Bluebird Market CSA Shareholders Will Receive Locally Grown Valentine Flowers

Because Bluebird CSA loves it’s shareholders and is so appreciative of our Founding CSA Members, each will receive a lovely locally grown Valentine Flower Bouquet in this week’s share boxes. 

What is the meaning of Gerber Daisies as a flower gift?  …expressing cheerful sentiments, beauty and innocence.

Read more about Gerbers expressing the gift of cheer and brightness.

Read more about Gerber Daisies ranking #4 in NASA’s Top 10 Clean Air Plants Study.

Thanks to another top local grower– who is Certified Georgia Grown– in our Middle Georgia CSA program, our shareholders will receive gorgeous gerber daisies for all the best wishes for a Happy Valentine’s.  Color selection will be chosen by the grower as shown in the manner of the photo of their bright colored gerbers.

Valentine Flowers Bring Meaning

1. Carnations…love and fascination
2. Gerber Daisies…beauty and innocence
3. Iris…faith, hope and wisdom
4. Orchids…rare and delicate beauty
5. Lilies…friendship and devotion
6. Roses…love and appreciation
7. Sunflowers…warmth and adoration
8. Tulips…perfect love

Welcome to Bluebird Market an Eco-Friendly Place for local artisans and growers to market their products.

 Bluebird Market is a local organic co-op where artisans and growers market their goods.  Hatch and grow your business at the Bluebird Market.  We are an incubator for local small business owners in Middle Georgia.  This is a Bluebird Victory Garden community gardening sustainability initiative.

Join our efforts for local growers and artisans…buy local for your business by dealing with local market vendors. Shop the market for your business and family. Saturdays 8 am until noon, 215 Barnesville Street, Thomaston, GA.

Bluebird Market Growers and Artisans Hatch an Eco-Friendy Version Farmers Market

Bluebird Market CSA (Community Supported Agriculture)…All the Best

Bluebird CSA…all the best.

Bluebird Market Partners with James Family Farm for CSA

 

Christmas Eve on James Family Farm.

Bluebird Market Will Choo Choo into 2010 at Historic Downtown Train Depot

‘All aboard the Bluebird Express’ for an arts and harvest train ride into 2010.  We have so much exciting news coming to you this week and into spring!  Let’s start 2010 together at the very beginning…a very good place to start!

Since last summer on June 6, 2009, Bluebird Market has been growing each and every Saturday from 8 am until noon.  Join us this Saturday, January 2nd, 2010 as we celebrate ‘All the Best’ Local Flavors at the former Thomaston Train Depot! 

This location is rich in local  and Georgia heritage and we are so honored and fortunate to bring Bluebird growers, artisans and bakers into this historic and fun venue. 

Bring your old-fashioned hand carved train whistles to celebrate a new chapter for Bluebird Market with local fun, friends and foods.

For those of you who don’t know the Train Depot has benefited from recent renovations by Andy York of Ponderosa Steakhouse which is open on Thurs., Fri., and Saturday evenings currently.   In former years, the Depot also housed Akins Feed and Seed.  

Come and set up in the parking lot and front porch with Georgia Made Georgia Grown products!  The cost remains the same as always…no charge to set up and only $5.00 AFTER you sell over $20.00 of products.  The former downtown depot will be open for Bluebird Market inside but if Saturday is as beautiful, bright and sunny like today, you will want to be outside at 218 North Center Street, in Thomaston, meeting and greeting all the friends and shoppers that pass by on this central street of our downtown business community.  This part of downtown Thomaston formerly had a farmers market venue across the street in the United Bank parking lot and we love the convenience a local market in this neighborhood will again bring to loyal patrons.

It is an honor for us to experience and be embraced with growth in our community.  The market has brought over 50 warm and friendly artisans, bakers, growers, culinary experts, and hundreds of area patrons who come out each week for fresh and local arts and harvest.

Join us at the Historic Downtown Train Depot this Saturday, January 2nd, 2010 and please stop by Cook’s Market and tell Andy York thank you for his work to preserve this lovely part of our local culture.

Please feel free to email:  bluebirdmarket@gmail.com

Bluebird Market Top 6 Reasons CSA Partnered with James Family Farm

 Top 6 reasons it is a true delight to be partnered with James Family Farm for the multiple-farm Bluebird CSA :   

1. Certified organic garden
2. received 100 on Certified Kitchen by the Dept. of Ag
3. ranked as a top vendor by neighboring farmers markets
4. Best Overall Grower, Nat’l Farmers Market Week at Bluebird Market 
5. Blue-Ribbon Award Winner on veggies and products  
6. Local Harvest approved




 

 

Bluebird Market Offers 3 Ways to Share All the Best Winter Harvest of Multiple-Farm CSA

Download the 12 Week Bluebird CSA contract.

