Sometimes no news is good news and sometimes it isn’t! I can’t say we’ve been quiet over here from good or bad, BUT it has been lively! We’ve had two forest fires at the camp next to us, which caused power outages. During milking time and with all the baby chicks and the incubator needing heat, that made for some interesting extra work. Thankfully there were no buildings lost and no one hurt. There have been so many vegetables to plant we can’t seem to stay on top of it, but that is just the time of year! We had a wild time helping some other farmers load some wild cows (nice we aren’t the only ones that have wild animals occasionally). The butcher dates are so hard to come by we are doing the best we can to plan for it. Anyway, all that is not to complain, we love our work and enjoy it even though we are beginning to feel some extra burden with the current happenings. We are grateful for the animals and seeds and all the people we rely on to do what we do! On to the good stuff:
Well, it is a little later than St. Patrick’s day, but happy late one anyway! It’s greens week for sure around here! We are celebrating the warm weather by eating lots of greens! Actually what happens when the weather changes is that the greens that have been slowing growing all winter long in the greenhouse suddenly wake up and take off! It’s like watching a little person gingerly try and walk, only to wake one day and start running. Or hearing them babble and realize they are telling big stories! But when that happens with greens, they want to bolt. That means send up flowers to make seeds. The longer days tell them it’s time to reproduce or die! So when that happens it’s time to stock up and eat lots of greens! We’ve been using the napa cabbage for stir fry, salad and soups (just not on hot days like this one)!
So if you need helping with your veggie ID this week:
You got cliantro, napa cabbage, collards, kale, lettuce, mustard greens and potatoes for good measure! When I saw those shares getting put together and felt how heavy they were, I was amazed at how healthy everyone will be after they eat this weeks bounty! I believe that God makes the things we need grow when we need them. Spring greens are great for detoxing and also contain lots of vit. c and K, two things we need to boost our immune system after a long winter! The greens are also great for bone strength, which we all need. Also we tend to eat heavier foods in the winter and the spring greens help flush our systems.
So, if you need helping encouraging your children or other not so enthusiastic loved ones that they need greens…..just make them taste great! We love our go to salad dressing: 1 part honey or maple syrup, 1 part vinegar, 2 parts olive oil and shake. Or to make it creamy just add a handful of walnuts and process in the food processor. So yum and and so easy, most of these greens can be eaten raw, but you can also stir fry them with a nice peanut sauce and rice and stew cubes and there is a simple dinner or lunch! When using the tougher greens like cabbage or collards I like my trusty recipe of sautéing in butter or lard, and some salt, pepper and raw avc.
Many Blessings! Your busy farmers!
PS Don’t forget the April meat week is coming up! NEXT Thursday and Saturday!