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. :)


Sunday, March 15, 2020

Vitamin D


Vitamin D is a HORMONE that plays an important part in immune functions. We make sure to include foods that contain Vitamin D in our regular diet; for this, pastured animals are important.


Morning eggs are cooked in lard. Lard from pastured pigs is a good source of D, as are yolks from pastured chickens. If lard isn't your thing choose some good grass-fed butter (we use Kerrygold and Organic Valley). Cod liver oil is another source we use, and I also choose to take a Vitamin D supplement.

Rendering lard.
You may pay more for some of these pastured/grass-fed items, but the nutrient density and flavor worth it...and I’d rather pay the farmer than the doctor.

Many people are deficient in Vitamin D. I’m not a doctor, but this is what we do in our house.

Wednesday, March 4, 2020

What's In Store: Week of March 4

Come and grab your eggs!

Eggs! Eggs! Eggs! The ladies are really laying again, so we need a few folks to jump back on the egg bandwagon. We appreciate your support!

Another Month of Winter Greens

We have about another month of harvest from our winter greenhouse, before all that's left are bedding plants. 

It's the lean time of year, where there isn't an abundance, but where else can you get freshly harvested greens mid-winter?! We appreciate your patronage, just a few shoppers a week make all the difference!

Hours are Wednesday & Thursday 4-7, Friday and Saturday 9-12 OR by appointment. Make an appt. via email to info@alternativerootsfarm.com or via text to Brooke 507-412-7605. Special hours Saturday, March 14 9:00-4:00.

Freshly harvested

Salad greens!! (These don't happen every week!)
Zesty Mix Microgreens
Pea Shoots

Farm Staples

Applesauce - no added sugar, just cleaning eating goodness with apples and local honey
Apple Butter - no added sugar, apples, spices and local honey
Eggs - free-ranged, organic feed