Fast friends!

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The piglet is enjoying his new roommates! 

The turkey and geese have invaded his space and he doesn't seem to mind at all! 

Can't wait until he tries to get into their pool! 

Creepy crawlies

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It was a hot & steamy day full of picking veggies for this week's CSA. This little guy was having his lunch in the bean patch today! 

Sweet Lily!

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Lily is fitting in very nicely on the farm, demonstrating her significant skills at manipulation in order to get what she wants.... after all who can resist such a face! 

Bulls-eye!

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The long awaited day has arrived! This morning sometime amidst the storm and heat, Grace had her calf. 

A beautiful bull calf with the wisest old eyes.... Mom is doing well, the goats seem indifferent and big brother is acting out, just like a toddler who has been displaced! 

We are searching for a fitting name that begins with the letter G to keep the bloodline consistent... and we are having trouble deciding! Any suggestions are welcome.

The farmer's daughter....

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Out of everything we've raised here on the farm, one of the best is my beautiful daughter! 

Fourteen years ago today, she burst into our lives, changing it forever. Our family was complete!

Come and sit awhile...

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It's a beautiful day today, sunny skies with a wind to keep the bugs away... a perfect summer day. 

A day to meander and drink in the beauty around us. 

Like the willow chair that Farmer Phil made a few years back becoming one with nature out near the shed.

All Hail Caesar!

FFF Photo a Day - Day 237 

Caesar, our accidental rooster, has moved to the back field with a select group of hens... We are hopeful that they may create some little ones for us, thus have given them some privacy! 

This morning I went back to check on him and the girls, and I think he has acquired a genuine swagger! 

Week #9 - 2015 FFF CSA - What's in the Box! - Stuff it!

We had some wild weather this past weekend but survived pretty well unscathed, compared to some of our neighbours! A little bit of a wind damage in the pumpkins but on the bright side its now easier to find the pumpkins! 

This week's box will continue to test our shareholder's muscles as the veggies get denser and heavier! Lots of peppers grace this week's box both sweet and spicy in a plethora of colours! 

One of my favorite things to do with peppers besides simply eating them raw is to stuff them with a variety of fillings. We prefer ground pork with creamy goat cheese and spices but there are so many options! If you prefer beef you could try this recipe. For the vegetarians in the crowd, try this quinoa and beans one. You really can't go wrong!  

At the end of the summer when if we have lots of leftover peppers, we stuff them and then freeze them standing up in muffin tins and then pop into ziploc bags. Then we can simply grab one (or more) and thaw throughout the winter! The peppers are a bit softer after freezing but still yummy!

So in summary... What's in the Box this week?

• Rhubarb
• Lettuce
• Zucchini - (for full shares only)
• Carrots
• Onions
• Potatoes
• Ground Cherries
• Peppers (sweet & spicy)
• Tomatoes
• Squash - Acorn and Pattypan
• Cucumber
• Broccoli - (full shares only)
• Swiss Chard
• Kale 
• Herbs in the red cup: 
• Oregano
• Chives
• Parsley
• Cilantro
• Rosemary 

Notes to our CSA Share holders: 

We pick the vegetables within 24 hours of the box being delivered. We do rinse the produce but it would be important to wash all vegetables before you eat them. Keeping the herbs (ends) in a cup of clean water will keep them fresh longer.

Please return your empty box along with all re-usable containers (pails, cups, bags etc) so that we can reuse them all over again. 

Follow us on Facebook or on Twitter at @FenezFollies

Lily is lovely!

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Meet Lily (as we've decided to call her), a newcomer to our farm family. 

Lily came to stay with us today and is getting used to her four legged roomies! She is really quite lovely and is making fast friends tonight! 

It's inevitable...

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The days are getting shorter and nights cooler... the inevitable march of the seasons continues. 

#melancholySundaymusings

Derby date night

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Tonight is date night in the farm! Checking out the roller derby after a treat at Dairy Whip in Winnipeg! 

Play time!

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Our geese enjoy their pool immensely! Each day when we fill it up they rush over honking and pushing each other out of the way.

They spend a long time dipping their heads in and preening their feathers until they shine. 

