Monday, December 14, 2020

What's In Store December 14

Apologies! I'm terrible at keeping this updated this season...apparently. Updates are made regularly on facebook.

You'll want to stop in before the holiday!!

Greens are abundant. Raw cider is in stock. Onions and garlic are going to run out within a few weeks.

*Closed December 24-26

*Apples - nearing the end of the season, stock up!

*Raw Apple Cider - likely the last batch, maybe another small one

*Applesauce Shares - always available! 12 quarts for $65









What's In Store

Onions - $2/lb, $5/3lb bag *Red onions only now
Garlic - $5/5 oz container *a couple weeks worth left
Eggs - $4/dz
Microgreens - $5/2oz clamshell - zesty, mild, radish (stock varies)
Pea Shoots - SALE $4/2oz clamshell, $13/half lb
Salad greens - $5/1/4lb bag
Arugula greens - $5/1/4lb bag *last call
Apples - $7.50/3lb bag *maybe a month's worth left - stock up!
--varities: Honeygold, Haralson, Prairie Spy
Applesauce - $6
Apple Butter - $5
Apple Rings - $3/3oz bag *making an appearance later this week, stock varies
Elderberry Syrup Kits - $15 - 1 left
Herbal Tinctures - $15 - do your research please!
   Chaga (anti-cancer properties), Stinging Nettles (great for seasonal allergies), Motherwort (anxiety, 
   PMS, cramps, menopause), Willow Bark (natural pain relief), Holy Basil (stress, adaptogen, system
   restorative).

tips for the farm store

•One family unit in the store at a time please.
•Bring your reusable bag please.

•Self serve, exact change cash/check please, or pay via Venmo.
•Holler anytime with questions - my cell # is up in the store.

Monday, November 9, 2020

What's In Store: November


Hey folks! It's that time of year where you think of farm fresh good winding down, but that's not true! We are just coming into a new abundance of goods, with the passive solar winter greenhouse coming into full swing!! Some storage crops are still available, as well as apples and canned items, which go year round!

*Closed Thanksgiving week - grab your apples for baking/snacks, etc, greens, garlic and more, this week or next.

*Raw Apple Cider - watch facebook for updates

*Applesauce Shares - now available for order. Case of 12 for $65.









What's In Store

Onions - $2/lb, $5/3lb bag *yellow onions almost gone
Garlic - $5/5 oz container *a few weeks worth left
Eggs - $4/dz
Microgreens - $5/2oz clamshell - zesty, mild, radish, arugula (stock varies)
Pea Shoots - SALE $4/2oz clamshell, $12/half lb
Salad greens - $5/1/4lb bag *availability varies week to week with growth in the greenhouse
Arugula greens - $5/1/4lb bag *early winter only!
Apples - $7.50/3lb bag *maybe a month's worth left - stock up!
--varities: Honeygold, Haralson (great baker) & a limited amount of Connell Red & Fireside, Regent
Applesauce - $6
Apple Butter - $5
Apple Rings - $3/3oz bag
Elderberry Syrup Kits - $15 - instructions included
Herbal Tinctures - $15 - do your research please!
   Chaga (anti-cancer properties), Stinging Nettles (great for seasonal allergies), Motherwort (anxiety, 
   PMS, cramps, menopause), Willow Bark (natural pain relief), Holy Basil (stress, adaptogen, system
   restorative).

tips for the farm store

•One family unit in the store at a time please.
•Bring your reusable bag please.

•Self serve, exact change cash/check please, or pay via Venmo.
•Holler anytime with questions - my cell # is up in the store.






Friday, October 23, 2020

Store Sale 10/23-24!

 


It's Time For A Snowy Sale!

$6 for all 3lb apple bags! (reg. $7.50)

$4/2oz & $12/half lb pea shoots!

Friday and Saturday, October 23-24 only!

Hours: Friday 9am-7pm, Saturday 9am-1pm


Apples in Store:

Regent, Haralson, Honeygold, Fireside, Connell Red, Spartan.


