Crop List: Carrots, Rainbow Carrots, Fingerling Potatoes, Huckleberry Gold Potatoes, German Butterball Potatoes, Beets, Turnips, Radishes, Parsley, Dill, Basil, Cilantro, Onions, Winter Squash, Garlic, Leeks, Kale, Shallots, Maybe Broccoli, Cauliflower, Daikon Radish, Watermelon Radish, Tomato, Cabbage, Cosmic Mix and/or Summer Squash 

Holy large crop list. This may be our largest share ever. I'm not even sure how it is going to fit on the tables so please have some patience with your site hosts as they navigate the sheer volume of this delivery and help you get your 2026 share purchase complete.
We have had 3 amazing growing seasons in a row. But this one was unbelievable. We still haven't had a killing frost. There were no light frosts all summer, which can and usually do occur a couple times during the summer. The plants didn't have any stress from cold or smoky skies. The garden thrived. Our crew was amazing and stayed on top of the weeds. Honestly...great weather, enough water, a weeded garden, an amazing crew and the best customers, Jed and I can't really ask for much more in the farming realm! We feel blessed.
This wraps up our 29th season of growing for The People of The Tetons. That sounds like a big number. I think Cosmic Apple has aged well. Many things have gotten easier and more organized. I think our shares have gotten more diverse, veggie wise and the quality has gotten much better then in our early years. We still truly strive to grow you the best food we possibly can. One thing remains the same for 29 years...we constantly work to improve the soil to grow the best food for you.  As the soil has improved so has the nutrient density in your produce. We seriously think the veggies are getting better with the farm's age!

I don't know why...but I am feeling incredibly nostalgic writing this newsletter. Sometimes the flow of the seasons gets me. Spring is all full of hope...summer  is fiery and fast...fall is about letting go, looking back and celebrating.
Jed and I are so moved by the sheer number of incredible people we've met through this job. The thing is...99.999% of the people over the years have been beyond awesome. (The .001%?...I wish them the best!) The farm has created an incredible community. I even remember my parents coming to visit in the early 2000's. They came to a veggie pick up with me. My dad said..."everyone is just so nice". He had to explain to me it wasn't that way in his line of business. Him saying that has stuck with me. It's YOU! Our Cosmic Apple CSA members. You are just the best. Many of you have supported us for years! Some of you are new...we love growing for each of you. We care deeply about your health. You keep us going, we hope your relationship with the farm feels as mutually beneficial to you as it does to us.
Thanks for being willing to pick up each week, your actions speak to your commitment to your health, local farms and our world. Thanks for coming along on this journey with us. We hope you noticed a difference in the flavor of our veggies to those in the supermarket.
We hope you felt deeply nourished.

"Round the table
Peace and joy prevail.
May all who share
this season's delight
enjoy countless more."
-Chinese blessing

Be well until we meet again!

Sign Up NOW for 2026 and get a Free Cosmic T-shirt or Hat!
We have started our 2026 CSA membership drive! If you sign up for 2026's CSA at a pickup location before the 2025 CSA ends, you will receive a free organic cotton t-shirt or hat! Your site host will have sign-up sheets, or you can get one here: 2026 Sign up Link. 
Signing up early to gets you the best prices and guarantees the pickup location/day you really want...and did I mention the free swag?! Shirts available in Men's, Women's, Kid's, Toddler and Baby Onesies! We have some sizes in our classic purple tee, but the sizes we sold out of were replaced with black shirts with our logo in bright yellow. It was just time to mix it up a bit!  We don't have too many hats left...so sign up early if that's your style.
​The farm benefits from you signing up now...remember CSA's are mutually beneficial to you and your farmers! We get money to do winter projects and have money to purchase seeds before the growing season starts. You guarantee yourself a season of fresh, nutritious veggies that you don't have to go to the grocery store for...Cosmic veggies taste better too. Also, the price goes up as winter goes on...so save yourself some money!
If you purchase a share online, you must show your receipt to the site host to get some swag. To pay at the pickup please print out this form, follow the link below or fill out a form the site host will have for you and bring a check or cash.
​Paying online (Link Here) will incur a 4% card fee. Cash or check saves you money!
We have a payment plan available too! See the form for more info.
NO VENMO FOR SHARE PURCHASES.

