Hey Y’all! Farmer Brenton here. It’s been a while since I’ve posted on the blog, but there are so many awesome things going on at the farm that I wanted to share with you all this week. First, it’s spring, and so that means we are slammed with planting..I think I have shed about 15 pounds with all the hustling I’ve been doing! The fields are looking amazing, and it’s hard to believe that just over a month ago we were dealing with the most significant crop loss the farm has ever experienced. Right now, the fields are exploding with color and life. During this busy period, one of our biggest tractors blew the engine…. Because this is the busiest moment of our entire season, we needed to replace this tractor immediately so even though we just had a major loss we had no choice but to search for a replacement…. But.. this isn’t just any tractor, it’s our dream tractor! It’s the most powerful tractor we’ve ever had at JBG and is even equipped with GPS which means it can autonomously travel down our rows with incredible precision. Seedlings are planted and beds are prepped in straight lines that look like they were made with a ruler. It’s pretty nerdy farm stuff, but for the farm crew and me, this is VERY exciting.

For over 10 years, we’ve known that our operation would benefit from the power and efficiency of a tractor like this, but it hasn’t been a feasible investment until now. You should see the precision! I had so much fun breaking in our new tool that recently I stayed at the farm working on the tractor from crazy hours for weeks on end. The longest day was 22 hours! I worked last Wednesday from 6 am till the wee hours of the morning the next day working the fields to get all the crops planted in time since everything was killed by the freeze. Angel, who was JBG’s FIRST EVER paid employee that I hired over 14 years ago will be the operator of this tractor. His back had been giving him some trouble lately, but the seat on the new tractor is a “floating” seat, which means it bounces up and down to absorb any shocks and bumps. Needless to say, he’s loving it. This new John Deere is like the Cadillac of the farm, and I’m so glad it's Angel's, but like I said… I just couldn’t help myself but take a turn, too!

Tractors and spring crops are exciting enough, but we have one announcement that I couldn’t wait to tell you about: We’re opening a permanent New JBG Garfield Farmstand at our Garfield Farm!!! This, like the tractor, is a project that I’ve dreamed about… and almost started… for many years. But sometimes you’ve just gotta be patient until the pieces come together and until you get the perfect bout of energy and inspiration to pour into a new project like this. Well, we have both! We can’t wait for you to visit the new JBG Farmstand!





The JBG Farmstand will be happening every Saturday from: 9am - 1pm JBG Garfield Farm 4008 River Road, 78612

If you’ve visited the Transplant Sale this spring (still going on now!)  you’ve seen our market stand. We’ve had so much fun setting up this stand, that we have just decided to continue once the transplant availability slows. It’s been awesome to have our community out to the farm every Saturday, and it’s our hope that the JBG Farmstand will provide a fun community meeting place where people can really connect with the farm and land that grows their food.

Here are some other reasons the Farmstand is worth checking out:

• We will have a CSA Pickup there! Any CSA Member who picks up at the Saturday farmstand can choose 2 free veggies from the market booth! CSA Members: Don’t forget that you can always change your pickup just for one-time by emailing the office (farm@jbgorganic.com).
• Flowers! We just seeded thousands of flowers, and soon the entry road to the farm will be brimming with blooms, and as long as there are flowers to pick, we will be offering a pick-your-own bouquet option at the Farmstand. (CSA Members, we’re going to let you pick a bouquet for free!!)
• We also have a large number of herbs that are growing just next to where the Farmstand will be set up. While we will have some pre-harvested herbs for sale at the market booth, you can also pick your own!
• Sometime when June turns to July, it will officially be tomato time at JBG, and we plan to rope off a section of our tomatoes and then turn people loose. Our usual U-Pick (LINK) will be an extension of the Saturday Farmstand, and you and your family can pick your own box of homegrown, fresh off the vine, tomatoes. There’s no better tomato. Our Tomato U-Pick is a beloved event for so many families, and we can’t wait for ‘mater season. Soon!

We hope that all of these pick-your-own opportunities will help you enjoy a truly unique and authentic farm experience. Though we ask that you leave your pets at home, we encourage you to bring all the kids and friends. Our farm is 184 acres, and when you visit the Saturday JBG Farmstand, we really hope you feel at home and enjoy the whole property. If you’re a runner, you can come run around the acres of vegetables. Wagons are a great way for very small kids to experience the whole farm, and for the ones in-between, you can just let them loose down the dirt farm roads. We can’t guarantee that they won’t leave sweaty, dirty, and happy. There’s a giant sand pile that we’ll be sure to keep weeded, too!

Like most things at the farm, the plans for this Farmstand are organic and evolving, but we know it’s going to be great! The JBG offerings are just the beginning, and I am already thinking about collaborating with other producers for artisan cheeses and pastured meats. (But of course, I don’t want to get ahead of myself! For now, it’s just the veggies.) Our farm is big, and when the weeds aren’t outta control, it’s beautiful, too, and we can’t really think of a good reason why we shouldn’t share this space with our wonderful community who have supported us all these years. We hope you’ll check out the Saturday Farmstand… and tell your friends! It begins… tomorrow!

