Tonopah Rob's Vegetable Farm

It’s the beginning of beet season.  There will be a selection of bunches at the Farm Stand.

I’ve been testing the waters in other parts of the valley over the past two months. These locations have yet to be officially publicized on my wee site. Here is the latest information on the whereabouts of Tonopah Rob’s selling locations.

First up is St. Joe’s Hospital Farmers Market.  Last month was my first appearance on a little piece of fake green grass sort of close to the front entrance of the hospital.  My spot is nearly right behind the valet parking desk on the exit side of the circle drive. It’s a market amongst skyscrapers.  Lots of friendly people all over the place.  Well, this Friday the market is being held inside a part of the hospital.  St. Joe’s is having their Christmas Market.  So, come on over and see me for your veggies. (no eggs at St. Joe’s)  Friday December 13, 2013 from 8 to 12:30 p.m.  Bring your debit card, big shopping bags and pick up your fresh veggies. Wooden nickels are not acceptable forms of payment, just to let you know.

Pictured here are Golden Beets from last year’s harvest.

I anchored the Mega Market last month at the Unity Church of Phoenix.  There were many vendors selling all sorts of things.  The church is at 16th Street and Greenway. I’ve heard some call it the Moon Valley area.  The next market is on December 21, 2013.  From 9 to 2 p.m. Saturday I will be selling in the parking lot.  Again, bring your big shopping bags. You can purchase many different types of vegetables and fresh eggs are available too.

Last Thursday morning me and many other vendors sparred with the cold and wind during the Fountain Hills Producers Only Farmers Market.  11 to 5 p.m. every Thursday.  I won’t be there this week because I have another obligation but after this week I plan to attend the Thursday market.  Aaron is the market manager and he and Liz, his wife are running a very nice market on the Avenue of the Fountains.  They only want real growers and producers. He has asked me to join him and the other vendors.  The market has many wonderful people who make delicious wares and I believe there are three of us farmers selling at Fountain Hills.  I’m the All Natural Farmer!

The carrot season is almost here. This too is a picture of last year’s harvest. Carrots are Tonopah Rob’s number one most popular root crop sold from the farm.

It’s sweet turnip season.  Now, don’t knock them until you have tried a bunch from Tonopah Rob.  Both the white English Turnip and Scarlet Queen Red Stems are very sweet. You won’t find any bitterness, in fact they can be very addicting. The Red Stems are delicious roasted or grilled.  Several other turnips varieties are available at many locations. 

The Goodyear Community Park Market is up and running.  It’s location is Litchfield Road and Thomas.  On Saturday from 8 to noon the market is open.  Come over and get veggie with it, we have lots of goodies.  My tents are nestled up against a big tree,  look for the blue canopies.

The Stock Shop Market on 67th Avenue and Thunderbird Road is open on Sundays from 9 to 1 p.m.  I set up several tents and sometimes there are a few other vendors joining me for the day.  The Stock Shop is a really nice pet and feed store.  They also have a small variety of animals like chickens, pigs, rabbits and few other birds.  It’s a great place to get a Christmas bone for Fido.

Another Sunday location is at the Creative Living Fellowship Center.  It’s a great place to visit, sit in on a service and purchase veggies from me and honey from Janice.  This patio market is open at 9:30 to 1 p.m.   Bring your own bags, return your egg cartons if they are in good shape for recycling.  I’ll see you on the patio!

Here’s the veggie and vendor list for the Farm Stand.  Tonopah Rob has invited a vendor or two this weekend. Grinning Goat Farms, Tupperware and maybe one or two more:

• Salad Mix
• Swiss Chard
• Sweet Kale
• Heirloom Spinach
• Cilantro
• Fresh Dill
• Salad Sweeties
• Frenchies
• Red Stems
• Assorted Peppers
• Jalapenos
• Pomegranates
• Radishes Pink Lady Slipper and Plum Purple, they are really good and sweet.
• Lemons
• Tonopah Salad Mix
• Winter Squash
• Summer Squash
• Eggplant
• Turnip Greens
• Fresh Eggs
• Beets
• Maybe cauliflower, watermelon radishes and carrots could be available at the farm stand.

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They’re here!!!!!!!!!  Pomegranates and they are soo sweet!

This week has flown by so fast.  Everything was a blur.  Here is the veggie list for this weekend:

• Salad Sweeties
• Sweet Frenchie Turnips
• Spinach
• Yellow and Green Beans
• Onions-farm stand only
• Swiss Chard
• Pomegranates
• Collard Greens
• Sweet Kale
• Assorted Bell Peppers
• Jalapenos
• Cilantro
• Fresh Dill
• Basil
• Tonopah Salad Mix
• Assorted Salad Radishes
• Fresh Eggs
• Frozen Bags of Whole Tomatoes
• Frozen Fire Roasted Bell Peppers
• Okra-farm stand only
• Cucumbers
• Winter and Summer Squash
• maybe a surprise or two

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The above picture shows an Okra blossom blooming on the farm. You can see a small baby Okra on the lower right side that was pollinated a day earlier before the blossom opened it petals for pollination.  This is one of the veggies available at the farm stand this week.

It was and still can be the most rain the farm has ever seen since its beginning 17 years ago.  It’s November 23, 2013 and so far this morning at 6:23 a.m. the farm has received just under 3 inches of rain.  Listening to the weather reports, more is on the way. Although the rain storm is moving slowly over Arizona, by Monday the skies should be sunny.  Here’s the plan for this week…..

Tuesday and Wednesday, November 26 & 27, 2013 Tonopah Rob’s Vegetable Farm will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.  All of the greens and other items missing from the tables on Saturday Nov. 23, 2013 will be on the tables and ready for your Thanksgiving supper.  If you didn’t make it out on Saturday, here is your chance to “come and get it!”

The following weekend November 30, 2013 the farm stand and all valley locations will be closed for the Thanksgiving Holiday weekend.  The weekend of December 7, 2013 the farm stand and all valley locations will be open for regular business.

Here’s the veggie list for Tuesday and Wednesday:

• Mustard Greens
• Collard Greens
• Turnip Greens
• Swiss Chard
• Heirloom Spinach
• Salad Mix
• Okra
• Tonopah Salad Mix-spicy greens
• Dragon Tongue Beans
• Yellow and Green Bean Mix
• Cucumbers
• Cilantro
• Basil
• Sweet Peppers
• Eggplant
• Winter Squash
• Summer Squash
• Salad Sweeties
• Baby Turnips
• Assorted Radishes
• Sweet Kale
• Fresh Dill
• Fresh Flowers-maybe if the weather didn’t blow off the petals
• Frozen Soup and Stew Hens
• Frozen Tomatoes
• maybe Pomegranates and a surprise or two

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