Eggs & Extras 12/11/12

December 11, 2012

Hello people,

There are a few green things to share today.  The mesclun mix includes kale, mustard, arugula, claytonia, chickweed, beet greens, and more.  Really nutritious and yummy and grown in Leyden in December!  Most vegetables have really slowed down their growth but the claytonia and mustard keep growing despite short days.  

The ducks however, stopped laying once the days became shorter than 9 1/4 hours.  Interesting.  Now I am pondering either giving them artificial light or waiting to see if they start up when the days get over that length again.  On days that I am home I let the ducks and chickens wander about, eating bugs and weed seeds.  The two species generally get along, although I don't think they understand each others language.  The Muscovy drake and the White Rock rooster have had two brief confrontations.  Each guy has won one round.  I am hoping they have figured out their relationship now.  Sadly, we lost one Buff Orpington to a hawk last week.  Dang. 

Let me know if you want any eggs or veggies and I will label and hold them for you.  This is the only week for daikons.  

Laura

Sweet Morning Farm

773-8325

laurat-at-crocker.com

On hand today:

3 bags mesclun - $3.00 each

3 pound daikon - $2.50 a pound

1 pound watermelon radishes (spicy!) - $2.00

5 - 7 dozen large eggs - $4.00 each

*note: individual eggs vary in size, mostly L/XL but a few mediums mixed in.  Total weight for dozen = Large

1/2 dozen duck eggs - $2.50

Eggs & Extras - December 3, 2012

Red Garnet and Osaka Purple mustard greens from the hoophouse. 12/2

Red Garnet and Osaka Purple mustard green seeds.

Hello friends,

Egg production is good, steady and the hens are giving about 2 dozen each day.  Someday soon, our 3 young pullets that we bred and raised this summer should start laying.  Keep your fingers crossed for olive green eggs!

The ducks lay 1 to 4 eggs a day and still haven't figured out where their nests are but the eggs are tasty. Mostly people email or call and requests and production is neck and neck but it is real easy to save some for you if you let me know.  Usually there are 1 to 3 dozen in the little dorm frig available for people that drop by when I am out.

The hoophouse vegetables are beautiful and yummy.  Growth during these short days is kind of slow, and since I only have small amounts of each kind of vegetable planted, mostly the HH has been providing Rob and I with delicious and healthy eating so far this winter.  BUT, I am learning about how to grow winter greens and hope to figure out a way to expand my winter production.  In the meantime, I'll let you know when extras are available and feel free to ask!  The mustard greens pictured above got eaten here this week and are so good!  And they seem to be growing despite the short days.  Tat Soi is getting bigger day by day, as well.  I will be planting microgreens in the house very soon, so in 2 - 3 weeks we'll have nutrient-packed micros to eat.

Available Today:
3 dozen large @ $4.00 a dozen
1 dozen duck eggs @ $5.50 a dozen or $2.75 per half dozen

cooking with duck eggs:

Have a great day,
Laura

PS  Singers: I hope to sing in Noho on Tuesday and will bring eggs if you want.

Eggs & Extras - November 15, 2012

Lots of eggs available this week, people.

Large - 5 dozen - $4.00 each

Small - 1 dozen - $3.00 each

Duck - 2 half dozens - $3.00 each

Delicious egg recipe:  Russian Vegetable Pie

I am still picking modest amounts of fresh vegetables both from the field and the hoophouse.  At the moment there are mustard greens, chard, mesclun and daikon radishes, plus small amounts of cilantro and sorrel.  I am reserving the mesclun for my own Thanksgiving celebration, but let me know if you would like me to pick anything else for you.  Orders taken until Sunday, November 18 and they must be picked up by Tuesday, November 20.

Greens $3.50 a bunch

Daikon $3.50 a pound

Herbs $1.00 a bundle

Pictures of todays harvest:

Have a happy Thanksgiving!

Laura

Sweet Morning Farm

773-8325

Eggs & Extras - October 28, 2012

We are still getting about 2 dozen eggs a day lately!  It's pretty amazing.  I am curious to see if the coming storm affects the laying.  Also, we recently culled the flock to its winter size and that means all the birds are rearranging their position in the flock, including who gets to roost where, who gets the choicest morsels found by the roosters, etc.

