Crooked Carrot Update 11/17/07

Can you believe that Thanksgiving is less than a week away? We have much to be thankful for here. Did you know that the winter after the first Thanksgiving, the pilgrims were reduced to a daily ration of five kernels of corn a piece. What a dream the pilgrims had and what a sacrifice they made for our freedom. Don't forget to be thankful this season!
This incredible Scratchboard Illustration is by Michael Halbert.

We are thankful that God allows us to continue to farm and that you all come out and enjoy our bounty.

Currently In The Farmstand:

1. Tomatoes (new this week)


2. Carrots


3. Bell peppers


4. Salad Mix


5. Squash


6. Fresh basil


7. Jalapeno peppers


8. Garlic


9. Turnips with greens


10. Lavender Packs


11. Handmade soaps (all soaps are in stock)
    · lavender mint
    · oatmeal chamomile
    · rosemary mint
    · orange scrub
    · grapefruit
    · unscented carrot

In the Shade House (plants):

1. Thyme (new this week)


2. Mini windowbox basil


3. Cilantro


4. Lemon Balm


5. Oregano


6. Parsley


7. Sage


8. Epazote


9. Chives

In the Field:

1. Broccoli


2. Cabbage


3. Beets


4. Fennel


5. Kohlrabi

In the Kitchen:

Our cherry tomatoes make a great addition to your Thanksgiving meal. Try slicing them in a salad, slicing and tossing them with green beans or how about just plain on a vegetable platter.

We will do our best to stock them every morning between now and Thanksgiving.

Farm Stand Info:

The farmstand is self-serve and open dawn to dusk. We make an effort to stock the stand most every morning so that you will have the freshest veggies and herbs. We round all our prices down to the nearest quarter to make things easier for you (and us) as we do not make change. Checks are accepted.

Thank you for visiting our farmstand.
Have a great week!
The Furlongs

http://www.crookedcarrot.com/

Crooked Carrot Update 11/10/07

We are a day late getting this out but the harvest is all done and the farm stand is stocked.

We have had a great response to our lavender packs - thank you! We have some great unbleached muslin packs coming up. They make fun stocking stuffers!

The carrots are finally here and in celebration we have a carrot recipe today (for those of you who don't juice all your carrots!) Here’s what is available in the farmstand and shade house. As the weeks go by the list will grow. See below for what is expected and when.

Currently In The Farmstand:
1. Carrots (new this week)
2. Bell peppers (new this week)
3. Salad Mix
4. Squash
5. Fresh basil
6. Jalapeno peppers
7. Garlic
8. Turnips with greens
9. Handmade soaps
· lavender mint
· oatmeal chamomile
· rosemary mint
· orange scrub
· grapefruit
· unscented carrot
10. Lavender Packs

In the Shade House (plants):
1. Mini windowbox basil
2. Cilantro
3. Lemon Balm
4. Oregano
5. Parsley
6. Sage
7. Epazote
8. Chives

In the Field:
1. Tomatoes
2. Broccoli
3. Cabbage
4. Beets
5. Fennel
6. Kohlrabi

In the Kitchen:

Carrot Slaw

6 med carrots
3/4 cup celery, diced
1/4 cup onion, diced
1/3 cup raisins
1/2 cup apple, unpeeled and diced
1/2 cup mayonnaise
salt and pepper to taste

Grate the carrots. Toss with the celery, onion, raisins, and
apple. Mix in the mayonnaise, season well with sale and pepper, and chill
before serving.


Maple Lemon Carrots
1/2 cup water
5 med carrots, sliced
1/4 tsp lemon juice
2 T maple syrup
2 T fresh rosemary, chopped
salt and pepper to taste

Bring water to boil in a medium saucepan. Add the carrots and simmer until carrots are almost cooked tender. Stir in the remaining ingredients and simmer on low for about 5 more minutes.


Farm Stand Info:
The farmstand is self-serve and open dawn to dusk. We make an effort to stock the stand most every morning so that you will have the freshest veggies and herbs. We round all our prices down to the nearest quarter to make things easier for you (and us) as we do not make change. Checks are accepted.

Thank you for visiting our farmstand.
Have a great week!
The Furlongs
www.crookedcarrot.com

Crooked Carrot Farm – November 1, 2007

Fresh cut sunflowers are still available (sold by the stem) – these flowers are hardy and make a great autumn addition to your home. We have them priced at $1.00/stem.

Check out our Lavender Cool Paks. Our cool packs are hand made with a cotton cover and filled with buckwheat, organic lavender buds and organic chamomile. Keep them in the freezer so there are ready to go whenever you have a headache, tired eyes, a need for relaxation or an area that just needs a little special attention. Great for kids and adults.Paks are $3.00 each or 2 for $5.00.

