Daily Farm Photo: 2/28/06

Martha & Her Twins

Daily Farm Photo: 2/27/06

First Day Outside For Martha's Baby Boy

Lowly Turnips Are Tip Top In the Garden: How to Grow Turnips From Seed & What To Do with Them

Baby Golden Globe Turnips In My Winter Garden

That patch of ground you carefully tend may still be frozen solid right now, but avid gardeners know that this is the most influential gardening time of the year. And for obsessed gardeners like me, it can also be the most expensive. It’s time to order seeds.

Starting plants from seed (be they edible or decorative) opens up an endless world of propagating possibilities to gardeners. Hundreds of companies offer thousands of varieties of seeds from around the world, all for an extremely reasonable couple of dollars a packet. This means, in theory, that you can fill your garden with a much more interesting assortment of plants that is offered at the local nursery for a lot less money. In theory. The bargain price of seeds is almost a disadvantage--they’re too good of a deal. It is impossible to only order a few packets. Curled up inside a warm and cozy house on a snowy afternoon, surrounded by piles of seed catalogs full of enticing descriptions, it is easy to believe that you will somehow find the space and time to grow all those exotic offerings. It is also easy to pass by some of the classic mainstays of the garden, like turnips.

Many people do not eat turnips, nor do they grow them or ever even think about them. These people are missing out, for I have discovered that turnips, a member of the cruciferous vegetable family, are not only one of the easiest vegetables to grow, but that with very little effort (and no outlay of cash beyond the initial cost of the seeds, currently $1.35 for 600 from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds) they will also reward you with bounty throughout the year. Here’s how.

Several years ago I thickly sowed hundreds of plain old Purple Top White Globe turnip seeds in mid summer, when the optimum soil temperature for germination of 80 degrees F was no problem. The productive Purple Top turnip was a popular market variety in the U.S. back in the 1800s, and it has since become the standard American turnip. (Other interesting heirloom turnips that are still available today include Golden Globe, White Egg, Ideal Purple Top Milan, Snowball, Bianca Piatta, Navet des Vertus Marteau, and Amber Globe.)

Within a few weeks, I had tender, nutrient-packed greens to toss into salads. Turnip greens are, in fact, one of The World’s Healthiest Foods. Turnip bulbs are a good source of vitamin C and have two to three grams of fiber per serving. They also contain the potent phytochemical sulforaphane, which has been shown to protect against cancer, especially breast cancer.

At this point I mulched around the plants with grass clippings to discourage weeds--the only work ever required. A few weeks later I picked darling baby turnips that I peeled, simmered in water until soft, and then mashed by hand. Seasoned with nothing but salt, pepper and a lump of butter, they were absolutely delicious. (This tasty early harvest also helped to thin out the remaining plants, allowing them more space to grow.)

As the days progressed, the larger greens were steamed and then sauteed with olive oil and garlic (stir in some chopped lean bacon for a little Southern flavor). The bulbs were peeled, cut into chunks, and tossed into soups and stews (try them in place of--or in addition to--potatoes in any recipe) or simmered and mashed as described above with potatoes. The turnips will need to cook about 10 minutes longer than the potatoes. You may never be able to eat plain mashed potatoes again after tasting these.

There are numerous other ways to enjoy turnips. You can slice raw baby turnips and toss them into salads as you would radishes. Or you can thinly slice and stir-fry medium size turnips, with or without some of the chopped greens. You can even grate raw small turnips and mix them into your favorite slaw. Then there’s this easy recipe for caramelized turnips I recently came across and can’t wait to try.

When freezing temperatures arrived, I began covering my turnip patch with plastic tarps, and later with tarps and old blankets. I continued to harvest turnips throughout the winter, sometimes digging under a foot of snow to reach them. The greens turned to slimy mush, but the bulbs were just fine. Alternately, you can simply harvest all of your turnips just before the ground freezes (which is when they are sweetest) and store them at 32 degrees F for up to 6 months. But my method is more fun--and more rewarding. By early spring I hadn’t even harvested the entire crop. As the temperature rose, I uncovered what was left, and within days I was thrilled to see tiny green shoots sprouting up from the (by then not-so-tasty-looking) bulbs. Once again I had tender, nutritious greens--extremely welcome so early in the season.

