2013 Plants (850) from Heirloom Seeds

I am not sure how many people realize they can bring seed to their local greenhouses and ask for custom plants.  Most would prefer a quantity order for the extra labeling and specifications.  Our nursery man labels each tray with my name, the items planted and correlates my planting schedule with the desired size of plant etc... grows organically on request - and seems really attentive each year we bring them seed.  Imagine my delight when I first approached them almost 7 years ago!

Today I took the following seeds where they will be grown to a good planting size for our Northeast climate, picked up around 3rd week of May, hardened off, and planted in the fields on our farm.

I am planting ALOT less this year as I focus on our 20c kitchen - up and running - and all the other details that go  into bringing a successful product to market!

Here is the list of seeds dropped off (we get most if not all seeds from Bakers Creek Heirloom Seeds):

Tomato Plants - 600 (down from 2,500 in prior years)

BLACK CHERRY
BONNIE BEST
PANTANO ROMANESCO
DELICIOUS
PEARLY PINK
GERMAN RED STRAWBERRY
GERMAN LUNCHBOX
PRINCIPE BORGHESE
BREAD AND SALT
PLACERO

COUR DI BUE
PANTANO ROMANESCO
CHEROKEE PURPLE
STRIPED ROMAN
THESSANLAKI
MARMANDE

Pepper Plants (50)

Hot- CORNE DE CHEVRE
Sweet - QUADRATO D ASTI ROSSO

Gooseberry (50)

GIANT CAPE

Savoy Cabbage (100)

PERFECTION DRUMHEAD

Celery (50)

TENDERCRISP

Chocosol

This company is beyond dynamic - founder Michael Sacco appears in many youtube videos - not the one featured here which is about their packaging choices - something we have focused on ourselves for our products at Ambrosia Farms. He started a bean to bar factory in Toronto, Canada and appears to sell mostly through farmers markets and direct from the factory and still encourages customers to bring their own containers to purchase unwrapped chocolate and receive a discount - brilliant again! Especially for those repeat customers that previously read the ingredient list.   I encourage you to learn more via youtube search about these young folks doing good work and let them speak for themselves.

 I will have another blog post about the co- opting of dark chocolate - a increasingly popular beneficial food that is loaded with unhealthy additives by comercial companies and still marketed as healthy - once again by large commercial corporations- and even small ones nowadays - with misleading labels! 

This company is one of the REAL deal...
AUTHENTIC TRUE GOOD FOOD SOURCES FROM FARMER TO TABLE!
Chocosol 6 St Joseph St Toronto, ON M4Y 1J7, Canada
https://www.facebook.com/ChocoSolTraders
Phone: (416) 923-6675 photo from EAT PRAY BAKE blog

Large Lettuce Harvest: Satur Farms

" To create continual revenues and to offer year-round employment to our team, we began farming in Florida in the winter months. Additionally, we represent our neighbors' farm products during our growing season; occassionally we might source from other growers beyond our region. Sourcing is done only to ensure the sustainability and viability of the farm. The company's social responsibilities continue beyond our fence line, as we donate to food rescue organizations and are involved in local fundraisers for farm organizations and other socially responsible causes."
...from their website saturfarms.com (Long Island, NY)

Planting Tomatoes with my Dad

When I was growing up we had a kitchen garden in the backyard - my father came from a farming family - they grew tomatoes for Campbell's Soup Co in the early days.  I learned at an early age how to grow tomatoes.

Tomatoes at the ready for jarring tomato sauce at harvest time - we enjoyed them many ways - most notably as a tomato salad - and 2nd to none in my opinion - in a sandwich with mayo.

My Dad came up with putting plastic down and growing organically long before anyone else thought of it - although I do not use plastic anywhere on the farm - thinking that it must leach into the soil - instead I mulch with straw & grass clippings  - plastic would be so much easier!

Fond memories of working with my Dad in the garden and of my mother watering every night.

Postscript
In UpState NY I water in the early morning - but in Jersey - the perfect climate for tomatoes outside of Italy - it was preferable to water at night.

Why?  The cooler zones hold moisture overnight due to the drop in temperature - and that can harm the plant  - while warmer nights down South is perfect to absorb the water.  If you were to water during the day in these warmer zones you could burn the plant.

