I realize its been a while since I last updated my blog. Two factors have been keeping me from regular blog posting. First, my farming duties. Despite the cold dreary weather, I have been starting seeds. The second factor, equally as exciting, is that I have started writing for the Town Dish, a great resource for local food and drink news. I am very thankful for the opportunity to share my locavore themed stories with the Dish readers. My two first articles are all about the upcoming Philly Farm and Food Fest. You can read all about the Fest and its newly added Local Libations Lounge in the two articles below.
February marks my yearly pilgrimage to the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture's (PASA) Farming for the Future Conference. The conference is always an inspiration and I will blog more about this amazing event in the near future. What struck me this year, is the number of first timers to the conference, which is an encouraging fact. We need more people joining the good food movement.
If you have an interest in farming I want to urge you to begin it now or at least start exploring the idea. As Becky Krestschmann, one of the winners of Sustainable Ag Leadership Award given at this year's PASA conference, said in her acceptance speech (Becky and her husband Don have a very large CSA outside of Pittsburgh, PA)
"You can not think your way into a new way of living, you must live your way into a new way of thinking"
The amount of information and resources that is now available to aspiring farmers is yet another hopeful sign. The movement is growing and support is growing, to quote the Sara Watkin's song from the video above "take up your spade and break ground."
Below I have listed a number of links that new and want-to-be farmers might find helpful:
I have to admit this time of year can be a little frustrating--stuck between winter and the knowledge that Spring is just around the corner, I get antsy. I long for warm weather and spring, however I know it will bring with it a lot of hard work and an end to my winter socializing. Its hard to find balance and contentment during this transition time. The days are getting longer, bulbs are popping through the semi-frozen ground; yet it is still a little too early to be doing much outdoor garden preparation. The drab landscape can seem a little depressing and the weather can be positively schizophrenic.
There is however a very bright, colorful and wonderful smelling up side to mid-February--the magnificent Freesias from Barnard's Orchards (click here to view facebook album of freesia). In fact this is my favorite time to visit the area orchard stores like Glenn Willow and Barnard's Orchard. Their shelves are stocked with autumn harvested apples, flowers from local greenhouse like Rosazza's and delicious citrus. Obviously the citrus is not grown locally, however our local orchard managers seem particular skilled at picking out the most delicious varieties. Winter is the season for citrus and below are a number of links to citrus recipes and information. Like the bright pastels of freesia, the citrus can provide the same sort of antedote to the winter dolmdrums--some much needed excitement, the culinary balance to the visual beauty of the winter greenhouse flowers. Sweet, juicy and full of vitamin C; what could be a better late winter pick me up. Enjoy our local orchards, winter flowers and the magic of winter citrus.
For the last couple of years we have been pleased to offer a
number of CSA (community supported agriculture) options from nearby farms in addition to our own vegetable CSA.These options include cheese from HillacresPride, fruit from North Star Orchard and flowers from Three Bird Bouquets.If you want to increase your consumption of local
food and flowers, I strongly suggest you check out the links to
the various farms and CSA options.By
the time mid-summer rolls around you can fill your kitchen with local vegetables,
herbs, fruit, cheeses and flowers with just one simple visit to Inverbrook Farm each
week. Plus you will be supporting four local family farms with just one trip. If you are looking for the perfect
Valentines or birthday present for the locavore in your life, consider one or
all of these options.Not only will you
be giving the gift of delicious cheese, fruit and beautiful flowers, you will
be contributing to a strong local agricultural community.
You do NOT have to be an Inverbrook CSA member to pick up
any of the various CSA options, although they complement each other very
well.These farms all make their
deliveries on Wednesdays (the flowers are also delivered on Mondays and the
cheese can last through until Monday) throughout the season; however the frequency,
start and end dates are all different for each of the farms represented.I encourage you to explore the links below
and learn about the diverse and delicious CSA choices:
I want to do a little extra push for the delicious Hillacres Pride cheese shares because we need a minimum of 15 shares to make their delivery to the farm worth while. Here are two links/reviews about Hillacres:
I hope you will consider joining one or more of these farm options. When late summer arrives and you are able to pair that amazing tasting apple from North Star Orchard with an aged cheddar from Hillacres Pride all made more enjoyable with the presence of a beautiful Three Bird Bouquet filled with sunflowers, zinnias and fragrant tuber roses--you we be happy that you took advantage of this opportunity.
