Changing Pricing Strategies at the Farmers Market

It’s hard not to notice the rising cost of produce and everything else on the grocery store shelves.  While farmers market vendors could, at one time, rely on grocery store pricing to help gauge fair values for their own produce, in many places this is no longer the case.
Farmers Market produce vendors in particular run [...]

CSA Newsletter: Volume 4, Issue 11

Flying Tomato Farms News
A newsletter for members of Flying Tomato Farms C.S.A.
Vol. 4, Issue 11
GARDEN NEWS:

Gadzukes! Cukes! While last week was close but no cigar, this week brings abundance on the cucumber front—and the second planting hasn’t even started bearing yet! I am picking 7 or 8 fruits every day now off [...]

Marinated Bean and Roasted Potato Salad

Disclaimer: I do not share recipes very often because my cooking is fairly random ingredient-wise. I look at what I have in my fridge and cupboard and pantry and on the counter, and I make something. Therefore, all measurements are approximate and all ingredients are substitutable.
Cut approximately 1/2lb fingerling or new potatoes into [...]

Today at the Farmers Market

I am going to have quite a mixed bag.  Sugar snap peas (last week!  I’m cutting down the vines!), a little baggie of broccoli side-shoots, a bag of Marvel of Venice pole beans, cucumbers of a couple types, some nice bunches of Italian flatleaf parsley, a couple small summer squashes.  Oh, and lots of sweet [...]

CSA Newsletter: Volume 4, Issue 10

Flying Tomato Farms News
A newsletter for members of Flying Tomato Farms C.S.A.
Vol. 4, Issue 10
GARDEN NEWS:
Close, but no…cucumbers. I was a couple short of a full load for deliveries this week, but it looks like they will be a sure thing for next week, barring unforeseen disaster. I will have to bring the [...]

Throwing Berry out with the Bath Water: The Progressive Backlash against Wendell Berry

In the recent American Conservative interview with Michael Pollan, a conversation about the left and the right, and how the food culture is seen on both sides, inspired mention of a name familiar with many readers of this blog: Wendell Berry.
DREHER: What about human society as an organism? Many people think of Wendell Berry as [...]

Summer: Time to Stock up on Vinegar!

One of the most useful condiments to have in the summer pantry is a wide selection of assorted vinegars.
At the very, very least, a person ought to have a gallon or two of the plain old 5% acidity distilled white vinegar for household cleaning chores and quick pickling projects, plus a good-sized bottle of real [...]

Ginger-Peach Preserves and Pepper Season Begins!

A friend made a weekend trip down to Texas last weekend, and brought back a few fresh tomatoes and a load of fresh-picked peaches. She shared a bag of them with me, and after eating just one of them, I figured I’d better can something before the rest went to waste (it was too [...]

Today at the Farmers Market,

the question on everyone’s lips will be, “how soon ’til tomatoes?”
Soon–soon.  A week?  Two?  Gulp–three?  It can’t be that long can it?  Well, we’re all just as excited for them as you are.
I am going to have the last of the romaine lettuce from my garden for awhile (all three varieties), sugar snap peas (going, [...]

The Miracle of Broasting–Toby’s in Meckling, South Dakota

For those of you as yet uninitiated to the joys of broasting–let me explain.  Broasting is the fine art of deep fat pressure cooking.
Having worked in the kitchen with one of these contraptions, let me tell you it is a little bit scary.  You have a pressure cooker at home, yes?  Try using one filled [...]