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M@D is Open for Orders! Jan. 22, 2022 Newsletter
WHAT DO FARMERS DO IN WINTER?
As it turns out – LOTS! While it’s normal to have fewer fresh vegetables available during the winter months, we thought you would enjoy a peek into the work that makes it possible for us to offer wholesome sustainable foods all year long. Enjoy!
3LC Apiary:
- Review the remaining winter stores in each hive; this includes both visual checks of the upper hive boxes and weighing of the hives each month.
- Check for varroa mite loads and treat hives that are too high with a natural organic acid treatment.
- Repair hive equipment and build new hive equipment
- Watch flight activity at the entrance of each hive to see if the bees are bringing in pollen in the late morning when temperatures exceed 50*F; this is a sign that the queen is still on the job.
- Clean out and refresh oil pans under the screen bottom board – this is also a good check on mite loads and overall bee colony activity based on what is falling through the screen into the pan
D’s Jellies: On cold days, we stay inside where it’s warm. If we have warmer days, we enjoy sitting on our front porch. In February, new potatoes will be planted in our garden. I begin looking for canning jars for my Jellies. We make plans for the rest of our garden as well as for bedding plants for pots and our garden shed flowerbed. January and February are good months for planning!
Avalon Farms:
Crop planning (what, when, where, how much and how often)
Seed buying
(Both of above require lots of seed catalog reading and comparing.)
Infrastructure
- building additional wash station
- building greens washer/bubbler
Cleaning and maintenance
- need to sanitize walk-in cooler
- organize barns and storage
Lots of thoughts about how to realistically improve operations and production.
Researching and trying to learn new things.
Spend as much time as possible sitting in the sun on the porch. It’s so nice to actually enjoy the sun light as opposed to the summer heat.
Rest. Make lots of plans. Dream of weed/bug free gardens.
GROWER & MARKET NOTES
to our new customers!
We’re glad you found us and hope to be a blessing to your and yours.
It’s winter, it’s COLD and what better time to take advantage of the many benefits of bone broth? Several growers offer beef bones for broth and when they’re available chicken feet make a fine broth as well. Check this out!
Health Benefits of Bone Broth
A great source of collagen Collagen is a key building block for the cells in our joints, skin, GI tract, and all of our connective tissue. A decrease in our body’s collagen has been linked to the aging process.
Boost of protein Collagen turns into gelatin when it’s cooked, which provides a great source of amino acids (the building blocks of protein). Gelatin is the substance that gives your bone broth a slight gelatinous texture when refrigerated. But don’t worry, this goes away when it is warm.
Bonus win: Specific amino acids in bone broth have been linked to reducing inflammation, supporting a healthy gut, and our body’s production of collagen.
Micronutrients
Bone broth can be an extra source of vitamins, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus. If the bones used for the broth contain a portion of bone marrow, the broth will also have iron and some trace minerals—zinc, manganese, and selenium. Since the exact recipe varies in the type of bone, source of bone, and cooking time, the amount of each micronutrient will vary as well.
How to Consume Bone Broth
Use it to hydrate foods. Bone broth is delicious to rehydrate your pastas, rices, quinoas, and grains. Swap your water for bone broth at a 1:1 ratio. If you added salt to your broth, be sure that you aren’t adding too much additional salt to your grain recipes.
Add it to soups. Use it just like any type of stock. Bone broth is a fantastic and nutritious base to any soup or stew. For any recipe that calls for “stock,” use bone broth instead.
Incorporate it in sauces. Using a concentrated bone broth is especially delicious as your base for a sauce. A great example is to use bone broth instead of chicken stock in a velouté.
Sip it on its own. It’s simple; just drink it warm and enjoy.
Stay Well Friends!
We thank you for your interest and support of our efforts to bring you the healthiest, the freshest and the most delicious locally-produced foods possible!