Friday, August 9, 2013

Happy Friday, Farm Friends!

Another week of berries around the farm!  The raspberries are doing well -- even the Heritage berries are starting to ripen. To help us with this abundance, we have scheduled another pick your own tomorrow (SATURDAY, 8/10) from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.  We provide containers and the price is $7 per pound for raspberries.  
   
Picking raspberries in the shadow of Cook's Wall.  Photo courtesy of Randy Fulk.
 

Did you know that this is National Farmers Market week?  The number and quality of markets across the country has been exploding!   According to the USDA, there was a 3.6% increase in farmers markets nationally between 2012 and 2013!  We can definitely see that trend here in the Piedmont!  We love going to market each week and having an opportunity to interact with you, our loyal customers.  We know that we can count on you to tell us if something is wrong with a product or the latest recipe you've tried with one of our items.  You can trust us to bring high quality, certified organic produce that you can feel good serving to your family.  What a wonderful partnership!

Speaking of farmers markets, here’s a preview what we’ll have on our table on Saturday (Old Salem) and Wednesday (King):

Certified Organic Produce: 

• Blackberries (a few)
• Raspberries 
• Garlic (Red Toch, Music, Chesnok, Persian Star, Georgian Crystal, Lorz Italian, Elephant)
• Shallots (French Red and Greeley)
• Baby Kale
• Heirloom Pippin Apples
  Fingerling Potatoes 

We have a new batch of of the Raspberry-Chipotle Molé Grilling and Cooking Sauce and Raspberry-Extra Baby Ginger Jam as well as Old Fashioned Raspberry and Blackberry jams -- we've been jamming with fresh berries! 

Hope to see you at market or at the farm for the PYO!  You can always contact us if you'd like to have an item saved.
 
Here's to enjoying the last full month of Summer!

Cheryl & Ray

Just a reminder that you're receiving this email because you have expressed an interest in Plum Granny Farm -- you either signed up at a market or on our website.  We are glad to have this brief opportunity to share some news of the farm with you!

Happy Friday, Farm Friends!   And Happy August!

Despite the rather unfavorable, damp (shall we say drenched?) conditions last Saturday, we still had several groups of berry pickers with smiles on their faces!  And the berries just keep on rolling!  Let's do it again, shall we (the picking, not the rain) - we'll have another pick your own on SUNDAY (8/4) from 1 to 4 p.m.  We provide containers and the prices are $4 per pound for blackberries and $7 per pound for raspberries.  This will be the last opportunity for blackberries, so pick 'em while you can!

   Ray and Cheryl checking out the beautiful Triple Crown blackberries.  Photo courtesy of Flavor NC.
 

Certified Organic Produce: 

• Blackberries
• Raspberries 
• Garlic (Red Toch, Music, Chesnok, Persian Star, German Red, Lorz Italian, Elephant)
• Shallots (French Red and Greeley)
• Baby Kale
• Heirloom Pippin Apples

We'll have a new batch of Old Fashioned Raspberry and Blackberry jams as well as our other flavors.  The last (for a while) of the Raspberry-Chipotle Molé Grilling and Cooking Sauce will be available - hurry up before it's gone!! 

Hope to see you at market or at the farm for the PYO!  You can always contact us if you'd like to have an item saved.
 
Happy Summer Eating!

Cheryl & Ray

Happy Friday, Farm Friends!

My cousin, Taylor, showing off his "pickins'" from last year!

Certified Organic Produce: 

• Blackberries
• Raspberries 
• Garlic (Red Toch, Music, Chesnok, Persian Star, Lorz Italian, Elephant)
• Shallots
• Fingerling Potatoes

We'll also have our luscious fruit-forward raspberry and blackberry jams - the perfect complement to this nice fresh fruit!  We'll also have our Raspberry-Chipotle Molé Grilling and Cooking Sauce - hurry up before it's gone!! 

Another reminder about my Facebook push -- Please help us get to 500 Likes on Facebook before the end of July - we are up to 436!  "Like" us today and let your friends know about us!!  We can do it!!

Hope to see you at market!  You can always contact us if you'd like to have an item saved.

Enjoy this end of July glory!

Cheryl & Ray

Happy Friday, Farm Friends!

Here’s a preview what we’ll have at market on Saturday (Old Salem) and Wednesday (King):

Certified Organic Produce: 

• Blackberries
• Raspberries (a few)
• Garlic (Red Toch, Music, Chesnok, Elephant)
• Garlic Scapes
• Shallots
• Oriental Lilies (Stargazer)

We'll also have our luscious fruit-forward raspberry and blackberry jams along with the popular Raspberry-Chipotle Molé Grilling and Cooking Sauce!  Please stop by for a taste!

