Crumb Trail

Dafforn's Sweet Corn & Produce, Yoder, IN:

On my Friday visit to Dafforn's Sweet Corn and Produce in Yoder, IN, I was delighted to find their farm stand in full swing.  The cantaloupe smelled wonderful, and I quickly picked one out.

Then I moved on to the table that onions, acorn squash, tomatoes (large red slicing tomatoes and yellow grape tomatoes), and then of course their specialty, sweet corn! 

This year they are also carrying local honey from the Rekeweg Honey Company in Decatur, IN and pop corn in several different varieties as well as a microwave option (which I bought).  The pop corn is from Glancy's (Perry & Rachelle Glancy in Decatur, IN.

So I left there with honey, popcorn, cantaloupe, onions, and cherry tomatoes ( I already have some corn), knowing I will be back to visit them soon.

The address for this farm is 1616 E 1200 N, Yoder, IN.  They are located 1 1/4 mile off State Rd 1, on the county line road that divides Allen and Wells Counties, just north of Ossian.

Barr Street Market to open this weekend

Everyone is ready for the opening of the Barr Street Market in Fort Wayne and it is happening this Saturday, July 11th. The market is located at the corner of Wayne Street and Barr Street.  I can't wait to be there and see which vendors have returned and if there is anyone new.  The hours this year are from 8am to 12noon.  Be sure to make this a part of your Three Rivers Festival outings.

J. L. Hawkins Family Farm

Now this is stretching my boundaries a bit, since this farm/CSA is located in Wabash County, but they do provide delivery into Ft. Wayne for those who have purchased a share in their CSA.  J. L. Hawkins Family Farm is located just south and east of North Manchester, at 10373 N 300 E, North Manchester, IN.  All shares for 2009 have been sold, so I offer this information for you to file away for next year if you are interested.

A share for 2009 included a weekly allotment of vegetables from late May to early October, 40 weeks of eggs, 20 pastured meat chickens, a fresh Thanksgiving turkey, a half of a grass-fed hog, and a quarter of a grass-finished beef.  It can't get any more complete that that.

In their farm store you can also purchase their frozen whole pastured chickens, frozen beef and frozen pork in an assortment of packaging (patties, steaks, ground beef, sausage), frozen whole turkeys, and pastured eggs.  Also available for purchase are Jersey-cow, grass-fed, raw-milk cheeses (Colby, Monterey Jack, Cheddar, Yogurt, and Baby Swiss) as well as flavored cheeses which include: Chive Blend, Hot Pepper, Garden Herb, Italian Spice, Onion Blend and Toasted Garlic.  Other offerings include Honey and Maple Syrup provided by the Winger Farm of North Manchester.

This year, as an experiment, there are a few shares that have been sold to Fort Wayne residents.  However, this was on a trial basis, due to logistics, so you will have to check with them early next year to see if this arrangement if being offered for 2010.

Jeff and Kathy are a delightful, hard-working couple, managing all this on their own.  Please support their offerings of local meat, dairy, and honey by stopping at their farm store and making a purchase.  The store is open every day but Sunday.

Seven Sons Farm Neighborhood Egg Buying Clubs

Now, I personally enjoy the drive out to the Seven Sons Farm and entering the quaint little farm store.  But if you would appreciate being able to purchase these same eggs from a source closer to your home, Seven Sons has provided us with some options.  This Spring they started their egg buying club, which means for us that at least two people in Fort Wayne have offered to help by receiving the eggs directly from the farm every other week and allowing those interested to purchase the eggs on the day of that delivery, from them.  This is a great convenience for us as consumers, since the eggs are the same price as they are at the farm, but may be found much closer to us, saving gas and cutting down drive time.

Maybe you are wondering why go to all that bother in the first place for these eggs. Believe me, these eggs are worth it!  These are the very best quality eggs from hens raised without the use of antibiotics, hormones, or preservatives, hens that are given all-natural high quality food and are free to range outdoors when the temperatures are above freezing (see their web site for more info).

So where are the providers nearest to you?  And, what are their pick-up dates and times?  And how do you place an order?  Please contact them directly.

    Maggie Bunce (Eagle Creek Provider) 46814
   reach her through e-mail:  mbunce11@comcast.net
              and
    Heather Reyna (Kensington Provider) 46805
   reach her through e-mail:  heather_snow1978@msn.com

The Yoder Farm

How did I miss this!?!  This farm is what this blog is all about!  The Yoder's Farm's  mission as stated on their web site is my heartfelt mission too, they just say it better than I have, "Just as you develop a special relationship with your physician, clergyperson, accountant or financial planner, so too, should you develop a connection with the person who grows your food.  Until recently we treated food as if it was nearly worthless.  'Cheapest is best'.  We're learning, sometimes painfully, the truth is otherwise."

Their farm is located east of Huntertown in northern Allen County.  Their farm starts the year producing  Maple Syrup, typically available February through May or until their supply is exhausted.  Then in mid-April and May, they are harvesting their asparagus.  This is followed starting in July and August with a limited assortment of vegetables.  Green and yellow beans and tomatoes, then okra, sweet bell peppers, and broccoli, then Brussels sprouts and turnips.

The Yoder Farm does not have a farm stand and instead, provide their maple syrup and vegetables through a order form provided on their web site.  Please visit their site and see what all this brother and sister are involved in and how they have reached out to educate our community.

Catalpa Farm

Catalpa Farm is a beautifully kept small farm located in Columbia City.   All the chickens raised on the farm are pastured heritage breeds. They provide broiler chickens and eggs for two farmer's markets.  The first and third Saturdays of the month they sell at the Saxton Nursery Farmer's Market from 8am to noon.  On the second and fourth Saturdays of the month they are at the Columbia City Farmer's Market again from 8am to 12pm.  They have also partnered with Country Garden & Farm Market's CSA for chickens and eggs.