Also, please consider a donation to help purchase shares for the Teton Valley Food Pantry. In 2025 The Cosmic Apple Community purchased 13 shares for the Pantry. Let's do it again. Any amount helps! You can just add it to your payment. Also, you can donate directly to the TVFP and tell them the money is for Cosmic Apple Shares. And THANK YOU!!
"All living beings are struggling for life, May they all have enough food today." Thich Nhat Hanh

​Do you want to stock up on some meat or cheese before we stop seeing you every week? Just send me an email with what you would like, and I am happy to put an order together for you to make sure you get what you want. Even if it is only a couple items...or more! I am happy to do it.

Crop List: Cosmic Mix, Radishes, Turnips, Carrots, Fingerling Potatoes, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Bok Choy, Head Lettuce, Summer Squash, Slicing Cucumbers, Pickling Cucumbers, Winter Squash, Garlic, Yellow Onions, Shallots, Maybe Tomatoes, Broccoli and/or Cauliflower

Get ready for a haul. This week's share is going to be big. (PLEASE BRING BAGS...or boxes. We have been cleaned out. Ask your neighbors, dig in your pantry, look in the breakroom drawers! We'll take any extra, clean useable bags you can find!) But back to the veggies...LOTS! We are working at "full steam ahead" speed to harvest all the goodness out of the garden. Our beautiful little spot on Earth has yielded so much nutrition. It truly is a wonder how much food can be grown in a small space.
Remember back to June when the shares were so light and fluffy? Spring in the Tetons was asking us to eat light, quick and clean our systems out. The seasons have changed. We are now being asked to stock up for winter...put the pounds on, fill the larder, slow down and cook meals that take more time.
We realize you are getting many pounds of veggies this share. The good news is you don't have to eat it all this week. Most will keep well in your fridge. Focus on the treats that won't keep for a long time. Next week will likely be big too!
Here's some storage tips for the items that will keep longer then a week:
Turnips and Carrots- Break tops off. Store in a bag in your fridge. Taking the tops off keeps the sugars in the root and won't leave you with moldy tops in your bag.
Potatoes- Keep really well in a plastic bag in the fridge. 
Winter Squash and Garlic- Keep at room temperature, out of direct sunlight. You can put them on your counter, or in a cabinet. They will do fine in a box in your basement too! A paper bag works if you want to keep them dust free somewhere. Keep them out of air tight plastic, squash and garlic need to "breath".
Onions- Our onions are not "cured" so they need refrigeration. Break the tops off and store in a bag.

Other then winter squash and garlic...most of the roots will do well in a bag in a cool environment. A bag keeps them from drying out. 35-40 degrees is perfect. Keep them above freezing!  Also keep them dark. If you are out of fridge space, a cooler in your garage or crawl space will work. Just watch the temps and make sure to protect the cooler from getting to cold or too hot!

Sign Up NOW for 2026 and get a Free Cosmic T-shirt or Hat!
We have started our 2026 CSA membership drive! If you sign up for 2026's CSA at a pickup location before the 2025 CSA ends, you will receive a free organic cotton t-shirt or hat! Your site host will have sign-up sheets, or you can get one here: 2026 Sign up Link. Signing up early to gets you the best prices and guarantees the pickup location/day you really want...and did I mention the free swag?! Shirts available in Men's, Women's, Kid's, Toddler and Baby Onesies! We have some sizes in our classic purple tee, but the sizes we sold out of were replaced with black shirts with our logo in bright yellow. It was just time to mix it up a bit!  We don't have too many hats left...so sign up early if that's your style.
​The farm benefits from you signing up now...remember CSA's are mutually beneficial to you and your farmers! We get money to do winter projects and have money to purchase seeds before the growing season starts. You guarantee yourself a season of fresh, nutritious veggies that you don't have to go to the grocery store for...Cosmic veggies taste better too. Also, the price goes up as winter goes on...so save yourself some money!
If you purchase a share online, you must show your receipt to the site host to get some swag. To pay at the pickup please print out this form, follow the link below or fill out a form the site host will have for you and bring a check or cash.
​Paying online (Link Here) will incur a 4% card fee. Cash or check saves you money.
We have a payment plan available too! See the form for more info.
NO VENMO FOR SHARE PURCHASES.
​
We will go until week 18! If anything changes, we will let you know, but right now our goal is still to get the garden completely harvested by the end of next week. It feels daunting right now...but a goal is a goal!