Don't forget!  Please help us get to 500 Likes on Facebook before the end of July!  "Like" us today!!

Hope to see you at market!  You can always contact us if you'd like to have an item saved.

Happy Dog Days! (Kitten days too?)

Cheryl & Ray

Just a reminder that you're receiving this email because you have expressed an interest in Plum Granny Farm -- you either signed up at a market or on our website.  We are glad to have this brief opportunity to share some news of the farm with you!

Happy Friday, Farm Friends!

Just a really quick note this week -- we have been extremely busy trying to get ready for our upcoming shoot with the crew from Flavor NC!  We are looking forward to having Lisa, Theresa and David here on Tuesday and share with them a little bit about the farm.  Their main focus will be garlic but they are also interested in our blackberries, ginger and turmeric and jam.  Lots to prepare for!  We'll let you know how it went in next week's note!  Keep your fingers crossed for us!

All of the garlic is now in and the blackberries are kicking into gear!  We'll have more blackberries at market this week!  The Triple Crown are also rocking so we'll likely have a Pick-Your-Own next Sunday (7/21) -- but as usual with the PYO events, things can change so please check first!!

Here’s a preview what we’ll have at market on Saturday (Old Salem) and Wednesday (King):

Certified Organic Produce: 

• Blackberries
• Raspberries (a few)
• Fresh Garlic (Persian Star,Nootka Rose, Elephant)
• Shallots
• Elephant Garlic Flowers
• Shallot Flowers
• Oriental Lilies (Stargazer and Acapulco)

We'll also have our luscious fruit-forward raspberry and blackberry jams along with the popular Raspberry-Chipotle Molé Grilling and Cooking Sauce!  Please stop by for a taste!

Again, thanks so much for your support!  Remember that we are trying to increase our numbers of “Likes” on Facebook.  Check out our page there and "Like" us -- we are trying to get to 500 Likes before the end of July!

Hope to see you at market!  Don't forget to contact us if you'd like to have an item saved.

Happy Sunny Summertime!
Cheryl & Ray

Just a reminder that you're receiving this email because you have expressed an interest in Plum Granny Farm -- you either signed up at a market or on our website.  We are glad to have this brief opportunity to share some news of the farm with you!

Happy Friday, Farm Friends! Hope you had a wonderful 4th of July!

Lots of things happening on the farm -- mostly focused on garlic, of course!  We have everything out of the fields with the exception of one variety, Nootka Rose.  As a silverskin, this variety is one of the last to come out.  We are also trying to hold it in order to use it for an upcoming segment of WUNC-TV's Flavor NC!  Yes, we will be featured in an upcoming segment and they will focus on our garlic!  How exciting!!  We'll share more information on this next week!

A great boost to our garlic harvesting was the "Crop Mob" that we had last week!  What a wonderful group of volunteers who came out for the day to help us harvest, clean and hang garlic.  We harvested "Music" (our best selling variety) and it was GORGEOUS!  Based on the picture and quick post that I put on Facebook after Friday's event, I was contacted by The Stokes News and asked to write an article on the crop mob and our garlic.  It ran this week in The Independent and will be in The Stokes News next week.  Check it out!

A HUGE shout-out to our great group of volunteers who helped bring in the garlic!

Somehow with all the rain we are having, the blackberries are finally starting to ripen.  We'll have a good number of them at market this week (that is if it can quit raining long enough for me to pick!).  The Navajos and Ouachitas are coming in now and the yummy Triple Crowns will be ready in a couple of weeks.  Once we have a good number of Triple Crown, we'll open up the field for a Pick-Your-Own!

Here’s a preview what we’ll have at market on Saturday (Old Salem) and Wednesday (King):

Certified Organic Produce: 

• Blackberries
• Fresh Garlic (Chesnok, Music, Persian Star, Red Toch, Elephant)
• Garlic Scapes
• Elephant Garlic Flowers
• Shallot Flowers
• Baby Kale Mix
• Oriental Lilies (Stargazer and Acapulco)

We'll also have our luscious fruit-forward raspberry and blackberry jams along with the popular Raspberry-Chipotle Molé Grilling and Cooking Sauce!  Please stop by for a taste!

Remember the kittens and mama cat from the last post?  Well, we are definitely trying to find homes for 3 or 4… so if you or a friend would like to know more about a great little kitten (with terrific mousing genes!), please let me know!

