Isn’t this a beauty?  I assume this head of green cabbage will weigh in around 98 lbs.  This is one of many heads that will be available this Saturday at the farm stand. I’m kidding about the 98 lbs. but it’s as big as a volleyball. 

Once upon a time in a land sort of far away from civilization; Tonopah, Arizona to be exact there was a tall slender man with many a dream.  He worked the land, dug a well and built a home for his family.  Over many a year of hard work and blistered hands he decided to divide his land amongst his children.  As his children moved away, the land was bought and split several times.  Each parcel sold separately, some land was improved for a better style of living and some of the land continued to lay idle.

In the late 1960′s, five acres was purchased by a middle aged couple and they began to incorporate plants within its boundaries such as a few grapevines, flower bulbs and other non native species.  Strategically, placing certain trees and shrubs around their abode to help shade it from the unforgiving and powerful heat the summer provided was a favorite hobby the duo once had in common.  Oleanders, Palms, Italian Cyprus and Mulberry Trees took root and with a great amount of care and zillions of gallons of water those saplings grew wide and tall.  As the foliage aged so did the couple.  The woman passed on leaving her devoted husband behind and rumor had it a year later he passed away in his sleep in the living room.  After all was said and done the parcel sold again to another couple, he a handyman and she an artist.

The handyman continued to make more improvements to the land, building a shop for her to practice pottery and create art, he devised a watering system, trenching underground black plastic pipe to nearly all four corners of the property.   More shrubs and trees took root.  He landscaped a trail throughout the property using gravel and lined the paths with rocks, thousands of rocks.  Tiring from the up keep they too decided to leave and move back to the city for a more convenient and easy lifestyle. In the late 1990′s the property sold again to an ambitious young man.

Little by little that ambitious young man turned the desert landscape into beautiful plots of flowers and vegetables.  Realizing the potential of the land but not understanding the growing seasons of the desert he made many a mistake.  Converting his knowledge of gardening from the northwest into the southwest was frustrating. It was more common for him to fail than succeed.  Yearning for success, he began reading and researching all he could find on desert gardening.  Even though there were many texts to read on gardening in the southwest, none was good enough for him to be successful.  He decided to try test plots and different combinations of plants.  Some call it companion planting, he said it’s strategic planting.

It took him about 5 years to figure out the different growing seasons, strategically mixing plants and incorporating plant material back into the soil has built him an encyclopedia of knowledge on how to grow in the desert southwest.  Now four acres later he has a beautiful landscaped farm growing over 240 varieties of all natural fruit and vegetables.  Peach, nectarine, citrus and apple trees decorate the farm along with small and large plots of vegetables.  Combining brassicas with leafy greens, root crops of carrots and beets and plantings of garlic, onions and potatoes have all found a place around the farm.

Over the years his farm has become more popular with the surrounding communities. Feeling like the farm has been stretched to its limits, he decided to purchase more land and that he did.  February 1, 2012 farmer Tonopah Rob signed the on dotted lines and is now the proud owner of another one and a third acres.  It is a dream come true.  With the generous contributions from so many wonderful people, Tonopah Rob collected 26,000.00 dollars and more is on its way.  That’s right!  Rob sent out over the Internet a message that he needed financial help to acquire land so as he could continue farming all naturally.

As of today, the land is fenced, the irrigation system is in place and ready to plant and all of this is possible because of the many wonderful customers Rob has met.  A huge thank you goes out to each and every one of you for your support.  Thank you, thank you and more thanks.  Below is the veggie list:

All Super Duper CSA members can come to the farm and use their share, there are plenty of veggies.

•  Broccoli
• Cauliflower
• Carrots
• Onions
• Watermelon Radishes
• Daikon Radish
• Assorted Turnips
• Spinach
• Salad Mix
• Kale
• Swiss Chard
• Fresh Eggs-we’re having an egg sale this week at the farm stand.  4 dozen for 12.00
• Tangerines
• Assorted Peppers
• A few Tomaotes
• Cilantro
• Green Cabbage
• Red and White Grapefruit
• maybe a surprise or two

Yesterday was a prep day, laying out the fence posts, measuring the sides, walking off a string line and pounding in half of the east sides t-posts.  Today more of the same will happen.  I hope to have the new land fenced in by Thursday, Feb. 9th.  Also, Dave the pump man will be trenching about 300 feet from the electrical pole to the new well, laying down the conduit and pulling wire.  Tomorrow, the well pump will be installed and all of its equipment, including the water tank, pressure tanks and electrical panel.  By Friday, I will have the irrigation set up and begin watering the new dirt so it can be tilled on Saturday or Sunday.

The greenhouse still has quite a bit of baby cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli that must be brought out and transplanted so the north 40 will instantly have something growing in its fertile soil.  Also, there is 350 lbs. of cut potato seed as well as thousands of carrot and beet seed to plant.  I might have to call in a special request to the President, having him send out enough National Guardsmen to help plant all that needs planting, it’s possible, one never knows!

As you can see, there is a boat load of things to accomplish and with that being said, I decided to officially close all market locations for the next two weeks but unofficially Jerry, my farm manager has offered to host a Saturday impromptu opening for those that didn’t make it out last week.  Broccoli, fresh eggs, carrots and a few other things will be offered at the farm stand.  Nothing fancy, no detailed farm tours will be offered but if Tonopah Rob has a few minutes he might take a few folks around to show them the new land.

