Farm News/Communication
Arugula's Star Farm On-Line Organic Produce Store
Rememeber... raw salads are the way to go when you think of summer and the heat. Chopped Chard leaves and stems mixed with the lettuce leaves and a little borage makes for the perfect greens base for your weeks worth of salads, so stock up and we will be seeing you on Wednesday the 16th.
Thanks,
Arugula's Star Farm
www.ArugulasStarFarm.com
Hello to everyone as we have made it into the month of June, and thus here soon to be summer. Since writing last, it seems as if the "Heat that was On" then has for certain decided to stay. Despite the extremely warm days the evenings have offered a well needed reprieve from the heat and we hope everyone has appreciated the pleasant evenings and fireflies! Speaking of golden lights, you can find some golden colors at our On-Line Produce Store by way and means of purchasing some Golden Chard Bunches mixed with the beautiful Red color of the Ruby Red Chard. To go along with the Chard Bunches, you will also find Lettuce Heads, Borage, and Eggs.
In light of all the damage that was done here by the flood, we feel as if the fields and landscapes are slowly but surely starting to look back to normal. Our cover crops of buckwheat and sorghum are growing on up and creating young lush carpets of green. Hills are popping out sweet melon, watermelon, cucumber, winter squash, summer squash, marigold, radish, dill, and basil seedlings. Rows of beans and tomatoes are on there way, soon to be followed by the peppers plants, eggplants, sunflowers, and okra seeds. It for sure has been a month of repair and fixin, but I will say we are getting there.
We hope you will try some of the tasty greens by ordering at the on-line store and that we will be seeing you on Wednesday the 9th for delivery at Elmington Park or On-Farm Pick-up.
Thanks so much...Arugula's Star Farm
“And the Heat is On”…the hot late spring weather has finally come to be here in Middle TN. So with the warm weather here and all, there is no better time to be tossing raw salads up, chopping herbs, and eating refreshing organic strawberries. As this week is looking warmer and drier, we might actually be able to get into the Windmill field to move around the shifted and flooded soils, get some cover crops out and about, and by the end of the week in the great 2nd Quarter and Scorpio sign we will hope to get out some vine crops, beans, and herbs and flowers. Because of all the alterations that the Flood brought on here for the farm’s fields and planting agendas, we will not have any new produce available till late July or early August in our best prediction. Although, for the next couple of weeks we will still be offering the lettuces, endive, chard, borage, sorrel, spinach, and strawberries that were resilient enough to survive, but after that is gone we will be waiting on the summer crops that have been even delayed more than normal. Nonetheless, we will be planning on having melons, winter squash, summer squash & zucchini, snap beans, dry beans, tomatoes, peppers, okra, cucumbers, and herbs when the time comes around. Here is a good picture of comparison of how high the banks of the Leipers Creek flooded, kind of a then and now type of picture. Also, there are the tomato plants that will still make it into the field for a good crop of tomatoes.
As far as this week goes, at the On-Line Store, you will find the Supreme Spring Green Salad Mix again, Borage, and first come first serve Strawberries at pick-up (meaning… limited amount will be posted, and then the remaining that we are able to harvest off the plants will be available on a first come first serve basis at the pick-up on Wednesday)
As this will be our third week of our strawberry harvest, the plants are still producing and looking great, so please support the production of Organic Strawberries by buying Organic/Local Strawberries. There was a wonderful article that came out in this months ACRES publication that spoke of the terrible impacting roll that Conventional Strawberries have played in positive environmental ecosystems structure and function, and human health. There is really nothing wonderful at all about enjoying fresh strawberries when they have been conventionally grown, so just remember that next time you see a beautiful display of seemingly perfect conventional strawberries, and this goes for local non-organic strawberries as well! Moreover, as not to just speak of Strawberries, but this same statement is true for any conventional produce really. That is why you as a consumer have such an important role in buying food that is having a positive effect on all living ecosystems and human health, as opposed to the counterpart of purchasing conventional foods and products that are having broad scoping negative effects on environmental ecosystems and your health and other human’s health.
Along with the wonderful supreme salad mix, the other featured item this week is Borage, and if you have never tried Borage, you really should as not only is it tasty like described at the On-Line Store, but it is one of those wonderful healing herbs that can be used and should be used in regular cooking preparations.
Borage parts used: Leaves, flowers, and seeds
Phytochemicals and Nutrient Content: Beta-carotene, romaine acid, silicic acid, tannin, calcium, choline, essential fatty acids, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, vitamins B1, B2, B3, and C.
Actions and Uses: Acts as a adrenal tonic and gland balancer. Contains valuable minerals and essential fatty acids needed for proper cardiovascular function ad healthy skin and nails.
To get ideas on how to use Borage please click on the more information option at the On-Line Store.
We hope everyone enjoys this first spurt in the hot weather and hope to be seeing you on this Wednesday the 26th at Elmington Park or On-Farm.
