If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.

  The definitive dream has yet to be established by our family, but the journey has been amazing. Thank you to all that have supported our travels thus far, and thank you for your continuous words of gratitude for the efforts we make in sharing the glories harvested by the many hands that pass through these soils.

Above are two turkeys nesting. The grey slate in on the outside and the Bourbon Red is closer towards the wall. Since we're talking animals here, below are two pictures we took from the back tree line on the farm. Our neighbor has a herd of buffalo. Often they come close to the fence that separates our property. It's always a welcomed presence when they hang around while we're harvesting, weeding or planting in that field.

Above are 15 acres of newly plowed up sod that we're leasing. After spending an entire day doing absolutely nothing but using the tractor, Jacob has an entire new respect for farmers that used to plow 40 acres at a time wtih horses.

Below is a picture of the new culvert we put in to cross one of the ditches with ease. The entire farm is lined with ditches and crossing from field to field can become quite a challenge during wet times. Culverts and bridges drastically increase our happy factor.

Seedling to go into the fields this week. Above in the forefront are kales and below are flats of swiss chard.

Before we began our farming adventure drastic changes in weather temperatures were simply that.  However, since we’ve become parents to big sheets of plastic, forecasts with a substantial weather shift means possible heavy winds as the new front enters our region. Such was the case three days ago as winds blew nearly 60 miles per hour across the fields. Protocol for such weather has us opening all doors and sides to the hoophouses allowing the wind to blow through and not against the plastic. Our bodies can not help but tense up as we watch the plastic concaving in from the force of the wind dancing the unsettling image of sails. Even though row cover is held down with sand bags in the fields, they usually manage to free themselves amidst such intense winds and are quite the bear to put back on. Windy days can be very stressful on the farm. The new front that just arrived April 16^th was bringing tidings of cooler temperatures and possible frosts for the evening. So, amidst the winds, Jacob and interns were scurrying to replace mangled row covers on the fields when suddenly one side of a hoophouse’s plastic ripped clean and straight across the top edge, while the other side held strong creating an enormous sail vertically. Jacob ran across the field as the poles of the hoophouse being lifted into the air cried for his help. He grabbed his pocketknife and began cutting the sheet of plastic free from the other edge to deaden the sail affect. He worked quickly and with intensity as Forrest followed him from cutting point to cutting point chattering away “happy as a lark” about the windy day and all the drama involved in farm winds.  When the plastic had unveiled itself the frost sensitive cucumber seedlings along with many other newly planted and sprouted seedlings had experienced a sudden harsh exposure to wind – not the gradual “hardening off” initiation that young seedlings are carefully afforded.

With possible frost projections still forecasted the crew needed to move quickly to ensure the survival of the many seedlings of life they are responsible for protecting. Against the winds they gathered the cleanly ripped sheet of plastic, positioned themselves for an opportune wind moment and wrestled the massive plastic sheet down over the low hoops securing them with sandbags. With the seedlings now protected from wind, they army crawled under the plastic and tucked row cover (blankets) over the plants as added protection from the possible frosts. 

The frost was gentle that night and no lives were lost, though there was a little damage from the winds.  By early afternoon the next day the roughly thousand dollars in damage had all been repaired. Just one of the reasons why early cucumbers and tomatoes have a higher dollar value…          

The Sampler, Half and Full Shares do not require work. Work shares are available if one is looking to get their hands dirty and learn a bit along the way. See information about individual shares below.

 Our CSA harvest season runs 18-20 weeks. It begins Thursday June 14^th, June 21^st or June 28^th and ends October 25^th, weather dependant. 

Shares are available for pick-up weekly at one of 5 locations.  Shares delivered off farm will be pre-bagged in U.S. grown and sewn certified organic cotton totes.  Delicate items such as tomatoes will be distributed separately. 

Additional veggies that are ripe and available, but not included in a particular week's share at all or in the quantity desired for a particular meal will be for sale at a discounted rate on the website. Ordered vegetables will be brought to one's respective distribution site.

A newsletter will be sent out each week describing items to be received in the week's share along with recipes tailored to those vegetables. Believe us when we say there are wonderful, delicious ways to eat greens beyond romaine and spinach!  We've tried hundreds of recipes out over the past few years searching for ways to use these vegetables we could grow, but didn't grow up eating.  Our health has greatly improved because of it! 

Distribution Locations 

Davison - Bonnie's House, 2359 Venezia Dr Between Atherton Rd & Lippincott ~ 1 mile from I-69 M-15 exit

Thursday 3-7 p.m. 

