Wednesday, June 2, 2010
We're back!
Okay, so I took a break from local eating. We are blessed with another baby coming and the first couple of months of the new year were spent barely being able to clean out the chicken coop. Driving almost an hour to market was not happening. BUT, in the mean time, we have increased our operation and have started selling at the Zachary Farmers Market. I have been improving our packing and processing capabilities. This week I have put away snap beans, strawberry jam!, and braided up almost 60 heads of garlic. Pretty impressive if you ask me. Jarred almost has the irrigation for the gardens set up, which will be a huge help. So much to update!
Friday, December 18, 2009
Rain.
The rain has messed up my grocery shopping this week. Honestly, I should just be happy that our markets are still open. Freezer/pantry cooking this week. It's a little um um um motivating to see my convenience food (pre-local endeavor) getting used up. Boxed pasta, jarred sauce. I did shop Calandros this week and got some John Folse yogurt and some Camellia beans. I also saw the Sal and Judys tomato sauces, kind of pricy but to keep 'jic' will be good in the future. As for whether the items are local, I plan to email to find out, but at least they are processed, packaged, and close to home shipping wise.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Going to the market
Trying to get on our way to the market on Perkins today. OHHHHHH.....
They have alot of great items but certainly not the variety of the Saturday Market. I am learning that traveling really throws a wrench in local buying. It can only last so long, but I want to have enough variety.
I will notify regarding the loot.
They have alot of great items but certainly not the variety of the Saturday Market. I am learning that traveling really throws a wrench in local buying. It can only last so long, but I want to have enough variety.
I will notify regarding the loot.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Not taking a break: FYI
It's been a few days. I HAD to hurry up and finish Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. It became my goal outside of all of the other obligations I have to tend to like cooking, cleaning, working, and dealing with the two girls. I also have been busy trying to put somethings up for later.
Updates:
Satsuma Marmalade-Check
8 pint bags of lemon juice-Check (Thanks to my client whose citrus tree we put in last year)
ChowChow-NONE: tomatoes were bad b/c we picked them after the frost, boo hoo.
Pork-My wonderful FIL has sent one to Jarred's uncle to be butchered. So great. Our cow will be done next month AFTER deer season (that way it is not mixed by accident).
We did get about 75lbs of venison, BUT I gave it to my guys. It will be there if needed. I plan to feed some of it to Vada and Deuce for dog food. I sort of feel bad about that, but oh well. Dog food is expensive (for two big dogs) and certainly not local.
Cheese making Kit: Is on my counter waiting for milk products.
Difficulty Numero Uno. I have a feeling this will be a common issue. Not as bad as it seemed. We went out of town last weekend so I missed the market in BR AND Zachary. Very upsetting to 'my plan'. I have used most of my fresh root veg left and have one chicken and 2 lbs of shrimp in the freezer with misc. veg. I need milk for drinking/cooking and making cheese. I feel lucky that I have the shrimp man on Plank Road everyday. SO, regardless, we can boil shrimp.
Garden progress:
The rain has been horrible. We havent gotten much done besides cleaning out the frosted tomatoes and beans. I did get some more lettuce, spinach and snow peas planted. I am trying to get the leeks/celery and fennel started out in the seriously snow damaged greenhouse. I need to get more herbs going in there. The cilantro and kale seem to be growing well. The fall planted broccoli is sort of coming to an end, so I need to get those started in the green house for next month. Jarred and I just havent had time to make a plan, so we are just putting things in as it is dry enough. The alium beds (garlic, shallots, onions) are coming along quite well. The carrots are non-existent. I suspect Jarred planted them too deep. I will replant asap. I havent seen any carrots or cauliflower at the farmers market, so maybe my cauliflower isnt too behind. The brussel sprouts and cabbages are putsing along with the artichokes. All of it should be side dressed BUT.....oh the rain.
Chickens:
Lost one Araucauna. No idea way, could be the temperature change, could be that they are dumb and flew into the walls. Negative of having a huge chicken coop. I cant wait to get my spring biddies in. They are laying (at least 2 are). I am getting about 2 eggs a day, should be getting 20. I figure the lack of 14 hr day light is effecting them. I still get eggs from MIL so that is good. That one little buff speckled sussex is getting beat up on. The older black leghorns are not laying, so I am thinking of putting those three out in the yard to eat the catepillars in the garden (yes, we had catepillars onthe cabbage last week). Jarred insists it will mean certain death......uh oh.
