Pea shoots! Harvested at about two weeks of age, these tender shoots taste like fresh spring peas. They have a mild, fresh flavor and are packed with nutrition. Pea shoots can be used raw, or lightly cooked. Like microgreens they are super versatile!
Monday, December 8, 2025
Favorite Ways to Use Pea Shoots
If you have been following me for any given amount of time you've probably seen my post 800,000 pictures of eggs and greens. Zesty Micros are my first go-to, but pea shoots fill the bill too!! They are my preferred when dressing scrambled eggs, or adding a layer on a frittata.
Monday, November 24, 2025
Breakfast Benefits for your Brain!
Okay, my favorite way to use my microgreens is with my eggs in the morning. Hands down. Zesty Mix or Arugula would be my go-tos.
And there are benefits!
“Daily consumption of leafy greens may be a simple and effective way to protect against loss in memory and other cognitive abilities.” – Martha Clare Morris, PhD

On the weekends, and days where I have a little more time (or done a little more prep work) this will also include a layer of sautéed onions/garlic/red peppers/kale OR lately some roasted delicata squash with my onions and garlic. One morning we also make bacon and breakfast sausage...yum.
Of course the microgreens, as well as our pea shoots and salad mix go great with scrambled eggs (love to wilt some pea shoots in there!) and omelets as well.
Leave no breakfast behind! Your brain just may thank you!
"A recent [2018] study published in Neurology found that people who consumed 1-2 servings of leafy green vegetables each day experienced fewer memory problems and cognitive decline than people who rarely ate leafy greens. Researchers studied 960 adults with no signs of dementia.
Lead researcher Martha Clare Morris and her team of nutritional epidemiologists at Chicago’s Rush University Medical Center estimate that people who consume about 1.3 servings of leafy green vegetables per day had brains that were about 11 years younger..."
Source: https://bluezones.com/2018/01/news-greens-every-day-keeps-brain-11-years-younger/
Tuesday, November 18, 2025
Thanksgiving Shopping Hours
Watch for updates in case fresh sweet cider lands!!
Monday, November 17, 2025
What are Microgreens?
A quick explanation is that microgreens are tiny baby plants that pack a punch with nutrition and flavor!!
Baby vegetables! (That are often more fun. :)
That's it, really pretty simple! And they are very easy to use.
Most microgreens found on store shelves are grown on shelving under grow lights, which aids in quick and even growing in their trays. Some are grown on coir, or grow mats, some in soil.
A few things that set our microgreens apart:
- Our microgreens (all our winter greens) are grown under natural sunlight in our passive solar Deep Winter Greenhouse (DWG).
- Our Organic micros are grown in organic soils.
- Did you pick up on the third difference?! Our micros are Certified Organic...as well as Real Organic Project Certified!
What do microgreens taste like and how are they used?
Typically used raw microgreens are a very easy way to add nutrition, flavor and fun to your meals. Flavor is going to depend on the type of green you purchase. Arugula micros are going to taste like full grown peppery arugula. Radish micros will taste like radishes. Our signature Zesty Mix! is a zippy, flavorful mustard greens blend.
My favorite way to use microgreens is with my eggs in the morning! Helps me start the day with more veggies and nutrition, adds great flavor and texture - place over-easy eggs on a bed of micros, sprinkle over scambled eggs or an omelet.
They are great in sandwiches, salads (of course), on tacos, in a Korean beef bowl and so much more! I have a customers whose kiddo likes to tuck some in a slice of salami and eat up! The world is your oyster!
Chances are they compliment a few of your favorite dishes!Tuesday, November 4, 2025
Winter Wellness CSA
Winter Wellness CSA 2025
Now full for 2025, may be added to waitlist for 2026 and Sampler CSAs this winter - info@alternativerootsfarm.com or text Brooke at 507-412-7605
Greens are growing and the winter greenhouse is filling up at a good pace!
Past time to get our Winter Wellness CSA up and going! Sign up opens to members from the last year, and folks who have asked to be added to the wait list. But here are deets for everyone, in case this seems like a good future fit for you.
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 good, so apples will accompany the first 2-3 pick ups.
Winter Greens Feature – organic pea shoots, zesty microgreens, mustard greens salad mix – one per pick up, generally.
Canned Goods Feature – applesauce, apple butter, jam/jelly, pizza sauce, salsa – with 1-2 items in each share pick up.
Herbal Wellness Items Feature – 1-2 salve, lotion bar, sore throat spray and more – holistic wellness comes from more than just food.
Produce Items Feature – apples 2-3x, garlic 1x.
