from my flower garden 4/8

Early this morning we woke up to thunderstorms here in Northern Indiana, but as the day has gone by it has turned into a beautiful day for the most part! Mid morning looking out the window you notice green grass (yay!) and sunshine!
Stepping outside....
Birds singing.
A light breeze blowing.
Nice temperature.

I worked in my flower garden for a few hours. My flower garden has kind of been a work in progress over the years. It is finally laid out the way I want it to be and I am ready to add more perennials and flowering shrubs to it this year. I have some iron fence panels that will go around the front and towards the back of the garden. I am excited to get them in place and add to my garden.

One thing I am most excited about is my garden shed! Scott built it last fall for me. It is just to the side of my flower garden and I'm looking forward to incorporating the two together.

Organizing the inside and adding little details to it are on top of my to do list for this spring.
It is rustic.
Recycled.
and perfect for what I am wanting.

I see window boxes and a grapevine wreath on the door.

I see a vintage metal chair on the garden shed porch. I may enjoy sitting in watching the kids play.

I am looking forward to sharing more from my flower garden this year with you!

Apple Salad

Apple salad has always been a favorite of mine. It is a super easy recipe that has a fresh, crisp, sweet taste about it. It is a great salad to bring to picnic or party you may be going to.

We had a family get together a few years ago and I remember trying to think of something different to make. My mom suggested this apple salad among other things. I chose this salad since it was so easy to make. Now I find myself making it often just to have in the refrigerator or making larger batches for those get togethers.

I am a big fan of apple recipes and apple treats! This one is especially easy. You can make as little as you want for just yourself or a larger batch for those family meals. If you like more of an ingredient, add more of it, or vise versa if you only want a little of an ingredient.

Ingredients: 

Granny Smith Apples
Bananas
Raisins
Plain Peanuts
Mini Marshmallows
Miracle Whip
Celery (optional)

Directions: 

Dice up apples and bananas and place in mixing bowl. Add diced celery if you choose to. Add raisins, peanuts, and marshmallows for your liking. Then add some dollops of Miracle Whip. Stir everything together and it is ready to serve.

 I use Granny Smith apples, or a tart apple as I love the tart taste with the sweet of the marshmallows. Think about how many people will be attending the event and go from there for how much to make. Add diced celery if you would like extra crunch and fresh taste. If you want to add more of one ingredient or less of an ingredient this is the perfect recipe for that. I like the creaminess to compliment my salads, so i just add a little Miracle Whip to cover the other ingredients, but you can add more if you prefer it creamier.

I recommend when making it for a meal event, to make it just a few hours before the meal as the raisin and marshmallows will swell from the moisture.

Enjoy!

My Story in Agriculture

I have attended several conferences and workshops this year and among several things I take away from each of them, a phrase stuck out that was common between  - Share your story....so here is mine. 

So many of my early memories are involved in agriculture. From riding in the combine during harvest, to helping plant the garden, picking pumpkins to carve in the Fall, to doing chores and cleaning the horse stalls on the weekends. Even all the way down to playing tractors in the sandbox with my brother, one way or another, agriculture has always been a part of my life. 

My grandma helping little me get out of the combine from riding with my dad

I can remember going to feed the cows with my grandpa and dad some mornings before getting on the bus to head to school.  My brother and I did the horse chores every day before and after school as we got older. Pajama, boots, and our Carhart bibs were the attire as we woke up extra early on the winter mornings to make sure we had time to break the ice in the water troughs, or to get the chores done before we headed off to morning swim team practice. During planting and harvest, if we weren't riding along in the field, taking dinner to the field and catching a ride was something we looked forward too. We were also the kids at the top of the hay wagon tossing down those very top bales when unloading into the barn. SO many memories revolved around daily life in agriculture. 

Our school system has a strong FFA program and I was first introduced to it in 8th grade and I remember at that point is when I knew I wanted to be involved in agriculture as a career. That is when I decided I wanted to learn more about horticulture. Then in high school, I got involved in my FFA chapter and was on several judging teams. My interest grew even more for horticulture. Here is where I decided I wanted to attend college for Landscape Horticulture and Design. At this time, I also knew I wanted to marry a farmer/someone with the same kind of background as I had, and here is when I met just that person. 

