Sunday, May 31, 2015

Frost Free vegetables

I am writing this at 2:00 am this morning. I was a little concerned that it might hit the freezing point over night.

You know you live in Minnesota when you have 30's the first of June.

I put a calibrated freezer thermometer out on the picnic table and the temps were at 36 degrees and dropping.

So what to do...

Saturday, May 30, 2015

Petersen's Market menu for Saturday, May 30, 2015

The harvest of spring greens is expanding. We will add spring mix, wild arugula, wild dandelion, baby spinach, kale, Charlie, and cress to the portfolio this week.

We still have Candy carrots with great flavor and sweetness. That might last until the new carrots are available. The new carrots are up in the garden.
Cilantro We Will Have at the Market. Photo Cred: Reed Petersen
Cilantro We Will Have at the Market. Photo Cred: Reed Petersen
We will have the following items at the Farmers Market for Saturday, May 30, 2015 (New items are in Bold Print)

Jumbo Pansies
Asparagus
Fresh Cut Herbs: Mint, Chocolate Mint, Oregano, Basil, Chives
Baby Spinach
Spring Mix
Baby Kale
Cress
Wild Arugula
Regular Arugula
Dandelion
Mint Plants - Chocolate, Orange, Spearmint
Herb Plants - Chives, Sage, French Tarragon, Rosemary, Basil, Thyme, Epasote, Stevia, Oregano, Dill, Cilantro
New Crop Green Onions - Walla Walla Sweet
Green Garlic 
Pepper and Tomato Plants, Heirlooms
Melon Plants - Large Selection
Pumpkin Plants
Pea & Bean Plants
Heirloom Red Okra Plants
Cole Crop Plants: Broccoli, Kohlrabi, Cabbage,

Sweet Spanish Onions


Salsa: an array of different kinds
Pickles - Sweet, Dill and Relish

Candy Carrots
Parsnips

Shallots
Cipotle Smoked Peppers

Charcoal (home grown, home made)
Potting Mix with our compost

Friday, May 29, 2015

Steps For Getting Out of Debt


Getting out of debt is really pretty simple, yet can be one of the hardest things a family can tackle. The process works best when both husband and wife are working together.
  1. Stop borrowing.
  2. Save money.
  3. Sell things to generate cash.
  4. Work overtime or get a second job.
  5. Prayer...this really works.
Gazelle Intensity

This is one of my favorite concepts in FPU. Proverbs 6:1-5 talks about “Deliver yourself like the gazelle from the lion...”. Getting out of debt is motivational not mathematical. If it was a matter of math, we wouldn't have gotten into debt in the first place.

Thursday, May 28, 2015

Breaking the Chains of Debt


Farmers and their customers may not realize it, but debt is the most aggressively marketed product on the planet. Debt isn't just sold by banks and credit card companies. My reading has shown that many national retail chains make more money on the sale of credit than they do on the merchanise they sell.

If you spread a cultural perspective often enough, loud enough and long enough, the myth becomes accepted as normal. Debt has been marketed to the American cultural so pervasively since the 1970's that to envision living a debt free life requires a complete change in our perspective.

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Getting Started on Your Emergency Fund


Getting Started

In FPU, we suggest a starter emergency fund of $1000 and want you to get this in place within a month. You can work overtime, sell things on CriagsList or have a garage sale, to generate cash.

After getting out of debt you then work hard to get the fully funded emergency fund in place.

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Why You Need an Emergency Fund


Why You Need An Emergency Fund

It was 2:20 in the morning, and I awoke to a hissing sound. I went to investigate and found 300 gallons of water had leaked from a failed connection under the sink in the kitchen. Water had saturated everything in the kitchen and the basement of our home. We had insurance but our portion of the repair was over $30,000. We did not have an adequate emergency fund so the most of this repair was incorporated into a refinance of our mortgage, which was a major set back to getting our mortgage paid off.

Whether you are living in a rural or urban setting you need an emergency fund

Monday, May 25, 2015

Heroes

At church yesterday we honored our those that have served in our various branches of the military.

We didn't say this directly but these are our modern day heroes.

Thanks to all our military personnel for their service.

It is surely appreciated.

Sunday, May 24, 2015

Super Heros

I was thinking of all the things that my wife does for the family and I was also thinking about the our military heros.

We undervalue the role of motherhood in our culture.

I think most moms deserve "super hero" status (especially my wife) and here is why.