Winter Wellness CSA will have 7 pick-ups November—March. We like to start the week before Thanksgiving. Pick ups will look like à Nov(1), Dec(2), Jan(2), Feb(1), Mar(1), by my best estimate, pick ups per month. Greens are picked up at the farm store, or the Mankato Winter Farmers Market (ONLY if dates line up). Shares are roughly every several weeks, dependent on the growth of greens. I am better at anticipating this now, but every once and a while I may have to push back a week if growth is slow (clouds and cold and such). Flexibility is a must.
Investment is $270. $135 due up front for reservation, with remaining $135 due by first pick up, or by verbal payment plan.
Eggs – In the past I have reserved ahead but cannot this year.
Holler to reserve your share. There are only 10 available!
Send any questions our way.
Thursday, October 16, 2025
Apples :: Golden Russet
Late Season • Sweet
Ripens
Late September - Early October
Characteristics
Crisp, highly flavored, fine-textured, yellow flesh makes very sugary juice. Golden bronze with a coppery orange cheek; heavily splotched with light brown russet. The Golden Russet apples are high in both sugar, acid and tannins, which make them a good pair with almost any apple for eating, cooking, cider or drying. The Golden Russet was prized as the "champagne" of old-time cider apples.
History
The Golden Russet apple declined in marketability in the twentieth century when the alluring shininess and color of red apples gained popularity.
The Golden Russet apple was known about in the 1700s and most likely sprang from New York. Some have speculated that it may descend from the English russet apple. Others allude to it having almost perfect resemblance to the roxbury russet. Whichever its lineage, little is known about its origin.
Parentage: Unknown.
Storage: Keeps 3+ months.
Notes: We have a few customers that wait for this all season each year! Great example of a unique heirloom apple. Some years russeting is more than others.
Tuesday, October 14, 2025
Farm Store 10/14
Well, the weather is giving me some extra time for outside tasks and still so much to do! Need to just pull the tomatoes and close the garden down, prep space for garlic planting and get that done in the next week. I had to order some more seed, because mine just didn't look the greatest this year and asters yellows is making it's way around. The winter greenhouse is started, with micros and pea shoots and I'll be getting the first salad mix planted today - better late than never!!
Farm Store 10/14
Organic Apples in stock:
More in the Farm Store
Farm Store Hours - Tu-Fri 9-7 & Sat 9-2, or by appt.
Sweet cider is in stock!!
Mankato Market Schedule
This Saturday was up in the air, but John's at Ciderfest (grab tickets HERE), and Leo has a birthday party, SO, see you back in November!
Nov. 1 - Winter Markets begin! 1st & 3rd Saturdays at Bomgaars Mankato, through the first week in April!
Tuesday, October 7, 2025
Apples + Sweet Cider 10/7
See the previous October 1st update for full farm store deets + add on the update below...
Apples in stock:
Sweet Sixteen
Cortland
Honeygold
Fameuse
Spartan
Smokehouse - 1 left!
Golden Russet
Fireside
Sweet cider is in stock!!
Wednesday, October 1, 2025
Oct. 1 Updates :: Farm Store & More
Apple season is keeping us busy!! Picking mid and late season varieties, bringing in the harvest, sorting and packing fresh eating apples, as well as seconds for customers processing. The temperature fluctuations have made harvest funny, and we are seeing more drops from the trees. Cool temps would be welcome!!
The garden is wrapping up for farm store goods and the deep winter greenhouse is not started yet, so we are at a little in-between spot for Organic produce other than apples. BUT you'll see 5-10 varieties gracing farm store shelves and the market table. Read on...
Mankato Market Schedule
Find us at the Saturday Mankato Farmers' Market from 8am - 12:00pm the following Saturdays"
What's in the Farm Store
All of these are great fresh eating varieties, all with their own unique profile. Many are also good for cooking!
MAKE THIS - Apple Fritters - we are enjoying about once a week for breakfasts!
If you are interested in picking up a Bushel of baking apples (seconds) for processing, give us a holler! $35/bushel seconds organic apples.
**Sweet apple cider - watch for our next pressing date!
Farm Store Hours - Tu-Fri 9-7 & Sat 9-2, or by appt.