Also in Store:

Microgreens $5/2oz clamshell

Eggs $4/dz

Garlic $5/5oz

Onions $2/lb

Applesauce $6 qt

Apple butter $5

Elderberry Syrup kits $15

Herbal tinctures $15


••Organic••

••Local••


We won’t be at the Mankato Farmers Market Saturday, so here’s your chance to restock on apples this weekend!! 

A great time to grab extras for baking.


No Mankato Market 10/24

 We will not be attending the Mankato Farmers Market tomorrow, Saturday, October 24, due to the cold weather. The farm store is still open! Check out our sale!

Thursday, September 24, 2020

Large Line Up of Late September Apples!

We have a huge selection of organic and heirloom apples! 

We are picking over 30 varieties this year, including some limited availability heirlooms, in addition to our main production varieties. We have over 50 varieties planted!


Line up of late September apples from Alternative Roots Farm:

McIntosh
Cortland
Haralson
Fireside
Connell Red
Honeygold
Regent


Not Pictured:

Honeycrisp (we are pretty much sold out)
Sweet Sixteen (not cropping in 2020)
Mystery (coming soon)
Keepsake (small crop 2020)
Golden Russet (coming soon/small crop)
Johnathon (coming soon/limited)
Knobbed Russet (first 3 apples on the tree!)
And more!! 

Friday, September 11, 2020

Apple Update + Final Days of Drawings

Apples Available: McIntosh, Honeycrisp, Wealthy, Cortland

Coming Soon: Sweet Sixteen, Mystery, Haralson, Honeygold

Sept. 11 - The last of the Zestar! is available at Nature's Pantry farm store. Honeycrisp, McIntosh and Wealthy have hit the shelf and Cortland will Saturday as we just picked yesterday!

Raw apple cider $7/half gallon - SOLD OUT in four days this week. Looking to do another pressing this weekend - watch facebook for updates, or contact us directly. We try to keep this in stock as much as possible, but would rather run out then waste plastic jugs (and we have to find time for pressing, lol).

Today and tomorrow are the final days to get in on our week 4 and grand prize drawings! Each bag of apples purchased at our farm store gets you an entry. Sunday we will draw for the week 4 winner, then throw all the entries together to find out who the winner is of an ARF hat and gift certificate!

Where to get our apples

ARF farm store, Saturday Mankato Farmers Market 8-12 Best Buy Lot, New Ulm Community Market and Co-op, Natures Pantry Farm, Wysiwyg Juice Co. (in their amazing juices!).

Other farm store offerings: tomatoes, onions, garlic, potatoes, eggs, apple butter, applesauce, apple rings (as available), raw apple cider (as available).



Wednesday, August 26, 2020

Week #2 of Drawings!


Weekly Drawings Through September 13!


We are celebrating our one year anniversary of our farm store, and the beginning of apple season, with four weeks of drawings, plus a final drawing at the end.

Every 3lb bag of apples purchased at our farm store gives you one entry into the drawing with that week, as well as for the grand prize drawing.

Each weekly drawing will be done on Sundays - win a free bag of apples, applesauce, etc. On September 13 we will do the grand prize drawing, where two winners will win either a new ARF hat or a $15 gift certificate!

Stop out to the farm Monday-Friday 9:00-7:00 or Saturday 9:00-1:00.

Enjoy this delicious Minnesota apple season!!


 

Sunday, August 9, 2020

Apples In Stock!

Apple season begun about a week and a half ago, when we started picking Pristine! A delicious early apple that is crisp and tart, with a sweetness under the tart. A beautiful yellowish apple.


We will start picking Zestar! at the big orchard today, so get ready to enjoy our most popular early season apple!!


We start at the Mankato Farmers Market this coming Saturday the 15th. See you there, or stop by our farm store, which is open Mon-Fri 9-7 and Sat 9-1. Cheers to a great apple season!

