Greens Galore! (10/13/2017)

~~This is the week!!  We’ll be bringing a few bags of Lacinato (Dino) kale, Heirloom collards and Mustard Greens and a good supply of Arugula and Red Radishes!  Keep in mind that if you don’t get here early it will all go fast and it will be awhile before we have an abundant supply of greens every week. Okra, a few longbeans, Israeli basil and a few other items will still be available too. We’re leaving off the fruit this week because it wasn’t selling well and I’ll be making a couple of yummy starfruit pies for my grandkids. Since we will not be at the market next Saturday (Oct. 21st) please plan to stock up on our raw milk and other items we have available; and we’ll be back on the 28th (see below) with lots of goodies.
~~ The strawberries we planted last week are growing nicely and we can’t wait until they fruit as they are a different variety than we usually grow; ‘Florida Radiance’ (we usually grow ‘Festival’, which apparently is very similar). Lots more stuff being seeded in trays and directly in the ground, and more multiplying onions being planted (they will grow better if and when it finally cools off). Some of the seed gifted to us by another grower north of here was not good, so we lost some time there. As I told you before, we lost our fall crop of tropical pumpkins from the flooding due to the hurricane, so I took the chance to plant seed for an extremely rare, small, pumpkin that I needed to grow in isolation from other squash/pumpkins in the same species (i.e, our tropical pumpkins).  Only a few seeds germinated and are now planted in the ground, so we’ll see how they do and if we can multiply the seed, which came from our wonderful friend and dedicated heirloom seed grower Mehmet; www.twoseedsinapod.com the same one we get the fabulous heirloom tomato seed from. By the way, tomato plants are big and blooming; Sungold should be the first to fruit!
~~Recently we started selling powdered Moringa again-so nutritious sprinkled on your food–also a really nice organic tea blend with Moringa, mint and other wonderful smelling herbs…And of course the latest version of Karen’s wonderfulSeasonal Pesto, with moringa leaves. You’ll be able to taste the pesto, nutra-loaf and more when Karen joins me at the market on the 28th:
~~Mark your calendars for Saturday, October the 28th for the 33rd Annual Munn Park Garden Extravaganza.  Not only will there be many wonderful things to buy in the Park, but the market is always full of good things from our vendors.  Karen Elizabeth will be helping me at the Ecofarm booth and offering tasting samples (Bill will be in the N.C. Mountains that weekend).
~~Raw Water Buffalo Milk & other ‘Pet Consumption’ *;) winking products (ask us if you don’t know what this means):  When milk is plentiful we’ll have good farmers cheeses, Kefir, buttermilk (best for cooking; the fluffiest pancakes ever!), unsalted creamy white butter, Whey  http://dontwastethecrumbs.com/2014/05/36-ways-to-use-whey-and-5-ways-to-make-it/

and of course Raw Milk, which is regularly priced at $9/half gal. or $17/gal. However, we have been eating/drinking all of this ourselves and other than the Raw Milk can only make it for you if you order ahead of time(Please give us a week – ecofarmfl@yahoo.com).

~~For our complete availability list (except for last minute items) check the bottom of this email.
~~Thanks for your support!!  See you at the Market Saturday *:) happy
Check this out from the Lakeland Downtown Farmers Curbmarket Newsletter:Text to Win!

Keep up with Market news via text message!

  • Just to make it fun, we are running a weekly contest. Text Keyword CURB to 51660 to join our text program and enter to win $10 worth of Market Bucks, which can be spent with any Market vendor. Winners will be notified via text each Saturday.
  • What happens if you don’t win the week you joined? No worries! You can try again week after week. Just text CURB to 51660 each week (Sunday-Friday), and you’ll be entered for that week’s drawing!
 
~~We are always happy to take your used, clean plastic grocery bags (no garbage please) and green pint baskets that strawberries come in…Please remember to bring them to us this week…Thanks!
~~ Italian ischia sourdough starter http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/foodanddrinkadvice/10638629/Pizza-recipes-how-to-make-artisan-pizza-in-your-own-home.html

and Pizza dough, ready to use right away–active and ready to use (please pre-order this a week before so it can be activated) $9. Also, let me know ahead of time and we can have a Kombucha ‘mother’  available for making your own brew (also $9).


