TOMATOES IN THE SNOW

GROWER’S LOG, 11.12.13 The addition of a high tunnel to an organic farming operation has innumerable financial benefits ranging from season extension of marketable crops to ease of production and labor costs. Here at The Dahlia Farm however, what we find most exciting is the complete juxtaposition of the normal farming curve. This year’s addition of our passive solar temporary building has enabled us to have summer bouquets of May peonies (hydra-cooled) and August dahlias side by side – a first in 50 years for us! It has also given us spring gladiolas, near-winter lettuce and Halloween dahlias. The coup-de-grâce however is this morning’s harvest: tomatoes in the snow! It is indeed financially beneficial to add at least one of these greenhouse structures to nearly any farming operation, but it is a spiritual trompe to any seasoned grower to finally have a laugh at nature… even if for just an hour.

THE HIGH COST OF LOW PRICES

Rodent droppings.

The main cause of salmonella in eggs...

If you're not convined that the local food movement has set a new paradigm in motion consider the latest national news developments.

The U.S. egg recall now stands at 380 million throughout 8 states and continues to growing hourly as the mass spread of salmonella poisoning from a single Iowa egg producer infects the country.

Symptoms of salmonella can be severe and include diarrhea, abdominal cramping, fever and occure with 8 to 72 hours after contamination. Salmonella can be life-threatening.

Distributed largely under the market names Albersons, Lucerne, Sunshine, Hillandale, and Ralphs these tainted eggs from Wright County Egg are the terrorist of the day. I can't help but recall a conversation I once had with a woman who told me she would rather 'get her eggs from a supermarket than a farm, because at least that way I know where they were coming from.'

Innane.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention is working with state health departments to investigate the latest outbreak of salmonella.

Thoroughly cooking eggs can kill the bacteria. According to the U.S. Health Department, cooking eggs at temperatures of 160°Fahrenheit or more is sufficient to kill salmonella.

Here at TheDahliaFarm.com we recommend people just throw away eggs not purchased from your local farmer.

PEA TENDRILS: A Seasonal Delicacy

Pea tendrils -- the tender curly ends of sweet pea plants -- are truly a seasonal delicacy, blending the tender texture of stem with the lush sweet foliage of baby greens, and the just plain COOLNESS of edible flowers.

These short-seasoned precursors of snap peas are a high-sugar, early veggie snack and a favorite of locavores everywhere. Enjoy as a soup or salad topping - or for the purist, a pea tendril salad with cracked black pepper, kosher salt, olive oil & balsamic vinegar.

Because they will not last without converting their sugar to starch, and because they are so fragile, one must either grow their own or have immediate access to a CSA or local farmer's market to enjoy.

Fortunately, here at the Dahlia Farm, we presently have a solid supply (as long as the cool weather lasts) and look forward to including this specialty treat in our first CSA baskets.

See you soon!

CHICKENS FIRST SNOW

These guys just turned 6-months old around Christmas. They are comprised of Plymouth Rock Whites, Plymouth Rock Barreds (speckled black) and New Hampshire Reds (similar to RI Reds). In thieir entire existence they have never seen snow before this moment.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1DV4jy12AQ