Each growing season presents unique challenges. Whether they are challenges from Mother Nature or simply schedule and life challenges. Each year is unique. Yet, we continue our strong belief in what we do and why we do it.

This year part of our balancing act is managing additional time pressures since I am in the University of Minnesota Integrated Food Systems Leadership Program. These courses serve as a valuable reminder to never underestimate the value of sharing your story. There are so many different steps in our food supply chain to get our food from farm to fork as well as steps to ensure the foods’ safety. The class has also been a good reminder to remember what our experiences and personalities bring to the table, and how to bring out the best outcomes in a situation.

One area that shed some light for me is the Clifton Strengths Finders analysis when we discussed the area of “Belief.” It helped me understand my passionate core value around agriculture.

So, in my effort to help explain this belief, I felt sharing the FFA Creed in tonight’s blog may be a step to helping others grow in the understanding of how many of us in agriculture feel about the work we do.

The FFA Creed

I believe in the future of agriculture, with a faith born not of words but of deeds – achievements won by the present and past generations of agriculturists; in the promise of better days through better ways, even as the better things we now enjoy have come to us from the struggles of former years.

I believe that to live and work on a good farm, or to be engaged in other agricultural pursuits, is pleasant as well as challenging; for I know the joys and discomforts of agricultural life and hold an inborn fondness for those associations which, even in hours of discouragement, I cannot deny.

I believe in leadership from ourselves and respect from others. I believe in my own ability to work efficiently and think clearly, with such knowledge and skill as I can secure, and in the ability of progressive agriculturists to serve our own and the public interest in producing and marketing the product of our toil.

I believe in less dependence on begging and more power in bargaining; in the life abundant and enough honest wealth to help make it so–for others as well as myself; in less need for charity and more of it when needed; in being happy myself and playing square with those whose happiness depends upon me.

I believe that American agriculture can and will hold true to the best traditions of our national life and that I can exert an influence in my home and community which will stand solid for my part in that inspiring task.

The creed was written by E.M. Tiffany and adopted at the Third National FFA Convention. It was revised at the 38th and 63rd Conventions.

Pick-Up and Delivery

Remember that pick-up and deliveries will be on the schedule you have arranged with Harner Brothers CSA – please note the exceptions to this which were in the email. Please follow the CDC and MDH guidelines and COVID-19 procedures in email.

It is your responsibility to know that the pick-up or drop-off time will occur at the agreed upon time, and it is your responsibility as a shareholder to know this and be responsible for the produce at that time. If you are unable to utilize your share that week, it is still your responsibility: find someone else to pick it up or donate it to the food shelf.

Each box is labeled for each family. The same boxes will be used for your family throughout the season. Boxes and containers should be returned the following week. Bags will only be used once.

Boxes of Produce

This list is prepared before we harvest your share. Some guesswork is involved! We do our best to predict which crops will be ready to harvest, but sometimes crops are on the list that are not in the share, and sometimes crops will be in the share even though they’re not on the list. Remember food safety in your kitchen when preparing, always wash your hands before working with your produce and always wash your produce before eating.

Outrageous Red Lettuce, Black Seeded Simpson, Spinach and Kale – This year’s weather presents many unique challenges, down to what will germinate in this environment setting and what won’t…this is one of the challenges with these and other crops this year. This crop was cooled with well water to take the field heat off. It was not washed.

Turnips – Learn more about this root vegetable and how to use the leafy greens from the University of Minnesota.

French Breakfast Radish/Cherry Belle Radish – We are at the end of the radish crops for a little while.

Super Sugar Snap Peas – We were glad to see pea pods on the vines this week. It seems this growing season has a lot of hope with it.

Green Beans – I am sure glad we are seeing some green beans on these plants. Enjoy fresh or cooked.

Hostas with variety of greens and flowers – These should brighten up your home.

Recipe of the Week

Do you still have rhubarb in your refrigerator or did you cut it up and freeze it? If so, give this recipe a try. This is a go to of mine for a quick dessert. Next week will be the last of the rhubarb for the season.

Rhubarb Torte

Using a pie crust cutter. Mix the following:

• 2 cups flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 Tablespoons milk
• 1/2 cup butter
• Mix then pat into a 9 x 13 cake pan. 
• 6 cups rhubarb
• 6 oz package of strawberry or raspberry Jello.

Place cut rhubarb on top of the bottom layer. Rhubarb should be cut into 1/2 inch pieces. Sprinkle Jello powder over rhubarb.

Topping:

• 2 cups sugar
• 1 cup flour
• 1/2 cup butter

Mix with pie cutter or fork and spread on top of Jello. Bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 45 minutes.