Rose Mountain Farm - Newsletter

Welcome Riley!

2008-08-17T22:37:00.002-04:00

Hey ya'll! I'm a grandma for the first time! My daughter, Autumn, gave birth to Riley May on Tuesday, August 12th at 8:14PM. She weighed 5lbs 11oz, and is as precious as can be! See my sister's photos at http://www.flickr.com/photos/captivated/sets/72157606714250845/

In other news, Slow Food Boone will be having a potluck at my farm on September 28th. (date not set in stone yet). Please stop on by and have some farm fresh pork, as well as other locally grown dishes! I'll relay details closer to the time.

We're in full harvest swing, so do make sure to come by the Lansing and Ashe County Farmers' Markets to buy all the tomatoes you can can!

Market & Farm Tour

2008-08-01T13:55:00.002-04:00

Hey Ya'll!

This week at the West Jefferson Farmers' Market, I'll have fresh squash, cucumber, onions, pork, tomatoes, herbs, lettuce, and more! Fresh chicken from Eddie Herschner's farm, too!

The Lansing Market is running on Tuesdays 2-6PM until middle of September - come see us!

Also, don't forget the >> High Country Farm Tour this weekend!

The 2008 High Country Farm Tour will be on Saturday, August 2 and Sunday,
August 3, from 1 to 5pm each day. Buttons will be sold in advance for $20 and
for $25 on tour days. Single-farm visits are $10 per car, per farm. Participants
should wear comfortable shoes and bring coolers in case they want to purchase
produce, eggs, cheese, meat and other items. The tour is held rain or shine. For
more information, visit www.brwia.org. or call Angie at (828) 406-2533.

Hope to see ya'll this weekend!

Eat well, stay healthy,

Ann

Market list 6-28-08

2008-06-25T20:43:00.005-04:00

Howdy folks,

This week I would like to encourage and remind all of my customers that the summer produce is coming soon, and I think that all of us need to be preserving, drying, or freezing our extras. Food prices are going to go up, and I hope that your food from the farm will be preserved for your winter diet.

This week at the market there will be fresh pork and chicken from the Hershner farm. I'll have eggs, mustard greens, radishes, onions, turnip greens, lettuce, and a few shiitake mushrooms. Also, fresh basil, dill, oregano, and marjoram.

Please come early, bring a cooler and small bills. I will be processing lamb in August and September.

Baby pigs are here! I have 8 remaining, mostly males. Please email me to get these babies for your farm! ann [at] rosemountainfarm [dot] com

Thank you all for being my customers!

Ann

This week at the market

2008-06-12T18:36:00.003-04:00

Saturday, at the Ashe County Farmer's Market, I'll have the following yummy things for sale:

* Pork
* Cilantro
* Basil
* Other herbs
* Onions
* Lettuce
* Beets

I'll be there from 8-1, so come on out and say howdy!

Farmer's Market list 5-31-08

2008-05-27T14:22:00.008-04:00

This Saturday at the Ashe County Farmers Market, I will have fresh pork chops, grilling kabob cuts, sausage, ground pork for burgers, ribs, and unsliced bacon.

I'm cutting apple wood for grilling your favorite pork cuts!

The garden is now producing (in small amounts) leaf lettuce and onions. I have rhubarb in pots for planting at home.

In the near future, I'll have tomatoes, beans, corn, greens peppers, and turnips, which are coming on rather well. I have squash up in many varieties. Keep checking for these in the coming weeks.

Stay healthy and eat well,

Ann

April 19th

2008-04-18T21:03:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone! I'll be at the Ashe County Farmer's Market tomorrow, Saturday, April 19th, (and most Saturdays for the rest of the summer). Tomorrow our offerings include whole hog sausage, ribs, and eggs. Look forward to seeing you there!

P.S. If you can't make it, drop me a line, or visit my online store at www.rosemountainfarm.com

Piglets for sale!

2007-12-15T09:08:00.000-05:00

Here Piggy Piggies!

