I've been doing a lower carb diet lately and I wanted to make pancakes for breakfast last Sunday morning.
Buckwheat is about half the carbs of regular flour.
I threw in some blue berries for good measure.
Here is the recipe.
Wednesday, June 22, 2016
Monday, June 20, 2016
The Marker
Radishes germinate and mature so quickly that we often use them as a marker for other slower germinating crops.
Crops like...
Crops like...
Wednesday, June 15, 2016
Carrots
I planted our third planting of carrots today. Marked them with over seeding of radishes. I'm trying out a new variety from Amsterdam, along with our standard candy carrots. Planted about 500 feet of row in a double row.
Monday, June 13, 2016
Radish - The Publication
We have a local publication called Radish that often does articles on growing food and farming.
They featured our farm in the June issue.
Here are the highlights.
They featured our farm in the June issue.
Here are the highlights.
Labels:
Compost,
farmers market,
Radish,
Soil,
Squash Blossom Farm
Saturday, June 11, 2016
Petersen's Market Menu for June 11
Still planting tomatoes, peppers, egg plant and other vegetables. The veggies in the field are coming on strong.
Here is our list for this week.
Here is our list for this week.
Friday, June 10, 2016
Brussels Sprout Slaw, with Maple Dressing
I know brussels sprouts are a little out of season here in Minnesota, but I had a craving for some slaw and that seemed like a good base.
It made a good complement to steel head trout.
Here is the recipe...
It made a good complement to steel head trout.
Here is the recipe...
Labels:
Brussels Sprouts,
Cole Slaw,
Maple Syrup,
Slaw
Wednesday, June 8, 2016
Bio mimicry
Did you know that Velcro was invented when a Swiss engineer thought long and hard about why burrs were so hard to get out of the coat of his dog and his trousers. He analyzed the hook and loop structure over a number of years and came up with Velcro.
Using approaches from nature in engineering products is called Biomimicry. Here are some more examples...
Using approaches from nature in engineering products is called Biomimicry. Here are some more examples...
Monday, June 6, 2016
Scapes
Garlic, the word brings out the best of flavor and and aroma. The garlic plant does its best to provide us with usable forms for most of the year. You can store hard neck garlic until March. In late March or April the garlic plant is up out of the ground and you can use green garlic until the aerial appearance of the curl.
What is the curl you might ask.
What is the curl you might ask.
Wednesday, June 1, 2016
Five Feet Spacing
Andrea and I were getting ready to plant one of our crops that requires five feet between plants for maximum yield. The fruit averages 50 pounds each.
Can you guess what we were planting...
Can you guess what we were planting...
Monday, May 30, 2016
Graduation
Reed our third child and youngest graduated last Friday night. You know how the stereo type of the youngest child is happy go lucky and carefree. Doesn't take anything to seriously.
Well all our children took their academics very serious including Reed.
Here is why...
Well all our children took their academics very serious including Reed.
Here is why...
Wednesday, May 25, 2016
The Best Cucumbers
It is well worth your money to buy the best cucumbers varieties you can find. I will pay 5 times the price for a standard variety to get excellent yield and disease resistance. You won''t find the best varieties in the local green houses because the make more money if they use cheap seed.
I planted cucumbers tonight. Just starting with one row about 500 feet long. I'll plant another in about a month. We space the plants about 6 inches apart.
One of the varieties I like for Southern Minnesota is...
I planted cucumbers tonight. Just starting with one row about 500 feet long. I'll plant another in about a month. We space the plants about 6 inches apart.
One of the varieties I like for Southern Minnesota is...
Monday, May 23, 2016
Freeze
It is not unusual to have a hard frost in May and that is what we got last Sunday night. I have learned to keep the most frost sensitive transplants like peppers, tomatoes, squash, okra, basil and melons in pots by the house until the 4th week in May or the first week in June.
Several years I got enthusiastic about planting tomato plants early and they got frozen. I had a back-up set of plants to replace them with. But I have learned my lesson. I just don't transplant early to the field.
If you keep those early transplants in pots they grow just as well and you can cover or protect thousands of plants by bringing them inside or covering them.