The college years went by and I married that farmer, my high school sweetheart. I graduated college with a BS in Landscape Horticulture and Design with a minor in Food and Agribusiness Management. I worked a few different jobs that I loved in the horticulture industry, but currently am a work at home mom where I have my own creative sewing business and also work part time for a wedding planner, help manage our produce farm, and take care of our 3 children. My farmer and I grow produce and pumpkins for 9 years now. We have a small CSA program that we offer in our community and we are vendors at a few local farmers markets. 

One of our past CSA shares

I have always had a respect and appreciation for agriculture, but here in my adult life and being a mom is where I REALLY have a LOVE for agriculture. I have always helped on my family's farm in so many ways, but these last few years, I have really gotten to help more first hand. Being in the tractor and helping my dad and brother with hay and planting/harvest was how I spent so much time and made me love it even more. I appreciate helping them as much as they appreciate me helping them. 

Auger Cart duty :)

Scott and I  - pumpkin season 2011

 Agriculture isn't just a career, it is truly a way of life! I am proud that my husband and I share a love for agriculture! He knows so much history about the area we live and grow up in and shares that with me and our children. I love that he grew up with a family very involved in agriculture as well and helps on the family farm. I love that we have the same love for agriculture. I am proud that my children are growing up directly involved with agriculture by being part of the planting and harvesting process, baling hay, and growing produce. They are seeing first hand where food comes from. They help us plant the seeds, maintain and care for the plants, and pick the produce to take to market and bring to our table. I am proud that I am able to help my dad and brother in the field as well. We are able to teach our children the value of hard work and the rewards that come from working hard. But also teach them the hardships from loosing crops or animals. There is so much they can take away from growing up on the farm and maybe one day coming back to farm themselves. I love that they are getting the same experiences I did. Agriculture makes me PROUD. We live it, learn more, advocate, and share our story. 

One of our little garden helpers snacking on peas

 Agriculture is all around us, everywhere in our economy, community, and daily lives. It's important to tell our story and share with others. So on National Ag Day, here is my story! I can't wait to continue it for many years to come! Be sure to tell and share yours. 

What to expect in your CSA shares?

CSA or Community Supported Agriculture programs are becoming relatively popular across the United States among produce growers and communities. If you are eager to join others who are wanting to eat healthy, locally, and more sustainable, but don't have room to establish and grow your own vegetable garden, then joining a local CSA is the next best thing.

As you may recall in a previous post, I talked about what a CSA is and great reasons why to choose a CSA to join. Today, I am going to answer a question we get asked often when talking about CSAs. I am from a rural/farming community so the community isn't as familiar with what a CSA program is all about.

We often get asked "What all does a member get in their CSA? How does it work?"
Well each CSA is different, depending how the farm wants to run their program. A great resource to see what different CSA's offer is Local Harvest. Some offer CSA memberships for 10 weeks to 25 weeks. Some may add eggs, bread, and/or meat to their CSA. There are so many different options, it just depends on how the farm wants to operate their CSA program.

I can share with you how our CSA works.
Our Spring/Summer CSA is 15 weeks long. It starts roughly mid-May and runs for 15 weeks. Each week our members get a box of 6-10 different vegetables. We offer full shares and half shares. The full shares are designed to feed a family of 4 for a week or a couple that likes to eat a lot of produce. A half share is designed for a couple or a family who doesn't eat as much produce. Both options are popular with our customers. Our weekly CSA are dropped off for home delivery or picked up on the farm.

So what comes in these weekly CSA baskets?
We give an assortment of 6-10 different vegetables based off what is in season at the time.

                                                        An example of a Spring CSA share is :
                              Radish, green onions, spinach, kale, loose leaf lettuce mix, and arugula

An early Summer CSA share:

Red potatoes, kohlrabi, sweet onion, green beans, zucchini, green onions, kale, and broccoli

A late Summer CSA share :

Eggplant, sweet onions, tomatoes, green beans and yellow wax beans, zucchini, yellow squash, radish, green onions, potatoes, sweet banana peppers, pickles, and cherry tomatoes

Each week varies for CSA share based on what produce we have in season at the time. One year there might be several weeks of sweet corn, and another they're might only be a few. The same goes for all produce. We change up each weeks basket to offer a variety, but when potatoes are ready, for example, we provide them every week. 