It's Salsa Time!

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Tonight's task was turning our mountain of cherry tomatoes into fresh salsa! 

Nothing better.....

Those eyes....

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She has wrapped me right around her hoof... 

Chocolate, our dairy goat manages to get exactly what she wants most of the time. In the evening after milking that's a handful of apple nuggets. 

She looks at me with those eyes and invariably I reach in the bag for just a few more.... #goatmagic

Nightly routine...

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At this time of year, putting away the harvest is a nightly routine... 

Canning, dehydrating, or freezing are all methods we use to extend our harvest into the winter months. 

Tonight its canning tomato sauce...

What are you doing to put away summer goodies for the winter?

Week #8 - 2015 FFF CSA - What's in the Box!

This week our shareholders will discover three new treats in their boxes. Ground cherries, tomatillos and eggplants join their usual fare during Week #8 of our CSA veggie box share. 

These three items may or may not be familiar to you... But here is a bit about each one, just in case!

Tomatillos, otherwise known as the Mexican tomato are indeed part of the same nightshade family as tomatoes but have a very distinct taste and look. They grow within a papery husk that should be removed before eating. 

Tomatillos are delicious added to your regular tomato salsa or guacamole. They are the main ingredient in salsa verde (essentially green salsa) used in many recipes for Mexican food. Tomatillos are particularly good paired with pork. 

The best way to store tomatillos are in a brown paper bag in the refrigerator (leave husks on).

Ground cherries as you may guess from the look of them, are related to tomatillos (same papery husk) but have a very different taste. Often mistaken for gooseberries, these little gems taste both sweet and sour at the same time! They are quite indescribable! To eat, remove paper husk and pop them in your mouth. This week we've given everyone a little sample bag to try! As the season moves forward you will get more with which you could make jam or chutney... if they last that long! 

Ground cherries are called thus as you harvest them once they fall to the ground from low bushes. 

Finally, we have beautiful eggplants ready to go. Eggplants or aubergine are also a member of the nightshade family and is related to both the tomato and the potato! 

Besides being a beautiful colour, it is lovely roasted with some garlic and olive oil, and is the main ingredient in such dishes as baba ghanouj, moussaka and ratatouille! We discovered a great recipe to use up our eggplant and zucchini last year called Eggplant & Zucchini Parmesan. 

So ... What's in the Box this week?

• Lettuce (mixed greens in bag)
• Zucchini
• Peas or Beans (half shares only)
• Broccoli or Cauliflower (full shares only)
• Potatoes
• Peppers (sweet and spicy)
• Beets
• Onions
• Tomatoes
• Ground Cherries New this week!
• Tomatillos New this week!
•  Pattypan squash
• Cucumber
• Swiss Chard
• Kale
• Eggplant New this week!

Notes to our CSA Share holders: 

We pick the vegetables within 24 hours of the box being delivered. We do rinse the produce but it would be important to wash all vegetables before you eat them. Keeping the herbs (ends) in a cup of clean water will keep them fresh longer.

Please return your empty box along with all re-usable containers (pails, cups, bags etc) so that we can reuse them all over again. 

Follow us on Facebook or on Twitter at @FenezFollies

They are taking over...

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Harvesting is becoming more and more a challenge as the squash plants take over. Wading through prickly curcubita (aka squash plants) is uncomfortable and challenging. 

This year these plants (butternut, pumpkin, pattypan, and spaghetti squash) are happy and thriving, making their way into rows of other vegetables. 

Time to get the machete out! 

If you give a pig one apple....

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If you give a pig one apple... they inevitably want more... and as I learned... they are fine settling for an Apple product (such as an iPhone) when you run out of the real thing! 

Barrow of Sun!

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Looks like we captured a wheelbarrow of sunshine with our pattypan squash. 

All our squash are really enjoying this weather and we will soon have spaghetti & butternut squash ready to go to! 

What's your favorite squash & how do you cook it? 

Sayonara Ayano!

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Our hearts and home are a little bit emptier tonight. Sayonara and safe travels to Ayano who has left us to travel back home to Japan. 

You entered this strange land and even stranger family and tried everything that came your way... including holding the chicken. 