All the hens have been doing a great job of cleaning up the yard and garden, specializing in weed seeds and bugs.  We've been letting the birds run all over the place lately, when we are home to watch over them, and they really are helping out!  Thanks, girls.

I haven't started regular picking for extras yet.  (We just had the last farm share week last week.)  Growing in the garden and ready to pick by request: daikon radishes, chard, and mesclun.

Eggs Available today
Small - 2 dozen -  $3.00
Large - 3 dozen - $4.00

There are eggs in the mini frig on the porch so stop by any time during day light hours.  Help yourself to any eggs that are not labeled with someone's name.
Singers - Probably will not be singing this week.  Sorry.  Next Sunday for sure though!

Laura
773-8325

a few extras - July 19, 2012

Despite the heat and dryness, there are some extra eggs and vegetables today.

I have:

1 1/2 dozen eggs - $4.00 a dozen
1 box Thai basil - $2.00
1 big bag of chard - $3.00


If you would like to receive weekly emails about extra items, just let me know.  laurat-at-crocker.com
See you!  Stay cool!
Laura


Farm on facebook

Radishes or lettuce - $1.00 each
Pick Your Own Sweet William - free!
Bring flowers to a friend.  Spread the cheer!
Laura 413-773-8325
Lots more farm news and pictures

Today's Harvest

Trying a new system today.  I picked all the things that I thought might be enough for extras.  The share picking will happen late this afternoon and Thursday morning.  Also, I am going to store items in bulk and pack them up as needed to stock the little frig or to fill requests.

Eggs are all reserved or being saved for hatching at the moment.

What's available:

Kale - 7 bunches - $3.00 each

Mesclun - 5 pounds - $8.00 a pound

Radishes - 4 bunches - $1.00 each

Pak choy - 2 bags - $3.00 each

I will be in and out this afternoon but email or call if you want me to save something.  Mostly home on Thursday and Friday.  

Friends are coming over for supper and singing on Thursday at 6.  You are welcome to join us.

Laura

413-773-8325
laurat-at-crocker-dot-com

Facebook page

Eggs & Extras May 24, 2012

Hello gang,

I am feeling my way this second week of both farm shares and extras.  Naturally, the harvest is for both things and I haven't quite sorted out how to determine what is extra and when that is clear.  Usually, I email on Wednesdays but it might make more sense to write you on Thursdays when the shares are ready, or possibly even Friday, after pick up of the shares.  Stay tuned!

Today's Extras:
Kale - 2 bunches - 3.50 each
Radishes - 3 bunches - 1.00 each
Mesclun - 8 bags - 2.50 each
Just leaf lettuce mix (more mild than the mesclun) - 4 bags - 2.50 each
Salad turnips - 1 bunch - 2.50
Head lettuce - 3 heads (1 is buttercrunch) - 1.00 each

All eggs are spoken for at the moment.  We will probably have a short lull in eggs for the next few days because...we have a broody hen!  Once she is established in her special nesting box all the green eggs and Welsummer eggs will go to her for hatching.  We are hoping for more Welsummer hens and some olive green eggs next spring.

While you are at the farm, be sure to peek in at the ducklings.  They are very cute!

Laura
413-773-8325
laurat-at-crocker.com

Eggs & Extras - May 16, 2012

Red Rosie Romaine lettuce

May 16, 2012

Hello folks,

This is my first week this season picking for both the farm shares and the extras.  The shares, of course, always get priority on what's available but there are still lots of delicious greens and lettuce for you all.

This is what's available this week:

Eggs - 2 dozen, with coming all the time.  $4.00 a dozen

Swiss chard - 3 big bunches - $3.00 each (huge, green and juicy!)

Kale - 2 bunches - $3.00 each - large, yet tender

Buttercrunch lettuce - 3 small heads - $1.00 each

Red Romaine lettuce - 1 bag of 2 smallish heads - $2.50

Mesclun - 3 bags, about 4 oz. each - $2.50 each

I'll be home most of the time for the next few days; email or call if you want me to reserve something for you.  The Farm Members will be picking up their shares Thursday afternoon, so if you come then you can meet some other friends of Sweet Morning Farm.  The chicks are in their new outdoor pen and looking really cute, if you feel like some entertainment while you are here.  On Saturday, Robin and I will be planting and you are welcome to join in if you feel like playing in the dirt.

