Thursday, August 12, 2010

Notes from Your Farm August 12


Hello from the farm,

The much-needed rain falling today is wonderful--this will help the fall crops along immensely. Although we are able to irrigate some, we don't have enough water or a system big enough to water the whole farm. This week, or maybe next week, will be the largest tomato harvest of the season, after which the plants will gradually slow down as fall draws near. We had a great potato harvest and farm crew effort yesterday resulting in over four hundred pounds of beautiful potatoes.

The peppers are doing well, the tasty Carmen variety, a long bull's horn type, is back this season, while a new type is called Round of Hungary and is shaped like a lobed, flat tomato. Watermelons, cantaloupes, and Galia melons all did very well this year with all of the heat and sunshine, making up for a lackluster performance in last year's wet cloudy weather.




Blue Potatoes


Blue Potatoes--higher in antioxidants than other colors of potatoes, but use just the same in the kitchen
They have a rich nutty flavor.
Rosemary Roasted Blue Potatoes (seasoning adapted from Kalyn’s recipe, noted above; blue potatoes inspired by Lucy of Nourish Me)

Ingredients

1 pound small blue potatoes, unpeeled but washed whole, any sprouts or bruises removed
¼ cup olive oil
2 tablespoons dried rosemary leaves, slightly crushed
1 tablespoon sea salt, slightly crushed

Method

Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees F. Cover bottom of natural finish skillet with heat-resistant handle (cast iron works best) with the oil. Cut potatoes into quarters, add to skillet and toss to coat with oil. Position skillet on middle rack of oven. Roast potatoes for 20 minutes. Turn off oven heat. Stir potatoes and keep them in oven another 10 minutes. Stir potatoes one last time, then transfer to a serving bowl, tossing the rosemary and salt mixture over them. Serves 4 --
from-- http://thewellseasonedcook.blogspot.com/2007/10/fit-for-party-roasted-blue-potatoes.html



To the Farm, from Burma

We're glad to have Law Reh on staff this season at the farm. He grew up and farmed in Burma, and is a calm, skilled, and hard-working presence on the farm. He teaches us Kareni and Burmese words for things and we teach English words and share a lot of chuckles over the intricacies of language. The signs on the vegetables today are in appreciation of Law Reh.



Law Reh, farmer from Burma


Thank You
Special thanks to Law Reh this week for working with ease, skill and intuition.
Thank you Elizabeth, for great work supervising and instructing the
crew of trainees, Kim Stoltzfus for a great job here at the barn with the harvest
and shareholders, and each one of the trainees for hard work and a great attitude
during the heat and humidity of the past weeks.

Enjoy!

Scott

Scott Breneman

Farm Manager

Goodwilll at Homefields Farm

PO Box 38

150 Letort Rd

Millersville, PA 17551

http://www.yourgoodwill.org/farm

P: 717-871-3110

Check out our Farm Blog: www.goodwillathomefieldsfarm.blogspot.com

www.yourgoodwill.org

Our mission is to support persons with disabilities and other barriers to independence in achieving their fullest potential as workers and as members of the broader community.

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