Our home and hearts are always open... see you in three years?! 

Grace-full!

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Our Dexter cow named Grace is pregnant. Based on our calculations she's due in 10 days...

She looks terribly uncomfortable in this heat and has no patience for the bugs ... Tonight I walked out to spray her down and check on things. I swear she said 'thank you'! 

She's big and looks like she's having twins, we have our fingers crossed for a girl! She is Grace-full!

Name that Veggie!

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OK people, you did pretty well with the last mystery item I posted, let's try it again. 

Here is a vegetable growing in our garden that many people can't identify...

Anyone have any guesses? 

These people know how to treat their farmer!

Fenez Follies Farm Photo a Day 223

For several years we have been using our good friend's porch as our drop off spot for our weekly veggie CSA. The covered porch and location in the heart of Wolseley is great for our needs. 

But as if that wasn't good enough... They feed us wonderful meals each week and today... Well they out did themselves! They served us Mojitos when we arrived! 

Now that is how to treat your farmer! 

Week #7 - 2015 FFF CSA - What's in the Box! - It's Salsa Time!

There are several ways to make salsa but generally, there is the fresh, uncooked salsa or the cooked version. Decision about which method is for you, depend upon whether you are planning on eating this right away and/or if you want to be able to store the salsa for later use.

If fresh is your pleasure, then salsa is easypeasy!

Simply cut/dice fresh tomatoes, add chopped garlic and onion along with lime juice and/or a little bit of apple cider vinegar. Add cumin, minced hot peppers to your taste preference and plenty of fresh cilantro and you have a wonderful refreshing explosion in your mouth. For those of you who want a recipe to follow (I admit I never do...) I've linked to one here that will give you some ideas of ratios and amounts. 

If you want to cook and can salsa for winter consumption, then set aside some time... but the effort is worth it! As mentioned, I'm terrible at following recipes but here is a good primer on what is involved and a suggested recipe. It walks you through how to can the salsa as well, if you are not familiar with that. 

Some tips on veggie storage:

Don't keep tomatoes in the fridge. Flavour is best when kept on the counter at room temperature. We have provided you tomatoes that range from ready to eat to those that will take a few days to ripen so they last the whole week!

There are two major categories of squash - summer and winter. The scallop squash that you have received over the last couple of weeks is a summer squash and should be stored in the refrigerator and used within one to two weeks (sooner if not stored in fridge). Winter squash which will be coming such as butternut, acorn and spaghetti squash not to mention pumpkins will store much longer (weeks, even months).

In the CSA boxes this week, we've tucked in a special treat. A sample of our new Green Veggie Powder has been placed in every box for our shareholders to try! 

This powder is made with greens that may have ripped or have holes in them and are thus not included in boxes or lettuce, spinach or broccoli that has bolted or flowered. Items that are less than perfect but still nutritious and healthy. 

Last winter we experimented ourselves with dehydrating these greens and then tucked them into our smoothies, stews and sauces all winter to help keep us healthy when getting fresh greens is challenging. As we've talked about this with others, many have encouraged us to share and market the powder so... our shareholders are the first recipients of a sample bag of green goodness! Let us know what you think! Is this something you would be interested in? Your comments are appreciated! 

So in summary... What's in the Box this week?

• Lettuce (mixed greens in bag)
• Zucchini
• Scallop Squash (Pattypan)
• Carrots
• Peas - full shares only 
• Beans - full shares only
• Potatoes
• Kale
• Swiss Chard
• Tomatoes
• Peppers 
• Beets 
• Onions
• Green Veggie Powder (New)
• Herbs in the red cup: 
• Oregano
• Chives
• Parsley
• Cilantro
• Basil 

Notes to our CSA Share holders: 

We pick the vegetables within 24 hours of the box being delivered. We do rinse the produce but it would be important to wash all vegetables before you eat them. Keeping the herbs (ends) in a cup of clean water will keep them fresh longer.

Please return your empty box along with all re-usable containers (pails, cups, bags etc) so that we can reuse them all over again. 

Follow us on Facebook or on Twitter at @FenezFollies

There is always one...

