Sunflower Savannah

First of the Season

2012-01-26T20:48:00.000-06:00

Today Flora presented us w/a beautiful set of twins. The little black and white is a ram lamb and the gold and buff one is a ewe. The ewe lamb is already named as today is our friend Sally's birthday and we named the lamb after her. As everyone knows, all our sheep are named after flowers and plants so the ewe lamb was immediately christened Sal-via in her honor.

We will be at Schlafly Microbrewery this Saturday and in honor of the twins I won't mention what special meat item will be offered but Maplewood Farmers Market was supposed to Twitter and Facebook about it. We will be bringing our usual granolas and jams along w/some Smoked Tomatillo Salsa. Come and see us.

TTFN

Sam And Bill

Downtime

2012-01-12T18:02:00.000-06:00

Wow, the weather has been nice up until today.
Then SNOW, Yuck! There was about 2 inches on the ground here. As much as I hate it though, Lori from Murray's Orchard reminded me that we need the chill hours or we aren't going to have any peaches next season. This is the truth and one more example of life's little jokes on us, easy winter, no peaches or apples and extra bugs. My own selfish reasons for an warm winter of course include lambing which starts in February. I have 10 pregnant ewes due in Feb and 2 more which are due later. Probably April. I know what you are thinking, why don't you plan the pregnancies for March or April? I always do, but something always happens. This year I had the rams separated and my mom saw them and thought they had gotten out, so she put them back in w/the ewes. So we separated again and my mother in law saw them 2 days later and the same thing happened. So we separated AGAIN and then my dad crashed the tractor into the gate and put everyone into a new pasture together. DID I tell you how helpful my family is....?

While enjoying unfamiliar extra time off from the market, I have been working on seed orders. So far on the list for tomato plants, Caro Rich, Caspian Pink, Azoychka Russian, Chocolate Cherry, Amana Orange, Green Zebra, Aunt Ruby's German Green, Golden Jubilee, Black From Tula, Purple Carbon, Black Plum, Paul Robeson(limited as usual), Mortgage Lifter, Early Girl, Arkansas Traveler, Pink Girl,
Celebrity, Amish Paste and Rutgers. I think that might be enough but knowing me, there will probably be more.

Saturday we will again be at St. John's Episcopal Church on Arsenal.
3664 Arsenal Street, St. Louis, MO 63116 to be exact. Grassfed lamb processed at Swiss Meat Company's federally inspected facilities will be for sale.This time we will have ground lamb as promised along w/the stewmeat, but no other cuts from this ram. Cherry Serrano Pepper Jelly and other canned offerings along w/our tomatillo salsas and granolas.

We hope to see you there.

TTFN,

Sam And Bill

Baby it's Cold Outside, but ...We Still Have Christmas Markets

2011-12-07T19:11:00.001-06:00

Temps dropped this week and we have had more gloomy days in the last month than we can stay awake to count. Still a lot of exciting things have been happening on the Farm. Already the ducks have been laying for almost 3 weeks and the Flossie the goose started laying yesterday. It's unusual for the ducks or the goose to be laying this early. Normally they start late January. So we will have duck and chicken eggs at the St. John's Winter Market this weekend.

.All season long I've been growing Lemon Grass and Lavender in the greenhouse for Winter Markets. Here is a pic of the Lemon Grass circlets that I have wrapped for tea. There is a lot of research in the middle east for Lemon Grass as a way to fight cancer. It may be used in the treatment of acne, athlete's foot, excessive perspiration, flatulence, insect repellent, muscle aches, oily skin, scabies, and stress. Also I will have some roots for Thai cooking There will be Lavender for hanging in your closets and hopefully if I don't run out of time, decorative items for stockings.

Another thing that we have been growing all season, even if it hasn't been in the greenhouse has been Lamb. Yes, that's right, more lamb at the market this weekend! Our lamb is grass fed all summer and fall. The mothers are given sweet feed or oats w molasses during the last 2 months of pregnancy to prevent toxaemia and then during the first 6-8 weeks after lambing depending on the weather to insure good milk production. After that, all grass, all season. This is one of the reasons that it takes them so long to get to mature size for processing. Our lambs are processed at Swiss Meat Company, a Federally inspected facility. Get your lamb this weekend.

We will have Leg of, chops, stew meat, shoulder steaks and more.

So I think that's the new and exciting but YES there's more. Look for our familiar but exciting standards, Cherry Serrano Pepper Jelly, Smoked and Charred Tomatillo Salsa, Dill Relish, Autumn Pear Chutney and Granola.

Chipoltle Peach Jam, Summer Harvest Jam are both made w/fruit from here, Murray's Orchard and my parents property.We will also be offering yummy crunchy refrigerator dills sold cold.

Local pesticide free, Christmas greenery again will be an offering. We will have Boxwood, Holly, spruce, other various evergreens that I can't ever keep straight and Bradford Pear branches. All grown here on our non polluted property.

Again from the bootheel as from previous years are LOCAL MO PECANS. Now these pecans are NOT Certified Naturally Grown Pecans as they are grown near surrounding farm land but they are FRESH, this year's crop and cracked.

Whew, I don't know how we are going to get this all on a 6 ft table space! Good thing I will be bringing my niece Anne again to help. Ask her if she has read Anne of Green Gables yet.

Hope to see you at St. Johns Winter Market, here is the info.

2011-12 Winter Season

St. John's Episcopal Church

3664 Arsenal Street, St. Louis, MO 63116

9 am- 1 pm

Second Saturday of the month,

November – April

Nov 12, 2011
Dec 10, 2011
Jan 14, 2012
Feb 11, 2012
Mar 10, 2012
Apr 14, 2012

https://sites.google.com/site/stlcfm/

Call Sam If you want to reserve anything-573-259-1533

TTFN,

Sam and Bill

Farm Hands

2011-11-11T13:25:00.001-06:00

We've had 3 frost warnings this week and but no frost until last night. Still we are picking tomatillos and tomatoes. Above are my niece, Maysun Elizabeth Scout and nephew, Andrew. They've been helping me w/the tomatillos. I joke that we should change the name of the farm to Terre de Tomatillo but this summer even though the tomatillos were everywhere as usual, we didn't get any to speak of until Mid October. Last weekend was the end of the Summer market season at Tower Grove. It was a great market, we sold a lot of lamb and a lot of salsa from the tomatillos.

Tomorrow and Sunday we will be at Union Craft Fair in Union, Mo with all our canned goods,

granola, and quilted items from Sally's Quilts.

On the 19th, we will be back at Schlafly Bottleworks. We have a leg of Lamb left if anyone is interested in it for Thanksgiving, just give us a call or email. We will have 2 more lambs available for Christmas by the time that we come back to the St. John's Market which is of course the Winter Market for Tower Grove.

Come out and see us this weekend at the Union Middle school Craft Fair.

TTFN,

Sam and Bill

Season Surrender

2011-11-01T17:04:00.001-05:00

Last week there was another threat of frost in Beaufort so we went out and gathered the largest tomatoes again and the ones that were turning of course. We left the smaller on the vines just in case of no frost which of course it didn't.

The tomatillos were by picked by my mom, my nephew Andrew, my niece Scout(who by the way was not thrilled)and Bill who came home for the weekend. I mostly stood around and pointed as directed by my orthopaedic. We got 2 baskets like this and ended up w/a bunch more charred and smoked salsa. Scout and Andrew did the husking and didn't mind too awfully as they watched Shrek 2 AGAIN while doing it.

This is a basket of Amana Orange tomatoes that finally started giving up the tomatoes about a month ago and have produced more than any other Heirloom that we planted this year. It took awhile as we were late getting them in but when they finally did...WOW! Huge and velvety smooth texture. We will grow them again for those low acid lovers

Amazingly enough for this time of year, there are still tomatoes and tomatillos in the garden. Of course since they took so long, I guess it's only fair that they hang around a bit.

In my previous post, I promised lamb at the market for last weekend. If any of you showed up for it, I apologize as we were not there. I have another cracked vertebrae and needed to take it easy, hence the pointing during the harvest. We should be there this weekend and we do have some wonderful looking lamb, a new Autumn Pear and Apple Chutney and our usual yummy salsas and Cherry Serrano Pepper Jelly. Don't forget, this will be the goodbye for the season to Sam"s Famous Salsa our Fresh uncooked Salsa. That is only made while there are fresh uncooked tomatoes. The other salsas can be made through the winter from tomatoes we have frozen during the season but not the Famous Salsa. As many of you know, it's the last weekend before we will be going into the Winter Market which will only be once a month. Sunflower Savannah will also be at the Schlafly Winter Market on an alternate weekend. I will post a schedule for both in a later post.

So we will see you this weekend for the last of the Tower Grove Summer Market on Saturday 8:30 to 12:30.

TTFN

Sam and Bill

Closing In on the Season

2011-10-20T08:44:00.000-05:00

Well it didn't frost last night, but I was worried enough to gather in about 60 lbs of tomatoes. I went outside at 6 a.m. to turn on the sprinklers to wash off any frost that had happened over night before the sun came up but there was no need. It was 42 degrees, warmer than when I went to bed. Now we just need to get through tonight for another week of warmer weather. This is a photo of the door of our 140 year old Smokehouse taken by Julie Dawson. I thought it was apt given the closing of the season.

This week at Tower Grove is our Harvest Festival. We will be there an extra hour and a half, from 8:30- 2 p.m.

Mary Ellen Raymond will be joining us for w/some Sweet Potatoes, Heirloom Tomatoes and Honey. Mary Ellen is helping me set up in exchange for room to vend her delicious products. She grows naturally w/no pesticides or herbicides.

We have a favorite Salsa back on the shelf, Charred Tomatillo. So much of a favorite that when I tried to discontinue it for the Smoked Tomatillo , there was an uprising. Now I have to make both.

Next week Sunflower Savannah will have LAMB! Yum. Mostly grass fed. No corn since May. Finished w/some oats. No Hormones or Antibiotics.

With the cold weather coming in, I see some Chow Chow in our future.

See you at the Harvest Festival!

TTFN,

Sam and Bill

Bittersweet

2011-10-04T21:49:00.000-05:00

This time of year is full of poignancy as the days shorten and we know that the season is running out of time. The plants are hanging full of fruit and are at their most lush as the days have cooled off and the insects are slowed down by the falling night temperatures. As you brush through the garden, you see the potential that will not be fulfilled even as you are saying to yourself...if we just have a few more weeks before frost...and yet, a moment later, you are dreaming of the extra time you will have to get to those projects that you have been putting off until harvest season is over. When the regulation of the market season has relaxed it's hold on us, we are a little lost as we fumble for a new schedule but soon find our way preparing already for the next season. What will we plant? When should we start? Ecclesiastes reminds us that there is a time and a purpose for everything under heaven. Growing food certainly seems at times like a holy purpose but can we remember to stay in the moment that we are in and in enjoy what is here now? There is a purpose for this moment too.
Come see us at Tower Grove Farmers Market on Saturday. We will have Lemon Cucumbers, smoked Tomatillo Salsa, our Famous Salsa and Lemonade as well as several varieties of Jams and Jellies.

TTFN,

Sam and Bill

Busy, Busy and this week at Tower Grove

2011-08-18T23:09:00.000-05:00

So this week was a pretty good week weather-wise anyway. A little cooler, a little rain on Tuesday. not enough to split the tomatoes but enough to make weeding easier which we got a lot of done. This pic a a lot others that I will be adding here and to the website was taken by Julie Dawson, newly starting her photography business.
We were able to get a bunch of tomatillos staked up and found some of our lost tomato plants in the weeds. The sunflowers are going crazy as they well should be on a farm called Sunflower Savannah. We've hatched out a few ducks and found 3 more adult females to add to the flock. Some chicks have been hatched out and we are trying to finish off our 3 rams to sell for meat.
This week at the Market we will have Bouquets w/Sunflowers, Celosia, Glads and other neato stuff, Concord grapes, Crunchy Dill Pickles, Watermelon Rind Marmalade, and a new Summer Harvest Jam. Of course it goes w/out saying that there will be lemonade, tea and Sam's Famous Salsa.
Mike Brabo from Vesterbrook Farm is still looking to sell his Bourbon Red Turkey Flock and his Sex link Chicken flock. Both have been raised on Organic feed and the turkeys brought big bucks at Thanksgiving last year. They also have a reefer van for sale. Call Mike at 573-560-0871.
See you at Tower Grove on Saturday.