Jarred got a price on hog panels, not so expensive. So, we will work on that as soon as weather and work allow.
To Do:
GET TO THE MARKET FOR GROCERIES!
Decide what to make/take for Christmas gifts.
Updates:
Satsuma Marmalade-Check
8 pint bags of lemon juice-Check (Thanks to my client whose citrus tree we put in last year)
ChowChow-NONE: tomatoes were bad b/c we picked them after the frost, boo hoo.
Pork-My wonderful FIL has sent one to Jarred's uncle to be butchered. So great. Our cow will be done next month AFTER deer season (that way it is not mixed by accident).
We did get about 75lbs of venison, BUT I gave it to my guys. It will be there if needed. I plan to feed some of it to Vada and Deuce for dog food. I sort of feel bad about that, but oh well. Dog food is expensive (for two big dogs) and certainly not local.
Cheese making Kit: Is on my counter waiting for milk products.
Difficulty Numero Uno. I have a feeling this will be a common issue. Not as bad as it seemed. We went out of town last weekend so I missed the market in BR AND Zachary. Very upsetting to 'my plan'. I have used most of my fresh root veg left and have one chicken and 2 lbs of shrimp in the freezer with misc. veg. I need milk for drinking/cooking and making cheese. I feel lucky that I have the shrimp man on Plank Road everyday. SO, regardless, we can boil shrimp.
Garden progress:
The rain has been horrible. We havent gotten much done besides cleaning out the frosted tomatoes and beans. I did get some more lettuce, spinach and snow peas planted. I am trying to get the leeks/celery and fennel started out in the seriously snow damaged greenhouse. I need to get more herbs going in there. The cilantro and kale seem to be growing well. The fall planted broccoli is sort of coming to an end, so I need to get those started in the green house for next month. Jarred and I just havent had time to make a plan, so we are just putting things in as it is dry enough. The alium beds (garlic, shallots, onions) are coming along quite well. The carrots are non-existent. I suspect Jarred planted them too deep. I will replant asap. I havent seen any carrots or cauliflower at the farmers market, so maybe my cauliflower isnt too behind. The brussel sprouts and cabbages are putsing along with the artichokes. All of it should be side dressed BUT.....oh the rain.
Chickens:
Lost one Araucauna. No idea way, could be the temperature change, could be that they are dumb and flew into the walls. Negative of having a huge chicken coop. I cant wait to get my spring biddies in. They are laying (at least 2 are). I am getting about 2 eggs a day, should be getting 20. I figure the lack of 14 hr day light is effecting them. I still get eggs from MIL so that is good. That one little buff speckled sussex is getting beat up on. The older black leghorns are not laying, so I am thinking of putting those three out in the yard to eat the catepillars in the garden (yes, we had catepillars onthe cabbage last week). Jarred insists it will mean certain death......uh oh.
Jarred got a price on hog panels, not so expensive. So, we will work on that as soon as weather and work allow.
To Do:
GET TO THE MARKET FOR GROCERIES!
Decide what to make/take for Christmas gifts.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Grocery Shopping?
I have to admit that shopping local/fresh can be somewhat hindered by the schedule that must be adhered to....rain/cold/other plans. The farmers market is when it is. Hopefully, I will build some pantry staples and freezer full, so that I wont be so controlled by preset community market dates. For example, it is going to be COLD on Saturday morning with the potential for 'wintery mix'. So, I am going to try and find out when/if there is a market today in BR. I think there is over off of Perkins. Good Luck to me.
Jarred worked out in the onion patch last night. It seems to be doing really well. Hopefully the garden will hold up to the cold coming. The greenhouse was repaired yesterday via 'the army' and so many plants were moved up. I am very thankful for that.
My next project aside from all the canning/preserving to be done asap, I will order some mozzarella kits from the New England Cheesemaking Supply Company, so I can try to make our own cheese. How fun!
Jarred worked out in the onion patch last night. It seems to be doing really well. Hopefully the garden will hold up to the cold coming. The greenhouse was repaired yesterday via 'the army' and so many plants were moved up. I am very thankful for that.
My next project aside from all the canning/preserving to be done asap, I will order some mozzarella kits from the New England Cheesemaking Supply Company, so I can try to make our own cheese. How fun!
