Thursday, May 31, 2012

BUSHEL OF 'MATERS!!!

For the past few days, we have had BLT's for breakfast, lunch, and dinner! Trying to make up for the very long dry spell without home grown tomatoes. We have fat ones, skinny ones, rippled ones, bitty ones, jumbo ones, all with one thing in common.... not one has been further than 100 yards of our market. All were born and raised right here. And to top it all off, they are Organic! Now, what more can you ask for? Tomatoes will be for sale this weekend in the market. Also the first of the sweetest, most delicious sweet corn, summer squash, sweet onions, and cucumbers will be available. NEWS FLASH::: The black eyed peas will be ready this next week, for picking. U-Pick will be available for them. Blackberry picking will last for another several weeks. The cool weather and the rain have helped the berries to continue to produce. The strawberries finally called it quits.....although, whats to say that with this cool weather and fresh rain, thay won't be back? It is a well known fact that farming is not an exact science, so nothing will surprise us. MARKET HOURS:  Saturday from 10:00 AM until 4:00 PM Open picking for blackberries Saturday from 9:00 AM until 11:30. Call ahead picking throughout the week, Monday through Friday. From our farmstead to your table, thank you for all of your support!!!

Sunday, May 27, 2012

BLACKBERRIES ON MONDAY!!!

The blackberry patch will be open on MEMORIAL DAY, Monday morning for picking. We will open at 9:00 AM and will pick until around 11:30AM. Lots of blackberries will be ready. Thank you for the good turnout on Saturday. The Farmer has made a request. Would all of the parents that came, do a shake down on their kidlets. Within a 30 minute span, the keys disappeared from the new tractor. Not to say that anyone took them, but we are covering all of the bases. They have been in the ignition since we got the tractor, several months ago, he never takes them out. He was changing implements, from the hay cutter to the hay rake, when he went back, they were gone! There were lots of people walking around, and we just want to put it out there, if anyone happens to find a Kubota key in the laundry! We would not make mention of it, but during strawberry picking season, the key to our  Case backhoe, that had been in it since 1984 went missing, with all of the tools in the tool compartment thrown on the ground. Farm implements are very tempting to climb on, thus the reason for our wanting parents to keep a constant, watchful eye on their children. We are not able to watch everyone at all times. We want to continue our u-pick operation, but if we cannot run our farm equipment, we will have to change our farm practices.  Call ahead picking on Monday through Friday for blackberries, open picking again on Saturday. We will start a little earlier as the heat is setting in, 9:00 until around 11:30 . The blackeyed peas and the sweet corn are about a week or two out. U-pick will be available for the peas, we will pick the corn. Also as the peaches and TOMATOES are ready, we will have some in the market. The market hours are Saturday from 10:00 AM until 4:00 PM. Call anytime throughout the week for dairy pickup. From our farmstead to your table, thank you for all of your support!!!

Monday, May 21, 2012

PEACHES, PLEASE!!!

They are getting ready! Will soon have a few peaches in the market. The tomatoes are still dragging their feet. Maybe green is the new red! The weekend of blackberry picking went well. If people complained about the jaunt to the berry patch, they mumbled to themselves, and we didn't hear it. I am going to have to regroup the Farmstead Market. We sold out of everything this weekend, which is a good thing for us, but a bad thing for those visitors who wanted bread, honey, cookies, milk, etc. I am going to work a little extra this week to stock up...... there wasn't even a jar of pickles on the shelf! Speaking of honey, the last drops of the last harvest are being put in jars this week. This season's honey flow should start next month. We have checked the hives and the girls are just a buzzin' with activity. Blackberry picking will continue through the month of May and into June. And if I'm a lyin' I'm a dyin', we are still picking beautiful strawberries! Still can't figure that out. Folks added pounds of strawberries to their blackberry bounty. Call ahead picking throughout the week. Just call and set up an appointment to come.  Open picking on Saturday from 10:00AM until pickout, which will be around noon. We do not pick in the heat of the day, as the berries get mushy. The price of the berries is $3 lb. Our buckets are 5 qt. and will hold about 6 lbs.  Should have some produce in the market this weekend. The green beans are about ready, the cabbage is still producing, the potatoes have all been dug, and the onions are drying. For those who stop at the market for the first time, and ask HOW MUCH ? on the produce. We sell by the handful, the mess, the bunch, sometimes by the lb., sometimes depends on how bad you need it, one time it may be one price, the next time we may throw it in with the mix.  First come first serve on the 3 tomatoes that will probably be ready. And of course peaches. If they aren't hard as bricks, we will start picking. MARKET HOURS: Saturday from 10:00 AM until 4:00 PM . Call throughout the week for dairy pickup appointments.  From our farmstead to your table, thank you for all of your support!!!