3 ways to participate as a shareholder of the Bluebird CSA weekly shares:

Quarter Box Shares suitable for 1 person                  $15.00/weekly

• 2-3 items weighing 2-3 lbs.

Half Box Shares suitable for Family of 2 people        $30.00/weekly

• 4-5 items weighing 4-5 lbs.

Full Box Shares suitable for Family of 4 people        $50.00/weekly

• 8-10 items weighing 8-10 lbs. 

Click here for Bluebird CSA.  Shares available now.  BluebirdCSA@gmail.com

Winter shares available now for 12-week winter season include winter greens, lettuces, leeks, pecans, apples, collards, green onions, radishes,  parsley,  turnips  and other winter local produce as available in the middle Georgia growing region.

Bluebird Market Loves Local CSA Growers…Gonna Fly Now

Thanks to Middle Georgia Growers like:

James Family Farm

Holland Apple Farm

John Hall

SunRay Farms

Landers Vineyard

Russell Farms

Newman Farms

Project 365 V–Versemann Garden Live WebCam

Juliette Hightower

Kris Thomas

On Ramsey

Elliott Farms

Dickey Farms

Greens & Berry Farm

Busy Bee Honey Farm

and other Bluebird Multiple Farm CSA growers

And everyone who supports their efforts to keep our local people strong!

 

 

Bluebird Market Agrees Every Family Needs A Farmer. Do You Know Yours?

 

Every Family Needs a Farmer, Do You Know Yours?

Every Family Needs a Farmer. Do you know yours?     

Visit us Year Round Rain or Shine, Saturdays 8 am until noon, Bluebird Market, 218 N. Center Street, Thomaston GA, Historic Downtown Train Depot

to meet local growers and sign up for your Bluebird Multiple Farm CSA share boxes…

Local Harvest has approved our Bluebird Market rural Middle Georgia Multiple Farm Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program and states the CSA nationwide effort is “a simple enough idea, but it’s impact has been profound.” Because of globalization, rarely do local and regional small farmers’ bring their produce to an infrastructure system of super markets. As a result, CSA cooperatives are growing at a tremendous clip across the country. They offer an effective solution for us to again directly reconnect with our local rural growers.

Why should I become a member of a rural Georgia CSA co-op?

Americans are signing up for CSA programs because farm fresh produce in their weekly share boxes tastes better and is more nourishing. Grocery chains and superstores would like very much to ‘cash in’ on the better tasting and more nourishing local food demands of customers but the very nature of their structure prevents it. Super store operations are set up so they can place a few gigantic orders with a few gigantic distributors or with distribution divisions. They are not set up to deal with individual rural area growers and small farmers growing seasonal crops and it would be prohibitive for them to attempt.

Who profits from a CSA cooperative program?

Community supported agriculture is structured to profit our rural farmers directly in return for dedicated community service to provide us with all the best of their harvest. They become our personal growers and aim to directly serve us with all the best tasting and healthy produce.

Are farmers markets growing during a tough economy?

The nationwide demand for better tasting and healthier local produce is one reason farmers markets have nearly doubled in our country over the last decade.

Where do super store veggies come from and who is growing that food?

It is vital for prosperity that ‘old things become new’ and we once again know our growers and invest with them. This is one prudent reason people are signing up across our country for Community Supported Agriculture programs. Many super store foods are imported and warehoused by ‘industrial’ growers and far off gigantic food corporations. My advice is prepare now to plant a small spring veggie garden and sign up today with Bluebird CSA for all the best tasting and nourishing local produce. Know who is growing your food and if they care enough about your family to use organic practices.

Who can participate in a CSA program?

 The Bluebird CSA program is a cooperative partnership between our local rural farmers market community, local farmers and community members of the CSA. Members may purchase subscription shares of farm produce in return for a weekly box of fresh farm veggies. Also affordable are boxes of seasonal and local fruits, eggs, flowers, and top Cottage Industry certified baked goods. Growers insure CSA shareholders get all the best of their seasonal produce.

Who are the local growers?