I was talking to some of the growers at the farmers market and they reported.
Several years I got enthusiastic about planting tomato plants early and they got frozen. I had a back-up set of plants to replace them with. But I have learned my lesson. I just don't transplant early to the field.
If you keep those early transplants in pots they grow just as well and you can cover or protect thousands of plants by bringing them inside or covering them.
I was talking to some of the growers at the farmers market and they reported.
Wednesday, May 18, 2016
How to Plant Shallots
Jennna was planting shallots today. Unlike garlic, where you want to pick the biggest cloves. It is Okay to plant the smaller shallots, so by this time of the year that is what we mostly have left.
Here is how you plant.
Here is how you plant.
Monday, May 16, 2016
How To Find Morell Mushrooms
I went for a walk through the woods this evening looking for Morell mushrooms. We have had some warm days and some rain, which are both requirements for a morell harvest.
How do you find these tasty morsells?
How do you find these tasty morsells?
Monday, April 4, 2016
Creating More Value Than You Consume
As a citizen of these United States the goal is to create more value than you consume.
It is amazing how many people do not view their life from a contribution mind set. They have a consumption mentality. What can I get verses what can I give.
If you want to thrive in farming or any other occupation you need to produce value.
This Money Monday we are going to look two examples of value on the production side and on the input side.
It is amazing how many people do not view their life from a contribution mind set. They have a consumption mentality. What can I get verses what can I give.
If you want to thrive in farming or any other occupation you need to produce value.
This Money Monday we are going to look two examples of value on the production side and on the input side.
Friday, April 1, 2016
Macaroni and Cheese With Bacon
Did you know Thomas Jefferson invented Mac'n'Cheese. He brought a macaroni making machine from Europe and used Mount Vernon Cheddar. Several centuries Kraft commercialized the dish in that famous blue box.
Everything is better with bacon. This Mac'n'Cheese is simply amazing.
I used a cast Iron skillet.
Everything is better with bacon. This Mac'n'Cheese is simply amazing.
I used a cast Iron skillet.
Labels:
Cayenne Pepper,
Garlic,
Mac'n'Cheese,
Onion,
thyme
Monday, March 28, 2016
How to Have More Gold for Your Golden Years
In this weeks Money Monday, I will show you how every young person can be
millionaires by age 70. With time and a small amount of savings over
40 years, it is pretty simple, but not always easy.
The
Biblical priciple of saving for our golden years comes with a
caveate: we must avoid accumulating wealth just so we can increase
our lifestyle.
We
build wealth for the following reasons:
Wednesday, March 23, 2016
Brian's Gravy for Biscuits and Gravy
One of my favorite breakfasts is "Biscuits and Gravy". Most restaurants get their gravy off the truck, meaning they bought a premade gravy instead of making it from scratch.
When I am home I can make it from the ground up and it is amazing. Here is the recipe I used this morning.
When I am home I can make it from the ground up and it is amazing. Here is the recipe I used this morning.
Monday, March 21, 2016
$1,000,000 Money Monday
In this weeks Money Monday we are going to do a little celebrating.
Lisa and I teach a financial class called Financial Peace University. We recently taught our 12 th class and have had 520 attend our classes.
So where does the million dollars come from...
Lisa and I teach a financial class called Financial Peace University. We recently taught our 12 th class and have had 520 attend our classes.
So where does the million dollars come from...
Wednesday, March 16, 2016
Dirt, Delays and Danger
Reed and I recently did a pilgrimage to North Dakota State University for a college visit. It is the time of the year to be making the final visits and decisions on colleges. We were very impressed with the program and what we learned.
Even though it was kinda the off season we still ran into the ubiquitous road construction.
Kinda reminded me of spring on the farm in the following ways...
Even though it was kinda the off season we still ran into the ubiquitous road construction.
Kinda reminded me of spring on the farm in the following ways...
