Re: wrap up of citrus project- from Texas Grove to TFMN (fairly long)

[Guest guest]

where is the survey?

thanx

the top ones on the box were dry but the deeper I got the better.

my neighbors kid did a fund raiser and sold citrus from a texas

grove and that wasn't any better.

d:)

-- In , " Alvin " <mnorganiceggs@...>

wrote:

>

> Hello All,

> We're down to the last boxes of fruit going to our local food co-

> op. They are- as many of the group that ordered oranges-

unimpressed

> with the quality & taste of this shipment. The significant

> differences from one box of oranges to the next makes me think

that

> their management practices are not the best. Most reviews of

> grapefruit from this order were very positive. After corresponding

> with the son (marketing)of one of the partner/owners of the grove,

I

> and Sara feel that they are either not concerned about our

reaction

> to the quality of their oranges or they feel that they really are

> good quality and we're expecting too much. I think we should

expect

> more than this minimal quality fruit- even if it has to be at a

> higher cost. My research pointed us toward a direct source of

> quality product- not cheap food. We've all been disappointed by

that

> before. So,,,,, at this point we're wondering if after a total

> review of group reaction to this order- we look elsewhere, or

forget

> about this endeavor to support the farm directly and return to

> purchasing from our neighborhood food co-op. See the survey info

to

> indicate you comments- if you haven't already done so.

> We will have raised some funds for the group food swaps if we

> don't have too many requests for refunds. My input of forwarding

> payment of over $8,000 and scheduling reciept, unloading &

reloading

> some 12,000 pounds of citrus, along with delivery to our primary

> sites was very fulfilling as were the comments of support for the

> effort. Sara's ability to handle orders and contact people about

> deliveries, etc. was outstanding. She deserves a lot of the credit

> for making this project work as well as it did. I would call our

> little project a minor success when the books are closed with some

> funds ledtover for the TFMN swap team. Happy New Year to ALL, Alvin

>

[Guest guest]

I should have included that info. The info Sara sent to her email list is as

follows. Alvin

Hello everyone,

A survey has been created, because Alvin and I need feedback. We need to

know how many of you are satisfied with your oranges and grapefruit. Or are you

dissatisfied? I hope you will help Alvin and I in planning for any future

ordering rounds by filling out the survey. It will close on January 14, but the

sooner you can fill out the survey, the sooner we can get to figuring things

out! Please click on this link to get started:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=127513069400

It will take only a few minutes of your time, I promise!

Thank you so much and if you have any questions, please feel free to

contact me.

Citrusingly yours ;-)

Sara R.

chezzehed1964 <chezzehed1964@...> wrote:

where is the survey?

thanx

the top ones on the box were dry but the deeper I got the better.

my neighbors kid did a fund raiser and sold citrus from a texas

grove and that wasn't any better.

d:)

-- In , " Alvin " <mnorganiceggs@...>

wrote:

>

> Hello All,

> We're down to the last boxes of fruit going to our local food co-

> op. They are- as many of the group that ordered oranges-

unimpressed

> with the quality & taste of this shipment. The significant

> differences from one box of oranges to the next makes me think

that

> their management practices are not the best. Most reviews of

> grapefruit from this order were very positive. After corresponding

> with the son (marketing)of one of the partner/owners of the grove,

I

> and Sara feel that they are either not concerned about our

reaction

> to the quality of their oranges or they feel that they really are

> good quality and we're expecting too much. I think we should

expect

> more than this minimal quality fruit- even if it has to be at a

> higher cost. My research pointed us toward a direct source of

> quality product- not cheap food. We've all been disappointed by

that

> before. So,,,,, at this point we're wondering if after a total

> review of group reaction to this order- we look elsewhere, or

forget

> about this endeavor to support the farm directly and return to

> purchasing from our neighborhood food co-op. See the survey info

to

> indicate you comments- if you haven't already done so.

> We will have raised some funds for the group food swaps if we

> don't have too many requests for refunds. My input of forwarding

> payment of over $8,000 and scheduling reciept, unloading &

reloading

> some 12,000 pounds of citrus, along with delivery to our primary

> sites was very fulfilling as were the comments of support for the

> effort. Sara's ability to handle orders and contact people about

> deliveries, etc. was outstanding. She deserves a lot of the credit

> for making this project work as well as it did. I would call our

> little project a minor success when the books are closed with some

> funds ledtover for the TFMN swap team. Happy New Year to ALL, Alvin

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

We love the grapefruit. Our main problem is we had one day to get it during

a busy holiday season. I wish we had a drop site at Will¹s. We have land

near Maple Lake and could possibly be a drop site in three years.

We are getting 30 years of hay and straw out of the 1920¹s barn, if anyone

wants to drive out for mulch next spring, you could pitch your own. I was

amazed at what looked like a little hay, being six feet deep. Just got the

barn braced until we raise funds to restore it. I have a sign hanging on

the old barn that says ³Grow old along with me, the best is yet to come.²

The old barn will have small animals (chickens, goats) below and be a human

gathering place above. It is an old bank barn. That means it is like a

walkout rambler. Ha ha. I think it will be fun to restore an old barn.

Kathy

[Guest guest]

Alvin I think it is worth it to seek elsewhere. I am a part of a fruit share

in the summer and we got a sorta bad batch of peaches and bad batch of

cherries this summer and the farmers replaced both no sweat! Other than that

it was great! Let me know if you would like the contact I have. Thank you

for everything !

[Guest guest]

Kathy, I have barn envy, I keep telling my dh that I want to move so I can get a

barn like

yours! I suggest freecycle to get rid of your hay. We had a LOT of hay

that got rained

on this summer (yes, I know there was a drought), used a bunch for mulch and was

able to

get rid of the rest on freecycle. You probably won't have any takers until

spring.

Lynn

>

> We are getting 30 years of hay and straw out of the 1920¹s barn, if anyone

> wants to drive out for mulch next spring, you could pitch your own. I was

> amazed at what looked like a little hay, being six feet deep. Just got the

> barn braced until we raise funds to restore it. I have a sign hanging on

> the old barn that says ³Grow old along with me, the best is yet to come.²

>

> The old barn will have small animals (chickens, goats) below and be a human

> gathering place above. It is an old bank barn. That means it is like a

> walkout rambler. Ha ha. I think it will be fun to restore an old barn.

>

> Kathy

[Guest guest]

Thanks Lynn. We also have a little less than 20 acres that were destroyed

from taking gravel out. I was talking to Will about adding manure to the

hay and straw, then to fill, to restore the land. That part might be part

of our future pasture. Since we are just starting out and don¹t have funds

in, thought I might get some volunteer help , and/or someone who wanted free

mulch.

It sure is lots to pitch out. I didn¹t understand how much. It is six feet

deep. Compacted. We got out most from around the edges over 4 weekends.

That was the most important issue since the old hay was pushing out the

sides of the barn. The barn is braced now, while we search for money to

restore it.

Don¹t you love the smell of an old barn? I remember spending most summers on

my aunts small farm. We used to hang on the rope, get a ride and fall in

the hay. We didn¹t need amusement parks to have fun.

Kathy

on 12/29/06 4:19 PM, lhackbarth at lhackbarth@... wrote:

>

>

>

>

> Kathy, I have barn envy, I keep telling my dh that I want to move so I can get

> a barn like

> yours! I suggest freecycle to get rid of your hay. We had a LOT of hay

> that got rained

> on this summer (yes, I know there was a drought), used a bunch for mulch and

> was able to

> get rid of the rest on freecycle. You probably won't have any takers until

> spring.

> Lynn

>