Bluebird CSA is your opportunity to support and share the harvest of James Family Farm, and other dedicated rural farmers actually growing much of Middle Georgia’s finest Award Winning vegetables. We have been enjoying and sharing the turnips, collards and lettuces from James Family Farm which are delicious and nourishing. We also are highly pleased with apples and pecans from Mr. Holland’s Apple Farm. Partnered for the Multiple Farm Bluebird CSA are certified organic farms like James Family Farm and organic practices farms like SunRay Farms in Barnesville with organic blueberries. If you would like to be a CSA grower or want to sign up for a weekly box of fresh veggies, contact bluebirdcsa@gmail.com . Small gardeners might want to order seeds now to plant herbs like fresh basil and Stevia, or heirloom produce which is in high demand.

What will I receive in my CSA share box?

The CSA program is available now with winter greens and, when you sign up, you will receive lettuces, turnips, local pecans, apples and more winter season produce. In 12 short weeks, seeds and plants will begin producing an array of spring and summer strawberries, blueberries, figs, peaches, blackberries, melons, heirloom and ‘Ark of Taste’ tomatoes, squash, fresh herbs, cucumbers, eggplant, onions, peppers and much more from all the best area growers. You may also want to choose affordable bonus boxes filled with farm-fresh certified eggs, local honey, oatmeal and stone ground wheat breads from Certified Farm Kitchens, homemade healthy salad dressings, fruit and sweet potato pies, Blue-Ribbon winning jellies, pepper sauces, sweet onion relish and all the best local flavors.

What size share boxes are available?

Shares come in boxes to meet individual needs like a full box share subscription for a family of 4 people, a half share suitable for 2 people or a quarter share box for 1 person. For convenience and Seniors, prepared foods are available like flavorful soups and casseroles using local organic farm fresh products. Affordable prepared dishes and baked goods are offered by professional culinary experts such as ‘Bread of Life’.

What are the benefits of a CSA?

Participating with your rural CSA cooperative program provides delicious farm fresh produce that is actually grown in our area rather than purchased from other regions and warehoused. Our rural Georgia CSA preserves our local family farms and rural Georgia economy with a sustainable local food system. It helps keep our local money in our community where it belongs. Your food travels less food miles and is therefore more fresh and more nutrient-rich. And our rural CSA reconnects you and your family with your source of food rather than with corporate warehouses and cross country trucking systems. Thank you to everyone who asked to sign up for the Bluebird CSA program last summer and waited patiently for it to be successfully developed and available now.

When can I sign up for a box of veggies?

You are invited to sign up now for a box of winter veggies with Bluebird CSA to get on the ‘right track’ with 12 weeks of farm fresh vegetable shares. You will get all of the fun ideas on how to prepare this nutritious and bountiful local harvest. You will reap a bounty of heart-healthy nourishing veggies and, as Local Harvest states, it is “a simple enough idea, but it’s impact has been profound.”

Where are the Pick-Up Locations for Bluebird CSA?

Bluebird Farmers Market, 218 N. Center Street, Historic Downtown Train Depot, Thomaston, GA,  Saturdays 8 am until noon

Enrich your life on Saturdays at Bluebird Market in the historic downtown train depot located at 218 N. Center Street, Thomaston. Explore with us each week to discover simple ways we can affordably contribute to sustainable and renewable eco-friendly living.

Find resources online at http://www.bluebirdmarket.com and http://www.planetgarden.wordpress.com. Email rural CSA questions to: bluebirdcsa@gmail.com .

Bluebird Market Thanks Middle Georgia Growers for Multiple Farm CSA Participation

We are so fortunate to have a multiple farm CSA that provides all the best from our Middle Georgia growers.

Bluebird Market…What is a CSA?

Every family needs a farmer.  Do you know yours?

Bluebird Market Implements Multiple Farm CSA Program

Read more from The Wellness Lady on what she received in her Bluebird CSA share box.

This is a picture taken by Angelica Clayton of farm fresh products her family received in their Bluebird CSA share box on January 23, 2010.

Email:  BluebirdCSA@gmail.com

Bluebird Market CSA Focus is Providing Beautiful Organic Harvest for Members

We encourage all of our friends to become active participants in the Bluebird CSA Program…read more.

It’s easy and we have an affordable Pay-by-the-Week program for a quarter share sample box!  Come by the market this Saturday Jan. 30, 2010.  Place your order for $15.00 and on February 6th, you will have a delicious and nutritious assortment of all the best Middle Georgia growers have to offer!

If you are delighted and want to assure your family is on board for the spring and summer harvest season you can subscribe for the 12-week CSA shares.

Bluebird Market CSA Shareholders Directly Benefit from Georgia High Tunnels Extending the Growing Season

Bluebird Market CSA farmer, Dave Bentoski, of D & A Farms, is quoted in the news release announcing a new USDA pilot study in Georgia to use high tunnels, or hoop houses, to increase availability of locally grown foods.