Flint - Dale's Natural Foods, 4290 Miller Rd

Thursday 3:45-4:15

Grand Blanc, Katie's Parent's House, 7186 Burpee Rd

Thursday 5:30-7:30 

Grand Blanc Farmers Market, adjacent to Physicians Park in city lot between Reid Rd and Grand Blanc Rd

Wednesday 4-6:30

Mayville, The Farm, 5191 Chambers Rd

Saturday 10-noon 

Share Options

 Sampler Share - $225                                                                                                           

This is for anyone wanting to support their local, organic farm and experience the flavor of farm-fresh produce, but not quite sure if they need or could use all the produce from a larger share. Five different vegetables will be included each week with an emphasis on more familiar varieties when in season (e.g. tomatoes, beans, zucchini, potatoes, salad, etc.), but also included will be the less traditional vegetables like fennel bulb, kale, kohl rabi and swiss chard.

Half Share - $360  

 A half share accommodates an individual or couple who generously adds veggies to every meal, but doesn’t make them the meal itself and the family maintaining nutrient diversity through assorted veggies in the weekly meal plan. The attempt will be made to supply various salad mixes on a weekly basis as well.  In peak season, some produce will need to be preserved to make full use of abundant crops.

Full Share - $660 

A full share accommodates individuals juicing daily and eating only veggies, a couple whose diet is heavily reliant on veggies (e.g. grain-free diet) or a family that includes vegetables into every meal.  Anticipate share amounts to increase progressively alongside the season. In peak season, some produce will need to be preserved to make full use of abundant crops. Full shares receive double proportions of half shares.

 Work Share - Full Labor Exchange

We don't know who enjoys the work shares more, us or the shares.  A Half Share of produce is exchanged for a 5 hour weekly work commitment at the farm.  Shares are expected to work the same day and time each week throughout the 20 week season.  Tuesdays, Wednesday and Fridays 8 a.m. til evening are possible days for fulfilling the 5 hr commitment. 

Please advise: weather conditions are harsh at times, extremes of cold and heat, rain and drought, and repetitious, physical labor are all realities that we must work through to ensure that planting and harvesting are completed. The number of Work Shares available is very limited.

The farm is located at 5191 Chambers Rd in Mayville.

 Share numbers are limited and are offered on a first-come, first-serve basis.  Shares are reserved upon receipt of the signed Membership Agreement Form and full payment or deposit in the amount of the respective share by cash, check or money order. Please send form and payment to 5191 Chambers Rd, Mayville, MI 48744.  Please make checks out to Nature's Pace Organics.  We would like to accept latecomers, but we really must limit our offering to ensure quality. 

 Payment Options

 We are farmers. Hence, we understand how it feels to be low on cash, but high on expectations for personal, family and ecological health. One purpose of CSA is to provide farmers funds to support business operation until planted seeds come to fruition and can be sold for a monetary return. We absolutely need that early financial support, but we also understand that not everyone can make lump-sum commitments at this financial level.  Shares will be reserved with a minimum deposit of 1/3 the share price. The remainder of share price may be sent with postdated checks dated for the first day of each consecutive month for a maximum of 3 months.

 Example:

Check 1 (1-1-12) for full share picking up at the farm is the minimum $218. Check 2 (2-1-12) 144. Check 3 (3-1-12) $144. Check 4 (4-1-12) $144. 

 or

 Check 1 (12-10-12) for a sampler share picking up at the farm is the minimum $75. Check 2 (1-10-12) $50. Check 3 (2-10-12) $50. Check 4 (3-10-12) $50. 

 or

 Check 1 (3-2-12) for a regular half share picking up at the farm picking up at the farm is $200. Check 2 (4-1-12) $160. 

 or

 ....whatever... if you need to work something different out, just call us.  We're flexible.  As long as checks don't bounce, we'll work together just fine.

Discerning as it may have felt at times, we have thoroughly enjoyed 2012’s early warmth! Eleven week old Freeda went on her first tractor ride with her papa, Forrest recruited (unwillingly, no doubt) 20 frogs and 2 painted turtles simultaneously to volunteer for his 48 hour personal observation, and the herbs are growing back after the turkeys took them for every polyphenolic compound they could get during their winter free roaming extravaganza . The chicken tractor has been moved to this year’s plot of cover crop, which is sown in rye shining so lusciously green that we felt compelled to buy a refractometer to measure its sugar content.  A hundred tomato seedlings were transplanted into the hoophouse complete with trellising string above, heat holding milk jug beside, drip tape irrigation below and warmth and water filled black pipe around.  Thankfully, the turkeys fence has undergone serious improvements so that the winter herb garden is never again (hopefully) devoured in a day. 

