The Weblog
This weblog contains LocallyGrown.net news and the weblog entries from all the markets currently using the system.
To visit the authoring market’s website, click on the market name located in the entry’s title.
Heirloom Living Market Hamilton Mill: Tidbits and Reminder to Order!
We have Strawberries!!
Last year, we didn’t have many Strawberries available! This year, we are truly blessed to have those plump, juicy, sweet fruits available from:
Back River Farm
Burnell Farms
Watsonia Farms
Last year, we didn’t have many Strawberries available! This year, we are truly blessed to have those plump, juicy, sweet fruits available from:
Back River Farm
Burnell Farms
Watsonia Farms
Organic Strawberries are available in quarts from Burnell Farms and quarts and/or gallons from Back River Farm (Farmers’ Sales Table this week and on Market starting next week) and Watsonia Farms!
What could be better than a taste of Spring in the Fall or Winter? You can easily preserve Strawberries by freezing them or dehydrating.
Freezing your Strawberries? Wash and rinse and set out on paper towels to dry. Once the berries are dry, put on cookie sheet and place it in the freezer. After berries are frozen, place them in a mason jar or plastic bag and return them to the freezer!
Dehydrating? Wash and rinse your Strawberries. Slice large berries in thirds (lengthwise) and small berries in half. You want a similar thickness so they will all be done at the same time. Place on dehydrator trays and follow directions for fruit dehydrating for your particular machine.
Strawberry Candy anyone? Wash and rinse your berries and place on paper towels. Place Coconut Sugar, Honey or your choice of sweetener in bowl. Dip Strawberry slice in sweetener and place on dehydrator trays. follow directions for fruit dehydrating for your particular machine.
My plan is to purchase some every week while they are available and become a ‘Dehydrating Fool’! I will also freeze some to ensure enjoyment of this wonderful fruit during the winter season…which is a perfect segue into..
Market Closes at 8:00pm TONIGHT!
Thank you to those who have already placed orders!
Crossfit / Lawrenceville Market Pickup Hours
You may pick up the items you ordered starting at 2:30pm. Market will end at 5:30pm; however, you may pickup later if you have contacted me and you make payment prior to pickup. We now have other payments options available. Please call me on Monday and I will discuss the other options with you and answer any questions. You can reach me at 404-432-4337.
Please be assured that we are doing everything we can to provide you with what you want from the local Farmers/Growers and Producers; but, please understand that Buying Local means supporting those who are committed to providing ‘Local’!
Offerings you
definitely want to check out…
Remember I told you about the ‘whoops’ in the Amish Cereal orders last week? All of that is now straightened out; however, we ended up with 1 extra. Although it does contain wheat, it is Organic, so I decided to purchase the extra one. All I can say is WOW! What a treat! I tried it dry as a snack – Win! I tried it as a cereal – Win! I put it as a topping on a salad – Double WIN! Be sure and grab some Amish Cereal while it is on Special! I am hearing very good reviews on the Amish Noodles also, so you may want to include those in your order while they are on Special.
Greg Hutchins of Heritage Farm has outstanding grass-fed Meats! On Special this week: 1/2 Beef and 1/4 Beef Shares! Great opportunity to stock your freezer! Be sure and check it out. Soup Bones are also on Special! Great Bone Broth! If you have questions, please contact Farmer Greg directly at 770-377-5380.
Turkeys and Turkey products that were ordered last week will be delivered this Thursday! Turkey Necks and Ground Turkey are also available.
Dabrielle of My Daily Bread has two Specials for us this week! Hot Pepper Cheese Log and Spelt Tortillas! The Cheese Log has a ‘tad’ of a bite to it, but trust me, it is mild! It is rolled in fresh Georgia Pecans! Yummy! Make some Chips from your Spelt Tortillas and smear some Cheese Log on them! Good snack!
Ricky of Back River Farm is back this week with a Splash of Strawberries! These will be offered only on the Farmers’ Sales Table this week and will appear on the Market Menu next week! Boy are they YUMMY! Ricky’s Certified Naturally Grown, farm, Back River Farm has provided us with Veggies and Berries since Market inception! Ricky has expanded his operation this year and will be bringing us lots of green veggie goodness as well as some fruits! Welcome Back, ‘Farmer Brown’! We are glad to have you!