Currently In the Farmstand:
1. Green Onions (new this week)

2. Braising Greens (new this week)

3. Sunflowers

4. Salad Mix

5. Squash
6. Fresh basil
7. Jalapeno peppers
8. Garlic
9. Turnips with greens
10. Handmade soaps
· lavender mint
· oatmeal chamomile
· rosemary mint
· orange scrub
· grapefruit
· unscented carrot

In The Shade House (plants):
1. Chives (new this week)

2. Mini windowbox basil
3. Cilantro
4. Lemon Balm
5. Oregano
6. Parsley
7. Sage
8. Epazote

In The Field:
1. Tomatoes
2. Broccoli
3. Cabbage
4. Bell peppers
5. Green onions
6. Beets
7. Carrots
8. Fennel

9. Kohlrabi

In the Kitchen:
Greens are a great source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber - they liven up dishes, add texture and flavor to help round out the meal and make it nutritionally complete. Braising greens are great alone or in soups, stews, and wilted winter salads.

Our mix is a beautiful blend of baby cooking greens, whose bite-sized baby leaves don't require cutting and create an impressive presentation. The mix includes Mizuna, Red Russian Kale, Komatsuna, Red Giant Mustard, and Tatsoi.

To prepare our 12 ounce bag of braising greens: Heat 1-2 T olive oil in a skillet or wok until hot but not smoking. Add greens & 4 cloves minced garlic; stir-fry for 1 minute. Add ½ cup vegetable broth and bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes, reducing liquid by half; add more both if needed. Leaves should be soft but not wilted. These are great alone or for a change, try adding some crisp bread crumbs and/or diced tomatoes sprinkled on top of the greens to add a contrast of texture.

Farmstand Info:

The farmstand is self-serve and open dawn to dusk. We make an effort to stock the stand most every morning so that you will have the freshest veggies and herbs. We round all our prices down to the nearest quarter to make things easier for you (and us) as we do not make change. Checks are accepted.

Thank you for visiting our farmstand.

Have a great week!

The Furlongs

www.crookedcarrot.com

Crooked Carrot Update - October 26, 2007

The farmstand is open!

Don’t miss the great fall addition to your table – fresh cut sunflowers are ready to buy (sold by the stem).

We are glad you are all enjoying the soap! We will do out best to keep you with the soap demand – if your favorite is gone it will be back as quick as we can make, cure and wrap it. We can take special orders for Christmas if you would like to be sure to have your favorites scent to give as gifts.




Here’s what is available in the farmstand and shade house. As the weeks go by the list will grow. See below for what is expected and when.

Currently In the Farmstand:

1. Sunflowers
2. Salad Mix
3. Squash
4. Fresh basil
5. Jalapeno peppers
6. Garlic
7. Turnips with greens
8. Handmade soaps

• lavender mint
• oatmeal chamomile
• rosemary mint
• orange scrub
• grapefruit
• unscented carrot

In the Shade House (plants):

1. Mini windowbox basil
2. Cilantro
3. Lemon Balm
4. Oregano
5. Parsley
6. Sage
7. Epazote

In the weeks to come:

1. Tomatoes
2. Broccoli
3. Cabbage
4. Bell peppers
5. Green onions
6. Beets
7. Carrots
8. Braising greens
9. Chives (plants)


In the Kitchen:

Now is the time to make ahead and freeze your pesto – the fresh garden taste can take your through winter until the basil starts to grow again. Basil doesn’t like it when it freezes!

Basil Pesto
1 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves
5 cloves garlic (peeled)
1/4 cup nuts (we use pine nuts, walnuts or a combination)
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice


Put the basil. garlic, nuts and parmesan cheese in a blender. Turn the blender on low and drizzle the lemon juice while blending. If it seems a little too thick you can add some olive oil.


Roasted Turnips
1 1/2 pounds turnips, peeled and quartered
Salt and freshly ground pepper
Canola or olive oil
3 small bay leaves
2 rosemary sprigs or 6 thyme sprigs


Preheat oven to 375◦F. Lightly oil a shallow roasting pan or baking dish. Boil the turnips in salted water for 3 minutes and drain well.

Toss with enough oil to coat them lightly. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place the turnips and fresh herb sprigs in baking dish and bake, uncovered, until tender when pierced and slightly browned (about 25 – 30 minutes).

This recipe works well with other root vegetables – you can mix and match turnips, carrots, potatoes, onions, garlic, etc. Don't throw away the greens! You can quickly sauté them with a little olive oil and garlic for a tasty side dish (you may want to cut them into smaller pieces before sautéing).


Farmstand Info:

The farmstand is self-serve and open dawn to dusk. We make an effort to stock the stand most every morning so that you will have the freshest veggies and herbs. We round all our prices down to the nearest quarter to make things easier for you (and us) as we do not make change. Checks are accepted.


Have a great week!