One more thing.  If you are still contemplating a contribution to the new land it would be greatly appreciated.  It was an expensive week.  Over 17 thousand dollars was dished out for the land deal.  Another $9500.00 spent on the well and its set up.  Three thousand dollars was spent towards the fencing and that leaves very little cash to continue with the improvements.  If you know of someone or a business that would like to contribute to my cause, PLEASE, have them get in touch with me. So far, I was able to collect 21,000.00 dollars of Super Duper CSA money but still need another 8 to 10 grand to really make this whole land deal prosper.  If you know owners of a restaurant and they advertise buying local produce, PLEASE have them contact me.  I could really use the contacts.  Everyone who reads this, please help the farm out, spread the news to all of your friends, family and coworkers.

One last thing.  I thank you so much for all of you that have contributed to the farm, whether you buy every week as a faithful customer, a CSA customer, or a once in awhile customer your dollars are important to the farm.  The farm grows mega amounts of food and it needs many a customer to stay in business and from everyone here we thank you for your generosity.

The above picture is of the newly cut potato seed.

Upon entering into this world, the doctor picked up the infant by the feet and while hanging upside down slapped him on his bare butt.  Immediately the little Italian bambino let out an ear piercing cry bringing color to his 7lb. 6oz. body.  All parts turned a bright pinkish red except for one thing, his thumb.  For some reason, his tiny thumb was green.  Yep, on his right hand, he was born with a beautiful green lawn colored thumb.  The doctor predicted that later in life when he began conquering his motor skills he would be right handed and become a greatly skilled master gardener.

Shortly after his thirteenth month birthday he took his first step, then his second and on his third step he walked right out the door donning his baggy cloth diaper and sat in a pile of dirt. Grabbing tiny handfuls of earth, giggling and wriggling his naked toes and pudgy legs, he tossed little puffs of dust into the air.  After a few tossed clouds of dirt drifted into his eyes and hair he decided to taste a handful of grit and absolutely loved the flavor of dirt and slobber.  He was about to take another bite of loam when all of a sudden a shadow lurked over his tiny body, it was his pretty young mother.  “Robby, put that stuff down!”  As she gently grabbed his right hand, she brushed the soil from his palm but his left hand was too quick, another bite made it to his mouth.  “Oh, for Pete’s sake! Robby you are filthy” she said.  “Just look at your diaper, now I’ll have to change you again.” Keep in mind diapers in those days were not disposable.  Lifting him up to his feet and holding onto his hand they both walked into the house.  Even though Robby was a small bag of dirt dust, his pretty young mother was more excited about him taking his first steps.

Grandpa was a brick layer by trade and an avid gardener by hobby.  Robby was about five or six when Grandpa took him to his first nursery store.  Plants taller than Grandpa and shorter than Robby were everywhere.  Beautiful flowers, trees and shrubs were grouped in perfect kaleidoscope designs. Six packs of vegetables, strawberries and tomatoes filled every spot and could be seen as far as the eye could see, at least as far as his eyes could see, he was only 3 feet tall and that ten acre plant store seemed to be stretching for miles and miles.

Shelves of seed packets with pretty colorful pictures of orange carrots and red radishes reflected an enthusiasm of fun.  Grandpa gave him a few envelops of seeds to hold and was mesmerized by the shapes and colors.  Icicle white radishes, red radishes, orange carrots, and red beets were his to hold onto.  After staring at one seed package for a what seemed like hours, he switched to another and another just looking at the colorful pictures.  He was thinking about the taste and couldn’t wait to eat what was on the inside of each package.  He thought he would open them up and find radishes and carrots.

Juneyur the Cat.  Born under one of many bell pepper plots on my farm, he weighed only 5 ounces and now sports a whopping 18 1/2 lbs. three years later.  He’s a big hunk-a-love.

Several hours later, grandpa and Robby drove home and began sowing the seeds.  When grandpa’s little gardener pal opened the package of radishes and saw tiny brown marbles and not colorful red radishes, he about cried.  Grandpa explained they were seeds and once planted would grow into radishes. About a month later Robby and his mother was over at grandpa’s house and grandpa said  to Robby, “let’s go outside to the garden,”. Robby hopped up onto his back and he piggybacked him out to the garden.  Robby’s big brown eyes got even bigger as he gasped at the huge difference of what he saw, remembering the last time he was there the garden was just dirt.

Grandpa said “here my little gardener pal, do you remember those little brown marbles you helped me plant, well they aren’t little brown marbles anymore.”  Robby looked up with a puzzled look on his face and said to his six foot one inch tall grandpa, ”I not undersand”.  His silver haired  hero reached down and grabbed some green leaves and pulled out three beautiful, round and perfect fire engine red radishes.  Robby’s eyes got so big and instantly he went on a rampage.  He began pulling and pulling up radishes and with every radish leaf he tugged came an unbelievable and joyful surprise.  It was an awesome feeling.  Who knew that little brown marbles would turn into big bright red taws.  He was hooked.  He ran into the house with a treasure in his hand looking for his mother.  He was so excited to show her what he had discovered.  He ran from room to room and saw her standing at the kitchen sink next to grandma.  She knelt down and with her bright smile and opened arms she hugged him and said “what do you have there?” Ramish, red ramish!  She picked him up and sat him on the counter and her and grandma washed the ramishes, trimmed the tops and wormy root and gave him a bite.  He loved them!  They were so crisp and crunchy.  Mother gave him a few more and said “here, go give some to grandpa” and he jumped down from the green and white counter top onto the wooden floor and ran out to find grandpa standing by the garden hose rinsing off more ramishes.

