Good Food from Healthy Farms
Terra Organics
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Homepage: http://terra-organics.com
Posts by Terra Organics
Harvest Fest 2010 Photos
Nov 9th
Sadly, Harvest Fest is over until next October. But for those of you who missed out on the fun, here’s an album of some of our favorite photos from the events from Kim Hulse. Thanks, Kim. We hope to see you in them next year. Click on the image to see it full-size.
Pierce Conservation District Funding Could Be Eliminated – Act Now!
Nov 8th
In this rough economic climate where budget cuts abound, it is often hard to see just how much of an impact those cuts have until it hits home. Terra Organics and Tahoma Farms are facing upcoming challenges should the Pierce County Conservation District (the department, in its entirety) be eliminated as the County Council has proposed.
This year we received a Green Partnership Fund grant for water conveyance and conservation work at Tahoma Farms and we have grown for and packed the Senior Food Boxes (delivered to over 600 seniors and long term disabled residents).
The Conservation District has also provided funding for the USDA-certified mobile meat processing unit, water quality testing, community garden programs and more. The District currently employs 11 highly qualified staff, all of whom are in danger of having their jobs eliminated. In addition, the District brings about $500,000 per year into the local agricultural and food economy.
Right now the County Council has a proposal to transfer District funds and jobs to Pierce County Surface Water Management. The Council can choose to sustain the District simply by supporting one year funding for the District through its proposed $5 resource conservation fee. The Council has yet to make a final decision on the matter but you can help them reach a conclusion.
Please, take a few minutes to send an email or make a phone call in support of the Conservation District to the County Council members listed below. Your voice can really help make a difference to Terra Organics and Tahoma Farms.
Please call or send an email to:
Shawn Bunney
sbunney@co.pierce.wa.us
253-798-3635
Roger Bush
rbush@co.pierce.wa.us
253-798-6626
Joyce McDonald
joyce.mcdonald@co.pierce.wa.us
253-798-6694
Barbara Gelman
bgelman@co.pierce.wa.us
253-798-6653
Tim Farrell
tfarrel@co.pierce.wa.us
253-798-7590
Dick Muri
dmuri@co.pierce.wa.us
253-798-3308
Terry Lee
terry.lee@co.pierce.wa.us
253-798-6654
Let them know that you value what the Conservation District supports, and that you want to see the Council continue to fund it.
Sincerely,
Terra Organics
Going the Extra Mile
Nov 3rd
A little while ago we received a good question from a customer asking why her box seemed to be a little lighter than usual. This was a good opportunity to talk about the extra effort small farms make to survive. Here’s the conversation:
Question: Can you please tell me why my box is half empty? I’m still paying the same $25 and I’m watching organic produce prices decreasing in the super markets within a reasonable range of non-organic.
Terra Organics: Thank you for your email and your concerns regarding your produce box. We believe your concerns are valid and we wish to provide you with information you will find useful.
We always try to balance value items with other more exciting or specialty items, which tend to cost more. However, we acknowledge that some weeks we don’t strike a good balance. With the new system we are transferring to by the end of the year, full flexibility and customization will be available to you and so it will be possible to buy more value items and less luxury items. We hope that you will find this of value.
You may also find it illuminating that we return an average of 50% more to the farmers than the average retailer does.
As organics has gained popularity, large conventional growers are converting acreage to organic to take advantage of the price premium. They are bringing down the price for organics (which is great) however, this tends to squeeze out the little guys and so we find our small business in competition with much larger operations.
Thank you again for taking the time to write to us. Correspondence and communication such as this helps us to become a better company for you. We look forward to hearing from you again.
Response: I can’t image the challenges it takes to be a farmer in this day and age. I should tell you that I was prepared to cancel my service because I’m not seeing the value for my money. However; I do want to support the smaller farms that go the extra mile and work hard for there profit.
With the knowledge that you do return more to the farmers than a retailer does I will stick with my service for a while longer.
Our Eggs?
Sep 21st
At Terra Organics, we jump on the opportunity to engage with our customers and are always happy to answer any questions about the food products we’re bringing to your doorstep. We just received a question about our Stiebrs Farms organic eggs. The questions:
Are the Organic eggs from Steibrs pastured? Are they allowed to roam outside, grazing in the pastures?
Steibrs’ chickens graze in pastures all day and are brought inside only at night for their safety. Furthermore their production is Certified Humane by Humane Farm Animal Care. From Steibrs:
Our farm fresh Go-Organic eggs come from our special flock of organically raised and grown hens. We mill the feed ourselves, in our own certified organic feed mill, using the finest organic mixture of corn, wheat, barley and soy.
To learn more about Stiebrs Farms, check out their website – http://www.stiebrsfarms.com/. If you have any questions for Terra, go ahead and contact us at info@terra-organics.com.
Local Season, Ahoy!
Aug 27th
Thanks to everyone who came out for the farm tours and potluck at Tahoma Farms last weekend. We are already planning for Harvest Fest, the next event at the farm, which will be October 2nd this year. Stay tuned for more information!
This week we hope to see the first Red Haven Peaches from Cliffside Orchards. If they aren’t able to pick enough this weekend, we will still have peaches and will pick up their peaches the following week.
We do have first of the season local corn! And more beautiful tomatoes, yellow beans, pluots, melons, apples, etc. All WA grown. The next 4 weeks or so mark the height of the local season. Enjoy and thank you for your support!
Member Potluck @ Tahoma Farms THIS SUNDAY!!
Aug 19th
You’re invited to join Terra Organics at Tahoma Farms this Sunday, August 22nd for a very special POTLUCK.
Bring the whole family to the farm for an opportunity to meet the Tahoma Farms family, and other Terra Organics members like you. We’ll set out a veggie tray and have salmon on the bbq. Please bring a dish to share and enjoy a self-guided stroll of the fields, a walk along the Puyallup River, a look at the farm’s operations, and good company.
Guided tours of the farm will be at 2:30pm and 3:30pm, with the potluck dinner starting at 5pm.
Tahoma Farms is located @ 21108 Orville Rd E, Orting, WA, 98360.
Red, White and Blueberries
Jul 1st
We’re a week late with the red, white and blue fruit — but it was a good thing we did wait. Local Raspberries are now available, in addition to local Blueberries (and Rainier Cherries) and deliciously beautiful White Nectarines from California. Enjoy the patriotic splendor next week!
And, come to think of it, a red, white and blue salad is a possibility too! Tender Baby Beets, White Corn and the Blueberries will make the perfect salad topping for the tender Green Butter Lettuce from Tahoma Farms.