Monday, July 13, 2020

What's in Store: July


Summer bounty is rolling in and apple season is just around the corner!!
Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00-7:00 & Saturday 9:00-12:00

What's in Store Now

Raspberries! Very hot item. They will be bountiful again this week and going out of season the following week. $6/pint or 3/$15.
Kale $3/bunch
Swiss Chard $3/bunch
Basil $2/1.5 oz bag
Eggs $4/dz
Garlic Scapes $3/bunch or $7/lb *gone after next week!
Applesauce $6/quart
Apple Butter  $5 each
Herbal Bug Spray $5
EO Cooling Mist $4
Herbal Tinctures $15 each - Motherwort (pms/cramps/anxiety/grief), Willow Bark (pain relief), Holy Basil (stress/adaptogen), Stinging Nettles (seasonal allergies)

What's Coming

Tomatoes
Cucumbers
Snap Beans
Apples - end of July
Garlic - fresh garlic later this week!
Pesto Shares (garlic/basil package) - beginning later this week!

Watch for updates on facebook!

EGGS

Limited, but the young ladies should start producing in about 3 weeks!!

Monday, June 29, 2020

Closed Monday, June 29

Closed today, due to the weather!
(Updates always better posted on facebook.)

In this week: raspberries!, snap peas, lettuce (last call), kale, chard, eggs, applesauce, apple butter, herbal tinctures, herbal bug spray, EO cooling mist.

Order a hat or shirt!


Sign up for a Fall Apple Share!

Tuesday, June 9, 2020

T-Shirt & Hat Pre-Order!!

For the first time ever we have ARF hats and youth t-shirts available for order!!

Available by pre-order only, you have until July 12 to get your orders in. Items can be picked up at the farm store, after July 27, or at the Saturday Mankato Farmers Market beginning in August.

This order is part 'we haven't done this in two years and it's time' and part funds-raiser to help make up for workshops we had to cancel due to covid. Hope you find something you like!

Adult t-shirts are USA-made and everything is locally printed by a small business.

Order T-Shirts & Hats 2020


Here are a couple of the items...



P.S. Fall Apple Shares are still available! More info and ordering HERE.

Saturday, June 6, 2020

Closed June 6-13

We are closed the week of June 6-13, see you on the 15th!

We are inching up on raspberry season, but right now lettuce, radishes, rhubarb and asparagus are in bounty. We will have lettuce for about 2 more weeks, please stop in and grab some!!

Tuesday, June 2, 2020

What's in Store: June


Farm fresh goodness is building!

Now joining asparagus and rhubarb, is fresh lettuce and radishes!! There are a few more plants starts left for this week - tomatoes, chard, kale, basil, sage.

Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00-7:00 & Saturday 9:00-12:00  *Closed June 6-13

Also in stock: applesauce, apple butter, strawberry-rhubarb jam, eggs.

EGGS: limited, call ahead to be sure. Broody hens have made numbers dip, the new flock should be laying in about 8 weeks!!!!
Applesauce

Monday, May 18, 2020

What's in Store: May 18

Plants + Produce + Prettiness!

It's a beautiful time to visit the store, the apples are in full bloom and everything is so lush!



All the garden plants we will have available for you this year are out and ready. Heirloom tomatoes (Black Krim, Rutger, German Johnson), kale, swiss chard, cucumbers (green and white), basil and sage. Small transplant pots are $2 each. (There are more of our organic tomato varieties at Shellee's Greenhouse, Madelia.)


Stinging Nettles tincture is back in stock! This is great for spring allergies, a wonderful, natural alternative to drugs. Other tinctures in stock are listed below.

Cool It essential oil spray is back in stock! The last bottle flew off the shelf. I love this to cool off when working outside, or on a serious cleaning tangent...I've heard it's nice for hot flashes. ;) It's simply a essential oil spray, with cooling and invigorating peppermint, eucalyptus and lavendar.

Herbal Bug Spray will be back in stock this week! (I'm working on it!) A safe alternative for the whole family. Spritz on and reapply every hour, or as needed. This blend of yarrow and catnip is great for skeeters, hand-harvested and crafted on the farm, by yours truly. 

Fall Apple Share sign up is ongoing!! SIGN UP for some goodness and get the best deal all season. 

Watch for updates on our t-shirt order!!! We only do this every couple of years and guess what, we're doing HATS! :) New design. New local printer. USA made shirts. Pre-orders only!! 


Read on for more store goodness...


What's In Store?