And it doesn’t even end there. Instead of pulling up the plants, I let them grow, and by late spring I was rewarded with enough turnip seeds for another crop, plus extras I could have sown right then if I hadn’t been so tired of turnips.


Golden Globe Turnip Greens Are A Delightful Sight In February

Late last September I sowed a few rows of Golden Globe turnip seeds in my raised bed garden, and while they had a slow start, our winter has been so mild this year that the plants (greens and all) are thriving, as you can see by these photos. They have survived snow, ice, and even a -3 degree F morning covered with nothing more than a bedsheet and an old quilt. (I place metal hoops and wire tomato cages around the plants so the covers don’t touch the leaves).

I’ll probably never be able to stop ordering too many packets of all those alluring gourmet vegetable seeds each winter, but I always make sure to set aside some space in the garden every year for turnips. Perhaps you should, too. (For some general tips and resources for starting seeds, please see the comments section in this post.)

Note: This is my entry for Weekend Herb Blogging #21, a deliciously informative event hosted by Kalyn's Kitchen. Food bloggers from around the world participate, and you never know what interesting new edibles you'll discover each week in the Sunday night roundup.

Sources:
Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds
Located right here in Missouri, I have been happily ordering "non-hybrid, non-GMO, non-treated, and non-patented" seeds from this rapidly growing, family owned company for several years. They offer an amazing variety of seeds from around the world.

Pinetree Garden Seeds
Another longtime favorite of mine, this small company in Maine offers top quality, untreated seeds (plus things like shallots, seed potatoes, strawberry plants, and asparagus roots) at very reasonable prices. Many seed packets are under a dollar, and they also have a tempting selection of reasonably priced garden tools, kitchen gadgets, and books.

High Mowing Organic Seeds
I just discovered this company yesterday (my catalog is on its way!), and they appear to be right up my garden row. This independent, family-owned business in Vermont offers over 250 varieties of organic seeds (many of which they raise themselves). Click here to read more about them. And click here to learn why you should seriously consider buying organically grown seeds. If you have any experience with this company, I would love to hear about it.

Daily Farm Photo: 2/26/06

Start Small, Think Big

Weekend Dog Blogging #23

Donkey Doodle Dandy Adores Lucky Buddy Bear

Click here to see the bonus photo Bear didn't want me to share.

Attention Dog Lovers! It's time for Weekend Dog Blogging #23!
To see fun dog photos and discover yummy new food blogs, head over to Sweetnicks on Sunday night for the complete roundup. Wishing for more woofers? Check out the weekly Carnival Of The Dogs at Mickey's Musings. And at The Friday Ark you'll find dozens of links to every kind of critter imaginable.

Weekend Cat Blogging #38: Purrfectly Content

New Cat Hanging Out Of The Snowy Cat Cabin

Attention Cat Lovers! This Is Weekend Cat Blogging #38!
See fun feline photos & discover yummy new food blogs. Visit my pal Clare & her crazy cat Kiri at Eat Stuff in Australia for all the links to this week's kitties. We'd love to have you join us. Just leave your permalink in a comment at Eat Stuff.

For even more pussycat pics, be sure to catch the traveling Carnival Of The Cats each Sunday night. And the weekly Friday Ark features everything from dogs & ducks to cats & caterpillars.

Daily Farm Photo: 2/25/06

Anyone Recognize Those Ears?

Daily Farm Photo: 2/24/06

Falling To Pieces. . .



But Not Completely

Chickens On Snow: Step By Step Photos

(Not A Recipe)

Daily Farm Photo: 2/23/06

Martha & Her Baby Girl

Daily Farm Photo 2/22/06: Snow Love

Cold Heart

It's A Boy! It's A Girl! It's A Boy!

It's A Crazy Day On The Farm!


Just before dawn, my beloved (and wiped out) Doll Face had this sweet baby boy out in the 10 degree cold. Here they are snuggled up under the heat lamp in their bonding pen (hence the odd lighting in the photos).