Wednesday, September 24, 2025
Apples :: Spartan
Mid-Late Season • Sweet
Mid-Late September
Characteristics
Storage
Tuesday, September 16, 2025
September 16 Farm Store Updates
Main apple season is cracking and there are around 10 apple varieties on the shelf in the farm store, as well as gracing the Market table on Saturdays!!! Apple Share members are receiving their third week of apples this week. :)
How Apple Season Flows on the Farm
Expect to see the best of what's in season!! Varieties are always changing in the farm store. Some varieties have lots of quantity, some are here and gone, showcasing harvest from only a couple trees. Harvest runs from the end of July (with a trickle), into September's main harvest, wrapping up with late season varieties in October (and hauling in to fill the coolers!). Apple sales end when the inventory runs out, varying with the season - through the holidays or even into the New Year! On good year's apples make it to Winter Markets with me (looking good this year).
Our Fall Apple Shares start the first week of September, running 6 or 8 weeks showcasing the best of what's in season.
What's in the Farm Store
All of these are great fresh eating varieties, all with their own unique profile. Many are also good for cooking!
If you are interested in picking up a Bushel of baking apples (seconds) for processing, give us a holler! $40/bushel seconds organic apples.
**Sweet apple cider in stock 9/23!! Fresh and delicious. Half gallons.
Farm Store Hours - Tu-Fri 9-7 & Sat 9-2, or by appt.
Wednesday, August 13, 2025
August 13th Farm Store + Market Update!
Well, it's mid-August, which means the farm store starts to boast multiple varieties of apples AND it's time for me to head back to the Mankato Farmers' Market!!
| Look for the LIME green tents at Market! |
The Farm Store will always showcase what is available during the season, currently that looks like some fresh garden produce, seasonal apples, canned goods, eggs and herbal wellness items.
The Market table will hold seasonal apple varieties (12+ during peak in September!), applesauce, apple butter and seasonal jams, as well as some herbal wellness items.
Organic Garden Produce
Fresh items from the garden in season: cucumbers (green & white), kale, celery. The first tomato ripened this week; this year I should have tomatoes and maybe peppers for sale. No bulk produce quantities.
Organic Apple Varieties
Now Picking: Zestar!, Centennial and Chestnut Crabapples.
In the Farm Store: Centennial Crab (great lunch box littles!), Pristine, Zestar!
Market Apples this Saturday: Pristine, Paula Red, Centennial Crabapples, State Fair. Always our best guess leading up to market, subject to the whims of the orchard and orchardist. ;)
3lb bags of Organic Apples are $8 and quarts of Crabs are $4. More Farm Store deets.
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| Centennial Crabapples |
Centennial Crabapples - Great apple flavor in a
small package! Sprightly and juicy. Fresh eating and cooking. Stores 2-3 weeks.
Released by the UMN in 1957.
Herbal Wellness Items
A couple items that are popular for back to school time are our Elderberry Syrup Kits and our herbal Sore Throat Spray.
Elderberry Syrup Kits - immune boosting tonic you can make at home.
Herbal Tinctures - half a dozen home remedies to work with in your holistic medicine cabinet, from pain to seasonal allergy relief and more.
Sore Throat Spray - spray back of throat 2-3x several times a day for a sore throat, or when you get that little tickle in the back of your throat, like you are going to get something.
For the Bugs -> Herbal Bug Spray, Tick Away EO Spray, Bug Bite Salve.
Bruise Salve - stop a bruise in it's tracks and bring relief to existing bruises, hemerroids.
Knitbone Salve - muskuloskeletal remedy for sprains, strains, broken bones, sore muscles, etc.
Cottonwood Wound Relief Salve - essential for all those minor wounds, burns, think of it like a natural neosporin, without the junk.
Calendula Lotion Bar - solid lotion bar, rub on for soothing moisture that isn't greasy, travel everywhere tin.
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| Making salves is probably my fav. |
To Market, To Market!
Our market season is a little different than other folks! We start main season Mankato Farmers Market mid-August, with apples! We'll be at the summer market location through mid-October, then every Winter Market November - March. Apples are available until we run out for the season, which can look like October, November or January! Depending on the year. Season looks pretty good this year.
I take the last two weekends of October off for personal time after a busy apple season and before a busy winter greenhouse season!! Winter greens run about September to March!!
Several Fall Apple Shares yet available! Sign up closes soon.
Join our Mailing List to keep up with happenings!
Monday, July 28, 2025
2025 Organic Apple Shares Sign Up!!
Sign up is open for 2025!
We are looking forward to a great season!! We have even picked a couple apples from our odd early birds for our family and made an apple crisp. :)
Fall Apple Share Offerings for 2025
Each bag sports 1-2 varieties of our organic apples. A mix of standard, lesser known and old heritage types. We'll send out a short weekly newsletter, with apple facts, orchard notes and a recipe. Begins the first week of September.
