Joe Jo

We are expecting, a boy. To arrive before the end of the week , a friend for Mini. A boy 35", named Joe Jo. Stay posted for pictures.

Week 3 CSA = Week 3 of Rain

Week 3
SHARE CONTENTS
Partial:
3 pieces kohlrabi
1 bunch swiss chard
1 head lettuce
4 garlic scapes
Choice: ½ lb broccoli OR
1 lb radishes and salad
turnips

My Grandpa Slim use to say if you want to learn about something read about it in a book. He also would brag, "if you learn it you own it". I am living those words with my garden share, and my summer reading. I am reading , and referencing often two books: Preserving Summer's Bounty A Rondale Garden Book ( Bobby and Keri gave me) and The Victory Garden Cookbook, a new addition from my Mom. Today I researched KOHLRABI and Strawberry Jam.

Saturday

Nickel and Jake

Audrey Mae

04-03-03 to-06-26-09

"Mommy always wanted a baby girl," Bob would tell her.

A Parting Prayer
Dear Lord, please open your gates and call St. Francis to come escort this beloved companion across the Rainbow Bridge. Assign her to a place of honor,for she has been a faithful servant and has always done her best to please me. Bless the hands that send her to you,for they are doing so in love and compassion,freeing her from pain and suffering. Grant me the strength not to dwell on my loss. Help me remember the details of her life with the love she has shown me. And grant me the courage to honor her by sharing those memories with others. Let her remember me as well and let her know that I will always love her. And when it's my time to pass over into your paradise, please allow her to accompany those who will bring me home.Thank you, Lord,for the gift of her companionship and for the time we've had together.And thank you, Lord,for granting me the strengthto give her to you now. Amen.- © Brandy Duckworth, 1998

CSA Pick up #2

Today was the second, of what I hope will be many CSA pick ups. In my share this week I got 2 heads lettuce, 1 bunch of radish,kale,scallions and beets. I am shocked any one in the area is having any garden success, with all the rain. Tonight we are having Buffalo chicken salad and chili. We are testing a Made in Maine product Denny Mikes BahBQue . http://www.dennymikes.com/

No new pictures because Bob has my camera in truck so here are some Jesse took over Fathers Day.

Dexter Come Back

Jesse and Dexter came for the week end. The weather was such that, if I did not have more than two of every thing I would build and Ark but we had a nice visit. Saturday we had a break in the rain and weather and we went for a carriage ride. Dexter was the high light for the rest of the week end.

Fredi Fondue

Jesse and Dexter are home, in Maine for Fathers Day week end. It is cold and wet and a good excuse to eat fondue. So we did just that. Of course Fondue always makes us think of Fredi , our Swiss exchange son.

Fondue

1 clove garlic

2 cups white wine or KJ

4 tsp lemon juice

2 1/2 - 3 1/2 c each Gruyere and Emmentaler shredded

1 shot vodka (per. Jay)

1 heaping teaspoon corn starch

pepper

nutmeg

french bread cubed

Rub the caquelon with garlic, heat the wine and lemon , melt the cheese add corn starch season stir the entire time . Take from stove and keep hot over sterno as you enjoy. If you make it to the bottom of the pot the garlic and grilled cheese is the reward. (Just do n

ot fling it at anyone)

Sun shine

Today was a nice sunny day. Some of the puddles dried,not all. This morning we opened the back paddock so the boys could graze. Tonight ,Bob and I had salad from our garden share . Pig and chicken got out, and had dinner. However it looks like more rain Friday Sunday. The hay farmers need to cut , we do not need more rain.

Break in the weather

Finally we have a break in the weather, and just in time for my first CSA pick up. (community shared agriculture / CSA) If you are member of a CSA in the winter you commit to a farm or group of farmers, you give them a membership fee, that they invest into their farm. In return when it is time for harvest they share, what they produce with the members. Today was the first pick up, it was small put very encouraging. We got spicy greens, a bunch of beautiful radish,2 head lettuce scallions and rhubarb. The farm we chose, is Wildrooot farm a local organic farm run by women, powered by draft horses. Check them out at www.wildrootfarm.com

This is an interesting campaign...