Pigs are now available for sale at Rose Mountain Farm! (Meet Daddy ---^)

Get your new Hampshire, Yorkshire, and/or Tamsworth while 'squeals' last! The piglets are 50-100 pounds, and are well worth the 50-75 bucks you'll pay. 15 piglets available (sows and barrs). Just give Ann a call at 336-977-2535 to secure your pig(s), or stop by the Farmer's Market this morning until 1 to speak directly to her!

This is the last Farmer's Market of the season, so don't forget to stop by to finalize that Christmas shopping while supporting your local economy.

Living off-grid

2007-12-07T15:45:00.000-05:00

Well, I finally made the front page of the paper - www.mountaintimes.com

Dec 6 07 edition

Living on will power
By Charlotte Wilson Langley

Although Ashe County is nestled deep into the mountains and tucked away in the most north-western corner of North Carolina, the majority of the population live pretty modern lives.

Just about everyone has cell phones, computers with high-speed Internet connections, and sophisticated heating and cooling appliances that leave homes taking care of their owners rather than the other way around.

But what if people here could no longer have top-notch appliances in their homes, if they had to provide their own food, wood for heat, and went to bed when the sunset? Even in the winter. Could present-day citizens of Ashe County live old-fashioned, "simple" lives like those in years past? Well many do, and by choice.

One of those people is Ann Rose. Rose is a resident of Ashe County and lives "off-grid." Ann explains that living off-grid means being self-sustaining and free from outside power sources.

"It means being responsible for all of the energy you consume by producing all that you consume," she said. "Whichever form you use - micro hydro, wind, solar, etcetera."

Rose said she has very low energy consumption, but for what she does use, she has a battery pack of 12 volts that she keeps charged with jumper cables and her truck.

Ann Rose is in a very small minority of people using alternative energies, but living off-grid is actually a growing movement. According to USA Today, 180,000 families live off-grid and that number has been climbing at 33% a year for ten years.

Rose's livelihood comes from farming, but she admits that she worries about the environment consciously, and because of this, she runs her farm without a tractor.

Making a living from farming and crafts, it may seem unfeasible to run a farm sans tractor, but Rose does just that. Using a mule, and spring water, Rose produces products like pasture-based pork and organic vegetables she cans herself. She sells what she produces at the local farmer's market. Although it may not seem like it, Rose's lifestyle is a relatively new one of only two years. Prior to living off-grid, Rose was working as a nurse, using electricity, and working 12-hour shifts. It was during that time that something happened that changed her forever.

"Two years ago, while on shift at the hospital, I looked out the window. It was snowing lightly, and I realized that I hadn't felt the seasons change in 12 years because I was always doing 12-hour shifts. I knew at that point, my life had to change," Rose said.

Since then, she has completely cut her ties with nursing and survives solely from her work, and completely provides for herself.

"My grandmother raised eight children with gravity water and no electricity. I felt that if she could do it with eight kids, I could do it for me," added Rose.

So how does she do it all? She lives in a small cabin that she and her father built of reclaimed lumber from a barn that was going to be torn down. For drinking water, she carries spring water. For laundry and dishes she uses rainwater. For food, Rose says she lives on the "50 mile diet."

"All of my food is raised or grown within 50 miles of where I live, with the exception of coffee, sugar, and flour," Rose says. She has no refrigerator, so she cans all of her meat and vegetables. Rose doesn't use much power in the winter, because she goes to bed at sunset and rises by 5 or 6 a.m.

For heat, she uses wood. Rose does own a generator, but admits she only uses it to power a light for raising baby chicks in early spring.

But why does she do it? Rose is very conscious of the environment and energy usage and says she lives primitively by choice.

"I chose to live off-grid to save money to install a solar system and to educate my daughters on will power. Where there's a will, there's a way." Rose added that the benefits of living off-grid, are a much better lifestyle, physical exertion, and being active outdoors instead of being sedentary.

"I left a career in nursing to pursue a primitive lifestyle. Since leaving public employment, I have gained my sense of humor, my health and my life," she said. "This life is hard work, but it feels good to be physically tired at the end of the day, as opposed to being mentally tired."