I Love You, Mama



Meanwhile. . . You all remember Martha, don't you?


Well, this picture was taken this morning, and she would like you all to know that it's not fat (or fluff). . .



It's Twins!

I've been watching her for weeks, even bundling up and clomping down to the barn around 2am for the past ten nights to check on everyone--but especially her. This afternoon I had to make a mad dash to town (I haven't left the farm in a week), and I was sure Martha would choose that time to go into labor.

I ignored half my To Do List and was gone barely over two hours. I sped down the driveway, screeched to a halt in front of the barnyard, and saw Martha cleaning up a lamb that was just a few minutes old. By the time I had zipped up to the house, changed my clothes, and scampered back down to the barn, the second lamb was on its way out. All three are now happily snuggled up in their bonding pen next door to Doll Face and her baby.

I think that's just about enough excitement for the day. Of course, I'll be heading back down to the barn in a few hours, and Mary and Frederica were looking awfully close. . .

Daily Farm Photo 2/21/06:Note To Self Re Snowstorm Preparation

Think Tarp

You'll Wanna Eat Your Spinach Soup, Ba-byAfter You Try This Easy & Delicious Recipe!

A Bargain At Twice The Price *

Actually, I don't know why spinach gets such a bad rap. Well, maybe I do. It probably has something to do with that slimy substance in a can many people were wrongly subjected to as children. Spinach should never, ever be put into a can. Ever. Fresh baby spinach is about as good as it gets, and I could happily eat spinach salad five times a week, and sometimes do. I also adore creamed spinach and spinach soup. And I would never turn down a fluffy spinach omelette or a plate of homemade cheese and spinach ravioli.

That said, you're probably assuming that I devote a large portion of my kitchen garden to spinach each year. How I wish. It's not that spinach is very difficult to grow, because it's not--as long as you have a nice long, cool growing season, which I do not. There are actually some varieties, such as Bloomsdale Long Standing, that fare better than most when faced with climbing temperatures, and I have had limited, but very tasty, success with these. In general, though, our springs are simply too short for spinach.

And the other problem with growing spinach, which you know if you have ever attemped to cultivate it, is that you need to plant a lot of it. Those 'bunches' of spinach for sale at the market? They are not one single clump like a head of lettuce. Each one is actually about 50 little spinach plants made up of just a few leaves apiece and bundled together with a twisty tie. Now start doing the math. That's right. Even if I could get a decent spinach crop to grow, I'd need about four acres of plants just to feed my habit, not to mention hundreds of hours to tend and harvest them. Never gonna happen. Storebought spinach is suddenly a steal.

Unfortunately, conventionally grown spinach is near the top of the Most Contaminated Produce List. These are the items that you want to buy organically grown if at all possible. Fortunately, fresh organic spinach is readily available. Earthbound Farm (a wonderful company) sells bags of triple-washed, organic baby spinach in supermarkets and natural food stores across the country. And companies such as Cascadian Farm even sell those handy boxes of organic frozen spinach. (Got kids? Click here to read about an inspiring study that shows an organic diet causes pesticide levels in childrens' bodies to immediately plummet.)

So I expend my energies in the garden on more successful crops and treat myself to bags of purchased organic spinach. Hint: Shop around. I pay $4.99 for 16-ounce bags of Earthbound Farm organic baby spinach at the store. Right above them are 5-ounce bags for $3.99. Go figure. Like I said, a bargain at twice the price.

Now that I've talked you into buying the big bag, what are you going to do with all that fresh spinach? If you do not eat salads at the same rate I do, and you have a few minutes to spare, you can turn it into the most sublime spinach soup you will probably ever taste.

For many years, a version of the spinach soup in Margaret Fox's Cafe Beaujolais cookbook was regularly featured at my dinner table. I made it with a box of frozen spinach (as does Margaret) and plain old canned chicken broth (she made her own stock), topped it off with a dollop of sour cream, and enjoyed every bowlful. But somewhere along the road to my becoming a complete food snob, I stopped making that soup. I can't even remember the last time I bought a can of chicken broth.

