Availability for April 9

The growers have been using the break in the much-needed rain to work in their beds, get seeds and transplants in the ground, and otherwise try to get a little caught up. We’re expecting a couple nights of freezing temperatures this week, though, so don’t let the warm days fool you! Unless you’ve got some protection, you’ll need to hold off putting out those tomato plants just a little longer. The average last frost day for Athens is around the 15th of April, but local microclimates can make that date meaningless. At my place , for example, last year was the first year in the last seven that we didn’t get a frost in the second week of May. Backyard Harvest has a similar last date for their farm, so you just have to keep an eye on things, just in case.

Those of you who have been ordering breads from Black Cow Coffeehouse will notice something a little different this week. Black Cow has decided to stop making breads under their name, but their baker is continuing to bake, in the exact same ovens with the exact same recipes. You’ll now find the loaf breads listed under the name “Fred’s Breads”. Several of you also noticed the Crunchy Spelt bread hasn’t been available lately. The cost of spelt has suddenly skyrocketed such that the cost for ingredients alone would be near $10 a loaf. So, until either the price drops down or another supplier of equally high quality spelt can be found, that bread is off the list.

Many more of you have been asking about the progress toward finding a new location. I’ve been taking my time looking for a new place, since it looks like we have at least three months or so where we are (and actually, the sale process could drag on for years in this economy). I haven’t yet found a place that has everything we’d like, but there is one potential site that is close to perfect except for one little thing… it is out near the mall. If we were to move out there, how would that affect you? Would be be less likely to order from us if we were that far from downtown?

And now on to this week’s list. I see a number of new items this week, and I’m excited about the great variety of fresh herbs that are now again available. I hope you find a number of things you like, too.

Thanks for all your support! We’ll see you on Thursday from 4:30 to 8pm at the old market on Broad Street.