Asparagus $4.00/lb *limited quantities
Rhubarb $3.00/lb
Applesauce $6/qt
Applesauce Shares are always in season! A case of 12 for $65
Apple Butter $5
Strawberry-Rhubarb Jam $5
Eggs - $4/dozen *limited quantities - the new chickens will be laying by August
Herbal Tinctures - $15 each Motherwort (pms/cramps, anxiety, menopause), Holy Basil (adaptogen, stress, system restorative), Willow Bark (pain relief), Stinging Nettles (seasonal allergies).

Garden Plants!
$2 each
Tomatoes - Black Krim, German Johnson, Rutgers
Kale
Swiss Chard
Cucumbers - green & white
Sage
Basil
Herb pots $5 (three plants)
If you'd like me to set aside some plants for you just let me know!

Store Hours

Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 7:00 pm
Saturday 9:00 am - Noon
Sunday Closed




Monday, May 4, 2020

6 Ways to Prep for Preserving Now

Preserving season is already upon us!! What?! Wait?! you might be saying, but it is. I've harvested willow bark and stinging nettles, both for tinctures, thus far and it's time for me to harvest more stinging nettle for teas and infusions. Asparagus is already here, rhubarb is just around the corner, someone out there is likely picking radishes and it just rolls on and picks up from there!

Last week I pulled strawberries and rhubarb out of the freezer to make jam - delicious abundance. This week I'll roast the last butternut squash. You never regret taking the time to preserve.

So, how can you get ready for the coming season, or seasons, of preserving? Here are a few ways...

1. Clean out your freezer!

This is a big goal for me right now. (That I'm totally behind on...we need to eat more tomatoes!) I like to get my large chest freezer kinda tidied up and cleaned out for the beginning of the season. It's no good to stack new items on top of old items - things get lost. Sometimes that's good when you come across a surprise package of asparagus (or bacon), but when you find a bag of strawberries from 2014...

Don't have a freezer? Get one!! (We have three. Two mainly for meat.) Soooo handy. I like to can, so things are energy dependent and perishable, but there are many things that are simply easier to stick in the freezer - fruit, rhubarb, peppers, celery, greens, corn, bone broth, peas...

2. Tidy your pantry.

Whether you have a whole pantry room in your basement, a closet, or a cupboard in your kitchen, give it a look-see. Clean it up. Get familiar with what left to help you prioritize for the seasons ahead.

This helps me see what I'm not using. Haven't gone through a ton of green beans, so not a huge priority - tend to eat them mostly fresh.

2. What have you run out of?

Just to organize your brain for preserving season, and plan your shopping/gardening. Clearly you use these items the most and want to preserve more this season. Spend your time preserving what you really use - this is where it will save you money and bring more enjoyment!

For the first time in years I actually froze enough celery! Yay! I dried celery leaf as back up when I run out. We're out of jam, and salsa...more of those this year.

3. What's high priority? What do you spend the most money on?

Kinda what we talked about above. Know where you are going to source these important items (market, specific farmer, maybe this takes precedence in your garden). Again, this is what's going to save you money and bring more enjoyment.

We go through a lot of tomatoes, so this always is high on the list. Now, with a little one in tow, freezing and canning fruit (to round out our apple diet) is high on my list. What fruit we don't grow I buy in bulk from a local co-op, or other small farms.

5. Get your tools sorted.

Handy tools include a pressure canner and a water bath canner, along with canning funnels and tongs, etc., as well as a dehydrator (or two). Make sure to get your own lined up and ready, or perhaps go in on items with a friend, family member or neighbor - make it a social event!

If you don't have any of these items, perhaps pick one as a place to start. Dehydrators are great for many, many items; we primarily use them for herbs, apple rings and mushrooms, as well as extra onions in the winter sometimes. Water bath canning is for high acid items - applesauce, tomato stuff, jams, pickled items - and can be less time consuming than pressure canning. But, I think a pressure canner is essential - broth, meats, veggies.

The Living Earth Center in Mankato has all of these items to loan out as well!

6. Get your sources sorted.

As the season rolls on think about where you're going to purchase or trade for your high priority, and other, items. Thinking you are going to need a 5 gallon bucket of peas, instead of the quarts at the market tables? Talk to your farmers ahead of time about large quantities, or to find out who has your favorite tomatoes, etc. Are you growing these items? Buying them at market? Ordering through a co-op? When it comes to meat (I consider sticking a whole hog in the freezer part of my preserving plan.) you need to think ahead for bulk quantities (best bang for your buck).

