So much is happening on the HHF as we think of you during our Happy Heart Month.  Bailey and I wish you well; we wish you , especially, warmth and joy of Heart.  Outside, the waters have crystalized; trillions of uniquely manifested light and life bearers, from Heaven.  Inside the Hoop House, new crops emerge and grow and rush at early harvest; soon to be:  lettuce, salad greens, spinach, kale and chard; further out but not too:  carrots,and parsnips and more.  It's pretty and warm and very fun to come into after some ski trips around the edges of the snow covered fields; seemingly silently sleeping; covered for now against Winter Wind.  Seeds!  Seeds out there, too, asleep, apparently; under the ground, under the snow, under the clouds, under the sun and moon and planets and stars and stars and stars; and not-stars; the infite darkness within the infinite light; asleep; apparently.  Like the seeds, and the snowflakes, and our souls.      

Its that time of year when we get to inventory the distance HHF and the CSA movement have come these past 29 years.  HHF has been showing out the csa model here in Colorado for 22 years now and our model has been copied and modified to be used by over 20 groups in Ft. Collins; 30 in Boulder; hundreds in the state. Bailey says that we have taught 55 people thru our apprenticeships over the years, and that doesn't count the many volunteers and working members that have taken the skills and knowlege learned with us to heart and home.

Dreamtime for Farmer's; all of us.  The EarthMother, too.  Ours?  Some of them...

Upping the next open acres Noth into the Happy Heart Farm Hops Field.  Big.  Happening.  Join in as you can.  Justin and Jake and the HHF.  Fun.

Let's quickly fill up our list of Feeding the Familie's roster. please ask friends you know to ask friends they know to help in the exciting prospect of offering not only another sorce of food, but locally accessable right hear in town medicinal quality produce; but we nourish our community's heart.  In expressing our gratiude, we share in the awakening to the truth of our abundance.  It's a wonderful entry point for lots of "newby" Farmers that are needed to quickly practice by establishing production permacultural zones that are specifcally contracting CSA-style neighborhood cooperative Farms.   Mother Teresa declared the starvation in America to be loneliness.  Will you consider helping us with our ongoing campaign to Feed the Families.  Call Claudia 970-988-3464 or email at cc.demarco@comcast.net.  And please participate as you can through our website's page links.  What a wonderful way to love on Valentine's Day.  Any Day.

It's really gratifying to see all the kids swirling around the Farm.  Our maxim is to steward our sacred ground for our children's children, to the 7th generation; we are so excited to see all the kids that come out that are the 2nd of those generations, already!  It's a different set of intentions than hoping to extract a profitable cash crop from the ground this year, each year.  Thanks to all the many levels and diverse ways of Familyhood that you all bring to the alchemy of our Magic.  Like snowflakes.

The 2012 Season of Abundance.  We are already harvesting the overwinter trials, and the germination of hundreds of thousands of seeds in the next few weeks; to become the hoop house home to the fields of crops feeding our families.  Growing together. Deepening the Dreams and the Dance.  Our Time.   

"Happy New Year! and Happy Farming!  We are so grateful for your farm and you!"  The McClellans
"To our favorite farmers- We look forward to 2012 and another wonderful growing season with you!" Lindsay, Brett & Natalie



Upcoming Events

Here's a lovely permaculture design course in Mexico in March; a friend of our HHF is the organizer:  http://permaculturesayulita.com/course-details-permaculture-sayulita-mexico-2012/permaculture-design-certification-course/

Carrots Not CoPays: Eat Better. Feel Great. Pay Less
Wednesday, February 15, 2012, 6:30 PM, Everyday Joe's Coffee House, 144 S Mason St, Fort Collins, CO 
Please join Simple Foods as registered dietician, Dianne Moeller, explains how your diet can improve your health - and your healthcare budget. Meet local farmers, win free organic food, and get a discount on a CSA.  This event is free and open to the public.
Event Sponsored by:Every Day Joe's Coffee Shop, Elegantly Simple, Fossil Creek Farms, Grant Family Farms, The Shire CSA, Tasty Harmony, Happy Heart Farm

Buffalo Jerky for sale- alliednaturalmeats.com

Subject: Summer field work opportunities for some of your volunteersFrReply-To: Kimberly Karish <kkarish@post.harvard.edu>

Hi Dennis and Bailey-
Last summer at the CSA pickups I think I overheard some of your volunteers discussing biology-based school work they were involved in.  On occasion I do some consulting for a local small environmental consulting firm.  The firm is interested in hiring several field work people for the spring and summer field season.  It would be mainly vegetation surveys but could involve other types of work as well.  If you know of any of your volunteers who would be doing this kind of work this year, please have them contact me directly and I will put them in touch with the consulting firm.
Thanks- Kimberly Karish

Dr. Kimberly S. Karish, LEED AP
kkarish@post.harvard.edu
617.429.2856

 

Dana Weinkauf-Talbot CMT, YT, RTT

Thai Yoga Dae Night Events!!
Less than one week to register!