Sunday, May 20, 2012

A QUEST FOR BERRIES!!!

A young mother came to the farm to pick berries this week. Tall, athletic, with a newborn and a toddler. She stated they were on a quest for berries. I informed her that the berry patch was a ways away, would she be able to make the trek? She informed Me that  they came prepared. I gave her a bucket, pointed the way and they were off. She detoured back to her vehicle, and in a snap, she came from behind the auto with a stroller, decked out with drinkholders, snack sacks, an umbrella type gadget, a berry bucket, diaper bag, and who knows what all else hanging from it......oh, and a toddler in the seat, and a baby papoosed to her front. This girl was ready! She jaunted down to the blackberry patch, picked her some blackberries, and back she came! She weighed in her berries, packed up all of her paraphanalia and off she went......her quest complete. She didn't break a sweat! I was tired just watching her. I will never complain about being weary, ever again. From our farmstead to your table thank you for all of your support!!!

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

SUMMER, JUST AROUND THE CORNER!!!

Nothing says summer like a basket full of blackberries..... except it is the middle of May. WHAT GIVES???? The only thing that is on track are the raspberries, they are taking their sweet time. Some of the early varieties of peaches are almost ready, and the corn is starting to tassle. The Farmer planted the okra, which only thrives in  heat, and with all of the cool days and cooler nights, we have rows and rows of runts. I am very impatiently waiting for RED tomatoes. Not just one or two here and there, armfuls. The storm that blew through last week washed some of our melon seeds down the road, but the Farmer and his Son planted lots, so we should still have a good showing. If not we will scour the banks of Ray Roberts for watermelon and honeydew, as chances are most of our seeds ended up there. U-Pick blackberry season has started. Call ahead picking Monday through Thursday, if we are here you can come pick, with open picking Friday and Saturday starting at 10:00 AM until around noon. No appointment needed. There are lots of ripe berries that are easy to pick. The price is $3.00 lb. or around $15 for a level gallon bucket. Our buckets are 5 quart buckets.(Home Depot and Ace Hardware) Come dressed for the occasion. Closed shoes, hats or caps if sunny, jackets if it is cool. It is a bit of a trek to the berry rows, so plan on a little cardiovascular walking. Wagons and strollers can make it down the road just fine. Call or e-mail if you need more information. TIP: Our days start before daylight and end after dark. I usually hear phone messages around 10:30 pm, at which time no one appreciates a return call, no matter how sweet the person is that is calling. I CAN answer e-mails at all hours of the night, disturbing no one with my mute chatter so for a quicker response, send an e-mail! New MARKET HOURS: Saturday from 10:00 AM until 4:00 PM. Special appointments can be made throughout the week for dairy pickup. From our farmstead to your table, thank you for all of your support!!!

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

HAPPY MOTHERS!!!

The Farmer was thinking of all of the Mothers on the farm this Mothers Day. Here was his heartfelt gift to all of us. I think LuLu and Lily were a little more thrilled than I was, but as the saying goes " If Momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy!" So the cow and the goat mommas are going to be very satisfied as they watch the farmer bring in the rolls and rolls of hay. I am going to be grateful that the girls are fat and content and giving lots and lots of good milk. From our farmstead to your table, thank you for all of your support!!!