Thanks for reading, Farmer Brenton

 

 

The JBG Farmstand is open every Saturday from 9am - 1pm

JBG Garfield Farm

4008 River Road, Garfield, 78612

 

Here are some reasons the Farmstand is worth checking out:

• You can get seasonal vegetables directly from the farm where they are grown. It really doesn't get much fresher than this!
• We will have a CSA Pickup there! Any CSA Member who picks up at the Saturday farmstand can choose 2 free veggies from the market booth! CSA Members: Don’t forget that you can always change your pickup just for one-time by emailing the office (farm@jbgorganic.com).
• Flowers! We just seeded thousands of flowers, and soon the entry road to the farm will be brimming with blooms, and as long as there are flowers to pick, we will be offering a pick-your-own bouquet option at the Farmstand. (CSA Members, we’re going to let you pick a bouquet for free!!)
• We also have a large number of herbs that are growing just next to where the Farmstand will be set up. While we will have some pre-harvested herbs for sale at the market booth, you can also pick your own!
• Sometime when June turns to July, it will officially be tomato time at JBG, and we plan to rope off a section of our tomatoes and then turn people loose. Our usual U-Pick (LINK) will be an extension of the Saturday Farmstand, and you and your family can pick your own box of homegrown, fresh off the vine, tomatoes. There’s no better tomato. Our Tomato U-Pick is a beloved event for so many families, and we can’t wait for ‘mater season. Soon!

 

We hope that these pick-your-own opportunities will help you enjoy a truly unique and authentic farm experience. Though we ask that you leave your pets at home, we encourage you to bring all the kids and friends. Our farm is 184 acres, and when you visit the Saturday JBG Farmstand, we really hope you feel at home and enjoy the whole property. If you’re a runner, you can come run around the acres of vegetables. Wagons are a great way for very small kids to experience the whole farm, and for the ones in-between, you can just let them loose down the dirt farm roads. We can’t guarantee that they won’t leave sweaty, dirty, and happy. There’s a giant sand pile that we’ll be sure to keep weeded, too!

Like most things at the farm, the plans for this Farmstand are organic and evolving, but we know it’s going to be great! The JBG offerings are just the beginning, and we hope to eventually collaborate with other producers for artisan cheeses and pastured meats. We look forward to sharing our farm with you, our wonderful community. See you there!

Questions about our Farmstand? Call the farm office during business hours: 512-386-5273 or Shoot us an email: farm@jbgorganic.com

By Isaac + Heydon

Fajita night is an easy favorite at our little casita. The fragrance of the meat and veggies on the grill wafting through the backyard is an olfactory love language. We often augment our aromatic tacos with this spicy, herby, and fresh sauce that Isaac whips up in no time. It is the perfect companion to any savory dish and could shine in many, different applications. So, chop up those spring onions and slather it on!

Ingredients:

• 3 green onions, finely sliced
• Half to whole jalapeno, finely sliced
• 1-2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
• 1 quarter of a small yellow onion, finely chopped
• A handful of cilantro, roughly chopped
• 2 teaspoons of rice vinegar
• ¼ cup of olive oil
• Juice of ½ lime
• Salt

 

Combine and stir. Add a couple pinches of salt to taste. Best when used fresh!

We’ve met many first-time gardeners at our ongoing Transplant Sale and Farmstand , and in honor of all the newbies out there, we’ve been sharing one person’s herbventure. In case you missed the beginning of Hector’s story where he divulges his deep desire for a cute herb garden of his own, here is part 1 and part 2. Today, we give you part 3. Soon, Hector will be casually clipping fresh herbs from his patio garden, which might even make their way in the next “CSA PSA” Instagram videos he creates for the farm. Are you like Hector, dreaming of a cute herb or vegetable garden of your own? Let us remind you that our Transplant Sale and (new) Farmstand are happening this Saturday at our Garfield farm from 9am - 1pm. The address is 4008 River Road, Garfield, 78612. We hundreds of varieties of summer transplants including peppers, tomatoes, squash, melons, flowers, and of course... herbs. Come on out! 

 

Without further ado, Part 3 of Hector’s Herbventure: 

Hector enjoying the Downtown Farmer's Market in a pre-covid world. Even then, he was dreaming of a cute herb garden. Photo by Scott David Gordon.

PREOCCUPATIONS

Words and photos by Hector Gonzales. 

I am afraid I didn’t inherit my mother’s green thumb. I guess this is a common situation, not only for backyard gardeners, but in general. Can I be as good as X-person? The answer is NO. I can only be as good as my previous efforts. This herb garden is a new venture in so many ways! Am I doing this right? Maybe. Will I be able to reach my goal of a cute herb garden? Who knows. Will I do my best? Definitely.

I got my herbs a few days ago from JBG and these look so cute!

The future of a very cute herb garden... we hope.

Now, the boxes. I have no carpentry skills. I took shop during my three years in Mexican middle school and my projects were NOT GOOD. So, I prefer to talk to experts who I trust on these.

I tried to contact some people I trusted. One, unfortunately for me, moved to Massachusetts while the other contact left me unread. It happens. I also asked my local Buy Nothing (https://buynothingproject.org/) group if they knew someone. This is how I got in contact with Christian Trice from Trice Terrain Services . He came to my place, checked the boxes I obtained and gave me a good time and budget estimate for the project. I was feeling confident.