All my life, I have had a beautiful garden.  Always picking something fresh from the earth and when those red ramishes are ready to pick I always think of my grandpa and how lucky I was to have such a strong, wonderful, loving and caring man like him in my life.  And now, nearly,  many a year later, I have four acres of garden space and soon to add another acre or two.  My garden is in Tonopah, AZ.  I sell fresh fruit and vegetables on Saturday from my farm stand.  Everyone is invited to come out and take a tour, buy some fresh veggies and enjoy the flavors of the farm grown in the wild. So the moral of this story is to wear disposable diapers!  That being said, here’s the veggie list:

• Carrots
• Broccoli
• Lemons
• Grapefruit
• Tangelos
• Onions
• Watermelon Radish
• Red Stem Turnips
• Purple Tops
• Salad Sweeties
• Diakon Radish
• Assorted Beets
• Salad Mix
• Spinach
• Swiss Chard
• Sweet Kale
• Fresh Eggs
• maybe a few tomatoes, cauliflower, and a surprise or two

The above picture is a special blend of 14 different types of lettuce Tonopah Rob mixes to create his All Salad Mix.  One of many salad mixes grown on the farm that is available on the CSA program.

If you have not been following my recent blogs regarding the purchase of land I want to add to my existing farm please scroll down and catch up on what I’ve been up to.  If you have been following my recent blogs, here’s the new news.

My super duper realtor, Debi McCreary has been diligently working by my side trying to help me seal the land deal.  Debi called me this morning and said, all the paperwork has been filed with the title company and hopefully this Wednesday we will hold a pow wow and smoke’m peace pipe.  Debi didn’t say pow wow and smoke’m peace pipe, that was me paraphrasing the conversation.  After Wednesday, I will know if the deal is sealed.  In the mean time, I’ve been asking for families and individuals to contribute to a program called the Super Duper CSA membership.  CSA is short for Community Supported Agriculture.

This nearly ancient program was invented by farmers for city folks that don’t have the time, space nor the green thumb to grow produce around their homes or backyards.  And, farmers need start up money to help offset some of their yearly expenses so they may begin another production year or do late additional projects such as myself and thus the CSA program was created.

My CSA membership program has been running now for four years.  The first season began with a weekly box program.  Members came to my farm to pick up their weekly wares that was harvested and boxed for them.  Some were not fond of  turnips, beets nor radishes but wanted more broccoli and cauliflower.  So my great mind came up with the idea to discontinue the weekly pre-filled box program and create a shop what you want when you want to come to the farm or market location program.  It’s the best and most convenient program of its kind.

Now, I’m offering my super duper CSA program along with my regular membership program. My farm is expanding and I need more financial contributions. Over the past few weeks I have campaigned for financial contributions and have collected 18,750.00 dollars but I still need more super duper members. Between the contributions and the 16,000.00 dollars I’m investing, I’m still about 12 thousand dollars short.

For now, my plan is to trench, lay pipe, electrical wiring, fire up the well and cultivate about half of the land. This will cost nearly ten thousand dollars.  I would like to cultivate all the land but this is where I’m falling a little short on cash.   Fencing supplies and irrigation hoses will cost around 7,000.00 dollars.  I went out on faith two months ago and bought my fourteen foot wide by 5000 foot long roll of bird netting because I just knew that land would soon be incorporated into my farm, but now I’m in need of a few more pricey items and to make payroll for the newly acquired farm hands requires more moo-la.  I hope to break ground the second week of February.  By the end of March to the first of April, if all goes as planned the first of my new crops should be ready to harvest from the North 40.

These firecracker marigolds are one of many companion planting flowers grown on the farm.

For your contribution, you will receive an extra 500.00 dollar full CSA share. Items available on the CSA program are; fresh raw honey, fresh eggs, fruits, vegetables and fresh cut flowers.  Your thousand dollar commitment begins with 1500.00 dollars.  Here’s how it works; you come to any Tonopah Rob market location and choose as much produce you or your family can eat for the week. I weigh it out, total it up, you sign a receipt and take a copy for your records. I keep an account in your name in my ledger book and every four to five weeks I send an email to you stating the remaining balance in your account.  Also, this account/contribution does not have an expiration date.  It will roll over and over and over year after year until you use up you investment.  It’s a fantastic deal.  I’m offering this deal until the end of February of 2012.  Please, tell others about my great endeavor.  If you know restaurant owners, families or school lunch program directors please pass this information onto them.

Please, I need a few more bucks to help me open up my new spread.  If you are interested, please send me an email to tonopahrob@gmail.com letting me know of your contribution.  You can click on to the above tab CSA contract, download the application and send it to me.  If you cannot afford the whole share, find a friend or another family member to help split the cost. Or, find four people to split the super duper, it’s a smoking deal.  Below is the veggie list:

•  Broccoli
• Carrots
• Cilantro
• Diakon Radish
• Watermelon Radish
• Assorted Turnips
• Tangelos
• Lemons
• Grapefruit
• Kale
• Chard
• Spinach
• All Salad Mix
• Tonopah Salad Mix
• Salad Sweeties
• Swiss Chard
• Green Onions
• A few beets
• Fresh Eggs
• maybe a few tomatoes-farm stand only
• maybe a surprise or two

The above picture is of the Chipper Plot.  It’s full of baby transplanted Brussel’s Sprouts.

