Dear friends,

Happy spring!
With spring comes more exciting times at the farm. Included in this email is
1. a tentative schedule of work days and farm events for the season
(dates closer to now are most accurate but everything depends on weather),
and
2. information for our spring fun-raising event. (date is accurate!)

in reverse order!!!!

SPRING FUN-RAISING EXTRAVAGANZA
Saturday April 16: 6:30- 9pm. Basement of St. Thomas Aquinas church 2210 Lincoln Way, Ames

Delicious dinner followed by a square dance with live band (the Porch Stompers) and Lonna Nachtigal teaching and calling the dances. Craft sale (featuring pottery, candles, rag rugs, and more made by the Mustard Seed Farm team). Kids activities - Fun for the whole family. Free will donation.
(optional – bring a side dish to share)
If you are interested in helping with this event, we could use help making food, doing dishes, cleaning and we are also looking for silent auction items or crafts. Please call alice at 515-460-1467

SEASON SCHEDULE (as of 3/20/16) workdays and social events.

April 3, Sunday 1-4pm – First planting.
April 17, sunday 1-4pm – planting potato, onions, kale, broccoli and more
April 23, Saturday 9-noon (12:potluck lunch), 1-5pm – planting planting planting rest of cool crops
May 14, Saturday 1-5pm: planting – first warm crops – beans, zuchini, tomato?
May 21, Saturday 9-noon (12:potluck lunch), 1-5pm – planting tomato, pepper, eggplant...
June 3, Friday 6 -9pm – potluck and concert: STEPHANIE PLANT AND THE LEONAS
June 12, Sunday 1-4pm – U-Pick Strawberries
July 2, Saturday 8-noon (12:potluck lunch), 1-4pm – garlic harvest
July 23, Saturday 8-noon, U-pick green beans and flowers
August 27 – Music festival?
Sept 17, Saturday Sweet potato and winter squash harvest
Oct 1, Saturday, Cider pressing
Oct 22, Saturday, 9-noon (12:potluck lunch), 1-4pm – last planting! Garlic!

We still haven't finalized our potluck and roundtable schedule.
We will also be having a class once a week from late may to mid august.
Let us know if there are any topics you are interested in discussing or teaching.

You might have noticed that the farm's facebook page is down – we are trying to work with facebook to get this back up, but at the moment it's not working. Please help us get the news out about our schedule – especially our fundraiser april 16th. Besides our CSA, this is our biggest source of income of the season and the event that we put the most work into. Invite your friends.

As always, we are out on the farm most days of the week and would be happy to have your help on days outside of this schedule if it works better for you. Please call us at least the day before to see if it will work. (515-460-1467)
ps – check out our website to see a picture of the farm's new puppy!