Also, please consider a donation to help purchase shares for the Teton Valley Food Pantry. In 2025 The Cosmic Apple Community purchased 13 shares for the Pantry. Let's do it again. Any amount helps! You can just add it to your payment. Also, you can donate directly to the TVFP and tell them the money is for Cosmic Apple Shares. And THANK YOU!!

​Do you want to stock up on some meat or cheese before we stop seeing you every week? Just send me an email with what you would like, and I am happy to put an order together for you to make sure you get what you want. Even if it is only a couple items...or more! I am happy to do it.

Lunch on the Farm this week: Potato Leek Soup; Pad Thai
Recipe Ideas: Carrots, Potatoes Roasted with Onions & Garlic; Curry Carrot Soup; Honey Roasted Potatoes; Roasted Carrot & Sweet Dumpling Squash Bisque ​

Lunch on the Farm this week: Merav's Carrot Soup with Cheese bread; Sausage Kale Soup
Recipe Ideas: Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette; Speedy Tomato-Cilantro Sauce; Dill Cucumber Salad; Butter Dill Potatoes​

Crop List: Cosmic Mix, Summer Squash, Sugar Snaps, Shallots, Fingerling Potatoes, Beets, Basil, Tomatoes, Fennel  Maybe Slicing Cucumber and/or Pickling Cucumbers

Cosmic Apple By the Numbers, Facts and Measurables!
Are you a numbers person? Here's some of the measurable things we know about Cosmic Apple. These figures will help to make the farm a more tangible place.

 The farm is 50 acres total. The garden is 8 acres. 19 acres are in pasture for the cows. 1/2 acre for the breeding pigs, 2 acres in buildings, sheds and greenhouses, and 12 acres in wildland, non-production for the natural influence. 3 1/2 acres in required buffer to protect from chemical drift from the neighbors.
The 8 acre veggie garden is divided into 2 sections. Each section has beds which are 475 feet long. A football field is 360 feet long! It is no small task to weed one bed! We have about 126 beds this year. Each bed has 1-4 rows of plants in it. Some of the the items in the garden: 18 rows of potatoes. 12 rows of sunflowers.  7 beds of summer, winter squash and cucumbers. 4 rows of onions. 18 rows of carrots.
18 rows were garlic that has been harvested. We will save 3000 garlic bulbs for our seed for next year's crop. The bulbs will be broken up to yield about 14,250 garlic cloves. Each will clove will grow into a bulb for next year.
We irrigate the garden and pastures with a hand line of irrigation pipe. We move it two times a day. It takes about 45 minutes for each move. There are 30 lengths of pipe and they put down about 2” of water every 12 hours.
We have 2 breeding pigs, and 10 "teenagers". The teenagers are about 5 months old. They will be butchered at about 8 months. We have 75 new chickens that will start laying in November! We will be getting about 75 eggs a day when the hit their stride. There are about 70 hens in the old flock...who have pretty much given up laying eggs.
For cows we have a total of 19! The most we've ever had. 
1 cat, Dumbledore, to keep the non counted mice and ground squirrels in check.
The farm is run by Jed and Dale. We have 3 children (Dagan, Axel and Roxanne) and 1 dog (Cosmo).The farm employs 13 people. (There is some crossover and a few folks have more then one position.) 1 wash station manager, 1 field crew manager, 6 field crew employees, 1 truck driver, 5 market employees, 1 tomato caretaker, 1 evening chore person who does chores M-F, 1 part time chore person for Saturday and Sunday mornings.  6 volunteer site hosts. And about 5-9 volunteers per week.
We now have 5 greenhouses. 2 are used for starting seeds and baby plants to get the garden going. 3 are for tomatoes, basil and calendula.
We do 2 CSA deliveries a week, supplying about 175 shares each week. If each full share feeds 4 people, then we are feeding 700 individuals each week. Based the 2020 populations of Teton Counties (ID and WY) we feed about 2% of the people of the Tetons, just through the CSA! We also do 3 markets a week.
When we harvest something like bok choy or head lettuce, we need 175 heads to get enough for one CSA delivery. We need about 350 total to do all the deliveries in one week.
Already in 2025 we have harvested:
1820.57 lbs. of Cosmic Mix
2136.56 lbs. of Peas (Sugar Snaps and Shell Peas)
5108.68 lbs. of Summer Squash
2852 Heads of Bok Choy
We are just starting to get into the heavy things!
We have 5 tractors; the newest one is from 1970! (Jed why do we have so many tractors?) Our favorite tractor implement is the water-wheel transplanter. It allows us to plant up to 1000 plants in 9 minutes with 5 people.
We have one amazing delivery truck, named Babe. We have been driving it for 19 years and it still runs great, feels safe and makes us smile. There are 2 pickups at the farm for hauling and projects.
We know of 4 weddings that are a result of meetings at Cosmic Apple!
Cosmic Apple started in 1996. This is our 29th season of growing the best food for the People of the Tetons!!
Whew. That was fun!

