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June 2011 Producer Notes
Shady Oaks Family Farm
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Well, well here we are in the 6th month of this year. Amazing isn’t it? I know I have said this many times but this year is going by at an amazing rate. Well, thankfully since the last time I have sent in our producer notes we have received some much needed rain. We thank the Lord for it too. Hopefully we will continue to receive more. Our pond still hasn’t fully recovered from all those months with no rain. In fact it isn’t even half full! So keep praying for more rain! I told you all about the little mama bird who made her home on our front porch light, well her little babes left the nest. She must have been suffering from empty nest syndrome because she laid more eggs! She didn’t do this last year. At this point she has laid 3 more little eggs. We will keep you posted.
Each month I have been giving updates on what is going on around the farm. Well, we have been pretty busy, who isn’t on a farm in spring? Our garden is going wonderfully. The potatoes are looking great. Tomato and pepper plants are coming along. Our Kale and onions are providing great goodies and our lettuce was delicious! We weren’t able to grow lettuce last year so this was a treat this year, even though spring was a bit, well, warm! Our corn is looking wonderful and we are sure looking forward to eating some soon. I am also looking forward to some tomato, cucumber salads, ahhh, the agony of patiently waiting on good home grown foods.
We are doing well with the milk production getting enough to supply current customers and being able to add on a few more. So if you are interested in buying some good farm fresh goats milk please call and let us know. (405)614-5990. We have very fair prices, and a great product.
Our chicks have grown a lot! In fact they are now called Pullets. They are enjoying their spacious coop, and I am enjoying having my house back in order! They should be laying eggs soon and we will be glad to increase our inventory. Stay tuned for that.
As for the humans around here, well we are keeping pretty busy keeping up with the farm. The children are balancing chores and school work. We are doing a late spring cleaning around here. It is so nice though to weed THINGS out of our home, scale down, and clean, clean clean! When we are done everything is just so fresh. We even rearranged Mom and Dad’s room and gained 3 feet in that room by clearing out some items that were unnecessary. We’ve noticed it is so much easier keeping up with our home if we just simplify and scale down on what we have.
Andrew has been busy with some building projects, Sarah has been busy sewing, and so has Caleigh. The younger children have been having fun outside, and going on walks with mom. We are working towards adding a few more items to our inventory. We are just waiting to get approval to list them, so keep an eye on that as well. Caleigh has been making quilted pillows to sell, we are thinking about adding Diaper Bags, and of course some goat soap and laundry detergent. We have been a bit behind getting in our application, but we hope to have all this done soon.
Well, I guess that is all for now. I really didn’t mention our hens. But what does one say about such spoiled ladies? They are enjoying the Kale that has been added to their diet, you would think we were feeding them candy; silly things. They are fun to watch. We tried feeding some kale to our Pullets, but they were rather, well, bewildered! Give them time though and I am sure they will see it as a delectable treat as well.
Next month I should be telling you about our last addition to the farm for this spring/summer. So be sure to check out our producer notes. Until then, enjoy the month of June. Take the time to be outdoors and enjoy your blessings, before you know it will be July, and June will be gone. Remember, if you lose money you can earn it back, if you lose friends you can hopefully make more, but if you lose time, it is forever lost. Make the most of the time you have been blessed with, you aren’t promised any more of it, so don’t waste it.
From all of us at
Shady Oaks Family Farm
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Wichita Buffalo Company
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Perfect timing! Wichita Buffalo is offering buffalo sirloin steaks for $11.95 per pound. Normally, they are $14.50 a pound. This is from our herd in Hinton, OK. Raised just the way it should be. You can grill it, stir fry it, or just hold it as an investment. One steak per package. Steaks will vary from 8 to 12 ounces.
This is a great way to cook Sirloin:
Sirloin Steak Skewers 2 - Buffalo Sirloin Steaks, about 1/2 inch thick
1/3 cup your favorite steak sauce
1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
1. Pound steak to 1/4-inch thickness. Spread 2 tablespoons steak sauce over meat. Sprinkle peppers evenly over steak sauce.
