Sweet Success

Several artichoke plants managed to make it through the winter, and they are now producing.  They love the warm protection and morning sunlight they get at the east-facing brick wall of our house.

Happy Gardening!

I Know It's Not Miles Monday, But...

...He's just so damn handsome.

A Love Letter

Dear Ben,

Thank you for doing all the thinning, weeding, and watering.  I guess that if you hope and wish for something hard enough, it will happen. You are my hero.

Golden, Chioggia, Detroit Dark Red

Love,

Jessica

Rainy Day Wine

It was a very rainy day, so we decided to make us some strawberry wine for the second time this week.  The first batch of wine came out of the kitchen garden where Ben picked a gorgeous mix of "Gaviota," "Earliglo," "Jewel," and "Seascape," for the project.

This batch of wine comes from berries from the kitchen garden.  Farmer Ben picked 9 pounds for it.

I did the picking for today's wine.  Because it was rainy, these berries came from the high tunnel.  I really needed to clean up some of the rows in there, so I killed two birds with one stone (I wish I meant this literally.  The birds have been gorging on the strawberries non-stop).

 The berries settle at the bottom...

 ...Then they slowly make their way to the top.  Fermentation is so much fun!

 We look forward to making lots of berry wines this summer.  Expect a few lines about blueberry, blackberry, and maybe even wineberry wine.

It's Time to Get Those Tomatoes To My Tummy!

It's finally tomato time again.  I tucked my first bundle of babies into the ground last week, and their little sisters are in the greenhouse, patiently awaiting their big day.  Here's a full list of the varieties we're growing this year:

Sandwich Slicers

Brandywine (heirloom)

Cherokee Purple (heirloom)

Dr. Wyche's Yellow

Cherry-Size

Egg Yolk

Brown Berry

Large Red Cherry

Beam's Yellow Pear

Good for Canning

Black Plum (heirloom)

Amish Paste (heirloom)

Speckled Roman

Brandywine ripening on the vine (photo: 2011)

How about a Speckled Roman to brighten your day? (photo: 2011)

Black Plum before they turn "black" (photo: 2011)

Black Plum are my new favorite.  I grew them for the first time last year, and I'm ever so glad I did.  I can't wait to roast up a batch with olive oil, salt and pepper- the perfect addition to any pasta dish.  My mouth is watering just thinking about it.   I must also tell you that these guys aren't just good for sauces, they're pretty much all-purpose.  They have an incredibly robust flavor served up fresh.  When halved, this Russian heirloom is the perfect size to serve atop salad greens.

We'll have seedlings of the above varieties available at Farmer's Market throughout the season.  We will also be selling fresh cherry tomatoes by the pint.  

I look forward to talking peppers with you next week!

Gearing Up for Market

We're ready for market, but is the market ready for us?

We had a great time at Foggy Ridge Cider last weekend.  We sold strawberries, jam, asparagus, baby beet greens, and seedlings.  It was a good warm-up for this year's market season.  Stuart Farmer's Market begins this Friday at 8 a.m., and I suggest you get there early.  Our asparagus sold out fast last weekend, and I hear that it's pretty good stuff.

 We shared a lot of laughs last weekend at Foggy Ridge.

We plan to offer some of the same fare as listed above at the Stuart Market this week.  If you're planning your own garden, we have some remarkable seedlings:  Cherokee Purple, Brandywine, and several different cherry-type tomatoes; a gorgeous lettuce mix; Zinnia, Cosmos, and many other flowers; herbs; strawberry plants, and much more.

Come on out, and let's get this market started right!  Don't be afraid - we don't bite!