Oddball Summer

2011-08-11T16:16:00.000-05:00

For those of you who know us, you know it has been a strange year. I'm still recovering from 2 back surgeries, Billy is still in Stupid Texas, throw in a dad w/Alzheimer's and you've got yourself a brew. For those of you who are Farmers, you know that it has been a weird season. Rain, rain, rain, cold and miserable until the middle of June then Poof, we're in the middle of a drought/heatwave even w/the help that Vesterbrook farm and my mother in law Bessie contributed, I had a hard time getting the tomatoes all in the ground. Lets not talk about the weeds that grew while recuperating and time spent driving to the Bootheel to make sure that my Dad was okay. While we've had onions, cut flowers, lettuce, kale and other greens, as usual I am short on tomatoes. Especially for all the salsa we produce. Double Star Farms has been throwing us their culls in exchange for our famous lemonade. Sweet Peppers from Our Garden w/the same arrangement. We planted lots and they come on but not fast enough for homegrown tomatoes. Like I always say, if we can't use them, the sheep will eat them and if the sheep won't, the chickens and ducks will.
In the same vein, The Brabos of Vesterbrook Farm are looking to sell their Bourbon Red Turkeys and their Sex Link Chicken Flock as well. They are Certified Naturally Grown and last year they got 9.85 a lb for the turkeys at Thanksgiving. Call me at 573-259-1533 for Mike's number.

TTFN,
See YOU Saturday at Tower Grove

Sam and Bill

Mobbed...AGAIN?!!!!!!!

2011-05-13T20:54:00.000-05:00

Last weekend we were inspected again for the Certified Naturally Grown program and I am happy to say that we passed. Vesterbrook Farm's Mike Brabo did the inspection. While he was here, I mentioned that w/my back issues, I wasn't sure how I was going to get my planting or tilling done. Bill was home for a week from Dallas but just could not get everything finished during his "vacation". Mike didn't even hesitate, he said "do you want us to come out?" To which I replied, " that would be great!' I mean, I'm no dummy. So Wednesday, he showed up w/6 people. They finished tilling my garden spot, put up my tomato fence, planted some of my flowers, tomatoes and strawberries from my greenhouse, and lots of other misc. stuff. Of course there is still plenty to do around here, but I really don't know how I would've gotten the tilling, and the fences done even if I could have managed the planting(much more slowly than they). So many thanks to Vesterbrook Farm and their help, Gretchen, Josh, Mark, Josiah, Abby, Steve and their noble leader Mike.
We will be at Tower Grove tomorrow with an amazing lettuce mix, Red Russian Kale, Bunched onions, Arugula flowers, Wood Sorrel, Fresh Strawberry jam, bouquets and your well known favs, Cherry Serrano Pepper Jelly and the Lemonade voted BEST in St. Louis by The River Front Times.
There will be herbs and a limited variety of the Heirloom tomatoes mentioned in previous postings. Brandywines, Green Zebras, Celebrity, Black Plum, Tigerella, Speckled Roman, Black from Tula and Paul Robeson. We have had a time w/Fungus Gnats dues to the overcast sloppy weather and things have not done as well as usual. There will be a larger selection next week.
Hope to see you there.

TTFN,

Sam and Bill

Rain, Rain, Go Away

2011-04-28T00:07:00.000-05:00

Well it's great weather for ducks that is for sure. I know because my Cayugas are enjoying it. The sheep however and the chickens aren't too thrilled. The barnyard is a complete muck as is the garden and yard. Good thing that we have the raised beds because there is no way that we can get anything in the garden. The weather states that the rain is finally letting up and as Billy will be home for a week from TX, we hope it will dry up enough to get the contents of the barn emptied into the garden. Maybe then we can begin planting some warm season produce.

Above are 3 more pics of tomato types that we are offering for sale this year at the Tower Grove Market and possibly a few times at Schlafly. Top left are Speckled Romans a new variety we are trying this year. Top Right are one of my very favorite varieties Paul Robesons. I didn't mention them in the last blog as I was unsure that we had gotten any planted before I went into the hospital but I found a tray that germinated well along w/the seed packet to match it. So YAY we will have some Paul Robesons to offer for your growing needs. As you probably know, these tomatoes we named after the Opera singer and Black rights activist Paul Robeson who sang Old Man River. Their flavor is described as Smoky which I agree is a true statement. We have been growing them for 5 years.

Bottom center are Green Zebras. Described as citrusy. A great salad, slicing or just eating out of the garden tomato. Like the Robesons, once we started growing them, we never turned back. They are a must have every season.

Next week starts the 2011 market season at Tower Grove. Let's make it a good one.

Hope, Help and HomeGrown Tomatoes- Plans for 2011

2011-04-21T21:41:00.012-05:00

So, due to A- LOT of mitigating circumstances, I am back in the wonderful state of Missouri. Most assuredly I should've been blogging before now but as circumstances known as ANOTHER back surgery have kept me from being able to sit at the computer.

The strange thing is, even though all of these things have been happening, the greenhouse is full! Before my surgery, my family came to my house. My husband and brother in law Joey filled trays, I seeded, and my mom, Betty, sister Charli and niece, Maysun Elizabeth Scout marked trays. While this was going on, Scout , nephew Andrew and Joey planted onions and weeded beds.

During my convalescence, I thought I would be able to stay alone, but this was not the case. Many of my Farm girls from the Markets stepped in. Mary Ellen from Maplewood came and stayed 2 days w/me, she, Julie Ridlon and The Famous Julie Holley brought me food, worked my greenhouse, weeded strawberries and tried to make sense of the mess that was my house. Lori Murray who is SO busy w/her orchard and bed and breakfast brought out a feast and kept me company for an evening. She hid slices of pumpkin pie in the freezer so that they would be there when food tasted good again. Heck the head of the O'Fallon market didn't even know me, but called and offered me a massage. Sally, not one of the market girls but who shares my interest in growing things, spent several nights w/me. Billy's Brother and sister Merle and Pam came out to clean and organize several times. Cheri and Doug came out w/all of the above people and helped put my furniture back in place. My mom and mother in law Bessie of course took the brunt of things doing everything that I couldn't long after everyone had to go back to their regular lives. It took me a few weeks to be strong enough to even water in the greenhouse, all I could do is walk out and advise. It's been a rough spring but we were truely blessed w/help.

People have been emailing me about what will be the offerings this year. So in answer to what's in the greenhouse tomato-ally speaking...

Heirlooms-Amana Orange, Golden Jubilee, Green Zebra, Speckled Roman, Violet Jasper, Black From Tula, Purple Carbon, Amish Paste, Brandywine, Virginia Sweetie and Tigerella.

Hybrids-Early Girl, Early Wonder, Celebrity, Pink Girls and Lemon Boys.

Maybe a couple others depending on crop success/failure.

For sale at the market as produce besides these things, we will be offering Paul Robesons, Lemon Boys and Chocolate Cherry tomatoes.

We have also lavender, curry and lemon grass in the greenhouse, along w/a Lemon Tree that we got 4 lemons off of before Christmas and is blooming again.

Crops coming in soon are lettuce mixes and garlic and Wednesday we were at Schlafly w/Asparagus, Arugula and fresh onions.

SO I guess that's about it, I'm back at the Farm indefinitely. Bill and I want to say a BIG thank you to everyone who stepped up.

To those of you that I promised the blog to yesterday, I want to say I'm sorry but I had trouble w/the laptop. Thanks for your patience.

TTFN

Sam and Bill

Time

2010-09-29T12:32:00.004-05:00

It's been awhile since I have blogged. For one reason, I have been terribly homesick and lost away from the farm. We have been home a few times and will be in town for Billy's 50th birthday this weekend. However for all of us, Gina included, it has been one adjustment after another. I'm sure that you have seen Gina and her son at the market and her new sidekick Billy the Kid otherwise known as Billy Two. Not to be confused with Billy one, my Billy.

Gina has added some new stuff to the mix this year. Along w/our basics, A new jelly called Haben' Hot Apricot and a Turkish granola are now offered. She took these pictures above. We have some more ducks added to the flock and the gosling has grown up more beautiful than can be believed. Hard to believe that the season is winding up already. Time to stock your pantry w/those items made from summers bounty because soon we will be into the once a month winter markets and you will be mourning the season past. See you at the Markets.

TTFN,

Sam, Billy and Gina

Fessing up

2010-07-06T12:52:00.003-05:00

Although many of you have never been to the Market, many of you probably have noticed a new face at the Savannah market stand. That new face is Gina Dahlstrom(formerly of Centennial Farm) and she is the new Sunflower Savannah Farm manager. Why do we need a Farm Manager you ask? It's time to let the cat out of the bag and tell everyone that...Bill and I have been transferred to Dallas, TX. Well Bill has been transferred and as the Bible says, Where he goes, so do I(paraphrased of course from Ruth} but trust, I went kicking and screaming.
Gina has agreed to come on board and run the farm for awhile so that hopefully when we come back, we can step into things again. While she will be doing things a little different, most of the recipes and the old fashioned look will be the same. Bill and I will be coming in periodically to help out and work w/Gina but mostly it will be her ingenuity getting things done.
As far as what is going on at the farm, we have had several baby ducks born this Spring and almost all the lambs have found a home. We are home for 2 weeks for this and that. The tomatoes are stating to come on as are the tomatillos. Gina has tried out several new recipes and a Haben Hot Apricot is selling like crazy and of course it's SALSA season So as you see things will carry on as before even if they are a little different. We will still do the blog and it will be updated more regularly as things settle in. Gina will be sending me pics and I will be taking some of my own on trips home. So keep checking the blog and come and see us at the market.

Ready...Set- Markets...1...2...3

2010-05-04T15:36:00.005-05:00

Tomorrow is Wednesday, market day at Schlafly. The tomato plants are getting more lush all the time. If this heat wave continues, the greens will be fast over but for now we have plenty.

Available at the market this week will be our "Love Me Tender" salad mix. spinach and a Spicy Greens mix that you can stir fry or add to your salad. This Spicy mix includes Arugula, cress, mustard and some broccoli greens.

Gina has grown some Tan 0, an edible chrysanthemum used most frequently in Asian dishes. The flower is beautiful and can be consumed along w/the leafy stems. Pick some up tomorrow and try them.

Saturday starts the 2010 season at Tower Grove. Gina and I will be there w/all the tomato varieties, some eggplant and peppers, our granolas and it's time for lemonade again.

On Sunday we will be at Chandler Hill winery in Defiance Mo w/the above things and Gina will have some jewelery. Don't forget that Mother's Day is this weekend. Pick her up some plants or a pair of earrings from Gina's collection. Hope to see you at one of these places.

TTFN,

Sam, Bill and

Gina- Sunflower Savannah's new Farm Manager.

What to Expect

2010-04-27T17:31:00.007-05:00

Gina and I were both gone for the last several days so it's been a mad scramble around here to get ready for tomorrow's market at Schlafly in Maplewood. Gina's done pretty well...me, not so much...

In any case, tomorrow we will have turnip green bunches, a Spicy Stir Fry Greens

mix featuring arugula, turnip greens and cress. In addition, our very tender, beautiful salad mix, a couple of lbs of asparagus as well as some radishes. As usual there will be granola, Cherry Serrano Pepper Jelly and assorted canned goods.

This week there will be about 28 varieties of tomato plants, mostly Heirlooms and Ancho Poblano Peppers for your perusal and shopping enjoyment and a few herbs. See you there.

4-7 p.m. Maplewood Farmers Market

Southwest Ave, St. Louis Mo.

TTFN

Sam, Bill and Gina

More than Ideas Hatching Around Here...

2010-04-19T21:07:00.014-05:00

So during the Crop Mob everyone was walking around this goose who was sitting on a nest of 4 eggs. Her mate the gander was stalking around threatening and blowing smoke. On Sunday this little cutie made a debut.

The mom stayed on the nest all day yesterday and took a short walk today but still seems interested in sitting on the nest.So I am hoping
for some more babies. Here is the dad taking Jr(although hoping for a girl goosy)for a walk while mom does nest duty....

Interesting, I have never seen a guy take initiative like this...

After some investigation I have found at least 2 ducks on nests and I am pretty sure that there is a 3rd but I haven't found her nest yet.