Last Saturday at my farm, I held an impromptu meeting for anyone interested  in becoming a contributor to a land expansion deal for my farm.  When I first decided to begin asking for contributions I thought it to be cheapening of me and my farm.  Asking people to help support my cause made me feel less of a person because I thought I should be rich enough by monetary standards to afford my own land and its improvements.   I was so embarrassed and then thoughts were coming into my head like what will people think….less of me, a weak and desperate soul, a beggar?  Deciding I couldn’t continue to care what people thought and out of desperation, I decided to down cast myself and ask for help and I’m glad I did.  The response has been fantastic. I never dreamed I would have so many wonderful souls chipping in for something I know is so important to the farm and its customers.

Much to my surprise, I was stunned by the number of people that showed up for the meeting and by the amount of people who emailed and called me letting me know they couldn’t come to the meeting on such short notice but was planning to support the farm.  Then, I was surprised by a few of the contributors that instead of giving a thousand dollar donation, they gave two.  Others found a partner and both contributed 500.00 dollars to equal a super duper share.  Other than the point being at the end of my nose, the meeting brought in 9,000.00 dollars and another 6,000.00 dollars by mail with a few more still contemplating the idea…and if all interested people contribute it’s possible the total contributions will reach 23.000.00 dollars.

We are moving forward again, I have submitted the paperwork to Mr. Ignacio and the projected closing date is January 25, 2012.  APS has been called and I have a meeting with Mike, Jan. 17, 2012.  Electricians have been called and appointments have been set.  Dave from Affordable Pumps has been called and will be here to assess the well condition and depth.  I plan to call the county to find out more information on the required permits and then file the necessary hoopla.

Then, I plan to visit one of my very good friends.  My friends name is The Home Depot.  I plan to purchase all the fencing supplies and begin pulling wire the first of February.  After the fencing is in place, Booger, my green tractor, will be ready to scrape and flatten the ground and shortly thereafter the North 40 will be planted with all kinds of veggies and maybe a few fruit trees as well.  So, as you can see, progress is moving forward.

The above picture shows beautiful heirloom artichoke plants.  Chokes should appear in another month and ready for harvest by the end of February.

I want everyone to know, everyone!!  This is your farm.  From every customer to every CSA member this is your farm. Your support by coming to the farm, supporting me at my market locations have given me the encouragement to continue growing the best medicine one can consume.  I knew many a year ago the way I farm is as important as breathing.  So, from every breath I take to every carrot I grow, the farm and I thank you for your support.

The estimated overall start up cost will be around 50,000.00 dollars. If you are interested in supporting my farm through a super duper CSA membership, I am still accepting contributions through the end of February.  This is a one time deal.  After February, the super duper CSA deal will still be available, although the large extra share will be down sized to a small share bonus amount…..still a great deal.   Below is this week’s veggie list:

• Tonopah Rob’s awesome broccoli
• Carrots
• Oranges-they are soooo sweet
• Lemons
• Grapefruit
• Tangelos
• All Salad Mix
• Spinach
• Collard Greens
• Sweet Kale
• Swiss Chard
• Fresh Eggs
• Gourmet Green Onions
• Watermelon Radishes
• Assorted Turnips and Turnip Greens
• and maybe a surprise or two

PeggyJo the Turtle on Tonopah Rob’s farm.

Here is the latest update regarding the land deal.  I had a meeting with the land owner and his son. After all the wheeling and dealing, I now have my very first lifetime CSA membership. That’s right.  I’m proud to have Mr. Ignacio and his family eating fresh from the farm.  Ignacio has decided to give the land back to the brother team and the brothers have decided to accept 15,000.00 dollars to pay off the balance.  As far as the shared well goes, the brother team will sign an agreement that once the neighboring land is foreclosed on the well agreement will be dissolved and solely put into my name.

Both Mr. Ignacio and myself will be going to the title company to sign on the dotted lines.  At that time, I will pay for the land.  Here’s what I need from you.  For those of you that are signing on for the super duper CSA membership or if you already have a membership and want to come see the new land, I will be holding an impromptu meeting this weekend at the farm stand on January 14, 2012 at 9:30 a.m.  I plan to do a walk around the new property and explain my plans regarding how I will begin incorporating the new farm land into development. I would appreciate everyone coming to the farm for this tour. If you cannot attend the meeting here’s what I need from you. For all new families joining the CSA and contributing members already involved, please sign and mail a new CSA contract along with your payment. Write on the form super duper CSA and if you are in partnership with another family please list the family sharing that membership.  I would appreciate all contracts and monies by January 21, 2012.  Note:  You can click on the above tab CSA Contract and print/download a copy.

This picture is of the dwarf peach and nectarine orchard nestled into my farm.  This plot sits south of the new land I want to purchase.

I will continue to accept super duper CSA memberships for another month.  I don’t want to turn anyone away.  If someone wants to pitch in 500.00 dollars and split a share, I have another family wanting to do the same, they are looking for a partner.  Please call or email me. Like some of my members have said, “this is a no brain-er, 1000.00 dollars for 1500.00 dollars worth of veggies is a screaming deal.  Even 500.00 dollars on a shared membership still receives 750.00 dollars of fresh all natural fruit and vegetables from Tonopah Rob’s farm is a fantastic deal……..and to think this can roll over to the following season is a huge win for all members.”