Don't know where to find something? Ask your friendly local farmers! The Mankato Farmers Market has already opened and New Ulm's market begins at the end of June.

Okay, go get started!

During this rain day I'm going to put a pound or two of asparagus in the freezer and dry some nettles!

What are you excited to preserve this season?

Will this be your first year preserving? What questions do you have?

Friday, May 1, 2020

Fall Apple Share Sign Up!

Fall Apple Shares   Sign up open for 2020!

$54.00 :: 24 lbs/4 lb Bag x 6 weeks 
Beginning the first week of September with pick up at the farm, or Saturday Mankato Farmers Market.

Each week enjoy a 4 lb bag with 1-2 varieties of our organic apples. A mix of standard, lesser known and sometimes old heritage apples. We send out a short newsletter each week, as a reminder of your share. Enjoy some apple nerdery and a recipe or two, along with the latest news from the orchard.

Pick up at the farm store Thursdays, Fridays or Saturdays, or Saturdays at the Mankato Farmers Market, beginning the first week in September.

Sign Up Here!

Please contact us at info@alternativerootsfarm.com or via Facebook with any questions.

Covid-19 Note: Farmers' markets, and food access like our farm store, are considered essential services. We hope by September we wont be dealing with the same restrictions we are now, but if we are, or changes need to be made, we are committed to finding solutions to getting you your Apple Share!!

Monday, April 20, 2020

What's in Store: April 20

Eggs and What's Next

We are entering our most lean season at the store, we still need folks coming to grab eggs during this time! We always have eggs, applesauce, apple butter in stock. 

Willow bark tincture will return this week, fresh from this year's harvest. Willow is a great natural pain reliever. Watch facebook for updates.

Stinging Nettles tincture is out of stock - great for spring allergies it has been popular. I have more tincture brewing and it will be back in a few weeks.

I will have some transplants available in May - basil, sage, kale, chard, tomatoes...and maybe more as time goes on! Stay tuned, watch facebook for updates or holler. Shellee's Greenhouse in Madelia carries some of our transplants as well - check out the greenhouse if you haven't before!

In a month rhubarb season will start, then we'll add in greens - spinach, lettuce, kale, chard, before raspberries kick in at the end of June/early July. 

What's In Store?

Pea Shoots - available until gone!
Applesauce Shares are always in season! A case of 12 for $65
Apple Butter
Eggs - $4/dozen
Herbal Tinctures - $15 each Motherwort (pms/cramps, anxiety, menopause), Holy Basil (adaptogen, stress, system restorative).

Expanded Hours Continue

Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 7:00 pm
Saturday 9:00 am - Noon
Sunday Closed


Thursday, April 16, 2020

Prepping & Planting Potatoes!

It's aaaaalmost time to set these spuds in the ground and let them work their magic. I love love love freshly dug taters for dinner! These will keep us eating good from July through to about March! 

My Potato Plans

We will be planting 40 lbs of seed potatoes, or 150' of potatoes. I have 5 lbs of Natascha (new to me, my fav is Mountain Rose, but it was out of stock), as our early variety, which we will dig and eat fresh during the summer. As our mid-season variety we have Kennebec, a standard for us, which we will dig and eat fresh during the fall; at some point digging the rest to cure for storage. Lastly we have Green Mountain, an heirloom storage variety I just love; it does well on our site (clay-loam) and stores great. We'll plant 20lbs of Green Mountain to dig and cure in the Fall, for our winter storage potatoes and for our Winter CSA customers. 

I plant the early varieties at 8" and the late variety at 10", nestled in the bottom of a 6-8" trench. After planting cover with a couple inches of soil, filling the rest of the trench in later, as the plants grow. It's nice to mulch potatoes, if you are able, as they are water hogs and love the extra moisture. While most veggies in the garden like 1" per week, potatoes like 2".

After 17 days waking up/sprouting.

