Garlic!!

Have you gotten your garlic planted yet? Now is the time! Separate the bulbs and plant the cloves pointy side up about 2 to 6 inches deep and about 3 inches apart. Get your garlic from a local organic farmer at the Farmer's Market or even from the Co-Op. Do not use grocery store garlic- they are not grown in this region and they are treated so they will not sprout! Garlic "learns" to grow and adapt to it's area year after year. So find a garlic you love, save the biggest bulbs and re-plant year after year! Garlic get's better with time!

Life Lessons Your Family Can Learn at a U-Pick Farm

Life Lessons Your Family Can Learn at a U-Pick Farm 

 It's U-Pick it time here in Northern California! A time when local farms open up for families to come and pick crops that are in season. There are many benefits to picking fresh fruit and vegetables.  They are incredibly fresh.  It is truly a wonder and unlike anything you can find in the grocery store.

Harvesting your own fruits and vegetables from a U-Pick  farm digs a bit deeper than going to the farmers markets.Many families take their children to the local farmers markets and shop for the best local produce. This is a great way to start getting the family involved in food preservation and local sustainability.  Children love the baby carrots, sweet peas and berries often offered by local farmers.
Now that you have gotten the family involved in selecting the finest produce from the farmers market and then taking it home and preparing it into a meal, the next step is to get them out to a U Pick farm!

Lesson # 1

God, the Creator or Mother Earth created Earth and every thing in it.

It still amazes me to watch tiny seedlings grow and produce food that nourishes us.  It is incredible to witness not only the plants as they grow but the farmers who tend to them and nurture them so they can give all they have.  Being a silent witness to the bounty around us brings me much gratitude.  Teach your family to be grateful for what Mother Earth brings to the table. 

Lesson #2

Patience 

Picking your own teaches families patience.  Children will get restless, need breaks and might complain about being too hot.  Parents, here is your lesson in patience!  Let them take breaks and bring water for them so they stay hydrated.
It takes time to fill a bucket up with fresh berries!  Teach the little ones to be gentle with the plants when harvesting so as not to pull the whole plant from the ground when pulling just one fruit!   Make a game of it! Encourage them to pick a few for the bucket and pick a few for them to eat as they go along!   I know I can't resist a taste!  Two for the bucket...One for me!  

Lesson # 3

Good things come with hard work

It takes work to get the good things.  Teach your family about the work that goes into harvesting food for their meal.  Take the time to talk to the owner of the farm or the farmers the work there.  Let your children ask questions. This a good way to add education and work ethic into a day out!  

Lesson #4

Create memories by the season

Visiting U Pick farms various times of the year is a great way to teach your family about seasons.  Mother Earth provides to us all year around. Learning about what is in season will create memories for your family. I have childhood memories of picking black berries down by the creek. After dinner my father would have a bowl of fresh black berries with milk and honey.  I can remember wearing sweaters in the fall and picking the best Jack-O-Lantern from the pumpkin patch.  These are all things that make for a wholesome good life full of loving memories.

It’s truly a wonder and unlike anything you can find at a grocery store. - See more at: http://www.myhumblekitchen.com/2013/07/5-life-lessons-your-family-can-learn-at-a-u-pick-farm-bonus-cherry-vanilla-jam-recipe/#sthash.ql7u9eEV.dpuf

Farms open up their fields to visitors and allow families to pick fresh fruit as it comes into season. - See more at: http://www.myhumblekitchen.com/2013/07/5-life-lessons-your-family-can-learn-at-a-u-pick-farm-bonus-cherry-vanilla-jam-recipe/#sthash.ql7u9eEV.dpuf

It’s u-pick season in the Midwest.  Farms open up their fields to visitors and allow families to pick fresh fruit as it comes into season.
There are many benefits to picking fruit at a u-pick farm.
Fruit picked off a tree, bush, or vine taste incredibly sweet.  It’s truly a wonder and unlike anything you can find at a grocery store.
- See more at: http://www.myhumblekitchen.com/2013/07/5-life-lessons-your-family-can-learn-at-a-u-pick-farm-bonus-cherry-vanilla-jam-recipe/#sthash.ql7u9eEV.dpuf