Burnell Farms is going strong bringing us some great veggies and now Tammy and Bill are offering: Strawberries and everyone who saw them last week was envious of those who ordered them! Veggies available include: Asparagus, Baby Spinach, Beets, Broccoli, 2 varieties of Cauliflower, Fennel, Kale, 4 varieties of Lettuces, ‘Crookneck’ Squash, Swiss Chard, Green Tomatoes and Black Skinned Zucchini!
Vicky of Fry Farm is offering this week! Asparagus, Leeks, ‘Cherry Belle’ Radishes, ‘French Breakfast’ Radishes, Hakurei Turnips and ‘Red Kitten’ Spinach! Our very own Sarah Rockey is helping out at Fry Farm this year!
Doug of Doug’s Garden is back with his Garden Boxes! This week it is ‘Spring Vegetables and Herbs! In the history of the Market, Doug’s Veggie Boxes have always been a great hit with Market Members! I expect the same this year. Always a great variety and LOTS of yummy veggies and herbs! Look for them weekly starting this week! Doug is also offering: Green Garlic, Leaf Lettuce Salad Mix, Spicy Salad Mix and Young and Tender Spinach!
Grow With the Flow is the brainchild of brothers Reggie and Roger Ramos. They are located in the city of Tucker and are Certified Naturally Grown! Reggie and Roger have been at the Lilburn Market since last summer and this Spring have expanded their operation to include the Crossfit Market. Please check out their Vegetable offerings.
The Veggie Patch is offering: Fruit Seedlings, Herb Seedlings, Veggie Seedlings, Fresh Herbs, Medicinal Herbs, Sauces, Pickles and lots of fresh Veggies. Be sure and check out all of their items!
Marie of Bakery on Brooks is still on hiatus this week and will return to us next week! I am running low on my Gluten Free Bread and goodies and look forward to her return!
Dabrielle of My Daily Bread provides us with delicious traditional wheat based Organic Baked Goods! From Challah, Sourdough, Ezekiel and other yummy Breads to Sweet Breads, Cookies, Jams and Jellies, Cheese Dips and Pasta Salads, Dabrielle is passionate about quality! Be sure and get your order in before close of Market! Be sure and check out her Specials!
Kathy Barnes is the Coordinator of the Lilburn Market as well as the owner of So-Koi. Kathy is an excellent seamstress and has Retro Aprons, Lanyards, Pillowcases, Checkbook Covers, Tissue Holders on the Market. She is passionate about living naturally and makes every effort to live ‘green’! Although always concerned about the use of plastic in our lives, further research lead Kathy to the decision that she wants to eliminate it as much as possible! To assist in this goal, she has created muslin Veggie Storage Bags and is now offering them at Market! Check them out on the Market and on the Farmers’ Sales Table this week at each Market! For more information about plastic and it’s horrible, destructive and toxic effects in our world and the ecosystem, click the link. This documentary is available on Netflix!
Kathy is also offering Turmeric and Cinnamon on the Market. Both are wonderful spice with medicinal components and qualities. (and the glass jars she offers these products in are just adorable!) Kathy is also offering Coconut Sugar This sweetener is an excellent alternative to some others. Its low glycemic index and full, rich flavor make it my favorite sugar, both for baking and adding a touch of sweetness to my coffee. It is listed under “Seasonings”.
Back River Farm
Burnell Farms
Doug’s Garden
Fry Farm
Grow with the Flow
The Veggie Patch
Milk
Cedar Rock Dairy (Cow)
Little Tots Estate (Goat)
Eggs
Rocky Acres
Little Tots Estate (Organic, Soy Free, pastured chickens) on Farmers’ Sale Table only
Bakery
Bakery on Brooks (Gluten Free/Organic)
My Daily Bread (Organic)
Grass Fed Meats
Carrell Farms
Heritage Farm
Microgreens
Cedar Seeder
Natural Products
Carrell Farms
Dances With Bees
Low Low Knows Bones
So-Koi
Handmade Items
Carrell Farms
Dances With Bees
Peacefield Farm
So-Koi
Flours/Grains/Salt/Seasonings/Sweeteners
My Daily Bread
So-Koi
Markets close at 8:00pm Monday. Please remember that minimums must be met for each Market to ensure delivery by our Farmers! Be sure and get your order in and thank you for supporting our LOCAL Farmers!
Pickup at Crossfit Market
Pickup Day and Time: Thursday 2:30pm – 5:30pm (later by appt only!)