Ann Rose has been living off-grid for two years and works at the West Jefferson farmer's market selling goods from her very own, Rose Mountain Farm.

For more information on living off-grid, visit http://www.treehugger.com/ or http://www.off-grid.net/

Community Supported Agriculture 2008

2007-12-06T16:21:00.000-05:00

Ok, first, what is a CSA?

Now that we have that answered, Rose Mountain Farm is proud to offer our customers a chance to get their produce and meats secured for the coming season by offering Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) shares! We will offer a wide variety of vegetables - from greens to potatoes, shiitakes to eggs - and meats - pork, beef, lamb, rabbit, and poultry. All are raised humanely and free range, hormone and antibiotic free.

We are a Certified Naturally Grown Farm and a member of New River Organic Growers and Carolina Farm Stewarship Association, as well as Certified Appalachian Grown farms and members of Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project. We will apply for USDA Certified Organic license this spring.

There are only 10 shares available for this year. Previous CSA shareholders will have first priority for the 2008 season. CSA customers may make requests for specific vegetables by January 20th with full payment of a whole or half vegetable share. In this way, we can structure our garden plan to suit your requests as closely as possible. Shares are based on a 24-week season. A full share will feed four people for the week, and a half share will feed two.

A weekly pick-up at the Ashe County Farmers Market on Saturdays is local and convenient (no delivery will be available). Any family wishing to have larger amounts due to larger family size can receive a 10 percent discount for two full shares purchased by the same family. A slight change this year will be in the pick-up of vegetables. A sign will be posted with the breakdown of available vegetables. You may then pick your variety out of the available choices (i.e., you may choose 2 brandywine tomatoes instead of 2 cherokee purple.) Two absentee weeks during the season will result in the forfeiture of your credit for those weeks, so please let us know in advance if you are not planning to pick up on a Saturday.

** Substitutions are at the farmer's discretion, dependent upon crop production, failure, or weather damage.

VEGETABLES:

The prices below represent about $33.00 a week for a full share and $18.75 on a half share.

A full share of vegetables costs $800.00 paid in full, resulting in $850.00 credit over the 24-week growing season. It feeds four people a week. A payment plan for a full share will result in an $850 credit, and must be paid by the following schedule:

A deposit of
________ $300.00 by January 20th.
________ $250.00 due February 1.
________ $250.00 due March 1.

A half share of vegetables costs $455.00 paid in full, resulting in $500.00 credit. It feeds two people a week.

A payment plan for a half share of vegetables will result in an $455 credit, and must be paid by the following schedule:

A deposit of
_______$200.00 by January 20th.
_______$155.00 due February 1.
_______$100.00 due March 1.

MEATS:

Meats will include pork, lamb, poultry, beef, rabbit, turkey, and/or duck, dependent upon herd growth and processing availability.

Meat shares may be limited to $50 values per week, dependent upon increases in meat processing and packaging costs.

_____$400 full share of meat must be paid in full by February 1.
_____$200 half share of meat must be paid in full by February 1.

Meat and vegetable price lists and quantities are available on request, but please understand that we don't have our seed orders in yet and things can change slightly.

CSA members will receive a 10% discount on all extra purchases from RMF at the Ashe County Farmer's Market.

You can send a check or money order with a copy of this contract to:

Ann Rose
PO Box 225
Lansing, NC 28643
336-977-2535

Or to pay by credit card, send payment via PayPal to ann@rosemountainfarm.com . (buttons will be up soon for each payment option)

December Market

2007-12-06T15:10:00.000-05:00

This week from RMF at the Ashe County Farmer's Market, we'll have fresh pork sausage, tenderloin, ribs, stew, and backbone; lamb chops, lamb stew, ground lamb, leg of lamb (bone-in). I'm giving a 5% discount to shoppers who bring reusable shopping bags. The Farmer's Market hours are 10-4 this Saturday, December 8th, and next Saturday, December 15th. The market is full of holiday crafts and gifts, bread, jellies, and other items from our Ashe County vendors. My handmade turquoise, hematite, and silver earrings will be available for those who have a jewelry lover on their nice list. Stacy Martin from Yellow Wolf Farm will have fresh Goat meat. During the winter months (Jan-Mar), those who want meat in bulk quantity will be sent a notification of the one Saturday of the month that I will deliver to the Ashe County Farmer's Market parking lot.