Even if a family cannot squeeze out all the money but wants to sign up for a half share, every dollar is important to the farm. The new land will cost thousands to prepare so every dollar will help….so please help, if you can contribute.  If you can’t join the CSA program just come to the farm or to one of my market locations on a regular basis and support the farm that way.

The last few years I’ve watched the farm expand two fold.  It’s growing pains have made the fence line bulge so much it’s now beginning to crack. Now, the time is right to knock down the borders and expand into the future.  The triangle dinner bell will truly be heard from the north 40 and the chef on hand must learn to call us ten minutes sooner, giving us all a little more time to reach the back porch.

I have been truly overwhelmed by the support.  There are so many good people in the world and just think I know a bunch of em’.  A big thank you goes out to all of the new CSA customers who signed up this past weekend.  The farm thanks Bob and his family, Sue and her husband, Tom and his peeps, Tim and Jim, Carol, and Mr. Ignacio and his family, welcome to veggie land!

Here’s the veggie list:

• Heirloom Spinach
• All Lettuce Mix
• Swiss Chard
• Tonopah Salad Mix
• Mustard Greens
• Sweet Red Russian Kale
• Red Radishes
• Sweet Colorful Carrot Mix
• Watermelon Radishes
• Old Fashioned Purple Top Turnips
• Scarlet Queen Red Stems
• Salad Sweeties
• Gourmet Green Onions
• Sweet Oranges
• Lemons
• White Grapefruit
• Fresh Eggs
• Diakon Radishes
• maybe potatoes and beets—maybe!

Broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower are just a week to two away from donning the tables.  

The above picture is of the land I would like to purchase that sits directly north of my farm.

I’m sitting here sipping on my Amber Bock, thinking about how I can obtain this piece of land to farm. Every day for the past 15 years, I’ve watched that land do nothing. When I first moved into my parcel, that land was one entire piece.  Just over 2 1/2 acres.  Then, a brother team bought that land from an elderly man and they split it up into two parcels.  Both pieces have sold several times and each time both parcels have gone into foreclosure.  I’ve seen it sold over and over again to people who just couldn’t continue to make the payments.  Now, it’s up for negotiation again.  The current owner has become ill and his sons really cannot continue to make payments, so I’ve been talking with them about taking over the land.

In order for me to purchase that land, the titled owner of the note has decided to drop the price to 15 thousand dollars.  Keep in mind there is a shared well on the property.  In order for me to farm that land, I don’t want to share a well with another owner. There is a well agreement that entitles the west property owner to an easement, a twenty foot right of way to the well on the interested property I want to farm.  If you look at the above picture you can see a tiny brown rusty colored can, that’s the well.  Picture 20 feet of road from the well back to the west side property.  If I plant crops north and south, which is the way I want to farm that ground, more than half of the property will be split up by a road thus will lower the amount of production I could harvest per crop.  And there are several other obstacles I would inherit by having that land split up.

This picture is of the property on the west side of the land that I want to farm.  I would like to purchase this piece of property to buffer the land I intend to farm.

In order for me to obtain sole ownership of that well, I must pay another 3,000.00 dollars to the note holder of the land to dissolve the easement.  By the way, the brother team owns both pieces of land and the west side parcel is being foreclosed on as I write this blog.  The west side will be up for sale in about 90 days.  I wouldn’t say the land is worthless,  it is split up nearly right down the middle by a small wash that over the years has increased in size by the monsoon flood waters.

I’m trying to do something good for the environment, something good for so many people by farming the land all naturally.  Thousands of people have shopped my farm stand and some have found what I do very important to their lives.  I’m not the Jerry Lewis tel-a-thon nor the Salvation Army.  They ask for free donations. I’m asking for a contribution. In return, you get a gracious amount of veggies. I don’t know where a person can go to receive such great returns on their investment like the farm will give to you.  I’m not asking for free money, I’m working the land, harvesting healthy veggies in return for your charitable share.   I desperately need more families to step up and help the farm grow.  Just think, your help will do so many things.  Create a few more jobs that will put money back into our community. Allow a few young people to respectfully pay their bills, put food on their tables for their children.  I will be able to grow more melons, plant more fruit trees, harvest more carrots.  The list is endless, but I need more support.  Right now, I have commitments from five maybe six families, I’m a third of the way there.  I need more financial backing from business owners like restaurant owners, hotel chefs, families, couples, individuals whom can step up and help the farm. I need more people to support this great endeavor.

A close up view of the west side property that sits directly north of my greenhouse.  I want to buy it and plant fruit trees to create a wind break for the low growing crops I intend to plant on the east side of this property.

I’m asking for you to invest in my farm through a super duper CSA membership program. I can no longer be proud.  I wish I had the money to buy it all myself without asking, but I can’t.  This is a great opportunity to expand the goodness and the riches that this land can provide for many a person. This is the right thing to do, but I can’t do it alone.  I need help, a lot of help.  I’m asking for contributions in one thousand dollar increments.  The farm needs 20 families or individuals to make this transaction a reality.  Please, from the bottom of your heart, help the farm grow, help the farm become more sustainable, grow more food to help you and your family stay away from the large corporate box stores.

For each person or family that donates 1000.00 dollars, I will give them a year of veggies.  It’s considered a double CSA share, a revolving account until your donation is returned in full with produce. If your account has money left over, I will roll it over to the following season.  After that money is used up, I will offer each donating party a free half or full share….meaning your 1000.00 dollar contribution will turn into either 1250.00 or 1500.00 dollars.  It’s a great investment.  The only stipulation is, this share cannot be used to acquire produce for resale at another venue or organization.