Saturday, May 23, 2015

Farm Heroes

Marvel comics has figured out that the American public is starved for heroes. They have had some interesting movie and TV shows recently.

There are some modern day heroes in Agriculture that may not be household names today but they should be.

Here are my top picks...

Asparagus. Wilted Spinach, Scallion and Black Bean Pasta (gluten Free)

The vegetables in the title of this post sounds like our market menu for this week. It is very nice to have a medley of vegetables that we can use in the kitchen once again.

This dish is heavy on the veggies and uses the black bean pasta to add interest. The pasta and vegetables are gluten free.

I boiled the pasta per instructions, added the asparagus and scallions to the boiling water about half way through. After straining the pasta and veggie mixture to drain off the water. I added the hot mix to the spinach and let it wilt down a bit.

Here is the recipe....

Friday, May 22, 2015

Market Menu for May 23, 2015

The harvest of spring greens is expanding. We will add spring mix, wild arugula, dandelion, baby spinach, kale, Jenny, and cress to the portfolio this week.

We still have 4 bushels of Candy carrots with great flavor and sweetness. That might last until the new carrots are available. The new carrots are up in the garden and so are the first crop of Radishes.
Cilantro We Will Have at the Market. Photo Cred: Reed Petersen
Cilantro We Will Have at the Market. Photo Cred: Reed Petersen
We will have the following items at the Farmers Market for Saturday, May 23, 2015 (New items are in Bold Print)

Pansies - Lots of Color
Fresh Cut Herbs: Mint, Oregano, Chive, Basil, Chives
Baby Spinach
Spring Mix
Cress
Wild Arugula
Dandelion
Herb Plants - Chives, Mint, Sage, French Tarragon, Rosemary, Basil, Thyme, Epasote, Stevia, Oregano,
New Crop Green Onions - Walla Walla Sweet
Green Garlic 
Pepper and Tomato Plants, Heirlooms
Cole Crop Plants: Broccoli, Kohlrabi, Cabbage,

Sweet Spanish Onions


Salsa: an array of different kinds
Pickles - Sweet, Dill and Relish

Candy Carrots
Parsnips

Shallots
Cipotle Smoked Peppers

Charcoal (home grown, home made)
Potting Mix with our compost

Thursday, May 21, 2015

Outsmarting the Colorado Potato Beetle

The Colorado potato beetle is the most persistant pest for potatoes and other garden plants in the solonacea family.

We have had nearly complete control the last few years and here is how.

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Compost or Putting Man on the Moon

If we had spent the money used to put the first man on the moon to develop the technologies to make compost.

Agriculture would look totally different today.

Things like...

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

First Sweet Corn

Andrea is home from college this week and was looking for something to do.

I had her do some tilling and then plant some delicious super sweet...

Monday, May 18, 2015

Worms Ate My Home Work

A lot of things happen on a farm during the night.

We don't always think about it but here is one example.

Saturday, May 16, 2015

God's Farm

Jenna is leaving Saturday after the Farmers Market for Atlanta, Georgia. She is going to be the garden manager for God's Farm an outreach of the Atlanta Youth Project for the summer.

The she will be teaching inner city youth how to grow vegetables and fruit on their farm.

Friday, May 15, 2015

Market Menu for May 16, 2015

The harvest of spring greens is expanding. We will add spring mix, wild arugula, dandelion, and cress to the portfolio this week.

We still have 4 bushels of Candy carrots with great flavor and sweetness. That might last until the new carrots are available. The new carrots are up in the garden and so are the first crop of Radishes.


Reed Petersen
Market Table (photo cred: Reed Petersen)

We will have the following items at the Farmers Market for Saturday, May 16, 2015 (New items are in Bold Print)

Pansies - Lots of Color
Fresh Cut Herbs: Mint, Oregano, Chive, Basil
Spinach
Spring Mix
Cress
Wild Arugula
Dandelion
Herb Plants - Chives, Mint, Sage, French Tarragon, Rosemary, Basil
New Crop Green Onions - Walla Walla Sweet
Green Garlic 
Pepper and Tomato Plants

Sweet Spanish Onions
Red Onions

Salsa: an array of different kinds
Pickles - Sweet, Dill and Relish

Candy Carrots
Parsnips

Cabbage - Fresh Green, good for slaw, kraut or kimchi (see 8 delicious recipes on our website.)

