Friday, March 1, 2024

4 Things I'm Doing to Get Ready for Gardening & Preserving Season Right Now.

Well granted you can do preserving all year long, main preserving season comes in the summer with the bounty of gardens and farmers' markets. I like to have a plan, an idea, a vision of some sort to get be ready. I also like having a (somewhat) cleaned and organized freezer and pantry, so there is less chaos during the busiest time.

So, there are a few things I like to do, as I plan the garden and thus prepare for my summer projects, my pantry and freezer restock - the food security and health I build for my family each year.


1. Taking inventory of the pantry.

There are a few givens in the garden, like tomatoes, but the crops, or how much, maybe be determined by what I have remaining in the pantry this time of year.

What did we not use at all? Take stock and either don't grow those items, don't fall into their alure at the market and don't process them this coming year. We have way, way too many beans, which we never end up really eating, so I do not need to grow beans this year.

What do we need more of? Decide whether you are going to grow more of that item, or where you will purchase it. We are way too low on tomato-basil soup for my liking, so I am growing more tomatoes this year and planning to can more of that item (don't forget the other ingredients!).

How is my canning supplies stock? When you want to get started on a project it's nice to have supplies on hand to grab and not have to run out and buy them. I also don't want to get caught without items if supply chain disruptions happen again. Pick up supplies here and there to spread the cost out and build up your stock; keep an eye on sales.


2. Taking inventory of the freezers.

Assessing the pantry and freezers have some similarities. The freezers just may need emptying a few times a year to really keep an eye on inventory, avoid loosing items below and using up items that may have lost seal, etc.

What did we not use at all? Prioritize using these items in upcoming meal plans. Adjust the garden plan as necessary. Freezer space can be tight! We don't want to waste it.

What do we need more of? Grow more! Freeze more, or add new ways to preserve these items. We love to freeze peppers, but the freezer gets full, so we make sure to dehydrate some as well.

Items in abundance, or that have lost vacuum seal need to be either cleaned out, added to meal plans and perhaps 


3. Take inventory of seeds & seed starting supplies/review local foods plan.

When getting my garden plan finalized I am taking inventory of seeds and ordering what needs restocking. I like to have a little extra, so I'm not running out year to year (a little extra insurance), but not too much that it goes bad before I get to using it. My seed always stays either frozen or refrigerated.

What seeds and supplies need ordering? Do you need trays, containers, plant tags? Do you have a big stash of yogurt containers that you can start cutting stakes out of to reduce and reuse?

If you're not growing a certain product you need, like sweet corn, where are you sourcing it? Build these sources into your local food plan. I know if I don't grow sweet corn (usually doesn't make it into my limited space) that I'm going to buy it locally from Cedar Crate Farm or Gulden Family Farm, but I came across an organic source in Dassel I may explore; last year I never made it to canning corn, so I purchased some from Azure Standard and vacuum sealed. I try to source more and more local each year, but make sure to have a back up that supports my values.


 4. What can I let do of to free up space and energy for more important things?

What recipe(s) do I keep guilting myself over making/not making? Back to the sweet corn, I was really giving myself heck for not getting to that, but ultimately that doesn't serve me. We can't do it all. If there is something you can't get to, let it go. If there is something you just DO NOT enjoy doing, let it go; or remind yourself that you 'choose' to do it for X reason, this mindframe of choosing to, instead of having to, serves us better.

What limiting belief(s) is holding me back? "I can't grow anything to save my life!" is something I hear all the time, but it's truly a limiting belief and the more it's repeated the more it's manifested. What limiting belief are you repeating/holding on to that is keeping you from moving forward? How does "I'm still learning to grow things!" feel different than the first statement? One I let go of was, "I am not a baker!"

What just does not grow well/I don't enjoy growing/we never end up eating? Back to those canned beans, I am not planting them this year, but I also said that last year and guess what? We didn't eat that may last year! I am NOT planting them this year. I am also not trying to make pickles again, because we just never end up eating them. Grow things that bring you joy!! That save you money. That grow well in your garden! Source other items locally, or barter with a friend who enjoys growing that item. Last year my neighbor and I traded apples for carrots! It was a win-win.


What are you doing to prepare? What are you letting go of? If you have something to add to this list holler back at me!

Tuesday, February 20, 2024

2024 Organic Garden Plants!

Happy garden harvest!


Here is our list of bedding plants we'll be growing this year, so you can plan them into your gardens!! Select items will be available at the farm store come early spring, the majority will be available at the Greenhouse at Total Landscape Supply, in Madelia.


All of our garden plants are Certified Organic!