But the other night, two soon-to-be-outdated bags of organic spinach and a large bowl of rich, homemade chicken stock began calling out to me from behind the refrigerator door. Make us into some nice hot soup! How could I not? It was twenty degrees outside, and there is only so much spinach salad even I can eat.

Naturally I turned back to my beloved Cafe Beaujolais recipe for guidance, but what I ended up with was like no spinach soup I'd ever had. I will not embarrass myself by admitting just how much of it I consumed in one sitting. Okay, one sitting and one standing over the pot in the kitchen. (Have you ever looked at how much of something has been eaten, known you were the only one who could possibly have eaten it, and yet started glancing frantically around the room for someone--anyone--to blame for a large percentage of its disappearance?)

Once again, top quality ingredients shine through in the simplest of preparations. And while the gist of Margaret's recipe remains the same, I've changed pretty much everything about it except the basic instructions. So what's with the name? Well, it's like the Really Raspberry Tartlets. It's super fast & easy to make, super delicious, and super good for you. It's rich and satisfying and yet contains no milk or cream. The secret to its thickness is a little uncooked rice tossed in.

And where is the picture? Well, I just didn't have it in me to try and make yet another bowl of soup look appealing. This soup is not exactly beautiful, but that doesn't matter because everyone will devour it too quickly to notice anyway. And besides, I couldn't come up with anything as clever as this to justify what would no doubt be a rather unexciting photo. Enjoy! Want more? You'll find several more of my easy, tasty, and healthy soup recipes in the sidebar of the home page under PREVIOUS POSTS: FOOD STUFF W/ RECIPES.

Farmgirl Susan's Super Spinach Soup
Makes about 7 or 8 cups
(I forgot to measure before I started inhaling it)

1/4 cup nice olive oil
1 pound yellow or white onions, chopped
6 cups (48 ounces) homemade chicken stock (or high quality storebought)
1/4 cup uncooked white rice
12 ounces fresh organic baby spinach (about 8 cups packed)
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon good pepper

1. Heat olive oil in a large pot and cook onions, stirring frequently, over medium heat until translucent and just starting to turn golden at the edges, about 7 to 10 minutes.

2. Add chicken stock, bring to a boil, add rice, turn down heat, and simmer, with the lid cracked, stirring every so often, for 20 minutes.

3. Stir in spinach, salt, and pepper and simmer another 5 to 7 minutes. Carefully puree the soup using a blender or immersion hand blender. (You know I can't say enough about my KitchenAid Immersion Hand Blender. It's the best $50 I've spent in the kitchen in years.

4. Serve hot, garnished if desired (but it really doesn't need it) with dollops of sour cream or creme fraiche and a few chive blossoms if you happen to have any laying around.

This is my entry for Weekend Herb Blogging #20, an appetizing, informative, and fun event hosted each week at Kalyn's Kitchen. Food bloggers from around the world participate, and you never know what interesting new edibles you'll discover. This post is also part of ARF/5-A-Day #8, a weekly event hosted by Sweetnicks that proves just how tasty (and easy) eating healthy can be.*

While the USDA Organic Label does carry weight and meaning (despite the controversy surrounding it), please be aware that many small producers (especially farmers) simply cannot afford the exorbitant fees required to become USDA certified. Top quality organic foods are sold around the country without this label, so don't let it be your only guide to going organic. Contact companies and ask questions about their products. Get to know growers and suppliers if at all possible. Support local producers and farmers' markets. Let it be known to all that you care about your food and where it comes from!

© Contents Copyright 2006 FarmgirlFare.com, the award-winning blog where Farmgirl Susan shares photos & stories of her crazy country life on 240 remote Missouri acres.

Daily Farm Photo: 2/20/06

Snow Dance

Weekend Dog Blogging #22

Winter Spring



And Just Steps From The Source (Robin Swears It's Better Than Evian)

Attention Dog Lovers! It's time for Weekend Dog Blogging #22!
To see more fun dog photos and discover yummy new food blogs, you can usually head over to Sweetnicks on Sunday night for the complete roundup, but this weekend Alicat at Something So Clever is guest hosting. Can't get enough canine candids? Check out the weekly Carnival Of The Dogs at Mickey's Musings. And at The Friday Ark you'll find dozens of links to every kind of critter imaginable.