Our greenhouse will be finished this winter, so several early lettuce and greens will be available in April. Be sure to check out our CSA post to find out more about prepaying for your farm-fresh meat and vegetables for the 2008 season. Community Supported Agricultural shares make great Christmas gifts that give all year long!

Updates abound!

2007-10-18T16:19:00.000-04:00

You'll notice some new things on the website today - and possibly a few glitches. So email me (the webmaster) if you notice anything here not working, but email Ann if you'd like to make an order, or have questions about the farm!

Check out the links to the right - if you're a local, and have a website, email me your link, and I'll add you! If you haven't already, subscribe to our RSS feed to get updates within seconds of being published (you'll need a software like Bloglines, Yahoo!, or FeedBurner, all free, or you can use Internet Explorer 7).

Late September

2007-09-28T20:57:00.001-04:00

Shiitakes in flush
Originally uploaded by -Mandie-

At the farmer's market this week, I have fresh sausage, pork chops, ribs, and a few vegetables left: peppers and tomatoes, mostly. Shiitakes will be dried this week and available next week. Things are winding down; I hope to see everyone next year.

Eat fresh, stay healthy, Ann

At the Market this week

2007-09-04T17:13:00.000-04:00

I will not be manning my booth, but my good friends Deborah and Holis will be ' holding my spot' and selling the sausage and shiitakes while I am away at this week's Ashe County Farmer's Market. Thanks ladies!

THIS WEEK ONLY: Whole hams and shoulders are on sale for $4.00 /lb! Stop by and pick one up before they get snatched up!

Eat well, stay healthy,
Ann

Produce Availablility and a new Market!

2007-06-28T14:42:00.000-04:00

Howdy folks,

A short note to let you know what will be at the Valle Crucis market on Wednesdays from 2-6pm, and the Ashe County market this Saturday from 8am-12pm. (We'll be taking next week off from the markets.) Look for the red gingham table!

Here's what will be available on Saturday:

Pounds of fresh shiitakes thanks to the thunderstorms last Tuesday and this Sunday.
Lots of Squash ( Zucchini and Patty Pan)
Just a few tomatoes possibly?
A few Flagoelet green beans
More onions
Some asian lettuce mix
Cilantro soon to be gone for the year.
The eggs of many colors go fast so come early.
A few pounds of rainbow chard.
Fresh mild and hot sausage,
thick cut porkchops and ribs.

Remember that I can do speciality pork cuts with a 10-day prior notice. Please call orders in by Thursdays because I don't check my email frequently.

Thank you all who have supported Rose Mountain Farm this year. We all should know where our food comes from and how it got here. Eat well, stay healthy, and have a fabulous July 4th!

Ann

June 07

2007-06-17T10:55:00.000-04:00

Howdy folks!

June is super busy on the farm. I will have onions, squash, rainbow chard and cilantro this Saturday (June 16) at the market. I will also have fresh cut grill thick pork chops, pork hamsteaks, and sausage. We will have flageolet beans and peanut beans in a couple of weeks. Eggs are going fast so come early to get eggs. There will be a few shiitakes this week with more to come.

Keep up-to-date with the raw milk bill in the NC General Assembly by following this link: http://www.ncleg.net/gascripts/BillLookUp/BillLookUp.pl?Session=2007&BillID=S948

Eat well and stay healthy.

It's MAY, folks!

2007-05-12T15:17:00.000-04:00

The farm is awake and growing - baby chicks abound and there are lots of eggs to gather. The pork sales are wonderful, and I have more on pasture and 5 bred sows to farrow in August. The sausage and tenderloin are a must try for the meat lovers out there. I do have a limited amount of whole ham and shoulder roast available.

The billy goat sale will be in September on a first-come, first-serve basis. I have 10 alpine/nubian cross billys, ready for breeding this fall.