Greensprouting/Chitting Potatoes

The potatoes pictured are just over halfway through the Chitting process - I chit you not this works great. ;) When our potatoes arrived just over 2 weeks ago we began to "wake them up" by bringing them into the basement (60-65°) and keeping them in complete darkness. During this time they start to put out little white sprouts (like taters that sit in your pantry too long).

After 2 weeks they were moved to the spare bedroom to sturdy up for planting. Left open, as pictured, in a space with indirect light, these shoots will begin to green up and get tougher. This get them ready for planting, sturdying up so they are less likely to break off when being handled.

Click on over to our Facebook page, check out the videos section. I have two videos from when the seed potatoes arrived from The Maine Potato Lady, and from their transition to light. I'll post another at planting time.

As you can see in the pics some sprouts are longer than others. You don't want them to get too long, but each variety may act a little different and, of course, it will depend on the temps in your house as well. If you have longer sprouts you just need to be careful when planting.

Nice sturdy little shoots.

Planting Time

After about 4 weeks in the house these guys will be itching to get in the ground (like all of us itching to get our hands in the dirt!). So, in about two weeks, when the sprouts are nice and sturdy and ground temp is around a nice 60° (no need to rush folks) we will plant them out. A good phenological sign is when the dandelions are blooming (not the ones on the South side of the house).

Do you have to greensprout them? No, certainly not, but it has worked well for me. It gives the potatoes a head start in the garden and potentially can create higher yields. I like that, as with our heavier soil, which can somewhat restrict set growth, it's nice to have an advantage.

Well that's potatoes for tonight! I'm trying to post more on facebook, and a bit here, about what we're planting, how were growing and cooking, so follow along on facebook and if there is anything you are wondering about please holler!!


Tuesday, April 14, 2020

What's In Store: April 14th

Last Week of Winter Greens?

The last two containers of microgreens are in the store right now - 1 Zesty, 1 Radish. Pea shoots will be stocked later this week and probably into next week, as soon as they grow a touch more (they don't like the greenhouse heat).

Eggs and What's Next

We are entering our most lean season at the store, we still need folks coming to grab eggs during this time! We always have eggs, applesauce, apple butter in stock. In a month rhubarb season will start, then we'll add in greens - spinach, lettuce, kale, chard, before raspberries kick in at the end of June/early July. It all just ramps up from there! So, calling all egg lovers to support us during the interim, from winter crops ending and summer crops starting!

What's In Store?

Microgreens - last 2 containers!
Pea Shoots - later this week
Apple Cider - $6/half gallon Just pure apple cider, from our organic apples. No preservatives or colorings. A limited number of jugs are available - in stock this week & next. Drink fresh, or freeze for later.Applesauce - $6/quart
Applesauce Shares are always in season! A case of 12 for $65
Apple Butter
Eggs - $4/dozen
Herbal Tinctures - $15 each Motherwort (pms/cramps, anxiety, menopause), Holy Basil (adaptogen, stress, system restorative), Stinging Nettles (seasonal allergies)

Expanded Hours Continue

Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 7:00 pm
Saturday 9:00 am - Noon
Sunday Closed


Thursday, April 9, 2020

Sowing Seeds

An update with what we have seeded in the greenhouse, and in the garden!

Many folks are asking about more gardening and food preservation questions - let us know what you're looking for and we'll try and walk you through what we do as the season goes on!

It's good to see all this spring green - inside and outside of the greenhouse.

Onions, lettuce, peppers, basil, pea shoots.

What's Growing in the Greenhouse

onions
celery
lettuce
peppers
tomatoes
tomatillos
ground cherries
kale
chard
herbs: sage, ashwaganda, parsley, basil, rosemary
(Items I don't grow anymore that I would have started by now - leeks, other herbs.)

Some seeds I sow into small pots, then transplant the out into
larger plugs or pots. Sage, rosemary, basil, beet greens, chard pictured.
I still have a couple rounds of pea shoots, the last seeding of microgreens and a last cutting of winter lettuce (personal) growing in the greenhouse as well.

Microgreens, celery, ground cherries, pea shoots.

More pea shoots, tomatillos, early basil, kale, parsley, many tomatoes!