No pictures posted yet but you can check the farm facebook page later on.

Have a great day,

Laura

413-773-8325
laurat-at-crocker.com

Eggs & Extras - May 9, 2012

Note:  Full and Half Share folks, come by for your free bag of spinach!  Yummy.

May 9, 2012
Hello people,

Picking took a very long time today.  Mostly I was just slow, but the vegetables needed extra washing because of soil that splashed up on the leaves during the rain.  I decided to thin the next batch of mesclun, so it can get nice and big and because thinning during a gentle rain is the absolute best time for the plants.  

The result?  Micro mesclun!

This is a delicious mix of the next batch of greens, including mizuna, arugula, turnips, 4 kinds of mustard, cress, shungiku, kale, and tiny lettuce leaves.  A treat that is only available this week.  And really tasty.

The Giant Winter spinach continues to crank out lots of big, tasty leaves.  I did notice a few plants starting to bolt so this batch will be going by relatively soon.  For today, we have LOTS!  

*******In fact, there is so much that I would like to offer all the official Full and Half Share farm members a half pound bag, as a treat and a warm up for next week's first official shares.*******

I "field washed" most of the greens to get the garden off them but they need to be washed again before they are ready for eating.

Available this week:

Eggs only 1/2 dozen at the moment - $4.00/dozen - The hens are laying about 18 per day.

Radishes - 1 bunch - $1.25

Spinach - 6 bags - $3.00 each (This is in addition to the giveaway bags.)

Kale - 2 bunches - 2 bunches - $3.00 each

Chicory - 1 bunch - $2.50

Buttercrunch lettuce - 4 bags - $2.50 each

Micro mesclun - 7 bags - $3.00 each

Salad mix - 2 bags - $3.00 each - mostly lettuce this week, mild

Nettles! - 3 bags - $3.00 each - a special spring treat, great with butter

Pictures of the food here.

Since next week is the start of the official farm shares, I am not sure how that will affect the extras list.  I am sure there will be extra items, but priority will be given to the shares.  Also, I think I will not be sending out an email about the extras until later in the day on Wednesday, possibly early evening.  Having both the extras list and the farm shares is new this year so it will take a few weeks to work out the best way to coordinate the picking, pick up and communications.  Please be patient and please let me know if you have ideas for improvement.

As usual, let me know if you want me to save something for you.  If you Half and Full Share people don't want spinach, let me know that and I will either sell it or freeze it.  Or eat it.  Spanikopita sounds pretty good to me!

I am still hoping for a larger refrigerator.  Sadly, the one someone gave us recently doesn't seem to work.  Sure looks good on the porch, though.

And, biggest farm news:  Baby ducks are arriving May 22!  We are getting Cayugas and Welsh Harlequins.

Peace,

Laura

Sweet Morning Farm

On Facebook:

413-773-8325

  

Eggs & Extras - May 2, 2012

Good morning, people who eat eggs and green vegetables!

Nice and cool and rainy here.  I hope to do some more transplanting later today while this gentle weather holds.

Today's List:

Eggs - 2 dozen - $4.00 each

Radishes - 4 bunches - $1.25 each

Sorrel - 1 nice bunch - $2.00 - vegetable sleeper item - so nice and lemony, great with potatoes or eggs

Pak choy - 4 bags - $2.00 each

Buttercrunch lettuce - 2 bags - $2.00 each

Mesclun - 5 bags - $3.00 each

Turnips - 4 big bunches (with turnips, 2 vegetables in one) - $2.50 each

Swiss Chard - 2 bunches - $3.50 each

It is VERY helpful if people return clean, dry bags.  Especially the heavy weight freezer bags.  I'll put a bag on the porch for returns.  Thank you!

Email or call if you want me to save something for you.  Or just stop by and take pot luck.

Harvest News:

Today I picked the first of the head LETTUCE, some sweet and tender Buttercrunch.  

