Farmwife's Journal - August 29-30th

We started school Monday, so the days are busier than ever!  After school, we picked blueberries, grapes, plums, beans, cucumbers, tomatoes, and basil.  Jonny helped me make pesto, while Em cut the tomatoes and filled the dehydrator with them.  Then we filled the other dehydrator with the beans. 

Today after school, the kids (and some friends) played music for the residents of Dassel Lakeside Apartments (independent living for seniors).  They had a great time and the residents really enjoyed the music. :)  We hurried home when they were done because Emily had a bunny customer coming over.  She sold another bunny to a good home! :) 

Before dinner, we quickly emptied the dehydrator with the beans and filled it with beet slices-beet chips!   ...mmmm! :) 

After dinner, there were, of course, chores to do, but when they were done, we popped popcorn, made grape juice and played a game.  :)

Tomorrow Grandpa comes over after school to teach a fishing class.  The kids can't wait! :)  Right now, the house is quiet!  And I have barely seen my husband for the past two days- he's had meetings.  So I will get off this computer now and spend some time with him! :)

Cider Pressing last Friday

Last Friday we had a good time picking crab apples and turning them into delicious apple cider. Quite a few of our customers (friends) were able to try their hand and turning the crank on the grinder and on the press.

Picking the apples

Grinding



Squeezing




Relaxing in the shade



Yum Yum!

The Obstacle Course

 

Starting at the top of the root cellar, Ben and Jonny attempt to make it through the maze of buckets, boards and boxes in the poor little old wagon....will they succeed? :)

Farmwife's Journal - August 18th

The phone rang this morning at about 6:50am.  When that happens I am usually saying, "Who is the world....?"  Then I remember...the post office! :)  Yes, we had 300 baby chicks arrive this morning!  Come out tomorrow and you'll get to see them. :)

This morning we picked wild grapes.  I don't know what it is about picking wild grapes, but it's an activity we all love to do!  There are usually several places on our property that we find grapes.  We picked from two different spots today.  Emily was busy baking for the market tomorrow, so she wasn't with us, but we will go hunting for more in a couple days.



Joshua and Caleb...I mean Ben and Jonny ;)



extending the ladder as far as it will go...exciting boy stuff! ;)

After we were done picking, Mike got out the cider press and the boys helped him pressed the grapes.  Voila!  Grape juice! :)  I put the juice into 2-cup containers and froze it.  When we mix up a batch of juice, we just add sugar syrup and sometimes club soda.  It sooo yummy...and healthy! :)

putting the grapes through the press

 

containers of grape juice concentrate :)


P.S.  Does anyone have any ideas for what we should do with all our grape seeds?  I hate to compost them because I know they are so good for you, but I don't know how to make use of them.

Afraid to eat?

When you hear about food recalls, remember us...

...We're producing foods you're not afraid to eat! :)

Foods that are not genetically modified, not sprayed with chemicals, and foods that are organically grown!  We care about the foods our family eats, therefore when you buy our foods, you can be assured that we are doing everything possible to give our family and your family the highest quality foods available. 

If our children get sick, we treat them naturally without drugs that could harm their bodies.  In the same way, if an animal gets sick, we don't give them chemicals or drugs because we don't want to eat food full of that stuff! 
Even our baked goods are made is made out of the best ingredients.  A lot of times I think people buy our foods because they taste good (unprocessed foods always taste better).  They don't realize, with my bread for example, that it's made with freshly ground organic wheat berries.  And maybe they don't realize that I use the best organic extra virgin olive oil, raw honey, and natural salt.  When I make my Orange Cinnamon Raisin bread, I use ground orange peel from the peels of organic oranges that I bought last winter, dried in front of the fireplace, and ground into powder. 
It's OK if people buy our products just because they taste good. :)  At least I can sell my products with a clear conscience, knowing that they are the BEST!  But it is for those of you who are looking for products like ours that I write this post! :)

Farmwife's Journal - August 10th

As usual it has been busy around the farm.  We have been picking cucumbers and making pickles about every other day.  Today we canned some dill relish, a family favorite.

We picked garlic about two weeks ago.  That will now be available at our Farmer's Market.  I have also been making some garlic braids to sell.


garlic drying

 

garlic braid




some garlic drying in the market building

 The guys have been remodeling the barn.  They made the main pen bigger and put a loft above all the animal stalls for more hay storage.  It feels much more roomy in there and looks neater too.  I am sure the animals are happier. ;)



workin' away




handsome and handy just like his daddy! :)

 Once the guys got the loft done, they spent a couple days getting loads of hay and stacking them in the barn.



almost finished

 We picked our first tomatoes yesterday...cherry tomatoes.  They lasted about 2 minuets.  We lost half of our larger variety of tomatoes to drowning and the rest are not looking so hot either.  It's been too soggy and the leaves are getting spotty. :(  It has been a tough year for gardening...lots of storms with strong winds and tons of rain, plus a spell of extremely hot weather.  But has finally cooled off a bit.  We even enjoyed a campfire last night.


coffee and cookies by the campfire



Internet again!

It's Friday night, I am tired from a long hot day outside serving customers and doing tours, but we have INTERNET, so I had to do a quick post!  Last Monday morning we had a bad storm go through and we lost our internet service for the week!  We have all been going through withdrawl! :(   It's kinda sad how much we depend on it.  But the farm keeps up plenty busy, so I tried to enjoy the break from it and resisted the temptation to go to the coffee shop and write a post. :)

More tomorrow......