Under Cover Produce - Click to See What We Have!

Well, after last week's torrential rains on Friday, I finally bit the bullet and asked my in-laws if I could use a part of their carport to set up in. They of course said yes because they love me! I thought about setting up in the yard again today, but in the carport I don't have to chase the shade and that sounds good to me.

This week we have: red and white sweet candy onions, cabbage, tomatoes, kohlrabi, kale, chard, black berries,  zucchini, cucumbers, sweet potatoes, beets, carrots, egg plant, new potatoes, green beans, carrots, peas (yes, it's July 30th and we are picking peas), jams and jellies, cilantro, basil, dill, sage, tarragon, oregano, parsley, thyme... there's always something I've forgotten. We have a few ears of shucked sweet corn today. Tomorrow we will have lots more sweet corn and some really good mini cantaloupes that have almost paper thin rinds. Friday we should have peaches, bigger cantaloupe and watermelon.

Stop by the farm from 9-1 today through Friday or by the Painted Corners on 96 across from the Pink in Lomax from 3-7 today through Friday and on Saturday from 9-2 or at the Burlington market in Crapo Park Thursday evening from 5-7 or at the Keokuk mall Saturday morning from 7-11.

 Directions to the farm: 

Go to the Nauvoo-Colusa Jr. High. Turn east on the Colusa Road. Go ½ mile. Turn north on county road 1050 E. Go ¾ mile. The Whitson compound is on the east side – a white house and a single wide trailer. We are in the trailer. Grampa Tom's folks are in the white house :)

 

God Bless You All!

~Grama Sue 

Rhubarb, Comfrey and More

There's lots of rhubarb and comfrey in this garden. Rhubarb for a spring crop and comfrey for my chickens and some salves I want to try. Planted lots of flowers to hold the spaces until they take over.  Thank you to my sis and her hubby who helped me dig it and to my neighbor who gave me the comfrey :)

This Weeks Goodies!

We're running a little late here today folks! It was so hot yesterday that I thought it would be better just to pick this morning and if anyone wanted something I didn't have yet, I'd just go out and pick it while they waited.

 There's still a few things we need to get out there yet, but here's the line up: peaches, watermelon, cantaloupe, tomatoes, onions, zucchini, cucumbers, sweet potatoes, beets, carrots, new potatoes, green beans, kohlrabi, radishes carrots, cilantro, basil, dill, sage, tarragon, oregano, parsley, thyme... there's always something I've forgotten ... oh yeah! Peas! Can you believe it? It's the 23rd of July and we are picking peas! We'll have sweet corn this evening.

We're open at the farm Wednesday through Friday from 9am -1pm. At the Painted Corners in Lomax from 3-7 Wednesday through Friday and on Saturday morning from 9-2. We also go to the Burlington market on Thursday evening and to the Keokuk market on Saturday mornings.

Directions to the farm: 

Go to the Nauvoo-Colusa Jr. High. Turn east on the Colusa Road. Go ½ mile. Turn north on county road 1050 E. Go ¾ mile. The Whitson compound is on the east side – a white house and a single wide trailer. We are in the trailer. Grampa Tom's folks are in the white house :)

God Bless You All!

~Grama Sue 

Blackberries are coming!

Had two of these beauties today! For a while there we thought the cold winter had probably put us out of the blackberry business this year, but they are coming on strong!

Menu Update

Woo hoo! We should have sweet corn, red raspberries,cantaloupe, watermelon and peaches tomorrow up at Lomax from 3-7 and here Wednesday morning from 9-1! Other possibilities include: radishes, new potatoes, cabbage, cucumbers, pickling cucumbers, dill,  kohlrabi, turnips, green beans, cilantro, beets, tomatoes, zucchini, summer squash, basil, tarragon, oregano, chives, sage, thyme, spearmint, peppermint, cut flowers, aloe and lemon balm plants ... probably a whole lot more!

If you come out to the farm, tell me you saw this post and we'll give you $2 off any purchase of $5 or more this week. Only one discount per customer please!

God Bless You All!

~Grama Sue

Nettles

Stinging Nettle is an herb that grows wild all over the place. A while back, I had the opportunity to go to a wild foods class. There I learned about how to identify stinging nettles. I had heard about this herb before, so I went out and found some to transplant to my garden.

The leaves have one of the highest protein contents of any plant. Back in WWII, when meat was rationed, people would use it in all kinds of things to up the protein content.

From what I understand it is a jack-of-all trades when it comes to medicinal uses. Some common uses are: arthritis, an herbal treatment for allergies, relieves hair loss, treats Celiac disease, bleeding, bladder infections, skin complaints, neurological disorders and a long list of other conditions.

I grind it in a coffee grinder and put it in capsules to take as a supplement. I also use the leaves in soups or to make tea.

There is quite a list of drug interactions so if you want to use it, do your research. I'm not a doctor :) It is a diuretic and can affect blood sugar and blood pressure. Be careful!

The fresh leaves and stems can sting you so I only sell the dried form.

Our chickens love dried nettles. Not sure about fresh ones. Occasionally our flock gets a “cold”. Usually if this happens, they drop production for a few weeks. Sometimes they even go into a molt.

This spring when they started to sneeze, I put some dried nettles in a pillow case and stuck it in their water. Within a couple of days the sneezing and coughing had stopped and the egg production was better than normal.

It's a pain to harvest (quite literally), but we have decided we need to grow a whole lot more of this gem :)

Have you learned something? One wonderful life rule is : "Learn something every day." It's a good rule. If you have, you can go back to bed now :)

Summer's Here! Menu Update

The gardens are really starting to produce! Come see us for all your holiday veggie needs.

Menu Possibilities
(while supplies last)

Grama Sue's pasture raised rainbow eggs
Strawberry jam
Raspberry jam
Apple butter

Your Daily 5
Radishes
Kale
Chard
Red Onions
Sugar Snap Peas
Beets
Zucchini
Cucumbers
Cabbage
Kohlrabi
Carrots
Broccoli
Tomatoes
Green onion
Cucumber
Peaches
Turnips

Later in the week we may have:

Sweet Corn
Peaches
and Melons

In the herb department we should have:
Greek and Italian Oregano
Sage
Dill
Thyme
Chives
Cilantro (Dried only)
Tarragon
Basil
and Parsley








Come get some good eats!

God Bless You All!
~Grama Sue