is definitely gifts.

He puts his paw on top of mine in the car.

And he snuggles by my feet under the blanket.

He is my littlest best friend.

Happiest Birthday to the most stubborn (dachshund side), and hyperactive (jack russel side) but so unbelievably cute it's ok puppy, Peary.