The sun was shining, the cider was flowing and the popcorn was popping. This past weekend was our 1st Annual Fall Festival and it was a blast! Thank you all for celebrating with us. Below are some of the days highlights, from pumpkin picking to painting. To see more photos visit our Facebook page here. And to find out about our future events, join our mailing list! Look forward to seeing you on the farm soon. Keep Smiling & Happy 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).
Now is a great time to clip some of the flowers that remain in your backyard, front yard and garden to enjoy indoors. Take a walk around your property with some garden clippers or scissors (regular scissors will do the trick). And trim flowers and any other foliage that makes you happy. Once you gather it trim off dead or excess leaves. Grab a vase that will fit your new flowerly friends, fill it with water and enjoy! Our latest bouquet included, roses, hydrangeas and mint. All items you can pick up at Fresh & Fancy Farms to grow on your own!
Don't you love New York in the fall? It makes me wanna buy school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address. On the other hand, this not knowing has its charms. -Joe Fox from "You've Got Mail" (aka Tom Hanks) There is something so lively and crisp about the fall. From the colors to the cool days we can't seem to get enough. This fall we encourage you to enjoy all of mother nature's true colors before the days slowly begin to freeze and snow covers the ground. If you're looking for some more color in your life, visit us at Fresh & Fancy Farms, for some happy & vibrant mums!
Other fall planting we have include, winter pansies and colorful asters. If you have any questions, feel free to post in the comments sections below or check us out onFacebook.
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 .
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.
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!
As a kid I can always remember my siblings and I cringing at the idea of an eggplant dish for dinner. But now, I find myself dreaming up ways to recreate it in a salad, appetizer or main course! If you're looking to grow your own eggplant, we have plenty of purple and white eggplant still available at Fresh & Fancy Farms! Not to mention, buy one get one half off! But either way, if you decide to stop on by to pick up a plant or head to your local grocer, here are a few things you may not have known about the edible eggplant!
1. Eggplant is ripe as it grows. Pick it while it's petite or eligible for the county fair and enjoy!
2. Like kids, eggplants are spongelike. So if frying is on the cooking agenda, soak your eggplant slices in cool water. So when it comes time to drench in flour and drop into an oil filled pan, you will have a delectable dish that's not to greasy, crispy on the outside and moist on the inside.
3. The name "eggplant" comes from 18th Century European growers whose yellow or white eggplant resembled goose or hen's eggs.
4. Eggplant is high in potassium, copper, folate, magnesium and fiber. It contains flavonoids and phenols such as caffeic acid and chlorogenic acid, which may fight cancer, viruses, and harmful bacteria, and protect against damaged cells. - David Grotto, 101 Foods That Could Save Your Life
What would we do without the support from friends and family...yea, I don't know either. We just wanted to send out a special thank you to everyone that has been working their tails off to make this possible. Below there are a small snippet of photos. We will get some more up soon & make sure we recognize all of you for your hard work, support and of course your smiles. Today was another long day but we got a lot accomplished for opening day which is TOMORROW, May 7th from 8am - 5pm. Please stop by to say hello, and pick up some floral sunshine and other items to liven up your living space. Also, one of my favorite things we have are the veggies & herbs! Be still my heart the basil smells a little something like I would imagine heaven would smell like. And you can plant it outside in the garden or keep it potted inside ready to be plucked for your next homemade pizza or pesto!
Oh & if you're not into cooking and want something to just look pretty on your desk at work, in kitchen, or simply to make Mom happy on Mother's Day, we have "Lucky Penny Petunias"©
Below see tea cups loaded with a petunia that sits in soil proudly on top of a very lucky penny.
So one more time, THANK YOU! Thank you all for your hard work we love you guys. We look forward to seeing all of our family and friends along with new faces this Mother's Day weekend!
it has been a long day of planting, watering, cleaning, moving, pruning, mulching and potting. i’m tired. we all are. but it feels good. like the new adventure is beginning. my hands feel rough and thirsty they are the hands of a worker lacking a fresh manicure and a lovely layer of moisturizer. farming isn’t easy but watching your fresh flowers bloom and catching the fresh smell of basil at the tip of your nose make it all worth while.
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Adventure: Union Square Farmers Market - New York, NY The Union Square Farmers market is one of my favorite places to roam around on a sunny afternoon. It can melt most of the work day stress and inspire you to cook up something new and delicious for dinner. I always seem to discover a new way to use something, from dried lavender to purple fingerling potatoes.
One of my favorite stops is Andrew's Local Honey, he may just have the most delicious whipped honey I have ever tasted. I also really dig his bluberry honey on my oatmeal in the morning.
Sunshine Oatmeal:
Boil water, add oatmeal, stir together for about 4-5minutes until the oatmeal looks moist and creamy. Place in your favorite bowl add milk and honey, stir. Top with dried cranberries and walnuts. Enjoy! [Serves 1]
Note: Research shows that beginning the day with a nutritious, fiber-rich diet can help you maintain a healthy weight. -101 Foods that could save your life
FANCY: i can imagine green grass and scattered wild flowers dancing in a warm breeze along a toasty greenhouse overflowing with flowers, fruits and veggies.
the crisp red barn will be smoothed and lathered with a fresh coat of red paint. a waterwheel will rest along its side dipping into the stream again and again to stay cool.
music from another era is echoing in the background bringing back distant memories for all who visit and making new ones for the young puddle jumpers and pumpkin carvers.