FFF Photo a Day - Day 222

There is always one... each day when collecting eggs, there is always one hen (at least) in every coop that is broody - which essentially means that they want to sit on the eggs instead of you taking them away. 

We have discovered a errant rooster amongst our new batch of chicks which we are planning to pair up with our broody hens to see if we can raise our own chicks. #anewadventure

The rewards of hard work...

FFF Photo a Day - Day 221

Today's lunch.... avocado, bacon, lettuce, tomato, onion with cheddar and goats cheese on sourdough bread. 

Delicious and satisfying given that all but the avocado and cheddar was grown, raised or made right here on the farm. 

Inching our way towards producing our total diet... now if we could only grow coffee!!

All the colours of the rainbow...

FFF Photo a Day - Day 220

Our cherry tomatoes are ripening quickly. 

As I picked them today, I found myself humming Louis Armstrong's 'What a Wonderful World'.

Just seemed appropriate somehow... 

After the storm...

FFF Photo a Day - Day 219

We had some wild weather roll through southern Manitoba this evening. 

Tornado warnings buzzed regularly on the radio and the clouds swirled and rain fell hard east of us. 

Alas our little piece of heaven stayed dry and intact. Feeling grateful...

Any guesses?

FFF Photo a Day - Day 218

This week the garden gave up the first taste of these curious gems.... While they are becoming more popular, I find many people who have never tried them! 

Who knows what they are? 

Farming is routine... or is it?

Weekly CSA boxes ready to go once again!

FFF Photo a Day - Day 217

Farming is the best of both worlds... 

Farming is routine. Those that thrive on structure and routines would enjoy the daily chores of gathering eggs, watering and feeding animals, regular weeding and watering of crops, seasonal (predictable) activities that become familiar, comfortable friends that mark the passing of time...

Yet...

Farming is variety. No two days are totally the same. Each day a new sight, challenge, or task lies ahead of you. The cow jumps the fence, the cucumbers have mildew on the leaves, the latest storm brought hail, or perhaps its time to expand the greenhouse. Those that need the freshness of 'new' do well in farming. 

Something for everyone... (except perhaps those looking for a 9-5 job)! 

Please Mum can I have some more...

FFF Photo a Day - Day 216

Friends gave us some fallen apples from their tree for our critters... 

Turns out our piggies like apples (of course, there isn't anything I have found they don't like). 

This is his "Please Mum, can I have some more face"... 

Week #6 - 2015 FFF CSA - What's in the Box! - Pattypan Squash

It's week six and we are half way through our CSA season! The garden is generally liking this weather and we generally have a hard time keeping up with the harvest! 

In particular, right now we have a lot of scallop squash... which are often called pattypan squash! I call them sunshine squash because that's what they remind me of. This is the first year we have had such a big harvest so I'm experimenting with a few different uses and recipes myself. 

I found this link to some very simple recipes designed for kids that I'm working my way through! Who else has some clever uses and yummy recipes out there? 

The tomato harvest continues so I'll be pulling together some salsa recipes for next week... 

So in summary... What's in the Box this week?

• Rhubarb
• Lettuce (mixed greens in bag)
• Zucchini
• Scallop (pattypan) squash
• Carrots
• Peas
• Tomatoes
• New potatoes
• Turnips
• Broccoli and/or Cauliflower (for full shares only)
• Peas (for half shares only)
• Beans
• Cucumbers (for half shares)
• Peppers (spicy)
• Beets 
• Herbs in the red cup: 
• Oregano
• Chives
• Parsley
• Cilantro
• Basil (in a ziploc bag)

Notes to our CSA Share holders: 

We pick the vegetables within 24 hours of the box being delivered. We do rinse the produce but it would be important to wash all vegetables before you eat them. Keeping the herbs (ends) in a cup of clean water will keep them fresh longer.

Please return your empty box along with all re-usable containers (pails, cups, bags etc) so that we can reuse them all over again. 

Follow us on Facebook or on Twitter at @FenezFollies

So that's where she's been hiding them...

FFF Photo a Day - Day  214

We have a couple of hens that wander around the property that we have not been able to locate their secret egg laying location... well we finally found it!