Ketchup

Okie Dokie I'll ketch you up on things.
Last two weeks have been of course busy. Last Sunday instead of my traditional do as little as possible day we processed our meat chickens. It wasn't a big batch but took most the day. Everything went off without a hitch, Adam and Erin did a great job, after training Adam on bleeding the chickens he took over as head vein cutter. He did a good job, and seemed to enjoy learning a new task that could very well serve him chicken the rest of his life. Erin helped Lisa inside with gutting etc, while I ran the scalding/plucker & helped Adam. Erin wasn't quite sure at the start if she could hang in there but she did, and I give her big props. It's not such an easy task gutting a chicken, especially if you've never even cut a whole one up that's already long dead . I was taught how to cut up a whole chicken at age 14. I didn't start processing live birds till a few years ago. So when our apprentices do it for the first time it's always a learning experience for all parties involved. But usually the end result is a simple satisfaction that they helped raise and kill their own meat. Sustenance at it's very core. And boy does it taste yummy.
Then of course Monday and back to the fields. Oh after doing chickens we did take Adam and Erin out to Scotty's ( our local dive bar by the river ) for some beers and deep fried food. Adam sure likes his deep fried food. He ordered up a second round of onion rings. So beers and new friends, the river and simple satisfaction of providing our selves with protein led to quite a nice Sunday even if I had to do more than as little as possible.
Back to the fields again. It started to get pretty hot this last week, huge Cherry Tomato pikin,Sharlyn pickin started, as well as all of our usuall repetoire. The 'Kids" ( it's what I call Adam and Erin ) rocked this week. Even in the blazing heat on they chugged, ( and Angela too ). Friday was wicked HOT, I put in a Twelve with harvesting H20 melons and Sharlyns which I swore two years ago to never do on friday but timing worked against me. Angela had a "falling back asleep" episode, but when it was all over everybody had put in an "ASSKICKEN" day and we were ready to got to Market and sell it all. Needless to say both Markets were hot as blazes but we sold alot of produce and celebrated with a dinner at Annies. I do like to show the Apprentices my appreciation for their hard work and dedication and a celebratory dinner is always nice.

Fourth of July Dinner

Last nights dinner was Yummy!

It consisted of almost completely Farm produced or Local products. For the Main dish I BBQ'd a Pyramid Farms Pork Loin marinated in Cider Vinegar with our favorite cookin seasonings. The seasonings are made in Oroville, the Cider Vinegar not local. Then I roasted some of Grub's new Yukon Gold Potatoes with some of our Torpedo Onions, with Chaffin Family Orchards Olive Oil and more cookin seasonings. Definately local. Then I made a salad of Pyramid Farms Cucumber, Purple Pepper, Sun Gold Sherry Tomatoes, Cilantro and Basil an again cooking seasonings, Chaffin Olive Oil and Brown Rice Vinegar. So the only parts of the dinner that weren't local were Brown Rice Vinegar, and Cider Vinegar. So now I just need to get Gregg Massa to start making Rice Vinegar and a Apple guy to make cider vinegar. Of course the propane wasn't Local too. But dinner was Yummy and Lisa and I enjoyed it completely.
And I almost forgot! Dessert was homemade Goat Milk Vanilla Ice Milk. It was delicious and I'm going to start playing with the recipe to make it more creamy. Next time I make it, I'm going to separate the egg whites and whip them before adding them in. Then I'll try it with honey instead of sugar, and then agave nectar too.

Stealing

I'm going to steal a topic here and if anyone wants to sue my go ahead.

Tomorrow on the birthday of our Nation I am going to be engaged in one of the most Patriotic acts one can do. No, not make war on a small country stealing their resources or enslaving their populace, or preparing them to become consumers of international corporate junk, but I will, on the Fourth of July, be selling my Certified Organic Vegetables at the Farmers Market.
Our great Nation ( well?) was built upon the backs of Farmers. Farmers made this country what it is. We fed our populace, and then we built wealth feeding/clothing people in other lands. Somewhere the train jumped the tracks but that is another topic. Now the tracks are being repaired and someday will be ready for the train to run them once again. I'm helping.
Service is in my Genes. But besides being a member of a genetically altered race designed to be slaves, ( digression here) my mothers maiden name is Service. So on I go on, helping to repair the tracks torn up at a time which I don't know, Serving my fellow man/woman, bringing Organic Vegetables of the highest quality to a Local Farmers Market so they in turn can practice an Patriotic act and purchase them, eat them, enjoy them.
So when you celebrate the Fourth of July, which celebrates the signing of our countries Declaration of Independence,( up yours King!) which more than likely was signed by a whole bunch of Farmers, if you are not eating a meal that is completely Locally produced, you are not only more than likely having the finest meal possible, you are committing treason.