The farmers market is open and I will be there every saturday except July 4th weekend.

The garden has onions and peas to harvest in June with squash to follow. Chard is looking good and flagollet beans are busting through the ground. Cilantro is up and 4 weeks from picking. I am just starting tomatoes, so hopefully we'll have a crop ready in about 70 days. I have Muscovy duck eggs if anyone is interested in hatching or eating them.

I have hopes of finding a milk cow of the Guernsey breed if anyone knows of the location of one please email me or call (336-977-2535). I also have a Tamsworth and a Hampshire boar hog for lease to breed your sows.

This weekend at the market I will have shiitake mushrooms and eggs, along with the pork selections. Hope to see you there!

March/April news

2007-05-07T22:57:00.000-04:00

Howdy folks!

I hope every one is gearing up for spring. The farm is coming alive! I have lettuce coming up that will be ready to harvest in late May, and the onions are growing. I will be at the Ashe County Farmer's Market opening day (April 21st) with fresh sausage, free-range eggs, whole ham shoulders for family get-togethers, pork chops, tenderloin, and whole loins.

I have new pullets that are 3 months old - Delawares, Light Brahmas, Rhode Island Reds, and Buff Orpingtons, all of which were hatched and vaccinated at Murray McMurray Hatchery. Chickens are for sale from the farm. I also have Muscovy Ducks, so expect duck eggs at the market as they are available.

All the fruit trees on the farm bloomed, but the freeze hit 2 days later, and all was lost here, just as it was over much of the southeast. However, the Ashley orchard that I lease had not yet bloomed, and I expect a bountiful crop of apples from there.

I'm sorry about the intermittent phone service - the problem has been fixed, and I hope to hear from you soon. Remember, the new number is 336-977-2535 (please call after 7 PM if possible on weekdays). Emailing still works, too, at ann@rosemountainfarm.com

Eat Well, Stay Healthy!
--Ann

February Newsletter

2007-02-20T18:11:00.000-05:00

The shiiitake mushroom workshop is rescheduled once again to accomodate the expected attendance. Mark March 17, 2007 on your calendars. The workshop is co-sponsored by NC A&T, Nancy Hoffman of Spin a Yarn, Ann Rose of Rose Mountain Farm, and the Ashe County Agricultural Extension.

Hope all is well, where ever you are. I hope that you all have had a wonderful winter and are planning a busy spring. The seed orders are in and I am awaiting arrival. I am still working on the greenhouse with hope of completion soon.

I am planning a workshop on root cellar construction. Watch your email for a final date and rain date. It will cover different plans and types, with and without gravity water troughs. We'll cover the pros and cons of the different types of cellars. It's your non-electric refrigerator! The workshop will be $20, and bring your own gloves. Lunch will be provided for participants of the construction project. It will start early and end late.

Also, by order only I am processing 3 lean hogs that are just right for holiday hams and roast. I will have available 6 whole hams, shoulders, and whole loins. These are lean, pasture-raised hogs and are ready for your freezer. The hams and loins will be $4 per pound and the shoulders will be $3 per pound. Also the whole sides (bacon) are available at $2 per pound. These will be sold on first-come, first-serve basis. Feel free to call at 336-977-2535 or email.

Thank you to every one who has purchased a CSA share. There are 5 remaining vegetable CSA shares for this year. The pork will continue to be available at the Spin A Yarn store in Warrensville.

Windmills

2007-02-07T22:08:00.000-05:00

Many of you know I am getting involved in the windmill debate here in Ashe County. Here is a reprint of the article that was posted in the Local section of the Winston-Salem Journal on Tuesday, February 6, 2007:

Guides for wind farm get initial OK
Ashe commissioners approve an ordinance for wind energy
By Monte Mitchell
JOURNAL REPORTER

JEFFERSON
Ashe County commissioners approved an ordinance yesterday to govern wind-energy systems, a response to a proposed commercial wind farm of 25 to 28 windmills.

