Friday, October 30, 2015

Petersen's Market Menu for October 31, 2015

Squash Images, Photo Credit - Reed Petersen
 Well it finally had to happen...a hard frost. That is a hectic time on the farm. Everyone hustles to pick everything possible. The pile of squash to the right is a credit to the hustle of four high school students for about 4 hours one Friday morning a couple of weeks ago. We picked two pick-up fulls of squash, about 5000 pounds. Some smart student did the math and we figured this was about 500,000 calories. These beauties will be gradually washed and brought to market over the next 4-5 months.

Late October is the time to pick the best carrots and parsnips of the year. Can you guess why? Frost! You need a few hard frosts to bring out the sweetness of those carrots. The children call our carrots "candy carrots" because of this crunchy sweetness. Here is a link to an article on our web site about why carrots are sweeter with frost?

October is the traditional month for planting Garlic in Minnesota. Here is is a link to an article on our website for How to pick seed garlic and plant.

Don't forget the pumpkin pie, here is a link to 15 different recipes  we have developed for pumpkin pie. From classic to low carb, these are great creative ways to work a little pumpkin into your life


Fall greens are so amazing: wild arugula, baby spinach, lettuce, baby beet greens, baby kale, red russian kale, cilantro. All are at the perfect baby baby size. 



Andrea dried some mints and herbs and is making some Vegetable Freak... Freaky Tea. Sweetened with fresh stevia.
  • Andrea's Tropical Tea - Orange Mint, Pinneaple Mint and Stevia
  • Jenna's Sweet Chocolate Tea - Chocolate Mint & Stevia
  • Lisa's Orange Blossom Tea - Orange Mint, Spearmint & Stevia
  • Just Mint - A Blend of Spearmint & Stevia
  • Perky Pinapple, Lemon Majito, Minty Sage, Rosemary Lavendar (lots more).

We will have the following items at the Farmers Market for Saturday, October 31, 2015 (New items are in Bold Print)


Cabbage
Broccoli

Tomatillos

Garlic
Carrots
Leeks
Walla Walla Sweet Onions


Fresh Cut Herbs: Mint, Chocolate Mint, Oregano, Cilantro
Arugula - Wild
Mizuna
Mesabi Arugula
Baby Spinach
Spring Mix
Baby Kale- Regular and Red Russian
Beet Greens
Dandelion Greens
Herb Plants - Rosemary,


Pickles: Spicy Dill, Sweet Sandwich, Okra, Dilly Bean, Corn Relish, Pepper Relish.
Salsa

Chipotle Smoked Peppers

Charcoal (home grown, home made)


If you took the time to read clear to the bottom of Market Menu I'm going to include a thoughtful article from our website archives. This week's "thought for the day" is entitled clover is just like ice cream. It is a story from when Jenna was two.

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Anchor


Anchor is typically a seafaring term used for a device to tether a boat to the bottom of a body of water.

I like to use it to talk about roots. If the root is healthy the plant is healthy. Wisdom from Mr. Miyagi the sage of the "Karate Kid" trilogy.

Have you ever gone out after a good rain to pull weeds because it is easier. The rain loosens the soil and lubricates the roots so they have less "anchoring" ability.

This time of year roots have a slightly different anchoring function...

Monday, October 26, 2015

Friday, October 23, 2015

Petersen's Market Menu for October 24, 2015

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Cr_zhjp2X-s/UVW0GlraTBI/AAAAAAAAAGo/5eMX8V7KhWU/s1600/carrots.jpg
Candy Carrots, Photo Credit-Johnny's Seeds

Late October is the time to pick the best carrots and parsnips of the year. Can you guess why? Frost! You need a few hard frosts to bring out the sweetness of those carrots. The children call our carrots "candy carrots" because of this crunchy sweetness. Here is a link to an article on our web site about why carrots are sweeter with frost?

October is the traditional month for planting Garlic in Minnesota. Here is is a link to an article on our website for How to pick seed garlic and plant.

Don't forget the pumpkin pie, here is a link to 15 different recipes  we have developed for pumpkin pie. From classic to low carb, these are great creative ways to work a little pumpkin into your life


Fall greens are so amazing: wild arugula, baby spinach, lettuce, baby beet greens, baby kale, red russian kale, cilantro. All are at the perfect baby baby size. 



