Dearest Eaters and Seekers of Local Organic Delights -
This is Farmer Brooke and as you well know I represent a gregarious gang of (soggy, wet, & charmingly grumpy) growers who are dedicated to bringing you the finest ethically-produced foods in the metro......rain or shine!! Silence those grumbling bellies this Friday at the BADSEED Farmers Market from 4-9 PM with our spectacular array of LIVE NUDE VEGETABLES as well as artisan goat cheese, free-range eggs, all natural meats, gourmet mushrooms, wholesome breads, baked goods, and "liquid elixirs" including micro-roasted organic coffee and wheat grass shots. Whatever your poison may be, we've got it......and if we don't: BYOB!! Who said farmers weren't any fun, huh?
On a less up-beat note, let's talk about the weather! Can you say "mid-western monsoon"?? That is exactly what poor Farmer Dan and I have been experiencing on BADSEED Farm. I gotta say, sometimes I wonder if I am thick-skinned enough for this farming gig. Watching your livelihood (along with your blood, sweat, and tears) rush down your beloved field in a muddy river breaks a girl's heart more than I can find words to express. My crops are drowning, my seeds have been washed away, and then there is my precious TOP SOIL. A farmers top-soil is a sensitive issue. Watching your top-soil flow off your field is similar to watching the blood flow from your veins. It hurts, my friends....badly. So, what next? I don't know. Like always, we begin to pick-up the pieces and make whatever repairs we can. We re-plant, we re-seed, we re-mulch. We do our best to re-build the precious structure of our beds. Then, we pray to the dirt for mercy! We pray that our summer crops aren't too badly damaged and that they can still give us a righteous harvest down the line ensuring that YOU will be well-fed and satisfied! That is our primary goal - to feed YOU in a sustainable and beautiful way. Mother Nature will always kick my ass! My job is to get back out of the mud each time and go at it again. Cheers to the mud. When you can't beat it, you must embrace it.
On yet another note: for all you policy buffs and oh sooo engaged "eaters", you will be happy to know that the Urban Agriculture Ordinance did indeed pass last Thursday and will be in effect very soon. This ordinance will allow home gardens to sell produce on-site and make several other forward steps for urban growth. A great big "thanks" to those of you who supported this cause and made your voices heard. The BADSEED's sincerely hope that this is simply the beginning of righteous policy change that makes urban farms and gardens an integral part to achieving a healthy and just local food system. My sincere respect and gratitude goes to Councilmen John Sharp. (most of you who know me are well aware that I never give "shout-outs" to politicians, but this guy is a rare gem and he deserves it)......no joke
Moving right along...
***Sexy Veggie of the Week***
This week's runner-up is none other than the aromatic Italian beauty known as Finocchio or FLORENCE FENNEL. Her crisp white bulb is bursting with the finest flavors of anise and sweet liquorice & her origin is rich and rooted in Ancient Greek culture. According to Greek mythology, Prometheus used a stalk of fennel to steal fire from the Gods. (I have yet to try this, but when the rain stops I assure you I will!!) She can be eaten raw or cooked to add a flavorful finish to any old dish. Dan and I would commonly eat this "sexy vegetable" during our time on a goat dairy in Sardinia. After each meal, the family would present fresh fennel bulbs from the field and we would eat them raw as a delightful digestive.**Quantities are limited, come early for this one.
And now the moment we've all been waiting for.....this week's grand prize winner (drum roll please) is a double whammy - kkkkkKale & Edible Nasturtium Flowers!! These beauties grace the field side by side as they are excellent companion crops - the nasturtium repel specific pests that attack the beloved Kale. Our Kale is planted in long and lush beds with 1000's of electric nasturtium flowers blossoming down the middle. It is absolutely striking and absolutely edible!! You can eat these peppery and perfect flowers in almost any dish. Spice up your salads, garnish your meats and greens, or sprinkle them on top of a pizza! As for the nutrient packed Kale - it comes in 5 super sexy varieties including Red Bore, Winter Bore, Red Russian, Dino (aka Black Tuscan), and Rainbow Lacinato. Kale is the Queen in the world of "mean greens" and like momma said - "eat em' up"!!!
Pictures are attached. You know the drill - print them out, blow them up, & plaster them all over the men's room!!
This Week's Organic Offerings:
BADSEED Farm, Brooke Salvaggio & Daniel Heryer (South KC) www.badseedfarm.com
*Boadacious BEETS!!! (in Chiogga, Detroit Dark Red, and the coveted Cylindrical!!!)
*TURNIPS!!! (in Ruby Red, Gold Ball, and Oasis!!)
*Asian Invasion (a spicy salad mix or stir-fry mix with tasty asian greens and garlic chives)
*BADSEED Braising Mix (with baby kale and baby chard.....yum)
*Red Russian KALE, Dino KALE, Red Bore, Winter Bore, and Rainbow Lacinato (this week's grand prize winner)
*Florence Fennel (this week's runner-up)
*RAINBOW CHARD (oooh my God....what else can I say?)
*Fresh DILL & BRONZE FENNEL (heavenly)
*Chives, Oregano, Chocolate Mint, Savory, and Edible Flowers!!