There was no discussion by commissioners before the 4-0 vote, which followed a 90-minute public hearing. During the public hearing, 13 people spoke in opposition to the wind farm, 11 spoke in favor of it, and three people didn't take a position but offered suggestions for the proposed ordinance.

Before the hearing began, Ashe Board of Commissioners Chairman Richard Blackburn explained to the audience that the county's lack of a comprehensive land-use plan meant that commissioners could not ban windmills.

"The only thing that can happen is we can regulate," he said. "We cannot prohibit. That's a very significant thing to remember."

There's controversy about whether the state's Ridge Law prohibits wind turbines of an industrial scale.

The wind turbines would be more than 300 feet tall on or near Big Springs Mountain. The developer hasn't specified a model wind turbine, but said he would probably use a helicopter for much of the construction, according to testimony filed with the N.C. Utilities Commission.

Interpretation of the Ridge Law is key to whether the proposed wind farm would be allowed, both sides in the debate have said.

Ashe's ordinance includes a setback that says a large wind-energy system shall not be allowed within 1,700 feet of any home or commercial building.

Lou Zeller, of the Glendale Springs-based Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League, told commissioners during the public hearing that a 1,700-foot setback would prohibit the proposed wind farm. He spoke in favor of wind energy and the wind farm.
Richard Calhoun, the former Ashe County commissioner who is proposing to build the wind farm, said during the hearing that Ashe and the other mountain counties are suited for wind energy.

"I'm convinced we can do this project without destruction of our beloved mountains," he said.

"Big Springs is a sacred place to me."

He said he believes the Ridge Law excludes windmills.

"These are windmills," he said. "I don't see the debate."

Calhoun, who sometimes was at odds with his fellow commissioners during his last term, reminded them that he loved a "good debate."

"Anything controversial I love," he said, in his opening remarks. In his closing remarks, he jokingly suggested a visual tax.

"Anyone who wants to look at our mountains could pay $1 per minute," he said. "Fair is fair."

Jay Vincent, a Blowing Rock-based Realtor and developer, said he uses the term "specialness" to describe what most people enjoy about Ashe.

"I know nobody likes to be told what to do with their land, but at times like this, comprehensive plans or regulations sure look good," he said. "The windmill farm will be very detrimental to the specialness of this county."

Vincent reminded the board that when he was telling commissioners last spring about plans to build a ski resort on Phoenix Mountain, that Calhoun was the only county commissioner to speak against it.

"He said he wanted Ashe County to stay the way it was," Vincent said.

Later in the hearing, Ann Rose, of Lansing, said she supports the windmills and is much more concerned about Phoenix Mountain. She said that the ski towers and lifts look similar to transmission poles and wires, but "we don't hear anybody complaining about their views."

The five-member board must approve the wind-energy ordinance on a second reading for it to become effective. Blackburn said they plan to consider it for second reading at their next regularly scheduled meeting on Feb. 19. Commissioner Marty Gambill was absent yesterday.

The N.C. Utilities Commission, which will decide whether to issue the certificate of public convenience and necessity that would allow the project, will hold a public hearing on the matter at 9:30 a.m. Feb. 13 in Raleigh.

• Monte Mitchell can be reached in Wilkesboro at 336-667-5691 or at mmitchell@wsjournal.com.

Community Supported Agriculture

2007-01-19T20:56:00.000-05:00

Rose Mountain Farm & Foxfire Holler Sheep Farm are proud to offer all our customers a chance to get their produce and meats secured for the coming season. We will offer a wide variety of vegetables from greens to potatoes, shiitakes to eggs in season, pork, beef, lamb and poultry. All raised humanely and free range, hormone and antibiotic free.

We are both Certified Naturally Grown Farms and members of New River Organic Growers and Carolina Farm Stewarship Association, as well as Certified Appalachian Grown farms and members of Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project.

There are only 10 shares available for this year. CSA customers may make request for specific vegetables by February 5th with full payment of a whole share or half share. In this way, we can structure our garden plan to suit your requests as closely as possible. Shares are based on a 28-week season. A weekly pick-up at the Spin A Yarn store in Warrensville, NC on Fridays or at the Ashe County Farmers Market on Saturdays are local and convenient (no delivery will be available). Any family wishing to have larger amounts due to larger family size can receive a 10 percent discount for two full shares purchased by the same family.