Italian Farmhouse Recipes: Easter Pie

Love, love love this pie - with locally grown organic wheat berries!!! Family Farmers Unite!

I use the "pasta frolla" instructions previously posted on this blog

There are many versions of Ingredients for the filling - here are some - scroll down:

http://www.emikodavies.com/blog/pastiera-napoletana/

• 250 grams of cooked whole grains*
• 200 ml milk
• 30 grams of butter
• 350 grams of fresh ricotta (from sheep and cow’s milk, if you can get a mixture of both)
• 350 grams of caster sugar
• 2 whole eggs, plus two yolks
• 100 grams of mixed candied citrus fruit (such as citron or orange), finely chopped
• grated rind of one organic lemon
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla essence (or 1 vanilla bean pod)
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon of orange blossom water

• The Filling
• 10 ounces (300 g) ricotta (purchase this fresh from a delicatessen) 
• 3/4 cup (150 g) sugar 
• 3 eggs, separated 
• 1 vial (1/4 cup) acqua di fiori d'arancio (not orange extract, but orange blossom water -- purchase this from an Italian deli)
• A pinch powdered cinnamon 
• 1/4 cup minced candied citron 
• 1/4 cup minced candied orange peel

there are so many recipes out there!  I will try some and let you know which I liked best.  Where we grew up the neighborhood had some good bread and pastry shops!  Lucky, right?

 http://www.pastiera.com/history.htm 

1 kg pre packed frozen short pastry (if you want to make it at home click here for the recipe) 700 gr ricotta cheese 600 gr sugar 400 gr of boiled wheat (you can easily find cans in any supermarket) 80 gr crystallized citron

80 gr crystallized orange a dash cinnamon 100 gr milk 30 gr butter or lard 5 eggs and 2 egg yolks a spoon full of vanilla a spoon of orange flavoured water 1 lemon

Ingredients

http://lacucinaitalianamagazine.com/recipe/neapolitan_cake

• 1 3/4 cups wheat berries
• 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 1 lemon
• 2 pounds fresh ricotta cheese
• 1 cup candied citrus
• 2 tablespoons orange flower water
• 1 orange
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• Heat oven to 375°.
  
  Separate remaining 4 eggs. In a large bowl, stir together wheat berries, ricotta, remaining cup sugar, candied citrus, egg yolks, orange water, finely grated zest from orange, 2 teaspoons finely grated lemon zest and cin

F.A.B.: Mayonnaise

My guilty pleasure especially during tomato season is Mayonnaise If you make it at home with farm raised free range chicken's eggs - does it have less fat? Maybe not - but we will give Hellman's and Heinz just alittle competition  - small farmers Unite!!!!

 "Hellmann’s alone accounted for $401.2 million in sales last year, according to Businessweek -- nearly a third of the total $1.3 billion mayo market here. Heinz Ketchup is a distant third with $278.6 million in sales, edged out by the $286.2 million worth of Tostito’s salsa sold last year. Mayo’s dominance is such that the varieties account for five of the 10 most popular condiment brands, including Best Foods and Kraft. Kraft, for instance, offers its classic mayonnaise, as well as Miracle Whip, and flavored mayos such as reduced fat Chipotle, Garlic & Herb, Horseradish-Dijon, and regular Hot & Spicy. According to SymphonyIRI Group, a market-research firm that analyzed the sales data, nearly 400 million containers of mayonnaise were sold in the year ending Sept. 5, 2010. That’s compared to 271 million jars of salsa and 256 million bottles of ketchup sold nationwide." 
-from the nypost - not my favorite resource or newspaper - but hey, maybe the numbers are somewhere in the ballpark - either way - we know it is a h u g e market."

"Born from Henry J. Heinz’s horseradish business, Heinz has become one of the best-recognized food companies in the world, with its bottles of deep-red ketchup sitting on millions of kitchen tables. But it has expanded its offerings to include Ore-Ida French fries and Lea & Perrins Worcestershire sauce.

For the year ended Oct. 28, the company reported $11.6 billion in revenue and $1 billion in profit. It generates a majority of its sales in Europe, but its Asian markets are growing "quickly. And it has improved its net sales for eight consecutive fiscal years.

- from NYTimes regarding the buyout by Warren Buffet's firms

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