Here are some pictures from our current beautiful week of warmth.

We never would have thought it'd be short-sleeved onesie weather in Mid-March!

More healthy, new life on the farm with these cucumber seedlings that will be planted in the hoophouse for early cucumber treats.

With propagation benches already full, onions will need to be relocated to make room for newly seeded tomatoes, eggplant and peppers.

June tomatoes? Oh please say yes.

Pardoned by mild winter weather, swiss chard in the tunnels thrived and sugared deeply to bring added excitement to our green addicted lives (above).  Field spinach even survived with the help of a simple thin blanket or row cover as it's commonly called (below).

Moving pastures space week to week will provide fresh grubs and greens for the laying hens to enjoy. The green pastures seen vertical to the movable chicken tractor is all cover crop field for this year. Not only will this be a time to build a "green manure," but also the chicken manure will add organic matter as well as nitrogen back into the soil.  Check out how much green the chickens ate in one week in the picture below. 

 RIP Jefferson. The victim of a neighbor dog attack, this rooster will be remembered for his upstanding posture and consistently fertilized eggs (right).

    The yurt burned down one year ago this March, and, because of our community's help, we were able to rebuild a new living space for the interns. Thank you again for all your support.

 Jacob, Forrest and I were scheduled to distribute vegetables for the winter CSA at my parent’s house, 45 minutes south of our home, from 4-7:30 on the 5^th.  At 1 p.m. I had my first contractions for the day. By 2 p.m. contractions had been timed at 7 minutes apart and were getting to a point where soon I would not be able to talk through them, so we decided to send Forrest with our intern, Evan, to distribute the shares. By 6:20 p.m. we were holding little Freeda in our arms on the floor of our living room.    

 We are so grateful to our friend Robin for assisting in the birth and being an invaluable friend and mentor.  We are also fortunate to have had all your thoughts and positive energy along our journey.  Many of your faces and the experiences you shared with me passed through my mind before, during and after the labor. Thank you for your friendship.

If you are not in a place to immerse completely into a full internship, consider a work share with our CSA and glimpse into the demands and rewards of sustainable agriculture in exchange for a share of the harvest.  


General Description:

We are young, passionate, hard-working growers ready to begin our fourth spring as a certified organic farm.  Consisting of 20 acres, the farm is surrounded by woods on all sides in a quiet, rural area located 15 miles east of Frankenmuth.  Seven acres of vegetables are grown and marketed through a 100 member summer CSA, a 25 member winter CSA, farmers markets and natural foods markets.  Five hoophouses are used for germination and season extension.  Laying hens, broiler chickens and a couple of pigs are raised on a very small scale. 

Our crop focus is on high quality, staple vegetables along with some herbs and specialty crops. Anticipated projects for the 2012 growing season include the the construction of a “new” walk-in cooler made out of recycled materials, the erection of an additional 1/2 acre of high tunnel, the organization and welcoming of two dairy cows to be rotated on the fields,  the construction of a milking parlor and further organization of fields and post-harvest facilities.

Interns will assist in plant propagation, transplanting, cultivation, harvesting, CSA and market prep, animal husbandry, composting, beehive maintenance, putting up the hoophouses and other projects. Interns will also manage and attend a weekly farmers market. We work 5 1/2 to 6 days each week.

Internship Starts: Open ended - February, March and April are all great times to start, but later throughout the season we accept new interns.

Internship Ends: Late October or negotiable for longer stay
Number of Interns: 3-4
Minimum Length of Stay: preferably at least 3 Months

Meals: At least one communal meal are shared weekly prepared by the farm. Interns prepare the remainder of their meals with free access to all produce grown and eggs on the farm.

Skills Desired: Priority is given to individuals strongly motivated to grow organic produce for their communities. Priority is also given to individuals who desire to experience the entire growing season of winter, spring, summer and fall. Quality is an extremely important component of our farm; therefore, attention to detail is imperative.

Educational Opportunities: We are committed to instructing interns in the "whys and hows" of the various techniques employed on our farm, mainly through periodic field walks, informal discussions during meals and fieldwork, and through meetings where intern goals are discussed and addressed.  Interns will also manage and sell at a local farmers market.  Tractor and welding experience as well as general construction and repair are additional avenues for learning if desired.  For individuals committed to learning, this internship teaches the skills necessary in establishing a small farm.