Prices as listed are for vegetables only, please add $200.00 per full share for weekly meat allowances of Beef & Lamb OR Pork & Poultry.

This equates to 25.00 a week for a Vegetable full share and 13.39 on a half share.

_____Full share....$700.00 paid in full ($770.00 credit)
_____Half share...$375.00 paid in full ($400.00 credit)

________Deposit...$ 200.00 to hold a full share membership
________ $250.00 due March 1. ______ $250.00 due April 1

________Deposit...$100.00 to hold a half share membership
________$175.00 due March 1______$100.00 due April 1

________$200.00 Lamb & Beef Full Share
________$110.00 Lamb & Beef Half Share
________$200.00 Pork & Poultry Full Share
________$110.00 Pork & Poultry Half Share

Meat and vegetable price lists and quantities are available on request, but please understand that we don't have our seed orders in yet and things can change slightly. You will be free to choose how much of your credit you would use each week according to crop production and meat availability.

During pick up of weekly crops, other vegetables and meats are available at Spin A Yarn and at the Ashe County Farmers Market. CSA members will receive a 10 percent discount on all extra purchases.

You can drop off payment at Spin a Yarn or mail checks or Money orders to :

Ann Rose
PO Box 225
Lansing, NC 28643
336-977-2535

Nancy Hoffman
5983 Hwy 194 N
Warrensville NC 28693

Announcements

2007-01-18T19:45:00.000-05:00

FOR SALE:

2 acres of large, hardwood-elevated property

Joins Organic farm. No restrictions except no spray drift. Property borders state-stocked trout stream and has paved road frontage. 7 miles from new ski resort. Quiet neighborhood and rural area of Ashe County NC. $20,000 firm. Email ann@rosemountainfarm.com or call 336-977-2535.

SHIITAKE WORKSHOP AT SPIN A YARN... WEAVE A WEB

The workshop and spawn are free!

Shiitake Spawn Orders Due ASAP: Workshop to be held 2/17 *** PLEASE NOTE THE NEW DATE!!***

In conjunction with Ashe County farmer Nancy Hoffman, NC Cooperative Extension is planning a shiitake mushroom inoculation workshop in Warrensville, NC, on Saturday, February 17th at 10 AM at Spin A Yarn... Weave a Web. Snacks will be served, and the workshop is FREE. The date has been changed to accomodate Dr. Omon from NC A&T, an instructor and expert in shiitake mushroom inoculation. The bad weather date will be March 17th. Please bring 3 oak logs, and you will be allowed to take 2 home! Contact Richard Boylan, Ashe Ag. Ext. Agent for more info at 336-219-2650.

The NCA&T State University Mycology program is again operating its shiitake mushroom mycelium (aka – spawn) distribution program. The purpose of this program is to encourage the growth of an NC-based mushroom production network. In order to receive shiitake spawn, growers must agree to cut 200 or more oak logs this season (between now and 3/15/07), and purchase the other mushroom inoculation supplies themselves, including drills, bits, spawn plungers, etc. Spawn for log inoculation will be available from January 22 through March 31 2007. All shiitake mushroom farmers, old and new, should contact their county agents as to their interest in participating in this year’s program. Any farmer who has been in the program more than three years, has 500 logs or more in production, and has specific strains they are interested in should indicate so on their request. Due to problems with some people "planning" to cut 200 or more logs in seasons past, and falling far short of that, spawn will not be ordered for a grower until I have personally seen their stash of logs. If you wish to order spawn through NCA&T this year, you must have at least 50 % of your planned quantity of logs cut and ready by 2/15/07. For more details and to order spawn for Ashe, Watauga, and nearby counties, contact Richard Boylan at the Ashe County Extension Center via e-mail, or at (336) 219-2650.

January 07 Newsletter

2007-01-02T15:54:00.000-05:00

Howdy folks!