Read more of what Farmer Dave is quoted saying here…

Bluebird Market CSA encourages Georgia farmers to use high tunnels to extend the growing season…here’s why…

NRCS will fund one high tunnel per farm in Georgia.

Farmer Dave took us on a golf cart tour of his farm to the high tunnel and we walked inside to view how the lettuces had survived the frost.  Farmer Dave hand picked these artisan certified organic lettuces for our CSA share holders.  Other unprotected crops in the field were heavily damaged and completely brown in color from the freeze burn.  This week’s Multiple Farm CSA shares included these certified organic lettuces that survived the arctic blast of freezing weather in January 2010 in Middle Georgia…Tender lettuces were safely tucked in the D & A high tunnels.  As a result our CSA shareholders directly benefited with fresh local lettuces in January, 2010.  Salads were enjoyed using locally grown lettuces in an extended growing season through January.  High tunnels are proven effective during a hard freeze in Georgia and CSA shareholders directly benefited with locally grown organic lettuces in January.

Organic lettuce survived the freeze in a High Tunnel of D & A Farms, GA, and was used in this salad Jan. 2010, from Bluebird Multiple Farm CSA shares.

Every family needs a farmer. Do you know yours?

USDA is offsetting costs for one high tunnel per farm.  Georgia farmers should go into GA NRCS office to find out more about high tunnels, or hoop houses, and the pilot study. 

Click here to read about the study.  Georgia is one of the 38 states selected to participate in this study. High tunnels can cover as much as 5% of 1 acre.

mary.mcquinn@ga.usda.gov

Link to application.

Bluebird Market KidsArt for Family Fun Valentine Card Box

Disney’s Family Fun says, Give your funny Valentine Card Box a ’steady diet of Valentine Cards. Each card holder is made from a solid-color tissue box.”

To make the cat, glue a card-stock forehead, ears, and tail to the box. (Download our templates for these shapes.) Use glue to attach thin wire whiskers, a heart-shaped card-stock nose, and 1-inch-wide googly eyes.

For the Alien Monster, glue soft felt teeth inside the box’s opening and a card-stock heart nose just above. Curl two pipe cleaners into springs by wrapping them around a pen, then glue a 1-1/2-inch-wide googly eye to the end of each spring. Insert the other ends through the box and secure them with tape inside.

Bluebird Market Votes for Thomaston Georgia to Win the Disney Single Best Town Block Party

Vote here for Thomaston Georgia to win the Disney Block Party.

Bluebird Market Distributes Locally Grown Foods to Community

Read more at A Tale of Two Tomatoes…rebuilding our local food system with Bluebird Market CSA Distribution.

Variety

1. Approximately 97% of vegetable varieties grown in 1900 are now extinct.

2. There are hundreds of heirloom varieties to choose from.

Flavor

1. Locally grown fruits and vegetables are usually sold within 24 hours of being harvested.

2. A fully ripened tomato has more natural sugars.

3. Traveling tomatoes are picked green and then gassed with ethylene prior to shipping.

Food Miles

1. From field to fork, an average dinner travels 1500 miles.

2. Locally Grown Lucy Tomato is picked and delivered to market within a day or two.

3. Traveling Tom Tomato can take up to 2 weeks to reach your supermarket. During his journey he’s been picked green, waxed, boxed, and gassed.

Dollars & Cents

1. Since 1935 the USA has lost 4.7 million farms.

2. When you buy local, more than 90 cents of every dollar you spend goes to the farmer.

3. These farmers then earn only 20 cents of your dollar; the other 80 cents goes into production.

Bluebird Market CSA Offers 5 Fun Ways to Add Fresh Affordable Local Veggies for Your Group

 

Turnip Fries from Local Growers are a Delicious Healthy Alternative

So you want the best tasting, more nourishing and more affordable veggies for your group, school, church, community event, catered affair or party?

Supersize your CSA share for all the best affordable local veggies in season…

Especially when hosting a community event like B.R.A.G (Bike Ride Across Georgia)…buy local seasonal veggies from our area farmers rather than trucked in produce from supermarket chains or food wholesalers.

Bluebird CSA is an awesome way to support our community by buying from local growers and bakers.

Email:  bluebirdmarket@gmail.com

Local Delivery available.

1. Community Events like B.R.A.G. (Bike Ride Across Georgia)
2. Parties
3. School Lunches
4. Church Suppers
5. Local Eateries, Restaurants

Know of an event or restaurant where you would like the choice of having farm fresh tomatoes rather than those shipped cross regions and gased to ripen?  Let us know and we will be happy to provide with all the best farm fresh organic nourishing veggies.