I was reading this and found it interesting enough to pass on. I'm not a fan of cut and paste or forwarding e mail . But this sounded interesting.

This July 4, declare your food independence
Americans are calling upon their governors to 'eat by example' and pledging to do the same this Independence Day.
Mon, Jun 15 2009 at 3:48 PM EST
Kitchen Gardens International is a group that can get things done. Their Eat the View campaign was instrumental in bringing about the current White House kitchen garden. Now the group has a new campaign – Food Independence Day.

By petitioning each of our 50 governors, the group hopes to persuade the 50 first families to eat locally sourced meals this July 4. They are asking those who support this campaign to go to their website and sign a petition asking their governor to not just “lead by example but eat by example.” Petitions will be delivered to the governors in the last week of June.

Here’s what the petition says:

To: The first families of the 50 U.S. states and territories

We, the undersigned, are petitioning you to lead and eat by example this July 4 by sourcing the ingredients of your Independence Day meal as locally and sustainably as possible. Whet our appetites by publishing your planned menu in advance of the holiday. Share your recipes and the names of the local farmers, fisherfolk and food producers whose ingredients you'll be using. Make it into a friendly competition with the other first families to see who can serve the meal that inspires the most while traveling the least. As residents of your states and by our signatures below, we pledge to join you in this celebration of edible independence by eating healthy and delicious foods from our own local farms, gardens and communities.

Did you catch that last sentence? If you sign, you’re pledging to celebrate Food Independence Day, too, by eating from your own local area. That shouldn’t be too difficult, though; by July 4, the choices should be plentiful

Toni was right

he is "slightly pampered"
Fallowing his bath Nickel had a little time with his brooms.

Bath Time

Nickel and Jake got bath's today. After a week of mud and rain it was time for a good rinse. They sure looked big and sexy when done

Farm Fresh Eggs

Dressing for Spinach

1/2 c olive oil

3 Tbs Red Wine vinegar

crank of salt and pepper

crashed red pepper

3 diced hard boil eggs

mix well / I measured mine into a canning jar then shook

This dressing is going over the spinach and red onions tonight. I wish I thought to take bacon out of the freezer that wood of been a yummy addition.

Two of the Teams

Pig and Mister have become a team. Mr. Mister goes in pigs house and when you venture over they come out one at a time. They should be very settled by winter and able to share chickens big house.

You've got mail

Lance and I got mail. Jesse sent Lance a new collar and tag (my Mothers Day Gift).Lance looks very handsome in his new John Deere collar. I do not,yet have a good picture but it is very cute. I took 3 photo's but he gets very close to the camera.

Lance

Lance was happy to watch us work in the yard,we started the garden. Lance getting out freed up "his room"in the barn for Huck. The rooster worked at cleaning Boogie and pig seemed very ok with that. The sun was shining and lots of butter flies were around

Sunday

not a lot to write did chores all week end , did catch a couple photo's.

Mr.Mister

OK

The rooster has a name , it's Mr. Mister.

He also has an attitude!

He crows in the morning until I open his door.

Then he goes into Boogies Pig pen where he rules the roost. He helps Boogie eat his breakfast and goes into Boogies house,he goes back and forth from his house and pigs until about 7pm then he climbs into his house and perches for the night.

Did anyone tell him??

I'm not sure Nickel knows he's a Belgian, or what that means. I know Toni would refer to him as her "Big Boy" and Merri would call him "Mr. Man" however when he's in Mini's little grazing pen, I question his understanding. Bob is still working with Jake,and tonight I did not ride Nick so I put him in Mini's grazing pen. I am not sure he understands he could step over the knee high fence. Bob got thrown for the first time, glad that's out of the way!

Catch Up

We had a crazy , wonderful week end and we are trying to get back to work while playing catch up. There is lots to do ie: paddocks, dump runs etc. That being said we have done none of that the last two nights. Saturday we got a saddle for Jake and Bob and I decided to go for a ride. Jake had other plans, he does not want any one on his back. His saddle fits nice so it will just take time. Bob worked with him Sunday and Monday night in the side yard. I road Nick both nights, he loves his people and the chance to have anyone on his back . It will be great when we can take them both out.