I hope everyone had a wonderful break from work. Here at RMF, I am busy planning the seed order for February and laying out the plans for the greenhouse. I intend to have the incubator up and running in February for early March chicks.

We are planning a farm day on March 31st at the farm store in Spin A Yarn... Weave a Web in Warrensville. We will have day-old chicks, guineas and ducks, a sheep-shearing demonstration and a sheep-to-shawl demonstration, old-time and bluegrass music (possibly live), a tilt table demonstration, and hoof trimming from the ag office.

The farm is somewhat dormant at the present. All the nannies are bred and due beginning on March 13. If the greenhouse is up and ready in time I will have fresh greens of many varieties and some early garden plants (all grown by organic standards, of course).

The store is presently stocked with fresh sausage and other pork cuts, fresh grass-fed beef and lamb. Please visit the website and check out the newest photos on flickr! Also, please note our phone number has changed - you can reach me now at 336-977-2535.

For those on the lookout for shiitake mushrooms, we are having a workshop here sometime in March. When we set the date, I'll include it on the site and in the newsletter, and I'll send out an email to let you all know when to be here!

Have a wonderful winter and a Happy New Year!

Eat well and stay healthy!

Shiitake Mushrooms & More!

2006-08-14T12:01:00.000-04:00

Hope that you all have had a wonderful summer and that your root cellars are filling up.!

We are having an awesome flush of shiitakes this week, and can mail them overnight. The cost is $4.00 a quarter pound plus S&H. There is also a new crop of spring onions and summer squash (zucchini, payy pan, & straight neck) available.

This week I am planting broccoli, onions, flagolet beans, sugar snap peas, and more squash.

We still have three kid billys for sale (2 lamancha/nubian cross and one nubian). None have papers. $50.00 each. You may see them on the farm by appointment.

We have 18 muscovy ducks that are 3 months old at $10.00 each. If anyone has any extra laying hens for sale I would much appreciate a call or email. I do not want to resort to buying from an auction. I will pay up to $7.00 each for layers of any breed of large hen.

Until next month,
Eat well and stay healthy!
Ann

Farm Tour time!

2006-07-19T09:51:00.000-04:00

Hello all!

The Carolina Farm Stewards Farm Tour will be stopping by Rose Mountain Farm on Saturday, July 22 & Sunday, July 23rd fom 1-5 PM.

We'll have fresh, grass-fed hog and ram sausage for sale, as well as a few vegetables and some canned goods this weekend only!

For more information about the tour, visit the CFS site at http://carolinafarmstewards.org/calendar/HCFT2006.html. Act quickly and receive a $5 discount for tickets for the entire tour!

To be a part of the tour, get a map, gather up your friends, fill up the car, and locate each farm you want to visit! You can pick and choose the farms you want to visit, or see them all! $25 per car for all 20 farms at the first farm your visit (or $20 in advance), or $10 per car per farm.

For directions to RMF, visit our page at http://www.rosemountainfarm.com/contact.htm

We look forward to seeing you here!

Eat Well, Stay Healthy,

Ann

July Newsletter

2006-07-09T13:37:00.000-04:00

Howdy folks.
Hope everyone is well. All is green and growing here at Rose Mountain Farm. The squash is starting to come in as well as some more greens and lettuces. The tomato crop is looking poor unless something changes. I have purchased more plants and am hoping for the best. I am planting a variety of early beans this week. The baby pak choi is doing well. No kohlrabi yet, but its growing. Eggs stay sold out. Thanks to all of you who visit the Ashe County Farmers Market. The sows are to be bred next week to offer a fall litter of pigglets. I still have a few 3 month-old chicks to offer at $5.00 each. A gang of muscovy duckling (24) that I hatched are doing well and will be ready for processing the first week of September. Farm fresh whole hog sausage will be ready the week after the 4th of July. Feel free to email or call for farm pick-ups. I plan to have eggs and vegetables available for sale during the farm tour on July 22-23 from 1 pm to 5 pm each day, tickets can be purchased at the Ashe County farmers market in July for the High Country farm tour.

Eat well, stay healthy!
Ann