Sorry I'm Late

(I have had computer problems all week and finally got back on track.  Sorry I was not able to post earlier in the week)

Got word from Andy that things are pretty dry out on the farm but with the irrigation system that they have in place, they are getting by okay.  He is loving the temperatures and says that it is enjoyable to work outside.  And let me tell you that he and the kids spend lots of time outside.  Lizzie is taking it easy a bit more these days.  She is 'in the family way' and is due mid November.  I am so excited about this.  Another one of those cute Hershberger kids to make over.  Speaking of their children...Anna is looking forward to going to school next year.  She works hard learning school things from her parents.  Dennis is all boy from what I can tell.  He has finally warmed up to me and smiles at me when I visit.  Moses is walking!  That is so hard for me to believe.  It seems like just yesterday Lizzie was handing him to me for the first time.  And he has the lightest blonde hair.

As far a the farm and plantings go..turnips and radishes were just planted and we should be seeing those in our boxes later in the fall.

Things must really be busy on the farm because the newsletter from the CSA was short this week.  And Lizzie must be canning because she didn't have time to find a recipe.  So I shared one that I discovered this week...Corn In The Oven or Baked Corn so call it.  It was really good...I was concerned when I put those delicious ears of corn in the oven.  I was surprised at the taste.  We will be making it again real soon.

There are some new faces on the farm...

These little kittens will grow up to be the barn cats that help keep the rodent population in check.  They are really cute and awfully shy right now.  The kids will climb under and over anything to get to them.  I hope they survive all that 'special love and care'...they just love them to death.

Good Weather = Good Food

The weather on the farm is delightful...cooler and that means that it is nice to work outside.  But it still a little bit on the dry side.  We had a little rain this morning and it looks like it could rain again.  But the ground is so dry that it has already soaked all the moisture up.  

There are lots of good veggies coming our way...sweet corn, cantaloupes, tomatoes, and green beans.

I love it on Tuesdays when my porch looks like this!

Can't any that beets are my favorites but I am willing to give them a try.  Lizzie has a stir fry recipe for us this week.  See it below.

Pecan nut pie...it is my all time favorite pie.  So much so this will make the third one in as many weeks.  Got me a major pecan pie sweet tooth.  Just had a piece for breakfast as a matter of fact.

I'm telling you now that if you haven't tried some of the baked goods...you are missing out!

Growing all this good food is a process and learning about organic farming is a process also.  It is not easy by any means.   In the last post I wrote about cover crops and composting.  Now I am learning about soil amendments that Andy uses on the farm.  Andy has to make sure that the calcium level is just right in the soil for the plants.  To maintain adequate calcium levels they put on High Calcium Lime and or Gypsum.  High Calcium Lime usually is only used once every three or four years.Gypsum is mixed in every year.  Andy also uses an organic fertilizer, Re-Vita Pro that is made of composted poultry manure and has some kelp added in. It contains three very important minerals...nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium...with some other trace elements mixed in.Believe it or not they also use products from the ocean like fish, kelp and seaweed products.  the products are loaded with minerals and re very helpful in growing nutrient dense food.  Which means healthier food for us to put into our bodies.  Also this year Andy has started using a few new farming tools...refractometer, and a PH meter to check the plants to see what minerals they are still needing.  They have made progress with the heirloom tomatoes that we are finding in our boxes.

And Andy wants to let you all know that there are some Fall Shares still available.

Highland Haven Farm

A few weeks ago I got a memo from Andy and the pasture range chickens that I just found.  So now I am sharing it with you.  Instead of the orders gong to Andy at Cedarmore Farm, the orders will go to Highland Haven Farm, which is owned by Lizzie's brother, Adam.  Highland Haven will also be in charge of the billing..  If you are interested in ordering please go the the Highland Haven website at www.highlandhavenfarm.com, download and print their meat order form.  To get to the form go to the top left of the page and click on 'meats'.  Then fill out the form and mail it to

Adam Hershberger

Highland Haven Farm

12221 Turley Lane

Hillsboro, OH 451333. 

You will also need to get set up with their online ordering system.  To do this please email Andrea at tomkoa@aol.com or call her at 513-417-8777.  She will be more than happy to get you set up to order from Highland Haven Farm.  If you have any questions, please contact Andrea, as she knows how their system works much better than any of us.

There little peepers are actually Andy and Lizzie's broilers...meaning that these chicks won't be getting any names...if you get my drift!

Some Good Okra This Week

The report from the farm is that tall the onions have been harvested for this year.  They have all been put in mesh bags and hung in the shed to dry.  theses should keep until the end of the season.  We should be able to find them in our boxes for awhile.  I guess this must be a pretty big job because Andy says that he is glad that one job is over because it is the most challenging one.

There are extra canning tomatoes available as an extra product if you need some to can.  Email the farm at cedarmorefarm@tdisp.com and Rue will make sure that Andy gets your order.  They will be delivered with your next box.  These are perfectly good tomatoes...they just don't look as good as the ones we get in our  boxes.  They may have a few nicks in them or an insect bite here or there.  They are .50 per pound.

Andy keeps educating us on the ways of Amish organic farming. The animals on the farm all have jobs.  Most of the year the cows and horses are out in the grass in the field. During the winter months Andy and Lizzie bring them into the barn and bed them down n the straw.  Before they put down a new layer of bedding they will usually sprinkle some corn in.  In the summer months when the cows and horses are out in the pasture the pigs them get some time in the barn.  The pigs will then root thru the straw looking for the corn.  The nice bedding had since been composted into rich compost.  This compost is then spread on the land that is in cover corps or in the fall after all the produce is gone.  This makes great fertilizer for the produce for the next year.

Recipe Of The Week: Sliced Fried Okra

Sliced Fried Okra

1 pound of okra, cut into 1/2 inch slices
1/2 cup of cornmeal
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 teaspoon of pepper
1/2 cup of vegetable oil

Cook okra in 1 cup of water and 1/2 teaspoon of salt for about 10 minutes.  Mix cornmeal, salt, and pepper.  Toss okra in cornmeal mixture until okra is completely covered.  Heat oil and cook and stir okra in oil until brown.

PS Lizzie uses butter instead of vegetable oil.

I fixed mine just a little different from Lizzie's recipe.  I sliced them into 1.2 slices then dipped them in egg.  I dug thru the cabinet and found some seasoned bread crumbs I use on fish.  Fried them up in an iron skillet with a little butter...yum!