It’s u-pick season in the Midwest.  Farms open up their fields to visitors and allow families to pick fresh fruit as it comes into season.
There are many benefits to picking fruit at a u-pick farm.
Fruit picked off a tree, bush, or vine taste incredibly sweet.  It’s truly a wonder and unlike anything you can find at a grocery store.
- See more at: http://www.myhumblekitchen.com/2013/07/5-life-lessons-your-family-can-learn-at-a-u-pick-farm-bonus-cherry-vanilla-jam-recipe/#sthash.ql7u9eEV.dpuf

It’s u-pick season in the Midwest.  Farms open up their fields to visitors and allow families to pick fresh fruit as it comes into season.
There are many benefits to picking fruit at a u-pick farm.
Fruit picked off a tree, bush, or vine taste incredibly sweet.  It’s truly a wonder and unlike anything you can find at a grocery store.
- See more at: http://www.myhumblekitchen.com/2013/07/5-life-lessons-your-family-can-learn-at-a-u-pick-farm-bonus-cherry-vanilla-jam-recipe/#sthash.ql7u9eEV.dpuf

It’s u-pick season in the Midwest.  Farms open up their fields to visitors and allow families to pick fresh fruit as it comes into season.
There are many benefits to picking fruit at a u-pick farm.
Fruit picked off a tree, bush, or vine taste incredibly sweet.  It’s truly a wonder and unlike anything you can find at a grocery store.
- See more at: http://www.myhumblekitchen.com/2013/07/5-life-lessons-your-family-can-learn-at-a-u-pick-farm-bonus-cherry-vanilla-jam-recipe/#sthash.ql7u9eEV.dpuf

It’s u-pick season in the Midwest.  Farms open up their fields to visitors and allow families to pick fresh fruit as it comes into season.
There are many benefits to picking fruit at a u-pick farm.
Fruit picked off a tree, bush, or vine taste incredibly sweet.  It’s truly a wonder and unlike anything you can find at a grocery store.
- See more at: http://www.myhumblekitchen.com/2013/07/5-life-lessons-your-family-can-learn-at-a-u-pick-farm-bonus-cherry-vanilla-jam-recipe/#sthash.ql7u9eEV.dpuf

The hot stuff

Barlow Farms Kimchi

This is a great way to use cabbage for something other than cole slaw, Kimchi is FANTASTIC! It’s a spicy Korean condiment that is often fermented or aged  for months. We had fun with this recipe and shortened it's fermenting time to one week, only because we couldn't wait to try it! It’s traditionally served with steamed white rice.(it is good alone also). For this recipe, we did not use the cabbage we grew here on the farm, we had to buy Napa Cabbage from the co-op! After trying this recipe, we will be growing it come fall.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup kosher salt, divided
• 2 3/4 pounds napa (Chinese) cabbage, quartered lengthwise (about two)
• 2 cups thinly sliced green onions (about 2 bunches) 
• 2 cups finely grated peeled daikon radish (about 1 medium) 
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1/2 cup rice vinegar
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 tablespoons minced fresh garlic
• 1 1/2 tablespoons grated peeled fresh ginger
• 3 tablespoons sambal oelek (ground fresh chile paste)

Preparation

1.  Reserve 1/2 teaspoon salt; set aside. Place cabbage in a large bowl; sprinkle remaining salt over cabbage, sprinkling between leaves. Weigh down cabbage with a smaller bowl filled with cans or anything heavy. Let stand at room temperature for 2 hours; drain. Rinse cabbage thoroughly under cold water; drain. Remove cabbage leaves from core; discard core.
2.  Combine reserved 1/2 teaspoon salt, onions, and remaining ingredients in a medium bowl. Arrange cabbage leaves in layers in a 1-quart airtight container, spread radish and other ingredient mixture onto cabbage leaves in layers; press leaves to compress mixture. Top leaves with any remaining radish mixture. Cover and refrigerate 1 week. Store in an airtight container in refrigerator up to 2 weeks.