Lunch on the Farm this week: Burritos with beets, summer squash carrots and Idaho Salsa; Pad Bai
Recipe Ideas: Summer Squash Fennel Soup; Fennel and Potato Gratin; Fall Fennel and Potato Roast; Oven Roasted Beets & Potatoes;  ​Honey Roasted Potatoes 

Crop List: Tomatoes, Summer Squash, Cucumbers, Pickling Cucumbers, Green Beans, Sugar Snap Peas, Kale, Radish, Carrots, Maybe Shell Peas, Cosmic Mix, Basil, and/or Sunflowers

There has been a definite shift in the air since last week's newsletter. Last week started out hot, dry and on par for this summer's weather. Wednesday and Thursday's rain was much needed and a relief. Gratefully it was warm while it rained. Temps in the high 50's with rain are so much easier for dexterity then rain in the low 40's. Spirits on the farm stayed high with the temperatures! 
The greenhouses never heated up without the solar gain last week, so they slowed down a bit. Everything should bounce back with all the warm weather in the upcoming forecast.
Coming out of the rainy weather, has the farm feeling different. Fall is creeping in. The longer nights are causing things to slow down a bit. The mornings have a crispness to them. A light coat was desired to walk the dog the other night. I've given up on my game of trying to keep the house from heating up during the day, the nights are now long enough that it sufficiently cools down. I may have even put on a pair of slippers...there could be no clearer sign of fall, then cold feet!
​
This is about the time we all start to wonder how many more weeks of shares will we have?! We don't know! Our goal every year is to make it to 16 weeks. This year week 16 will be easy-peasy thanks to our earliest start ever on June 3rd! The garden is still packed with produce and it will take us some time to get it all harvested. There is no frost in the forecast (YAY!) so we will just keep enjoying the summer treats until they are no longer. It's pretty easy to say we will at least go until week 17 or 18 right now. There is always the disclaimer of less shares then anticipated depending on the weather, I know...I'm so non-committal! But, I'm not in charge, Mother Nature is. This nifty blog is the best place to get your info about our schedule! I promise to let you know dates as soon as we know.
​
We did have a marvelous first on the farm last week. Our mama cow Star, had Cosmic Apple's first ever twins! All mamas and babes are healthy and we now have 5 calves total to watch frolic and grow.

