Preserving the Harvest – Jam

This time of year as the tsunami of produce arrives, it is time to think of the future in addition to the present.  Preserving that summer bounty is crucial to eating year around local food.  In addition to freezing berries and this year, peaches, I also make jam. Our jam is maximum fruit with minimum sugar, and pectin.  I searched for the recipe that gave me the least amount of cooking time and additional ingredients.  …

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Harvest Newsletter

Greetings from the Garden!  This week’s CSA box has tomatoes, potatoes, onions, peppers, cucumbers, zucchini,  eggplant, garlic, cabbage. greens, parsley, and basil           Field Notes Ken has been cultivating adding compost and mulch to the area next to the mobile high tunnel.  This will add organic matter and fertility when the tunnel is moved to that location.  He has also been planting, weeding, and of course, picking.  either of us need …

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Harvest Newsletter

Greetings from the Garden!  This week’s CSA box has tomatoes, potatoes, radishes, eggplant, zucchini, cucumbers, cabbage, onions, garlic, greens, parsley, and basil. Field Notes.  Ken had a weekend off!  This year we each are trying to take some time for other things to avoid burn out.  It is one of the more difficult times of the year on a farm;  it is easy to focus on the farm’s needs and forget what the people need …

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Summer’s Bounty

Summer is the time of great fresh produce.  We currently have tomatoes, onions, garlic, zucchini, cucumbers, carrots, beets, green onions, parsley, basil and more.  

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Over Dyeing Denim for Future Rugs

While Ken was away I decided to dye some faded denim.  I received several balls of denim rags about a year ago.  Some of the rags were very faded.  Faded rags do not make a very colorful rug. Bright or deep colored rugs sell better than faded ones.         Years ago I took a natural dye class and was told that natural dyes work better on animal fibers like wool than plant …

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The New Temporary Curtains

Years ago I made some temporary curtains.  They have fallen apart, so I made some newer, heavier ones.          Ken wants easy to open and close.  These are canvas with hemp fiber loops

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Harvest Newsletter

Greetings from the Garden!  This week’s CSA box has greens, radishes, potatoes, beans, tomatoes, scallions, carrots or beets, cucumbers, zucchini, peppers, Walla Walla sweet onions, garlic, basil and parsley. Field Notes.  Ken has started harvesting onions – first the Walla Walla onions.  Next it will be the red onions, and then the storage onions.  Once he digs and pulls them he leaves them to dry.  Then he moves them to the racks and I help …

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Hens – New Location

Ken provides sequential pasture for animals here.  That means he moves hens and pigs as needed so they get fresh areas to scratch (chickens) or root up ( pigs) Here is the new location for the “egg mobile” that has hens and turkeys in it

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Onion Harvest Starts with the Walla Walla Onions

Ken has begun harvesting onions.  He pulled the Walla Walla Sweet onions and set them to dry.  Then He loaded them up and brought them to the drying racks.  I helped him set them on the racks to cure. Walla Walla sweet onions is a variety from Walla Walla, Washington.  They are juicy and sweet, but don’t keep much past Halloween.  Every year when I start to use them in the kitchen, Ken accuses me …

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Harvest Newsletter

Greetings from the Garden!  This week’s CSA box has greens, bok choy, cukes and zukes, potatoes, peppers, beans, beets or carrots, onions, garlic, parsley and the first of the basil Field Notes.  The garden tour was Sunday.  It always marks a turning point in the summer for us.  The crops look good.  The days are starting to seem shorter.  Ken can take a deep breath and prepare for the rest of the season Ken is …

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