Shallots
Cipotle Smoked Peppers

Charcoal (home grown, home made)
Potting Mix with our compost

Thursday, May 14, 2015

Green Onions - Walla Walla Style

Our green onions are ready in the garden. I planted some Walla Walla Sweet  onions for our first onions of the year.

The advantages of the Walla Walla onions are...

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Washington DC Trip - Congratulations Reed

The local power cooperative sponsors one high school junior or senior each year for an all expenses paid trip to Washington DC this summer. Reed was selected.

They pick one student in a four county area. Pretty cool.

To receive this honor Reed did the following...

Monday, May 11, 2015

Sufferin Succotash

Sufferin Succotash is the catch phrase popularized by Sylvester the Cat in the Looney Tunes cartoon series. You didn't know you were going to get a little depression era pop culture in this post.

Succotash on the other hand is a dish made from a mixture of corn, beans and other vegetables.

I use the phrase to describe a new technique for soil building that I have been trying.

 Here is this years version....

Friday, May 8, 2015

Market Menu for May 9, 2015

Tony the Tiger would say the weather for the market this week is great.  We have some great vegetables for our farmer's market customers.

We still have 6 bushels of Candy carrots with great flavor and sweetness. That might last until the new carrots are available. The new carrots are up in the garden and so are the first crop of Radishes.





Reed Petersen
Market Table (photo cred: Reed Petersen)

We will have the following items at the Farmers Market for Saturday, May 9, 2015 (New items are in Bold Print)

Pansies - Lots of Color
Fresh Cut Herbs: Mint, Oregano, Chives
Spinach
Herb Plants - Chives, Mint, Sage, French Tarragon, Rosemary, Basil
New Crop Green Onions - Walla Walla Sweet
Green Garlic 
Pepper and Tomato Plants


Sweet Spanish Onions
Red Onions

Salsa: an array of different kinds
Pickles - Sweet, Dill and Relish

Candy Carrots
Parsnips

Cabbage - Fresh Green, good for slaw, kraut or kimchi (see 8 delicious recipes on our website.)

Shallots
Cipotle Smoked Peppers

Charcoal (home grown, home made)
Potting Mix with our compost

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Thinking Differently - As easy as 1, 2, 3

Farmers can often circumvent the conventional wisdom and improve their bottom line by just thinking differently.

Let's look at some examples...

Monday, May 4, 2015

What Do You Suggest for My Broken Heart

One of our favorite customers stopped by this week and asked "What do you suggest for my broken heart?"

We get some weird requests from time to time and this one was a little strange. I wasn't sure if she was asking for relationship help. I could have referred her to a counselor or pastor.

The riddle was soon solved...

Sunday, May 3, 2015

Fresh Chives in Tzatziki Sauce

We have had so many folks in our Sunday morning services that they started a Saturday evening service. We often go church Saturday which means we are home Sunday morning and I get to experiment with what is fresh from the garden.

Early spring is chive season...

Friday, May 1, 2015

Market Menu for Saturday, May 2, 2015

It is here, the first outdoor market of the season. We have some great vegetables for our farmer's market customers.

We still have 6 bushels of Candy carrots with great flavor and sweetness. That might last until the new carrots are available. The new carrots are up in the garden and so are the first crop of Radishes.





Reed Petersen
Market Table (photo cred: Reed Petersen)

We will have the following items at the Farmers Market for Saturday, May 2, 2015 (New items are in Bold Print)

Pansies - Lots of Color
Fresh Cut Herbs: Mint, Oregano, Chives
Spinach
Frost Hardy Herb Plants - Chives, Mint, Sage, French Tarragon, Rosemary
New Crop Green Onions - Walla Walla Sweet
Green Garlic 
Pepper and Tomato Plants


Sweet Spanish Onions
Red Onions

Salsa: an array of different kinds
Pickles - Sweet, Dill and Relish

Candy Carrots
Parsnips

Cabbage - Fresh Green, good for slaw, kraut or kimchi (see 8 delicious recipes on our website.)

Shallots
Cipotle Smoked Peppers

Charcoal (home grown, home made)
Potting Mix with our compost

Spinach Spinach Every Where

Spinach will over winter here in our Zone 4 climate. That is good news, becuase the baby spinach plants go to sleep (go dormant) over the winter and wake up in April to start growing again.

The year Reed was born (17 years ago) we had and El Nino year with a very early warm spring.

What do you think happened to the spinach?