​Lunch on the Farm this week: Pitas with Tzatziki, hard boiled eggs and tomato; Ginger beef stir fry 
Recipe Ideas: Kale Dip with Snap Peas; Wilted Greens and Basil (Kale page); Tomato Basil Chicken; Panzanella Salad; ​Tomato Basil Salad 

We have lots of extra goodies available at your pick up. If you want something specific, please email me and I will make sure it is in the cooler, reserved just for you. Dinner just got easier!
The coolers at your site are stocked with a selection of Lifeline Cheese and Cosmic Apple Pork and Beef (listed below). I don't send every cut every week, they simply won't all fit!
​Pork Available: Grandpa's Sausage, Breakfast Sausage, Pork Chops, Shoulder Roast, Spare Ribs, Boneless Loin Roast, Hock, Leaf Fat, Tenderloin and Back Fat
Beef Available: Stew Meat, Sirloin Tip Roast, Round Roast, Flat Iron Roast and Beef Fat
Hunters and Huntresses: We have pork fat for your wild game sausage making. Let me know if you want to order any and I can send it to your pick up location.
​

WASH YOUR VEGGIES!!
​
Bring Bags to pick-ups!

If you can't make it to pick up your veggies, send a friend!
Missed shares are forfeited for the week. 
​
Members get 10% off at the Farmer's Markets!
​Farm To Fork Market: Saturday, October 4th, 2-5, Center for the Arts
The Driggs Market: Fridays 9-1 (ends 10/3)
The People's Market: Wednesdays 4-7 (ends 9/24)
Jackson Hole Farmer's Market: Saturdays 8-12 (ends 9/26)


Questions? Comments? Recipes to share? [email protected]

Crop List: Green Beans, Cabbage, Fennel, Summer Squash, Tomatoes, Pickling Cucumbers, Cucumbers, Sunflowers, Turnips, Sugar Snap Peas, maybe Cosmic Mix, Radish and/or Shell Peas

The Cosmic Mix is taking a bit of a hiatus this week. Our new crop had poor germination because of the high heat. The old crop needs a bit of a break to regrow...so we are inbetween! For some items the garden has crossed over the peak. Tomatoes, sunflowers, squash and cucumbers will slow down a bit although the sunflowers, squash and cukes will keep producing until a frost. The tomatoes are tucked in the greenhouse and will keep going until we shut off the propane! The shorter days are starting to affect how quickly the plants grown. Many of the late summer treats are starting to appear...beans, fennel and cabbage! These things are ready earlier then usual thanks to an incredible growing year.

I heard a podcast the other day that resonated with me. Being interviewed was Charlotte Smith, a bit of a farm guru, who helps farmers with marketing, pricing, time management and so many other things that if done improperly can be the difference between a successful farm and one that fails. I usually listen to her podcast...but this time she was being interviewed by another podcaster. 
The interviewer was trying to understand why anyone would want to pay more for locally produced food...and also...WHY is it more expensive?
Smith made some great points in support of local food around health, that I've shared here before. What really got me thinking is...why is local food more expensive?
I have said that I wish I could feed the world for free, but my family also deserves a home, vacation, clothes, a retirement and other things standard in this country. We have examined our pricing and know we can't sell for less then we do...so how is it possible that grocery stores undersell us? Especially since much of the produce is coming from half way around the world? And Cosmic Apple has no middle people (grocery store employees, long distance truck drivers, wholesalers) so it really should be cheaper, right??? Wrong. Smith took the time to explain some of these reasons...I'll summarize!

