Hi Everyone,

I can’t believe Memorial Day weekend is already here and it’s even supposed to be super nice for most of it. The cooler weather the last couple weeks has slowed down some of our field planted crops and postponed the planting of many greenhouse-grown transplants, but the extended forecast looks good to get our remaining crops in the ground.

We are still anticipating our first delivery the second week of June. Our Spring Lake members and those living on Lakeshore Dr. will receive their box every Tuesday between 2:00 and 6:00p.m.and all other Grand Haven members will be delivered to on Mondays during the same time frame. The majority of you were able to get your preferred day but it made sense to divide by location and couldn’t get everyone their day. Spring Lake Farmers Market pick-up is from 9:00a.m. - 2:00p.m. every Thursday.


If you will be away during the delivery window be sure to leave a cooler with ice pack in the shade as we expect baby lettuce and other greens and strawberries that will need to stay fairly cool. This goes for the entire season. The crate your goodies will arrive in is quite large so we can spread out produce and help avoid squishing delicate fruits and veggies. You will be trading in your crate each week for a new one with any containers from the previous week you would like us to reuse (we love to recycle pint and quart containers). If we don’t see a cooler out in your designated place, we will ring the doorbell and leave your box in a shady spot and continue on with our route. It will be helpful to get in a routine of leaving your crate out before your delivery time every week and bringing it to the Spring Lake Market if you are picking up there.

Many of you have expressed interest in visiting the farm. We will set up a farm tour date as soon as we are fully planted (likely toward the end of June). Once you know your way around it will be easier to make a visit and wander while we are busy at work. If we have interest in volunteering we may set up a “weed and feed” afternoon like many CSA programs do. Basically, anyone interested would help us weed for a few hours and we would provide a yummy lunch to follow.

I will be making labels to help us pack up your boxes with info including any items you asked not to receive and thought it would be good to know if your family has any lesser known favorites you would like more often. We plan on dispersing many of the popular seasonal items but if your family loves, say, arugula, swiss chard, golden beets, or concord grapes…, let me know. Some of you have already given me this information!

Let us know if you have any questions! I will begin emailing individual notes confirming a few things soon.

Have fun this weekend!

Jen and Russ

A few more spring pics

We are experimenting with a vertical grow of some of our ever-bearing strawberries. Growing in this manner allows us to put about a 1000ft field row in a space small enough to fit in a hoop house. Most exciting to me is this COMPLETELY eliminates weeds which tends to be my job!!! Growing in the greenhouse under poly in the spring and fall is also supposed to extend their growing season. They really took off, especially compared to our berries in the field and are looking VERY healthy so far.

Kody relaxing while I hoe rows of peas.... We weren't sure how our first planting of peas would fare after the two frosty nights we had a couple weeks ago, but they seem to be recovering well.

Russ turning over soil Thursday before planting a few rows of transplants.

Check out our "organic mousetrap" that joined us in the greenhouse for a few days!!! Here he's in one of our potted blueberry plants - another one of our projects at the farm.