Again, thanks so much for your support!  Remember that we are trying to increase our numbers of “Likes” on Facebook.  Check out our page there and "Like" us -- we are trying to get to 500 Likes before the end of July!

Hope to see you at market!  Don't forget to contact us if you'd like to have an item saved.

Happy Summertime Eating!
Cheryl & Ray

Happy Friday, Farm Friends! And Happy First Full Day of Summer!

This week has been mostly focused on garlic harvest.  Have pulled three varieties so far and they are looking really good!  All the rain we had on Tuesday slowed us down some but it's not going badly.  It sure is nice having such cool weather for this work - last year during garlic harvest , the temperatures were more like the 90s instead of this year's plesant low 80s!  Nice! We are trying some new approaches to our harvest this year - trimming the roots and cleaning the bulbs pretty thoroughly before we rack or hang them. We'll see how it works - every year we try to improve our technique! 



We finally got all of the raspberries planted including the black raspberries! Unfortunately we won't have berries on the blacks until next year but the reds should produce.  But get your mouth all ready for blackberries!  The blackberries should really start coming in around the first week in July - we have a few now but not enough for market.  There may be a pick-your-own in the future!
 
Here’s a preview what we’ll have at market on Saturday (Old Salem) and Wednesday (King):

Certified Organic Produce:

    +Fresh Garlic (Georgian Crystal, Inchelium Red, Elephant)
    +Garlic Scapes (Persian Star, Chesnok)
    +Elephant Garlic Flowers
    +Shallot Flowers (last week!)
    +Baby Kale Mix

We'll also have our luscious fruit-forward raspberry and blackberry jams along with the popular Raspberry-Chipotle Molé Grilling and Cooking Sauce!  Please stop by for a taste!

I'll close with a bit of cuteness - when we were cleaning garlic at the Tobacco Barn, we kept hearing mewing.  Christian and Ray went out to investigate and found 3 kittens about 8 weeks old.  We were able to catch them and put them into a dog crate (of course!).  After lunch today, we were able to get the mama cat and 2 more babies.  We want to get them spayed and neutered and may keep them as barn cats...unless any of you wants an adorable kitten!



Thanks for your support of our farm and our work!  It means so much to us to have great friends and supporters like you!  In case you are on Facebook, check out our page there and "Like" us -- we are trying to get to 500 Likes before the end of July!

Hope to see you at market!  Don't forget to contact us if you'd like to have an item saved.

Happy Summertime Eating!
Cheryl & Ray

Happy Friday, Farm Friends! And Happy Flag Day!
We are feeling grateful this morning that the storms yesterday passed us by – amazing that there was so much destruction so close to us while all we saw was a dark sky, a little downpour and some wind.  Our thoughts and prayers go out to those who experienced damage.

Things finally dried up enough that we were able to plant raspberries in Raz 1 (our pick-your-own field).  The field had really suffered from the past couple of years of heat and drought-stress, so we wanted to replace all the plants.  Some of our favorite varieties are in the field now:  Caroline, Anne and Joan J.  We should get some berries this year from these but only a partial crop – but we are still hopeful that our main field will have a good yield!


The big news of the week is that the garlic harvest is beginning!  Next week we will really be up to our necks (pun intended!) in garlic!  First it’s the softnecks (Inchellium, Red Toch) and then we move to the hardnecks (Georgian Crystal, Bogatyr, etc.)  Our barns will soon be bursting with garlic!  We’ll have more fresh, uncured garlic at market this week.

Speaking of market, here’s what we’ll have at market on Saturday (Old Salem) and Wednesday (King):

Certified Organic Produce:

• Fresh Garlic (Spanish Roja, Georgian Crystal, Red Toch, Elephant)
• Garlic Scapes (Bogatyr. Persian Star, Chesnok)
• Baby Artichokes (Saturday only)
• Baby Mesclun Salad Mix (Saturday only)
• Baby Kale Mix (Saturday only)

We will also have our beautiful Elephant Garlic flowers available.  They make a stunning floral arrangement that lasts for weeks!

 
Don’t forget that Father’s Day is Sunday!  I’ll bet your Dad likes to grill (or at least eat grilled food!).  Take a taste of our Raspberry-Chipotle Molé Grilling Sauce – a sweet and spicy blend that is terrific grilled on chicken, pork or shrimp.  We’ll also have lots of jars of our raspberry or blackberry jams.  Tastes are encouraged!

We look forward to seeing you at market!  You can always call or email to let us know if you'd like something saved for you. 