What the heck is  Sambal Oelek ! 

Let's start here.... there is a company called Huy Fong Foods that has a  US market for hot sauces. They own the rights to use brand name Sriracha in the US. All of the labels have the rooster on them, with a green top. 

Sriracha is named after the Thai port city of Si Racha and is mostly used as a condiment or dipping sauce. This is the sauce that had become a huge favorite of the eating masses. Because of the big white rooster label it is commonly called,“cock sauce”. 
It’s pretty much made from sun-ripened chili peppers, vinegar, garlic, sugar, and salt.  It is even  kosher! People put it on almost  anything and everything!.


Sambal Oelek is more of Indonesian and Malaysian origin. It is made from a variety of different chilies, but mostly cayenne. It is simply ground chilies.  
It is what we use in our Kimchi. Sambal Oelek is used  when you want to add heat without impacting the flavor of the dish. It is used for cooking.

Chili Garlic Sauce

Huy Fong Foods   also makes a chili garlic sauce. It has more of a garlic taste. It is made from  chilies, garlic, salt, sugar, and white vinegar. It is great in stir fried vegetables and is a great addition to hot and sour soup.  The garlic flavor make it  really great for adding  to cooked dishes.

Glorifiction of Busy

Why is everyone so busy? It seems that the response to "How are you?" on conference calls or conversations with friends results in my least favorite word - busy. Most of the insanely busy people I know aren't working multiple jobs or balancing family and work, let alone tending to a farm or home business!  The full calendar is a result of choice rather than sheer workload. Busyness isn't a badge of honor… it just makes you look self-important (and self-loathing).

 It’s almost always people whose lamented busyness is purely self-imposed: work and obligations they've taken on voluntarily, classes and activities they've “encouraged” their kids to participate in. They’re busy because of their own ambition or drive or anxiety, because they’re addicted to busyness and dread what they might have to face in its absence.

Finding some work/life balance is hard. It take presence and the ability to stop and notice why you are so busy. Stop, take a deep breath in  and release slowly. Better yet, for the love of all things holy, unplug from your, smart phone I Pad and email. Don't freak out it will be OK!

It took me years to not completely freak out on Fridays and Mondays.  Friday Freak Out sessions were the result of me obsessing on all the stuff I needed to do at home and in the yard after putting in a full week at my regular job.  It would start about half way home during my commute. My "To Do List" played over and over in my head.  By the time I got home I was completely pissed off!  I literally walked though my house pointing out all that was dusty, needed picking up and putting away.

Manic Mondays followed the Freak Out Friday session.  On my way to work during my commute, my "To Busy To Finish List" played over and over in my head.  I began to feel guilty and depressed Why couldn't I complete my "To Do List"?  Why did Monday come so soon. Why am I so pissed off?

Then it  hit me, one word -

  GRATITUDE

Believe me, I have taken on too much a lot of the time.  I have "encouraged" my kids to join clubs and activities that require a lot time time.  I am awfully guilty of checking my e-mail, smart phone and social media a billion times a day! I have taken on all the chores simply because I did not delegate.  My busy busy life was my badge of honor, I would be damned if I was going to give it up!  Being aware of the insanity is a good place to start.  Notice when you are logging in.  Notice when you are speeding down the road to get to the next activity in time.  Notice when you are going through the drive thru for "dinner".  

When going though the garden, doing the never ending house work or even when shoveling out the horse barn or chicken coop, I am grateful for having all that I have. I am grateful for my family, my kids and my husband. A quick look around is all it takes. Our home at  Barlow Farms can get hectic.  We spend a lot of time trying to get things done. Small farming may sound, well, small. Believe me it is not!  Organically grown fruits and vegetables and Organic meats require work to produce.  Small farmers and home cooks are an integral part of our community.   We are working hard to motivate change in the way our food is produced.We sell our abundance at our farmer's market in order to put the earnings back into the farm.  Staying busy this way is the only way! 

So the next time you feel busy, stop, take a deep breath and notice your stress level.   Noticing comes first.  Be aware. Be present.  Becoming aware and present in the moment clears the way for Gratitude.