With the first month of the New
Year coming to a close, I thought it would be an appropriate time to share a number of
interesting links about starting fresh as it pertains to cooking,
diet and the importance of the food you eat.From detoxing
your body to decluttering your kitchen; my recent news feed roaming has unearthed
a wealth of useful advice. A pathway to health, happiness and sustainability through simple lifestyle changes. I hope these links will
inspire positive action. There are still a
few days left to sign up for the 2013 CSA season and receive a $50 early bird discount (if you sign up before the end of the month). To quote Oprah Winfrey “Cheers
to a new year and another chance for us to get it right.”
In my blog wanderings I came across Healthy Green Kitchen and a series on simple steps one can take to improve one's life called "One Simple Change".
I like this concept
of little steps that can add up to make a big difference.The most recent issue of Fine Cooking Magazine included an article on the addition of vegetable purees to favorites like macaroni and cheese, breads, etc.. This simple step can greatly reduce the calorie count
and increase the nutritional value of these dishes without compromising the taste. Good health can be delicious.
If you are reading the farm blog, you probably already have made
some sort of commitment toward increasing your consumption of local food, and you should feel great about the change.
The pledge to “Buy Fresh, Buy Local” can
have a big impact, you can read all about it here on the FoodRoutes Website.
Speaking of making a positive impact, a veteran Inverbrook
Farm CSA member has started a new web-based project Logical Living.You can go to this site and complete a free
online lifestyle assessment by answering a simple set of questions about your
lifestyle habits.Based on your answers,
Logical Living will make recommendations related to small steps that you can
make to “green” your life. Click here to read a recent article about being a member of Inverbrook Farm CSA.
I feel like I dedicate a
large proportion of my blog posts to waxing poetic about the spirited small town of
Kennett Square.How can I NOT feature this
charming little borough with its vibrant downtown, home to the
much acclaimed Talula’s Table. A town
whose international claim to fame is being the mushroom capital of the world
AND, drum roll please… hosts not one, but two Brewfests.That is right, February 2013 marks the inaugural
run of the winter brew festival a.k.a. The First Annual Kennett Winterfest February 23rd from 12:30-4PM.Modeled
after the highly successful fall Brewfest, this beer drinking extravaganza for
only the most passionate beer lovers, will be a much more intimate and
potentially colder experience.This outdoor
beer festival with over 25 brewers and just 800 available tickets, is sure to
sell out.In fact there are only about
200 tickets left, so get them while you can—click here for ticket information. For a complete list of participating breweries and the beers they are bringing along check out the Brewfest Blog-with all the latest festival information. Along with the alcohol content of many of the Winterfest beers (make sure you have a designated driver lined up), the Winterfest organizers have come up with several ways to keep you warm and happy. The ticket price includes a delicious hearty meal from the aforementioned much acclaimed Talula's Table. You can also groove your way to warmth with the fun and recognizable tunes of the Shady Groove Trio. Band member Matt Kresge sent
me this bio regarding his band: The Shady Groove Trio came
about in 2009 when 3 musicians, tired of hearing the same hackneyed rock tunes
played nightly by mediocre bands in various bars, went on a mission to bring
good quality music back to the local bar and club scene. Bassist/Vocalist
Bernie Gillespie, Guitarist/Vocalist Matt Kresge, and Drummer/Vocalist Mark
Swartley strive to play the classic tunes we've all grown to love, yet have
unfortunately been left behind by the repetitiveness and predictability of
today's radio. The likes of Chuck Berry, Paul Simon, The Who, The Police,
Beatles, Rolling Stones, Hall & Oates, Johnny Cash, and even classic surf
instrumentals are all fair game at a Shady Groove Trio show. In addition to
their vast repertoire, it is the trio's musicianship that sets them apart from
other local acts. Drummer Mark Swartley has
played professionally for years and continues to be sought out by some of
Philadelphia's finest live acts, including an extensive touring resume with
rockabilly favorites, The Razorbacks. Guitarist Matt Kresge continues to
impress audiences with his diverse and energetic playing that won him 'Best
Guitarist' at the 2005 Emergenza Festival held in Philadelphia. Backed with
Gillespie's impressive vocal range and driving bass, The Shady Groove Trio is
guaranteed to get your feet moving! Although the lighting and the background noise leaves
a bit to be desired, you can get a sense of Shady Groove's talent in this youtube video cover of
"She's So Cold". So there you have it-great
beer, music, food and people--what better way to spend a winter afternoon. Best of all the festival is a fundraiser for Historic Kennett Square and its programs like the Kennett Farmers Market. Hope
to see you at Winterfest.