Fancy food over four-leggeds? Don't miss the always delicious (& highly informative) Sunday (or sometimes Monday) night Weekend Herb Blogging roundup at Kalyn's Kitchen. (All plants welcome.)

Daily Farm Photo: 2/19/06

Same Scene, New View: This Was Yesterday



This Was November 20, 2005



This Was October 19, 2005



This Was October 12, 2005



And This Was September 22, 2005

For more Same Scene, New View photos, click here and here.

Weekend Cat Blogging: Herban Cat Crossing

For Some Reason I Thought They'd Be Safer Indoors

© Copyright FarmgirlFare.com

Daily Farm Photo 2/18/06:This Is Not Cute Donkey Abuse

He Could Have Slept In His Hut

Daily Farm Photo: 2/17/06

Up For The Winter Look

Daily Farm Photo: 2/16/06

Poultry In Motion

Daily Farm Photo: 2/15/06

Take A Favorite Photo, Add New Camera & Splash Of Sunshine. . .

Then try to decide which one you like best.
Hmmmm. What do you think?

February 14th, 5:00pm: Looking For Love

O Val-en-tine!











Yo! Valentine!


Valentine?

Daily Farm Photo: 2/14/06

Happy Valentine's Day To You

Daily Farm Photo 2/13/06: Wooly, Wooly

Big Chip Doesn't Like Lambing Season (Fewer Hugs)

Weekend Dog Blogging #21

Lucky Buddy Bear Entertains The Newest Member Of The Flock

Attention Dog Lovers! It's time for Weekend Dog Blogging #21!
To see more fun dog photos and discover yummy new food blogs, head over to Sweetnicks on Sunday night for the complete roundup. Can't get enough canine candids? Check out the weekly Carnival Of The Dogs at Mickey's Musings. And at The Friday Ark you'll find dozens of links to every kind of critter imaginable.

Starving for something more filling than fur? Don't miss the always delicious (& highly informative) Sunday night Weekend Herb Blogging roundup at Kalyn's Kitchen. (All plants welcome.)

Daily Farm Photo: 2/12/06

It's A Girl!















At approximately 4:30pm on Saturday February 11th, ten year old Clare gave birth to our first lamb of 2006. She is a happy, healthy, darling, (and huge!) girl. Both mother and baby are doing fine and resting comfortably in their bonding pen.

Clare is from my very first crop of lambs. She was born back in 1996 along with Doll Face, Mary, Skinny Chip, and Big Chip. Congratulations also go to big sister And Posh (click here to learn how she came by that interesting name) and to my pal Alisha, who now shares her birthday with a sheep.

So what will her name be? I have no idea. We are up to "C" in our alphabet ewe lamb naming plan, but this baby girl can have a name that starts with absolutely any letter. Why? Because this is what I donated to the Menu For Hope back in December: honorary ownership of the first ewe lamb born in 2006. So that means lucky winner Jennifer New and her family are in charge of naming their little woolly prize. Congratulations to Jennifer! (who was emailed first peek photos last evening). We can't wait to find out what you decide to name your new lamb.

Daily Farm Photo: 2/11/06

Fortunately For Dan, That's Not Fat, It's Fluff

I still can't believe how different Donkey Doodle Dandy looks from summer to winter. Which look do you like best--sleek or fluffy? I still can't decide, though I'm leaning toward fluffy because I think it makes him look like an adorable giant stuffed toy. (Though of course I think Dan is adorable no matter what the season.)

Weekend Cat Blogging #36

Decisions, Decisions

Attention Cat Lovers! This Is Weekend Cat Blogging #36!
See fun feline photos & discover yummy new food blogs. Visit my pal Clare & her adorable furry guest at Eat Stuff in Australia for all the links to this week's kitties. We'd love to have you join us. Just leave your permalink in a comment at Eat Stuff. And for even more cute cat candids, be sure to catch the traveling Carnival Of The Cats each Sunday night.

