hello summer
July is almost over. I know, we're shocked too. Our vegetable field is growing more and more by the day and producing beautiful, pumpkins, corn, eggplant, tomatoes (oh so many tomatoes), peppers & more. Many of our flowers are still going strong despite all the heat! Here are some photos, enjoy!
Plant Your Own Garden For Under $12
It's that time of year when friends visit looking for their favorite vegetables to add to their home gardens (one of our favorite times of year). Lettuce, tomatoes, eggplants & herbs! What to grow, what not to grow? Try something new or stick with the standard? We can help you with all of these questions and more. For under $12 you can leave Fresh & Fancy Farms with vegetable and herb plants that will provide fresh produce all summer long. Here are some shots of our vegetables - come visit us today and we will help you plan your vegetable & herb garden!
Tuesday's Dirt: Herbs & Rain
The sun has been hiding, the rain has been falling and we don't mind. The flowers are happy and our field of tomatoes won't need a drink for a week or so after today! When it rains it's quiet on the farm. People are busy at work or snuggled in their homes. So it give us time to visit all of our plants and say hello. A little pruning here, a transplant there and a deep breathe. We have been planting herbs in pots, perfect for the back deck or patio. The fragrance of fresh herbs make us smile. Cilantro, chives, parsley, sage, rosemary, lemon thyme, mint, pineapple sage, oregano and more. They are all unique and can add life to your favorite dish, drink or cup of tea. So visit us for all your flowers, shrubs, trees and vegetables...but don't forget your herbs!
Tuesday's Dirt: Sweet Spring!
We love to get our hands in the soil, plant seeds and smell the petite lavender plants that can calm you with one deep whiff. We want to share some of the simple pleasures we experience daily on the farm with our newest feature, "Tuesday's Dirt." We will take you on a tiny pictorial trip down fresh & fancy lane. Oh! btw it's not all sunshine and happiness (all the time). Tending to plants takes time and patience. We know what it's like to have dirty, rough, splintered hands...and like it. Enjoy!
Early spring strawberries.
Little yellow cups.
Feathered guests.
Fresh cut lettuce.
Get Pumpkiny this Fall
When I see the bright orange pumpkins peeking out from their sleepy green patches, I am immediately transported to my childhood pumpkin picking adventures. All bundled up, in fleece-lined jeans no less, my family and I would make a day of a trip to a local farm and we would each get to pick out our very own pumpkin. We would go home with our autumn treasures and the decision of what face to carve into my pumpkin would be the most difficult decision of my young life. Pumpkins and the feel of fall weather still hold the same magic for me today. I've lived through 22 autumns and I am glad to say I've learned a few other wonderful things you can make with pumpkins, besides good ol' Jack-o-lantern and pumpkin pie! Inside and out, pumpkins offer us wonderful nutrients, color and flavor that we can use in recipes and craft projects. Here are some new twists on our good friends Mr. and Ms. Pumpkin:
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1.) Pumpkin pizza? Pumpkin pasta? Its time to get our creative juices flowing and make some fun new dishes with this rad veggie. Any time a recipe calls for canned pumpkin or pureed pumpkin, try making your own. All it involves is cutting up some small pumpkins, baking them and throwing them in the food processor.. check out a great and funny how-to on the Pioneer Woman Blog!
2.) Remember how we talked about those great nutrients that are in pumpkins? That wonderful orange hue is thanks to the beta-carotene in orange foods like pumpkins which support healthy hair and vision. It does wonders for your skin too.. try making a pumpkin facial scrub. All you need is some cooked pumpkin, some honey and some milk, the details are here. You'll smell delectable and your skin will thank you!
3.) This one is for the birds! Mother Huddle shows us how to make a wonderful bird feeder out of a halved pumpkin, gourd or squash. All you need is some dowels, bird seed and wire and a little elbow grease. A kid-friendly project, the results are sure to bring chirps of happiness from the birds and your little ones.
4.) What about those seeds? Don't throw them out! Roast them with some salt, pepper and spicy chili powder for a great snack or string them together for a fabulous fashion statement.
5.) Get funky with your decorating! Drill a hole in small pumpkins to make them into candle holders or modge-podge some leaves onto your pumpkin for a no-carve decoration.
Pick up your pumpkins throughout October & November and don't forget to stop by tomorrow for our 1st Annual Fall Festival at Fresh & Fancy Farms! Pumpkins are a fantastic source of antioxidants, color and festivity.. use them well and make them Fresh & Fancy!
{words} Alex Roem (Food activist, sustainability queen and latest Fresh & Fancy Farm member, all while revolutionizing the way we think about food at FoodFight).
Freshly Picked Recipe: Tomatoes & Eggplants
There was a lot of work done in the vegetable garden this past weekend at Fresh & Fancy Farms! From re-securing tomato plants to pruning, watering and weeding. The garden has given us crimson tomatoes and deep purple eggplant in various shapes and sizes. We harvest what we can and put together baskets for family and friends to enjoy along with some of our favorite recipes. Below are two simple recipes inspired by Nigel Slater where eggplant is the star! Roasted Eggplant: On a baking pan or in a pyrex, toss the following ingredients and throw em' in the oven for about 45min or until tender at about 400°F .
- 3 cups of cubed eggplant (lightly salted)
- 1 cup sliced tomato
- 1 small bunch basil
- 1 small bunch mint
- 2/3 cup olive oil
- 3 small hot peppers (sliced and seeded)
- 3 cloves garlic
- Season with black pepper
Eggplant Bruschetta: Grill up the eggplant (grill marks are good) remove from the grill chop up and mix with the following ingredients. Let the mixture sit for about 30min. Top it on a toasted piece of bread brushed with olive oil. Serve to the happy crowd.
- 2 large eggplants
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1 lemon - grated and juiced
- 1 small bunch basil
- 1 small bunch mint
3 Things to Enjoy Before the Leaves Begin to Change
Summer is winding down and we are headed straight for fall. But before we get ourselves too excited about crisp pumpkins and colorful mums we are going to enjoy what’s left of the world’s warmest season. Here are three things we are going to hold onto before the leaves begin to change. 1. Fresh herbs One of our favorite things is to grow fresh herbs. Sage, rosemary, basil, oregano, you name it we grow it. If you have enough space indoors for colder months, bring your herbs indoors. If not, dry them and use them for your fall and winter cooking. Later this month we will have an herb drying “how to” so stay tuned.
2. Homegrown vegetables It’s about that time when your vegetables are in their prime! Six cucumbers here, 12 tomatoes there, you have an over abundance and soon it will be winding down so enjoy them! There is nothing more exciting than harvesting homegrown vegetables so don’t let anything go to waste, jar some salsa or pickle those cucumbers!
3. Final blooms Currently at the farm we are offering our hanging baskets for $10. Yes, we said it, $10 buckaroos! The flowers are still blooming and are sure to brighten any yard. Don’t take those final annual blooms for granted. Sit back, relax and enjoy the flowers!