Huge cooperate farms have economy of scale on their side. They may be farming 1000's of acres and pay the same in government fees and licensees that we pay to farm 50 acres. When purchasing supplies they have more buying power and can buy in bulk. We pay retail for everything, while they are having semis or pallets delivered at a discount.
#2. Grocery store food is kept at an artificially low price. Cooperate farms are getting subsidies, so they can sell products below production cost. After the Depression, Roosevelt said no American will ever stand in line for food again. He pledged to keep food cheap. This was the end of the average American family farm making a good living.  Before this moment farmers were very esteemed in society, farmers fed people...kind of important! Farmers were respected and treated like doctors and lawyers. Things began to change. Food subsidies began and targeted 7 big commodities, instantly making it hard for diversified farms, making a living became harder on the farm. To this day big commodity farms get checks every month from the government to subsidize food production. Small diversified farms aren't eligible for the breaks the big ones get. Policy changes are long overdue.
Her third point is something we rarely acknowledge...because the truth can hurt, and none of us want to face the fact we could be contributing to slavery. Slave labor is still used to produce food. It has been proven that we are sold food grown with slave labor in American grocery stores. Tomatoes are a big culprit. (Do a simple internet search or see these sources here, here and here.) I truly believe everyone would rather pay the true cost of food then admit to be benefiting from slaves...cooperate food doesn't think so. They don't advertise "grown with slave labor", but they sure don't put an end to it either. They are guilty of benefiting from slavery. We have to vote with our dollars to shut this system down. Human lives depend on it. It's atrocious and I don't want that energy in my food. I don't want humans suffering so I can eat a tomato in January.
The final point is a good reminder...many countries in Europe spend 50% of their income on food. Americans average around 4%. Spending just 10% of our household budget on food in America is considered crazy. We have been trained to believe food should be cheap. We have to change our thinking. Cheap food has long term costs, environmental, social and human health are all jeopardized by our dependence on cheap food. Environmental- it's cheaper to spray LOTS of chemicals then it is to pay humans to weed. Social- slavery is still happening. Human health- you can pay your farmer now (thank you!) or pay your doctor later.

When you buy from a small farm you are paying what food really costs. You are paying a local farmer, a member of your community, to make a living, pay a mortgage, send a kid to college or replace an old car.
I know you are here because you have already chosen to support local food, and you know it's more expensive but worth the cost. YOU are the change we need in this world. I'm here because I believe in local food too! I share this info with you, even though you are already here, because it's good for all of us to continue our education around food. We eat everyday! Sharing why we care about local food with peers is important to do when folks ask why it matters or roll their eyes at a "spendy" tomato.
Thank you for being here, caring and playing a part in making the world a better place one bite at a time.

​Lunch on the Farm this week: Peruvian Quinoa Stew; Polenta with Tomato Balsamic Sauce
Recipe Ideas: Turnip, Radish, & Fennel Sauté; Salmon with Cabbage, Cucumber, & Fennel Salad; Caramelized Fennel with Beans, Carrots & Chile Soy Drizzle; ​Cabbage with Indian Spices

Lunch on the Farm this week: Tomato Zucchini Stew; Farm Curry
Recipe Ideas: Sweet Carrot Raita; Creamy Carrot Tomato Soup; Tomato, Garlic and Summer Squash; Classic Gazpacho or ​Mangiatutto al Pomodoro (on the tomato page)

Crop List: Cosmic Mix, Collards, Napa Cabbage, Green Beans, Pickling Cucumbers, Summer Squash, Tomatoes, Sunflowers, Basil, maybe Sugar Snap Peas, and/or Head Lettuce,

So much goodness is pouring out of the garden right now! The crew is hustling everyday just to keep up with harvesting produce. It has been a wonderful growing year. The temperatures have stayed consistently warm, making life easier on the plants.
We are incredibly grateful for our irrigation system. We are still watering regularly with gravity fed snow melt, straight out of the Tetons. Clean water is precious, and one of the reasons we think our produce tastes so great.
I hope you've been enjoying the sunflowers. It's fun to grow a crop just to bring people joy. No pressure to make sure it tastes good...or to give you a recipe! It's just a bright sunny flower to brighten your home. Sunflowers astound me. And they remind me how cool my life is. I get to go out into the field and gather up beautiful things to bring to people! I have to pinch myself to really believe this is my job.  Sunflowers are gorgeous, showy, statement flowers while being basic, common and chunky at the same time. For me, they are a flower of happiness and brightness. My mama-in-law gave me a great book called the "Secret Life of Sunflowers" by Marta Molnar. It was about Van Gogh and his paintings of them. People questioned why he would waste his time on such a common flower...which I'm guessing grew like a weed where he was. I now have a print of "Sunflowers" next to my computer!
Here are 2 quotes I loved from the book...Both quotes sum up my favorite flowers and some of my favorite ideals in people!
"Sunflowers are adaptable, for one. Seventy species. You plant them somewhere and they'll figure out how to grow... They're scrappy as hell, but they always look like stars."
"Fear no storms, turn in gratitude toward the light"​
I hope the flowers I harvested go out into the world and bring joy and brightness to those who receive them!

