Circle M Farm

The theme of this week’s box is Grace. Today’s harvest was such a celebration – everything looking so fresh and good in spite of the fact that the plants have been through such a late and harsh spring. If you can picture me kneeling beside crisp rows of multicolored lettuce, slicing through each rosette with a satisfying crunch, and saying in measured rhythm as I cut, “Thank you, thank you, thank you…” you have some idea of what our time in the garden has been like in the past few days. continued »

I’ve decided to write down each week’s harvest list in order of what should be consumed first, in terms of longevity in storage. As you’d expect this time of year, the garden is all about fresh, raw and green! Salads and stirfrys, sautés and crispy snaps. I’m thankful for every last bite, as these tender veggies have weathered floodwaters, tornado winds and torrential downpours in the past two weeks. Not to mention the heaviest insect pest load I’ve ever seen on this property. Bugs always move in when the plants are stressed. But don’t panic, it’s organic! Ignore those little holes and enjoy – they’re proof that you aren’t eating pesticides! continued »

We bid a somewhat reluctant farewell to Piggy Lou, our friendly and gigantic sow, this morning when she went away with the butcher. We were only somewhat sad to see her go, for as endearing as she sometimes was, her size and strength had made her a bit of a danger in our fenced gardens. continued »

Like so many of you offering moral support this past week, a lovely friend recently posted a message of sympathy for our flood trials and closed with a surprisingly shocking admonition: “Remember to breathe.” Wow. And so I am, today. Thanks to a heroic outpouring of effort from both neighbors and our dedicated crew of WorkShare farm members this weekend, Plan B is now planted and the gardens are off and growing for the second time this season. continued »

What with the panic of flood clean-up and all of the uncertainties of a first-of-the-season CSA delivery, I ran out of time yesterday to put together recipes for the boxes. So here, straight from the rather fishy-smelling Circle M farm fields, are some terrific ways to use the first bounties of the spring garden. continued »

Well, last night’s nightmare of flooding and destruction has all but disappeared with this morning’s lovely sunshine and gentle wind to lift the moisture off the gardens. And boy, are they full! We’ve got a box packed with greens coming out to you today, with a few surprises tucked in. continued »

Thank God for the songs of Johnny Cash to give voice to our sufferings. We’re living “Three Feet High and Rising” here at Circle M where the fierce storms of the weekend, and our bucolic location at the junction of a creek and river, have conspired to give us lakefront property. Too bad the lake had to be on one of our gardens. continued »

Just seven poults left of 15. Those that remain, though, are really feathering out and starting to think about getting loose! Unlike chicks, they do a lot of running back and forth in their stock-tank brooder. They are a riot to watch and have great big expressive eyes. Whenever I come near the cage, they turn their heads sideways and up to fix their gaze on me with one liquid eye. They better live. continued »

Things are not going well with the little turkeys. Four have died so far. I’m trying to get some help from the hatchery I ordered them from at this point. continued »

Early this morning we added to our garage menagerie fifteen fluffy turkey poults. Ordered from Murray McMurray Hatchery in Iowa, these very rare turkeys are a breed called “Chocolate.” We hope they turn out to be as delicious as they sound, but in the meantime they are just awful darn cute. continued »