Europa Salon Spa 123 North College- Fort Collins
Saturday February 11, 2012
$60 per Couple, includes Wine and Dessert
To register call 970.407.8223

Old Town Yoga 237 1/2 Jefferson Street- Fort Collins
Sunday February 12 12:30-3:00
$45 per couple pre-pay, $50 per couple at the door.

What do we do with all the talk of the coming challenges of 2012?  Here's a video of a friend of mine singing a song in 1977 that has been theme music for me ever since I first heard it. Thanks, Jackson....                                                                                                                        http://www.youtube.com/embed/DqacrSa4jmA?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

There's a personal note to my journey here at the Happy Heart Farm that Jackson says for me in another classic.  Jackson sings my songs for me; he was born a Libra nine days before I was born, on the same date (October 9) as John Lennon.  He's always seemed really close.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qr-hqAjdNrU.

Energetic Healing Sessions from Bailey- Relax, Rejuvenate and Renew- $15 for your initial session. Call Bailey at 219-4294 or baileystenson@aol.com

Happy Heart Day, every day!  From Dennis to all the great Friends of Happy Heart Farm.  Thanks for your support and love and incredible lightness of being.

We'll See you at the Farm,

                                                                                                                                                                                                        

Love, Always,

Dennis and Bailey, and the Happy Heart Families and Friends.

• Membership is required of all farm members whether you have a regular share or a working share.
• Each split share partner pays the membership fee.
• Membership fees are nonrefundable.

Full Veggie Share: $500.00

Happy Heart Farm traditional veggie shares are available from June to November. We now have a Hoop House that should extend out season! Distribution days are on Tuesdays 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm at Happy Heart Farm

The balance is due on or before the first veggie distribution on Tuesday May 29, 2012.

Split Share: $250.00 - each

• Please provide contact information (Name, Email, Phone Number, Address) of the second party for Split Share. You will need to have this information to sign up for a split share.
• Your Split Share will become effective when both parties are signed up.
• Each party is responsible for the Annual Farm Membership Fee.

*** You must interview with Dennis Stenson before requesting a Working Member Share: $250.00

You must schedule an interview with Dennis Stenson (interviews will begin in early February) or be a returning working member. Shifts will start in March.  

Additional Shares

We also offer shares in:

• Egg
• Honey
• Mushroom
• Berries (fall)
• Fruit
• Beef
• Chicken

To sign-up:  Follow the link: 2012 Farm Membership.

New members please take a look at our 2012 New Member Packet for more information.

All members should look at the 2012 Happy Heart Farm Brochure for information about the farm.

There is a wonderful crew of volunteers at the Happy Heart Farm that support the farmers, apprentices, working members and the regular subscribing members.  Many of the tasks at the farm are done by hand.  Our volunteers are the visible manifestation of the adage: ”Many hands make light work”.  We are grateful for their friendships and help in growing delicious healthy produce.

Volunteer Hours Log - Please complete every time you volunteer. We appreciate your time!

Please print and sign liability waiver

Benifits of being a volunteer:

• soaking up the fresh air
• being out in sunshine and weather of all kinds
• learning and participating in many farm activities including planting in the greenhouse, transplanting in the fields, weeding, harvesting, and washing produce in preparation for the weekly distribution
• meeting other kind and interesting community-minded folks

A sense of satisfaction and community is gained through group efforts and accomplishments.  Past volunteers have expressed that their working service at the Farm is a form of therapy: a pleasant compliment to their regular jobs and routines. Feeling a part of the cycles of nature allows you to feel more connected to yourself, the land and the rhythms of the seasons.

Children: If you plan to bring children under 10 years old, we ask that you bring a partner, or friend to help supervise them.  Children tend to lose interest in the work at hand and then begin to wander and this could pose a safety hazard.  We are in ‘work mode” during our shifts, which means we work quickly as possible with a focus on the task at hand.

Requirements for volunteering:

• Minimum of three hours (which is the standard work shift)
• Being in good enough physical condition, (backs and knees especially), to handle the needed tasks
• Log your volunteer hours in the distribution house

What to bring to your shift:

• Farm footwear, sturdy work shoes or boots are usually best.  Some days mud boots are needed (we have some to lend for standard foot sizes). 
• A good pair of work gloves that can get wet (not leather). King Soopers, and Safeway offers a variety. 
• Favorite kneeler or a short gardening bench, you might consider bringing it, we are often in a stooping position in the fields where these tools could be helpful.
• Drinking water, mosquito repellant, and whatever you need to be comfortable in various kinds of weather
• Hat, sunscreen

Available summer work shifts: 

• Monday evenings 6-9 pm
• Tuesdays 6-9 am and Tuesdays 9-12 am
• Thursdays 9-12 am and Thursday 3-6 pm

A map to our Happy Heart Farm is located on our website. We are within biking distance from CSU, and on the bus route.

When intending to volunteer on any day of the week, we ask that you send us a quick email or a quick phone call so we know that you are on your way over to volunteer.  Doing so will help us know who is volunteering for that day and also help us log your volunteer hours.

We are so grateful for your efforts to support local food sustainability at Happy Heart Farm CSA.

Dennis and Bailey Stenson
2820 W. Elisabeth St.
Fort Collins, Co 80521
970-482-3448