My next big fear is how to take great care of my new green babies. I started reading articles and watching videos on what are the best practices and which plants work with which ones. ADVICE: while researching on Reddit, r/herbs is a good resource while r/HerbsGrowRoom  is not the type I was into.

A pleasant surprise was hearing that Christian finished the project early. He protected the wood, put holes at the bottom, added a sublayer for irrigation, layered the box, added handles, and got fresh soil in these. I was delighted and impressed. I now had two beautiful new box planters. Check these out!

Hector's beauitful boxes, ready for planting.

My next challenge, transplanting. 

To be continued.

Hector's CSA PSA comes out on Instgram just about every other week. During these segments, Hector unpacks his Medium CSA box and dreams up menu ideas on the fly. If you're a CSA member who needs some help figuring out what to cook... check out these segments on the "IGTV" tab on our Instagram.

Our transplant sale is still happening every Saturday from 9am-1pm at our Garfield farm. Scroll below and you'll see just how beautiful the fields are looking. When you visit the sale, we invite you to walk.. or run, or skip the fields. In addition to the transplant sale, we have a market booth setup, too! No better way to experience your local food system than to see the soil producing it. Kids and friends welcome, please leave your pets at home.

Giana watering transplants outside the greenhouse, with Texas clouds behind. Photo by Scott David Gordon.

When you think about it, these bright orange taproots that we love to eat are an amazing thing. Photo by Scott David Gordon.

The John Deere is our usual carrot-shuffler. Carrots are picked by hand into the small green bins, and then individually dumped into the large, peach, bulk bin. Photo by Scott David Gordon.

When your carrots match your gloves. Photo by Scott David Gordon.

Hundreds of pounds of beta-carotene. Photo by Scott David Gordon.

It must be spring! The potatoes have been hilled are poking out to say hello. Photo by Scott David Gordon.

Discs, pre-wash. Photo by Scott David Gordon.

Post-wash. Tractors and implements are very regularly pressure washed, helping to extend the life and minimize the maintenance. Photo by Scott David Gordon.

A galaxy of green and white. Photo by Scott David Gordon.

Our transplant sale is still going strong, and crops like lettuce and kale are buy one, get one. Photo by Scott David Gordon.

Rows or romaine. Photo by Scott David Gordon.

Plastic mulch layer in action. Photo by Scott David Gordon.

Transplants for the transplant sale are looking mighty fine. Saturdays, 9-1, at our Garfield Farm. See ya there! Photo by Scott David Gordon.

CSA Box Contents Week of Apr 12th

Large:

Braising Mix

Lettuce Bag

Dinosaur Kale

Onion

Carrot

Rainbow Chard

Beet

Spinach

Red Radish

Purple Top Turnip

Curly Parsley

CSA Box Contents Week of Apr 12th

Individual: Lettuce Bag, Red Radish, Onions, Rainbow Chard, Farmer's Choice Herb, Beet

Small: Arugula, Bok Choy, Carrot, Green Garlic, Turnip, Onion, Beet

Medium: Red Radish, Lettuce Bag, Farmer's Choice Kale, Bok Choy, Carrot, Onion, Farmer's Choice Herb, Rainbow Chard, Beet

Large: Braising Mix, Lettuce Bag, Dinosaur Kale, Onion, Carrot, Rainbow Chard, Beet, Spinach, Red Radish, Purple Top Turnip, Curly Parsley

 Author: The Migoni Kitchen

I don’t know about y’all but we have been getting so many beets in our boxes that we are starting to run out of ideas on how to use them! We were trying to come up with a way to preserve the beets other than pickling, and this is how we came up with the idea of dehydrating the beets. After dehydrating, we pulsed in our food processor until reduced to a powder. Three medium beets gave us about a ¼ cup of beet powder, so this is a great way to use up a lot of beets! So what to do with the powder?

• Add to smoothies
• Use in replacement of red food dye (great for red velvet cake!)
• Here is an example recipe of red velvet cake using beet powder:
• Use to dye clothing
• Can mix in with vaseline/chapsticks to create a tinted lip balm
• Can add to baby purees

Ingredients: 3 medium beets

Instructions:

1. Wash, peel, then slice the beets as thinly as possible (use a mandolin if you have one)

2. Preheat oven to 150 degrees (or lowest possible temperature)

3. Space the sliced beets evenly on a wire rack over a cookie sheet and place them in the oven.

4. Leave the beets in the oven for 8-12 hours (overnight) or until the slices are fully dehydrated. Time may vary depending on how thick the slices are. Let cool completely.

5. Pulse in a food processor until beets form a powder. Store in a dry, airtight container for up to 3 months.

CSA Box Contents Week of Apr 19th

Large:

Onion

Spinach

Romaine

Carrot

Red Radish

Farmer's Choice

Beet

Farmer's Choice Kale

Mustard Greens

Farmers' Choice Herb

CSA Box Contents Week of Apr 19th

Individual: Onion, Farmer's Choice Green, Spinach, Carrot, Romaine, Farmer's Choice Herb

Small: Onion, Bagged Greens, Carrot, Red Radish, Rainbow Chard, Romaine, Farmer's Choice Herb

Medium: Onion, Spinach, Romaine, Carrot, Farmer's Choice Kale, Mustard Greens, Beet, Turnip, Farmer's Choice Herb, Romaine, Radish

Large: Onion, Spinach, Romaine, Carrot, Red Radish, Farmer's Choice, Beet, Farmer's Choice Kale, Mustard Greens, Farmers' Choice Herb

Location: 4008 River Road, Garfield, Texas 78612

For nearly 20 years JBG has provided Austin community members the best quality, locally-grown, organic vegetables possible. Since we moved out of the backyard garden on Holly Street in East Austin in 2006 the farm has grown a lot from its beginnings in a 30 x 50ft backyard garden. It's hard to believe, but now Johnson's Backyard Garden is the largest organic vegetable farm in Texas. Employing over 100 employees and growing over 300 acres of organic crops annually on the banks of the Colorado river, 10 miles east of the ABIA airport in the small community of Garfield, Texas.