Stipend: Interns receive housing, free access to produce and eggs on the farm, weekly meal prepared by the farm, between $400-$600/month.  An additional bonus is paid out at the end of the season based on performance and commitment.

Housing:  Interns live in a decagonal "ten-sided" house. Private sleeping quarters with communal kitchen and living area. 

Contact: Jacob or Katie Mullane-Bach

Phone: 989-843-0678

Email: email@naturespaceorganics.com

Basil in front, fennel bulb behind, unable-to-be-seen parsley behind the fennel and tomatoes trellised up along the stakes. Drip tape beneath basil and fennel for irrigation .

Radish seedlings to the far right, green beans plants with drip tape beneath in the center and the onion, shallot and leek patch to the far left.

All the leeks, onions and shallots were planted two rows close next to each other. We use a tractor implement to "hill" the soil up over the base of the leeks. With sunlight unable to reach the base, they become blanched, which is what allows leeks to have more white along their base. The onions and shallots (not-photoed) have a line of drip tape between each row.

The celery and celeriac patch. With so many plants spaced so closely, we're using overhead sprinklers to water in dry times.

Our precious water source for irrigating the fields, and our precious little Forrest who loves to look for fish and snapper turtles within. 60,000 ft of drip tape lining the fields total.

Did I mention he was precious? Here's a bouquet of wildflowers Forrest surprised me with last week.

Spaghetti squash plants also benefiting from the water source. Beneath these masses of leaves at the base of each plant drip tape is laid (above). The discoloration of yellow seen is some of the above plants is caused by squash bugs nymphs, but thanks to the nematodes, hardly a cucumber beetle to be found in the lot. Below Forrest is holding two mating adult squash bugs next to an immature spaghetti squash plant(below).

All this rain has finally given us time to work on building the pavilion, which is where the "new" cooler will be and where we will wash and pack vegetables for distribution.  The structure is geographically close to the pond, so water used for washing will be directed to flow into the pond.

The Nightshade Field...

Included in the nightshade family are tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, tomatillos and potatoes. All the nightshades are planted in the same field to make crop rotation manageable. Because species in the same families are often inflicted with the same pathogens, it helps not to plant anything from the same family in the same field within a four-year period. Next year nightshades will be planted where the alliums and curcubits are planted this year.

Tomatoes in the very front, two rows of eggplant in front of that, peppers beyond there and potatoes plants until the woodline. 

Do you see the eggplant nestled in waiting to be harvested? We are so grateful that we had drip tape laid beneath these plants as it helped to water just the eggplant during dry times and the not the spaces between. With the eggplant being such as large leaved plant and the close spacing we used, the leaves served as great shading to prevent lots of weed seed germination. We only had to do an initial hoeing when the plants were small and hand weed a few later on and the field is weed free.

Forrest between a row of peppers and eggplant. He's about 2/3rd up the field with the nightshades which extends to the woodline.

Forrest was given his own 10 x 10 space to grow as he pleased. One day as Jacob and I were both working up fields before a rain in early spring, Forrest was snagging heat-loving plants from the germination high tunnel and planting them in his space. As part of our philosophy on child-rearing we did not advise to remove the plants even though it seemed too early in the season and the plants risked succumbing to frost.  We feel it's his experiment and opportunity for discovery to see what lives and dies and why. However, we did not receive any frosts thereafter and he ended up with this little garden of very early tomatoes, green beans and basil (sporadic though the plants were :) Above are a few plants Forrest transplanted into containers he rounded up from somewhere (I have no idea) which had been close to death. In the yellow lug is soil he transferred from a different garden bed for his experiment of transportable carrots. He planted the seeds before a rain and they actually germinated quite well. Lamb's ear is the plant to the far right, which he chose to keep to use as bandages.

What a successful grower he is! This photo is proof to my father that we harvested a two-pound tomato. This is from the variety "Italian Tree" which can supposedly grow up 15'. Sorry you won't get these in shares as Forrest and I just planted 2 seeds in an experimental garden. This tomato ripened so early because of the crevice that's seen to on the right side of the tomato. Tomatoes with damage will ripen early, so the first tomatoes to come from field are not always the best.

Tomatoes from the early tomato plants Forrest planted. We're so grateful he took that risk : ) Also pictured is a version of eggplant parmesan dish - recipe included in this week's newsletter.