How to help your sunflowers last in a vase
Strip off any leaves, stems or buds that will be in the water. It helps keep the water clean if there is not plant matter rotting in it.
Cut the flowers so the head of the flower rests on the edge of the vase. Sunflowers are heavy and if they are propped up by the edge of the vase you won't see the effects of gravity as quickly! Gravity really gets us all in the end!
Keep the water fresh! Change it every 3 days or sooner if it gets murky looking.


Lunch on the Farm this week: Summer Pasta Sauté' and Curried Zucchini Soup
Recipe Ideas: Green Beans with Tomatoes and Herbs; Basil Beans; Tomatoes, Basil and Beans; Steamed Collard Greens with Miso-Tamari Seasoning; ​Napa Cabbage Salad

Crop List: Cosmic Mix, Summer Squash, Pickling Cucumber, Tomatoes, Radish, Swiss Chard, Bok Choy, Sunflowers, Maybe Sugar Snap Peas and/or Shelling Peas

Did you know Cosmic Apple Gardens is Certified Biodynamic? Maybe you did...but what does it even mean and why do we do it?
There are entire books written about Biodynamics. Attempting to sum it up in one newsletter is just going to touch the surface of it!
Biodynamics is a type of agriculture based on a series of lectures by Rudolf Steiner given in 1924. He envisioned agriculture that incorporated scientific understanding and spirit in nature. It has been evolving since 1924 and is practiced all over the world.
We recognize that Cosmic Apple Gardens is a living organism. It is made up of fields, forests, plants, animals (wild and domestic), soils, compost, people, and the spirit of the place. We are responsible for making sure all of these things are treated with respect and know that each is interconnected to make the organism whole. Each element must be cared for to support the health and vitality of the whole.
Another key component of Biodynamics is generating on farm fertility. Biodynamic veggies grow in living soil, providing a quality of health and nutrition unattainable with chemical fertilizers or hydroponic growing. One of the main reasons we incorporate animals is because they provide manure to create the most amazing compost. By composting we are replenishing the nutrients in the soil each year, seeking a more closed loop system by raising animals who are giving back to the land. We are not purchasing off farm fertilizers, even if they are approved for organic production. We also cover crop to stimulate healthy soil structure, create diversity and improve nitrogen.
When we make our compost pile each spring we add six biodynamic preparations to it. Here is a more concise explanation then I could ever provide from the Biodynamic Association:

"Biodynamic compost is enhanced and enlivened through the use of six preparations made from yarrow, chamomile, stinging nettle, oak bark, dandelion, and valerian. Each of these medicinal herbs is transformed through a unique process that brings it into relationship with the animal kingdom, the earth, and the cycle of the year. Bringing these elements together magnifies their healing qualities, fosters the growth of beneficial bacteria and fungi, and creates powerfully concentrated substances to guide the development of the compost. A small quantity of each preparation is added to the compost pile just after it is built, and again after it is turned. Biodynamic preparations strengthen the quality of the compost by stabilizing nitrogen and other nutrients, multiplying microbial diversity, and bringing more sensitivity to the composting process. Biodynamic compost helps attune the soil to the whole farm organism and wider influences while increasing soil life and stable organic matter. Biodynamic compost also brings more carbon into the living realm, helping to restore balance to the climate."

We also spray special biodynamic preparations over the whole farm at different times of the year. Again, the Biodynamic Association explains...
"In addition to the compost preparations, several biodynamic preparations are applied as potentized liquid sprays to bring healing, vitality, and sensitivity to the farm and garden. Horn manure enhances the life of the soil and the relationship between soil and plants, and is made from cow manure buried inside a cow horn during the winter months. Horn silica increases plant immunity, strengthens photosynthesis, enhances ripening, and is prepared from ground quartz crystals buried in a cow horn over the summer months. Horsetail tea helps prevent fungal diseases and balances the watery element in plants and soil. Together, the biodynamic spray and compost preparations bring plants into a dynamic relationship with soil, water, air, warmth, and cosmos to help them develop in a healthy and balanced way, access the full spectrum of nutrients they need, and become more resilient to pests, diseases, and extreme climate conditions."