Position Summary: JBG is seeking a highly organized and self-starting individual to support Farm Management with administrative and human resources related tasks.

Human Resources:

• Responsible for job posting and assisting managers with the interview and hiring process as needed
• Perform onboarding of all new employees
• Assist with training and education for staff (in house and 3rd party)
• Support Operations Manager in processing of workmen's compensation claims

• Orientation for new employees and assign supplies, rain gear, radio (if needed), etc. plus enroll qualifying employees in CSA program
• Coordinate with Farm Managers to ensure that all teams on the farm are properly outfitted and supplied with equipment such as rain gear, knives, twist ties, etc.

• Assist Operations manager to ensure payroll is accurate

 

Communication and Recruitment:

• Greet farm visitors including CSA members, volunteers, etc. and serve as the primary point of contact for all farm visitors and deliveries

• Assist in Bilingual communication

• Answer office phones and relay messages

• Receive packages, shipments and mail correspondence

• Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills

 

Inventory Management, Procurement and Receiving:

• Responsible for the inventory and timely ordering of all supplies needed for the farm including cleaning supplies, first aid supplies, etc.

• Coordinate with the Farm Managers to order seeds, supplies, parts, and equipment.

• Document all farm supply procurement. Collect and submit invoices to the Operations Manager.

• Schedule and document all receiving. Notify appropriate parties of deliveries for inspection and signoff according to established procedures.

 

Farm Operations:

• Coordinate CSA box deliveries for staff and volunteers

• Handle farm mail and special deliveries

• Assist Farm Manager and Farm Owner with scheduling appointments, managing calendar, drafting email responses and getting time-sensitive documents signed.

• Periodically run errands to pick up parts, supplies, or transport employees or vehicles

 

Organic and GAP Certification Record Keeping:

• Maintain records of employee logs of facility cleaning for Food Safety, GAP and National Organic Program certification

• Maintain Organic Seed search and Agricultural Materials Input list with inspection by regulatory authorities for Organic Certification.

 

Special Events and Marketing:

• Responsible for coordinating special events for the farm and guests

• Coordinate with Farm Management to ensure that all teams are notified of farm visits

• Coordinate with in house photographer and social media team to promote events

• Design and create special signage as needed on the farm

 

Asset Liquidation:

• Prepare and post written ads with photographs on Craigslist and other venues to assist in liquidating farm assets

 

Maintenance:

• Assist mechanic in parts procurement, vendor contacts

• Will process orders, track supplies and parts, and keep appropriate records

• Will add to and edit Master Equipment Repair list as needed when reported by operators or management

 

Greenhouse, farm beautification and upkeep:

• May be asked to assist with various aspects of farm upkeep and other related work, such as:
  • Greenhouse work
  • Mowing and trimming
  • Maintaining hand-washing stations

 

Qualifications:

Required

• Highly organized with excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Self-directed worker, effective in both independent and collaborative settings
• Demonstrated problem-solving skills
• Willingness to work extra hours during seasonal peaks
• An interest in agriculture and promotion of local and organic farming

Preferred

• Previous farm experience, particularly in harvest management
• Basic familiarity with mechanics and equipment maintenance
• Spanish fluency
• Demonstrated comfort level in cross-cultural interactions

 

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to repeatedly lift 50 lbs
• Ability to repeatedly kneel, bend, and squat
• Ability to withstand exposure to varying weather conditions
• Ability to withstand prolonged standing or walking

 

Schedule:

• Full-time M-F 7:30 to 4:00pm

• Some weekend work based on seasonal needs

 

Reports To: Assistant Farm Manager

 

Compensation & Benefits:

• Compensation is dependent on experience. Expected Salary is $16 per hour, plus a weekly share of organic farm vegetables and a dozen eggs with every bi- weekly paycheck.

• Group Health Insurance available after 60 days

 

Directions for Applying:

Please send an email to jobs @ jbgorganic.com with the following format. Following specific directions is the first way to impress us!

• Subject Line should read “[Job Title]: [First Initial]_[Last Name]” … For example, “Farm Administrator: J_Smith”

• Email body should be short & sweet - help us notice you! Ensure that it contains your contact information.

• Attach three documents to your email, ensuring that their file names are clear:

1) Cover Letter

2) Resume

3) List containing contact information of two professional references

Thank you for your interest in JBG Organic! You will be contacted for further information if we find that you might be a good fit for this position.

The responsibilities & duties listed above are intended to communicate general priorities of this position, but should not be understood as an exhaustive list of all work requirements to be completed at JBG Organic. Farms require flexibility! We are committed to training, developing, and promoting from within the company based on performance.