Monday, March 14, 2016
Why Do We Write So Much About Debt
William Shakespeare said, "Neither a borrower or lender be, for loan oft loses both itself and friend..." If this sounds familiar this quote was later "borrowed" by Benjamin Franklin in his poor Richards almanac. If we are going to consider whether Christians should borrow money, we don't typically consult Shakespeare for such insight. It is also probably not a good idea to get our advice from our "unchurched" neighbor or our "broke" finance professor.
So where do we go for wisdom on this topic?
When ever I want to know what a believer should do I turn to scripture. I
I spent most of a Sunday afternoon last week looking and I didn't find anything in scripture that instructs a believer to borrow money.
I thought, well, maybe they didn't have borrowing in Biblical times? Let's look at what I found to answer that question.
Proverbs 22:7 "The rich rule over the poor and the borrower is slave to the lender." This word slave is, well, slavery or bondage. The principle here is for the individual to avoid borrowing. I think we would agree that the church should not be in bondage to anyone except Christ, so the church should avoid borrowing too.
Romans 13:8 "Let no debt remain outstanding except the continued debt to love one another." My old King James says, "owe no man anything". I think that is pretty clear.
Deuteronomy 15:6 "For the Lord God will bless you as he as promised, and you will lend to many nations but will borrow from none." Yes this is addressed to the nation of Israel but so was the 10 commandments and the church takes those very seriously so we should too.
Proverbs 17:18 "A man lacking in judgment strikes hands in pledge and puts up security for a neighbor." A more modern version says "It is stupid to guarantee someone else's loan."
Proverbs 6:1-5 is a similar passage but more emphatic. "My son if you have put up security for your neighbor, if you have struck hands in a pledge for another. If you have been trapped by what you said, ensnared by the words of your mouth, then do this, my son, to free yourself since you have fallen into your neighbor's hands: Go and humble yourself; press your plea with your neighbor! Allow no sleep to your eyes no slumber to your eyelids. Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler." This says get out of debt with gazelle intensity. (We use this animal metaphor in FPU a lot.)
Numbers 30:2 God says vows are to be taken seriously.
I conclude debt is not God's way. He strongly discourages debt, from any scripture I could find on the topic.
Our incomes are the biggest tools that we have to give, save and support our families. Scripture instructs us to spend less than we make, creating margin for giving and saving. It is out of this margin that we can support the Lord's work and invest for the future. If we have committed all of our incomes to payments, we are doing what is known as living paycheck to paycheck.
According to a study recently completed by Bankrate.com 76% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck and 27% have no savings at all and could not handle a $500 emergency.
Debt means we are spending more than he has provided for us. Debt means we haven't done the planning that he requires of us as managers of his money. It means we have given up the contentment and patience he desires for us. Debt short circuits his plan for us.
Debt is a trap that can side track our education, careers, calling and marriages. We often don't know we are getting into the trap until it is to late. That is why believers should get training like FPU, where we teach how to get out of the trap and stay out for good.
We talk about debt a lot because it is so pervasive in our culture and believers are not immune to the problems that debt causes.
Getting out of debt is part of The Journey to Financial Peace.
Brian and Lisa Petersen, lead the Financial Peace University course at Autumn Ridge Church. Concepts like the one discussed in this article are taught in FPU. Brian and Lisa welcome your questions on “Why Do We Teach So Much About Debt”. They can be reached at brian@vegetablefreak.com.
Labels:
Borrow,
Breaking the Chains of Debt,
Debt,
Debt Free,
Money Monday
Friday, March 11, 2016
Chipotle - Vote with Your Fork Alert
It saddened me to learn that Chipotle was very likely the subject of industrial espionage in the recent food poisoning episode. That is right, there is a Federal investigation in process. One of the most compelling evidence is, one of the e-coli bacteria found was a rare strain only found in a lab.
So why would someone want to attack Chipotle?
So why would someone want to attack Chipotle?
Wednesday, March 9, 2016
Farming is Work That Matters
I was at the MOSES organic farming conference at the end of February. Several of the classes that I went to were out standing, real life changing stuff. I sent the teachers a note and told them they did a nice job and should be very proud of doing "Work that Matters".
Most organic farmers are doing "Work that Matters" too and here is why.
Most organic farmers are doing "Work that Matters" too and here is why.