Andrea dried some mints and herbs and is making some Vegetable Freak... Freaky Tea. Sweetened with fresh stevia.
  • Andrea's Tropical Tea - Orange Mint, Pinneaple Mint and Stevia
  • Jenna's Sweet Chocolate Tea - Chocolate Mint & Stevia
  • Lisa's Orange Blossom Tea - Orange Mint, Spearmint & Stevia
  • Just Mint - A Blend of Spearmint & Stevia
  • Perky Pinapple, Lemon Majito, Minty Sage, Rosemary Lavendar (lots more).

We will have the following items at the Farmers Market for Saturday, October 17, 2015 (New items are in Bold Print)


Cabbage
Broccoli

Tomatillos

Garlic
Carrots
Leeks
Walla Walla Sweet Onions


Fresh Cut Herbs: Mint, Chocolate Mint, Oregano, Cilantro
Arugula - Wild
Mizuna
Mesabi Arugula
Baby Spinach
Spring Mix
Baby Kale- Regular and Red Russian
Beet Greens
Dandelion Greens
Herb Plants - Rosemary,


Pickles: Spicy Dill, Sweet Sandwich, Okra, Dilly Bean, Corn Relish, Pepper Relish.
Salsa

Chipotle Smoked Peppers

Charcoal (home grown, home made)


If you took the time to read clear to the bottom of Market Menu I'm going to include a thoughtful article from our website archives. This week's "thought for the day" is entitled clover is just like ice cream. It is a story from when Jenna was two.

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

What Does It Cost to Grow A Row of Organic Garlic

It is hard to get cost numbers for different vegetable growing methodologies. We are planting garlic right now so I thought I would "run the numbers" and see how it would come out.

We use a very intensive planting methodology so this maybe way different than what someone else does. We will call this the Vegetable Freak method. We use an organic granulated fertilizer called Sustaine.

First we till the area to be planted with a walk behind tiller. Then we mark the row to be planted with a 4 inch wide strip of Sustaine fertilizer (8-4-2) right on top of the ground. We use one 50 lb bag per 100 feet of row. (This is a low analysis organic fertilizer that breaks down very slowly. You would never use this much synthetic fertilizer in this small and area.) So it takes five bags for a 500 foot row.

Then we go over the top of this with a 12 inch wide and 4 inch deep strip of very well broken down and mature compost. (The compost plays many roles. It is a weed barrier, it is germination enhancer, it protects the cloves from winter cold and frost heaving, it attracts earth worms like crazy, the worms love to hang out in the roots of the garlic, it provide compost tea every time it rains and it enriches our soils for the following year's crops. This compost is valued at approximately $25 per ton and it takes five tons to do a 500 foot row.

The cost analysis follows...

Monday, October 19, 2015

10 Things that Are Good For You that You Are Never Going To Feel Like Doing

There are lots of things in life that are good for you that you are never going to feel like doing. It is like a ten year old boy who doesn't remember to brush his teeth or the twelve year old girl who doesn't feel like making her bed.

Scientists call the act of changing a behavior, activation energy, meaning it takes effort to change a behavior. Behavioral psychologists say if you practice a new behavior for 21 days you can establish a new habit in your life.

Here are 10 things that are good for you that you are never going to feel like doing...

Friday, October 16, 2015

Petersen's Market Menu October 17, 2015



https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF8C_wCnew7RbrUyquFbptwWl-wvT1_3vtaOYuHkJUpEUr9FRqxgTK4lMuOpp2h3u-kUA47oVPO34O9eBRc69pGALqjhRNIx6ngyXdo79OEK2tg_RJlZcifjfV5Ka8-j7mMLVf9-qqqbY4/s1600/Garlick.jpg
Time To Plant Garlic, Photo Credit Reed Petersen
Mid-October is the perfect time to plant Garlic in Southern Minnesota. In addition to great eating many of our customers use our garlic to plant for to their own gardens. Garlic is is a close cousin to many of the bulbing flowers like tulips and crocuses and is planted in the fall like those flowers are. The varieties we plant, over winter great here.

Here is is a link to another article on our website for how to pick and plant seed garlic. How to pick seed garlic and plant.


 Don't forget the pumpkin pie, here is a link to 15 different recipes  we have developed for pumpkin pie. From classic to low carb, these are great creative ways to work a little pumpkin into your life


Fall greens are so amazing: wild arugula, baby spinach, lettuce, baby beet greens, baby kale, red russian kale, cilantro. All are at the perfect baby baby size. 


