BAM members:  you should have received your basket reservation notice by e-mail on Sunday, March 7.  If you didn't, please contact csalittlerock@yahoo.com.

Hello BAM Members:

It's HERE!  Finally after a long, wet and cold winter we are in the process of assembling the first All Arkansas Basket for 2010, making this our 48th basket distribution of local food to six communities in central Arkansas.

I am working very hard to grow food for our 50th basket.  It has been so good to be outside working in the dirt and herding the livestock from Main Street to the back forty.  It has many challenges, but that's why I do what I do.  Never a dull moment on the farm!  I was born to be a farmer!!!

We are still working on the full basket of products.  Beefalo will probably make the 50th basket to tie it all in together.  So in this March basket, by popular demand, we will have bacon. We plan to deliver catfish in our 49th basket.  

I will drive to Mena in Daisy, our refrigerated truck, to visit the dairy and bring back some cold, wholesome milk and butter.  I am looking forward to a peaceful drive and enjoying the beautiful countryside.  The chickens are happily increasing their egg production so we will have one dozen eggs. We'll also have your choice of cheese from Honeysuckle Lane, and if you bring back your reusable clean basket, we will trade for an additional cheese.  We will have shiitake mushrooms, spring mix, and sweet potatoes to name a few more.  You know we like the wonderful surprises so we will have to wait to see the rest of the goodies in your basket. I will also have a Foodshed Farm newsletter filled with news and information about what is expected in the months to come.

I would like to distribute this basket in memory of one of our dear basket members, Marilyn Murphy, who passed away last week and was a loyal supporter for Arkansas local food and BAM. 

RESERVATION PROCEDURE
Please email csalittlerock@yahoo.com with your basket reservation. You must state in your e-mail 1. your full name 2. which day and location you are coming.  Please reserve as soon as possible so we can quickly get accurate orders to our farmers. Thank you.

If you are joining BAM for the first time or renewing by credit card, please use our PayPal option or contact us so that we may run your credit card before basket distribution to cut down on the time you have to wait in line.

PICKUP DATES AND TIMES
HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE
The HSV Certified Arkansas Farmers Market is currently looking for a new location for our source-verified outdoor market and to distribute our All Arkansas Basket-A-Month.  It is with regret that we will not have a Certified Arkansas Farmers Market at the Paul Bewie Center this year.

WEST LITTLE ROCK
Thursday, March 11, 2010
3:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Unitarian Universalist Church parking lot on Reservoir Road

HILLCREST
Friday, March 12, 2010
3:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Pulaski Heights Presbyterian Church on the corner parking lot of Walnut and Woodlawn streets

ARGENTA (North Little Rock)
Saturday, March 13, 2010
8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Certified Arkansas Farmers Market Parking Lot, Main and 6th Street.

CONWAY
Saturday, March 13, 2010
11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Downtown by the Faulkner County Courthouse Most of the baskets are distributed before 12:00 noon. Please come as early as you can. 

SEARCY
Saturday, March 13, 2010
1:30  p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
South end parking lot, Spring Park.

EXTRA PRODUCTS
Extra products may be available so please ask us.  We have a set minimum order we have to make with our farmers and sometimes we do have extras. You may also visit our online market at www.cafm.locallygrown.net to order any additional items we may have listed.  Our online market opens at 6pm Sunday and will close at 7pm on Wednesday.

VOLUNTEERS
Volunteers are always welcome!  We work for food and a good time.  If you would like to volunteer, please email us and we will gladly put you on our team.  We need volunteers Thursday and Friday anytime from 2pm to 6pm and Saturday from 7am to 3pm.  After 10:30am we pull out of Argenta and make a loop to Conway and Searcy and back to Argenta. 

NEW MEMBERS
Welcome to BAM. We hope you have read our rules and procedures. After you receive your first basket, you are asked to bring your glass milk bottle and basket back when you pick up your next basket and you will receive an extra half pound of raw milk cheese. Please take care of your baskets, we reuse them and we cannot use baskets that have been stored outside or are dirty. Thank you.

If you have not joined BAM, you may get in on this month's basket if you join before 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 11, 2010. Visit our online signup at www.ArkansasFood.net/eshop.php to join, or contact Sandra at csalittlerock@yahoo.com.

Thank you for your ongoing support of local foods!

Barbara Armstrong

Sandra Poe
Jody Hardin
Foodshed Farm
www.ArkansasFood.net
csalittlerock@yahoo.com
www.cafm.locallygrown.net