 

Moving Out

Alas! Peeps Moved Out!

In the beginning, I adore baby chicks in the house.  Their fluffy feathers and quite peeping sound brings comfort to our dining room.  There is nothing like the warm sun shining in the window and touching down on the baby chick as they peck around the inside brooder.  Sitting with a cup of tea and  watching them develope litte personalaties brings me to a place of peace.

Then the little mosters grow!  They are constantly hungry the brooder needs constant cleaning and they start overcrowding one another!  Over the last two weeks I have been taking them outside during the day and putting them in what we call the "play pen."  My husband build a great outside brooder with an open bottom so they can peck at the grass.  So every morning before work, I would take the chicks outside and deposit them into the play pen. Every night at dusk, I would gather them and bring them inside. 

Finally, yesterday  I left them outside all night!  It was a success!  At an angle, I  propped up a piece of plywood  for a more solid top, hung their light over them and Wha La!  This morning they were all bright eyed and busy tailed!  Thank goodness everything went well. No predators, no problems!

Barlow Farms: Joyful Flowers

Barlow Farms: Joyful Flowers:  Chives Flowers that are in bloom around our farm right now Planting a flower garden shouldn't be about how a yard looks in a maga...

Joyful Flowers

 Chives

Flowers that are in bloom around our farm right now

Planting a flower garden shouldn't be about how a yard looks in a magazine as much as how you feel in that space.If you are to create gardens with an authentic view, self-exploration must come before pictures from Martha's Gardens. Personal flourishes can be had for little or no money. Search seed catalogs and start flower seeds in the early spring. Don't for get about bulbs! Plant bulbs in the late winter and early spring for a delightful surprise. Once the bulbs bloom plant around them to create a beautiful space. Divide and Concur!  Trade plantings with friends and family, dig up your excess and trade.

Lavender

 Herb gardens have been considered  an important ritual. Devotion to growing herbs can be traced back nearly six thousand years before the Christian era began. Ancient civilizations like those of Egypt and China, herbalists were revered. Their teachings about medicinal properties were passed down and written about in sacred texts.  Today herbs are used for cooking and remedies. Sow some symbolic seeds and become a participant in your own healing and culinary wholeness.

Shasta Daisy

Ah! The beloved everlasting Shasta Daisy! Shasta Daisies spread prolifically and benefit from division every two to three years. Dig up the plants and move them about the yard or garden spot.You will soon find that they begin to clump together and fill in blank spots. In time, you may have extra plants to give to friends.

Deadheading, or the practice of removing spent flowers, has several benefits for Shasta Daisies. Deadheading encourages more blooms and extends  the blooming season. After deadheading the first go around, let the second or third blooms go to seed and deadhead after the seeds form.  snip the seed head off and store in an airtight container or envelope. Share the seeds with friends!

Rhododendron

Got shade?  Here is a picture of some of our Rodies! My husband, Dale's favorite flower! Check out the American Rhododendron Society http://www.rhododendron.org/  A non-profit organization whose purpose is to encourage interest in and to disseminate information about the genus Rhododendron.  Members' experience ranges from novice to expert.  Society activities include public education, flower shows, seed exchanges, scientific studies, and communication through publications and local and national meetings.

Hosta!

Shade, Shade, wonderful Shade!
Plant Hosta's  in the very early spring for wonderful foliage throughout spring and summer. They add a lush feel to any landscape.

Iris

Our Iris's have gotten so tall we have to stake them!  
Did you know there are about 300 species of Iris? They are a natural hybrid and the risomes live for centuries. These are Iris' that were planted on our farm long before we came to live there. I imagine they are pretty old.   The Iris dates back to Greek Mythology. Iris is of the rainbow and messenger of the gods. She is also known as one of the goddesses of the sea and the sky. Iris links the gods to humanity and  travels with the speed of wind. She can travel  from one end of the world to the other and into the bottom of the sea.  It seems like our Iris' bloom during the period of rain and sunshine, a time when we see rainbows, so I guess the Greek Goddess Iris of the rainbow makes sense, eh?