After our Spring/Summer CSA is over, we open up a Fall CSA that is 7 weeks. Here is an example of a Fall CSA share

Carrots, sweet potatoes, kale, popcorn, eggplant, butternut squash, spinach, and yellow onion

This is our 9th year growing produce, our 6th year offering a CSA, and we are excited about another year. Are you part of a CSA where you live? What are your favorite vegetables to get in your weekly share?

Stuffed Pepper...my Valentine's favorite meal...

Stuffed peppers are a meal we have often in our home as they are my Valentine/my farmer's favorite meal, or one of them anyways. He also likes to prepare and make them himself! He is no stranger in the kitchen, which is very helpful to share dinner duties. An added bonus is he's a pretty good cook as well.

Ingredients:

4 green bell peppers

1 can tomato sauce

2 cups white rice

1 pound hamburger

Cut the tops off the peppers and clean out the inside. 

Brown the hamburger. 

Cook the rice according to the directions on the package.

Mix hamburger, rice, and tomato sauce together.

Stuff each pepper with the mixture. 

Place in a casserole dish and cover. 

Cook in microwave for 15 minutes or until peppers are tender. (You can also cook in the oven at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until peppers are soft). 

Simple, easy, and tastes great too! 

Enjoy!

Winter months for produce growers...

Produce growers provide fresh produce throughout the spring, summer, and fall months, but what goes on in the winter months?

The farmers markets may be over for the season, but produce growers still continue to work hard during the off season. Some farms continue to grow greens and other cold season crops in high tunnels throughout the winter. Others end their season around at the beginning of freezing temperatures. For example, our local market ends usually the beginning of October, but our fall CSA continues until mid-November. We then take the winter months "off" until our market and CSA start again. 

When the end of the season is near, our customers generally ask us, what were are going to do this winter or our time "off." As much as we love the busy production and market season, we welcome the end of the season as well. Life slows down just a little. It gives us time to prepare for the next season. So what do produce growers do in the winter months?

-Place the seed order for the upcoming year
-Maintenance on equipment
-The new season's planting schedule
-Maintenance or modifications to greenhouse structures
-Promote their CSA program and accept members
-Start seeds indoors for transplants

These are just a few of the things that goes on during the winter months for produce growers. Then there are the other projects or vacations that they haven't been able to get to during the busy growing season, like giving their kitchen a much needed face lift like we are doing here. More details on that later. 

I'm looking forward to sharing with you more about CSA programs and produce growing. Even on a smaller scale as we are, it is a very busy and fun adventure. 

Homemade Noodles

My Grandma has been making homemade noodles as long as I can remember. Her chicken and noodles are one of my favorite dishes she makes, especially on holidays. I always remember on the days she made batches of noodles, sneaking a few to snack on as they were drying. I still do that now.

A few years ago, I asked my Grandma to teach me how to make her noodles. Learning some of my favorite family recipes is something I've been working on achieving.
So this homemade noodle recipe is one that was from my Grandpa's mother, or my Grandma's mother in law.  She said that my Great Grandma had originally made her noodles using only the egg yokes and then she would use the egg whites to make up an angel food cake at the same time as noodle making. She had learned it and tweaked it some for her liking (hence the 4 whole eggs). Once I learned how to make them, I usually make up several batches a few times a year. They are pretty easy to do and since everything is already out and a mess is made, I always make up several, usually 4 or 5, batches at a time, whatever space is available for drying the noodles.

So here is how to make my Grandma's homemade noodles, who gladly said I could share on my blog :)

Homemade Noodles

4 whole eggs - beat until well mixed

add in
3 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
and a pinch of salt
and beat again

Add
2 cups of flour and mix well
work together with hands.

Roll out on flour board until thin.

Let sit dry for about 2 hours.

You'll want to cut the noodles when they are still somewhat moist that way the noodles do not break while cutting from being completely dry. I suggest cutting each noodle batch into 2 inch strips, then stack some of the strips on top of each other and cut the noodles off for the size of your liking, maybe 3/8" to 1/2". Spread your noodles out on wax paper to continue to dry for another hour or two. I have packaged the noodles completely dry or still slightly moist. Package into freezer bags and place in the freezer.

It is so nice to spend half a day and make up a few batches a few times a year and pretty cost effective too. The noodles are great to take out for your favorite dishes. A few of my favorites are chicken and noodles and beef stroganoff.

Enjoy!