Spring actually spoke to us yesterday, and it's not going to go away, despite all chilly evidence to the contrary.
However, once we get through tonight and tomorrow, the night temperaturesshould not drop below 40 for the next 10 days or so, allowing the ground to warm.
In the garden, the spring spinach, lettuce,kale, Chinese cabbage and chard have germinated. (You can also plant beets, Irish potatoes, carrots, broccoli, cabbage and onion sets, and peas). Our peas are in, but despite being pre-germinated with an overnight soak in warm water, they haven't poked their heads above the soil yet. No worries. We have faith.
And, aren't the "Okame" cherries pretty around town? In the orchard, our neatly-pruned peaches have thrown off a few hopeful blossoms, and bees have even been spotted pollinating them (yay!). The plums and Bradford pears are not far behind. The red maples are blooming strongly, helping the bees to gain sustenance after a hard winter, and raise some brood to visit all these upcoming blossoms.
Mr. GreenJeans has been helping with the planting in the vegetable garden - thankfully, because much time has been devoted to launching the new community food project, The Sandhills Farm to Table Co-operative.
Though a shoestring media campaign will roll out shortly, the website is up and running for subscriptions, and they are rolling in.
If you like what you read, go ahead and order yourself a box. You can order weekly or bi-monthly boxes. Once the produce boxes and organizational structures are squared away, we will turn our attention to locally-produced meats, eggs, cheeses, honey, jams, etc.
And do us a large favor?
If you've gotten any benefit from this free newsletter over the years,would you consider forwarding this issue to a few friends who might be interested in a produce box from Sandhills Farm to Table Co-op? Help us spread the word in this true grassroots manner across Moore County.
Our tagline is "Neighbors Feeding Neighbors," and it's community we're building, not just subscriptions for some produce. Your Co-op is uniquely owned by all the members - farmers, managers and consumers. (They tell is there is nothing like it). The success of this bold community initiative depends on YOU. Thanks for helping to spread the word.
However, it's not all slaving over a hot computer here at The Cottage Garden! In the greenhouse, struggling against the cloudy skies and cold nights are a bright batch of heat-loving tomatoes, green pepper, eggplant, basil, dill, herbs and perennials.
People have been emailing us, asking if we'll have their old favorites.
No time right now to list everything, but we have a tasty batch of heirloom tomatoes and old reliables percolating.
Such as: - "Black Krim," a hit last year and said to be the tastiest "purple" tomato (you decide), - the ever-popular "SunGold/SunSugar" yellow cherries, - "Arkansas Traveler " and "Homestead," reliable red slicing and beefsteak heirlooms, - old canning and sauce favorite "San Marzano" and "Roma", - the reliable over-producers "Better Boy," and "Early Girl;,", the - sweet and prolific red cherry "Jelly Bean," - and a gorgeous, new-to-us "Golden Jubilee", lovely round golden slicer - which I envision sliced on a plate, alternating with the reds, sprinkled with fresh basil and dressed with a good olive oil and a pinch of chunky salt.
;-)
I won't be holding orders this year, with all that's going on, but I will announce when these promising little babies are ready.
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This is a great year for community-building "firsts."
Have you heard about the exciting new festival, "Palustris?" We're not a "small town" area, we're a culturally "happening"micropolis, and proud of it.
"Palustris" is a family-friendly, four-day festival celebrating visual, literary and performing arts to be held March 25-28, 2010 in Moore County, NC. Pinehurst, Southern Pines and Aberdeen are the sites for the 80+ events that will be showcased. Most events are free. (If a ticket is required, it is no more than $25 per ticket). Concerts by Tift Merritt, the Fayetteville Symphony, Swing Street Band, Hot Club of Cowtown are scheduled. Art exhibits and galleries will be open throughout the area and Sandhills Community College will include an exhibit of the Sister Cities program. Outdoor activities include tours of the Village of Pinehurst, Weymouth Woods, and SCC Horticultural Gardens. There will also be culinary events, films, theater productions, dance, lectures and readings.
The Sandhills Farm to Table Co-op will have a table on the green space next to the theater during the unique historical revisitation "Greeting the Train" on Saturday morning. Stop by and say hi.
BIOCHAR: Do you know about it? I've often wondered - Is It The Answer to "Permanent Fertility in the Sandhills?" You can do your own research with this exciting workshop.
"There will be a Bio Char workshop on Saturday March 27th. A couple of people coming already:
Debby Hanmer, UNC Pembroke Richard Perrit, NC Farm Center Dale Hendricks, North East Bio Char Association
The workshop will be conducted by Peter Hirst from New England Bio Char.
We will also have the Bio Char as part of the Urban Farm Tour on April 10th.
Of course, the URBAN FARM TOUR will happen Saturday, April 10. Visit the greenest area backyards and see what is possible. Backyard produce - does it get any fresher? Home-grown eggs? Compost? And more.
I look forward to being a spectator this year and seeing the other projects around town.
----------------------------------Sa Don't forget the 2nd Annual Love Your MotherGreen Summit at Sandhills Community College on April 21. Roger Mercer from the Fayetteville Observer will be the keynote speaker at 9 a.m. in the Ball Visitor's Center. The Sandhills Farm to Table Co-op will also be there, with a sample box of produce, and some interesting displays. More details later.Contact Lori V. Williams Director of Community Education and Outreach, Continuing EducationSandhills Community College Pinehurst, NC 28374 (910) 246-4943
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Finally, it wouldn't be a decent newsletter without a seasonal recipe, would it?. So, to further brag on Mr.GreenJeans, the photo at the bottom of this newsletter shows off the terrific Bean Stew he made us from scratch the other night:
"In a crockpot, cook up some Great Northern Beans (follow package directions), onions, celery, home-canned tomatoes, garlic. Season with sea salt, thyme, parsley, marjoram, cumin, maybe a pinch or three of cayenne. Eat heartily topped with chunks of avocado, perhaps a dab of sour cream and/or salsa."
"Day Two, up the nutritional ante even further and change up the flavor by sauteing two great handsfull of garden greens - chopped up spinach, chard, collards, kale - in garlic and olive oil. Toss''em in. Sigh deeply, and eat with a chunk of crusty bread, perhaps a glass of wine."
Until next time, With enthusiasm,
Jan and Michael CottageGardenFarm Southern Pines, NC Fresh - Local - Working WITH Nature Mr.GreenJeans Lawn and Garden - 695-5162
and now, Bountiful Backyards of Moore - 692-8801 -- "The Ordinary Adventurer" A backpacking adventure book http://www.funfreedom.com/
