Tasty and Healthy - March 22, 2012

Happy second day of Spring, everyone! 

Joann and Rolo have been harvesting, weeding, and planting! 
In addition to the items listed below, the pesticide-free spinach is trickling in (at this time, you might want to phone to reserve it). We also have a very small field of Flat Leaf Kale. Reservations are suggested for this pesticide-free crop as well. Usually we plant only the curly leaf. We have found that the Flat Leaf wilts a little more quickly. When you get it home, please plot it in cold water. It will come back as vigorously as our other greens.

We're sorry to say that all the Cauliflower plants were lost during the first hard freeze of the Fall. We'll try again another year, and hope for the best. Thanks for understanding.

The Red Rhubarb Swiss Chard have proven very popular. Slightly milder than the "White" Chard, this will prove to be a short-term crop with the way the warm temperatures are going, so you may wish to try some soon. Because these big "bouquets" of chard are reasonably priced, and pesticide-free, we suggest freezing them for use in casseroles, soups, stews and side dishes for summer months.

To freeze greens, please check out the "pick your own" website by clicking here for a brief tutorial. Do you enjoy video "how-to's"? Then please click here for a great three and a half minute home movie. Here is one more person's take on freezing Chard. These tips are great for any of the greens we sell on the farm.


For more information about freezing vegetables, please see our page here. Joann also offers Bargain Boxes - these are flats of vegetables ready for someone to dice, chop, or slice and place in baggies for the freezer. For more information about these flats please phone the farm.

Did you know you brighten our days by visiting one of our locations every week? It's so good seeing familiar faces, sharing recipes, and hearing about your lives. Please feel free to phone the farm for special requests or special orders. We'll do everything we can to accommodate you. If you need something from the Farmers Market in Plant City, it is best to phone by Wednesday afternoon.

We're still busy harvesting pesticide-free CRUCIFEROUS vegetables! To read all about Cruciferous Veggies and see our farm photos, just click here.



Please phone if you would like us to bring greens to the satellite locations. It's our way of ensuring the freshest, best quality produce available.

Did you know the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services regularly makes "surprise" visits to our farm to test our soil and plants? We always pass with flying colors and tests reveal no trace pesticides. For more information about our farming techniques, and the testing we undergo, please click here.

Gran'ma Angie is still in need of bags! Thanks for "recycling" your plastic bags with us! It helps us keep prices down.


From the Farmers Market:

Florida tomatoes
Eggplant
Cucumbers
Red and Green Bell Peppers
Green Jalapenos (be sure to remove the seeds!)
Sweet Cubanella Peppers
Poblano Peppers
Radishes
Carrots
Sweet Potatoes
Baking Potatoes
Red Skin Potatoes
Red and White onions
Celery
Romaine (sweet and super fresh!)
Yellow Squash
Zucchini
Lemons, Limes
Nice Honey Tangerines
Wonderful Fresh Herbs in 4" pots


Beasley's Pesticide Free Spinach
Beasley's Pesticide Free Flat Leaf Kale
Beasley's Pesticide Free Savoy Cabbage
Beasley's Pesticide Free Beets
Beasley's Pesticide Free Swiss Chard
Beasley's Pesticide Free Collards

Where we will be this week:

Monday - we will be at the Cloverleaf location. If you would like any of the pesticide-free greens, please phone to reserve them, so that we know to bring them with us.

Friday - Rolo will be at the Spring Hill location. If you would like any of the pesticide-free greens, please phone to reserve them, so that we know to bring them with him.

Saturday - Rolo and Joann will be at the Hernando County Farmers Market on Hwy 19 with nearly 80 other vendors! Come browse, shop, and visit with your neighbors - it's an all 'round enjoyable time. You'll also be supporting local businesses by visiting their booths. If you would like any of the pesticide-free greens, please phone to reserve them, so that we know to bring them with us.

Saturday and everyday - Gran'ma Angie, Nana Phyllis, Joann and Rolo will be at the Produce Barn until 6PM. Fresh Cut Pesticide-free Greens will be eagerly awaiting you in their little wading pool.


Sunday - Rolo will be at the Towne Square Market Place in Spring Hill near Chili's on Hwy 19 from 8AM-3PM.  If you would like any of the pesticide-free greens, please phone to reserve them, so that we know to bring them with him.

For our Calendar of Locations, and special times and dates for March, please click here, or click on the Calendar Tab at the top of this page.

It's the perfect time to be making soups and stews which contain Greens. Collards, Swiss Chard, Cabbage -- chop them at the very last minute. Allow their magical phytochemicals to activate by letting set for a few moments, place them in your pot for 3-5 minutes, and serve. Freeze your leftovers. We freeze ours in single serving containers, as well as double-portion containers. Perfect for quick lunches or dinners. Freezing soups and stews stretches your Food Dollar, maximizes your time spent in the kitchen, and frees you up for other things. AND they are healthy. It's important not to overcook vegetables, or they lose important nutrients, vitamins and minerals. Some of our favorite "freezeables" are shown below.

Freezer Ideas:

Chicken Collard Soup

Quotes for this week:

“It was only a sunny smile, and little it cost in the giving, 

but like morning light it scattered the night 

and made the day worth living.” 

~ F. Scott Fitzgerald

“No matter what you might be going through, 

the ending will be greater than it's beginning. 

As long as you still breathe, you have a purpose to fulfill

and usually the one who gets in the way  

of that fulfillment is your own self. 

So let go of your fears 

Get up, and get out of your own way.”

~ Unknown 

As always, thank you for your encouragement and support. Without you, we wouldn't be able to do what we love most - FARM!


Looking forward to seeing you soon,