Three weekly pick up locations:A.R.F. farm store (Th., Fri., or Sat.) - 6 or 8 weeksNew Ulm Pick Up, Turner Halle Lot (Th. at 5:00pm) - 6 or 8 weeksSaturdays at the Mankato Farmers Market (8am-12pm) - 6 weeks
$60 :: 6 week Fall Apple Share$78 :: 8 week Fall Apple Share *best price
*4 lbs not enough? The option to sign up for 2 shares is available.
Add to your Fall Apple Share ExperienceAdd on apple products and Winter Apple Shares.
Applesauce Share :: $88A dozen jars of our clean-eating applesauce. Made with our delicious organic apples, a touch of local honey and organic lemon juice. Choose preferred month of pick up.
November Apple Share :: $25 A 10 lb bag of table apples for fresh eating, baking or preserving. Primarily late-season storage varieties. This share will land 2-3 weeks following the 8 week Fall Apple Shares and 1-2 weeks before Thanksgiving.
Storage Bushel :: $94Stock the larder for winter! Receive a waxed box containing 40 lbs of table apples to store for fresh winter eating, at wholesale price. Select interest in sign up form. Final reservations made in October, for pick up by arrangement in early-mid winter.
Please contact us at info@alternativerootsfarm.com or via Facebook with any questions.
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Check back for updates, or join our email list and have them delivered to your inbox.
Tuesday, July 1, 2025
3rd Annual Sowing Seeds: Celebrating Local Foods & Lost Skills
July 1 Farm Store Update
Watch for 2025 Apple Shares CSA updates! Sign up starting for returning members and wait list folks ASAP!
Grab tickets for the 2025 3rd Annual Sowing Seeds: Celebrating Local Foods & Lost Skills event happening July 13th! Located right here at our farm.
What's In Store
Tart Cherries
Kale
Coming soon: zucchini, celery, cucumbers.
Eggs
Tuesday, June 3, 2025
June 7 Last day for plants at the Farm!!
This is your last week to grab Certified Organic garden plants at the farm store!
Organic garden plants are still available at:
-Amish Paste
-German Johnson (dusky pink, my favorite for BLTs)
-Weavers Black Brandywine (the BEST black tomato I've grown, 2nd fav for BLTs)
-Brandywine
-San Marzano, paste type
-M-76 (classic green slicer)
-Cool Customer, Pickler
-Silver Slicer (white, my favorite for flavor)
Monday, June 2, 2025
Early June :: What's in Store!
June 2 Farm Store Update!
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| Stinging Nettles for seasonal allergies. |
In Season:
In Store:
Thursday, May 1, 2025
Bloom Sale!
The apples trees are just starting to bloom! It's a beautiful time to visit the farm store! Garden plants are starting to show up and Mother's Day is just around the corner.
Swing by and enjoy the beauty and take advantage of a few Farm Store Deals!! **Sales prices are available in the farm store only.**
What's in Store:
Elderberry syrup kit $25 SALE $23
Sore Throat Spray $10 SALE $8
Tincture 1oz/$15 - stinging nettles, Ashwaganda, willow bark, astragalus, elderberry, motherwort
Tincture 2oz/$25 - stinging nettles, willow bark, Ashwaganda
Applesauce $8
Apple butter $6 SALE $5
Elderberry jelly $8
Calendula Lotion Bar $10 SALE Two for $16
Herbal Bug Spray $7 SALE $6
Tick away EO Spray $7
—Bruise salve - $10 - prevent/treat bruises, fresh/deep wounds, burns, hemorrhoids
—Knitbone salve - $10 - sprains, strains, broken bones, arthritis/tendonitis, musculoskeletal remedy
—Bug Bite Salve $10 SALE $9 - apple to bug bites, bee stings, splinters, for relief
—Cottonwood Wound Relief $12 SALE $10 - (formerly Healing Salve) apply directly to wounds, rashes, burns to support relief
Thursday, April 17, 2025
2025 Garden Plants!
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| 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 and a NEW site at Bluestem Gardenworks, Comfrey!!
-Kohlrabi, Terek
-Cauliflower, Snow Crown
-Broccoli, DeCicco (side-shooting type for continual harvest)
| Amish Paste |
-Amish Paste
-German Johnson (dusky pink, my favorite for BLTs)
-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
-M-76 (classic green slicer)
-Cool Customer, Pickler
-Silver Slicer (white, my favorite for flavor)
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| Ready to process tomatoes! |



































