The wicked bite of frost!

It is a necessary "evil" for the cycle of life here on the farm, but there is nothing more depressing than seeing lush, blooming folage bit to the ground in a matter of hours, by a swift winter frost. We spent hours in the days ahead of the nipping cold, pulling up tomato and pepper plants, and hanging them in the barn. The tomatoes are ripening nicely. And yes, it looks like green tomato chow chow will be in everyone's Christmas stocking this year. Most farmers in the "Off Season", relax and enjoy the down time, catching up on time with friends and relatives, doing piddle projects around the house, sleeping in, organizing the shop. Our farmer fidgets! He plans what he is going to do as soon as there is a break in the weather. He is trying to devise a way to install huge arena lights in the fields, so that he can extend his working day. He grumbles when it is 8:00 pm, supper is over, the dishes are done, and there is nothing to do, as he has never been a TV watcher. I tried to entice him with a game of Scrabble the other night, he looked at me like I had asked him to swallow a frog. It is going to be a very long winter! Me, I am enjoying the slower pace for the moment, having fun canning and baking for the holidays. The bees are settled in for the winter, the animals have found themselves a spot in the barns where they retire each night and snuggle. The fields are plowed and resting until Spring, The strawberries, asparagus, blackberries and fruit trees are sleeping. Our Market hours are THURS. FRI. Sat. from noon until 4:00pm. We will be open through Thursday, Dec. 23. We are offering Holiday gifts and treats from the farm Kitchen. Orders for Holiday Gift Baskets should be placed by Dec. 15. The milk supply is holding steady. We will reopen after the holidays on Thursday January 6. From our farmstead to your table, thank you for all of your support!

A Heartfelt Thanksgiving

We would like to thank all of you who have made our adventure into the vast world of sustainable farming such an eventful experience. We are grateful for the advice, the support, the continued patronage, the chit chat, and most of all the friendship. Our Father in Heaven has truely blessed us and we acknowledge his hand in our every day lives. We thank Him for bringing you to us! From our farmstead to your table thank you for all of your support!

Is it a Yam? Or is it a Sweet Potato?

Chances are unless you buy your produce in West Africa, or Asia, or the Phillipines, you have not had a true Yam. Now some of the fancier markets may ship them in, but they only grow in tropical climates. If a local farmer tells you that he grows them, ask him for some pineapples and bananas also! Sweet potatoes are grown locally, as we have had several successful harvests. Some are dark orange colored and sweet, and some are more yellow and not so sweet.  A yam is a tuber that has very rough skin and is more round without the tapered ends. They also are generally very big, weighing several pounds. It is a common foible to call a sweet potato a yam as they are mistakenly used interchangebly by those that are unaware that they are not even remotely related botanically. So now when your "Know it All Uncle Jess" asks you to pass the candied yams near your plate, you can ingore him, as you know there are no CANDIED YAMS on the table!( That is of course unless you made a last minute trip to Tonga.) Our market will be open this Saturday from noon until 4:00 PM. From our farmstead to your table thank you for all of your support!

LuLu the Diva!

  Introducing Lulu, the Queen of R&C Dairy, her majesty and her little sire rule the roost here! Lulu came to us from a Mennonite farm in Dodge City Kansas, as she is a miniature Jersey, she has the first impression of a big barrel on sticks when you see her. She has absolute power here on the farm. She tells us when it is milking time, she tells us when it is supper time, she tells us when she is peeved about something, she ignores us when we want her attention, she comes from the far end of the pasture when we whisper her name, she gives us some "sugar" when she feels like it ..... We just love her to pieces. She gives the best creamy milk, and she knows it. She is going to have another calf in the Spring, and as always on a dairy, heifer calves are the wish, but we just hope for a healthy baby for LuLu. Little Lincoln is going to be our next herd sire, and as he has matured, our only concern is that we will have to get a step stool for him to accomplish his task! He is SHORT!!! But the Farmer assures me that where there is a will, there is a way, and lovesick bovine beauties have been known to "stoop down" a little, if need be, to do the deed, if you get my drift. Market hours are going to be the same through December 23, as we are preparing for the holidays. Thurs. Fri. Sat. from noon until 4:00 PM. Orders for holiday goodie baskets need to be placed by Dec 15th.  We will be closed through Christmas and New Years, more detailed dates will be posted. We are still harvesting the last of the produce, as a big freeze is expected next week, we are winding down. We will be closed Thursday and Friday, of Thanksgiving week, but will be open Saturday from noon until 4:00 pm. From our Farmstead to your table, thank you for all of your support.                                                                                                                                                                              In

Hydroponic What?????

Look very closely, don't get excited, it's TOMATOES!!! My first attempt at growing hydroponics, ..... not bad, and if they make any tomatoes, the Farmer will sell them to anyone for just what we have invested in them, a real deal at $69.00 a lb.! Next, it will be lettuce, and spinach and maybe some cucumbers. I am on a roll with this project. The weather is holding steady, no frost, so we are still harvesting tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, squash, broccoli, okra, and green onions. The market was busy this week, as everyone is preparing for the upcoming holiday. It is advisable to start stockpiling a little goat milk for those that need it, as the supply will be minimal through Jan. and Feb.. Heads up for Thanksgiving weekend as we will be CLOSED Thurs. and Friday, but will be OPEN Sat. from noon until 4:00. My very sweet, whacky sisters and their families are coming from far away, as my mother threatens them each year saying "You had all better come home for the holidays, as my days are numbered and I am not long for this world."  She is going to outlive all of us! With seven siblings, all having quirky, fun, personalities, bringing all of their children and grandchildren, a family get together is a big hullabaloo at Grandma Great's House! The bees are settling in for the winter, as we are finding a few drone bodies outside the hives. Rocky has checked their winter stores and they are pretty well stocked up. The fruit trees are loosing their leaves and I will start checking the chill hours update chart for our area, to monitor the hours the temperature dips below 46 degrees, as so many cold hours are needed for the fruit to produce next year. This farming gets a little complicated! The Farmer planted rows of elephant garlic, and it is growing, so we should have a good harvest next  Spring. From our farmstead to your table, thank you for all of your support!

Hubba hubba, what a hunk!!!!

Well, Here'Tis, my premier attempt at picture posting! Naturally, it is a rump shot, but I am sure with a little practice on my part, you will be introduced to some faces!
Now, NOTHING  here on the farm is sacred! You all will be privey to some of the best kept secrets in Grayson County! From our farmstead to your table, thank you for all of your support!

You say potato, I say potahto, you say tomato, I say tomahto, however you say it, in the market this week we will have it!  The weather has been balmy, and the fall crops are making a final stand. This week, we will also have some squash, sweet potatoes, spinach, green onions, broccoli, lettuce, peppers and more peppers! Oh, and fresh herbs! The milk supply is holding steady this week, as the girls are all enjoying the grazing weather. Unless the sun decides to pull a fast one, and starts to come up at 6:00 AM. the egg supply is still going to be meager. Yogurt smoothies will be offered, made to order. As far as the cookies, breads, and other sweets, on the shelves there will be whatever I am prompted to bake at 4:00 AM, as I am rambling around, grousing about the time change. MARKET HOURS: Thurs. Fri. Sat. from noon until 4:00PM. or call for another time if that is not convenient. Keep in mind the upcoming holidays, custom made Fruit/Gift baskets will be offered, and don't forget the yummy caramel apples. Since the weather has cooled, and it is not as humid, the selection of goat milk soap has increased. To keep your skin smooth as a babies butt, you need to try some! From our farmstead to your table, thank you for all of your support!