Take good care!

Cheryl & Ray
 

Happy Thursday, Farm Friends! And Happy June!

The week started with a jolt.  A 6:15 a.m. phone call with a panicked voice on the other end:  “A tree just fell on the house!”  Not the recommended way to start the day (or week), I must admit.  So we ran next door to see what had happened at the “Church House,” the house we own next door (its original purpose was as a church when it was built in 1913).  A huge chestnut oak had fallen – but fortune was with us as it only grazed the house and porch.  If it had fallen a few feet more to the right, it would have been a different story indeed… maybe Church House's history played a role in the lack of damage  Here’s what we saw:

Trying to get back to farm work after The Great Tree Collapse took some real focus.  The main task for the week has been to plant raspberries but we keep getting delayed by the weather.  This rain cycle just keeps on coming!  It is nearly impossible for us to be able to get into the field to form beds for tomatoes and peppers so we’ll just be planting into flat rows – not the ideal but we must get many things into the ground since its so very late.

Our artichokes are doing nicely this year.  The Tavor artichokes that we planted last summer and overwintered came through pretty well despite the deer browse and cold.  Here’s one plant that is ready to harvest:

In terms of what will be at market on Saturday (Old Salem) and Wednesday (King), we’ll have the following Certified Organic produce:

• Bogatyr & Georgian Crystal Garlic Scapes
• Sugar Snap Peas (a few on Saturday)
• Baby Artichokes (Saturday only)
• Baby Mesclun Salad Mix (Saturday only)
• Asparagus (just a small amount on Saturday only)
• Sweet Red/Pink Salad Turnips

Don’t forget that Father’s Day is just around the corner!  If your Dad likes to grill (don’t most?), check out our Raspberry-Chipotle Molé Grilling Sauce – a sweet and spicy blend that is terrific grilled on chicken, pork or shrimp.  We’ll be sampling it on Saturday with some chicken.  If Dad’s not a griller, then maybe he’d like a jar of our raspberry or blackberry jam.  Stop by and try a taste!

Thanks so much for your support!  Look forward to seeing you at market!  You can always call or email to let me know if you'd like me to save you something. 

Stay dry and take good care!

Cheryl & Ray
 

 Happy Friday, Farm Friends! 

The sun is back!  And in the bright sunshine, we all all running around trying to figure out which task to tackle next!  The to-do list is quite long:  plant the raspberries, plant the tomatoes, scout the potatoes for Colorado Potato Beetles, plant the tomatillos, weed the asparagus, fix the irrigation, mow the hay, ...I think you get the drift!  We sometimes don't know which way to turn -- kind of like our scape friends here:
 

One project that is nearing completion is the potting bench and irrigation in the greenhouse.  It is AMAZING what Ray has done in this space!  I keep saying that we should just move in there permanently one day because it is such a wonderful house -- much more light than this old farmhouse!  Check out our new potting bench -- complete with sink!

  
   
For those of you who have been waiting to come up to pick strawberries, I am sorry to deliver bad news.  We are not going to be able to do any pick-your-own strawberry events this year.  The production is just not there and I'd rather disappoint you now than to have you come up and be disappointed by the quantity of berries.  We are very sorry for this because we love having you and your families here in the field -- but don't despair, Blackberries are coming very soon and we'll be opening that up for PYO this year!  There are LOTS of berries!!!

Here's a quick market report for Saturday (Cobblestone Old Salem Farmers Market, 9-noon) and Wednesday (King Farmers Market, 11-1):

 Certified Organic Products:
    -- Strawberries
    -- Asparagus  (green & purple) -- LAST week - Saturday only
    -- Garlic Scapes (try a taste of our White Bean Dip with Scapes!)
    -- Shallot Flowers
    -- Sugar Snap Peas
    -- Baby Artichokes - Saturday only
    -- Baby Mesclun Salad mix
    -- Heirloom Tomatillo Transplants
    -- Tomato Transplants - (Sungold, Matt's Wild Cherry and Kellogg's Breakfast)

And for your Summer cookouts & grilling, stop by and taste a sample of our popular Raspberry-Chipotle Molé Sauce!  Thanks to the great response to our last batch (it went quickly!!), we made a big ol' batch so we'll have plenty tomorrow!  We'll also have our luscious fruit-forward raspberry and blackberry jams.
 
Hope to see you at market on Saturday or Wednesday!  You can always call or email to let me know if you'd like me to save you something. 

Take good care and enjoy the beauty of the early summer -- have you seen the lightning bugs yet??!

Cheryl & Ray