Thanks,
Arugula’s Star Farm
Hello to everyone!
First off, we apologize for the delay in e-mail this week and the to be altered delivery day but we have a story and reason behind these changes. Last Friday our phone line was struck by lightning and thus we lost all of our phones and it fried our computer. As the Leipers Creek Library does not run open hours on Sundays or Mondays, today Tuesday, was the first chance I had to get onto a computer.
Therefore, that is why you are just receiving the e-mail today and is why we will push our delivery day till Friday the 21st. Friday will mimic the same format as Wednesdays, so there will be nothing different except for the day. As we will not be able to check e-mails regularly this week, if you have any questions then please just give us a call as our phone is up and operating again, even though our computer is not. 931-682-3314.
I hope this works out for most still, and it might even allow for some that normally cannot make Wednesday to be able to enjoy some delicious produce from Arugula's Star Farm, as you might be able to make it to a Friday pick-up.
We really have a great selection of vegetables, fruits, and herbs this week available in our On-Line Store. Our strawberries are still coming in full on and we hope everyone loved their strawberries last week, and will be back for more this week. I think Matthew, I, and the two interns might be developing a slight red hue as we have been eating so many of these bright red, ripe, and sweet berries...yum. We have a wonderful supreme salad mix with a high array of different greens that you will really love. The crunchy and snapy sweet peas are back and lastly but not least, we also have a European herb called Borage that you can read about and try.
Thanks for understanding and we hope to still be able to see many of you this coming Friday the 21st.
Arugula's Star Farm www.ArugulasStarFarm.com
Thanks,
Allison Mills Neal
Also, we really appreciated all the words that were sent letting us know that many were thinking of us...thanks!
Hope to be seeing you this week, May 12th, at the Wednesday drop off.
From all of us here at Arugula's Star Farm
The Flood of May 1st & 2nd of 2010 at Arugula's Star Farm. As we are certain everyone has had to deal with the high waters in some way or the other over the past two days, we just wanted to let all know here at the farm our waters got up very high. We thought we would pass along a few pictures that were taken as the rains slowed down on Saturday evening showing how one of our main fields that we call the windmill field turned into a river. Not only did it do this yesterday, but today on Sunday we have had flood number two. All crops that had went into the ground have most likely been washed away, so unfortunetely all the wonderful produce that had been mentioned last week, plus vegetables like fennel, dry beans, and snap beans that went in the ground this past week all have as well been lost. Fortunetly, the chickens were up on the bald so they have stayed dry and well. The strawberries were in another field that is not getting the brunt of the flood so hopefully we will still have our berry crop to offer unless there is to much dampness and standing water that might have a negative effect, but we will see. As there will be much clean-up this week and in the coming weeks, we will not be making our weekly delivery at Elmington Park. We are very sorry to say that we are not sure how all will pan out, as we can not fairly asses the damage that has been done to the bottom field's, meaning not just loss of crops and cover crops, but how to correct shifts in top soil and loss of topsoil. Currently, we are still experiencing flood #2 and the rains continue to fall. For those who have been to the farm, you will be able to see how high the waters have really gotten by looking at the pictures. Matthew, myself, and Max were all out trying to save some fencing and parts and pieces of the water system and when we were out in the windmill field water was running so much like a river through that field that in parts one could have really been swept away. Our shade structure was completely standing out in the expanded creek(now river), but luckily it is holding. At the highest point the water had risen to about 40 feet from our back wash room area, which was just unbelievable to see really. This could be the first time that the Leiper's Creek Valley has exeprienced a flood like this in at least the last 50-70 years. To see more pictures please go the the photo gallery.
Thanks,
Allison and Matthew Neal
Winds abound all around, as the tree seeds all fall down. The tall grasses and cover crops in the fields are ever blowing today in the sunlight. The wind on a sunny day with the tall grasses and cover crops really highlights the different colors and textures of the plants. After you see tall grasses, legumes, and grains growing tall it might would even inspire a few of you to let your yards grow up to it’s tall lush self of beauty. It would also let the grass produce some of its own seed, as most of the time it never gets to.
We are getting extremely excited here, as here in a few weeks we will be having lots of red juicy, organic strawberries to offer. We have over 1,000 plants that were started last year, in which we picked their flowers off last year to let them put all their energy into their roots themselves, and there surrounding soils, as opposed to producing berries. Because of this, for this year and into the next few years our berries should last as loner, healthier fruiting perennials. As we are looking as if we should have a large crop, we hope you will spread the word to your friends letting them know that Arugula’s Star Farm should be their choice for the Most Sweet & Genuine Strawberries this spring. Once they start coming in, we will put them up on the on-line store and then it will be there that yourself and any others can order. If you need to pass on our Arugula’s Star Farm On-Line Store to any friends please send them this e-mail letter, which will have a link here to our Web-Site www.arugulasstarfarm.com and the On-Line Store.
