FAT BEAR FARM: A Rough Guide (2013 Outlook)

If you're curious about what the heck we're growing around here, I hope this post will be helpful. I've listed the items that we plan to bring to market this year, as well as their approximate availability (emphasis on "approximate").

Due to the nature of our schedule and micro-mini workforce (Ben may be a tall drink of water, but there are only two of us), Fat Bear Farm produce is only available at farmers market at this time. All of our items (along with artisan cheeses, local meats, baked goods, soaps, and other excellent produce) will be conveniently available at the Cobblestone Farmers Market in Old Salem this year. We hope to see you there!

ASPARAGUS

The Dawning of the Age of Asparagus has come! Our asparagus is available right now. We will continue to harvest through the beginning of July.

SPINACH

It's available now until Mother Nature says tells us that it's too warm.

STRAWBERRIES

We've got lil'greenies on the plants right now! It looks like they'll be red and ripe by the end of May. We grow three varieties that mature at different times. We hope to offer strawberries through the rest of spring, most of summer, and autumn.

LETTUCE

We are growing green, light green, and red varieties of head lettuce. They will be harvested this month and next.

FRESH HERBS

Basil, cilantro, and sage are growing in the high tunnel. We'll be bringing them to market from late May through autumn.

LEEKS

The leeks have been transplanted and are growing strong. I have to admit that I'm only guessing that leeks will be harvested late June through early July. This one will be a surprise!

GARLIC

Scapes will be coming in the next several weeks. We'll harvest the roots beginning in June. We expect to offer garlic at market from late June or early July through autumn. Our varieties are: Elephant, Music, Purple Glazer, Chesnok Red, Persian Star, Kettle River Giant, Mother of Pearl, and Georgian Fire.

MORE THAN JUST "CHERRY" TOMATOES

This year's varieties of salad tomatoes include: Gold Rush Currant, Egg Yolk, Tommy Toe, Black Plum, Yellow Pear, Red Fig, and Brown Berry. The names are great, but the flavor is even better!

BLUEBERRIES

The start of July through the beginning of September is blueberry season. Dig out those pie and jam recipes (we will gladly taste-test your creations for you)!

RED PIMIENTO PEPPERS

I grew these last summer, and we ate them all in grilled pimiento cheese sandwiches with tomato soup. They were so good that I had to grow more to share with the world! Maybe July through late autumn? It should be a long season for them because they're growing in our high tunnel. Pimiento cheese, anyone?

SWEET POTATOES

We've sold out of our winter storage supply, and we just planted this year's slips yesterday. We will offer Beauregard (deep orange flesh) and white yams. We'll dig them up at the end of August (they grow very quickly in our soil) and begin bringing them to market in September.

FRESH GINGER

My fingers are crossed that this year will be as good to us as last year was. We're growing ginger in our greenhouse and high tunnel. It will be available at the end of summer.