2. Roll up steak from short edge; cut crosswise into 8 coiled slices. On each of 4 skewers, thread 2 steak rolls through coils to secure.
3. Grill roulades over medium heat for 8 to 10 minutes or until done, turning and brushing occasionally with remaining 1/4 cup steak sauce. Serve immediately.
James R. Stepp
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Shepherd's Cross
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Life on the farm is filled with seasons. "A time for everything under the sun." The lambs have been weaned, the grass is flourishing with the recent rains, and the flowers are a bloom. This is a great time of year to visit the farm for a Bible Garden Tour, a Shepherding Tour, or a Wool Mill Tour.
New on the Co-op list this month are several meat products, including Leg o' Lamb (boneless & bone in,) Lamb Shoulder Roast (boneless & bone in,) Lamb Chops, and Aussie Sausage. Lamb Chops and Aussie Sausage would be wonderful choices for that outdoor grilling event. Sheperd's Cross meat is all natural, pasture raised, and very lean. We are in the process of becoming Animal Welfare Approved.
Drop by for a visit if your summer travels bring you Claremore way. The farm is open for visitors Thursday, Friday & Saturday from 8:30 - 5:30. Have a wonderful June!
Shepherding the Flock,
Dr. Diane Dickinson
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Pork & Greens
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Hello Coop friends! Hope everyone made it through the recent storms safe and sound. Our thoughts and prayers are with those that lost loved ones in the devastating tornado that hit Joplin and our own Oklahoma towns.
Things have been busy at the farm. We finished loading out pigs from our first pasture and got it reseeded with lespedeza before the big rains hit, and we expect some excellent late summer grazing if we get a little moisture along. We have two purebred Large Black litters due in June. The farmers’ markets, brat cart grilling, restaurant supply, and grocer supply are keeping us stretched out.
Like last month, check our listing frequently for updates. We’ll have more listed up front than last month, but we’ll be adding salami, shoulder and loin roasts, and tenderloinafter the order opens around June 3rd or 4th. We’ll also be adding two new products after the order opens, Sliced Fresh Side (uncured bacon) and Pork Belly. A product we’ll have listed in limited quantities when the cycle opens is Fat Dawgs, a large version of our Heritage Hot Dawgs.
As it’s Memorial Day weekend, don’t forget to pause and reflect on all the brave men and women who gave their last full measure so that we can enjoy life in this most beautiful country on Earth.
Don’t forget that you can follow us on Facebook. Search Bacon Is Beautiful and hit the like button. We’ll let you know when we’ve updated our listing on the page. Thanks again for your support of local farmers and producers!
Stephen Green
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NEW! Coop Classified Ads
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Reach out to thousands of people who visit the coop's website with a classified ad! Announce a significant event in the life of someone you love, look for work, seek employees, advertise your product, business, or service, brag about your kids. Only $5 for 150 words for one month, or $13 for three months. Revenues benefit the operating budget of the Cooperative. Look in the Classified Ad shelf of the Coop Products department. |
Anichini - Moore Ranch & Farm
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We are adding ten lambs, five each Finn and Shetland, to our inventory for the June Coop order opening. Many of the chops or ribs are super quick and tasty either on the grill or in a cast iron pan in a bit of olive oil with crushed garlic and other fresh herbs to suit your taste buds!
We have three Belted Galloway scheduled to go to the processor in June, so please buy lots of our lamb and Holstein beef so we may avoid buying more freezers! We're looking for a walk-in freezer and cooler to keep at the farm, hopefully used to avoid the huge expense of a new one! This is the last of the lamb until fall or winter so you may want to stock up now!
We just completed Cornell University's online Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) course in May and will have our certificate posted on our farm website as soon as it is available. We recommend talking this course for several reasons beyond GAP's for their policy implications for small farmers. The cost is reasonable, $50 for three weeks.
