Tasty and Healthy - April 26, 2012

Thanks for stopping by to read this week's newsletter!  


We have new crops being harvested every week, some great recipes to share, and our Big Spring U-Pick Green Beans begins tomorrow!

Joann and Rolo take pleasure in working the fields together, as the time passes more enjoyably.  When Rolo is manning one of the satellite locations, Joann is busy in the fields. Their work is never done, and many a day ends long, LONG after the sun goes down.

A very warm Spring has ended our winter harvests BUT we have a new field of Collards available for a short time while temperatures are cooler. We're currently harvesting pesticide-free eight-ball zucchini and yellow summer squash. The Yellow Butta Zucchini and Scallop Squash will soon be ready, too. We're also open for the Big Spring Green Bean U-Pick. 


The eight-ball squash is one of our coveted specialties, and we hope you enjoy it while it is in season. (recipes below)

Please phone if you are interested in canning beets. These are our pesticide-free, small-to-medium size beets without the green tops - available for a short time.

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.

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services visits to our farm to test our soil and plants. For more information about our farming techniques, and the testing we undergo, please click here.

Gran'ma Angie thanks you for the bags! She hopes you will keep on bringing 'em. Thanks for "recycling" your plastic bags with us! It helps us keep prices down.

From the Farmers Market:

Florida tomatoes
Eggplant
Cucumbers
***Yellow*** Bell Peppers
Red and Green Bell Peppers
Red and Green Jalapenos (be sure to remove the seeds!)
Sweet Cubanella Peppers
Radishes
Carrots
Sweet Potatoes
Baking Potatoes
Florida Red Skin Potatoes
Florida "new whites" potatoes
***bicolor corn***
White onions
Celery
Romaine
Lemons
Limes
Valencia Oranges
Bananas
Cantaloupe
Watermelon
Wonderful Fresh Herbs in 4" pots


From the Farm:


Beasley's Pesticide Free Beets (no tops-perfect for canning)
Beasley's Pesticide Free Swiss Chard
Beasley's Pesticide Free Eight Ball Zucchini (recipes below)
Beasley's Pesticide Free Zucchini (recipes below)
Beasley's Pesticide Free Yellow Squash (recipe below)
New Field Beasley's Pesticide Free Collards
Beasley's Pesticide Free Green Beans

Pesticide-Free Green Beans are ready for U-PICK!

Beginning tomorrow morning after 10AM our Pesticide-free Green Bean Fields (green beans only) will be open for U-Pick! Perfect for canning or freezing, and delicious fresh! Check out our green bean recipes here.

If you'd like to pick, we recommend arriving after 10AM tomorrow to make sure you don't miss out. Our suggestion is to wear old shoes because the fields are wet in the mornings.

Green Bean Fields are open at 10AM each morning.

While bushel baskets are available during picking, we suggest bringing a clothes basket lined with a towel or sheet, or perhaps even a sheet with a string to tie the top for transporting home... whatever containers you may have at home in order to transport them conveniently.

$12 for the half bushel.

$18 for the whole bushel.

These beans are pesticide free!

After picking the beans, you're entitled to a little rest and relaxation:

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.  

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

NOTE: new hours for Monday's location - until Noon only.

NOTE: special location May 3 - Thursday night only.

The Weeki Wachee High School Environmental Awareness Dinner. (Click here for details and map, or phone Kara Pirolo at 352-797-7029 x 239). The Resources Class is hosting a pasta and salad dinner, with educational information available about our local resources and their impact on the environment.

This week's recipe suggestions:

(there are more squash recipes found in the right column under the word "labels")

Yellow Squash Soup

Fried Eight-ball Zucchini Saucers

Eight-ball Zucchini Lasagna

Stuffed Eight-ball Zucchini

Quotes for this week:

We can look around us, attentively. We can feel blessed,

even when it's a negative situation. Every situation is

capable of inspiring a positive step forward. 

~ Unknown

Each of us represents a star in heaven. Sometimes we shine with the rest. Sometimes we twinkle alone. And sometimes when we least expect it, we make someone's dreams come true.
- Author 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,