Eight Mile Creek FarmFebruary 2015
As I write this, snow is coming down hard from the night sky, covering the farm with a thick blanket of winter. The full snow moon just barely visible through the haze of the full clouds. Inside the barn the calves are sheltered from the strong winds and are warm having been munching on their fluffy hay all day. The piglets are inside as well, huddled in a pile, their bellies full of yummy organic grain. The chickens are in their barns, asleep as they have no night vision and therefore just close their eyes…. Outside the mama and papa cows are weathering the storm tonight in the pine tree forest and the big pigs on a nest of hay. By the end of this month, calving season will be in full swing and nights will not be so restful for the farmer. The days are filled with making sure that all of the animals are getting their feed and water twice a day. In between the dairy calves are being halter trained and barns are being cleaned. Supplies are being organized and schedules arranged. The crop plan is now complete for this 2015 season. Seeds are being ordered and the slightly longer days are starting to give us promise that spring is inching closer. By mid-month Persephone’s return will bring growth back and we will see the overwintered veggies in the high tunnels begin to show new green. That will also mark the start of the planting season! We will begin planting things like spinach, arugula, kale, bok choy, mesclun and mustard in the high tunnels. We will ready the soil in there for other vegetables. This year, because of the addition of another high tunnel, we will be growing sweet potatoes as well as some really beautiful tomato varieties! At the same time, we will be starting seeds in the greenhouse so that by March first, it will be full; the heat will go on, soil watered, and growth of all of those tiny seeds which will grow into seedlings and then sturdy plants, providing us with so much healthy food, will begin….
Vegetables for This Month of February 2015
Black Coco Beans, Sweet Carrots, Watermelon or Daikon Radishes, Butternut Squash, Acorn Squash, Red and Yellow Onions, Scarlet Queen Turnips, Rutabagas and Beets
Simple Black Beans
1 cup Eight Mile Creek Farm Black Coco beans
2 pieces of kombu seaweed
Pink Himalayan Sea Salt
Rinse and clean beans. Place beans in a pot or bowl and cover with water. Soak overnight or at least 8 hours. Drain and place beans in a pot with the seaweed. Cover with water 3-4 inches over the beans and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer, partially covered, for 1 1/2 hours. Add sea salt to taste.
Radish Sandwiches
Watermelon or daikon radishes, sliced
Your favorite bread, sliced
Mayonnaise or butter
Spread mayonnaise or butter on your favorite crusty bread and top with sliced radishes. Add any fresh minced herb or other green (optional). Enjoy the simplicity of this healthy sandwich!