Pickup Location: Crossfit O-Zone
519 Hurricane Shoals Road NE
Lawrenceville, GA 30046
Click Here for Map
Pickup Day and Time: Thursday 2:30 – 4:30pm
Pickup Location:
Hamilton Mill Community Clubhouse
1669 Hamilton Mill Parkway
Dacula, GA 30019
Click Here for Map
Pickup Day and Time: Thursday, 4:30pm – 6:30pm
Pickup Location: All Saints Lutheran Church
722 Rockbridge Road, SW
Lilburn, GA 30047
Click Here for Map
Azure Standard
Azure Standard Order Deadline: Tuesday, May 19th 6:00pm
This Group on Facebook will keep you up to date on the “happenings” with this service!
Azure Standard Lawrenceville Drop Information: My Azure Standard Drop Lawrenceville
…this and that…
I apologize for the lateness of this email. Due to roommate situation, I had to be out of the house this past weekend. I stayed at a small Campground (yes, the Black Lab went too) and had NO CELL coverage and spotty, WIFI!
Thank you for taking the time to read this bit of information!
Order now since you are just a click way!
BUY LOCAL ~ Know your Farmer!
Heirloom Living Market Lawrenceville : Reminder to Order and Tidbits!
We have Strawberries!!
Last year, we didn’t have many Strawberries available! This year, we are truly blessed to have those plump, juicy, sweet fruits available from:
Back River Farm
Burnell Farms
Watsonia Farms
Last year, we didn’t have many Strawberries available! This year, we are truly blessed to have those plump, juicy, sweet fruits available from:
Back River Farm
Burnell Farms
Watsonia Farms
Organic Strawberries are available in quarts from Burnell Farms and quarts and/or gallons from Back River Farm (Farmers’ Sales Table this week and on Market starting next week) and Watsonia Farms!
What could be better than a taste of Spring in the Fall or Winter? You can easily preserve Strawberries by freezing them or dehydrating.
Freezing your Strawberries? Wash and rinse and set out on paper towels to dry. Once the berries are dry, put on cookie sheet and place it in the freezer. After berries are frozen, place them in a mason jar or plastic bag and return them to the freezer!
Dehydrating? Wash and rinse your Strawberries. Slice large berries in thirds (lengthwise) and small berries in half. You want a similar thickness so they will all be done at the same time. Place on dehydrator trays and follow directions for fruit dehydrating for your particular machine.
Strawberry Candy anyone? Wash and rinse your berries and place on paper towels. Place Coconut Sugar, Honey or your choice of sweetener in bowl. Dip Strawberry slice in sweetener and place on dehydrator trays. follow directions for fruit dehydrating for your particular machine.
My plan is to purchase some every week while they are available and become a ‘Dehydrating Fool’! I will also freeze some to ensure enjoyment of this wonderful fruit during the winter season…which is a perfect segue into..
Market Closes at 8:00pm TONIGHT!
Thank you to those who have already placed orders!
Crossfit / Lawrenceville Market Pickup Hours
You may pick up the items you ordered starting at 2:30pm. Market will end at 5:30pm; however, you may pickup later if you have contacted me and you make payment prior to pickup. We now have other payments options available. Please call me on Monday and I will discuss the other options with you and answer any questions. You can reach me at 404-432-4337.
Please be assured that we are doing everything we can to provide you with what you want from the local Farmers/Growers and Producers; but, please understand that Buying Local means supporting those who are committed to providing ‘Local’!
Offerings you
definitely want to check out…
Remember I told you about the ‘whoops’ in the Amish Cereal orders last week? All of that is now straightened out; however, we ended up with 1 extra. Although it does contain wheat, it is Organic, so I decided to purchase the extra one. All I can say is WOW! What a treat! I tried it dry as a snack – Win! I tried it as a cereal – Win! I put it as a topping on a salad – Double WIN! Be sure and grab some Amish Cereal while it is on Special! I am hearing very good reviews on the Amish Noodles also, so you may want to include those in your order while they are on Special.
Greg Hutchins of Heritage Farm has outstanding grass-fed Meats! On Special this week: 1/2 Beef and 1/4 Beef Shares! Great opportunity to stock your freezer! Be sure and check it out. Soup Bones are also on Special! Great Bone Broth! If you have questions, please contact Farmer Greg directly at 770-377-5380.
Turkeys and Turkey products that were ordered last week will be delivered this Thursday! Turkey Necks and Ground Turkey are also available.