About the property.  It’s about one and a third acres. There is a capped well.  The well is shared by the connecting property to the west of the interested property I want to farm.  I don’t want to share the well, so in order for me to be the sole owner of that well, the owner wants me to pay extra money to dissolve the well agreement and easement to that well.

I will have to hire a trencher to dig water lines and install two irrigation holding tanks, booster pump and electrical.  Then there are other items needed to operate the land like hoses, sprinklers, and planting equipment.  The property must have a fence. A new walk in cooler, storage sheds and miscellaneous items will be required to purchase.  Later on I would like to purchase the west side of the split property so I can have a buffer zone to protect the land from any neighbor that could contaminate the well water.

I’m asking for your support.  It’s so important to grow healthy food. It’s important to defend our food sources.  It’s important to know where our food comes from and how it’s grown.  For those of you that know me, you know I grow with integrity.  Again, I really need support as does the farm. I’ll do a cartwheel, maybe with one hand for your support!

By incorporating this land into my farm, it will enable me to grow more all natural veggies at one time, host more bee hives and harvest more raw honey and raise more poultry.  There is a need in my area for more farmers like me.  Put your support where it is really needed.

Here are some ideas about donating.  Partner up and split the cost of the donation. Businessmen and women, restaurant owners, schools, supervisors, your boss, your sister-in-law or brother come together and unite. Instead of donating to your favorite charity, give a contribution to your favorite farm.  It’s not a tax write off. It’s an investment towards your health care plan and to the conservation of land management.

I just can’t financially swing all the money needed for ownership and start up operating costs.  I’ve called the bank and they want more than 50% down.  I couldn’t believe it!  They wouldn’t take my veggies as collateral.  Put your money back into America….me!  Please call me at 623 386 3033 or email me at tonopahrob@gmail.com for more information.  From my beet bottom to your turnip top thank you in advance.  Below is the veggie list.  It’s root crop and greens season.

Over 15,000 seedlings are waiting for an open plot to transplanted.

• Watermelon Radishes
• Kaleidoscope Carrots
• Baby Beets
• Diakon Japanese Radishes
• Potatoes-red creamers and Yukon golds
• Red Sweet Salad  Radishes
• Salad Sweeties
• Red Stem Pink Turnips
• French Flat Turnips
• Gourmet Green Onions
• All Lettuce Mix
• Swiss Chard
• Collard Greens
• Russian Red Sweet Kale
• Mustard Greens
• Lemons
• Assorted Peppers
• Jalapenos
• Fresh Eggs
• at the farm stand, Chef Blockey will be cooking up breakfast so come hungry.  All ingredients are fresh from the farm. 
• Remember Tonopah Rob needs more families to contribute to the farm for the super duper CSA program.

These firecracker cosmos were taken a few days before the first hard freeze of the fall season.  These beauties bordered the watermelon radish plot.

Over the past month I have had several phone calls and emails asking questions about Tonopah Rob’s Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program.  You can go to archives and click on to the June 2011 or type in June 27, 2011 new CSA information to give you a run down on the program.  Another way is to click on to the above tabs CSA information and CSA contract.

Here are the FAQ’s

Is it too late to join the CSA program?  Absolutely not. There are 6 months to go before the end of the seasonal contract.  Plus, Tonopah Rob always throw in a few extra weeks into the month of July to help make up for any famine times the farm may experience.

What is the advantage of a Farm Stand Only Membership Share?  There are several advantages for shopping  ONLY at the Farm Stand. There is one hundred dollar bonus added onto your account. If you purchase a five hundred dollar share, your account begins with six hundred dollars.  The Farm Stand is fed first, meaning there will always be varieties of veggies that are only sold at the farm.  Asparagus, first of the season fruit and a few other unique veggies remain at the farm.  And prices are cheaper at the Farm Stand than at any market location. Once the trucks leave the property, there are added expenses like gas, market fees and a few other things that require a price increase.  Green beans at the Farm Stand will be between 3/4 dollars a pound and at market locations beans are 4/5 dollars a pound.

How long does the CSA program last?  Some families that have purchased a full share in November have nearly used up their money in December.  They eat only from the farm and purchase a large quantity of veggies for juicing.  Some families stretch it out and wait for different veggies and fruit to ripen and then indulge in the feast. The available season runs November through July. It’s up to each individual member how they spend their account dollars.

What is the weight limit per share?  If a member wants to purchase 10 lbs. or more of a certain vegetable or fruit then it’s recommended to call ahead of time and place your special order with Tonopah Rob.  This way it better helps TR to plan for each weekly harvest.  Last season there were 30 special orders for 10 lbs. or more of strawberries and 29 were filled.  The last order was placed way too late in the season, so place your orders prior to the fruiting season to guarantee your order.

How does a member pay for the vegetables?  Each member comes to the market, shops off the tables taking the wanted amount, then it’s weighed and added up.  Each member signs a receipt and keeps one copy and TR takes the other copy.  Every four to five weeks TR sends out an email stating the remaining balance per account.  It’s like having a bar tab, so to speak.

What happens if the money is used up before the end of the season?  If you spend all of your account dollars before the season is up, you may purchase another share and receive all the bonus money; for example:  You receive a 10.00 bonus for renewing, a five or ten percent kick back depending on the share size you purchase or if buying a Farm Stand Only Membership then another 100.00 dollar bonus is awarded.

