Hi everyone,

Is it going to rain??? We'll find out shortly. We'll be at the Farm Stand, rain or shine. May not have any shine today; the old wait and see...

Winter mode has descended on us at the farm: the fields look barren near the farm stand but there is lots of food out back, on the other side of the "creek". If you want to see, come on and take a little walk, it's not too far, and see what's out there.

Meanwhile, what's fresh at the Farm Stand is the following: Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Fennel, Leeks, Potatoes, Kales, Chard, Carrots, Beets, Parsnips, Rutabaga, Sunchokes, Celeriac, Salsify, Pan di Zucchero, Puntarelle (so delicious), Radicchio, Red Cabbage, Lettuce, Spinach, Shallots, Onions. Am I forgetting anything???? Winter Squash!!!! I almost forgot: Butternut, Delicata, Spaghetti, Pumpkin.

Gift ideas: Heirloom Dried Beans, Chile Jams, gorgeous Hot Sauces of many heats, colors, varieties, Chile and Chipotle Powder, Chiles, Chile "kits", Sauerkraut, T-Shirts!, Honey from the field.

Clothes Drive: We will be giving the warm clothes to the Homeless Emergency Shelter in Guerneville. I got an e-mail from the director minutes after the announcement that we were collecting stuff. They are in great need and are rather a "forgotten" shelter. They need warm clothes most large sizes, and also panchos, socks, layering clothes, etc. Bring whatever you may have to the farm and we'll make sure it gets to the shelter. Thanks.

OPEN TUESDAY, THURSDAY, FRIDAY FROM 11 - 5:30 AND SATURDAY 10 - 4. 651 AIRPORT BLVD, SANTA ROSA.

There's a nice, easy, comforting recipe below if you want to check it out too.

Thanks,

Evie

Colcannon

from The Victory Garden Cookbook

1 lb kale (more or less)** 1 1/2 lbs potatoes

8 Tbsp butter 1 cup finely chopped leeks

Salt and freshly ground pepper 1/2 cup chopped onions

1/2 - 3/4 cup light cream, milk or combination of both

Wash, trim and blanch kale. Drain, gently squeeze out water and chop finely. Set aside. Peel potatoes, boil in salted water.

Meanwhile, heat 2 Tbsp of the butter in a frying pan and gently stew the leeks until tender, 5 - 10 minutes. Add the chopped kale and saute over high heat, stirring to evaporated excess moisture.. Turn the heat to low, add 2 Tbsp butter and slowly cook the leeks and kale for 5 - 10 minutes longer. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

In a small frying pan, brown the onions in the remaining butter. When the potatoes are tender, drain and mash them. Whip in the kale and leek mixture and 1 tsp salt. Heat cream or milk and gradually beat in until mixture is smooth, creamy, yet firm. Season with salt and pepper. Reheat, if necessary and mound in a hot dish. Make a depression in the center and pour the browned onions and butter in the well until they spill over the side.

Note: If you want to cut down on butter simmer the leeks in milk until soft and cook onions in less butter.

** All amounts are more or less

to be taken off this list pls reply to evie@tierravegetables.com and ask to be taken off.

14 Baby Chicks!!!!

We knew the hen was sitting on a bunch of eggs near our compost pile as she almost got her head chopped off by the weed eater a few weeks ago. Had Mario not been so vigilant and seen her sitting,  motionless, under a patch of weeds he could have whacked her. Instead he fixed up her area and we all have been waiting and wondering when she would proudly show up with her young chicks. 

Well, yesterday was the day. I went out to check and there they all were. I couldn't count all the chicks but today I did and it looks like there are 14 of them!!!! How in the world will she be able to cover that many chicks when they start to get bigger? We'll find out. She's a fierce mother, having tried to attack me yesterday when I put some baby chick food out in front of her brood. Today they are all safe in our little baby chick area; safe from hawks for the time being.

In the general gloominess of the bad weather and the growing season getting off to a very slow start, it's hopeful to see the new brood. At the same time we hope we don't have another hidden nest of 14 more somewhere in the yard!!!

 

Sick of the Cold/ Freezing Weather

I have to get used to this blogging. It's been more than a month since my blogging debut! 

I am so sick of this cold, freezing weather. Up until today, we had been awakened  almost daily at around 3AM by  the wind machines that surround our house.  That doesn't bother me; I can go right back to sleep. It's the thought of all of our beautiful fruits and vegetables being subject to this weather. We should have had strawberries weeks ago but still are waiting for the great onslaught of rich, ripe fruit. 

Up until the tomatoes and summer squash were planted last week, the susceptible fruits and vegetables: the baby berries and asparagus tips kept freezing. This was a loss we could take as it wasn't worth the cost of putting the sprinklers on and we knew they would eventually come back when the weather improved. Last week the tomatoes and summer squash had to be transplanted and so, with the freezing temperatures, Wayne has been getting up at 3AM to go to the field, turn on the sprinklers and protect the baby plants. It seems to have worked. 

Here's a picture of a small tomato plant with ice crystals on it. 

Here I am...My first blog. I've been told by many people that I should be blogging my weekly farm news so that's why I am doing this. It may turn into a daily thing depending on the time involved. 

We will all pitch in...and I'll get some pictures in, once I learn how to do that, so we can show all of you who can't get out to the farm what's going on. We may even get a web-cam!! 

Modern!

So, today my bee partner and friend, Lisa, and I went and got more equipment for our bees. We only have one surviving  hive, having lost two over the winter. We're not sure what happened: maybe colony collapse syndrome which has affected so many bees or maybe they got too cold or maybe they didn't have enough food to get through the winter. We're just finishing our first year, so we're learning. We're hoping our surviving colony is strong enough to eventually divide. 

We're going to check on them tomorrow if the weather cooperates. I'll post the results.

Meanwhile over at the field,  the strawberries look gorgeous. They are all weeded and there are lots of flowers. We're hoping to have berries within the next few weeks. 

We have asparagus for the weekend. Of course I'll give a complete list before Friday. 

I'm signing off for now.