Dabrielle of My Daily Bread has two Specials for us this week! Hot Pepper Cheese Log and Spelt Tortillas! The Cheese Log has a ‘tad’ of a bite to it, but trust me, it is mild! It is rolled in fresh Georgia Pecans! Yummy! Make some Chips from your Spelt Tortillas and smear some Cheese Log on them! Good snack!
Ricky of Back River Farm is back this week with a Splash of Strawberries! These will be offered only on the Farmers’ Sales Table this week and will appear on the Market Menu next week! Boy are they YUMMY! Ricky’s Certified Naturally Grown, farm, Back River Farm has provided us with Veggies and Berries since Market inception! Ricky has expanded his operation this year and will be bringing us lots of green veggie goodness as well as some fruits! Welcome Back, ‘Farmer Brown’! We are glad to have you!
Burnell Farms is going strong bringing us some great veggies and now Tammy and Bill are offering: Strawberries and everyone who saw them last week was envious of those who ordered them! Veggies available include: Asparagus, Baby Spinach, Beets, Broccoli, 2 varieties of Cauliflower, Fennel, Kale, 4 varieties of Lettuces, ‘Crookneck’ Squash, Swiss Chard, Green Tomatoes and Black Skinned Zucchini!
Vicky of Fry Farm is offering this week! Asparagus, Leeks, ‘Cherry Belle’ Radishes, ‘French Breakfast’ Radishes, Hakurei Turnips and ‘Red Kitten’ Spinach! Our very own Sarah Rockey is helping out at Fry Farm this year!
Doug of Doug’s Garden is back with his Garden Boxes! This week it is ‘Spring Vegetables and Herbs! In the history of the Market, Doug’s Veggie Boxes have always been a great hit with Market Members! I expect the same this year. Always a great variety and LOTS of yummy veggies and herbs! Look for them weekly starting this week! Doug is also offering: Green Garlic, Leaf Lettuce Salad Mix, Spicy Salad Mix and Young and Tender Spinach!
Grow With the Flow is the brainchild of brothers Reggie and Roger Ramos. They are located in the city of Tucker and are Certified Naturally Grown! Reggie and Roger have been at the Lilburn Market since last summer and this Spring have expanded their operation to include the Crossfit Market. Please check out their Vegetable offerings.
The Veggie Patch is offering: Fruit Seedlings, Herb Seedlings, Veggie Seedlings, Fresh Herbs, Medicinal Herbs, Sauces, Pickles and lots of fresh Veggies. Be sure and check out all of their items!
Marie of Bakery on Brooks is still on hiatus this week and will return to us next week! I am running low on my Gluten Free Bread and goodies and look forward to her return!
Dabrielle of My Daily Bread provides us with delicious traditional wheat based Organic Baked Goods! From Challah, Sourdough, Ezekiel and other yummy Breads to Sweet Breads, Cookies, Jams and Jellies, Cheese Dips and Pasta Salads, Dabrielle is passionate about quality! Be sure and get your order in before close of Market! Be sure and check out her Specials!
Kathy Barnes is the Coordinator of the Lilburn Market as well as the owner of So-Koi. Kathy is an excellent seamstress and has Retro Aprons, Lanyards, Pillowcases, Checkbook Covers, Tissue Holders on the Market. She is passionate about living naturally and makes every effort to live ‘green’! Although always concerned about the use of plastic in our lives, further research lead Kathy to the decision that she wants to eliminate it as much as possible! To assist in this goal, she has created muslin Veggie Storage Bags and is now offering them at Market! Check them out on the Market and on the Farmers’ Sales Table this week at each Market! For more information about plastic and it’s horrible, destructive and toxic effects in our world and the ecosystem, click the link. This documentary is available on Netflix!
Kathy is also offering Turmeric and Cinnamon on the Market. Both are wonderful spice with medicinal components and qualities. (and the glass jars she offers these products in are just adorable!) Kathy is also offering Coconut Sugar This sweetener is an excellent alternative to some others. Its low glycemic index and full, rich flavor make it my favorite sugar, both for baking and adding a touch of sweetness to my coffee. It is listed under “Seasonings”.