May more than one share be purchased at a time?  Yes.  Some members have purchased two shares at once, some have purchased one in a half shares.

The above picture is of the land I would like to purchase that sits directly north of my farm. 

I’m trying to purchase another piece of property to farm. I’m asking for you to invest in my farm through a super duper CSA membership program. I can no longer be proud.  I wish I had the money to buy it all myself without asking, but I can’t.  This is a great opportunity to expand the goodness and the riches that this land can provide for many a person. This is the right thing to do, but I can’t do it alone.  I need help, a lot of help.  I’m asking for contributions in one thousand dollar increments.  The farm needs 20 families or individuals to make this transaction a reality.  Please, from the bottom of your heart, help the farm grow. Help the farm become more sustainable by growing more food for you and your family. The farm needs more land to produce more volume at the same time.  Right now, I can only designate a certain amount of space for broccoli and cauliflower.  If I go over the allotted space then other vegetables cannot be grown until the broccoli crop is done.  So, to have a little more land would solve that predicament.

Here’s what I can do for your contribution. For each person or family that donates 1000.00 dollars, I will give them a year of veggies.  It’s considered a double CSA share, a revolving account until your donation is returned in full with produce, seasonal raw honey and flowers and fresh eggs. If your account has money left over, I will roll it over to the following season.  After that money is used up, I will offer each donating party a free half or full share….meaning your 1000.00 dollar contribution will turn into either 1250.00 or 1500.00 dollars.  It’s a great investment.

About the property.  It’s about one and a third acres. There is a capped well.  The well is shared by the connecting property to the west of the interested property I want to farm.  I don’t want to share the well, so in order for me to be the sole owner of that well, the owner wants me to pay extra money to dissolve the well agreement and easement to that well.

I will have to hire a trencher to dig water lines and install two irrigation holding tanks, booster pump and electrical.  Then there are other items needed to operate the land like hoses, sprinklers, and planting equipment.  The property must have a fence. A new walk in cooler, storage sheds and miscellaneous items will be required to purchase.  Later on I would like to purchase the west side of the split property so I can have a buffer zone to protect the land from any neighbor that could contaminate the well water.

I’m asking for your support.  It’s so important to grow healthy food. It’s important to defend our food sources.  It’s important to know where our food comes from and how it’s grown.  For those of you that know me, you know I grow with integrity.  Again, I really need support as does the farm. I’ll do a cartwheel, maybe with one hand for your support!

By incorporating this land into my farm, it will enable me to grow more all natural veggies at one time, host more bee hives and harvest more raw honey and raise more poultry.  Put your support where it is really needed.  In January when the farm opens for business, come to the farm and take a farm tour.  Let me show you the land the farm so desperately needs.

Here are some ideas about donating.  Partner up and split the cost of the donation. Businessmen and women, restaurant owners, schools, supervisors, your boss, your sister-in-law or brother come together and unite. Instead of donating to your favorite charity, give a contribution to your favorite farm.  It’s not a tax write off. It’s an investment towards your health care plan and to the conservation of land management.  This is an opportunity for our surrounding community to come together and support one GREAT cause for the betterment of all to enjoy.  Around the middle to the end of January, I hope to have enough support to move forward with this endeavor.

I just can’t financially swing all the money needed for ownership and start up operating costs.  I’ve called the bank and they want more than 50% down.  I couldn’t believe it!  They wouldn’t take my veggies as collateral.  Put your money back into America….me!  Please call me at 623 386 3033 or email me at tonopahrob@gmail.com for more information.  From my beet bottom to your turnip top thank you in advance, Tonopah Rob.

The above picture are of baby broccoli sprouts taken a few weeks ago on Tonopah Rob’s farm. 

It all started in August of 2011.  Plots were cleared, tilled and flattened to near perfection.  Seeds were planted, watered and cared for like a new born baby.  A few days later the ground began to crack and tiny pale green sprouts reached towards the sky for the late summer sunshine.  Day after day more and more seedlings emerged from the  farm’s sweet soil.  As each hot August day came to a close, more green tender-lings sprouted with possibilities.  I thought I was well on my way for a successful fall planting.  After a week of germination I knew something was wrong. One day the plots looked like a putting green on a golf course and the next day……..gone! Nothing but stubble. Here and there a few sprouts continued to grow. Baby spinach, carrots, watermelon radishes along with many other root crops and greens struggled for survival, in fact nearly all first and second plantings failed. Even though August frustratingly seemed to never end, it did.

The month of Virgo brought on a tremendous amount of hotter than normal heat and many a sprout died from the third sowing. What seemed to make it past their first adult leaves was later destroyed by the desert rats, grasshoppers and big ugly black ants that raided the farm day and night.  Seedlings were cut in two and carried off by scores of ant colonies.  Desert rats, being only active in the daytime were gnawing down baby carrot tops, spinach and beets.  Grasshoppers ate holes into the tender green leaves of the All Salad Mix and Swiss Chard.  Planting after planting after planting finally proved to outlast the critters. As my birthday month came to a close and the night time temperatures cooled to a near chilly degree more and more success showed throughout the farm. Grasshoppers were slowed down by the cold, desert rats went underground for the winter and those big ugly black ants could barely crawl across the nippy desert dirt.  I thought my problems were solved for the fall, I was wrong.