Labels:
Compost,
Farming,
Organic,
pollen,
Pollinators,
Soil,
Soil Life,
water,
Work that Matters
Monday, March 7, 2016
Would You Like to Pay Cash for College
This money Monday we are goin to consider How
to Pay Cash for College.
We
have been taking Reed, our high school senior, on college visits over
the last several months. This spring he will be making decisions
on where to attend college. We have
two students in college and a senior in high school. As a family, we
are committed to not borrowing for college. I'll ask you to pull up a
chair to our kitchen table and listen to what we have taught our
students.
Friday, March 4, 2016
Petersen's Market Menu for March 5, 2016
2015-2016 Squash, Photo Credit Reed Petersen
Here is our market menu for this week.
The spaghetti squash are hanging in there. We have about 30 of the personal size left.
The
carrots and parsnips are now safely in storage for the winter. November
is the best 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?
We will have the following items at the Farmers Market for Saturday, March 5, 2016 (New items are in Bold Print)
Cabbage - Red Garlic Carrots Parsnips Walla Walla Sweet Onions Red Onions Shallots Squash Beets Pickles: Spicy Dill, Sweet Sandwich, Okra, Dilly Bean, Corn Relish, Pepper Relish. Salsa Chipotle Smoked Peppers Charcoal (home grown, home made). Made three fresh batches in the last week. |
Wednesday, March 2, 2016
Stages of Learning in Farming - Building Your Legacy
Lots of things to think about, and it can be a little overwhelming at the beginning. Farming is running a very challenging small business and that can be complex.
But when done well, farming can be a multi-generational business, who's
skills can be translated to future generations. Farming involves passion to keep us going when the days are long.
Labels:
Ancient Future,
Backer Upper,
Benchmarking,
passion,
Stages of Learning,
Vital Not Viral,
Weird
Monday, February 29, 2016
How to Buy a House for Cash
This Money Monday we are going to learn How to Buy a House For Cash.
Buying a house is part of the American dream. Many couples rush into this decision before they are ready, fueled by insistence from family and friends. Home ownership can be a great blessing but only if you are ready to own a home and you don't get into the ill advised situation where the home owns you.
Buying a house is part of the American dream. Many couples rush into this decision before they are ready, fueled by insistence from family and friends. Home ownership can be a great blessing but only if you are ready to own a home and you don't get into the ill advised situation where the home owns you.
Let's ask the following questions to determine if you are ready to buy a home.
- Do you have 3 to 6 months living expenses in an emergency fund.
- Are you out of consumer debt? Student loans, cars, bank loans, and credit cards.
- Have you saved for a significant down payment
If all of the above have been accomplished then you are ready to move ahead with home ownership.
The title of this article is "How to Buy a House for Cash". This is a special case where you have saved 100 percent for a down payment.
Lets look at how this can be done.
Labels:
Cash,
Debt,
House,
How to Buy a House For Cash,
Money Monday
Friday, February 26, 2016
Stages of Learning in Farming - Becoming the Expert
By season 10 or before, you may be able to quit your day job if that is your goal. You have developed a playbook for your farm.
Many farm families have off farm income and that is OK. But if you want
to farm full time you will need a plan to do so. How much income will
you need, what is the scale of your operation that will generate this
level of income? Will you need farm workers? Have you achieved this
goal? By year ten you should be approaching your basic farming goals.
Even so, there is much more to learn on the road to becoming an expert.
Even so, there is much more to learn on the road to becoming an expert.
Labels:
adversity,
Becoming and Expert,
Expert,
Learning,
playbook,
Stages of Learning
Monday, February 22, 2016
Stages of Learning in Farming - Becoming Self Sufficient
Stage two typically lasts an additional 3-5 seasons.
You are on your way to a successful farming enterprise. You have a firm direction, you are focused and you have, by trial and error, refined your course, but you are still doing much fine tuning and investing.
You are on your way to a successful farming enterprise. You have a firm direction, you are focused and you have, by trial and error, refined your course, but you are still doing much fine tuning and investing.