Tomorrow, Gina and I will be at Schlafly Microbrewery for The Maplewood Farmers Market. We will be bringing 20+ varieties of tomatoes, lettuce mix and radishes. I say 20+ because although I wrote them down, I'm sure that I forgot something. These are the varieties that we are bringing; Crimson Cushion, Pink Girl, Ponderosa Pink, Black From Tula, Celebrity(limited), Rutgers, Green Grape, Green Zebra, Pink Oxheart, Missouri Pink Love Apple, Moonglow, Plum Lemon, Costelulo Genovese(limited)Pink Stuffer, Amish Paste, Black Brandywine, Golden Jubilee, Early Bird Red, Violet Jasper, Thai Red Turtle Egg, Mortgage Lifter(limited) and Green Topaz and 3 Spoon cherries. We will have limited Lemon cucumber and broccoli sets.

In our lettuce mix is Ruby Red, Salad Bowl Green, Black Seeded Simpson, Buttercrunch, Salad Bowl Red, Paris White Cos, Royal Oak Leaf, Curly Cress, Little Caeser, Lollo Rosso a little Mizuna and something pretty and red splotched that neither of us know what it is.

Now next week we will be adding Purple Carbon, Paul Robeson, Plum Tigris tomatoes. There will be more Mortgage Lifters.

See you tomorrow! 4-7 p.m. at 7260 Southwest Ave, St Louis

TTFN,

Sam, Bill and

Gina, new Sunflower Savannah Farm Manager

Sunflower Savannah in the News

2010-04-16T07:26:00.007-05:00

Hello everyone,

Most of you are probably aware that Sunflower Savannah's Crop Mobbing made the front page of the Post Dispatch. Georgina Gustin focused on the Mob as was the whole reason for the story, to bring attention to what Pat Quigley is trying to accomplish. Sarah Conrad took some awesome pics that are not included here w/the article as they are under copyright but can be purchased online at the Post STL link.

There were a lot of comments online about the article. The 1st one about the Hippie Camp set everyone off, I'm not really sure why as it could've been taken either way. The concept is kinda like what the "commune" era of the 60's was supposed accomplish but fell far from, as human nature took over. The comment that bothered me the most was the one about Farming being a business and if it's not making enough money, "too bad". Spoken like someone who has never farmed and I'm betting has not stopped long enough to think about where her food comes from. If this were just about money...Trust, we can all find an easier way of making it. What would happened if we left the farming to those who have made it a business? Monsanto? Look at what they are doing to our food. It has been altered to the point that our kids don't even know what vegetables are really supposed to taste like. To the person who said that he doesn't see where the president is trying to make growing our food illegal, I don't know if that exact article was in the paper, but there is much going on behind the scenes making it harder and harder for the small farmer to produce. Many people don't know that Monsanto has raided seed banks in other countries under the guise of seed purity and destroyed the seed in those banks to the point where people are smuggling seed out of those countries just to keep varieties from disappearing off of the face of the earth. Guess who holds the rights and provides 95% of the seed available on the market? Ummm...Monsanto? Lane McConnell sent me her blog yesterday about how the government is further trying to regulate the production of local food and as usual making it too expensive for the small farmer to survive. Lane used to head up the Missouri Farmer's Markets. Read more here. http://tastemissouri.blogspot.com/2010/04/proposed-legislation-could-affect-local.html

Another thing that people are not aware of is the Food Bill which is written ambiguously enough that eventually it could lead to personal home kitchens being inspected for potential hazards such as home canned foods. Sure they're saying that's not what it means but the loopholes are there. The funny thing is that it's the large companies that are constantly causing food hazards and deaths from contamination and poisoning even w/all the laws about pasteurization and homogenization. It's the produce that's coming in from other countries that is bringing the food borne illnesses. Why aren't we pushing the LOCAL food movement instead of making it harder for the small guy to feed his own community? And as Barbara Kingsolver writes about in Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, think of how much less petroleum we as a country would need to use if our food was produced and eaten locally instead of being trucked hundreds of miles away before it gets to your table. Okay hang on...just hopped off of my soap box... and here is the article that was in the St. Louis Post Dispatch on Wednesday and thanks again to Georgina and Sarah.

'Crop mobs' take root in Missouri

Jamie Drake, of Glendale, Gina Dahlstrom, center, of Augusta, and Derek Bryant, of Glendale, help clean the chicken coop at Sunflower Savannah in Beaufort, Mo. (Sarah Conard)
BY GEORGINA GUSTIN
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
04/14/2010
Beaufort — Spring arrived at Sam Wiseman's little farm with a huge to-do list. The fences were collapsing after a long winter; the chickens running amok, laying eggs everywhere. The weeds popped up in every possible spot, and trays of seedlings sat in the greenhouses, waiting for someone to plant them.Until the "crop mob" rolled in.
GALLERY
More photos of the Missouri Crop MobThis weekend, a group of about 30 people flooded the 22-acre property, with shovels, wheelbarrows and good will, to help Wiseman as she tries to whip the farm into shape. The volunteers cleaned the chicken coops, planted cabbage, weeded strawberry beds and cleared away broken fences. With a day's work, they got the place ready for the growing season. Or at least close to it."It's back to the old barn-raising thing," said Nicola Macpherson, a mushroom farmer who lent a hand at Wiseman's farm near Union in Franklin County. "You can't do all this stuff by yourself."

Sometimes you need a mob.The basic notion is almost as old as farming itself: People join together to get a big job done. And crop mobs are contemporary incarnations of this old-fashioned concept.The first group calling itself a crop mob launched in North Carolina about a year and a half ago, and thousands of work hours later, the idea is spreading. Pat Quigley, a carpenter from Jefferson County, heard about crop mobs earlier this year and decided Missouri could use its own. He got in touch with the North Carolina Crop Mob, which gave him its blessing to use the idea and name, then launched a "Jefferson County Crop Mob" Facebook page. Within weeks, he had 200 would-be volunteers. "People want to know about their food," Quigley said. "They want to be in contact with the earth." With an interest in food and farming, many crop mobbers are landless urban types who just want to help out, getting their hands dirty for a day or two and plugging into the farming community in the process. Unlike the barn raisers of the past, crop mobs have the added tools of social networking sites and e-mail, forming a virtual community of volunteers scattered across regions. Saturday's crop mob at Wiseman's farm gathered most of its volunteers through Facebook."I e-mailed Pat, and one thing led to another," said Gretchen Morfogen, a farmers market manager. "And now here I am with my wheelbarrow. It's just one day, and we pool our resources. It can get you weeks ahead of where you'd be without the help."In recent years, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, more people have started small-scale farm businesses buoyed, in part, by demand for produce from farmers markets, produce subscription programs and co-ops. For crop mobbers, helping a small farm is their way of supporting this growing small farms movement and helping ensure a supply of locally grown food."We definitely want to support the smaller sustainable farmer. We're not going out to the guy with the big combine," Quigley said. "We want to help the diversified farmer."And, by some accounts, that farmer could use the help. Often new to farming, this new generation of small-scale farmers has a huge learning curve to face."It's really isolating. A lot of people don't know how hard it is," said Katie Nixon, a small farms specialist with the Innovative Small Farmers Outreach Program at Lincoln University. "It can be really overwhelming."The Lincoln and University of Missouri extension programs co-launched the Grow Your Farm program three years ago to help new farmers develop solid, sophisticated business plans. As interest in the course has grown, organizers have realized that some budding farmers are struggling to get experience in the field."You can find all kinds of web-based information, but nothing beats getting your hands dirty," said Dean Wilson, of the University of Missouri's extension office in Jefferson County. "With that in mind, finding spots where people can actually work on farms is important."Libby and Randy Tempel of Webster Groves are hoping to start their own farm. In the meantime, they are racking up experience by volunteering through the crop mob. "We're interested in the community aspect," Libby said, "and eventually we'd like to have our own farm."When Nickie Burge of Maplewood decided to spend her Saturday at Wiseman's farm, she had her future in mind, too. "We're looking for property right now, and I'd like to get hooked into the community," Burge said, joking, "This isn't altruistic."But mostly it is."It's a really great thing for any community to have that support," Nixon said. "It's worked for the Amish. That's how they've done things successfully for hundreds of years."For Wiseman, that support could be what saves her after a tough winter. Her husband, Bill, was laid off last fall and took a job in Texas that keeps him away from the farm for weeks and months at a time. She has some health problems. The condition of the farm, where the couple raise ducks and sheep and grow heirloom tomatoes and flowers, had slipped. So when Quigley offered to hold the group's first foray into mobbing at her farm, Wiseman didn't hesitate."So many of these people know what a hard year it was for us," she said. "When people ask what they can do, they really mean that. You can't even put a word on how that makes you feel."

TTFN,

Sam

Onto New Horizons!

2010-04-13T15:25:00.007-05:00

Well, I guess that some of you were wondering if we were EVER going to talk about anything ELSE. Today we do have some new subjects in mind;

Summer is quickly approaching. If you are watching the temperatures, we are about 20 degrees higher than is the norm for this time of year. Sure we get a few nice days like these in March and April, but not one after another like we have been this year. For goodness sake, the catfish have already started surfacing in my lake!

In any case, we all know what summer means...TOMATOES!

Here is a more complete list of what we will be offering both as plants at Market and as produce later in the season.

Heirlooms;:Pinks; Thai Pink Egg, Ponderosa Pink, Brandywine, Mortgage Lifter, Pink Stuffer, Pink Oxheart, Missouir Love Apple, Purples(Blacks); Paul Robeson, Black From Tula, Black Brandywine, Black Plum,Violet Jasper(limited) Purple Carbon(but this one will not be available until late). Reds; Crimson Beefsteak, Rutgers, Costelulo Genovese, Amish Paste, Red Roma, Paste Tomatoes(still Heirloom) Black Plum, Plum Tigris, Amish Paste, Red Roma, Plum Lemon. Oranges, MoonGlow. Greens; Green Zebra, Green Grape, Yellows; Plum Lemon, Lemon Boy(Late),Golden Jubilee, Yellow Topaz(limited). Cherries; Red currant, Sweetie cherry, Warrens Yellow Cherry, Thai Pink Egg and Green Grape.

We will be selling these all later as produce along w/Orange Smudge and and couple of others.

Tomorrow we will be at Schlafly for our Wednesday Market on Southwest Ave. We WILL have a LIMITED amount of plants. Then the following week we are shooting for full scale. As usual we will have eggs and 5 kinds of Granola. We hope to see you there. The market begins as always at 4 p.m. and goes until 7.

TTFN,

Sam, Bill and

Gina-Our New Farm Manager! More on this later

After the Riot

2010-04-11T15:40:00.007-05:00

Kristen Hinman of the Riverfront Times gave this definition of Mob; (noun): a riotous crowd; a flock or herd. Well there certainly was a riotous crowd here yesterday. I am still recovering and truthfully I don't know what from, as they did all of the work!

Randy, Jamie, Derek, Gina and Caleb spent most of the day shoveling out the barn. Julie Holley(Earth Dance) was in there for a couple of hours too after she superintended the strawberry patch brigade. There were probably others in there too, but it's all just a blur to me. Randy was in there almost the entire day though.

Nicola, Jennifer, Nickie, Kathi,

Gretchen, Libby, Julie Holley
and Kristen in the Strawberry patch.

Now you can actually see it.

Everyone couldn't make it for the originally scheduled day so people just kept showing up. It was amazing. Lori Murray(Murray's Orchard)had guests at her B&B in Kirkwood(bet most of you didn't know that about her)so she came late and helped transplant trays of tomatoes along w/my sister in law Pam, my niece Anne and later Molly and Sue(Earth Dance) and of course there was Julie H. right in the middle of it too near the end of the day. Slow Foods was represented by Becky and Kelly, and Earth Dance contributed yet more hands w/Kris and her husband(Joe?)Kris was a little frustrated that the chickens were pulling out the broc and cabbage transplants as fast as she could plant them. A school friend of mine, Kim showed up w/her "Will work for Salsa"sign and most importantly her craftsman boyfriend(Pat)who hung a door for me and helped her to redo our walkway. Pat Quigley really got a lot of people from a lot of different places together to make this work out. His mom(Mary) and Josh Osborne directed parking and his sister Kathi along w/Becky from Slow Foods repaired a gate. Lunch ROCKED thanks to Julie Ridlon of Chanterelle Catering who was assisted by Louise Belt. It was so much of a relief to not have to cook during all of this. I think that everyone would've starved had I been in charge of one more thing. But again...I'm not really sure what I did since everyone else was doing all of this work...Why AM I so tired? Maybe I'll figure it out later....Thanks to EVERYONE again. I hope that I didn't forget anyone.
Yep; A Riotous(Righteous) Mob!