Today's nutrition bargain:  I picked all the Hakarei TURNIPS that had bolted.  Some have formed round, delicious roots and some got too hot before they could root up, so they are for greens.  Each bunch has at least 5 round roots.  Last week I tried cooking the tops, including the buds and flowers, and they are delicious!  Think broccoli raab...  They would make a nice addition to salad.  I also grated the roots, added chopped up radishes, and seasoned the mix with rice vinegar, mirin, sugar and cayenne.  This made a really nice (and pink!) side dish.

The CHARD is the best I have ever grown, large, tender and tasty.  Something about the protection of the hoophouse, I guess.

The MESCLUN in the HH may be slowing down a bit.  There will be head lettuces to take up the slack and the outside mesclun is nearly ready for thinning so there will be plenty of salad greens.

I will probably pick some NETTLES on Saturday and will share if you ask for them.  Otherwise, Rob and I will eat them up.  You can check the "farm stand" blog for updates.

If you feel like playing in the dirt this Saturday, stop by for our first Sweet Morning Farm Work Bee!  The next Bee will be June 2.  Farm Picnic will be Saturday, August 18. 

Sweet Morning Farm Shares still available.  I'd love to have you as a farm member!

Full Shares:  $600.00 to $675.00  (20 - 24 weeks, weather dependant, starting May 17)
Half Shares:  $300.00 to $350.00  (20 - 24 weeks, weather dependant, starting May 17)
Mini Shares:  $100.00 (16 weeks - starting June 7)
Extended Mini Shares:  $125.00 (20 weeks - starting June 7)  (Only 1 left.)
Pick up at the Farm on Thursday afternoons.

Have a great day,

Laura

For more pictures and ongoing news see Sweet Morning Farm on Facebook 

laurat-at-crocker.com
413-773-8325

Still available:

As of Friday afternoon, this is what is not spoken for:

Spinach - 2 bags
Radishes - 3 bags
Mesclun - 5 bags
Turnip greens - 1 bag

2 dozen large eggs ready, too.

It's always fine to just stop by and take your chance.  Please try to arrive during daylight hours.  And if you want to reserve something, give me a call or email laurat-at-crocker.com

The results of the taste test on bolted turnips and their tops is in.  They are 100% delicious.

See you around,
Laura

Eggs and Extras - April 25, 2012

Kind of cold here this morning.

Pictures of the harvest:

Eggs - only 1 dozen small/medium eggs available at the moment - $3.50

More being laid as I type, to judge by the clucking from the coop.

Mesclun - 9 bags - $3.00 each (about 1/4 #)

Spinach - 5 bags - $3.00 each (about 1/2 #)

Radishes - 4 bunches - $1.25 each (about 5.5 oz. including the edible tops)

Kale - 3 bunches - $3.00 each (about 3/4 #)

Red Garnet Mustard greens - 1 big bunch - $3.50 (about 1 #) 

Turnip greens - 1 bunch of giant-sized leaves - $3.50 (about 3/4 #)

Joi Choi pak choy - 3 bunches - $3.00 a bunch (about 1#)

I picked some turnips and their tops but I will be eating them myself as a taste test.  With the recent hot weather, the Hakarei turnips in the hoophouse bolted.  (went to flower)  I have learned that the buds and flowers are edible and sometimes used as a substitute for broccoli raab, but until I taste them myself, I don't want to recommend them.

The pak choy is full sized and delicious!

The turnip greens I picked are from special, rare seeds that were given to me last year by a dear friend who lives on the Cape.  The turnips are called Eastham turnips and these greens are from a root I set in the ground in the hoophouse as an experiment.  They were irresistible so I picked them.

I'll be home all day on this rainy, sunny, frosty day.  I am happy to show you the chicks, the hoophouse, the big chickens, etc.

Oh, and if you know someone who might like to buy a farm share, send them my way, please!  Or if you know someone who might like to know about this email list, please tell them about it.  Thanks.

