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Little green guest

What kind of frog is this?

What kind of frog is this?

You never know what you’ll find in your CSA box. Got mine home and started unpacking it. As I lifted up the bunch of yukina savoy, something flew out of the leaves and landed back in the box. I spotted a small green frog, looking very bewildered. My camera was handy, so I grabbed a few shots while the little guy wasn’t doing much. It seemed dazed by bright kitchen lights, and after this picture, stuck its head under some broccoli, trying to get out of the light.

I couldn’t leave it in the box — there were vegetables to put away. I couldn’t let it hang out with veggies in the frig — it was too cold. And running loose in my apartment wouldn’t be good for either of us.

What to do? Lucky for froggie, I have plants on the balcony. I picked up the frog gently. It was cool and clammy to the touch, and squirmed a bit in my hand. Put it in a big jar to transport it carefully to the plants, and looked it over. It was quite pretty — chartreuse green and creamy white underneath. Anybody know what kind of frog this is? Am assuming that it came from Worden Farm.

The lime green salad tomato plant is very leafy and can offer my little guest lots of cover from the sun, and plenty of white flies to munch on. After a bit of coaxing, the frog left the jar. It was dark and I couldn’t see where he went. Hope he’ll be ok. There’s a small gecko that hangs out on the balcony, so he’ll have company.

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A little help from my friends

merlot-eggsOver the years, I’ve become good friends with the cats at Bee Heaven Farm. Friday two cats decided I needed help with photos of the shares.

merlot-macMerlot the barn cat likes to help fold newsletters at the end of a long packing day. This week he also played art director as I took pictures of eggs from the different farmers, and later when I prepped photos for the newsletter.

greyling-lapLater, Greyling settled into my lap when I was uploading pictures to the blog. This is the first time he’s sat in my lap in all the years I’ve known him. I am honored!

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Nick and Margie Pikarsy with Roger Blanco

Nick and Margie Pikarsy with Roger Blanco

A belated shout-out to all the hard working people of Fruit and Spice Park who helped make GrowFest! happen. Here’s Farmer Margie with her husband Nick with Roger Blanco, a park staffer who was most helpful in setting things up for the event. The farmers had a chance to hang out with him at the park’s Redland Fish Fry back in November.

If you’ve never been to the park, go! It’s a wonderful place to wander around and look at their extensive collection of tropical and exotic edible plants. Even the name, Fruit and Spice, conjures up someplace distant and adventurous. Or taste the local  flavors of Redland at the park’s Mango Cafe, open from 11-4 seven days a week. Try the Fruit Sampler, made from seasonal ripe fruit straight from the park. How much more locavore can you get?

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Vendors set up at the new Southwest Community Farmers' Market.

Vendors set up at the new Southwest Community Farmers’ Market.

Southwest Community Farmers Market
open Saturdays 9-2, from Dec. 1, 2012 to June 15, 2013

Location:
Unitarian Universalist Congregation
7701 SW 76 Ave
South Miami FL

A new farmer’s market opened up in South Miami last Saturday, Dec. 1st. The Southwest Community Farmers Market is a grassroots, volunteer operation organized by city’s Green Task Force, with the mission “to provide local, organic and sustainable food for the community.”

On opening day, about a dozen vendors set up in a large grassy area behind the Unitarian Universalist church. If you are not familiar with the church property, park along the east side and walk back to the tents. There should be signs to direct you. You will not see the market from the street.

Luigi and Melissa of Urban Oasis Project.

Luigi and Melissa of Urban Oasis Project.

Urban Oasis was offering their usual beautiful and fresh assortment of locally sourced, and sustainably or organically grown produce, and is providing doubling funds for EBT shoppers. Art Friedrich was also brought in as a consultant to help start the market.

Coconut Grove Farms and Laura’s Produce were the other two produce vendors (but not everything they were selling was local or organic). For those with a sweet tooth, this market is heaven, as there were several vendors selling sweet breads, jams and jellies, and honey. Located in the back were musicians jamming on drums and a sitar, and Bricolage, a community vintage sale where neighbors can buy and sell older and unique household items. Other vendors include: Tattooed Beekeeper’s Wife, Spice Galore, Freakin Flamingo, Tante Leah’s Handmades, Crackerman, Siggi’s Organics, Cafe Luigi, Kami’s Kitchen, Odell Massage, and Roc Kat Ice Cream. (Some vendors had participated in the now-defunct South Miami Farmers Market once run by Mario Yanez’s non-profit Earth Learning.)

Annick Sternberg, who chairs the market committee, is thrilled that the market is up and running. “I want this to work,” she told me with a note of determination. Mayor Philip Stoddard walked around chatting to vendors and shoppers. Everyone involved has high hopes for this market to succeed, and believes that hands-on community involvement is key. Copme on out and support this new market! It’s worth the effort to find.

 

swcm-flyer

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Hidden in fennel

While packing shares last Friday, farm hand Victor spotted this beauty.

While packing shares last Friday, farm hand Victor spotted this beauty.

CSA members, did you look carefully at the fronds of fennel that was in your share box last week? You might have been lucky enough to get a caterpillar!

Look carefully, there’s a thin line holding it in place on the branch of fennel. The caterpillar is starting its transformation into a chrysalis, and from there, will emerge as a butterfly. Anybody got any ideas what what kind of butterfly this might become?

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