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Livin' La Vida Local
Just another day, trying to figure out what we will eat with what I have on my counter. I froze up the rest of the green beans, so they are in what I will call 'access purgatory'. Available, but I am trying to save for that desperate moment. Why use them when I have so much other great stuff on the counter, literaly dying to be used?
Breakfast menu:
My farm eggs fried up in the center of a locally baked (at LeBlancs, pardon, locally baked is as good as I have gotten so far) french loaf. Butter was Walmart. I am working through that stash and have local Smith Creamery in waiting.
Lunch:
Definitely left over yellow tomato/green onion tops salad and probably thawed cream of pot/spin/green bean soup.
Dinner:
Some sort of sofrito based (using farm grown tomatoes/pepers) sauce and left over 'rooster' from the soup stock. We will eat them with left over store bought corn tortillas (how can I get local tortillas?)
Preservation in progress:
Spicy green beans-2 qrts done
ChowChow-ingredients just waiting on me
Satsuma Marmalade-idea/recipe found, in process of collecting ingredients
Breakfast menu:
My farm eggs fried up in the center of a locally baked (at LeBlancs, pardon, locally baked is as good as I have gotten so far) french loaf. Butter was Walmart. I am working through that stash and have local Smith Creamery in waiting.
Lunch:
Definitely left over yellow tomato/green onion tops salad and probably thawed cream of pot/spin/green bean soup.
Dinner:
Some sort of sofrito based (using farm grown tomatoes/pepers) sauce and left over 'rooster' from the soup stock. We will eat them with left over store bought corn tortillas (how can I get local tortillas?)
Preservation in progress:
Spicy green beans-2 qrts done
ChowChow-ingredients just waiting on me
Satsuma Marmalade-idea/recipe found, in process of collecting ingredients
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
What I've learned so far and Questions?
What I've learned:
I have obtained the following from local farmers markets:
-yellow grits (grown and milled in Zachary)
-Dairy (milk/cream cheese/goat yogurt and cheese/butter): from Smith creamery and a place that comes to BR farmers market from Tylertown, MS (not LA, but close)
-Rice from Kinder (grown and milled)
-Pecans from Waterproof
-Satsumas from Houma
-Sweet Potatoes from Opelousas
-Whole Chickens from Lena's Farm in Clinton
-Pickled Quail Eggs (which Lucie loves) from EFP
-Honey from BR
-Sugarcane syrup from White Castle
-Tomatoes, Turnips, Bell Peppers, Potatoes, Greens, Radishes from variety of local farms
-Broccoli, Greens, Peppers, Eggs from my own garden and a chicken from my coop
Probably so many other items. My favs so far outside of basic veg is definitely the goat's milk cheese, pecans, and honey, and butter......and grits, and satsumas...
Bread is still sort of an issue. I am buying all locally baked. I am trying to find locally grown/milled wheat. I'm not so confident, but honestly, with all the grits, rice and potatoes, bread isnt needed so much.
Still looking for local dry beans, pork (to be put into production here), and oatmeal (which I have a lead on).
I have obtained the following from local farmers markets:
-yellow grits (grown and milled in Zachary)
-Dairy (milk/cream cheese/goat yogurt and cheese/butter): from Smith creamery and a place that comes to BR farmers market from Tylertown, MS (not LA, but close)
-Rice from Kinder (grown and milled)
-Pecans from Waterproof
-Satsumas from Houma
-Sweet Potatoes from Opelousas
-Whole Chickens from Lena's Farm in Clinton
-Pickled Quail Eggs (which Lucie loves) from EFP
-Honey from BR
-Sugarcane syrup from White Castle
-Tomatoes, Turnips, Bell Peppers, Potatoes, Greens, Radishes from variety of local farms
-Broccoli, Greens, Peppers, Eggs from my own garden and a chicken from my coop
Probably so many other items. My favs so far outside of basic veg is definitely the goat's milk cheese, pecans, and honey, and butter......and grits, and satsumas...
Bread is still sort of an issue. I am buying all locally baked. I am trying to find locally grown/milled wheat. I'm not so confident, but honestly, with all the grits, rice and potatoes, bread isnt needed so much.
Still looking for local dry beans, pork (to be put into production here), and oatmeal (which I have a lead on).
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