Cheers,

Laura

laurat-at-crocker.com

Sweet Morning Farm

413-773-8325

What's left - Friday morning

What's left?
mesclun - 2 bags
chard - 1 bunch
chicory - 1 bunch
spinach - 1 bag
sorrel - 1 bunch
radishes - 4 bunches



There are some spinach and mesclun and radishes in the frig.  If you want the other items, let me know.  Off to work for a bit...

Harvest - April 18, 2012

It is so amazing and wonderful to have so much ready to pick this early in the season.  Thank you, people for experimenting with me while I create this new method of sharing food.  Let me know if you have suggestions to make the system work better.  Also let me know if you know of a working refrigerator that the farm could have.  I think that would help us all.

Hi Gang,

I am a very slow picker and there was a surprising amount ready to pick.  Hurray!

Here's the list:

Mesclun - 4 bags - $3.00 each

Swiss chard - 1 bunch - $3.00 - the first of the season

Chicory - 1 bunch - $3.00 - like dandelion greens but milder

Spinach - 4 bags - $3.00 each

French sorrel - 1 bunch - $1.00 - lemony

Radishes - 4 bunches - $1.25 each

Pea shoots - 1 bags - $2.00 each

Eggs - 2 dozen large - $4.00 each

Pictures of the vegetables here:

I am heading out this afternoon (Wed) but I will leave some mesclun, spinach, eggs and radishes in the little frig.  I'll be back by supper time and will reserve items after that.

Thanks for your interest and support.  I am so glad people are enjoying the vegetables.  

Coming soon (next week?): full sized pak choy and more kale.  So neat.

Have a great day,

Laura

Extras - April 11, 2012

Hello, good people!

I love this weather (except for the drying wind) and I love having vegetables in April to share!

I also want to share that the farm now has an official name, Sweet Morning Farm.  I like it and I am glad to be over that decision and on to other things.  

And the farm has a facebook page: 

"Like" me there, if you want more step by step farm-related news and pictures including pictures of CHICKS!

               Golden Polish chick

If I am home, I am happy to show you the little birds.  Currently, they are living in the kitchen and growing quickly.

Eggs & Extras - April 11, 2012

All eggs are spoken for until Saturday.  Let me know if you want me to save some for you.

Available today:

Baby pak choy - for stir fry, with pasta, in salads, you name it. - 3 bunches - $2.00 each

Red Garnet mustard greens - 1 bunch - $3.00

Red Russian kale - irresistible - 2 bunches - $2.50

Radishes - delicious and tender - 3 bunches - $1.25 a bunch

Mesclun - everyone loves this - 4 bags - $3.00 a bag

Basil microgreens - Mix: nutrient dense microgreens with flavor intense basil and you get WOW. - 1 bag - $2.00

Pictures of the harvest:

Last week I ended up picking on the weekend as well but rather than send more email, I posted the update here at the blog.  I post the Wednesday email here as well.

Okay, done for today.  I'll be planting more pea shoots but that's it for micros for awhile.  Watch the blog for updates between this email and next Wednesday.  Or call or email me.

Laura

773-8325

Pea shoots! and leaves!

Picked some pea shoots today because they couldn't wait for Wednesday.  Then I picked a Easter treat: basil microgreens - EXTRA YUM!

$2.00 a bag for either one.

Saturday, April 7

Still available:
2 half pound bags of really tasty spinach - $3.00 each
1 bunch of tender radishes - $1.25
1 bunch sorrel - $1.00
(See this post or this one for some sorrel cooking ideas.)

I have lots of pea shoots that need picking but I am into planting at this morning.  If you want some, I am happy to pick them, or hand you the harvest scissors for Pick Your Own.

What a great day!

Eggs and Extras - April 4, 2012

It's so much fun to be picking vegetables so early in the season.  I've been eating spinach for several weeks and I recommend keeping some washed and ready in the frig for spinach salads and spinach/garlic omelets.  Yum.

Speaking of washing, it's up to you to wash your greens.  Sometimes I rinse them just to get the soil off or to chill the greens but all the produce you get from my farm needs proper washing at your house.

Early next week we'll be getting a new batch of chicks!  They'll be staying in the kitchen for a week or so but if you want to see some cuteness, I am happy to show them to you.

Not ready yet but coming along in the hoophouse: white salad turnips and pak choy.