JBG Organic provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetics, marital status, or sexual orientation.

Position Title: Farmers Market Manager Sub and Meet-at-Market Staff  Location:9515 Hergotz Lane, Austin TX (manager sub) or Austin-area Farmers' Market (meet-at-market position)                                               Reports To: On duty barn contact, usually Markets Packing Manager or Market Manager                                               Position Summary Manager Sub -- JBG Organic is seeking a farmers’ market team leader to work at one of our farmer’s market stands in Austin and surrounding areas. To begin, this position will be a manager sub, filling in at various markets a few Saturdays per month. This position can become a regular weekly position. Sunday shifts are also occasionally available.  Responsibilities (for both positions)

• Help unload and load market trucks including product, tents, weights, and tables at the beginning and end of each market
• Report to Hergotz or Market location in a punctual manner
• Drive market trucks in a safe and appropriate manner to market destinations, completing all tasks and procedures required to ensure proper use and maintenance
• Act as a JBG ambassador, welcoming community members to learn about the farm, our produce, and upcoming farm events
• Manage and supervise staff to maintain best market booth possible
• Eagerness and Willingness to learn about JBG’s farming practices and product and relay to market staff and customers
• Enforce and implement all rules and regulations for market functions and market staff as defined by market organizer and JBG
• Enforce and implement all rules and money-handling procedures as outlined by JBG
• Stay in tune with market happenings and ensure completion of market maintenance tasks such as market applications, booth fees, etc.
• Must follow and ensure staff follow COVID safety procedures

Qualifications Required

• Strong sense of visual composition for market displays
• Strong sense of customer service
• Interest in local agriculture is a plus
• Quick mental math skills
• An outgoing and friendly attitude! Ability to create a positive team dynamic is key, utilizing both interpersonal skills and maintaining excellent organization.
• Excellent judgment in prioritizing responsibilities and ability to multitask
• Self directed worker, effective in both independent and collaborative settings
• Flexible availability, with particular availability to work Saturdays and/or Sundays
• Ability to drive cargo van or box truck
• Valid Texas drivers license, clean driving record (required for manager position) 

Preferred

• Previous experience in a related field
• Interest in local agriculture, cooking, and produce
• Forklift experience

Physical Requirements

• Ability to repeatedly lift 50lbs
• Ability to repeatedly kneel, bend, and squat
• Ability to withstand exposure to varying weather conditions
• Ability to withstand prolonged standing or walking

Schedule: part-time weekend sub; manager shifts start early (usually 5 or 6am Saturday morning) Compensation & Benefits: $12/hour market manager. Paid bi-weekly. Plus a share of veggies per week and any tips/trades. Directions for Applying: Please send an email to fawn@jbgorganic.com with the following format.

• Subject Line should read “JBG Market Manager Sub” or “JBG meet at market worker”
• Email body should contain a letter of interest and brief explanation of relevant experience - help us notice you! Ensure that it contains your contact information and availability.
• You may also attach a resume.

  Thank you for your interest in JBG Organic! You will be contacted for further information if we find that you might be a good fit for this position. We will then set up a trial shift/working interview. The responsibilities & duties listed above are intended to communicate general priorities of this position, but should not be understood as an exhaustive list of all work requirements to be completed at JBG Organic. Farms require flexibility! We are committed to training, developing, and promoting from within the company based on performance. JBG Organic provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetics, marital status, or sexual orientation.

Truly, everyday is Earth Day at the farm. Our entire business was built to serve the earth - to produce nutrient-dense vegetables using organic, sustainable, and regenerative growing practices as much as possible. We produce vegetables this way not only because it's what we think consumers want, but also because it just makes sense. Our farm is 184 acres, and if we don't take care of our soil and water, we can't grow vegetables. We are proud to take good care of this little parcel of earth so that you and your family can eat food grown right here in your "neighborhood" (or county, or state). Happy earth day, everyone! Here are a few ways you can celebrate.

1. Join a CSA.

Sure, our CSA is a good option, but really, joining any CSA or local meat share is a wonderful vote for mother earth. When you purchase food that was produced within your region, you’re buying food with a lower carbon footprint. This food didn’t have to travel thousands of miles to get to your kitchen. It’s also seasonally appropriate, packed with more nutrition, and better tasting. A win for mother earth, a win for you.

2. Cook a meal with all locally-sourced ingredients.

Cooking a meal with ingredients sourced from your region is not only a good move because they’re likely high-quality products, but it is also a way for you to deeply connect with your bioregion. What can the earth around you support, and when? What does a regenerative pork chop topped with a homemade chimichurri sauce taste like? (Hint - It’s going to be incredible, with minimal effort). Cooking with vibrant, fresh, and locally-sourced ingredients is a wonderful taste and thought exercise that will hopefully make you mindful about how the products you consume came to be, and the negative, neutral, or positive impact the production of this food could have on this earth - your home. Plenty of veg-forward and seasonal recipe ideas here.