TTFN,

Sam

Derek, Jamie and Jen(I think) replacing a fence line.

CROP MOB ALERT

2010-04-09T08:07:00.005-05:00

Surely, Everyone Knows by now?

Sunflower Savannah is being CROP MOBBED on April 10th 2010.

Molly has been broadcasting far and wide while doing her Earth Dance, I've been Blogging my fingers off, Pat is Facebooking away and fielding hundreds of emails(mostly from me), Gina has been helping me prepare for the 30ish people we are expecting, Kelly from Slow Foods is doing her part and Julie Ridlon has a sumptuous feast planned.

By the by, Everything planned is to be L O C A L.

Julie Ridlon, locally known Chanterelle Catering's famous founder will be providing her services gratis. The eggs and onions for the frittatas and the baby radishes for the salad will be from Sunflower Savannah. Andy Ayers has procured some local Spinach from South County. Not sure from who, but you know Andy, if he says Local, it's LOCAL. Nicola has donated mushrooms from her famous Ozark Forest Farm but sadly I hear she can't be here tomorrow, she has help issues herself. We will have our tea and Lemonade that we usually sell at the market.

If anyone you know wants to participate;

Contact Pat Quigley-mailto:Quigley-Truckgarden@earthlink.net
http://www.facebook.com/#%21/event.php?eid=105380342831994&ref=mf

or if you know me from market and only know my number, you can call me- 573-259-1533

Everyone remember- hand tools(trowels, shovels, hammers, pliers),

proper clothing(loose, old shoes and extra)

and call if you get lost. 573-259-1533

Directions From St.Louis;

44W to exit 247 Union

Continue right onto Hwy 50 W for approximately 17 miles

As you come in Beaufort, you will see a Mobil Station on left-slow down

Then you will see a Voss Conoco Station on right-slow more

IMMEDIATELY behind Conoco building is Hwy 185N turn right

Go app. 8/10ths of a mile, you will see a county road, Krenning on right-slow again

We are NEXT drive on right.

Exactly 9/10ths of a mile from Hwy 50 and 185

Gray 2 story house w/green fence.

Reminder-we are trying to be as Green as Possible

so if you can, bring what you will be eating or drinking out of...if not- no worries. We will provide.

Everyone is welcome and we will see you tomorrow!

TTFN

Sam

Proper Etiquitte for a (Green)Mob and Travel Advice

2010-04-05T19:56:00.012-05:00

April 10th, 10 a.m. Sunflower Savannah Crop Mob

As the norm in a profession that you are familiar with, it's easy to think that everyone else knows exactly how things work. A lawyer needs his briefcase and suits, a Metal Worker, protective goggles and gloves. Perhaps though someone might not realize that as a Farmer, it's a good idea to always have a clean change of clothes and shoes handy. Things Happen.

So here are items that might be on your list when you go to Crop Mob.

Sunscreen- Temp supposed to be 77 on Saturday
Loose comfortable clothing- Shorts okay, but-you might be in the barn and again, things happen.
Bug repellent depending on how squimish you are; at the very least there will be flies and gnats.
Hat and gloves
A hand trowel, hammer or shovel depending on your talents.
Shoes or Boots that don't matter if you get muddy
AND
Change of clothes just in case.

Now we are trying to be as green as possible for this event.
We will be providing paper items for eating and drinking AND we will be providing the food and drinks, but the HIP, GREEN thing to do is to bring your own glass, plate and utensils. If this is possible, this will be one more nod to the environment.

How to get to Sunflower Savannah:
6290 HWY 185 Beaufort MO 63013

From St.Louis;
44W to exit 247 Union
Continue right onto Hwy 50 W for approximately 17 miles
As you come in Beaufort, you will see a Mobil Station on left-slow down
Then you will see a Voss Conoco Station on right-slow more
IMMEDIATELY behind Conoco building is Hwy 185N turn right
Go app. 8/10ths of a mile, you will see a county road, Krenning on right-slow again
We are NEXT drive on right. Exactly 9/10ths of a mile from Hwy 50 and 185
Gray 2 story house w/green fence.

Here is Sam's number if you get lost- 573-259-1533

Don't forget to contact Pat Quigley to sign up
http://us.mc545.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=Truckgarden%40earthlink.net
http://www.facebook.com/#%21/event.php?eid=105380342831994&ref=mf

TTFN

Sam

More on the Crop Mob

2010-04-01T08:43:00.007-05:00

Saturday April 10th at 10 a.m. Jefferson County

Crop Mobbers will be here for Missouri's first official Crop Mobbing. We've had confirmations from Kelly at Slow Foods St. Louis, Nicola from Ozark Forest Mushrooms and Julie hopefully along w/Mary Ellen from Earth Dance. Nicola will be donating mushrooms for the meal which will be orchestrated by Julie Ridlon of Chanterelle Catering of St.Louis.

For those of you who are confused about Crop Mobbing; A group of volunteers goes to a farm for the day to do a variety of things that the farmer needs done. In the spring maybe it's planting and bed or barn cleaning. This satisfies the need of the volunteers to be in touch w/their local food movement, supporting a farmer and of course it helps out the farmer. Generally a meal is shared as a thank you from the farmer and the camaraderie that comes from breaking bread together.

Again, please contact Pat Quigley who is the leader of the Jefferson County Crop Mobbers if you are interested in helping or publishing anything about this event. wwwtruckgarden@earthlink.net.

Also check out the facebook page http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=330365933226

This will give us an idea how many will be in attendance.

TTFN

Sam and Bill

Sprung and Mobbed...Crop Mobbed that is

2010-03-29T19:53:00.025-05:00

Well everyone it looks as if has Spring has Sprung for REAL.

The peep frogs are going to town, the yellow AND white Daffodils are bloomed but not stunted from being snowed on while forming after a falsely hopeful warm spell. We have a goose sitting on 6 eggs, nests of ducks eggs everywhere,

even the guineas are getting in the swing of things.

I found 2 of their eggs in this duck nest earlier today.

Saturday we had 3 dozen duck eggs to sell at Market.

This being a continuation of our grant work from last year.

Thanks again to Slow Foods St. Louis.

The greenhouse is overflowing with plants. Heirloom tomatoes, and a few hybrids, Brandywines, Paul Robesons, Black from Tula, Green Zebra, Pink Oxheart, Moonglow, Golden Jubilee, Pink Stuffers, Lemon Boy, Early Girl, Mortgage Lifter, Plum Tigris, Amish Paste, Black Plum and Thai Pink Turtle Egg are just the tip of the iceberg for Plants to sell at this Spring and fruit for later in the season.

Soon to go into the ground are trays of Broccoli and Cabbage. Which brings us to our most exciting subject. Mark your calendars because on April 10th, Sunflower Savannah is going to be mobbed! Crop Mobbed that is. A lot of you have probably been reading about Crop mobbing. Recently in North Carolina, now a new group has started in Missouri. Pat Quigley is the leader of the first Missouri Crop Mobbers and we - he and our farm are looking for volunteers to come and work on Sunflower Savannah for 4 or 5ish hours on April 10th. We'll be doing some planting, some fence repair, barn cleaning, bed building and who knows what all else depending on how many volunteers we have. SO you can contact Pat on Facebook. Simply go to Facebook and search for Crop Mob Jefferson City, Mo and tell him that you want to work that day and he will get right back to you. If you wish to contact him more directly, truckgarden@earthlink.net. We will have a meal that day and it should be good as Julie Ridlon of Chanterelle Catering has already volunteered her talents. We plan on using as much local from our farm and others that we market with. Right now we are thinking about frittatas or quiche made w/eggs and onions produced here on sight. Simple but ...YUM. So get out your boots and hand tools and mark your calendar for April 10th 2010. We'll see you here on the farm.

TTFN,

Sam And Bill

Who let the Chickens out ...Us us !

2010-03-11T19:00:00.015-06:00

A portion of our flocks and of course our chicken guard dog, Ribbons.

SO as everyone at the Markets know, For several weeks we had the chickens locked in the barn. There were various reasons for this including frozen eggs, frozen combs and frozen chickens. We had our original flock along w/the new Silkies from the rescued flock in the room that we call the chicken house but is really a separation of the original stable area. Then the remainder of the new flock was in the new room that Billy divided in the front of the barn. We had put the new flock out in the garden for about 2 weeks, but they just would not go into the shelter we had made. Every night Billy would go out there and put them under and the next night he would go back out again and the whole thing would start over. So Billy fixed their space and back in they went. When it's cold like this, other than the bigger space issue there really is no benefit to their being outside in the winter. The ground is too hard to scratch anything up, they have to work harder staying warm, less light etc. When there is an occasional nice day, they get out to party! However, in the barn, they get continuous extra light, warm water, all the cracked corn and laying mash they can eat and we juice so they get lots of fresh vegetable and fruit pulp. Organic carrots, apples from Centennial Farms, spinach from Tim at Silent Oaks, Brussels sprouts, pineapple, tangerines. In any case, they are out in abandon now and having a ball.

Chickens feeding w/our Sebastapol gander showing off since it's breeding season and I am standing a little too close to his girlfriend.

Tomorrow we will be at St. John's Espiscopal Church on Arsenal w/our own personal arsenal of goodies. Sauces, Cherry Serrano Pepper Jelly, and lots of FRESH eggs. Time- 9a.m. - 1 p.m.

Hope to see you there!

I promise, next week....Greenhouse update. What tomatoes, peppers and Heirlooms are growing.

TTFN,

Sam and Bill

Eggs and Spring

2010-02-25T17:03:00.005-06:00

Well it looks as if the Groundhog was right this year. Despite all the snow we may have an early Spring. Yahoo is forecasting mid 40's to low 50's over the next 10 days. I gotta tell you I'm looking forward to it. Not sure if any of you have noticed but it's not getting dark until almost 6:30 now.

The Cayuga ducks have been mating like crazy and laying a few eggs. I think mostly they are hiding them. Either that or our Great Pyrenees, Rosa is getting them. Here is a pic of 2 white eggs and a BLACK one that we got last week. The Cayugas lay a variety of egg colors. They range from a pale green to black and also the basic white which of course goes with everything. The funny thing is, some ducks start out the season laying green or black eggs and as the season wears on, the eggs might slowly begin to turn another color. Say the black eggs will turn green and then later white the longer they lay or the green eggs will over time be laid as white ones. Then again some of the hens will start out laying a green or black egg and they will continue to lay a green or black egg all season. That's Margarita my inquisitive kitty's face you see there in the edge of the photo.

Tomorrow we will be at Schlafly Microbrewery for the Maplewood Farmers Market. We will have our usual 5 kinds of granola and our Cherry Serrano Pepper jelly and FRESH eggs. We look forward to seeing you there.

We're have started tomato plants and I will be back here soon with a list of exactly what we will be offering this year.

TTFN,

Sam and Bill

That time again....

2010-01-29T11:15:00.006-06:00

Daisy's boy and Iris's twins

Hey Everyone,

It's lambing season again. Last posting we had 3 new lambs but no photos. Today I sat down and tried to figure out how to transfer the photos from my phone to my email so that we could use them in the blog. So let me tell you what has been happening.

Last week-end, the jeep came out of the shop just in time to take Jasmine to the vet. She had been off of her feed since Wednesday and was pregnant. The vet and I came up w/a diagnosis of Hypocalciemia. This is a low calcium issue. Jasmine struggles w/poor body condition and I really should cull her. As I have mentioned before I have an awesome vet- Dr. Hale and he has saved our butts countless times. He is always willing to go the extra mile. Unfortunately while we saved the ewe, she still threw a dead lamb. Just as well. She probably could not have produced the milk to take care of the little girl in the shape that she is in.

Sunday, Daisy FINALLY threw a little ram lamb. She had been having false labor since the previous Monday. Kept me out in the barn most of the week.

When I came home Wednesday, Flora was hiding herself, a 1st sign of labor. When I came back out an hour later, she had twins drying off. Here is the male. Couldn't resist the floppy ear shot.

Then last night, Belladonna presented me w/another set of twins...wow the colors. Like little deer. A boy and a girl.

We have one more that is due soon and that is Lily. She dropped her mucus plug today so it can be anytime now.