Available Today:

Eggs - 2 1/2 dozen (yes, it's fine to just get 1/2 dozen!) $4.00/dozen

Radishes - 2 bunches - $1.25 each

Mesclun - 6 bags - $3.00/bag

Pea shoots - 1 bag - $2.00

Sorrel - 1 bunch - $1.00

Arugula - 1 bunch - $2.00

Spinach - 5 bags - $3.00/bag (This was overwinter in a low tunnel, planted late last summer.)

Kale - 1 bunch (I just couldn't resist picking this.  A preview of what will be in the May farm shares.)

Enjoy your vegies!

Laura

If you want to receive a weekly email about Eggs and Extras, let me know at laurat-at-crocker.com

March 28, 2012

Today's Pickings

This is March, right?
I guess this is what it means to have a hoophouse!  I am thrilled.  Today I picked a fair amount of fresh green things for you.

More pictures of today's harvest:

(You don't need to use facebook to see these.)

No extra eggs at the moment but only because several people have reserved some.  The hens are laying at least 1 1/2 dozen a day so just say the word if you want some on the weekend.

5 bags mesclun - includes tiny Pak Choy in bud (think broccoli) and lots of arugula and mustard - $3.00 each
3 bunches radishes - the first of the season, tender and crunchy - $1.25 a bunch
1 bunch chicory - slightly bitter yet sweet and juicy - $2.50
1 bunch Red Garnet mustard greens - $2.50
3 bags microgreens - mostly mizuna and the last microgreens for awhile - $1.00 a bag
3 bags pea shoots - $2.00 a bag
1 bunch French sorrel - $1.00

Usually I remember to leave some eggs and other extras in the porch frig when I am out.  As long as someone's name is not on the item, it's available.  Email, call, check the "Farm Stand" blog, or feel free to stop by and take a chance that there will be something yummy for you.

Please return clean, dry bags, if possible.  Thanks.
Laura

EGGS AND EXTRAS

These days I try to send out an email each week to people that are interested in eggs and other fresh, homegrown items.  Today's list includes 10 bags of microgreens, picked this morning in the hoophouse, and 5 dozen eggs.  Since sending the message around noon, I've sold 3 dozen eggs and 2 bags of greens.  The hens keep laying and the greens keep growing so there will be more coming along.

It was lovely to pick the microgreens.  It was my first real harvest from the hoophouse!  Later I weeded and took note of the kinds of plants coming up out there.  Jewelweed, lamb's quarters, and maple trees for weeds; poppies, carrots, fava beans, and horseradish for planted crops.

In the next few weeks I expect there to be plenty of eggs and for microgreens, mesclun, arugula and radishes to be coming along.  If you would like to receive emails about what is available each week, send me a note.  laurat-at-crocker.com

2012 Farm Shares are on sale

For information about farm shares, go to the CSA BLOG

MICROGREENS

I am growing my 3rd batch of microgreens. They are almost ready to pick. Tonight I plan on picking some delicious PEA SHOOTS.

So far this has been fun and easy. I haven't run the numbers yet but my sense is that they cost alot to produce. Each seed makes a tiny seedling, packed with nutrients and sweetly delicious but the same seed can also produce a whole kale or chard plant making pounds of greens. So it's a bit puzzling. Also, I am learning about whether or not to reuse the potting soil for multiple batches. The directions say to compost the used soil and that may be the best plan but using fresh soil each time increases the cost. ASIDE: (I feel like I am writing this in such a farmer-like way, trying really think about the crop. Perhaps that is a sign that my farming skills are growing. I believe so. But a completely different way to write about these tiny greens would be: WOW! These are so fantastic! Yummy, fresh and packed with nutrients. Such a treat for the winter time! If I have extra, I will let people know and you can come buy a bag! You will be very happy if you do.) BACK TO THE PRACTICAL: SO, it may be that I will grow these for myself or for additions to the shares. But who knows, maybe I'll get good at it, find inexpensive sources of seed and soil and eventually wholesale to restaurants, etc. In the meantime, I'ma gonna grow me some greens!

(These pictures DO NOT do the microgreens justice. And the flavor is amazing.)