Early Spring Crops

When the soil is ready to be worked, mid-late April, There are many items you can get into the ground to get the garden greening up. If you've planted garlic, or rhubarb, it's already poking up and greening your garden!

Last Sunday, April 5th I planted spinach! This is the earliest I have ever been in the field. Don't despair if you are not ready, you have plenty of time to plant. I never depend on getting in the field before April 20th, and I don't get warm season goodies (tomatoes, squash) in until the end of May. Sunday the soil was at 54° - great for spinach - I'm waiting for 60° for my peas, potatoes, onions. I usually plant onions and potatoes around May 1, but it may be earlier this year! My lettuce is ready to head outside as soon as the real cool temps (20s) pass.

As soon as you can work the soil there are many crops you can plant - cool season crops, root crops, greens. Spinach, lettuce and radishes are nice items to start with, as they have shorter seasons and you can plant another crop after them. It's good to get peas in on the early side, so you get a crop before the heat of the season comes in. Any root crops can go in early too - parsnips, carrots, beets, turnips, etc. Carrots and beets can be planted in multiple successions through July; do a late crop for storage roots.

Here's one reference for you - Minnesota Vegetable Planting Dates Chart

What I plan to seed/transplant in April - spinach (direct seed), lettuce (transplants, but can be direct seeded well), peas (direct seed), kale (transplants), chard (transplants).

I'll have some transplants at the store a little later on - stay tuned for updates. I recommend Shellee's Greenhouse, in Madelia, as a great source for garden transplants! A great small business that supports the community, we also grow organic transplants for Shellee - including heirloom tomatoes, peppers, tomatillos, ground cherries, basil, cucumbers and celery.

Lettuce transplants!

Celery plants headed to Shellee's Greenhouse, Madelia.

Hundreds of tomato babies! Some for the farm,
most for Shellee's Greenhouse, Madeila.






Tuesday, April 7, 2020

What's In Store: April 7th

Last Two Weeks of Winter Greens

We've reached that time :(  ...actually we have done pretty amazing! I've never pushed greens production this long! But now you can tell the microgreens aren't growing as well (not as tall and fast) and I'm running out of space with summer transplants taking over!!

We will have enough microgreens and pea shoots in stock this week and next, maybe a little into the next week, but that's the end! Salad greens are now done for the season (back in November). All just in time to start eating fresh field grown greens!

Back in Stock!!!

Apple Cider - $6/half gallon Just pure apple cider, from our organic apples. No preservatives or colorings. A limited number of jugs are available - in stock this week & next. Drink fresh, or freeze for later.

Freshly harvested

Microgreens - Zesty Mix, Radish & Mizuna (mild)
Pea Shoots - 2 oz & 1/2 lb bags (John prefers these for salads!)

Farm Staples

Applesauce - $6/quart
Applesauce Shares are always in season! A case of 12 for $65
Apple Butter
Eggs - $4/dozen
Herbal Tinctures - $15 each Motherwort (pms/cramps, anxiety, menopause), Holy Basil (adaptogen, stress, system restorative), Stinging Nettles (seasonal allergies)


Expanded Hours Continue

Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 7:00 pm
Saturday 9:00 am - Noon
Sunday Closed



Thursday, April 2, 2020

Inventory Update 4/2

Morning folks!

It's been a busy last week at the farm store - you were all hungry for greens! We went through last week's greens before the end of last week and started dipping into this week's...now we are out of this weeks micros and peas!

Micros and salad greens need a few days to regrow, so we will be out of greens until this Saturday or Monday, at the latest.

Apple cider is sold out, until we do another pressing.

Eggs are sold out until Friday - we will have eggs for you for your regular or Easter needs!

Applesauce and apple butter are always in season!


Holler ahead if you'd like us to set something aside for you when you make the trip out.


In Gratitude,

Brooke & John





Monday, March 30, 2020

March Produce (What real food looks like)

Here's a glimpse at what we are still eating farm fresh and what March (practically April) food looks like. Fresh storage produce is still abundant; although, we are getting down to the bottom of our bins.


Real food is imperfectly perfect.

Carrots are a little hairy and sprouty, drying out some. These have simply been stored in plastic bags in the refrigerator. A little colder could have keep them a little better.


