We're Back and Ready to Party

If you’re looking for an intimate location for a special event, I highly recommend Iris Aisles, located in idyllic Madison County Iowa.

Holy cow, this year has flown by. You may have noticed a lack of posts for the past….. six months or so. I have a habit of starting posts and a lack of follow through. From May to October, there was very little down time to write and such. Everything was on the go from planting to harvesting to market things. Never fear, my dear followers/curiosity seekers, I have returned for the time being. We have hit a lull for the foreseeable….. five or so months. All things farm related are headed your way. Thank you to those who have supported us this year, you all rock!

Pammel Park Coffee, Madison County Iowa. Deliciousness found in the whole bean.

First up: this Friday, our CSA products will be available for purchase for the 2021 season. Yay flowers and veggies!! If you have seen the little tidbits on social media, we are teaming up with Pammel Park Coffee to offer an add on option for our weekly and biweekly CSAs. Cue happy dance. This is literally the only coffee served in our household (for the last three years I believe). It’s delicious, it’s locally roasted, and they’re awesome people. They do sell in the Des Moines area if you’re up that way too. I seriously recommend you check them out (not paid for advertising, I’m just a huge coffee afficianado).

If you haven’t partaken in one of our CSAs (no judgement here, they’re fairly new), here’s an overview (which also can be found under 2021 CSA information). CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture. You purchase a subscription up front (these are great Christmas or birthday presents by the way) and you help us with farm infrastructure costs, seed costs, and the like. Come June, you start receiving gorgeous seasonal flower bouquets or boxes of fresh veggies and fruit (and some other goodies when available..farm fresh eggs anyone?) either weekly or biweekly until late September or so. Let me tell you right now, a farm raised tomato from Madison County is chock full of flavor compared to the store bought.

What else is new you may ask. Well, Sarabeth is complete (for the most part)! She has walls, and a roof and a fancy ish door (that needs painted but it’s cold so it’ll happen next year). She is gorgeous and everything that she wanted to be. If you have questions about her, I or Clint will answer them to the best of our abilities (so basically Clint will answer all questions, I’m here purely for aesthetics and holding drill bits).

She is fabulous and wonderful and oh so cute in the snow. The door will be white with a plexi glass middle where water damage is evident. It came from my parents’ barn, originally from a 1920’s house. Ooh la la, she fancy.

In case you were wondering. the peacock you see housed in Sarabeth is named Sir Reginald, Reggie for short. He’s a cold weather sort of fowl.

This is one of two banana trees, among the seventeen avocado trees we’re currently housing. No joke.

Our basement has been outfitted as a makeshift greenhouse. We have all manners of banana trees, grasses, peppers, and tomatoes growing. Needless to say, the basement is lit up like the fourth of July. Flowers are drying for fun crafts as soon as I can make myself start them, and lisianthus has been started (from seed). Ooooohh boy! The farm never stops, even though I’m avoiding going outside at pretty much all costs.

Tulips. That is all. Not really, but it would’ve been an good cliffhanger. We will have bunches available this spring (to the tune of 8,000 plus, tulips not dollars) annnnnnd available as a CSA this year! yaaaay! With three pick up locations, how can you go wrong? Tulips are cheerful and a great pick me up for the slushy winter to spring blues.

As always, check out our social media for the daily happenings here on the farm. Most likely you will see cat pictures, cookies, and a fireplace until otherwise changed. Oh well, at least Seeley is photogenic. Cheers to staying safe and warm.