 
~~Raw Water Buffalo Milk sales: We normally sell milk in plastic half gallon containers @$9 and a convenient quart size plastic container for $5. If you would prefer quart or half gallon wide mouth glass containers there will be a $1& $2 deposit to cover the cost of the jars and you will need to let us know ahead of time by email. Kefir only comes in quart sized jars ($8 or $7 with a wide-mouth quart jar to trade). Butter comes in 8 oz. plastic containers for $8. Remember, this is for ‘Pet Consumption Only’ by Florida law. Your ‘Pet’ will be eating like royalty 🙂


~~We grow everything organically; all ‘chemicals’ are OMRI approved for Organic growers and our fertilizers consist of composted manures (buffalo and more) and fish emulsion. We are not Certified Organic as the cost and ongoing paperwork is prohibitive for ‘real’ farmers–and there are too many variances allowed for Corporate Organic farms.

 
Ecofarm is currently able to participate in only one market with super fresh, organically grown produce (not Certified) and other farm products for your convenience:


Lakeland Downtown Farmers Curbmarket Saturday8AM-2PM all year except August. We are located on Kentucky Avenue in front of Crispers restaurant. Check out the market website at www.ldda.org/home/farmerscurbmarket.aspx

 and sign-up for the market e-newsletter. Dogs, children and fun galore!

Temple Terrace Farmers Market – Saturdays 9AM-1:00PM Summer Hours 9AM-Noon – A true Farmers Market – For more information check it out at:http://www.ttfarmersmarket.com/

or https://www.facebook.com/ttfarmersmarket 


Note: We have been providing some of our produce to this market and will continue to increase our support whenever possible. 


~~The Lakeland Downtown Farmers Curbmarket is now taking your EBT/SNAP cards; and you can double your dollars by purchasing Florida grown produce & honey!! There are about 25 of us selling honey, cane syrup, cottage industry foods, produce, breads, seeds, edible plants and more that qualifies for SNAP; and about six of us that can double your money with our produce, thanks to the Fresh from Florida program. The Market booth is set up at the south end of the market and they can explain the process and you can purchase tokens. Vendors participating in the program will have a sign in front of their booths. In addition, you can ride the bus free in Polk County to come to our market and participate in this program. Please pass the word!


Following are some of the products we may be bringing to the market this week:


Super-Nutra Loaf – Fresh weekly; full of seeds & nuts. New supply this week!
Pesto! Various Seasonal ingredients – great for seafood, pasta, potatoes and more! New supply this week!
Florida Red-Bay leaves – use like other dried bay leaves in soups, beans, etc. 
Tropical Pumpkins – Finished for the season (I have some damaged ones in the cooler; contact me if interested in using asap)
Fresh Rosemary – We may bring a couple of small bags
Sweet potatoes – not available for a few weeks until new batch ready to dig
Dino kale! – a few bags
Heirloom collards – a few bags
Mustard greens – a few bags
Arugula – decent amount, nice large leaves
Red radishes – good supply
Israeli basil – very heat & rain tolerant; tastes and smells wonderful!
Lemongrass culms/leaves – may be available some weeks
Powdered Moringa – just a teaspoon in your breakfast or other meals does wonders
Okra – Good supply, but it goes fast
Starfruit – Not this week; making starfruit pies out of the ones that you didn’t buy *:) happy
Persimmons – Not this week
Homemade jams made with very little sugar (organic)   strawberry, strawberry/basil, peach 

Pure Cane syrup – Yes!  Give our own local, sustainable sweetness a try; not just for pancakes.
Luffa seed packets – not currently available
Luffa sponges – Check out the real thing–and no, they don’t come from the ocean!
Java Planet Coffees (whole bean, Organic, Fair Trade, Shade Grown & Bird Friendly!) Good Selection of single, blends, dark & medium roasts



Thanks for supporting local farmers, artists, musicians and craftspeople!

Debbie, Jon & Billy plus C.J. & Hayley–the kiddies that inspire us
Ecofarmers do it in the dirt!