APRIL 2008

We are determined not to let the weather get us down and we hope you will join us in celebrating spring even if Mother Nature is being stubborn. April 25 - 27 we are going to be having a Grand Opening for our new greenhouse. Over 20 local artists will be joining us for Bauman's Greenhouse Gallery. You can check out our website www.baumanfarms.com for a complete list of the artists who will be participating and a sample of some of their work. Bring your friends and join us Saturday morning as Honeywood Winery will be on hand to serve Mimosas and other sparkling wine drinks, and our bakery will be baking up some special treats for you.

This event will be used as a fundraiser for the MS Society of Oregon and all of the proceeds will go directly to families in Oregon affected by this terrible disease. This cause has really hit home for all of us because our great uncle Raymond Zollner lost his battle to the disease last week when he died of a heart attack. Please join us in supporting this great organization that provides hope for families across the state. We learned this year that Oregon for one reason or another has the highest rate of MS in the entire country.

On a lighter note, last weekend Sarah organized a group of people to participate in the MS Walk in downtown Portland and my other sister Cari did the MS Run. Between the two of their efforts they were able to raise over $800. Thank you to all of you who participated and we are already looking forward to next year.

We are very excited about the new classes we will be offering this year. For Christmas this last year I (Brian) got my mom and three sisters each a gift certificate to cooking classes up at Whole Foods in Portland. All of them loved the gift but were disappointed that they had to drive all the way up to Portland. I apologized but told them that I couldn't find anything closer and suddenly the light went off in my head. Cooking Classes would be a great to have on the farm in our new greenhouse.

I am happy to report that with the help of friends we have put together a schedule of cooking classes starting in June. All of the classes will be used to highlight the great produce that is coming in from the fields during that time of the year and help all of us learn how to create gourmet meals with the fresh produce that we grow on the farm. You can check out our website for a schedule of when the classes will be held and look for information to come as we put together the menus. The cost of the class will be $30 but there is a five dollar coupon you can print off on the website and you do need to pre-register for the class. You can do that by dropping us an e-mail or stopping by and signing up at the register. We are so excited!

Unfortunately, because of the weather it looks like our vegetables are going to be a little behind schedule this year. Some of the first vegetables that come in from the field are Rhubarb, Peas, and Spinach. It looks like it will be another two weeks before we start getting any of these in. Dad has already planted three different sections of corn and has the cover cloth over the top protecting them. We also have our carrots, lettuce, broccoli, beets and much more planted. As soon as that sunshine breaks through we will have a ton of stuff coming in from the field.

We are bound and determined not to let the weather get us down. The hanging baskets are absolutely beautiful right now and the tomato and pepper plants are big and beautiful as well. While you need to be careful with your tomato and pepper, many of our other flowering annuals and perennials will take a light frost and are ready to play outside. Stop by the greenhouse and see what we have available.

Please join us in celebrating the grand opening of our new greenhouse April 25 - 27. It is going to be a great time and by purchasing some of the art on display you will be supporting our amazing local talent and also helping families across Oregon who are affected by Multiple Sclerosis. We hope to see all of you there.

The Bauman Family.