Friday, February 19, 2016
Petersen's Market Menu February 20, 2016
2015-2016 Squash, Photo Credit Reed Petersen |
Here is our market menu for this week.
The spaghetti squash are hanging in there. Depending on how many we sell we maybe out after this market or next.
The carrots and parships are now safely in storage for the winter. November is the best 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?
We will have the following items at the Farmers Market for Saturday, February 20, 2016 (New items are in Bold Print)
Cabbage - Red
Garlic
Carrots
Parsnips
Walla Walla Sweet Onions
Red Onions
Shallots
Squash
Beets
Pickles: Spicy Dill, Sweet Sandwich, Okra, Dilly Bean, Corn Relish, Pepper Relish.
Salsa
Chipotle Smoked Peppers
Charcoal (home grown, home made). Made three fresh batches in the last week.
Cabbage - Red
Garlic
Carrots
Parsnips
Walla Walla Sweet Onions
Red Onions
Shallots
Squash
Beets
Pickles: Spicy Dill, Sweet Sandwich, Okra, Dilly Bean, Corn Relish, Pepper Relish.
Salsa
Chipotle Smoked Peppers
Charcoal (home grown, home made). Made three fresh batches in the last week.
Thursday, February 18, 2016
Stages of Learning in Farming - Building on the Basics
Building on the Basics
Congratulations, you have formally stepped into the world of farming. You are starting into your first season or like us maybe you have been doing things on a small scale and want to step into the commercial market place.
Stage one typically lasts about three seasons:
Congratulations, you have formally stepped into the world of farming. You are starting into your first season or like us maybe you have been doing things on a small scale and want to step into the commercial market place.
Stage one typically lasts about three seasons:
Monday, February 15, 2016
Stages of Learning in Farming - Laying the Foundation
In my experience, every new farmer goes through stages of learning in building their farming knowledge and expertise. Lisa and I completed Land Stewardship Project's Farm Beginnings class in 2001. We learned much in this class which was organized to help beginning farmers get started. Even with this advantage, we had a significant learning curve to make the transition from growing on a small scale (literally gardening in our back yard) to taking the first steps into the commercial market place on a scale that is 10 or even 100 times the size of our starting operation.
I am going to organize these stages according to our recent experience. The farm calendar typically operates on a seasonal basis and whether you are growing vegetables like we are, or growing row crops and small grains, or livestock, the stages are similar. I have provided links to other articles on our website VegetableFreak.com for more in-depth information on certain topics
Labels:
Book,
Laying the Foundation,
Learning,
Pickup,
Stages of Learning
Friday, February 12, 2016
Can We Borrow Ourselves Rich
An economist was evaluating the deficit spending that our government has been doing during the Bush and Obama administration. He made an interesting observation. He said that we have gone from an economy that creates capital and produces real value through manufacturing and commodities from farming and mining, to an economy where we just pay each other for services and we just move money around, while producing less and less value. He said we are trying to "borrow ourselves rich". Well I don't know if he is right or wrong about our economy. At least the farm economy is still producing real value.
But lets look at this from a personal stand point and ask ourselves if borrowing will help us prosper.
Labels:
Borrow,
Credit Cards,
House Loans,
How to Pay Cash for Cars,
How to Pay Cash for College,
Money Monday,
Rich
Wednesday, February 10, 2016
Soil 308: Fever
You probably thought this post was about hemorrhagic fever or some other phyrogenic virus. In the human body, even a fraction of a dead virus or bacteria can cause a fever response. These fractions are called pyrogens. Many years ago, I worked on an implantable cardiac stent and pyrogens were was a big deal.
In soil, elevated temperature typically occurs when we don't have adequate residue on the surface of the soil.
In soil, elevated temperature typically occurs when we don't have adequate residue on the surface of the soil.
Tuesday, February 9, 2016
Stages of Learning in Farming - A Land Stewarship Project Guest Post
I wrote Stages of Learning in Farming over the last year with the intention of doing a guest post on the Land Stewardship blog.
Check it out. They published Stage Zero yesterday.
It is called "Laying the Foundation".
Check it out. They published Stage Zero yesterday.
It is called "Laying the Foundation".