March, April and May have had more weather extremes than typical for NW Oklahoma! All three "spring" months were hotter, windier, with some days below freezing temperatures in each of these three months. Worse, there has been no rain! The perennial food crops we grow have been either delayed or earlier than usual. Asparagus and rhubarb made their appearance later and are not as productive in response to the over 100 degree temperatures in all three of the past months. Nanking cherries are ripe now instead of mid June? But, I've not been able to leave to go anywhere to deliver to our CSA customers or attend Langston University's Small Farm free conference since mid-May because of our unusual weather! Without watering daily we'd lose everything we planted this season for summer crops!
Information about our CSA can be viewed on our farm website at www.anichinimoore.com. We have openings and see CSA's as the best way to grow an abundance of "ecologically grown" produce for Coop members. If you may be interested, please give me a call or send an e-mail. We're planting mostly heirlooms and lots of varieties of tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, corn, potatoes, onions, squashes, and several fruits that should produce this year. The raspberries have taken off and "ran away" over into the next garden! The three types of black berries and the boysenberries seem to be going strong! We'll see if we can stave off the grasshoppers and blister beetles with row covers this year!
Grasshoppers appeared in science fiction levels this week and ate up most of the 100 feet of cucumbers. I began replanting them as the birds showed up, thankfully! The organic bait I'd ordered from Planet Natural will not arrive until Friday.
We can see the changes from our conservation work of hauling in literally thousands of bags of leaves in the bed and seats of our pick up! There are now literally hundreds of horned toads, frogs and toads of other species, dung beetles working dutifully burying manure, song birds of every color, and a brave prairie chicken nesting near the front gate where two compost wind rows come together almost in a "V" shape. She's nesting near the "V" and near fences and trees! Our dogs (Great Pyrenees) protect our Guineas and the Prairie Chickens on our farm by running after hawks or owls flying high above; they are thwarted from landing with four angry barking dogs aware of their intended purpose!
If you come to visit, you will be stuck by the difference in temperature where the market gardens are by the addition of organic matter. Although we need to water daily in the hot and windy conditions, a micro climate is evolving and is home to birds, toads, quail and more! Every year I grow cherry tomatoes on the fences that last until after frost for the quail to eat during winter. Our elderberry plants should have berries this year providing more food and habitat for the quail and turkey along with our over 100 Nanking Cherry bushes. If you are not familiar with Nanking Cherries, they are quite similar to Montmorency Pie Cherries in taste although half their size and they ripen earlier than our Montmorencies, that will have a few cherries this year too.
The Woodward Conservation District did not have their children's education day for us to bring our worm bins, so we emptied them in our vegan (no manure) compost pile in our first market garden. We'll place plywood and hay bales around the plywood before the cold weather comes again to protect them over winter.
June will be busy for us! We are speaking at one of the two Ambucs meetings in Woodward about working with people with disabilities and farms as therapy. We are also helping Ambucs to raise money for more trikes to ensure mobility opportunities for kids and adults with disabilities by growing a pumpkin patch at our farm.
Later, in the month we have the privilege to introduce the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition's Policy Director, Helen Dombalis, to some of Oklahoma's sustainable/organic/conservation minded groups and people during her trip here in mid June. We will be setting up the meetings on Tuesday. Lastly, an OSU PhD student is bringing 25 at risk high school kids to our farm one day this month to expose them to farms and where food comes from! Hopefully, we will be helping to grow more farmers too!
Thank you for your support and being our customers! We love you all and the Coop! The Coop and OK Sustainability Network has inspired a legacy of local foods in OK so we can enjoy the diversity and even try the unusual to eat such as loofa which is a sponge to wash your back when mature, and a vegetable similar to eggplant when young! Hoping ours grows so we can try them! We are so thankful to be a part of this wonderful movement!
Kathy
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Renricks Farm and Gardens
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Happy Father's Day from Renricks:
June is a great month for the garden.
Important Dates:
June 4th: Daylily Seedling Sale at the Norman Farmer's market. Over 100 new seedlings $15.00 a bucket most will be in bloom. These are absolutely striking.
Every Wed and Saturday we are at markets and can bring anything up for pick up at the markets.