Back River Farm
Burnell Farms
Doug’s Garden
Fry Farm
Grow with the Flow
The Veggie Patch
Milk
Cedar Rock Dairy (Cow)
Little Tots Estate (Goat)
Eggs
Rocky Acres
Little Tots Estate (Organic, Soy Free, pastured chickens) on Farmers’ Sale Table only
Bakery
Bakery on Brooks (Gluten Free/Organic)
My Daily Bread (Organic)
Grass Fed Meats
Carrell Farms
Heritage Farm
Microgreens
Cedar Seeder
Natural Products
Carrell Farms
Dances With Bees
Low Low Knows Bones
So-Koi
Handmade Items
Carrell Farms
Dances With Bees
Peacefield Farm
So-Koi
Flours/Grains/Salt/Seasonings/Sweeteners
My Daily Bread
So-Koi
Markets close at 8:00pm Monday. Please remember that minimums must be met for each Market to ensure delivery by our Farmers! Be sure and get your order in and thank you for supporting our LOCAL Farmers!
Pickup at Crossfit Market
Pickup Day and Time: Thursday 2:30pm – 5:30pm (later by appt only!)
Pickup Location: Crossfit O-Zone
519 Hurricane Shoals Road NE
Lawrenceville, GA 30046
Click Here for Map
Pickup Day and Time: Thursday 2:30 – 4:30pm
Pickup Location:
Hamilton Mill Community Clubhouse
1669 Hamilton Mill Parkway
Dacula, GA 30019
Click Here for Map
Pickup Day and Time: Thursday, 4:30pm – 6:30pm
Pickup Location: All Saints Lutheran Church
722 Rockbridge Road, SW
Lilburn, GA 30047
Click Here for Map
Azure Standard
Azure Standard Order Deadline: Tuesday, May 19th 6:00pm
This Group on Facebook will keep you up to date on the “happenings” with this service!
Azure Standard Lawrenceville Drop Information: My Azure Standard Drop Lawrenceville
…this and that…
I apologize for the lateness of this email. Due to roommate situation, I had to be out of the house this past weekend. I stayed at a small Campground (yes, the Black Lab went too) and had NO CELL coverage and spotty, WIFI!
Thank you for taking the time to read this bit of information!
Order now since you are just a click way!
BUY LOCAL ~ Know your Farmer!
Joyful Noise Acres Farm: Important notice.
Many of our vendors require a minimum amount ordered to be able to justify delivering to our co-op. Orders have been low for Cedar Rock Dairy over the last month. Unfortunately, if our orders don’t increase we will lose this wonderful vendor. We have not been able to find milk to compare to Cedar Rock.
It takes a lot of work to provide the quality of the products found on our market. The growers and artisans offer us the best products to support the healthy choices we are making. Please consider showing your support for these vendors by ordering their products. Your food dollars matter greatly to these vendors.
When we established this on-line market, it was a way to centralize your food gathering. Bring the farmers to you versus you finding each farmer and running around to source food. Also, we operate on a trust level. We know the farmers practices and they are completely open about how they raise their produce, animals and make their products. You can trust you are getting what you pay for. The same cannot be said for what you buy at the grocery store or even some local produce stores.
Thank you,
Mary Beth
Princeton Farm Fresh: Clarification
The Market will not be open the week of the 22nd. That is the Friday we have graduation starting. Sorry about the confusion. I ran in to write this post from the water line issues.
Angela
Princeton Farm Fresh: The Market is Open
I am always amazed at how fast the weather changes here in Kentucky. I am grateful for the Spring, but always wish it would stay a bit longer. This year it seems we went from a short Spring right into Summer.
This Mother’s Day was spent putting in water lines to the garden and greenhouse. In typical Magney fashion we bought the wrong parts and we still do not have water running. Ugh! Hoping very soon to have water to the house and the gardens, or I will become very smelly quick.
Next week we have two of our kiddos graduating so we will not be open on Friday. I hope that you can understand our desire to be at both of their graduations. One on Friday evening and one on Saturday morning. It looks to be a very busy busy weekend.
I look forward to seeing everyone on Friday,
Angela
Martin's Farmstand: Sprouts and seeds
I have lots of glad bulbs to make your place pretty. 1/2 bushel of our homegrown bulbs can be yours for only $25. We also have lots of asparagus and spinach. Through the rest of May is the best time to get asparagus orders in for your freezer needs. That hot weather last week was kind of rough for the little transplants that were set out but the corn and bean seed loved it. As for this farmer- he would rather work in the cool. I do not envy the gardners that live in the south. In normal spring weather it can be a challenge to get heat loving seeds such as corn, squash and beans to sprout. This is especially a problem for those of us that do not use treated seed. A little trick that makes a big differance is to watch the weather forcast for 3 days of bright sunny, dry weather and then plant the seed fairly deep (down to moist dirt) When it is sunny the soil is warming but as soon as it cloudy the cold from deep down is pushing back up. As soon as the seed has sprouted it is somewhat safe from rot etc and it does not matter so much if it gets cool again. Frost does not matter as long as the sprouts have not come up. Daniel
GFM : Missed Chance
Good Sunshine Monday,
If you didn’t make the mothers day celebration. You really missed a great day. We had over 19 vendors. We had a lot of nice things to purchase for mothers day.