Monday, February 8, 2016
Soil 307: Thirsty
Conventional agricultural soils are thirsty. In his book "Your Bodies Many Cries for Water". Dr. B. talks about the critical role that hydration plays in the health of the human body. The same thing applies to the soil. If there isn't enough organic matter in the soil to hold the rainfall our soils won't function properly.
Hydrating our soils is more about having adequate cover on the soil surface and organic matter to hold the moisture than having a certain amount of rainfall. Most cropping regions have enough rainfall, but they may not utilize it well. We should focus on building our soils with the need to retain moisture in mind.
Hydrating our soils is more about having adequate cover on the soil surface and organic matter to hold the moisture than having a certain amount of rainfall. Most cropping regions have enough rainfall, but they may not utilize it well. We should focus on building our soils with the need to retain moisture in mind.
Sunday, February 7, 2016
The Best Wings Recipe
Ingredients:
Wings
Honey
Rosemary
Directions:
1) Coat the wings in Honey
2) Sprinkle on the Rosemary
3) Bake the wings in the oven for 21 minutes (try not to burn the wings)
4) Enjoy with the big game, and hope that exactly 3 goals get scored and the kicks are made.
Wings
Honey
Rosemary
Directions:
1) Coat the wings in Honey
2) Sprinkle on the Rosemary
3) Bake the wings in the oven for 21 minutes (try not to burn the wings)
4) Enjoy with the big game, and hope that exactly 3 goals get scored and the kicks are made.
Friday, February 5, 2016
Petersen's Market Menu for February 6, 2016
Candy Carrots, Photo Credit Johnny's Seeds |
Here is our market menu for this week.
The carrots and parships are now safely in storage for the winter. November is the best 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?
We will have the following items at the Farmers Market for Saturday, January 23, 2016 (New items are in Bold Print)
Cabbage - Red and Green
Garlic
Carrots
Parsnips
Walla Walla Sweet Onions
Red Onions
Shallots
Squash
Beets
Herb Plants - Rosemary,
Pickles: Spicy Dill, Sweet Sandwich, Okra, Dilly Bean, Corn Relish, Pepper Relish.
Salsa
Chipotle Smoked Peppers
Charcoal (home grown, home made). Made three fresh batches in the last week.
Cabbage - Red and Green
Garlic
Carrots
Parsnips
Walla Walla Sweet Onions
Red Onions
Shallots
Squash
Beets
Herb Plants - Rosemary,
Pickles: Spicy Dill, Sweet Sandwich, Okra, Dilly Bean, Corn Relish, Pepper Relish.
Salsa
Chipotle Smoked Peppers
Charcoal (home grown, home made). Made three fresh batches in the last week.
Wednesday, February 3, 2016
Soil 306: Aged
Soil, like a fine wine, should improve with age. Conventional agricultural soils are aged beyond their years due to our poor farming practices. Our soils are aging, when they should be "youthing", to borrow a term from the health and wellness industry.
Did you know that the North African crest of the Sahara desert was the once the bread basket of the Greek and Roma Empires. What happened to reduce these once fertile soils to one of the largest deserts on the planet.
Did you know that the North African crest of the Sahara desert was the once the bread basket of the Greek and Roma Empires. What happened to reduce these once fertile soils to one of the largest deserts on the planet.
Monday, February 1, 2016
Soil 305: Confused
Conventional agricultural soils are confused because of the GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms) plants and residue that the soil biology is forced to deal with. These new "super plants" have unknown DNA that our soil microbes don't know what to do with, in terms of breaking it down. I think that some of this new DNA is also toxic to soil life as it persists long after is should have been cycled.
Friday, January 29, 2016
Soil 304: Supressed
Conventional agricultural soils are dead (or at least biologically suppressed) due to the use of highly salt based fertilizers like super phosphate, which suppresses soil life and anhydrous ammonia which burns out the organic matter the soil life feeds on.
Wednesday, January 27, 2016
Soil 303: Depleted
Conventional agricultural soils are depleted of organic matter because we burn out the carbon in the soil by heavy use of anhydrous ammonia. We also export organic matter from the farm when we sell the corn and soybean stalk residue (called stover).