“The only person you are destined to become is the person
you decide to be.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
With the first week of the new year coming to a close, I hope you are feeling good about your resolutions for 2013. If healthy eating is first and foremost on your new to do list, may I suggest signing up for the 2013 Inverbrook Farm CSA season. There is no better incentive for adding fresh local vegetables to your diet than to make the financial commitment now for a growing season's supply of vegetables. Considering the CSA pick does not start until June, this up front fee will help you keep your goal long into the year. As a reward, the cost of a 2013 CSA share will be discounted $50 until January 31st. If you need a pictorial incentive for joining the CSA- a visual taste of the season yet to come-check out this facebook album of vegetables from the 2012 CSA season. Perhaps these great seasonal healthy recipes from Food52 will inspire a healthy change in diet.
Photo by Kelly G
Along with the chance for a new start, one of my favorite aspects of transitioning from one year to another is that it provides an opportune moment to look both forward and reflect on the past. Its always enlightening to read about past and future food/health trends. Below I have complied a list of links that further explore this subject. I find it especially heartening that the interest in local, artisanal food as well as a push to increase the consumption of fruits and vegetables--seems stronger than ever. Enjoy the links and best wishes for the New Year.
I have to admit this time of year can be a little frustrating--stuck between winter and the knowledge that Spring is just around the corner, I get antsy. I long for warm weather and spring, however I know it will bring with it a lot of hard work and an end to my winter socializing. Its hard to find balance and contentment during this transition time. The days are getting longer, bulbs are popping through the semi-frozen ground; yet it is still a little too early to be doing much outdoor garden preparation. The drab landscape can seem a little depressing and the weather can be positively schizophrenic. 
For the last couple of years we have been pleased to offer a
number of CSA (community supported agriculture) options from nearby farms in addition to our own vegetable CSA. These options include cheese from HillacresPride, fruit from North Star Orchard and flowers from Three Bird Bouquets. If you want to increase your consumption of local
food and flowers, I strongly suggest you check out the links to
the various farms and CSA options. By
the time mid-summer rolls around you can fill your kitchen with local vegetables,
herbs, fruit, cheeses and flowers with just one simple visit to Inverbrook Farm each
week. Plus you will be supporting four local family farms with just one trip. If you are looking for the perfect
Valentines or birthday present for the locavore in your life, consider one or
all of these options. Not only will you
be giving the gift of delicious cheese, fruit and beautiful flowers, you will
be contributing to a strong local agricultural community.
Speaking of making a positive impact, a veteran Inverbrook
Farm CSA member has started a new web-based project Logical Living. You can go to this site and complete a free
online lifestyle assessment by answering a simple set of questions about your
lifestyle habits. Based on your answers,
Logical Living will make recommendations related to small steps that you can
make to “green” your life. Click here to read a recent article about being a member of Inverbrook Farm CSA.
