Suwanee Whole Life Co-op

Our Website: suwanee.locallygrown.net
Pick Up Location: 4942 Austin Park Avenue, Buford GA 30518 on Tuesdays
Like Us on Facebook: Suwanee Whole Life Co-op

Have a question for other co-op members? Submit questions on our Google Group Discussion Board: https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/suwanee-whole-life-co-op

New Farm : Wagon Wheel Ranch – Grass Fed Beef

I am very happy to welcome Fred Liebl of Wagon Wheel Ranch to our family of growers and producers!

I met with Fred last week on his beautiful, green 200 acre family farm and was very impressed with his accomplishments. Wagon Wheel Ranch is certified by the American Grassfed Association as well as Animal Welfare Approved (AWA)for humane production and harvesting of beef cattle. His processor is AWA approved. AWA is the only certification and food label in the U.S. and Canada that guarantees food products come from animals fed a 100% grass and forage diet, raised entirely outdoors on pasture or range, and managed according to the highest welfare and environmental standards on an independent family farm.

Wagon Wheel Ranch’s beef cattle are antibiotic free, hormone free, all natural, grass fed, grass finished, free range, Black Angus cross bred. Fred raises a three-way cross of Santa Gertrudis, Hereford and the popular Angus breed. The Santa Gertrudis breed are known to be good mothers. Herefords have a gentle disposition and a high-yield carcass, while Black Angus cattle are known for their high-quality, tender meat. Fred finds the three breeds perform extremely well in pasture-based farming systems.

Fred uses a sustainable pasture rotation system with natural shade and fresh water available at all times. In rotational grazing systems, such as the one utilized at Wagon Wheel Ranch, the cattle graze one section of pasture at a time before being moved to fresh fields. This type of management allows grass to recover before cattle return to graze again; it also keeps the soil naturally fertilized and minimizes the build-up of internal parasites, thereby avoiding reliance on chemical treatments.

Fred provides all of his animals’ nutrition on-farm by ensuring his cattle have access to the most nutritious grasses during the wet season and rye grass silage to supplement their diet during times when there’s not enough grass. This system allows his animals to receive excellent nutrition during times of drought and eliminates the need to purchase expensive, lower-quality feed for his cattle.

From Wagon Wheel Farm: “We love our cows and treat them humanely with respect and kindness.

Fred will be providing grass fed beef weekly starting this weekend!

New Farm: Rockin’ H Farm

Just had an initial farm visit today and I’m very excited to welcome Amanda & Tyler Hall of Rockin’ H Farm to our family of growers and producers! Rockin’ H Farm is a small family farm located Statham, GA. It is their mission to supply local families with locally grown, natural, non-gmo, sustainable, and pesticide free vegetables, meats, eggs, honey, and fiber.

They currently raise Heritage Ancona Ducks, various species laying chickens, Lamancha dairy goats, Silver Fox Rabbits, huacaya alpaca, Great Pyrenees LGDs, bees, and a small garden.

They have also just obtained the neighboring 10 acres, doubling their current size to 20 acres that will allow for several more opportunities for the future!

They will be providing the co-op pastured duck eggs and chicken eggs on a weekly basis starting this weekend*.

Farm Tour: Back in Time Farm- UPDATE

MARK YOUR CALENDARS! We will tour Back in Time Farm on Sunday, April 17th from 2pm to 4pm. This is a great opportunity for you and your family to meet your farmer and see where your food comes from! Come see their chickens, goats, baby cows and gardens! All the animals are kid friendly but we ask that you supervise the little ones.

UPDATE
HAY RIDE will be provided for little ones and those that can’t walk for long periods of time! Back in Time will have a tractor pulled hayride during the tour. Please RSVP soon so they will know if they need a 2nd one. Feel free to bring a snack to have by the gentle flowing creek at the back of the property.

Please RSVP if you can make it. I have added a category on the market called “Farm Tours -RSVP” and would like you to add to your cart as an order if you want to attend.

The farm address is 40 Arnold Rd SE, Statham GA 30666 (about 50 minutes from Suwanee)

Hope to see you there!!

Group Buy: MAPLE SYRUP – Grade B

It’s finally Maple Syrup time again! Thank goodness for an early Spring in Pennsylvania! I’ve talked to Joseph and he’s tapping trees and ready for us to send our order. We only order once a year so you do not want to miss out!

This weekend I will be taking orders for organically produced Maple Syrup – Grade B, Unfiltered Grade B Maple Syrup, Maple Sugar, Maple Mustard and other products from Old State Farms in Northern Pennsylvania. This is a seasonal product and we only order once a year!