Brooke with tomato

-Celery, Ventura (veeery popular, you may become addicted to "real" MN grown celery)
-Ground Cherry, Goldie
-Tomatillo, Toma Verde  

Kohlrabi transplants

Some cool season crops you can plant early...
-Cabbage, Copenhagen
-Kohlrabi, Terek
-Cauliflower, Snow Crown
-Broccoli, DeCicco (side-shooting type for continual harvest)

Amish Paste

A number of delicious heirloom tomatoes great for fresh eating and processing...
-Amish Paste
-German Johnson (dusky pink, my favorite for BLTs) 
-Kellogs breakfast (orange) 
-Sun Gold, cherry type (very prolific)
-Valencia (yellow, low-acid)
-Weavers Black Brandywine (the BEST black tomato I've grown, 2nd fav for BLTs)
-Brandywine
-San Marzano, paste type

-Jalapeno, Early 

Cooling cucumbers!
-M-76 (classic green slicer)
-H-19 Pickling
-Silver Slicer (white, my favorite for flavor)

Follow along as spring approaches! (Slowly but surely, and I'm okay with that. :) There will likely be other plants available at the farm not listed here, depending on what strikes me, but usually some basil, kale, sweet peppers and other "extras" from my home garden!

Ready to process tomatoes!

Sunday, February 4, 2024

Spring Garden Plants Update!

I will be growing great ORGANIC garden transplants again this year - heirloom tomatoes, jalapeno, cool-season brassicas the super popular celery and more!! There is an update though!!

I have been so grateful to work with my dear friend Shellee, of Shellee's Greenhouse, for the last 5 years. So blessed for the opportunity she helped create with/for me! Now I'm super excited to work with Sarah of Total Landscape Supply to keep our Organic transplants available in Madelia. Please read Shellee's update below!
I'll post a list of Organic garden transplants we'll be offering through #thegreenhouseattls, so you can work that into your garden planning!

Read on below for Shellee's own update.


Shellee's Greenhouse


There is Always Always Always something to be Thankful for!

Another successful spring season in the books…….Thank You ALL for such a great year; we are so very Grateful and Blessed again this year !!

So many signs – both this spring and even now – have led me (us) to this decision.

After 28 Awesome & Blessed years of owning my lil’ greenhouse, on our farm site filled with rich history of the past (Ex: 103 year old Barn) re-purposing the old into new & creative, plus meeting some of the most Wonderful people from over a 200 + mile radius…. God is guiding me to slow down, enjoy His landscape with my husband & most importantly for us, to visit our precious children and grandchildren !!

So I am Retiring from my greenhouse business ……..to give us time to do these things, as prepping and owning a greenhouse business is a year round enterprise.

But……...we have found a wonderful young couple who we contacted to see if they would be interested in starting their own greenhouse business…...And they are !!!!

And the Best thing is – the greenhouse will stay in our unique, special, progressive hometown here in Madelia !! This is what we prayed for and our prayers were answered 

🙂
We give our blessings to Dustin & Sarah VanHale on their new greenhouse venture.
“The Greenhouse at Total Landscape Supply” which will be located at the East end of town at their current thriving business Total Landscape Supply.
Plus I will be there next spring helping at the new greenhouse in order to help Dustin & Sarah get off on the right foot and share my 28 years of greenhouse business. I’ll still be doing what I love to do – working with plants & welcoming/getting to see all my Shellee’s Greenhouse customers Plus so looking forward to meeting & helping all the new customers as well!
Some of the same local, family run growers that I used will be furnishing their – as always – healthy, unique & beautiful plants at “The Greenhouse at Total Landscape Supply”……… isn’t that exciting ??!!
So plan to visit us & say Hi next spring at “The Greenhouse at Total Landscape Supply”
And as always……...Have a WONDERFUL GOD GIVEN DAY !
Shellee and Bill Daley

3 Things I'm Doing Differently for my Garden with This Weather

 





1.

2.

3.

Nothing. Is this weather weird, yes. Am I concerned? Not focusing on it. We live in Minnesota friends, we all know how the weather can change.
I’m going to plan my seeding and planting based on the average last frost date, as I usually do. I’ll monitor the soil temp and spring changes for planting on schedule, or early, as I normally do.
I’m going to try and grow and preserve as much from my garden as I normally do!! Because some years are bountiful and some are not. If I need to, I’ll fill in from other farmers at the market or the coop, as I usually do.
Is this climate change taking affect? Is this the new norm? I don’t think so and we don’t know. Think about the bounty of cold and snow of last winter - this is Minnesota friends. We have to be flexible. I’ve seen much fluctuation the last 13 winters on the farm - I’ve planted garlic in November, seen 80s in March, 15” of rain in June, not every winter has had a deep frost or bountiful snow.
So, plan the garden, keep stocking the pantry and be prepared for whatever is to come.