One of my favorite statements about Biodynamic farming is:
Biodynamics seeks to heal the Earth through agriculture.
​We are not just farming, we are actively seeking to tend our farm in a way that constantly makes it healthier, and more alive. We know the soil is in better shape then when we started growing here in 2002. We also know there is more work to be done for future generations. 

And the BIG WHY? Other then healing the Earth...the taste is why we believe in Biodynamics. I was talking with an employee today. The Tomato Queen to be exact. She knows how to grow tomatoes. She takes care of all of ours, by herself. In the spring she gets some plants started by us to grow in her greenhouse at her home. She swears the tomatoes grown at the farm taste better then the ones she grows in her greenhouse. Even though we started the plants! She attributes it to the care we have put into building the soil through Biodynamic practices, especially the influence of the critters. We gratefully hear it all the time..."your produce tastes amazing!" Cosmic Apple Gardens is so enlivened from treating the whole. The Biodynamic preps make a difference! They support a living system. The fields, forests, plants, animals, soils, compost, people, and the spirit of the place are all honored, integrated and nurtured, for great taste and to heal the Earth.

Lunch on the Farm this week: Burritos w/ Idaho Salsa, Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese
Recipe Ideas: Curried Zucchini & Swiss Chard; Summer Squash Boats; Lentils with Sausage & Swiss Chard; ​Mint, Yogurt, Cucumber Dressing

Crop List: Cosmic Mix, Sugar Snap Peas, Shelling Peas, Kale, Bok Choy, Summer Squash, Basil, Fresh Garlic and maybe Sunflowers

The garden exploded with produce last week. We weren't looking and the squash was ready. Also, the sunflowers surprised us by opening to the sun and smiling at us. At the farm, this is the big season. The season of fullness, heat and abundance of produce... all sprinkled with a hint of lack of time.
The harvests are big. Sorting the veggies takes longer. Loading a pallet on the truck takes muscle. We've been waiting for this season all year. It's amazing. And it TASTES SO GOOD.
This Saturday we reach Lammas. August 2nd is the day smack in the middle of Summer Solstice and Fall Equinox.  A day traditionally calling for pause. A time to give gratitude for all that has been harvested so far, while acknowledging there is not enough yet, to get through the winter. It is a time to realize the Earth gives SO MUCH, but there is still work to be done. It's a time to pause and really understand what crops are thriving and what needs help. Traditionally communities came together to evaluate how the fall harvests were looking. They also celebrated all they had, and figured out how to help each other with the work that was yet to come. Plans were made to trade for what was needed, be it labor, produce, meat, tools or herbs. A mid-summer gathering was a celebration and a chance to network.
Now, we all live lives of leisure. I'm pretty stoked on running water, my refrigerator and the computer I am typing on. But I still see humans celebrating Lammas. It's in our nature to follow the cycles of the seasons. I love seeing people connect at live music, farmer's markets or CSA pick ups. A huge hug for an old friend. Witnessing the growth of a child not seen in 6 months. People's conversations start to gently turn to what the season changes will be...school? New job? Off season travel plans? And what gear someone needs that a friend has! How's your garden? We share special things we have managed to preserve with dear friends. Recipes are exchanged. Lammas is a time of giving, of sharing abundance.
We are still called to gather with friends this time of year and share the harvest. We still commune with those we cherish and revel in a warm summer night, while catching up and talking of the future.
As we dig in to celebrate all we have harvested so far, and look towards the abundance yet to come we hope you do the same, with the people you love. Savor the flavors and feelings of this time of year. Summer is still here, we get to live in the Tetons and it's a great time of year to eat food!
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Lunch on the Farm this week: Summer Squash stir fry with homemade Hoison Sausce; Zuchinni Cakes
Recipe Ideas: Bruschetta and salad for dinner; Summer Squash Ribbons, Tomato Basil Zucchini Boats; Sugar Snap Peas with Basil and Lemon; Panzanella Salad (Kale page); Kale Tomato Brown Rice Bowls​