equinox pick-up tomorrow!

Tomorrow is the day to get your goodies! What will you get? What wonderful things can you do with them?  Here are some ideas.

Vegetables:

The stars of the last pick-up were the tomatoes, and there are still going to be some of those even though their production is slowing down, but I've included a new exciting type of tomatoes - green ones! As frost starts to threaten (though there's no real sign of it yet) the question on what to do with all those green tomatoes that will never ripen might come up. Or maybe you just accidentally knocked one off it's stem.  Either way green tomatoes tend to be a rare treat that you won't find in most grocery stores.  Don't just pop them in your mouth though! These should be prepared first, you could make relish, pickles, sauce, or even use them as a jam ingredient, but traditionally they should be fried.  I tried to make them once before with mixed results, but they tasted good one I figured out how to get the batter to stick (the recipe I had neglected saying eggs were needed) so I'm looking forward to trying them again this year probably with this recipe.

other vegetables that shall be around are small tomatoes, bell peppers, onions, and squash/pumpkin,

Herbs:

Our lemon balm has been growing strong and should make a bigger appearance this season.  In the kitchen Lemon balm can be used to add a lemon flavor to whatever you want to add some zest to - you can even use it in place of lemon zest! Medicinally it's been known to help with tension and mood issues as well as an aid to digestion, generally as a tea.  Some use it topically for cold sores and bug bites as well.  Magically it has feminine attributes and a connection to honey bees, often used to attract romance though it can be used to ease hurt emotions.  You might also want to add it to your bath to further promote calm.  Drinking a cup of lemon balm tea before magical working can help put you in an open state of mind and relax and tensions you might carry from the outside world.

Other herbs you might find in your bag are tulsi/holy basil, salad brunet, comfrey, sage, yarrow leaves, parsley, thyme, and some Italian herbs such as oregano and rosemary.

Flowers:

Summer flowers are starting to fade, but they zinnias are still around for us to enjoy, along with just the beginnings of fall showing with grasses and other seed heads.  But the big player right now is goldenrod, which although you might think of as a weed can be a great flower and herb as well! Dry
it either for decoration or use as a tea.  You can also make a tincture out of it to take it that way.

Art and Writing:

Thomm's story will be in the share! Entitled balance beam, and as always some what inspired by the illustration I made.  Sadly it doen't look like the actual artwork prints will arrive on time for tomorrow - but don't worry! I'll mail it out to you once it arrives.

Hope to see you tomorrow!
Amber

pick-up tomorrow!

Wondering what will be in the shares tomorrow? And what to do with them? Here are a few hints!

Vegetables -
just under one pound of various tomatoes!  There are cherry types, as well as some larger varieties.

Not every type has started yielding, but the ones that have are doing great.  Eat them fresh, slice and dry them for the future, put them in sauce, freeze them, do pretty much anything you want!  Don't put uncut ones in the fridge though - it can ruin the flavor and texture.  Magically, tomatoes were previously thought to be an aphrodisiac and are still great for attracting love and lust. They also are associated with the golden apples and can be used in place of apples.

Other vegetables that might be present are green bell peppers and summer squash - did you know you can eat zucchinis fresh?  They remind me of cucumbers but more substantial.

Herbs -
speaking of cucumbers one of the herbs - salad burnett- has a cucumbery flavor! To use it, just pull off the leaves and put it in a salad, on a sandwich, or just eat it fresh.  You can also use it in hot dishes like soups and eggs, but don't let it cook too long or the flavor will disappear.  To preserve it for later, you should freeze it rather than drying.  Medicinally, it has been used to slow bleeding, as an astringent, and anti-inflammatory.  It might make an interesting iced tea or addition to a skin toner, too.  Magically, it has protective quantities. It is also in the rose family, so you might find some interesting uses through that connection.

Other herbs you might see are - echinacea flowers, catnip, sage, mint, basils, parsley, fennel, lemon balm, and mugwort.




Flowers -

The zinnias are in full bloom and are getting quite tall - taller than me, at least.  I love them so much, especially when butterflies and bees are flitting around. I actually based this pick-ups art work on it.  They can be used to bring joy, love, friendships, and strength, or just use a specific color of zinnia to fit in with whatever your working on.

To go along with the big, bright zinnias, we've got asters, snapdragons, and a few other fun blossoms popping out.

Art and writing-
As always, there will be a print included, and a bit of writing to go with it (in that Thomm looks at what I'm working and runs with it until it's something even more awesome) this one has bees, a wedding, and some sadness.  There will be some ceramics as well for you to choose from.