Several new vendors have joined us this year, with a lot of really good stuff. They will all be getting on line shortly to offer everyone a chance to shop both here and at the physical market.
When orders are place here they can be picked up at the physical market.
THIS YEAR WE WILL BE OPENING ON WEDNESDAY FROM 3 TO 6 PM STARTING ON MAY 27TH. There will be quite a few vendors setting up on wed. so please come by and support your local farmers and talented artist.
Have a great day,
j. shelton
Athens Locally Grown: ALG Market Open for May 14
Athens Locally Grown
How to contact us:
Our Website: athens.locallygrown.net
On Twitter: @athlocallygrown
On Facebook: www.facebook.com/athenslocallygrown
On Thursdays: Here’s a map.
Market News
A special hello to all the mothers out there this week! I hope your families treated you to something a little above and beyond this weekend.
This is by far the busiest time of the year for our farmers. They’re out working in the fields weeding and harvesting the delicate spring veggies, trying to protect them from the daytime heat. It’s a challenge to give them enough cool water and shade to keep the greens crisp during the day when it’s over 90 degrees in the afternoon. At the same time, they’re putting in all the seedlings and seeds necessary to maintain a steady supply of summer veggies for the months ahead. They’re preparing beds, thinning seeds, watching over starts in the greenhouse, doing their best to keep bugs off the new growth, and doing what they can to shelter them rom the cool night air. While doing all this, they’re going to the many farmers markets that are all now up and running. Some of them attend three or four markets a week, including ALG. Some of them even more.
We’ve gotten a taste of summer these last few days. It looks like things might cool off a bit this week, all the way down to the mere middle eighties. All this heat came right as the strawberries were coming ripe, and they really don’t care for that at all. I’m hopeful that slightly cooler temps will keep them around for a little while. I’ve missed my yearly berry gorging.
Thanks so much for your support of Athens Locally Grown, all of our growers, local food, and our rights to eat it. You all are part of what makes Athens such a great area in which to live. We’ll see you on Thursday at Ben’s Bikes at the corner of Pope and Broad Streets from 4:30 to 8pm!
Other Area Farmers Markets
The Athens Farmers Market is open on Saturdays at Bishop Park and Wednesday afternoons downtown at Creature Comforts. You can catch the news on their website. The West Broad Farmers Market from the Athens Land Trust is open Saturday mornings and their farm stand is open Tuesday afternoons. They have a website too.A new Athens Sunday market has just opened up at the Classic Center, every Sunday from 11 to 4 now through October. They have a website here: http://www.sundaycentermarket.com. The Comer Farmers Market is open in downtown Comer on Saturday mornings. The Oconee County farmers market is open Saturday mornings in front of the Oconee County Courthouse in Watkinsville. The Shields Ethridge Cultivator Market is held monthly in Jefferson. If you know of any markets operating, please let me know.
All of these other markets are separate from ALG (including the Athens Farmers Market) but many growers sell at multiple markets. Please support your local farmers and food producers, where ever you’re able to do so!
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!
Northeast Georgia Locally Grown: Locally Grown - Availability for May 13th , 2015
Hey Local Food Lovers,
Hope everyone had a Happy Mother’s Day! For our family we had lots and lots of fun things to eat for this….our first mother’s day. It all started on Friday with the thawing of two pork chops from Wauka Meadows while we went for a quick jog before the thunderstorm came through. Once thawed I did my favorite pork chop preparation which is simply chopped fresh thyme and rosemary (it’ll be mainly the rosemary that carries through) rubbed on the chops with a little olive oil and then some fresh ground pepper. I let them sit that way for a half hour to let the flavors soak in. Then onto the grill for just a minute or so on high to sear the meat on both sides, then down to low for a nice long slow cook.