Daily Farm Photo: 2/10/06

In This Spot. . .



A Miracle Has Occurred!

I almost fainted right there in the chicken coop. That's right. After months & months of doing everything but their one and only job around here, (almost) everybody's favorite hens, Whitey & Lindy, finally went back to laying eggs. Woohoo! (And yum!)

Daily Farm Photo: 2/9/06

Same Scene, New View: This Was Late September



And This Is Now

Click here to see this scene in late October.
Click here and here to see other Same Scene, New View photos.

Daily Farm Photo: 2/8/06

There's Something About A Sunrise

Daily Farm Photo: 2/7/06

My Seed Starting Headquarters

The 2006 gardening season has officially begun!
Yesterday I about froze my fingertips off while starting two dozen different types of seeds on my handy dandy outdoor potting bench. So what did I plant? All heirlooms, of course, including many seeds that I saved from last year's garden. Ten varieties of tomatoes, two kinds of peppers, eight different lettuces, green & purple sprouting broccoli, giant Italian parsley, and some very old purple cauliflower seeds just for the heck of it (and because I cannot bear to throw away old seeds).

It is a mere 10 degrees F outside this morning. The containers of pepper and tomato seeds are happily curled up next to the woodstove in the living room. Everything else is in the unheated greenhouse. But the sun is out, so they should begin defrosting soon. It is certainly not summer, but I now feel so much closer to a basket full of luscious homegrown tomatoes. I can wait.

There are lots more seeds to be started (and ordered!), and I'll be writing about the goings on in my garden as the season progresses. Are you planting an edible garden this year? Why on earth not? Even a few potted herbs on a windowsill will bring you great joy and a wonderfully delicious sense of fulfillment. So what are you waiting for? Let's get growing!

For some seed starting tips, please see the comments section.
If you only buy one gardening book, I highly recommend you make it The Vegetable Gardener's Bible by Edward C. Smith, especially if you are a beginning gardener.

Daily Farm Photo: 2/6/06

Tree Sock Laundry Day?

Daily Farm Photo: 2/5/06

Sunlit Supper

Weekend Dog Blogging #20

And You Thought He Just Herded & Protected Them

Attention Dog Lovers! It's time for Weekend Dog Blogging #20!
To see more fun dog photos and discover yummy new food blogs, you can usually head over to Sweetnicks on Sunday night for the complete roundup. But this weekend Sweetnicks is out of town, so Alicat has graciously taken over WDB duties. Please visit her at Something So Clever for the Sunday night roundup.

Pining for more puppy pics? Check out the weekly Carnival Of The Dogs at Mickey's Musings. And at The Friday Ark you'll find dozens of links to every kind of critter imaginable.

Have an appetite for more than just adorable animals? Don't miss the always delicious (& highly informative) Sunday night Weekend Herb Blogging roundup at Kalyn's Kitchen. (All plants welcome.)

Weekend Cat Blogging #35

New Cat Under Cover. . .




And Deep Under Cover

Attention Cat Lovers! This Is Weekend Cat Blogging #35!
See fun feline photos & discover yummy new food blogs. Visit my pal Clare & her superstar cat Kiri at Eat Stuff in Australia for all the links to this week's kitties. And for even more pleasing pussycat pics, be sure to catch the traveling Carnival Of The Cats each Sunday night.

Daily Farm Photo: 2/4/06

Lucky 13 Still Likes To Be The First One Through Any Gate

Phew. It's all Blogger's fault. The eleven hours to post this photo, the lost comments you've left today (I did receive them via email), the numerous other problems that have been going on. I'm ending this now before the entire post evaporates once again. And besides, there's a homegrown grilled steak, a spinach salad, a hot crusty hunk of homemade pain au levain, and a glass of red wine waiting for me. May the rest of your weekend be free of frustrations--and just as delicious.

Daily Farm Photo: 2/3/06

New Digs

Daily Farm Photo: 2/2/06

New Purpose--Visual Pleasure

Daily Farm Photo: 2/1/06

Reflecting