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

YOU PICK'EM , WE WILL PACK'EM

The blackberries are coming on with a vengence! The early varieties are making a great showing....they are big and sweet. U-pick will start on Friday at 10:00 AM and Saturday at 10:00AM. If the weather is cool, we will pick until mid afternoon  or whenever we decide to call it quits. Call and let us know  you are coming, as we will be taking appointments for the first weekend to make sure their are plenty of berries for those who make the trek to the farm. The early berries are all thorny, the thornless will be ready in another week. The Farmer has been hinting at blackberry cobbler, his favorite, so you may see me in the blackberry patch picking the biggest ones. Picking hint: Pick the berries that are dark ,dark, dark, all  the way around, and make sure they have" puffed". See you then! From our farmstead to your table, thank you for all of your support!!!

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

MOVING RIGHT ALONG TO BLACKBERRIES!!!

Ready or not, here they come! The blackberries are ripening. We will be open for U-pick this Friday at 10:00 AM.  As the blackberry rows are down in the South 40, it will be a little bit of a distance for pickers to walk...... not for the short of breath or those packing papooses. Strollers and wagons will fare just fine on the road. We will have the go-buggy to help those that are not able to make the trek. The berries will be picked in one gallon buckets, and will be sent home in one gallon baggies. The price of the berries will be $3.00 lb. A gallon bucket level full weighs about 6 lbs. Buckets can be picked up at the berry table in front of  the market, where they will be brought after picking to be weighed. As the berries are at the onset of their season, we will be taking appointments for pickers this weekend. We want to make sure that their are sufficient berries available for those coming. The blackberry field does not have any amenities. Just berries!!! Not a picnic table in sight and the potty is quite a ways away. Wear appropriate clothing, close toed shoes, sun hats, etc. We do not have chiggers, but as we do not spray our crops, their may be skeeters in the mornings. The berries will certainly have to be rinsed of  tiny critters that enjoy them as much as we do. We look forward to your visit! Our new Market hours: Saturday from 10:00 AM until 4:00 PM. We will take special appointments for dairy pickup throughout the week. From our farmstead to your table, thank you for all of your support!!!

Saturday, May 5, 2012

CALLING ALL JAMMERS!!!

Strawberries, the gift that keeps on giving! We thought that they were done in. A little sunshine, a little rain, a few cool evenings, on to round 2! Next week we will be open for serious pickers. We will be picking on the shares.... one for you, one for me. Yours will be free, mine will be one less aching back. If you don't want to share in your labors, a discount will be given for 10 lbs or more. Get those freezers and pantrys full. Next year may be a bust! Starting on Monday, call ahead for an appointment, if we are here, you can come pick. The blackberry season will be starting next weekend also, more on that in a couple of days. If you time it just right, you may walk away with a berry duo. Our new market hours are Saturday from 10:00 until 4:00 pm. Appointments can be made for dairy pickup throughout the week. From our farmstead to your table thank you for all of your support !!!!

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

TIME TO REGROUP!!!

After a PowWow with the Chief and all of the Indians here on the farm,( The Farmer, The Farmers Son and myself ) there are going to be a few minor changes with our schedules. My multitasking skills are coming up a little short! First rattle out of the box is the market schedule. Due to the success of the CSA program, and the time needed for share preparation and pickup, as of May 12, the farmstead market will only be open to all, on Saturdays, from 10:00 AM until 4:00PM. Monday thru Friday will still be available for call ahead dairy pickup, just let us know that you are coming.   The u-pick hours will be seperate from the market hours, as the blackberries continue to ripen, we will announce the target date.......it may be sooner than we thought. I am of a firm belief that nature, hand in hand with our kindly Father above, jumbles things up a bit, just to keep us on our toes! From our farmstead to your table, thank you for all of your support!!!