3. Buy food from producers you know and trust.

Food marketing is riddled with greenwashing, but when you purchase food from a farmer or producer you actually know, you can ask questions about growing practices and working conditions. You can even visit the farm to see it all for yourself.  Even certifications, like that of organic or GAP, can only go so far… but when you buy veggies from a producer you know, you can be certain they are doing good by the land they cultivate. We love our farm, and if we don’t take care of our soil and water, we won’t be able to grow vegetables on it forever, which is why we do things like cover cropping, which returns nutrients and organic material back to the soil, and provide habitat for pollinators. These are just two of the many, many ways that we manage our farmland to ensure its healthy future.

4. Visit a Farmers Market.

There are so many reasons to shop at a local farmers market, but perhaps one of the most compelling reasons is that most of the market organizers have done the thoughtful and purposeful work of identifying vendors that use sustainable and regenerative farming practices. At the markets we attend, you can peruse any market stall and rest assured that you’re buying food that is not only good for you, but also good for the environment. Also: what other grocery store experience allows you to enjoy the outdoors, soak up some Vitamin D, and meet the people who actually grow your food? If you don’t normally shop at a market but would like to start, here are some tips to ensure you’ll actually want to go back.

5. Think about soil, and then go play in it.

It’s hard to overstate the importance of soil health when considering the global demand for food and food production. Without healthy soils that contain a plethora of biology (think: bugs! Bacteria! Fungi!) we will be unable to grow nutritious food for our planet. Here is some reading to get you started if you haven’t considered the importance of soil before. And now that you’re thinking about soil, go play in it! There’s plenty of research out there that supports the idea that playing in the dirt releases endorphins and can actually make you happy and healthy, and as anyone with a home garden can attest - the anecdotal evidence is STRONG! Our Transplant Sale  is still going strong, and we have hundreds of varieties of fruits, herbs, vegetables, and flowers like celosias, marigolds, and millet just waiting to be planted in your own backyard or patio space. We’ve got compost, too.

P.S. If Earth Day has you considering farming as a profession.... WE'RE HIRING!! It's busy time at the farm, and there are several positions that are available including a spot on our Barn Crew as well as a Farm Administrator position. You can find all the current job postings here on our website. Know someone who is looking for a job that might be a good fit for JBG? Do us a favor, and help spread the word about these great opportunities to join our farm family! Spring is here, and many hands are needed.

As always, thanks for reading! And happy Earth Day!

A pre-covid potato peace sign to celebrate earth day.... though you don't have to be a hippy dippy farmer to know that Earth Day is important.

Scott captured some early  morning shots of the farm this week, and everything is looking particularly vibrant. The lettuce, fennel, and beet greens all seem to be celebrating earth month, and even the tomatoes are staying busy growing tall. It's nearing the end of our Spring Transplant sale, and if you haven't yet planted a garden for the summer, it's not too late! We still have hundreds of tomatoes, peppers, herbs, and flowers available for sale.

 

Green and red leaf lettuce, perfectly complementary. Photo by Scott David Gordon.

Salad for days. Photo by Scott David Gordon.

So much beautiful food growing at the farm. Have you seen it with your own eyes? If not, we encourage you to visit the Saturday Farmstand! Photo by Scott David Gordon.

Lime green food, yes please. Photo by Scott David Gordon.

When a delivery van becomes a harvest van, and the paint fades away. Photo by Scott David Gordon.

Unloading clean and sanitized ifcos. Photo by Scott David Gordon.

We have rows of perianal herbs at the farm, including this vibrant patch of mint. Photo by Scott David Gordon.

Furry fennel. Photo by Scott David Gordon.

Arugula, left to flower for the bees. Did you know arugula flowers are delightfully nutty, and make a perfect salad topping? We aren't able to harvest them for sale, but if you visit the farm you're welcome to pick some for yourself! Photo by Scott David Gordon.

It must be spring! A very full harvest van. Photo by Scott David Gordon.

Irrigation repairs, and a rare look at what our irrigation system looks like underground. Photo by Scott David Gordon.

Can you identify this crop? Hit: It goes beautifully with tomatoes! Photo by Scott David Gordon.

The tomatoes are sizing up, and the first line of our Florida weave is installed! Soon, these rows will be towering tunnels of tomatoes, but for now they are all very manageable. Photo by Scott David Gordon.

The first tomatoes are showing themselves! How time flies! Photo by Scott David Gordon.

Beet greens looking good! Photo by Scott David Gordon.

Giana, keeper of the greenhouse. Photo by Scott David Gordon.

Sweet potato slips. Photo by Scott David Gordon.

Please, if you will, checkout the size of this chard! Photo by Scott David Gordon.

Debating on the best way to use romaine. Photo by Scott David Gordon.

CSA Box Contents Week of April 26th

Large Box

Cabbage, Napa

Carrots

Farmers Choice Greens

Arugula

Rainbow Chard

Collards Greens

Herb

Fennel

Romaine Lettuce

Onions

Radish

Turnip

CSA Box Contents Week of April 26th

Individual: Carrots, Greens Farmers Choice, Spinach, Herb, Romaine Lettuce, Onions

Small: Carrots, Rainbow Chard, Greens Farmers Choice, Herb, Romaine Lettuce, Onions, Red Radish

Medium: Beets, Carrots, Kale, Mustard Greens, Spinach, Herb, Romaine Lettuce, Onions, Red Radish, Turnip

Large: Beets, Carrots, Greens Farmers Choice, Kale, Mustard Greens, Spinach, Herb, Fennel, Romaine Lettuce, Onions, Red Radish

A curious, and most certainly happy, hen at Humble Rooster. Wonderful photo by Nathan at Humble Rooster.