My friend Kim is having a lot of fun trying to come up w/Flower names. She says Flora's little boy is Crocus or Daffodil and that Belladonna's are Chrysanthemum for the ram and the ewe lamb is Shasta for Shasta Daisy I suppose. I keep telling her that she should get her own sheep if she wants to name them . She is not impressed w/that philosophy. Her fav is the little black breech lamb that was born last week. It's hard to get a decent photo of a black lamb in a dim barn so she is not pictured here. She calls her Sweet Pea. Kinda strange genetic markings this year, same ram but only one black out of 10 lambs. Last year about 1/3 were all or mostly black. Even Flora who is mostly black and brown threw white lambs. Just goes to show that you never know.

We will be starting tomato plants soon and have already started some onion sets. Tomorrow we will be at Schlafly Microbrewery in the crown room w/lots of goodies and eggs. Look forward to seeing you.

TTFN,

Sam and Bill

Wow! A LOT going on.

2010-01-22T11:19:00.003-06:00

So FINALLY warmer temps and lots of things happening.

Still without a camera so you'll have to use your imagination.

Here's the chicken story

Last week we became aware through my mother law Bessie of a flock of hens whose owner had died. Although there was feed(the man had purchased right before he died) and someone to feed them, because of the cold weather, no one was taking the trouble to feed these hens. So after hearing about this and the hens starting to die off for trying to keep themselves warm w/no nourishment, Billy and my mother in law loaded up and went down there to rescue the hens. Now mind, all we had to haul in was the new 500.00 minivan Billy had just purchased. The jeep has been in the shop. SO off they go, Piedmont is nearly 3 hours from here. When they get down there, the woman supposed to be taking care of them didn't have them penned so Billy chased chickens for 2 hours. He found 7 more dead from starvation. He got them all in cages along w/over 400 lbs of feed and their feeders and started back. He picked me up in Hillsboro at the rental property and we got them home. Yet me tell you, those cages were ripe by the time we got back and he had (not thinking) positioned the cages so we couldn't open the back vent windows to filter some of the smell. When we got here, we counted as taking them out of cages, a total of 72 chickens. There were 8 pairs of white Chinese Silkies. The next morning we found 2 more dead but so far all the rest are adjusting nicely to the addition of food of water to their existence...as my brother in law Merle says- "who knew".
Wow, can you imagine being so lazy that you can't feed something that you have food for?
Just think of all the eggs we will have, these hens were all hatched in 2009!

Yesterday, Denise Wissman from Kimker Hill Farm and I returned home from a Acidified Food class that we took at the suggestion of several people including my market master at Schlafly, Hally. While we both were certified along w/Dan from Blue Heron orchard, Stan from Sandhill, Nicola from Ozark Farm Mushrooms and Ivan from Ivan's Fig Farm, and Mary Ellen and Tina new farmers, we all left the course disgruntled and discouraged. We were lectured and tested on certifications that mostly had no bearing on operations our size and more more adapted to canneries. On top of this, there was no real information on how to get our products authorized, just that we SHOULD get them so AND that to do so could cost us up to 500.00 PER recipe and PER each SIZE product of said recipe that we wished to produce. For instance, say I have a great salsa recipe- let's just pretend....(Can ya just hear the sarcasm dripping?)
I would have to pay 500.00 to have this recipe approved in pint size, then again in 1/2 pint size and heaven for fend if I wanted to make a quart. Then lets say ...I ran out of the bell peppers that I grow for salsa usage, so Double Star farms who are always throwing me their leftover produce would sell me some, I would have to RESUBMIT that recipe, pay the fee again and ask for permission to make this salsa recipe w/these new peppers. UNREAL...
Anybody have the number of our congressman?
On a more cheerful note, when we got back last night I had some excitement in the barn. Our ewes Dahlly and Iris lambed last night. It was exciting as Dahlly was lambing in the front up the barn and Iris in the back so I got a little exercise running back and forth. Three girls and a boy. Sadly one of Dahlly's ewe lambs was breach and while I was able to save that one, this malpresentation cause the other to suffocate in the birth canal. This is a sad part of farm life and luckily not one we face often. We have only lost 4 lambs in the 7 years that we have been breeding. The books say to expect a 20% loss but we have had about a hundred lambs in that time so I think that we are ahead of the game. What do you think?
Don't forget that you can comment on posts and we'd love to hear from you...
and to everyone who is wondering, I feel great!

Really, Spring IS coming.

TTFN

Sam and Bill

Winter on the Farm

2010-01-10T10:11:00.002-06:00

Lets try this again.

As everyone can probably guess, there is not much going on around here except trying to keep everyone warm. I have to confess when Billy is home, he does the most of it. Every morning he gets up and heads out to the barn to carry water from the corner of the barn to where ALMOST everyone is contained inside when it is this cold. I say everyone because the ducks and geese prefer to stay outside and out from under the sheep hooves. They have a lean-to shelter which half the time, they choose not to use. Considering we have 10 adults -9 of which are pregnant and 8 older lambs from this past season, 11 ducks, 2 geese, 30 chickens and 4 guineas, this amounts to A- LOT of water everyday to be carried. Of course this doesn't include the 4 dogs and 4 cats, but they are on the porch or in the house and that's much easier. Believe it or not, the hens are laying after failing us most of the summer. We are getting between 4 and 11 eggs a day depending on how cold it was the day before.
The ducks should start laying in a couple of weeks and we will have to start watching out for eggs on the tundra as they just drop them anywhere until they are ready to start building nests. After this happens we will begin to start marketing them and products from baked goods using those eggs. This will be the finish of the year long experiment for the Cayuga duck portion of the grant we received from Slowfoods St. Louis. As most of you remember, the grant was given to help this small farmer to provide a new product to the market using a heirloom plant or endangered animal in order to foster their survival. The other portion was to use Heirloom plum tomatoes to dry and sell at the market. We were given the opportunity to improve our greenhouse to dry them in. The greenhouse was improved as the blog showed throughout the season but the drying of the tomatoes failed dismally due to all the rain and cool weather we received all season.
That's about it for right now and we will see everyone at Schlafly Microbrewery in a couple of weeks. Sorry there are no pics right now as the camera bit the dust. We will have to change that soon as all the girls in the barn are bagging and I expect some lambies in a couple of weeks.

TTFN as Tigger would say.

Winter on the Farm

2010-01-10T10:09:00.000-06:00

Winter Market on Saturday

2009-12-10T09:08:00.004-06:00

Hey All,

It was a busy Fall. As most of you know, Markets have gone down to once a month for both Schlafly and Tower Grove.
That's 2 markets a month instead of 2 markets a week. Whew, what a relief!
This weekend 12/12, we will be at;

St. John's Episcopal church on 3664 Arsenal Street in St. Louis.

Next weekend 12/19, we will be at Schlafly Microbrewery on 7260 Southwest Ave. We will be in the Crown room which is located at the very back of the building.

Both Markets will be from 9-1 and the following products will be offered;

Fresh Missouri cracked Pecans
Smoked Chili peppers- Anaheim, Jalapeno, Cayenne and a few Habeneros.
Jams and Jellies- Peachy Melon Marmalade, Cherry Serrano Pepper Jelly, Blackberry,
Just Peachy, Autumn Pear, Holiday Crabapple Cranberry, Watermelon Marmalade and others.
Smoked and Charred Tomatillo Products both Hot and Mild

Of course Granola- 5 varieties; Goin' Fruit, Cravin' Craisins, Chewy Cherry, Gone Coconutty and Granola w/Walnuts.

Cinnamon Roasted Almonds and Pecans

Sprouts- Fenugreek and Mung Beans

There will be Holiday Greenery as well- Holly, Boxwood, Juniper, White Cedar, Cypress and multiple varieties of Pine boughs.

Everyone be nice to Billy as he will be driving all night from working in Belvidere Illinois to work the Market w/me on Saturday. See YOU there.

greenhouse and grant progress

2009-10-01T12:38:00.008-05:00

I promised 2 weeks ago that the next post would continue w/progress on the greenhouse that Billy has been altering, partly w/funds from the SlowFoods St.Louis grant and mainly w/his own ingenuity.

The 1st picture is the front wall of the Southwest side of the greenhouse, the main entrance if you will. This wall at the time of this picture, is made from single wall polycarbonate and you can see the bubble wrap hanging on the inside of the greenhouse for additional insulation. In this 2nd photo, the wall is completely "see through"as my engineering minded husband has framed and hung a recycled window that we bought somewhere for 20.00. You can see the new rubber mats on the inside floor and if you look at the top, this window has smaller sliding windows for ventilation...pretty cool huh? At present he is replacing another partial wall w/the irregular pieces of the double wall "thermoclear" material that we had left over from the interior wall project. Here is a pic of some tomatoes that we are drying as part of the grant expectations which was produce sundried heirloom plum tomatoes as an alternative market product. These tomatoes are Orange Bananas, Plum Lemons, and Amish Paste. The Plum Lemons mostly came from Kimker Hill Farm, St. Clair. As most of you know our Plum Lemons had almost complete crop failure.

NOW for the exciting part of this addition. Yesterday I spotted one of our Cayuga ducks coming out of the pampas grass which as you all know from previous posts, is where they tend to hide their nests. I spoke to Kelly Childs from SlowFoods last month that I was finding duck eggs about the farm and was hoping that someone was trying to make a nest even though it is VERY late in the year for this. So when I peeked into the grass, this is what I found.

I believe this to be the same hen that raised the small batch earlier this season. She has 6 or 7 eggs under her. This is unprecedented behavior for Cayugas, they are usually finished nesting by early September at the latest. If they don't build a nest, they are generally finished laying by late July. I am excited!

Terra de Tomatillo

2009-09-16T08:40:00.009-05:00

I try to describe the effects of the tomatillos on our farm to no avail. People can't picture it unless they see it and they just don't believe me. Posted is a pic of the view of my garden from the front gate. This is only about a 15 ft. strip... the rest of the garden is overran the same way. There are thousands of them falling over and covering ground. They overshadow the tomatoes and the bees prefer them when time for pollination. This is after we also have pulled out and thrown away 100's of plants and tilled even more sprouting babies under. People who haven't experienced this say "well ours don't come back because we till them under" as if suggesting that we don't. We do and the sheep shelter in the garden all winter and their bedding piles up and they walk the ground down hard. Then as soon as spring comes and we open the ground again...here they come. I joke all summer that I am going to change the name of the farm from Sunflower Savannah to Terra de Tomatillo.... Unfortunately we aren't reaping as much from our tomatillo crop this year. I have been able to make very little salsa. It's just too cool at night and while they struggle valiantly, they just can't fill those little sacs full enough.

As we have mentioned before , Slow Foods has given us a grant to be split between raising Cayuga Ducks and making our greenhouse more efficient in order to sun dry heirloom tomatoes as an alternative product. Bill has been working on this just as valiantly as those tomatillos but w/more success. Here he has taken out the center wall between the 2 rooms of the greenhouse. This wall was constructed of house wrap plastic and bubble wrap. He has replaced it w/a twin walled polycarbonate like material. The floor of this room has been insulated with 2 inch foam, covered over w/underlayment and then intersecting foam mats are being laid down.

These are pictures of the room at the same angle from outside the door looking in. The 3rd is facing the wall from the center of the room.

All of these things serve the purpose of making this Southwest facing room, which normally is used for germination and green growth more energy efficient and insect proof. The room on the other side of this wall faces the northeast and is used for finishing and controlling growth.

Next Post; Bill continues to make improvement on the greenhouse.

This season so far...

2009-08-04T11:16:00.001-05:00

I know, I know, not many posts lately. ...It's just been hard keeping up while dealing w/everything.

Our crops have been slow coming in, partially due to the cool weather, partially because of the weeds that we haven't been able to keep up w/regardless of all the help that we have had and finally because of the guineas. The tomatoes started coming on strong the 1st week in july but so did the guineas. They started hopping over the 6 foot garden fence via the raised beds going around them.... they have eaten almost everything. We have caught some and clipped their wings but still to no avail, they still had enough push to go over that fence. They have pulled down the vines and eaten the Purple Carbons, the Lemon boys, the Black from Tulas, green or red they have no preference. What tomatoes had the time to ripen w/their voracious appetites anyway? We were getting much flack from the customers about the lack of salsa so late in the season. Then Claire at Double Star Farms started chomping at the bit and donated some tomatoes and we bought some seconds from Centennial Farms and along w/a FEW from our plot we were able to get salsa going. Billy(you remember my loving husband) designed a chicken tractor for the guineas. We captured the female that had chicks which kept them and her mate there. In a 2nd he put another female which kept her mate outside the cage, but close and out of the garden. We're making progress.