Labels:
Carbon,
Depleted,
Farming 300 Series,
Organic Matter,
Soils
Monday, January 25, 2016
Soil 302: Exhausted
Conventional agricultural soils are exhausted because we don't replace both macro and micro minerals removed by heavy cropping.
Settlers on the prairie would homestead for 7-10 years, exhaust the soil and move on. We avoid the moving on scenario by applying macro minerals N-P-K-Ca. With this regimen the plants look good but the human body and critters we grow for food need 92 minerals.
So what about the other 88 minerals.
Settlers on the prairie would homestead for 7-10 years, exhaust the soil and move on. We avoid the moving on scenario by applying macro minerals N-P-K-Ca. With this regimen the plants look good but the human body and critters we grow for food need 92 minerals.
So what about the other 88 minerals.
Labels:
Exhausted,
Farming 300 Series,
minerals,
Soils
Friday, January 22, 2016
Petersen's Market Menu for January 23, 2016
Storage Onions for Winter Market |
Here is our market menu for this week.
The carrots and parships are now safely in storage for the winter. November is the best 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?
We will have the following items at the Farmers Market for Saturday, January 23, 2016 (New items are in Bold Print)
Cabbage - Red and Green
Garlic
Carrots
Parsnips
Walla Walla Sweet Onions
Red Onions
Shallots
Squash
Herb Plants - Rosemary,
Pickles: Spicy Dill, Sweet Sandwich, Okra, Dilly Bean, Corn Relish, Pepper Relish.
Salsa
Chipotle Smoked Peppers
Charcoal (home grown, home made). Made three fresh batches in the last week.
Cabbage - Red and Green
Garlic
Carrots
Parsnips
Walla Walla Sweet Onions
Red Onions
Shallots
Squash
Herb Plants - Rosemary,
Pickles: Spicy Dill, Sweet Sandwich, Okra, Dilly Bean, Corn Relish, Pepper Relish.
Salsa
Chipotle Smoked Peppers
Charcoal (home grown, home made). Made three fresh batches in the last week.
Wednesday, January 20, 2016
Soil 301: Addicted
Conventional agricultural soils and crops are addicted to chemical fertilizer.
Corn is especially addicted to...
Corn is especially addicted to...
Monday, January 18, 2016
Soil 300: Burned Out
When I was in high school when someone was called a burn out it typically involved illegal drugs that are now being promoted for medicinal purposes. When I was in college being burned out was the fatigue after finals when you hadn't slept much for a week. When I was 30 years old being burned out typically meant you were over doing work, church or farming, because you were a workahololic. When I was 35 burned out could be applied to burning down the rainforest and the depleted soils that resulted 3 to 4 years later. When I was 40 burned out might be applied to a person who maxed out their credit. Do you see a trend here. None of these connotations is positive.
I submit there is another definition of burned out today that makes sense in agriculture.
I submit there is another definition of burned out today that makes sense in agriculture.
Saturday, January 16, 2016
Financial Peace for You
Sunday morning January 17, 2016 at 9:00 am at Autumn Ridge Church starts our next Financial Peace University class.
It is taught by Dave Ramsey via DVD. Topics include...
It is taught by Dave Ramsey via DVD. Topics include...
Labels:
Autumn Ridge,
Financial Peace University,
FPU,
Money Monday
Wednesday, January 13, 2016
Ten Below on the French Riveria Part II
In our last post we made the observation that, many of the Minnesota "locals" do not realize that South East Minnesota is at
the same latitude as the southern coast of France. The Reveria is known for its mild Mediterranean climate and stands in stark contrast to the Minnesota cold.
The reason for this is Minnesota is land locked and is exposed to the Canadian Arctic weather systems. While the southern coast of France has a hugh body of warm water call the Mediterranean Sea to moderate its climate.
But the real key is the amount of sunshine both locations get...they are the same.
So why all the fuss and why does this matter?
The reason for this is Minnesota is land locked and is exposed to the Canadian Arctic weather systems. While the southern coast of France has a hugh body of warm water call the Mediterranean Sea to moderate its climate.