Since the early days of JBG when Brenton had his own backyard flock, we’ve loved offering (Austin)  CSA Members the ability to add eggs onto their weekly share, because, with eggs + veggies, you can travel to a lot of places. (For those members outside of Austin, we're unable to offer eggs because our drivers don't have room in their vans! In case you're wondering why :) The eggs we offer aren’t just any eggs, and we’ve taken special care to partner up with local farmers who produce high-quality eggs laid by happy hens on pasture. Precious guardian dogs, while not a requirement of our egg standards, also just so happen to be a common thread.

The labels on egg cartons are almost endless and distinguishing a good egg from a bad egg can be confusing. Before we highlight the amazing producers JBG partners with, let us take a moment to tease apart some of the labels you might see at the grocery store.

Just one example of said floofers. These are some of the guardian dogs at Happy Chicks.

Pasture-Raised sometimes called “Pastured” (not to be confused with pasteurized): Pasture-raised or pastured eggs means that the chickens are raised on pasture, with access to open meadows or woody forests. These chickens hunt for food, peck around, and have space to express their truest chickenliness. They can dust-bathe, perch, and spread their wings - all-natural behaviors of these little dinosaurs. Pasture-raised chickens have access to a coop/nesting safe from predators, where they dutifully march at night to catch some Zzz or lay an egg. As in the case with all of the farms we work with, these coops can be mobile! We call these chicken tractors. The coops (and their inhabitants) are moved throughout an area so that the chickens can have access to fresh grass, and so that their impact (the nutrient-dense poop… the scratching…) can be dispersed throughout a landscape. Chickens raised in this manner benefit from a diverse diet and open air. Eggs laid by these gals feature a deep yellow (sometimes orange!) yolk, with clear and bouncy whites. All of the eggs we offer fit this bucolic bill.

It’s noteworthy that “pasture-raised” or “pastured” doesn’t have a legal certification process behind it. Some eggs you see in a store labeled with “pasture-raised” may be produced by chickens who merely have access to a small, outdoor run. While these chickens may have a better life than those raised in a factory farm, they’re still not running on an actual pasture.

In the springtime, pasture-raised chickens get to romp and scratch in pastures of verbena and goldenrod. These are the lucky gals at Happy Chicks.

Organic: Even chickens raised in a thriving pastured ecosystem need supplemental food. If eggs are labeled “organic” it means that the chickens are eating feed that is certified organic and that they are not receiving any hormones or antibiotics. Not all pastured chickens are organic. All certified organic chickens must have access to the outdoors, though the quality of this access varies.

Free-Range: According to the USDA, free-range chickens must have “continuous access to an outdoor area during their laying cycle". The quality and size of this outdoor space can vary drastically, and it could simply mean a very small fenced-in area meant to suit thousand of birds.

Cage-free: This USDA designation simply means that chickens are not confined to individual cages (which are usually 8.5 x 11 inches, or the size of a sheet of computer paper. This certification does not stipulate, however, that the chickens must be allowed outdoors.

Most producers want you to know if they’re taking good care of their animals, and so an egg carton with no label likely means that chickens were raised in pretty horrendous, very-caged, conditions. The vast majority of eggs produced in the United States fall under this unfortunate umbrella. We’ll spare you the photos, but if you’re curious, google is littered with some visuals.

There are even more labels that get slapped on cartons like natural, farm-fresh, “Certified Humane”, “Animal Welfare Approved”, “Vegetarian-Fed” and also graded vs. ungraded. We don’t want to take up space here to discuss any more labels, however. As in the case with most foods, if you’re interested in consuming products that you can guarantee are good for you, and good for the environment, it’s simplest just to know your producer… and even pay a visit to their farm. And even though you might not personally know the farmers at Ringger Family, Humble Rooster, and Happy Chicks farms, we do! You can take a sigh of relief- they are all incredible farmers, raising chickens in the most dignified way. Yes, they are all raising their flocks on pasture, but the stewardship of their animals goes beyond this simplistic label. These chickens have great lives! (And produce superb eggs!) We’ve been partnering with some of these farms for nearly 10 years, and we see these friendly faces each week when they make deliveries to the Packing Shed. We hope you’ll take our word for it that these farmers are worth supporting, not only because they produce a high-quality product produced by sustainable means, but also because they’re good people, with good families, doing eggcellent work. Sorry, we couldn’t help ourselves.

RINGGER FAMILY FARMS Ringger Family Farms is owned by Eli Ringger. Eli is the son of Dale and Amy Ringger, owners of Fruitful Hill Farm, an amazing 50-acre chemical-free vegetable farm located in Bastrop County. The Ringgers have been raising happy chickens for as long as we’ve known them (we’ve been buying their eggs since 2012!), and a few years ago, their oldest son Eli took over the egg portion of the business, now called Ringger Family Farms.

Here are the healthy hens at Ringer Family farms. In the background, you can see the chicken fencing which gets moved through the pasture along with the flock, and mobile coops. Thanks Fruitful Hill for the photo!

At the Ringger’s farm, their “Hy-Line Brown” (the breed of chicken they raise) are rotated on chemical-free pasture and are fed a non-GMO, soy-free feed that the Ringgers grind themselves. These hens are living the good life, and even get veggie scraps from time to time.