Now as for the grant, you've seen the ducks and posted is a pic of some of the Thai Red Turtle Eggs which are changing color. I'm pretty sure that we have some Amish paste also as I seem some plum tomatoes in the garden but I won't know for sure until they ripen. I believe that I posted earlier that we would be exchanging the Orange Bananas for the Plum Lemons as we have had almost a complete crop failure of those and the Plum Tigris. Hard to figure why, last year both did so well. This year, low germination of both and what was left was put into the ground to sit there and do nothing. Some are still only a few inches high and they have been in the ground since late May. Puzzling. I can understand the seed being bad but after germination, growth is what happens....usually. Other tomatoes around them are flourishing nicely.

Concord Baptist Church Sunday school group was here a few weeks ago helping out via my sister. While they were here, they help Bill move everything out of the greenhouse so that he could do more serious work on the greenhouse to make it more airtight as we planned for in the grant.

So that is what is going on. Hopefully I can get myself together enough to be consistant at this again. TTFN

I'm back

2009-06-15T08:27:00.003-05:00

It's been a rough few weeks what with the back surgery and the diagnosis. We've just been trying to stay above water here. Literally because of the rain and figuratively because it just feels like we've been drowning. We've had to accept a lot of help to keep things going. For the help we've been truly grateful for the blessings. It's been hard though, telling everyone how to do things instead of doing them myself. Over the last week or so, I have been able to do more and that is a blessing too.

We promised Slow Foods to keep track of what's going on Grant-wise by blogging about the projects. I have been remiss in this. I try to be a person who says what they mean and means what they say but as I said, it's been rough. Hard to sit at the computer for one thing. In any case, here is a pic of the ducklings that we are raising. If you remember, she hatched 8 and we bought 4 about the same age, then we bought 2 about 4 weeks older. Well one thing and another, she lost 4 or 5 of hers and then 1 or 2 of the other small. So we have 8 left, but as you can see, on is of a gray color which means it's egg was fertilized by the runner duck that we got rid of. So we will have to find a home for it. The rest are beautiful specimens. As we still have not been able to find any adults, I guess that we will be ordering some babies to fill out the rest of the grant proposal.

As far as the tomatoes go, we had almost a total crop failure of the Plum Lemons, Black Plums and the Plum Tigris. We plan of replacing the Plum Lemons w/the Orange bananas that we planted. We got plenty of Thai red Turtle eggs in the grounds and there are some Amish Paste. We got a few Plum Lemons but they were so small that it's hard to say if they will survive. Same w/the couple of Plum Tigris. SO we'll see what we get. TTFN

And....We're off

2009-05-10T21:07:00.003-05:00

Saturday was the beginning of the Tower Grove Market Season. It was a good day and a good Market. It was great seeing the old crowd again both vendors and customers alike.
It's difficult doing market w/a back injury but Karen and the ever loyal Hubby did all of the work while I explained the varieties of tomato plants to the customers. At one point, Kimberly from Slow Foods came by and commented on me sitting in a lawn chair w/my feet up. She couldn't see the ice pack behind me.
Today to continue on the theme of help on the farm, Dan and Denise Wissman came over to help plant. Dan tilled almost the whole garden and even though he BROKE the tiller(just kidding Dan, I'm really glad that the tiller didn't break you) it was an immense help. Denise planted 6 row of tomatoes and transplanted dill and marveled at the size of the worms in the garden. She planted Green Zebras, Mortgage lifters, Early Girls, Lemon Boys, Pink Girls, Purple Carbons and Bijskij Zetyl. What a relief. About 2 O'Clock, Julie Ridlon showed up again w/food and proceeded to transplant Astilbes and tomatoes. Even though she had to learn how to use the hoe, She weeded. Of course she had a lot of fun w/the word hoe. ...
Karen transplanted zinnias and Julie offered to trim the dog so they did it together. Just stuff to help...anything to help.
All and all I feel a bit better about the start on the season...Thanks everyone. Back out or not, it's nice to know that you mean enough to someone for them to go out of their way to help you or to care about your well being.
Blessings...to everyone that does. Blessings are everyone that does.
Oh yes, and the LAST lamb of the season was born last night...another girl.
Blessings...I'm still counting.

Gratitude

2009-05-06T20:07:00.007-05:00

So it's been mentioned on and off that my back is giving me a lot of trouble. It appears to be
more serious than we first thought and has kept me down longer than anticipated.
Worrisome is a word for planting season when you can't get off the couch.
Understatement is saying that I have some good friends to back me up.

Karen has been mentioned off and on since we started the blog. She's a great best friend. She keeps the house clean and encourages me, goes outside and lets me boss her around the greenhouse. Then walks around wheezing for 2 days because she's not used to our Mid Western pollen.

Two weeks ago Sally, one of my oldest friends called to say she was coming out to help.

She came out to divide and pot tomato plants for me free of charge. She, her daughter & boyfriend. They all pulled weeds and carried the bundles to the mulch pile.

They ate before they came here and left w/out letting me pay even for gas. FRIENDS.

My brother in law Merle came out and worked 2 afternoons to help finish the raised beds around the greenhouse and just helped out the hubby w/stuff that I am not able to do. What a relief.
Gina was on duty Saturday.

Sunday Julie Ridlon from Chantrelle Catering came out to visit and see how things were going.

It was entertainment for herself and niece Becca, but they brought noshes, took pics and flattered the heck out of us. When she left we had extra ice cream, awesome coffee, offers to help plant and sympathy.

Michel, a florist who owes me nothing because she already buys stuff from me is always offering something whether it be biofreeze or a halter for the llama.
Everyday Doug and Cheri call to check on me. Doug tells me to keep the faith and Karen schleps me to the tests- even though she will tell you that she is not a morning person. And she's not...she's a friend person.

Seems like there are a lot of those hanging around here...simple and true people that you can count on...Friends

Market Season Soon

2009-05-03T21:34:00.004-05:00

Market season is upon us. Schlafly has been rolling along since April beginning and Tower Grove starts on the 9th. We are not as far along as we'd like to be. This farmer has been running around getting tests done to find out about the back problem. This has been taking up lots of time. Still, the greenhouse is full, we put 6 dozen Guinea eggs in the incubator, we have dill and asparagus in the garden. Still waiting for the last sheep to lamb.
I'm both excited and dreading the tumult. It will be good to see the customers again as always.

We will not be at Schlafly tomorrow, but will start the season next Wednesday. We WILL be at Tower Grove this Saturday the 9th. This is what we will be bringing to BOTH markets.

Fresh Dill, Spearmint and Catnip herbs, Lambs Ear plants, Hosta and Water Iris.

Here is a listing again of the Heirloom tomatoes that we have: Paul Robeson, Plum Lemon, Green Zebra, Mortgage Lifter, Rutgers, Taxi, Sun Gold, Thai Red Turtle Egg, Moon Glow, Orange Banana, Purple Carbon, Plum Tigris...and more. If I missed a variety that you are looking for, email me. I'm sure that there are more.

All our plants are grown in recyclable pots using Organic potting mix and untreated, mostly organic seed.

As usual, we will have 5 kinds of granola and Cherry Serrano Pepper Jelly.

In today's unsure times, roll out and support your local farmer to insure your food safety.

Oh, and we are selling lambs(live) if anyone is interested.

See you there.

Project Progress

2009-04-29T13:09:00.004-05:00

At the Silex Farmers Market on Saturday, we were able to get 2 Females that were about 5 weeks old and 4 smaller week old females. How do I know this, well because I spent about an hour showing people how to sex ducklings so they would know what they had.

I am still casting about hoping to get some adult hens from someone somewhere, but for now we will be ordering 10 ducklings from Mc Murray Hatchery as Metzers is where I got my original flock from and we are trying to keep the gene pool swimmable. Here are the 2 older females with one of the extra Drakes we have.

Monday, Billy went to get the polycarbonate material to finish the ceiling and hopefully the dividing wall in the greenhouse. Today he is putting in the ceiling. We were able to get some odd pieces at a better price than we hoped for so maybe we will be able to get more done.

Both of these things were possible thanks to the grant money provided by Slow Foods St. Louis. Thanks again, Kelly, Kimberly and Bill.

Getting Ready

2009-04-24T13:35:00.005-05:00

Well we are getting ready for the weekend.

First we going tomorrow for the Silex Market. I am really excited about this especially since Kelly Klober called today to say that he has found me some Cayuga ducks, bless his heart. And speaking of Cayugas, look what happened this morning.

She just waltzed out w/8 new babies.

Tomorrow after the River Hills Market in Silex, we will be headed to Mike Brabo's

Vesterbrook Farm to do his Certified Naturally Grown inspection. He is READY. As you all might know, Certified Naturally Grown is a grassroots organization that follows the same strictures as Organic but is ran by Farmers instead of the USDA. The Organic label has been perverted by Monsanto and the likes in an attempt to do away with the competition of the small farm. Because you know, WE ARE the ones causing all the problems....NOT!

Then Sunday will be Earth Day at Forest Park in St.Louis. We will be in the Food Education section selling Heirloom tomato plants, Spearmint, Catnip, Water Iris, Lambs Ears(the plants) and a few other things. Varieties of tomatoes that we will be bringing are;

Heirlooms~

Purple Carbon, Mortgage Lifter, Taxi, Mule Team, Pink Oxheart, Green Zebra, Moon Glow,

Silvery Fir Tree, Thai Red Turtle Egg, Amish Paste, Missouri Love Apple and a few more.

Hybrids, Early Girl, Lemon boy, and a few Sun Golds.

ALL are potted in ORGANIC compost and RECYCLED POTS. The seeds are either from Certified Organic Sources and/or Untreated.

We will have Curly Willow Branches for Propagating,

Organic Mung and Adzuki Bean Sprouts and a limited amount of Alfalfa Sprouts.

Don't forget our Feather Jewelry made by my own 2 hands from Feathers on our own Farm while bored out of my head because of spinal incapacitation.(Everyone will tell you that I don't sit still well.)

Karen is doing all the dirty grunt work because I still am really limited on what I can handle and she will be on hand at the proceedings. Be sure and tell her thanks when you see her.

We will be providing reusable shopping bags for plants and Earth Day theme and convenience.

Look forward to seeing you there.

Oh yes, and here is the promised pic of Jessie and her new lamb

Earth Day Sunday

2009-04-21T14:15:00.003-05:00

Hey Everyone,

Back is still giving me quite a LOT of grief and I am SO frustrated but I thought that I'd better get on here and let you know about Earth Day St. Louis. This Sunday we will be at Forest Park with the rest of the Market. Hopefully we will have a good spot.
Among our usual stuff, like our granola-5 Kinds, and our Cherry Serrano Pepper Jelly, we will also have our summertime Lemonade and Organic Green Tea w/Jasmine and Local Honey. Both will be in those famous cut glass jars.
Heirloom tomatoes will be the focus on the plants we bring but we also will have some potted Spearmint, Catnip, Water Iris and more.
I've been working on some Jewelry made w/feathers from the farm. Mostly earrings, but I think that they will go over well.
Saturday we will be going down to visit Kelly Klober at the River Hills Family Farm Expo. Kelly and some friends run the River Hills Farmers market which has garnered a lot of press due to the community, the uniqueness of the market and their goal of improving the heirloom bird breeds out there. It's at Silex School in Silex Mo. and starts at 7:30 a.m. We aren't going to sell, just to look around. Kelly speaks at a lot of the farm conferences and has written 2 books on pigs and one that is in the process of being published which is about chickens. Come down and see what is going on.

There was a new lamb born last night. A little ewe girl. I will post pics later. Thanks heavens for little girls.

Down and Out

2009-04-17T09:45:00.001-05:00

Sorry everyone, No posts for a few more days. This farmer's back is out and I can't sit at the computer right now...or do just about anything but breathe. See you in a few.

Head Start

2009-04-12T14:54:00.005-05:00

This is my Cayuga hen going back to work.
It's a lonely job but someone has to do it.