Hot, hot, hot...Reed picked a bushel of habernaro and poblano peppers this week. If you are looking for a nice fall recipe to use some of those poblano peppers is is one. Brian's corn bread and Poblano recipe.

Andrea dried some mints and herbs and is making some Vegetable Freak... Freaky Tea. Sweetened with fresh stevia.
  • Andrea's Tropical Tea - Orange Mint, Pinneaple Mint and Stevia
  • Jenna's Sweet Chocolate Tea - Chocolate Mint & Stevia
  • Lisa's Orange Blossom Tea - Orange Mint, Spearmint & Stevia
  • Just Mint - A Blend of Spearmint & Stevia
  • Perky Pinapple, Lemon Majito, Minty Sage, Rosemary Lavendar (lots more).

We will have the following items at the Farmers Market for Saturday, October 17, 2015 (New items are in Bold Print)


Cabbage
Broccoli

Tomatillos

Garlic
Carrots
Leeks
Walla Walla Sweet Onions


Fresh Cut Herbs: Mint, Chocolate Mint, Oregano, Cilantro
Arugula - Wild
Mizuna
Mesabi Arugula
Baby Spinach
Spring Mix
Baby Kale- Regular and Red Russian
Beet Greens
Dandelion Greens
Herb Plants - Rosemary,


Pickles: Spicy Dill, Sweet Sandwish, Okra, Dilly Bean, Corn Relish, Pepper Relish.
Salsa

Chipotle Smoked Peppers

Charcoal (home grown, home made)


If you took the time to read clear to the bottom of Market Menu I'm going to include a thoughtful article from our website archives. This week's "thought for the day" is entitled Living Like No One Else.

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

It Is Time to Plant Garlic

In Minnesota mid-October is the time to plant garlic.

We have lots of great hardneck garlic at our market stand.

Here is how we plant it...

Monday, October 12, 2015

Black Walnut Salve

Green Stage of Black Wallnut Hulls,
Credit: The Natural Capital



You use the outer immature green husk of the black walnut to make a salve with powerful anti-fungal properties.

My main purpose is a natural replacement for athletes foot cream.

I've been waiting patiently for the walnuts to get ready for harvest. They can be picked any time in September or October in here Minnesota.

First you make an infused oil.

Here is the recipe...

Friday, October 9, 2015

Petersen's Market Menu for October 10, 2015

Pie pumpkins are one of the staples of fall. We have several heirloom pumpkin varieties. Look for the standard New England Pie and the less common Winter Luxury Pie (with the netted outer shell). Both are great pie pumpkins. I think the Winter Luxury are a little sweeter.

Here is a link to 15 different recipes  we have developed for pumpkin pie. From classic to low carb, these are great creative ways to work a little pumpkin into your life.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o6jWMexG1DA/UN781sITMHI/AAAAAAAAAAs/9lg270zKzAM/s1600/pumpkin+pie.jpg
A Classic Recipe for Pumpkin Pie, Reed's Favorite
Fall greens are so amazing: wild arugula, regular arugula, baby spinach, lettuce, baby beet greens, cress, baby kale, red russian kale, cilantro. All are at the perfect baby baby size. 

We picked 40 pints of cherry tomatoes this week. Try our black cherries. No sprays, no chemicals, just pure goodness.

We picked 5 baskets of tomatoes Friday. These are great for canning, salsas and sauces. We have lots of slicing tomatoes and heirloom tomatoes for canning. They are winding down, so get them while we still have a good selection.

Hot, hot, hot...Reed picked a bushel of habernaro and poblano peppers this week.

Andrea dried some mints and herbs and is making some Vegetable Freak... Freaky Tea. Sweetened with fresh stevia.
  • Andrea's Tropical Tea - Orange Mint, Pinneaple Mint and Stevia
  • Jenna's Sweet Chocolate Tea - Chocolate Mint & Stevia
  • Lisa's Orange Blossom Tea - Orange Mint, Spearmint & Stevia
  • Just Mint - A Blend of Spearmint & Stevia
  • Perky Pinapple, Lemon Majito, Minty Sage, Rosemary Lavendar (lots more).