Read more about veggies that are picked green and gased in “A Tale of Two Tomatoes”

 

Bluebird Market Artisans Illustrate How Sharing Tea Supports the Arts

Truly sharing a cup of tea led to a small group of lovely local artisans making plans to go out and tell their friends at other Middle Georgia arts events how delightful it is to live, work, play and create arts in Thomaston, Georgia.

Ladies love unwrapping presents… and Bluebird Arties were delighted to find at their plate Valentine Gifts… including a red drawstring mini-purse filled with Mary Kay lipsticks, lip liners, a Giftcard for a Free Pampering Session, a Complimentary Facial, Satin Hands and Lips Treatment, Color Makeover and a $10.00 Gift Certificate!

While sharing a cup of hot tea at the home of Diane Dunn, Bluebird Artisan Guild members discussed how spring will bring fun opportunities in Thomaston for Middle Georgia artists.  Plans were made to invite local artists into the Guild and embrace our local arts culture as a united group of self taught artisans working together.   Online networking ideas and reading news stories about upcoming shows made the tea party an informative as well as a fun social gathering. 

One local artisan shared the idea for Bluebird Arties to each have a Bluebird display logo for their booth when traveling to neighboring events in Middle Georgia.  The aim of these ambassadors for the arts is to encourage tourism to Thomaston for local festivals. 

Tasty Salmon Pate’ was served at the Guild Valentine luncheon.  Heart shaped teacups and saucers in bright lime, pink and purple were filled from pink teapots of Lemon, Royal Raspberry and Green teas.  Cottage baked goods were served on a lovely 3 tier  serving piece along with valentine candies and mints.

We also took notes in a daytimer book and pen gift set and enjoyed a fun assortment of Valentine Party favors including a lovely heart fan, temporary Princess tattoos, red and pink tiaras and fun lip whistles…

Middle Georgia Artisans interested in becoming involved with Forward Bluebird Arts are invited to email:  bluebirdarts@gmail.com 

Bluebird Market Agrees to Buy Organic Products Whenever Practical

“Just about every non-organic food product available to consumers has some sort of connection with Monsanto…Ultimately, there are better, healthier ways to make cheaper food. Until then the best thing we can do is to demand further investigations and buy organic products whenever practical.”

Read more on Wallet Pop….

We hope you will buy organic.

We support local, organic farmers.

Bluebird Market Artisan Guild Members Will Enjoy the Art of Fan Messages at Heart-to-Heart Tea Party

Bluebird Artisan Guild Members will be sending fan messages today using the Language of the Fans at the Bluebird Artisan Guild Valentine Tea Party….”fans were held by aristocrats of the Heian period when formally dressed. Fans were part of the social status for the Chinese people. A particular status and gender would accord a specific type of fan to an individual. During the Song Dynasty, famous artists would often be commissioned to paint picture on the surface of a fan.”

Diane Dunn, a jewelry artisan, is hosting the Bluebird Artisan Guild Tea Party on Monday, February 9, 2010 at 334 E. Lee Street from 12:30-1:30.

All area artisans and arties are welcome to join the fun…

Learn the Victorian Fan Language at Teacakes and Teddybears here.  Personalized fans make lovely wedding favors for outdoor parties.

Read more about the history and trivia of tea parties here.

Read more about The Language of Fans here and the art history of fans here.

Watch ‘The Language of the Fan’ in The Royal Collection and art history of unfolding fan pictures here.

See quilt created using Cleopatra’s Fan Quilting Pattern. 

Valentine Heart Fan Tea Party Favors courtesy of Forward Bluebird Arts Guild.

Josephine declares, “never without my fan.”

Bluebird Market Supports ‘Eat Red for Valentine’s Day’

It’s ‘Eat Red Week’ at Bluebird Market as we support the effort to choose heart healthy foods like cherries, peppers, red grapes and tomatoes…Read more…

Chocolate Cherry Drink Recipe here.

Bluebird Market ‘Becoming Nutrient-Rich’ Series Continues with Heart Healthy Chocolate

According to the New York Times, …”those who indulged twice or more a week had a 66 percent reduced risk of dying from a subsequent heart event.”

Each week at Bluebird Market we focus on learning how nourishing foods bring vibrancy, longevity and energy.  Week 6 in the ’Becoming Nutrient-Rich’ Series (for Valentines Day)…is the benefits of chocolate.