Onions are still nice and firm, some are starting to sprout a bit on the inside, no biggie. We simply keep these in baskets in our basement. It's not the ideal condition, but it's what we have. If my onions to start to get real sprouty, and I have a lot left, I'll slice and dehydrate them (you can also chop and freeze).


I've got potato aliens taking over the basement! These are on their last legs. As you can see they have lost a lot of moisture and are starting to get wrinkly and softer. We store these in our basement, along with the onions; they would prefer it cooler and more humid, but this is what we have. I'll make mashed potatoes to freeze when I have many extra like this, but we only have about 7 lbs left.


Thelma sanders acorn squash looking pretty as the day she came off the vine. Some get wrinkly, just cook 'em up, or bake and freeze the puree. While they are past their prime for flavor, I have had these last a year in the pantry - winter squash is your easy preserving friends. Again, just stored in the basement, only stacking 1-2 layers high.


Butternut squash stores just as grand, there are always wrinkly ones too. I try to bake and freeze these guys...if they go too far they just end up going to the chickens or pigs (one reason why animals are essential on the homestead!).


Beets are stored like carrots. Harder to tell, but they are getting a little soft - lost moisture.


Apples, still munching away on these daily. Some are firmer than others, all are still delicious. Many are wrinkly, some a little brown at the center, but quite usable. Last rounds of applesauce, apple butter, and fresh cider, are getting made to use these "beauties" up.


March produce doesn't always look picture perfect, but this is what REAL food looks like. I'd rather be eating this food - grown by us, or someone we know - than have perfect looking food. 

Grocery bills are lowered during fresh garden season, and all winter, by eating fresh, growing our own, and preserving the harvest. We're healthier for it and more connected to our land, as well as our own bodies. When you eat fresh and healthy like this you feel good - it feeds you body and soul.


Still eating fresh from the freezer - shell peas, peppers, chard, kale, tomatoes, venison, beef, chicken/chicken stock, pork, frozen soup, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, celery, garlic, lard.

Still eating dehydrated items from the pantry - herbs (basil, sage, oregano, parsley, nettles and more), onions, celery leaf, mushrooms.

Still eating canned items from the pantry - tomatoes, broth, green beans, jams, applesauce...and whatever else I'm forgetting.

Take stock at this time! What have you run out of? What are you missing? What do you need to grow/preserve more of this season?

Monday, March 23, 2020

What's In Store: Week of March 23

Back in Stock!!!

Apple Cider - $7/half gallon 

Just pure apple cider, from our organic apples. No preservatives or colorings. A limited number of jugs are available - in stock this week & next. Drink fresh, or freeze for later.

Freshly harvested

Salad greens!! (A good week for these!)
Zesty Mix & Mizuna (mild) Microgreens
Pea Shoots - 2 oz & 1/2 lb bags (John prefers these for salads!)

Farm Staples

Applesauce - $6/quart
Applesauce Shares are always in season! A case of 12 for $65
Apple Butter
Eggs - quantity limited (Time to think about picking up Easter Eggs.)


Temporary Hours Continue

Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 7:00 pm
Saturday 9:00 am - Noon
Sunday Closed

Last Few Weeks of Winter Greens

I just planted another round of microgreens and pea shoots for two weeks from now - I'll keep going as long as the greenhouse doesn't get too hot and I have space with spring transplants.

I just harvested from the last new batch of salad greens. We'll get 2-3 cutting out of this, so salad greens will be done in about 2 weeks. Get them while they are here!


Monday, March 16, 2020

Temporary Expanded Store Hours

For the time being we will moving to expanded farm store hours. We believe this will create greater access, greater ability to come when able, and allow easier social distancing.

Monday thru Friday 9:00 am to 7:00 pm

Saturday 9:00 am - Noon

Sunday Closed

In Stock: microgreens, pea shoots, salad greens (limited), eggs, applesauce, apple butter
Note: Eggs have been going fast. Feel free to message to check availability.


If you have any other suggestions, or requests, please let us know - we are interested to know what people are feeling they need during this time.

We do have two farm dogs and I will work to be mindful of having them out while folks are around, but they need to get out too. :)