We will have the following items at the Farmers Market for Saturday, October 10, 2015 (New items are in Bold Print)


Cabbage
Broccoli
Slicing Tomatos
Tomatillos
Cherry Tomatoe
Garlic
Carrots
Leeks
Walla Walla Sweet Onions


Fresh Cut Herbs: Mint, Chocolate Mint, Oregano, Cilantro
Arugula - Wild
Baby Spinach
Spring Mix
Baby Kale- Regular and Red Russian
Cress
Beet Greens
Dandelion Greens
Herb Plants - Rosemary,


Pickles: Spicy Dill, Sweet Sandwish, Okra, Dilly Bean, Corn Relish, Pepper Relish.
Salsa

Chipotle Smoked Peppers

Charcoal (home grown, home made)



Wednesday, October 7, 2015

It Is Black Walnut Season

If you have been watching your black walnut trees it is time to harvest walnuts that you are going to use for salve or tincture.

Black walnuts are very good for parasites and anti-fungal. Black walnut salve and tincture are a natural way to deal with them.

The active ingredients are in the outer green husk (not shell) of the walnut.

Here is how you harvest...

Monday, October 5, 2015

A Beet Energy Drink

Lisa and I have been trying this beet based energy drink for breakfast for the last several weeks. It is a good way to consume beets and other healthy vegetables and fruit.

You will need a sturdy blender like a Vitamix or Blendtech. We have a vitamix

Here is the recipe...

Friday, October 2, 2015

Petersen's Market Menu for Saturday, October 3, 2015

It is time to think about squash and pumpkins. This season with abundant moisture and warm temperatures, was excellent for jumbo pumpkins, cinderella pumpkins and heirloom squash.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoD4m7HL6UzEy_XnaAiuFyO_BjtKGGVmopYqM3OeyVtMmI8YeL-61Kh7ViM1wb5GqJVAvBuJPHg8HBHhqiFEDbA3_JsivuoeVPq-UbPD6GrLGjyKTgAwoG6UcBh7Yfu76dRcV852Y_O0y5/s1600/Pumpkins.jpg
A Superb Pumpkin Year, Photo Credits Reed Petersen
Fall greens are so amazing: wild arugula, regular arugula, baby spinach, lettuce, baby beet greens, cress, baby kale, red russian kale, cilantro. All are at the perfect baby baby size. 

We picked 40 pints of cherry tomatoes this week. Try our black cherries. No sprays, no chemicals, just pure goodness.

We picked 20 baskets of tomatoes Friday. These are great for canning, salsas and sauces. We have lots of slicing tomatoes and heirloom tomatoes for canning. They are winding down, so get them while we still have a good selection.

Hot, hot, hot...Reed picked 1/3 bushel of haberbaro peppers this week.

Okra production is in high gear. More is merrier when if comes to Okra. If you want to make some of those delicious gumbos, stews and other southern dishes with Okra, now is the time to get some.

Andrea dried some mints and herbs and is making some Vegetable Freak... Freaky Tea. Sweetened with fresh stevia.
  • Andrea's Tropical Tea - Orange Mint, Pinneaple Mint and Stevia
  • Jenna's Sweet Chocolate Tea - Chocolate Mint & Stevia
  • Lisa's Orange Blossom Tea - Orange Mint, Spearmint & Stevia
  • Just Mint - A Blend of Spearmint & Stevia
  • Perky Pinapple, Lemon Majito, Minty Sage, Rosemary Lavendar (lots more).

We will have the following items at the Farmers Market for Saturday, October 3, 2015 (New items are in Bold Print)


Cabbage
Broccoli
Slicing Tomatos
Tomatillos
Cherry Tomatoes
Roma Tomatoes
Heirloom Tomatoes
Garlic
Okra
Green Beans
Baby Zucchini & Patty Pan
Carrots
Leeks
Walla Walla Sweet Onions

New Baby Potatoes - Yukon Gold & Red 
Fresh Cut Herbs: Mint, Chocolate Mint, Oregano, Basil, Chive, Cilantro
Arugula - Wild and Regular
Baby Spinach
Spring Mix
Baby Kale- Regular and Red Russian
Cress
Beet Greens
Dandelion Greens
Herb Plants - Rosemary,


Pickles: Spicy Dill, Sweet Sandwish, Okra, Dilly Bean, Corn Relish, Pepper Relish.
Salsa: an array of different kinds

Chipotle Smoked Peppers

Charcoal (home grown, home made)



Thursday, October 1, 2015

Pumpkin Pie for Breakfast

At its heart the pumpkin pie we are all so familiar with is a custard. With two to four eggs and cream (or sweetened condensed milk) it is a rich dessert. When we have extra filling we often fill custard cups without crusts, for a snack or breakfast treat.

Below is a link to our favorite pumpkin pie recipes.