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

Photo Update May 19 :: Bloom Edition!

Full bloom in the orchard is a splendid thing - amazingly beautiful. Last weekend full bloom peaked. The home orchard had the most blooms it has ever had; we are excited because it looks like we'll be able to taste of some of the old heirloom varieties we are growing, for the first time!

Just before bloom, this stage is called "open cluster."

Young orchard trees. 'Smokehouse' is all blooming this year!

The Lake Crystal orchard blooms over the sloping hillside, full of promise for a great season. This site adds a couple new varieties of apples for us, including Fireside.

Farm dog Hazel, following along.

Just a Friday night out at the orchard, running the pups, mowing, picking up wood, enjoying the outdoors and potential of the beautiful trees.

Farm dog Odin helping out.

The New Ulm orchard, our first site we began with, is the most splendid we have ever seen it. The trees were loaded with blooms!

 

Being loaded with blooms is a grand thing, but that is only part of the process! Good pollination is a MUST to get that fruit hanging on these trees. We wander the orchards, observing for pollinator activity - native, honey and bumble bees. Two sites are close to woods and many native bees are out and about. While we weren't seeing as much pollinator activity at the home orchard, closer inspection, as petals began dropping, shows good results. There are many tasks between now and harvest, but I am looking forward to August and ripe apples!!