Wednesday I went out to the barn to check on Jessie one of the Jacob sheep that we acquired last fall who is due to lamb soon. While unlatching the gate one of my 2 female Cayuga ducks came flying around the curve of the drive, quacking to beat the band. The thought crossed my mind that she might have a nest somewhere. The girls do this to let you know they are hungry from sitting around generating enough heat to hatch the nest of eggs that they are incubating. It's like they are saying...."wait, wait, wait for me". Sometimes if you are late feeding, I swear it sounds like they are telling you off. They eat like they are starving,wash their face in a bucket and waddle back to where they came from. Still I was busy w/other stuff(imagine) and I forgot about it until I was showing the lambs to my mom on Thursday and she did the exact thing again. So we got to poking around and found her nest in the Pampas grass. Today I took some photos. You can see that there is some fencing around the grass. We do this because these Pampas grass clumps are favorite nesting places for the ducks. They are also favorite places for the dogs to get a nice egg breakfast. The fencing lets the ducks in and keeps the dogs out. It won't deter skunks or raccoons but they don't usually venture that close to the yard where the dogs are. It does the trick. SO it appears that we have a head start on the duck project. We will be placing our order for outsourced ducklings on Monday which is when we also plan to go and pick up the Polycarbonate panels for the greenhouse/Sun dried Tomato project. I captured these 3 photos when she got off the nest for a minute. You can see in the 3rd one that she is not quite resettled and I got bitten for my efforts...I mean really, who wants there picture taken while they are concentrating on having 9 babies?(Don't even make a Nadia joke) All kidding aside, these ducks are fearless mothers and will die trying to defend their brood both before and after they are out of the eggs. They will grab your hand w/their beaks and will bite so hard that you can pick them up because they are holding on and while they are doing that, they will beat you w/their wings. The incubation process for ducks is 28 days I am excited, I love it when the ducklings start waddling around.

Cayuga eggs vary from black to green to

off white. I would guess that some other duck

has been laying in her nest because the green one

is bigger than the rest. She is not happy in this second photo

Time Off of the Farm

2009-04-09T20:24:00.003-05:00

Looking out my front door ....and wondering....What the heck? They've taken over. Aren't they supposed to be in one of the 4 fields?

For everyone who doesn't know, I went to Phoenix last week to help my best friend Karen move here to Missouri. Every year before market season starts, we try to do something together that we haven't done together. We have driven to Missouri from Arizona so we came back through Santa Fe. I have been to New Mexico but not Santa Fe. Still there is something about New Mexico. All the preparation I have to go through to get ready to leave and still it's like MAGIC, as soon as I cross into New Mexico, all heck breaks loose. Last time it was the only ewe that was left to lamb went down w/pneumonia. I stood on a mountainside begging my (saintly, wonderful) vet to do a farm call with no one home. He did and the ewe lived but we lost the lambs.
This time while trying to enjoy the Native Pueblo Indian crafts, I am fielding calls about the llama being loose and organizing a search for her. My poor husband arrived back at the farm only to go on a wild llama chase. Turns out we named Gypsy aptly. We had sightings from as far away as 3 miles in one direction and a mile in the other. Thank God we have awesome neighbors as 4 of them came to our rescue and someone boarded her for the night when she became too stressed to try and drag her a half a mile through the woods AGAIN. My favorite florist helped and she said that if she would've had a video camera she would've made a million dollars on America's Funniest videos of my hubby being dragged by the Gypsy. Anyway, Llama and Husband here when I got home. All Sheep alive, but there was a warning on our door from the Franklin County Police to keep our sheep off of Highway 185. Sigh.....
I don't think that I will go back to New Mexico.

Saturday we will be at St. John's Episcopal church on Arsenal to sell our wares.
We will have our usual Cherry Serrano Pepper Jelly, granolas and salsas but will also bring Spearmint and Garlic Chives. maybe even some asparagus. We'll see. Oh yes and there will be a variety of SMALL Heirloom tomato plants. See you then, 9-1.

Received the news and a check from Slow Foods St. Louis. We will be following our progress on this blog for the 2 projects for which we applied. One will be on raising Cayuga Ducks and the other will involve making our greenhouse more efficient in order to sun dry Heirloom Plum tomatoes.
We will be focusing on Black Plum, Plum Tigris, Plum Lemon, Amish Paste and Thai Red Turtle Egg.
Many Thanks to Slow Foods.

Over the Weekend

2009-03-30T19:37:00.004-05:00

This is Molly w/her ram lamb and Raven w/her ewe lamb...Yay Raven.

Over the very busy weekend, we had some lambs. Here are a couple of them, I couldn't get them all in the confusion of the flock. These are Jacob Lambs and will be wool sheep. The mothers are half Jacob and half Barbados and the dad was all Jacob. They are part of the new flock that we bought in November. Now we just have 2 ewes left to lamb...one soon and one in a couple of weeks.

Tomorrow we will be posting pics of the plants in the greenhouse and of the 2 raised beds that are finished around it.

Rosa's are red Violets are two...

2009-03-25T15:34:00.004-05:00

YESTERDAY was one of those days(even if I didn't say it in last nights post) that I call Sheep Boot camp 101. Rosa one of our Great Pyrenees started running the sheep while trying to transfer them to a new field. Now this is complicated by the new llama, Gypsy not knowing what to do when the sheep are moved. The sheep, they know exactly what to do. ...UNLESS the DOG is CHASING THEM. You just move toward any gate w/a bucket and they follow.
Gypsy, she is interested in the possibility of grain but doesn't trust this new gate she is supposed to go through and actually there are 3 gates.
SO I FINALLY get the sheep moved w/out mishap, but the llama is still loose. Rosa is tied up in disgrace and we wait til "Dad" gets home. He does and we go out w/the bucket again. Takes 40 minutes to get her out of the old field into the front yard then she won't go through that gate. Finally we hang the bucket on the outside of the gate and go do something else. Eventually she spots the bucket and walks through the gate to eat the grain. I slam the gate behind her. ONLY ONE MORE GATE. However at this point, the sheep are in a frenzy because they see the bucket and they are STARVING to death (NOT). So every time we get Gypsy to the gate they are pushing from the other side and Gypsy freaks out and heads down the drive. Okay our drive is like 1/10th of a mile long on each end and each time she runs further down. For another hour, it's back and forth, up to the gate and then all the way back down again. There's no danger of her getting on the road, but we are all getting stressed. Finally we lock the sheep in yet another field, leave the gate open and I make one more trip back down to the END of the drive and RUN her all the way back up and she goes in. Our butts are kicked. Not that I don't need the exercise, but I'd rather get it hauling compost to the raised beds.

Today however we had a better day, and pictured here are Violets two new EWE lambs. Violet is a Navajo Churro in bad need of a haircut. The lambs are 1/2 Navajo and 1/2 Katahdin cross.

It really is SPRING

2009-03-24T20:38:00.002-05:00

It really is Spring. It's been warm, it's been windy and it's been wet and dry. Yep...Spring in Missouri. Yesterday we planted Garlic for scapes, snow peas and onions. More tomatoes in the greenhouse. Another load of manure in the raised beds and the Liatris is peeking out of the ground. OH and I saw the Asparagus! The sheep beat me to the first few spears, but THEY have been relocated to a new field. We should have some for the April 11th Market.
Okay so we have been getting emails about our tomato plants. Last year we had a lot of different varieties and people are wanting to know if we are planning the same this season also. In February we posted some of the types that we are going to grow to sell as plants as well as what we are going to carry as produce at Tower Grove and Schlafly Market. Since everyone is so interested and it now seems feasible that there really will be a summer here , I guess it's time to post them again.
For sale as Plants at the Markets we will have;
Heirlooms- Black From Tula, Black Sea Man, Paul Robeson, Purple Carbon, Black Plum, Plum Tigris, Plum Lemon, Golden Jubilee, Taxi, Moonglow, Amish Paste, Arkansas Traveler,
Pink Oxheart, Mortage Lifter, Thai Red Turtle Egg, Missouri Love Apple, Green Zebra, Evergreen, Rutgers and Silvery Fir Tree,
Hybrids- Early Girl, Lemon Boy, Pink Girl, Sweet Million, Giant Tree and
SunGold(limited quantity)
and some of each that I'm sure that I've forgotten.

For Sale at the Markets as PRODUCE ONLY;
Along with the previous that are listed,
Heirlooms- Tess's Land Race Currant(-isn't that a cool name?),
Orange Banana,(orange you glad...never mind)
Bijskij Zetyl(mainly because I don't want to have to say it to sell it)
Tlacolula, Furry Yellow Hog, Striped Cavern and Chocolate Cherry.

Probably there will be a few that cross over that are not listed and again some that I've forgotten to list. Let it be noted again that as we are Certified Naturally Grown, almost all the seed is organic and that which is not has NOT been treated. We did search for Organic in every type, but some were just not available. The restrictions are to make the best effort for Organic and if unable to find certain varieties, they MUST BE OF UNTREATED SEED. We also used Missouri vendors when possible. Much of our seed came from Baker Creek in Mansfield, some from Heirloom Acres, New Bloomfield and Seeds of Change which is not Missouri based. Our pots are recycled. Trust, it would be a lot neater around here if it they were not. We also use organic potting mix. SO there you have it...Tomatoes for 2009. I'm sure that we will discuss it again. In fact, I look forward to it.

Update on the Debate, the Market and the Farm

2009-03-17T09:25:00.006-05:00

We have been talking about the raised beds that we are putting in around the greenhouse and garden. One thing (the cold) and another (life) it has been going very slow. Yesterday we finally made some headway. Here are some pics. In the 1st, you can see the greenhouse that we constructed from an arbor that was already here. Polycarbonate was used for the walls.

We are using used Motorcycle shipping pallets to form the beds. We rescue them from the dealer in Washington. They will be painted green. The fabric that you see hanging out is an old tent that we are using under the concrete blocks that lift the bed. The tent was in some stuff from an auction. It will keep the Bermuda grass out, but doesn't have direct contact w/the soil bed. We have a terrible time w/Bermuda grass here. It even grows between the walls of the greenhouse. The cloth is laid on the grass, concrete blocks are put on top of it. then hardware cloth for drainage and cardboard to hold the soil in until the roots form. You can see the plug trays on the side. They are broken ones that we have been using for years. I got them when I worked for Kaiser Hill Farm in New Haven 6years ago. They are to keep the filler from falling through the cracks until it settles. The bed is back filled w/the rotted pig manure/sawdust that we spoke of in a previous post. This will be mixed w/the Dyna Mix, an organic bed filler that we use. This side is the East , we hope to run the beds, clockwise around the back of the greenhouse to the west side which is unbroken for the full 24 feet of the structure. The North end and the remaining east side space will not be used because the walkway and water hydrant. Perennials and bulbs for cut flowers will be set in these beds. This will allow easier accessibility for working and insulation to make the greenhouse more efficient.

So Saturday's Market was a little slow. Partly because of the parade and some because I think people are ready for some new veggies and at this point it's Mostly "green's green's green's" as Molly Rockamann would say and canned goods. We're all sick of the winter and ready for some VARIETY! Don't give up on us now, there are new items coming on all the time.

Now the big Debate has been settled. After many suggestions,(mostly to do w/the Dahlai Lama) my hubby and I have come to a meeting of minds on the name of the new llama. As you all know, every animal that has a job on the farm is named after a flower or plant. Willow was the top contender, but Billy was deadly against it on the logical point that it sounded "too woody". So last night I finally came up with....Gypsy for Gypsophilia which is the Latin name for baby's breath. Now I admit that she doesn't look like baby's breath, but she does look like a Gypsy. And there you have it.

To Market, to Market

2009-03-13T20:03:00.003-05:00

Okay Everyone, Tomorrow we will be at St. John's Episcopal Church at 3664 Arsenal. Market starts at 9 and in over at 1 p.m.

We will have our usuals, Cherry Serrano Pepper Jelly, 5 kinds of Granola, Charred and Smoked Tomatillo Salsas. This will probably be our last time for Bratwurst for awhile as we have 12 packs left and that's it unless we have to take a troublemaker to the processor again. Really the meat is not our purpose in having the lambs, but if you like it... Stock up.

Dried Apples and Tomatillo Chow Chow is one the list also. Be sure to stop by and chat even if you don't buy. We will not be doing Schlafly again until May, at least.

We look forward to seeing you.

Earth Day is April 26th...we will have a booth there with the Tower Grove Farmer's Market.

New News is Good News

2009-03-11T10:31:00.004-05:00

Hola Everyone,

Todays barn inspection revealed Hollyhock's latest creations. This is a set of twins not totally dry yet. We seem to be following the pattern of the more interesting looking girls. The brown cutie is a little ewe lamb and the solid black is a ram. As you probably can see, Holly is part Suffolk which is why she has such a lovely fur coat. She is half Dorper so she does shed some what but it takes forever.