Friday, January 26, 2024

Fruit Tree Grafting Class 2024

  Learn how to graft your own fruit trees!


March 23 Fruit Tree Grafting Class

$55 Registration includes three grafted apple trees.

Saturday, March 23
Minnesota New Country School
210 Main Street, Henderson MN 56044
Time:   9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Cost:    $55 / participant


In this class we will teach you how to propagate your own apple trees. We will discuss the time-tested techniques of fruit tree grafting including grafting tools, timing, proper scions and rootstocks. Attendees will practice what they learn by “Whip & Tongue” grafting different varieties of apple trees using modern day rootstocks.
  
Each participant will take home 3 newly grafted apple trees to be planted on your own property.  Additional rootstocks available for purchase at class. All materials and tools will be provided for the workshop. You can bring your own grafting knife if you prefer. We will bring a variety of apple tree scions to the workshop for grafting.

Optional: Bring scions of your favorite old apple tree if you would like to graft these at the class. We will send out tips for this as we get closer to class, as you don't want to do this too much ahead of time.


You Bring:
  • Large trash bag,& pot/bucket to take your grafts home in.
  • Lunch or snack for yourself. (Coffee and a scone are provided in the morning.)
  • Cash/check for additional rootstock purchase ($3 ea) or grafting knife purchase.

Registration & Payment:    
  • Registration must be paid in advance.
  • Register Here





Friday, January 19, 2024

On the Drive Home from the Butcher

Brought a group of beautiful pigs to market this morning. I don’t really even know why I am sharing this publicly, maybe it’s to clear my head, I don’t know……on my drives to the butcher with pigs it gives me a lot of time to reflect on the animals I am bringing there, often times there is a strong feeling (cannot place the right adjective to describe it) that runs through my whole body, toes to head. I think about taking the life of an animal and how taking the life feeds others and our family. I think about the time I had with them, the daily chores, their birth and now them going on to the next pasture. Last night in preparation I had a couple beers with them, talked to them and gave lots of scratches. The daily routine of raising livestock, feeding, moving on pasture, housing, farrowing, etc is the easy part, the end of their lives is the hard part. I often tell myself if I have no emotion about this part then it’s maybe not right for me to be raising livestock. There is a heavy weight that goes along with this part. I am not looking for any sympathy or “sorrys,” but rather just expressing my thoughts. I am honored to be the caretaker of these creatures. There is just a lot more to this operation than inputs and outputs, hell of a lot more.


John




Wednesday, December 13, 2023

Mankato Winter Wellness CSA

 Mankato Winter Wellness CSA

 ***Winter Wellness CSA Shares are limited! This Mankato CSA is a test run! If interested contact me directly to be put on a wait list. We only offer 3 shares with this test. One off Samplers Shares are sometimes offered during the winter as well. Organic greens and other farm goods are available 5 days per week at our farm store and at the Winter Mankato Farmers Market, held the 1st and 3rd Saturdays Nov.-March at Bomgaars from 9-Noon.


Mankato Winter Wellness CSA 2023

Launching a last minute test run of our Mankato Winter Market version of our popular farm store Winter Wellness CSA!

Winter Wellness CSA 

As always, the highlight is our winter greens! Pea shoots, microgreens and salad mix will be accompanied by canned goods and herbal wellness items. This season the apple harvest was not abundant, on some years we will also feature apples; this year simply apple products!

What's in the Shares? 

Winter Greens Feature – organic pea shoots, zesty microgreens, mustard greens salad mix each share.

Canned Goods Feature – applesauce, apple butter, jam/jelly, salsa – with 1-2 items in each share pick up.

Herbal Wellness Items Feature – Golden Milk Mix, Elderberry Syrup Kit, Calendula Lotion Bar, farmer choice.

 

When are the Shares?

Winter Wellness CSA will have 3 pick-ups at the Winter Mankato Farmers Market, Bomgaars, Mankato. If you miss a pick up it is your responsibility to come to the farm store to pick up your share.


Satuday, December 16
Saturday, January 20
Saturday, February 17


Greens are picked up at the Mankato Winter Farmers Market.

Cost is $130. $130 due up front for reservation.


Eggs – This year I’m not reserving ahead (it’s all based on the current batch of chickens), eggs are more limited at the time of this post. Eggs are $6/dozen.

 

How to get a share?

Shares each year are first offered to returning members. If spaces open up then they are offered to folks on the wait list. If any shares need further filling I'll post on social media (rarely happens!). 

 

Thank you!!

 

Brooke