Week 30 brought that oppressive Austin heat, but with a brief and very welcome cameo from the sweet (and lately elusive) RAIN! I don’t know about y’all, but having that slight plummet in temperatures was the quick reprieve we farm folks needed despite some standing water in the fields.  The last week in July has us rubbing our eyes in disbelief… August is next week?!  In the words of Charlotte, our farm administrator extraordinaire, “it won't be long before we're back in sweaters, chomping on kale and dreaming about Barton Springs.”  In the midst of a smoldering heat spell, it’s easy to forget that the summer and its bounty are fleeting.  A good reminder to bask in the sun, relish that summer swim, and savor those cucumbers and melons while they last!

Summertime bliss. Photo by Allison Smoler.

We can’t thank the Alamo Drafthouse enough for hosting The Seer at the farm a couple weeks ago.  Throwing an event of that magnitude proved very daunting, but with the Drafthouse’s seasoned expertise on our side, we didn’t look back once.  It was such a magical evening, saturated with interesting, food + cinema-loving people.  The funds raised by the event have propelled construction of our new greenhouses in a big way.  In the past couple of days, the greenhouses are finally taking shape just in time for the massive amount of fall transplants we have been so busy seeding (lettuce, onions, leeks, artichokes, brussels sprouts, cauliflower + romanesco, collards, and kale are on the way)!  We might sound like a broken record over here, but your support is our cornerstone.  We are endlessly grateful to the community who attended the screening and in turn aided in the reconstruction of these structures.

Greenhouse reconstruction. Photo by Scott David Gordon.

Our invaluable and versatile assistant farm manager, Jason Hamelwright, left us this week to pursue a career in agricultural education.  Jason has been around JBG since 2012, when he started showing up at our Garfield farm as a regular workshare.  We hired him first as farm driver, transporting all of our harvests between the field and the packing shed.  Soon after, he became our Garfield Farm workshare coordinator, moved on to become a field coordinator and farm administrator, then finally and most recently, took on the huge responsibility of assistant farm manager.  This position is indispensable to maintaining the smooth flow of business as usual for us, so if you or someone you know meets these requirements and want to join a farm community of hard-workin’, fun-lovin’, passionate folks, send ‘em our way!  We would love to hear from you.  Best of luck, Jason, we miss you already!

Selfie by Jason Hamelwright.

We are chompin’ at the bit for some exciting and quickly approaching events in the coming weeks...

• First off, the next installment of our Yoga at the Farm series is this Sunday, 7/31 from 6 to 7 PM at our River Road location in Garfield (4008 River Road, Garfield, TX).  Yoga Yoga will be hosting, and Juice Society will be providing yummy refreshments post-workout.  Bring a mat, a friend, and get your stretch on in the farm-fresh air!
• Calling all Austin artists and painters! On Monday August 8th, we're painting some of our delivery vehicles and are looking for some volunteers to help get these vans looking street-worthy. If you have any painting experience, and would like to get involved in the project, email Ada at ada@jbgorganic.com. The volunteer shift is from 7:30am-12:30 on Monday. If you'd like to get involved, but that day or time doesn't work for you, email Ada with that info, too! All volunteers are thanked with a medium CSA box and the satisfaction of seeing their handiwork zoom around town delivering local veggies to eateries and homes, alike.
• Next Saturday night, 6/8 from 6 to 9 PM, in.gredients is throwing a rip-roarin’ and (as always) waste-free 4th birthday party!  We are teaming up with awesome local producers, JuiceLand and Hops & Grain, to produce the once-a-year small-batch Watermelon Brown Ale.  We will be providing the watermelons, JuiceLand the juicers, and Hops & Grain the oh-so-delicious beer recipe, one that they have been perfecting for this specific event year after year.  There will be live music from the Stovetop Rangers and Devin James Fry, loads of local vendors, face-painting, a photo booth, a dunk tank, and live screen-printing (be sure to bring a shirt) by Fine Southern Gentlemen!  A portion of the proceeds will benefit in.gredient’s non-profit community partner, the Workers Defense Project.

 

Come join us for some zen on the farm, van art, and/or a cold pint at in.gredients!  See you soon!

The first Yoga at the Farm gathering. Photo by Charlotte McClure.

 

Love of Holland. Austinites: Want to get in in this fun project? Volunteers are thanked with lots of veg. ??? Email ada@jbgorganic.com if you have some painterly experience and wanna hear more.

A photo posted by ada lisa broussard (@adalisab) on Dec 12, 2014 at 4:39am PST