Even the llama had something to say.

Debate

2009-03-10T23:19:00.003-05:00

Okay, so everyone is wondering about the llama.
We picked her up on Sunday(hence the Sunday posting)and I have to say, for once EVEN I was a little intimidated. She is a year and a half old so there is still time to grow. We are debating on the name. She is to be a guardian for the sheep. I want to call her Willow...and Billy wants to call her Sunny for Sunflower. Both are good names but she just looks more willowy to me. He's pretty adamant so probably he will get his way, but not w/out some regret. The fact that I am rejecting anything to do w/sunflowers should say how strongly that I feel about this. Wendy says we should call her Sunny Willow....way to take a stand Wendy.
Here I am again talking about the animals but not about the crops again. SO just let me say that I was in the greenhouse today, planting more tomatoes and I was also working outside on the raised beds. I am waiting to hear the results from a Slow Foods grant application for a Heirloom tomato project.
Safe to say, even w/out the grant, there will be plenty of Heirlooms around here.
And the Sunny, Willowy llama is eating out of our hands.

A Day on the Farm

2009-03-08T19:48:00.004-05:00

It probably seems that we do nothing around here but wait for lambs to be born. I guess that's because that's what I am most excited about lately. We're doing plenty of other stuff but most of it just seems so part of the daily routine that I try not to bore anyone. Really we stay extremely busy. There are just the 2 of us, my lovely husband Billy and I. He brings home the regular bacon and the farm provides the lettuce and tomatoes. So every project that needs to be finished is a product of our energy alone. Sometimes we can afford an extra hand one day a week but mostly those hands are to keep the house clean so I can be outside. Right now we are working on raised beds for the flowers. These beds go all the way around the garden and I recently much Billy's consternation came up w/the brilliant (tongue in cheek) idea of raised beds around 2 sides of the greenhouse. My thought process on this is kinda like the earth house concept...the dirt in the beds will insulate the South and West side walls. Still it takes time and filler.
We've lucked into a source of pig manure that is so well rotted that it is like dirt. So Friday and Saturday, I unloaded 2 trailers full...probably about 4 yards each and we went and picked up another to work on through the week. While I was doing this, Billy fixed a barnyard gate.
In between the projects, is daily life, meals, laundry and just basic every year getting ready for Market season stuff. Like the 1000's of tomatoes planted, both to sell plants at Market and for planting ourselves in the field. Those have to be sown and then watered everyday. Heat must be added when the temps drop too far below freezing.
The sheep must be moved in and out of shelters everyday and everyone must be watered, fed and eggs must be gathered. The ewes are checked by both of us several times a day. Seed is ordered and Organic sources of these tracked down. This blog is updated and pictures must be taken and downloaded for this. Soon it will be planting time and while that is going on, the Market season begins and new and creative ideas must be born. Sometime during all of this, we both must rest, eat and give thanks to our Creator for all that we have including the abilities it takes to do this.

I consider myself blessed to be able to walk out into the sunshine and earn my keep. The only thing that I don't have is enough hours in the day.

We Shall See

2009-03-08T17:51:00.002-05:00

We may have bitten off more than we can chew.....?

Little Rascals

2009-03-07T17:05:00.009-06:00

This is Daisy and her 2 DAUGHTERS....they are delicate little girls and born on 3/5. You know how we have been lamenting all the boys but this made gave us Even amounts.

Today however, we were blessed AGAIN with another set of ewe lambs! The mom is one of our favorite ewes, Flora.

I have to say that we are getting a pretty varied group of lambs this year. AND bring on the girls, I say.

This Season's Unique Colors...

2009-03-03T11:15:00.012-06:00

Today's additions to the farm are New Colors introduced by Jasmine. We've had Jasmine for 3 winters now and this is her 3rd set of lambs for us. However, this season, they are sporting new colors yet to be seen on this farm's Katahdins' or Katahdin mix sheep. As mentioned in a previous post usually the ram is prettier, but this ewe
lamb as in the last twins, is more unique looking than the ram.
And yes, ANOTHER ram...that makes the count 6/5. Bummer.

Good thing they are fun to watch while they grow up.
Speaking of bummer...did you know that Bummer is the name for a lamb that belongs to no mother but makes his living going around "bumming" milk off of other ewes w/nursing babies. He waits until they are occupied w/something else like eating and then goes from behind and suckles for awhile until the ewe notices that it's not her lamb nursing. She will then butt him away and he will start all over w/another ewe. It sounds sad for the lamb but actually they seem like they enjoy the game. Okay, that's enough Sheep 101 for today.

Before AND After Market

2009-03-01T12:19:00.005-06:00

Friday night Bill went out to check on the sheep as is our custom before going to bed. We were tired as we always are from getting ready for Market the following morning, dreading the necessity of getting up early. So of course he came back to tell me that there was a new lamb in the field. The ewe mom was Lily, she is a Jacob Sheep. Usually she throws twins and I did tell her that I was disappointed. Always though she surprises us like only one of our other sheep Dahlly(Dahlia), by exhibiting no signs of labor, just walking off and lambing.

So we moved the lamb and mom to the barn and went to bed.

When we returned from Market yesterday, Dahlly walked out w/her two new cuties and here they are. For a change the beautifully marked lamb is the ewe lamb. Usually the males are prettier. I am thinking seriously of keeping her. I think that I will name her Petal.

Tradition here on the farm is that the sheep that are in our permanent flock are named after something that has to do with flowers. Previous mothers this season were BellaDonna and Iris. I think that today will bring new ones from Daisy and Jasmine. We shall see. Our Ram's name is Buckwheat, we had one named Pollen and our 1st was Sweet William.

Market yesterday was pretty slow. Even so everything still had to be unloaded and loaded back up. My friends Rod and Vicki came out to help with that and then we had a great lunch at Schlafly afterwards. Schlafly is so good to their Farmer's Market vendors giving us half price on food and beer.

A cloud on the horizon looms however. At Market end, our market master gave us some new vending costs from the health department. It seems that they want another slice of the market pie. Even though the market has been in business for 4 years, now we are being forced to apply for the right to sell prepared products by paying a 75.00 per season and per market fee. It goes against what the laws written to protect farmers were written for. In other words we get to do what we were already doing but now on top of Market fees and insurance we will have to pay an addition cost on EACH market that we attend. Everyone keeps talking how important local food is, but the government just keeps making it more and more difficult to keep your head above water.

Now tomorrow....

2009-02-27T11:09:00.002-06:00

Tomorrow, Sunflower Savanah Farm will be at Schlafly Microbrewery in Maplewood.
You ladies that are used to my husband's charming sales technique are going to be disappointed. He has to work at the "real" J. O. B.,
so I'm sure that the sales will be down,
good thing that he is making overtime...LOL.

FYI; We will have my famous Cherry Seranno Pepper Jelly that was featured in Sauce Magazine this month. Other items on the menu include....
Smoked Tomatillo Salsa, Apple, Peach, Zucchini bread by the loaf or slice. Watermelon Marmalade, 3 kinds of lamb bratwurst, and SPROUTS....Fenugreek, Mung Bean and Adzuki Bean.
Come and see me even if my hubby is not there!

And arriving THIS week

2009-02-25T15:05:00.005-06:00

Just yesterday (while I was not here of course) my ewe Iris lambed twins. I had been waiting for her all day but apparrently she was waiting for ME to LEAVE. The lambs are dumb ol' boys but very cute. As you can see by the "747's" in the background, we will have many other opportunities for ewe lambs. We have 9 more ewes due any minute and 3 that will be awhile yet. I always pray for girls that way I don't have to worry about what happens to them. Ewes aren't eaten, they are used for breeding but you only need one ram per flock. After they've done their jobs, you don't really need them anymore. We usually have a ram or 2 on the place and mostly we have paid for it. All but one that we've had has gotten ornery and we find ourselves picking those same selves up off of the ground. SO we had to start finding something to do w/those that we couldn't trust. Evelyn Hansen says it best , " Be nice or Be tasty." So that's basically the new motto. No worries right now as these babies are as sweet as can be and we have fun waiting for them. Join us for our next addition at any minute.

Weather...OH Bother.....

2009-02-20T20:34:00.003-06:00

Yesterday, I was ALL excited.... Yahoo weather stated in the 50's after Saturday until next week! I was FINALLY going to get that load of compost that has been frozen on my trailer, OFF. I was going to reset some of my strawberries after the uplifting lectures we got at the conference on Wednesday. I didn't have to worry about the tomatoes in the greenhouse freezing until next week and by then, WHO KNOWS, maybe it would be Spring...I know, naive. But how would I get the taxes done and get to work outside? Now today we are back to promises of 30 degree weather, rain, snow for another week. You know, I really rather would not have my hopes raised than to fall down again. SO I am back to transplanting in the basement, and I guess that I can get my taxes done after all.

Springfield Fruit and Veggie Conference

2009-02-18T20:44:00.002-06:00

Yesterday at my husbands urging, I went to the Springfield conference. I say at his urging because I really felt guilty spending the money. It is WINTER you know. I was really glad that I did though because it was one of the most informative conferences that I have ever attended. One thing that I learned was that I am not crazy or a show off because I have a blog or a website...there is a new word for what everybody has been calling me for years...no, not that one either. The word is innovative. HUH....who would've thunk it? But that's what Lane McConnell says about the farmers who already have a blog...apparently blogging has a new tagline too, Social Media. Again, who would've thought?
That's not all that we learned though...there was much information about Strawberries, blueberries and Elderberries, cheap ways to solar heat your green house, cover crops that repel Bermuda grass, (Yes, really) and those that double as biofumigants for those of us who want to keep our chemical free certification. Japanese Beetle issues, geodomes and tunnels....all was thought provoking, and nothing that wasn't informative regardless of your goals or certification.
Now if there had only been more shopping.....

Hey...A new Salt and Pepper Set

2009-02-16T22:00:00.008-06:00

Yesterday I walked out to the garden to find a new set of lambs had grown. Yes, Twins again! One black and one white. One boy and one girl. Blessings again to brighten up the landscape.

2009 tomato crop

2009-02-11T20:32:00.007-06:00

I began sowing the tomato seeds last week. Plans had been to start 2 weeks earlier, but life and my husband's carpal Tunnel surgery got in the way. Yesterday I put about 20 trays in the greenhouse and sowed some more today. There are about 20 other varieties of seed in the process of germinating. Some types will be sold at the market as plants while others will never see another garden but my own...the latter will be used as my personal varieties to make salsa, sell at market and for our own consumption.
Here is the list of tomatoes that will be sold as plants at the Market starting in April.

Purple Carbon, Missouri Love Apple, True Black Brandywine, Black From Tula, Paul Robeson, Green Zebra, Evergreen, Lemon Boy, Early Girl, Pink Girl, Morgtage Lifter, Plum Tigris, Oxheart, Black Plum, Arkansas Traveler, Amish Paste, Taxi, Plum Lemon, Beefsteak, Giant tree and Rutgers, Moon Glow, Thai Red Turtle Egg...

Items in Bold are Heirlooms

There will probably be additions to this list and in addition, the following tomatoes will be sold at market or used in our salsa.

Golden Jubilee, Black Sea Man, Bijskij Zetyl, Tlacolula and Orange Banana, Furry Yellow Hog, Mule Team, Striped Cavern

New life

2009-02-02T19:49:00.003-06:00

Over the weekend we had a couple of new additions to the family. Our 1st set of twin lambs were born Friday. Like the Vikings I view this as a good omen for the season.

Anxious

2009-01-18T21:13:00.003-06:00

This is the first Blog posting for Sunflower Savannah. We've been trying to add a blog for a few months now. Between my ignorance, Yahoo not always being user friendly and harvest...(and of course the holidays) this has been delayed much longer than planned.
It's January again...almost the end. The first couple of weeks without a schedule were heady. Especially as I came down with the flu and then as I recovered, my husband despite all of our precautions followed suit. But now it just feels like goofing off. I know I should cling to this illusion of freedom as come October I will be ready give anything for a pedicure and a stolen hour in my lake w/my best friend Karen. It just doesn't feel right however as I rifle through the seed catalogs and count those extra seconds of light that we gain every day. Yeah, there's stuff to do, rooms to paint and movies to see, but still I long for dirt under my nails and green outside besides the pine trees.