But the real key is the amount of sunshine both locations get...they are the same.
So why all the fuss and why does this matter?
Sunday, January 10, 2016
Ten Below Zero on the French Riveria
We woke to a temperature of -10 degree Fahrenheit this morning here in Minnesota. It has been relatively mild until now and this is the first severe cold of this season.
It is no surprise to the hardy Scandinavians settled this area that we would have this kind of cold. We often see -20F or even -30F earning us a Zone 4 designation on plant cold hardiness scale.
It is no surprise to the hardy Scandinavians settled this area that we would have this kind of cold. We often see -20F or even -30F earning us a Zone 4 designation on plant cold hardiness scale.
Friday, January 8, 2016
Petersen's Market Menu for January 9, 2016
10 reason's to shop at the Rochester Farmer's Market I wrote this post earlier this week. Thinking ahead to spring.
Here is our market menu for this week.
We still have an excellent selection of pumpkins so don't forget the pumpkin pie, here is a link to 15 different Pumpkin Pie Recipes we have developed. From classic to low carb, these are great creative ways to work a little pumpkin into your life.
The carrots and parships are now safely in storage for the winter. November is the best 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?
We will have the following items at the Farmers Market for Saturday, January 9, 2016 (New items are in Bold Print)
Cabbage - Red and Green
Garlic
Carrots
Parsnips
Walla Walla Sweet Onions
Red Onions
Shallots
Pumpkins - Heirloom Pie
Squash
Herb Plants - Rosemary,
Pickles: Spicy Dill, Sweet Sandwich, Okra, Dilly Bean, Corn Relish, Pepper Relish.
Salsa
Chipotle Smoked Peppers
Charcoal (home grown, home made). Made three fresh batches in the last week.
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 Beware the Cat With the Deaf Eye. It is a story from when Reed was in second grade.
Here is our market menu for this week.
We still have an excellent selection of pumpkins so don't forget the pumpkin pie, here is a link to 15 different Pumpkin Pie Recipes we have developed. From classic to low carb, these are great creative ways to work a little pumpkin into your life.
The carrots and parships are now safely in storage for the winter. November is the best 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?
We will have the following items at the Farmers Market for Saturday, January 9, 2016 (New items are in Bold Print)
Cabbage - Red and Green
Garlic
Carrots
Parsnips
Walla Walla Sweet Onions
Red Onions
Shallots
Pumpkins - Heirloom Pie
Squash
Herb Plants - Rosemary,
Pickles: Spicy Dill, Sweet Sandwich, Okra, Dilly Bean, Corn Relish, Pepper Relish.
Salsa
Chipotle Smoked Peppers
Charcoal (home grown, home made). Made three fresh batches in the last week.
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 Beware the Cat With the Deaf Eye. It is a story from when Reed was in second grade.
Wednesday, January 6, 2016
Peak Oil and Peak Food
In 1964 M. King Hubert predicted that oil production would peak around the year 2000 and then decline. Well folks after much hand wringing by governments and environmentalists, peak oil just didn't happen. Due to new technologies North Dakota is now competing with Saudi Arabia for world oil dominance. The US has become a net exporter of oil in the last five years. This has slowed the massive transfer of wealth to empires in the middle east, I'd much rather contribute my petroleum dollars to the good old boys in North Dakota.
So why was the peak oil demand so far off?
So why was the peak oil demand so far off?
Monday, January 4, 2016
Ten Reasons to Shop at the Rochester Farmer's Market
Here are my ten reasons to shop at Rochester Downtown Farmers Market
Friday, January 1, 2016
The Year of Contentment
One of keys to the financial success of every family is contentment, which is one of the most powerful financial principles in our lives.
I Timothy 6:6-8 says, "Now godliness with contentment is great gain..."
Let's start off the New Year by considering five principles of contentment...
I Timothy 6:6-8 says, "Now godliness with contentment is great gain..."
Let's start off the New Year by considering five principles of contentment...
Labels:
contentment,
Giver,
Giving,
Money Monday,
Noah,
Pickup,
prosper
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