October is the migrating month for birds, here in my neck of the woods. White Crowned Sparrows, Lesser American Gold Finches, and other sparrows and towhees fa-niggled their way under and over the taunt bird netting, a requirement for desert farming. Again, more sprouts were gobbled up by the hungry migratory birds.  By mid month the damage seemed to cease.  Birds that ate their way through the farm left for greener pastures.  By the third week of the hallowed month, crops seemed to perk up and most all scars from the desert’s wildlife had somehow disappeared.

Halloween night just after midnight, the first freeze of the season hit the farm. On November 1 early in the morning while taking my daily walk around I noticed the freeze still hovered the farm.  Mustard greens, strawberries, and a few other crops had minimal damage.  In a way I was glad to see a mild frost, I knew it would help the taste of the crops to become sweeter.

November 4, we began harvesting for the grand opening that would take place the following day.  Me and my crew raced across the farm, harvesting all that had made it through the turbulent Indian summer.  Burning daylight was not an option, it was reality.  Working well after dark, we finally completed all that needed to be done.  Eggs were cleaned and boxed, root crops were bundled, packed and stored in the walk in cooler and me I finally hit the blanket show around 11 p.m. only to rise early in the morning, 3 a.m. to be exact.

November 5, 2011 was opening day and it was a doozie.  People from all over the valley showed up to buy yummilicious veggies from my all natural farm.  Yellow and green beans, beautifully colored Lilac Bell Peppers, Corno di Toros or better known as Bull Horn Peppers, and all kinds of greens, onions, and watermelon radishes donned the tables.  Heirloom spinach mix and the ever popular Tonopah Salad Mix filled large wooden crates with all kinds of flavors.  Excitement was heard in every voice.  Thankfulness and praise to Mother Nature and to other higher ups were being chanted from nearly every lip that passed through the cattle gate that guards the frontage property.

Now it’s nearly Christmas, time to celebrate the season and the coming of the new year.  The farm is slowing down a little to compensate for the celebration that is to happen in a few days.  It’s also a time to gather my thoughts and prepare for the new planting season.  New potato seed, broccoli, purple cauliflower and other brassicas will be transplanted over the break.  Onions, carrots, beets and more leafy greens will have their turn for sowing.  The first crop of broccoli and cauliflower will be ready sometime during the month of January.  And more carrots, beets and sweet turnips will have their places on the tables too.  So don’t be afraid to indulge for the holidays for when its all over, there will be plenty of healthy all natural veggies ready for your resolutions and cravings.

Be thankful that my farm can produce delicious food.  I know I am blessed to have the farm.  I am blessed to have and know great people supporting my farm.  If it weren’t for you, my farm could not survive.  I will see you in January. Have a wonderful holiday season, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and tis’ the All Natural Season!

P.S.  Welcome aboard to all of the new Christmas CSA members!  I’ll see you in January.

The above picture is one of  many Tonopah Rob’s Christmas Trees

I’m an old fashioned kind of guy.  I really don’t care if I’m suppose to be politically correct or not.  That phrase “politically correct” wasn’t around when I was growing up and if it went away it wouldn’t bother me at all.  With that said, here’s my list to Santa:

I wish for all of the troops all over the world to come home safely and stay where they belong.

I wish all mankind would stop ripping apart our earth, outlaw fracking and mining.

I wish all mankind would convert to solar power.

I wish all farmers would grow crops without chemicals.

I wish honey bees would stop disappearing.

I wish our legislators/congressmen worked for free and buy their own health insurance policy.

I wish companies like Monsanto never existed.

I wish people would stop buying chemical weed killers and fertilizers.

I wish genetically modified food was outlawed.

I wish all puppies and kittens had a loving home.

I wish candy was made from real sugar, not high fructose corn syrup.

I wish money was never invented.

I wish all cars to be solar powered.

I wish everyone could live a long life like a tree, free of cancer and  able to turn bad air into clean.

I wish mankind would respect our world, take care of the earth.

I wish other countries would stop destroying the rain forests.

I wish everyone would say Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

I wish Santa would bring me a new tractor with all of the gadgets and attachments needed to make beautiful straight rows of veggies.

I wish everyone to be extremely kind and thoughtful to everyone and everything they met and touched.

I wish the law of the land would be the “Golden Rule”.

I wish I had a money tree, I need fifteen thousand extra dollars.

I wish all of you would come to my farm and donate money to my endeavor, I want to buy more land to grow more veggies.

My address is 35838 W. Buckeye Road Tonopah, AZ 85354, send all donations to that address.

I accept any form of payment that the government and bank would recognize, make payable to: Tonopah Rob

I wish you took me serious about the fifteen thousand dollars.

I wish all of you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Don’t forget December 17th, 2011 is the last day to purchase a CSA Christmas Quarter Share.  150.00 dollars will get someone a very nice healthy gift of fresh veggies.  Call me for more information 623 386 3033.  Below is the veggie list.

• Swiss Chard
• Gourmet Green Onions
• Assorted Peppers
• Sweet Kale
• All Lettuce Mix
• Heirloom Spinach
• Fresh Eggs
• Sweet Carrots
• Red Stem Turnips
• Salad Sweeties
• Icicle Radishes
• Watermelon Radishes
• Beets
• Lemons
• Collard Greens
• Green Garlic
• Mustard Greens
• Maybe a surprise or two. 
• If something you want is not on the table then we had a hard time harvesting in the mud and therefore could not bring it from the fields to the tables.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!