If a gallon is too much for your family and you want to split a gallon, I suggest posting on our Facebook page or using our Google Discussion board to post your request. We just need 1 person to order and submit payment. You will have to divide among yourselves. This worked out really well for folks last year.

My family easily goes through a gallon each year. This is a delicious nutrient dense traditional sweetener that has many uses besides a great pancake syrup. Use it in smoothies, glazes for salmon & chicken, marinades, yogurt & ice cream topping, maple butter, vinaigrettes,and baking.

I also buy a gallon and put in pint and quart mason jars with a pretty ribbon to give as gifts. Old State Farms Maple syrup will last 18 months refrigerated because it is so fresh.

The maple syrup and other maple products are organically produced, no chemicals, formaldehyde-free, no sprays or synthetic fertilizers used on trees, evaporator is stainless steel (lead free) and they practice Low Impact Maple Production.

What is unfiltered maple syrup?
Maple Sap is tree’s the primary source for nutrients. When the tree’s root system begins pumping sap up the trunk to feed the tree in early spring it brings with it many nutrients and minerals (Thiamine, Riboflavin, Niacin, Pantothenic Acid, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium, Sodium, Zinc, Copper, Manganese & Selenium). Old State Farms collect the sap and boils off water until the syrup reaches the proper density (66.7brix). During the boiling process only the water evaporates. Not only does the sugar concentration increase, so does the mineral concentration. These minerals begin to collect to one another and form small granules (known to syrup makers as “sugar sand” or niter). This “sugar sand”, given this name because of its light blond color and slightly gritty texture, is then filtered out of the maple syrup. Unless you have asked for it specifically from a producer, any syrup you will find will be the filtered variety and look very clear.
In a nutshell unfiltered syrup is pure maple syrup with all the minerals and nutrients that were present when the sap was collected from the tree. It tastes the same and looks the same but will have a cloudy rather than clear appearance.

Joseph Burkett and his family has been producing maple syrup on their farm since 2001.

This is a pre-order and payment will be due at next week’s pick up or you can mail your check. Our order will take several weeks since Joseph is still tapping the trees. It will also arrive via freight so it takes longer than FedEx.

I will contact you as we get closer to a delivery date.

Market News

Fry Farm is officially back on the market!! We are so happy to have their local, beautiful, delicious, Certified Naturally Grown produce back on our market!
We are planning to have a farm tour in conjunction with a roastery tour at Java Genesis tentatively on April 24th so look for details about that coming soon!

NEW ITEMS!
Grass Fed Beef – Steaks :Filet Mignon, T-Bone, Sirloin, Rib eye, New York Strip, Cubed Steak, ground beef, stew meat, liver, soup bones and more.

Vidalia Ginger Jam from Rapid Gourmet

Beeswax Moisturizer from B&B Honey

Vendor of the Day: Southern Essentials on Tuesday

Erin and Mark from Southern Essentials will be our Vendor of the Day this Tuesday during pick up. They will be there to answer any of your questions about essential oils. They will bring their essential oils, handcrafted soaps and other products for you to check out and/or purchase.

Volunteers Needed

WE NEED Volunteers for the 3pm and 4pm shifts this upcoming Tuesday!!

Please consider volunteering during market pick up. I can’t run the co-op without your help!

THANK YOU Pam, Marie, Diana, Chuck, and Cindy for helping out on Tuesday! We couldn’t run the co-op without your support!

The schedule through the end of the year is posted. To sign up click: Vounteer Sign up

No packing is involved just need someone to be there to assist other members. You are welcome to bring your kids as long as they are supervised.

FACEBOOK – Opportunity to help!
Many of you have told me that you can’t volunteer due to your work/family schedule and I completely understand. You’ve also asked what else can I do help out the co-op? Here’s one way that will really help us out – if you are on Facebook or other social media please consider posting a pic of your co-op goodies! I have a very limited marketing budget and really depend on word of mouth advertising. Please feel free to spread the word about our wonderful market! Tag us @SuwaneeWholeLife

Thank you in advance for your support!

Upcoming Group Buys/Vendors of the Day

Below is a list of upcoming co-op group buys to help with planning and budgeting. All dates are subject to change.

Plastic Milk Carriers 3/25 – 3/27

Wilderness Family Naturals (Coconut Oil and organic pantry items) 3/25 – 3/27

Green Pasture – FCLO 4/8 – 4/11

Collagen/Gelatin -TBD April

Old State Farms – Maple Syrup – Grade B – 3/18 – 3/27

Upcoming VENDOR OF THE DAY:
Southern Essentials 3/22

Wellness Partner’s offers and events

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We thank you for your interest and support of our efforts to bring you the healthiest, the freshest and the most delicious locally-produced foods possible!