Eli, his wife Sheila, and their son John... and of course, all the ladies!

If you’d like to see these hens for yourself, the Ringgers have a farmstand every Friday afternoon from 2-5:30 PM. The address is 2421 SH 304, Smithville TX 78957. Look for the red barn and tents. If you want to see the chickens, just let them know.. they’re never far! In addition to pastured eggs, Ringger Family Farm also sells pastured beef, pastured goat meat, and pork from pigs living in the woods, fed veggie scraps, and non-GMO, soy-free feed.

HUMBLE ROOSTER FARM Humble Rooster Farm is owned by the Hicks family and is located 40 minutes northwest of Austin in Bertram, Texas. They raise poultry outside on pasture in the sunshine, using sustainable farming methods. Their birds are pasture-raised, soy-free, corn-free, hormone-free, antibiotic-free, chemical-free, non-GMO, and are supplemented with H and H Feed, a freshly milled Texas feed.

The Hicks!

We’ve been working with Humble rooster since 2018, and have been impressed with the egg quality since day one. Like the other two vendors we work with, Humble Rooster’s eggs are truly pasture-raised. Taken from their website: “What "pastured" means for us is a rotational grazing process. Our chickens don't simply have ability to pasture. Our chickens live on the pasture. We routinely rotate our poultry on pasture. Each week, our hens' mobile coops are moved to new areas…. This process is one aspect of how we are able to be antibiotic- and chemical-free, because our birds are constantly moving to "cleaner" ground, helping maintain health naturally.” If you’d like to visit Humble Rooster, they do have an option for a farm pickup on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3 pm and 5 pm. More info on their website. 

Many chicken producers will have a rooster or two along with their flock of hens. His job is to help protect the ladies. In the photo on the right, you can see egg collection happening at Humble Rooster. Nesting boxes are located on the inside of the coop, but this collection tray is conveniently located on the outside. Photos provided by Nathan at Humble Rooster.

HAPPY CHICK FARM

As the name suggests, the hens at Happy Chick are… happy. This farm, located in Lockhart, is owned and operated by Kenny and Stephanie Johnson. Like the other two producers we work with, the hens at Happy Chick are raised on beautiful pasture.

The Johnson Family behind Happy Chick!

In a recent article Kenny wrote for his local newspaper, he shared some wise words on egg producers like him (and vegetable producers, like us): “I realize locally produced, farm-fresh foods are typically more expensive, but buying cheaply produced food in the short term has costs in the long term. Most of us know this, but still value the dollar over sustainability. Who wouldn’t want to save a buck? Factory-style industrial farms feed over 80% of the population, creating economies of scale untouchable by the small-scale family farmer. It’s not that sourcing local is expensive. It’s that factory-style foods are cheap, of poor quality, mass-produced, and are distributed across the entire country by only a handful of distribution companies whose supply lines crumble at the sight of a winter storm.”

Check out Happy Chick Facebook Page to see more cute guardian dog pictures, and to inquire about farm visits.

Emma, the youngest farmer at Happy Chicks.

If you’re a CSA Member and would like to give some of these locally-produced eggs a try, log in to your account. You can add one dozen (or many) through the “My Deliveries” tab. Having trouble? Just shoot A an email and she can help you out - farm@jbgorganic.com.

Thanks for reading. We hope you have an eggstraordinary day!

The incredible, edible, egg. Photo and eggs by Humble Rooster.

Recipe and Photos by Mackenzie Smith

We are aiming for a mostly plant-based diet this month, and some version of this nutty pesto has been showing up on our table every week since the beginning of the year, slathered on toast, as a dip for veggies and chips, and a sauce for pasta. Swap hempseeds and pecans for your favorite nut (pepitas, walnuts, and almonds are also great here), and if you don’t have preserved lemon on hand, use the zest and juice of one lemon instead. 

 

• 1 bunch of kale, spine removed and roughly chopped
• 1 bunch of parsley, roughly chopped
• A generous handful of dill, roughly chopped
• 2 cloves of garlic 
• 1/4 cup pecans
• 1/4 cup hempseed
• 1 preserved lemon, seeds removed
• ⅓ - ½  cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup water (more if needed)
• salt to taste

 

Mix in a food processor for a chunkier paste, or a blender for a very smooth one like the one pictured here. 

CSA Box Contents Week of May 3rd

Large:

Carrots

Red Beet

Bok Choy

Green Garlic

Spinach

Fennel

Salad Greens

Kale

Farmer's Choice

Chard

Farmer's Choice Herb

CSA Box Contents Week of May 3rd

individual: Golden Beet, Red Radish, Spinach, Farmer's Choice Herb, Collard Greens, Onion

Small: Golden Beet, Bok Choy, White Japanese Turnip, Onion, Arugula, Chard, Mustard Greens

Medium: Carrot, Red Beet, Red Radish, Green Garlic, Farmer's Choice Lettuce, Spinach, Onion, Fennel, Famer's Choice, Herb, Collard Greens

Large: Carrots, Red Beet, Bok Choy, Green Garlic, Spinach, Fennel, Salad Greens, Kale, Farmer's Choice, Chard, Farmer's Choice Herb