*Heirloom Transplants (a lingering selection of flowers, herbs, and companion crops to protect your beloved veggies)
Herb"N"Gardener, Lew Edmister (Westside, KCMO)
*Filet Beans!!!
*Soft-neck Garlic
*Flat-leaf Parsley
*Red Wings and Five Star SALAD MIX
*A very Special ARUGULA MIX
*Russian Kale
*Fresh Dill
*California Rosemary Plants
Platte Prairie Farms, Steve Mann (North KC) www.prairietrading.com
*Steve will be busy planting sweet potatoes!! Catch him next time around.
Bigg Blue Farm, Stan & Carmen Biggs (Mosby, MO)
*Greens - Mustards, Lettuce, and Swiss Chard
*Green onions in red, white and yellow
*New Potatoes in Yukon Gold and Red Viking
*Summer Crops (already!!!!!!) including : Summer Squash (zucchini and yellow squash) & Tomatoes (early varieties like Siberian, Glacier, and Early Girl)
PJ's Mushroom Farm, Paul & Judy Miller (Warrensburg, MO)
**Cornish Hens!!! (all-natural, fresh, and tasty)
*A whole lotta' Shitake Mushrooms!!
*Oyster Mushrooms
*Farm-Fresh Brown Eggs
*Hand-made rugs & stained glass items (from 100% recycled materials)
Parker Farms, Tom and Paula Parker (Richmond, MO) www.parkerfarmsmeats.com
*Free-range Chickens (100% pastured) available this week. First of the season!!!!!
*A variety of 100% grassfed beef and all natural pork including:
*Pork Chops & Brats
*Chipotle brats with cheese or cranberries
*Pre-cooked franks
*Chili Cheese Brats & Links
*T-Bones
*Sirloins
*Stew meat
*Ground Beef and a fresh supply of hamburger patties for the grill!!
*Homemade soy based candles and gourd birdhouses (compliments of their lovely girls who grew the gourds on the farm!!) as well as embroidered Tea Towels and homegrown Mint Teas!!!!
*sandwich breads
*savory breads
*sweet breads
*specialty treats (vegan as well)
**ALL MADE FROM 100% Locally Grown, Organic Wheat!!!!
Puddin' Head Coffee, Harry Lee, (Raytown, MO) www.puddinheadcoffee.com
*Only the BEST fair-trade/organic/micro-roasted coffee in town!!
Get yourself some beans or grab yourself a mug.
COFFEE BY THE MUG IS ONLY $1.00!!!!
....and thats not all!!! Other "Liquid Elixirs" will include WHEAT GRASS SHOTS & TRAYS from the lovely Angela Hoffman. This is hard red winter wheat and it is oh so sweet and oh so good for you. Take a shot and feel groovy.
Other goodies will include:
ARTISAN GOAT CHEESE from Goatsbeard Farm
Aged & Fresh varieties including Prairie Bloom (a bloom-rind crotin style cheese with a rich and creamy center), Taum Sauk (a distinguished and nutty, appropriately aged, raw milk cheese), Osage Orange (a European-style muenster with a beautiful washed rind), Herb Crusted Chevre (delightful fresh cheese in a flavorful herb crust) , Marinated Chevre (fresh cheese relaxing in scrumptious olive oil, red pepper, and herbal goodness) and Greek-style Feta (residing in a salty brine that will make your head spin....sooo good)
Certified Organic Flour from Heartland Mill
An impressive selection will be available each week including all purpose, whole wheat, whole wheat pastry, golden buffalo, malted (for peak crust coloration), and blue cornmeal!! An artisan bakers dream.
RAW HONEY!!!....maybe?? If Les Miller (our wicked honey man) has any in stock, he will be buzzin'.
and, of course, Kombucha Mushroom Tea (Brooke's home brew)
Sip while you shop!
Check out our up-coming Urban Homesteading Courses !! To see a full list of classes or to sign up please visit:
Oyster Mushroom Cultivation Workshop
*Sunday, June 27th, 1-3:30 pm at the BADSEED Market, 1909 McGee, KCMO, 64108
Join Tena Bellovich, Mushroom Aficionado and owner of Shroom Heads Organic Farm, and learn the magicalprocess of growing gourmet Oyster Mushrooms on logs. Students will engage in a short discussion on the process of mushroom cultivation including cloning and making spore prints, transferring the mycelium from agar to grain, and from grain to wood dowels.
Students will then get a hands-on experience as they receive a log, oyster plugs, cheese wax, and a demonstration on how to plug your logs. Everyone will take home their (newly plugged) oyster mushroom log, and enjoy the wonderful world of fungi first-hand!! Bring your own drill with a 5/8 inch drill bit.
Cost of Class - $30
Remember:
LIVE NUDE VEGETABLES !! and other organic delights...
EVERY FRIDAY AT BADSEED
Yours Truly,
Brooke
- farmer and mistress of the BADSEED
BADSEED
An Urban-Organic Farm & Market
Celebrating Local Food, Culture, and Community
Celebrating Local Food, Culture, and Community
Fridays, 4-9pm
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