As a side we tried something new. We had beet greens from Trillium Farms (those came from the Clarkesville Farmers Market not Locally Grown, we like to get around to all the local food we can find if you know what I mean), beets from Mountain Earth, and oranges from …..o.k. from the grocery store….but what did you expect…..we can’t grow oranges around here. I had a vague idea of beet orange salad but had never had one. It’s so simple and beautiful it’s perfect. First, everyone should know how to properly roast a beet, and I don’t mean bake it to death where it’s all dried out. I learned this from Alice Waters. You simply take a baking dish or pan and put just a little bit of water in the bottom, enough to cover the bottom of the pan (.25 inch let’s say or a little more) then add the beet roots, then put foil over the top, bake on 400 for about 45 minutes. Beets will come out tender to the fork. You can peel if you like. I just ran cool water on them to cool them down fast chopped them up in a bowl, then parboiled the beet greens (that just means flash boil them for about a minute), chopped them up and added them. Then I zested an orange, peeled it, broke it into sections and actually I just pulled it apart into pieces (you could chop it just as easy). It all went in a bowl and got chilled for 20 minutes. Boom, beet/orange salad. You can add a fancy vinegar like a champagne vinegar, but we went without and it was great just simple.
Then for desert we had strawberries, wonderful strawberries. We ate them raw, then we also cut them into pieces and sprinkled with vanilla extract and sugar and let them sit. Then after 20 minutes some of those went into a blender with a few scoops of ice-cream and some milk to make a really good milk shake. The rest went into homemade popsicles. Half the popsicle was the strawberry/vanilla/sugar mixture with yogurt mixed in. The other half of the popsicle was mango mixed with mint and green juice (which is a vegetable and fruit juice blend).
As you can see it was a tasty start to the weekend. Also this weekend we had Leah Lake collard greens, some BG farms bacon, and lasagna made with BG farms beef, and a combination of beet greens and spinach. Sounds strange …..tastes amazing! And of course more strawberries.
Spring is my favorite time of year for eating local.
I hope it becomes your favorite time as well.
Two big announcements before I go.
We’re looking for some very important volunteers to help us with a few projects this year. And even if you don’t have the time I hope you’ll help us spread the word on these two great activities we have coming up.
The first is a brand new project for us. While we have FORUM communications helping us for two more months developing a wide range of marketing tools, we came up with the idea to begin compiling our own RECIPE BOOK with Locally Grown items, and dishes made by YOU GUYS our customers, also dishes by our FARMERS and even some CHEFS. If you would like to be involved in helping us compile recipes, collecting them from some of our friends, and possibly even taking photographs and other interesting tasks, we’d like to find one or two volunteers to help with this project. We will have a template for making the recipes look attractive so we can start to circulate them as we collect them. The long range goal though is to come up with enough (at least 40 or more) to compile into a Book, which should help to entice even more people to EAT LOCAL.
If you’re interested in such a task just send Andrew an e-mail Andrew.NGLG@gmail.com and let us know why you’re interested, and what skills, talents or interests you think you might be able to lend.
The second VOLUNTEER effort is helping out on some of our Locally Grown farms, and playing Farmer for a day. When polled farmers agree, the single biggest way that we could help them and make their lives easier (other than eating their food every week) would be to come out and put in a few hours of work during the crunch time of the season. We’ve never organized an event like this before and we’re pretty excited about being able to lend a hand. Details are still getting nailed down but the week of June 22-26 we’ll be helping at least one farm in a very significant way. In exchange you can get a pretty big discount (over 30% off) on your purchase of a FARM TOUR pass. More important than that, you’ll likely learn a lot about what organic farming looks like, skills that you can use in your own gardens. If you’re interested, please add “CropMob2015!” volunteer day to your cart this week. It doesn’t obligate you to anything….and it doesn’t cost anything. But it’ll give us an idea of how many folks are interested in lending a hand. And we can also coordinate the best dates and times based on who is most interested.
Thanks to you all for supporting Locally Grown foods in all the ways that you do. There are more opportunities every year!
Eat well,
Justin, Chuck, Teri and Andrew
Fisher's Produce Tulsa: Harvest Update
It has been a rainy week. Our irrigation pond is full for the first time in four years! Things are growing. Too bad we can’t get out to hoe the weeds for a few more days yet…
This week we are delivering to Brookside Market, B’nai Emunah, Spirit Event Center, and Okmulgee.
Our CSA bags will likely include:
Strawberries
Broccoli
Carrots
Beets
Lettuce
and we will divide up the sugar snap peas
And maybe something else. I will have to do a garden survey tomorrow.
Blessings,
Luke