Agrarian Harvest

Strawberries, Rhubarb, and Our Farm Boy

All of our kids impress us everyday. They have their own strengths and interests. But this time I’m impressed with our little farm boy. He is involved and loves every chore and task that takes place on the farm. He gets up early on his own, get his breakfast, does his feeding chores and then heads to his garden to check all the plants and weed.All of our kids have their own garden space to tend and grow as they see fit. Our farm boy gets just as excited to harvest as he does to plant. And then once the “fruits of his labor” are harvested he’s ready to make them into something nourishing to eat. He loves to be in the kitchen cooking and creating just as much as he loves the outdoors. It just amazes me how he embraces all aspects of growing, tending, harvesting, and cooking food.

This week’s harvest and abundance is rhubarb and strawberries. The kids have been going out to the berry patch everyday to pick those juicy, sweet first strawberries of the summer. Usually eating most of the berries before they make it back to the house with the bowl, but this time our farm boy took his own bowl out to save the strawberries he picked for making a yummy, creation in the kitchen. Strawberries, rhubarb and a hungry, creative minded child in the kitchen; any guesses what he wanted to make? He has his father’s love for pies so, of course, his choice was a pie (I’m sure the picture gave it away too). I mixed up the crust and he did the rest himself; rolling out the crust, the chopping, mixing and all the finishing touches. A strawberry rhubarb pie for dessert. I can’t wait to eat this creation!

Our next harvest and abundance is going to be garlic scapes. And it is my turn to create something wonderful in the kitchen with garlic scapes. I want to come up with something more creative than presto, although I do love pesto. Any suggestions?

June 3, 2015 0

We’re in the newspaper

Here is an article about us that was recently published in the Capital Press. A very nice article telling about us. Enjoy!

http://www.capitalpress.com/20150522/small-farm-grows-larger-with-diversification#

June 2, 2015 0

Chive Flowers

Who says you can’t play with your food? I say go for it. I do. I like to make mine into an art project before eating it. I discovered this year that chive flowers are edible, along with many other plants but that is for another post. You can eat them raw or use as garnish or saute them for dishes or substitute them in any recipe for the onion. This flower is so amazing. This is my new obsession. I love flowers and eating what we grow, but this is better yet. It’s beautiful, purple (my favorite color) and edible. So now I can look at the brilliant, purple balls growing and then pick them to garnish all our meals or cook in our meals, which I have done a lot of lately. It’s beautiful and good to eat. Sprinkle the chopped purple flowers on any dish and make it look like a gourmet meal, at least in my eyes!

I love good homegrown, made-from-scratch food and consider myself artistic. Now I’m combining my interests. Food, flowers and art. This taco salad consist of our homegrown, grass-fed beef, spring mix lettuce, chives, green onion, cilantro and local hydroponically grown tomatoes. It is empowering to cook a healthy, nourishing meal made with all or almost all local, organic, fresh produce, herbs, meat or eggs. Yum!!

Home-made pizza with whole wheat crust. The first picture is a roast beef, spinach, mushroom, chive flowers and thyme with a homemade white sauce. The second picture is sausage, spinach, thyme and chive flowers.

Or they make a beautiful bouquet too! Such an amazing food and flower!

Happy cooking and creating!

May 29, 2015 0

Farewell Dark Clouds

We are saying good-bye to the dark, gray skies that have been hanging over for the last couple of weeks. Although, it feels like months. It is so hard to get moving early in the morning when the dark clouds are hanging over and it is damp and cool outside. It’s so much easier to sit by the warm fire (yes, we have been building fires in the mornings) a little bit longer instead of having to go out to do chores. Chores do get done reluctantly, then everyone hurries by inside to sit by the fire or wrap up in a blanket instead of staying outside to get rest of the days work done. Or the dark clouds roll in during the middle of the day with the wind, rain or hail. Then we end up having to stop what we are doing to protect ourselves and have to leave our work unfinished. There is nothing more frustrating than having to leave a project only partially done. We have lots of planting still to do; bits and pieces of it are getting done between rain storms. Who would want to stay out in the gray, dreary, wet weather to kneel in the mud to put down weed barrier or plant anything? We are ready for summer and all that it brings. Bring on the sun, the heat, the work, long days, sounds and smells of summer nights, BBQs, firepits, fresh fruits, berries and veggies and all the fun of summer.

May 27, 2015 0

Cloudy Start to Great Day

After a cloudy, cool start to the day with a threat of rain, it turned out to be a great market day. The sun came out and so did the crowd. Sorry to all who came to buy greens and we were out. We sold out of all our greens, rhubarb, and green onions. We had a storm that came through this past week that that poured rain and hail. Unfortunately, our produce was damaged so were short on product this week. We project that we will have more produce in the coming week than we did this week and possibly the first radishes of the season.

May 24, 2015 0

This is my first time ever raising or being around broiler chickens. I grew up around laying hens. So I have learned a lot the last few months. My husband on the other hand, is experienced, I guess you can say. He has raised chickens, broilers and layers, since he was a kid.

I had always heard that broiler grew fast (very true), that they are lazy birds or just get too fat too fast so they don’t move much. Now that is not true for our birds. They did grow fast, but those birds move. They started out in a brooder or hoop house as most chicks do and soon after was released or the door was opened and they were allowed to roam our property as they wished. As young chicks, they stayed close to the hoop house and the only safety they have ever known. It was wasn’t long before they were wandering all over the yard and eat anything they saw fit. Wherever they went you knew a whole flock of broiler had been there. This is not like the typical layer who will walk around the yard by herself scratching randomly for bugs and then move on without leaving much trace she had been there (besides her scratched out hole if she gets really carried away). Broilers are a little slower to move but also travel together, laying down to take breaks as they go, smashing anything that may be in the way when they decide to lay. Which definitely takes patience and deep-breathing on my part when they decide to shade up or nap in my flowerbeds. And when you walk out the door, it is amazing to see how fast these birds can get up and move just to gather at your feet to greet you.

Granted, they go through an ugly phase which is true for most living things, including humans, as they grow from baby to adulthood. There are times you don’t want to look out your window at those ugly birds, but those times pass in the blink of an eye. Just like watching your toddler grow out of the terrible twos and then you miss those times. It has been an amazing journey! It will be one that I will never forget and definitely one we will go through again. And knowing my husband and his love of poultry, will travel that road again very soon.

Spring Chicken

Our following! Soon to be decreased. Our first processing date is set for broiler chickens. It’s this week! Spring chickens are here and available. Our chickens are grass-fed, organic and have lots of room to move.

Chicken dinner tonight? Contact us with to get your chicken and salad. One stop shopping and dinner is served.

May 21, 2015 0

Cold, Wet Day

It was a cold, wet day at the farmers market. Thanks so much to all those who came out in the cold, wet , windy weather to support local producers! We love your support, especially on days like today. You make it worth standing out in the rain and wind just to see your face light up when you get your bag of fresh greens or delicious eggs.

If you missed the farmers market, you can contact us by phone or email (find that information under the about tab) to get any of our products any day of the week.

May 17, 2015 0

Farmers Market

We are happy to announce we will be selling our products at the Twin Falls Farmers Market this year. Come visit our booth to buy fresh, organic, local food or call ahead to visit our farm and get in-season vegetables, herbs, eggs, chicken or pork. We look forward to seeing and meeting you.

May 15, 2015 0

Agrarian Harvest

Wholesome, Organic, Experience. Our small farm, food, and simple life.

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