We thought it would be a good idea to pass along a slideshow of pictures of the fields, plantings, and berries, so please have a look. Over the last couple of weeks we have really gotten a lot of crops in the ground, and all on the appropriate sign of course! To give you an idea of what all we have started and what you will have available for you at the On-Line Store in the coming months, we will share what all has been planted thus far….
Sugar Snap Peas, Lettuces, Endive, Cilantro, Chards, Beets, Leeks, Onions, Radishes, Carrots, Arugula, Kale, Dill, Sage, Cabbage, Broccoli, Summer Squash & Zucchini, Wax Beans, Tomatoes, Eggplant, Peppers, Tomatillos, Thyme, Oregano, Sweet Marjarom, Lemon Balm. We hope you will choose to look forward to the weekly On-Line Store offerings so you can fill your body with nutritionally dense, genuine, organic vegetables, fruits, and herbs!
Until the strawberries, greens, and snap peas start coming in, the on-line store will be limited to French Sorrel, Grass for juicing and Eggs, but these are still three wonderful items to add to your weekly eatings! Have you ever heard of a Green Gravey, with Roasted chicken, French Sorrel, and Raisin Biscuits... all organic of course, if not, and it sounds interesting you should have look at the Recipe in the Arugula's Star Farm Recipe Bank.
Thanks from all of us at Arugula’s Star Farm!
Delie the Delaware Chicken says "How Do" from up upon the bald at Arugula's Star Farm. Sadly enough, even though the Brassica Mix has been a top seller, it is finally being taken off the shelf as it has started to it's next state of life...flowering, seed production, and then to be churned back into the soil.
Nonetheless, we will be having more Kale and Brassicas to offer in about a month or so that have been spring planted.
For this week's offering at the On-line Store you will find French Sorrel and the Leek/Scallion Bunches, plus the hard to catch Golden Eggs!
As I mentioned the other week, this time of the year is the best time for the French Sorrel and it really is a green/herb to try. I would recommend reading all about the French Sorrel, by going to the On-Line Store and clicking on the product option of More Details. It can be used in so many different culinary applications and those have all been listed to give you ideas on how to go about using it. Also, I have added a new French Sorrel recipe in the Arugula's Star Farm recipe bank that really is worth trying, so please take a look. This French Sorrel Sauce calls for both the French Sorrel and the Scallion and Leek Bunch, which you can get both here from the On-line store. Also, this sauce does not have to be just used for asparagus and apples, it can be used as a sauce for any vegetable or meat. I also like turning it into a dressing for salads.
We hope you have a wonderful sunny week and we will look forward to seeing you soon.
Thanks, Matthew and Allison Mills Neal
As spring continues to abound all around, so does beautiful bowls of green and herb salads. Here at the farm we are still feasting on the tasty greens that are putting forth this spring that were overwintered from last fall, but here in a couple of weeks they might have reached the end of their double season cycle so please enjoy them while you can. This week we have some new herbs that have grown up enough to start offering. The herbs are delicious just chopped up and added to a salad, or used as a pesto-like topping on a pouched egg, or for making an herbal vinaigrette. This herb mix is a mixture of Chervil, Lemon Balm, Bee Balm (Bergamot), and Violet leaves. One can make a very tasty salad out of just these herbs, the French Sorrel, chopped Scallions and Bunching Leeks, nuts, Hard Boiled Egg, salt & pepper, and some oil and vinegar. Please take a look at the Arugula's Star Farm On-line Store to see if you would like to purchase any of these items or others, to be picked up at our weekly drop-off/pick-up this Wednesday on April the14th.
All the first planted spring crops of greens and peas are coming along well as you can see the peas very well in the picture above. They are really coming on looking lush and leafy! The spring crops that have been planted for this year should be ready for harvest somewhere in early to mid-may. It will be at this time when we will start having more diversity at the On-Line Store, as currently we are just working with the overwintered fall greens and fresh spring herbs. We will be making a second planting of spring crops this week, which will include root crops of beets, carrots, onions, radishes and other vegetables of lettuce, cabbage, arugula, celery, radicchio, and kale to name a few.
On this coming Tuesday the 13th, we will be having the Farm Tour/Picnic Event, so if you have forgotten to sign up then please remember to do so by the end of Monday the 12th. The weather is suppose to be very nice, so please come on out and join us for a walk through the fields. All proceeds from this event will be going to the Windfall Agrarian Initiative. To read more about this even please take a look at our Event Calender.
Also, on April 17th there is an event called Trashercise that will be picking up trash along the newly established Old Tennessee Settlers to Soldiers Trail (A discover TN trail and byway), and since our farm is located on this Trail we will be hosting a refreshment stand for those participating in this event.
Thanks and maybe we will be hearing from you and seeing you sometime this week!