Happy Friday, farm friends! As we dig into the depths of springtime, we are a flurry of activity here at JBG. The farm is always a hive of activity, but there’s something different about spring. It’s such a magical time in Central Texas. Like Brenton mentioned last week, we are doing some much needed rearranging of farm positions. It’s immensely exciting, overdue, and will ameliorate daily operations vastly. If you or a friend are interested in the farm business, hop on over to our jobs listing page and peruse!

Farm News from the TX Capitol

Very exciting news comes from the capitol this week. Thanks to all the lobbying by the Texas Farmers Market, the Farm & Ranch Freedom Alliance, and calls/visits from central Texans to their representatives, Senate Bill 932 has been unanimously passed by the Texas House of Representatives! The Senate bill caps permit fees that local regulators can impose on farmers market vendors and farmers at $100 per year. Less fees translate into vendors and farmers participating in more markets. Mutually benefitting our community as more high-quality, local, organic food will be more readily available. According to Texas Farmers Market, “before this bill passed, many farmers’ market vendors were charged more in health department fees than local McDonald’s!” We are elated for this welcome change.

Lyndsie working the Texas Farmers Market at Mueller. Photo by Scott David Gordon.

TFM + AFS Modified Screening

This coming Tuesday, May 21, Texas Farmers Market and Austin Film Society will be screening the film, Modified. “In the award-winning new documentary MODIFIED, the filmmaker and her  mother embark on a very personal and poignant investigative journey to find out why genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are not labeled on food products in the United States and Canada, despite being labeled in 64 countries around the world.” There will be a small farmers market and a discussion panel laden with agricultural and local food heavy hitters like: Edwin Marty, Sustainable Food Policy Manager, City of Austin; Ben McConnell, Founder of Bouldin Food Forrest; Liz Mejia, Founder of Green Hen Farm; Alvaro Mejia, Founder of Green Hen Farm; James A. Brown, Founder of Barton Springs Mill; and Kate Payne, Executive Director at Texas Farmers’ Market (Moderator). It is sure to be an extremely enlightening evening. Find more info here.

Stills from the movie, Modified.

CSA Yard Signs!

CSA Members, check out these yard signs! Do you just love your CSA Box and want to unabashedly flaunt it to your neighborhood? Please let us know if you'd like a yard sign, and we'll send one along with your next share. Just email Faith at farm@jbgorganic.com and she'll hook you up!

Yard sign! Photo by Scott David Gordon.

Spring Harvest Updates

In other JBG news, we are in the sweet spot of mid-spring harvest. Loads of cool weather crops are still thriving, and some tender summer crops are trickling into markets. CSA members often laud that this time of year is why they joined the CSA in the first place as there is seemingly endless variety and diversity. Get out to markets and relish the diversity this weekend. Cooler weather crops like lettuce and kale won’t be lingering for much longer as the heat arrives. We have cucumbers, more squash, onions still coming in, leeks, and even some cauliflower this weekend! Peppers, tomatoes, and eggplants will be arriving soon! Summer is right around the corner. ‘Til next time, folks!