The Furlongs
www.crookedcarrot.com

Crooked Carrot Update - October 19, 2007

The farmstand is open! Thanks to everyone who came by this past week! Your purchases of produce and soap have been so encouraging. We are excited as the weather cools to have so much more to offer.

Here’s what is available in the farmstand and shade house. As the weeks go by the list will grow. See below for what is expected and when.

In the Farmstand:
1. Salad Mix
2. Mini Summer Squash
3. Cucumbers
4. Fresh basil
5. Jalapeno peppers
6. Garlic
7. Turnips with Greens
8. Handmade soaps

• lavender mint
• oatmeal chamomile
• rosemary mint
• orange scrub
• unscented carrot
• grapefruit
  

In the Shade House (plants):
1. Mini windowbox basil
2. Purple basil
3. Cilantro
4. Epazote
5. Sage
6. Parsley

In the weeks to come:
1. Tomatoes
2. Bell peppers
3. Green onions
4. Beets
5. Sunflowers
6. Carrots
7. Braising greens
8. Chives (plants)

Here is one our family favorite dressings for those fresh salad greens that are now available!

Garlic Vinaigrette

1 cup olive oil (or mixture of olive and canola)
2 tsp pepper
2 tsp salt
1 lemon, juiced
2 T Worcestershire sauce
15–20 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup balsamic vinegar

· Combine all ingredients
· Refrigerate

The Farmstand:
The farmstand is self-serve and open dawn to dusk. We make an effort to stock the stand most every morning so that you will have the freshest veggies and herbs. We round all our prices down to the nearest quarter dollar to make things easier for you (and us) as we do not make change. Checks are accepted.

Have a great week!

The Furlongs

www.crookedcarrot.com

Crooked Carrot Update - October 10, 2007

The farmstand is finally opening!
We will open by noon on Thursday, October 11, 2007.

Thanks to everyone for your patience. The farmstand is self-serve and open dawn to dusk. We make an effort to stock the stand most every morning so that you will have the freshest veggies and herbs. We round all our prices down to the nearest quarter to make things easier for you (and us) as we do not make change. Checks are accepted (made payable to Crooked Carrot Farm).

Following is a list of what is available in the farmstand and shade house.
As the weeks go by the list will grow. See below for what is expected and when.
Currently In The Farmstand:
1. Cucumbers
2. Fresh basil
3. Jalapeno peppers
4. Garlic
5. Handmade soaps
~lavender mint
~oatmeal chamomile
~rosemary mint
~orange scrub
~unscented carrot
~grapefruit

Currently In The Shade House (plants):
1. Mini windowbox basil
2. Purple basil
3. Cilantro

In The Weeks To Come:
1. Salad mix
2. Tomatoes
3. Bell peppers
4. Green onions
5. Turnips
6. Beets
7. Sunflowers
8. Carrots
9. Braising greens
10. Chives (plants)
11. Parsley (plants)
12. Sage (plants)

Strawberries
We are trying a new variety of strawberries this year so stay tuned for updates.

Our Handmade Soap
People love our soap. We make it in small batches with olive oil, coconut oil, palm kernel oil, cocoa butter, sweet almond oil, essential oils, and Crooked Carrot Farm botanicals when available.

We look forward to meeting many of you at the farm stand.
Our updates should be coming out weekly now through the end of the growing season to let you know what is currently available, recipes to try and fun things about the farm.

Have a great week!

The Furlongs
www.crookedcarrot.com

Summer Update

Summer’s end can be seen and things are starting to pick up on the farm. The little bit of rain we’ve had recently has sprouted lots of weeds and we’ve been diligently pulling them.

The tomato seedlings are in the ground. The broccoli, cauliflower, beet, green onion, cabbage, turnip, and other seeds are in flats in the shade house. We’re working compost and manure into the soil and planting cover crops to build soil fertility. The tomato house is being lengthened to make room for more tomato plants to satisfy our tomato loving customers. We are trying a few new varieties of tomatoes this fall, cherry and grape tomatoes, and romas.
Fall can be a difficult tomato season - say a prayer, we are!

Here's Clark with our kids.....weeding and seeding.

Some things just like it hot........


We hope to have the farmstand open by mid to late September. We will have six great handmade soaps to choose from this fall (they are all made and just curing so they will be ready for opening day). And now is the time to let us know if you have a favorite veggie that you want us to grow, shoot us an e-mail and we will give it a try.


Soon we’ll be pouring the slab for our new strawbale home on the farm. It may be a bit ambitious, but we hope to spend Christmas in our new home on the farm. We’ll keep you posted.

This is the site for our new house.

Thank you to everyone who has signed up for our farm blog/update. The postings will be a little more regular now and back to once a week when the farmstand opens. We appreciate all of you that have stayed in touch and look forward to bringing you (and our family as well) fresh, great tasting produce again very soon.