Thanks for reading! I can't wait to see you.
Amber

This week 5/7

catnip tea!

so many nettles

The pickup went great, so much so that I forgot to take any pictures!  I was also a bit behind on getting set up but, as no one showed up until after 5, all was well. I might push back the pickups to starting at 5, in fact.  It was great seeing everyone and chatting a bit. A neighbor even stopped by in his antique car to buy flowers!  I hope to have more herbs and such for sale next pickup, if there are any extra after all the shares are filled of course.

photo by Thomm Quackenbush

Birds are all over the farm. One robin even decided to make a nest on a work table near where we keep extra pots and flats that has 3 beautiful blue eggs in it.  The apple trees are flowering along with everything else and triggering sneezing everywhere.  Everything is just so much greener then last week too, and my transplants are just bursting out of their blocks waiting for me to notice them and put them in some actual ground.



But the best thing that happened this week is that the praying mantis eggs hatched!  Two of them have released a ton of rambunctious youngsters, that keep trying to escape or pick fights.  It's amazing just watching them and how alert and fast they can be.  So far, I've separated out about 15 from the rest, but I'm not sure I can do that for all the others - so for now they've just got to share their giant room until I get them out to the farm.  Or maybe I'll just let them fight it out and just keep the strongest! Are there insect cage matches?  I guess that would be a little mean.

I hope you've all been enjoying the sunny weather this week.
Amber

CSA pick-up tomorrow!

Tomorrow will be our first pick-up at the farm!  I can't wait to meet everyone, share some knowledge, chat, and give out some herbs, veggies, and flowers.

So what can you expect in your share?  And then, when you get home, what can you even do with them?  I'll start off by saying pretty much everything, aside from the flowers and greens, can be made into tea. I'm not sure if I've heard of basil tea but I'm sure it would taste interesting!


When it comes to fresh goods, you can expect:

Mixed baby lettuce and greens - great on a sandwich or as a salad. You could even use a homemade salad dressing on it by combining some herbs, vinegar, and/or oil.

Flowers - use to decorate whatever! Also tulips can be used to bring in love and beauty, and daffodils for personal strength, good luck, and love as well.

Thyme - used to season foods of make a healthful tea, great for colds.  I love using it on chicken and pretty much everything.  It can also be made into a smudge stick to clear the air, especially after a sickness - be careful not to burn too much, though, as it can smell a bit like pot.

Culinary Sage  - used to season foods - especially well-known in Thanksgiving stuffing.  It also makes a great addition to chicken, soups, stews, and baked goods.  (I'm thinking of trying these out sage-corn-muffins and Buttermilk-Sage Dinner Rolls).  You can also use their leaves to make a tea that is good for sore throats and makes a great gargle.  Magically, sage is very well known and there is a ton of interesting lore attached to it. Although culinary sage shouldn't be burned like white sage, it can still be used for similar things.

Catnip - not only used for driving your cat crazy or in other cat related activities, you can also make a tea out of it that is very slightly minty as it is part of the mint family.

Mixed Mints - I've heard it's good with pork or lamb, but have yet to try it. It can also be used as a
substitute for cilantro in some recipes.  Use for a refreshing tea hot or cold, and is good for the stomach and keeping cravings at bay. You can freeze it or make jelly with it as well.  Magically, it's great for healing and home protection - possibly because mice are supposed to hate it.

Stinging Nettle - be careful! The fresh plant will give you a bit of a sting, so you might want to wear gloves. Letting it wilt, drying, or chopping it up will get rid of the sting as well.  Traditionally, they're used with potatoes to make a nutritious soup to perk you up after a long winter. They can also be used for a pesto or as a substitute for spinach.  Don't forget to make a tea out of it too for an extra boost of vitamins. Use around the home or as a broom for protection against evil.



And for dry goodies:

Dandelion root - can be used as a vegetable in soups or possibly after being boiled a few times and then sauteing, but I have a feeling they might still be a bit too bitter. I certainly don't recommend eating it as-is, though. I tried it and it could have been worse.  Mostly, they are used as a tea or a caffeine-free coffee substitute after chopping and roasting for a bit. It will also stimulate the digestive system, so it's good to perk-up an appetite. (How To Make Roasted Dandelion Root Coffee)  They also make a great addition to sleep pillows!

Echinacea root - make into a tea or tincture!  It's a very popular medicinal herb and can also used to strengthen spells.

Basil - awesome seasoning, especially for Italian dishes like marinara sauce.  It also brings good luck and wealth and is great for purification.

Sage and nettle - see fresh notes above.

There will also be artwork, writing, choose your own necklace and some other surprises in the shares.  If something else ends up being ready for harvest tomorrow, I'll add it on Friday.  I'm so excited for tomorrow!   Remember, always do your own research and talk to your doctor before using any herbs medicinally, as drug interactions may occur and some herbs are not compatible with pregnancy or liver issues. Stay healthy!

Enjoy,
Amber