Monday 20: Deliver to North Park Mall for pickup
Tuesday 21: Deliver to Tulsa for pickup
June: 24th and 25th: Open House, 8am to 3 pm both days. Lots of Specials, Most of the daylilies should be in bloom. Our cutting garden should be blooming and our potted perennials are blooming.
Here are some ideas to spark the interest of kids in gardening and nature. Ideas for June:
1. Plant milkweed to help the monarch population. In 2009 there was a massive loss of monarchs in Mexico due to a late hail storm. The only way to help the population is to provide Host Plants in as many gardens as possible for reproduction.
2. June is the month for daylily bloom. They are easy to hybridize/pollinate. Kids love doing this. Have them pollinate the flower with its own pollen. In 3-4 weeks the seed pods will start to open. Next, store the seed for 3 weeks in the refrigerator. Plant. They will bloom in one year in Oklahoma.
Rick has a required business meeting out of state that I also need to attend. We will not be listing for June since we will be gone during delivery week. If you need something, you can call us and we can bring it to the Wednesday markets at Chesapeake, 63rd and Western, on Wednesday from 11:30-4 pm, or at Norman Farmer's Market on Saturday and Wednesday from 8am to 12:00. You will need to call the day before and before 3:00 the day prior to place an order.
We will also deliver to OKC and Tulsa on Monday and Tuesday after delivery Day. Monday OKC at North Park Mall and Tuesday in Tulsa at the 71st mall. TBA. You will need to call in or email your order.
Thank you and have a great June,
Renee
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Once Upon A Silver Moon
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Hi all,
Come out and see us at the OPERA psychic fair Sat-Sun June 4th and 5th, at the India Shrine Center at 36th and Portland in OKC.
After that, remaining incense stock will get listed on the coOp, so check back on Monday to see what we have left. I'm making all six of our current blends plus one "mystery" blend (I haven't decided what it will be yet).
I got some rewards cards made up for "free incense with purchase of 10". I'll backdate them to the January order and keep them on file in the studio, and I'll have them at the show. No expiration date. :)
Other news: we are now on Facebook. We don't have the schmancy custom URL yet, just a couple more "likes" and we can get it. But we're under Once Upon A Silver Moon, so if you can, stop by and give us lurve. The "personal" page -my shopkeeper persona - is facebook.com/ande.spenser. Stalk that one too if you like - I'm treating both of them as business pages so no super-personal comments on the wall please.
I would like to offer an incense class this summer. If you are interested please contact me offlist with a couple of days and times that you might like to do this. I can do one-on-ones, but a small group of six or so would be more fun. I'll list the class on the coOp when we have info about the date(s).
Sadly, I'm not a kid-friendly person and my house is no place for young 'uns, so let's keep it to 12 and older. However, if your scout troop or youth group is interested in a lesson, with proper adult supervision and parental permission, I can bring the materials to your place and do a class there. Incense making/sushi party/girls' night out? Sure. Email me.
We're always interested in vending at your event or doing parties (incense, readings, or just selling our wares), just let us know when and where!
Ande
OnceUponASilverMoon.artfire.com
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American Heritage Family Farm
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Here it is June already! We have beef at the processor that will be ready shortly before the coop delivery day, so it will definitely be FRESH! This month we have a good supply after running short last month -- you just cannot rush great beef! Check out our many "Bargains this Month". Along with many other items we have our natural great tasting Hot Dogs and Bratwurst on sale this month -- they will go great on the grill with steaks or burgers!
A fresh batch of free range cornish rock chicken is headed for the processor tomorrow -- which means a 3 am start to the day and 5 hours of driving -- that great healthy flavorful chicken is worth it! We have a great selection this month from Healthy Happy birds ranging in our pastures and woods with a buffet of grains free choice -- NO soy, steroids, antibiotics, hormones, or injected with saline -- just chicken the way Mother Nature intended! And as always, processed in an Animal Welfare Approved, Silliker certified, USDA family run processing plant.
Gary and I want to take this opportunity to thank all of our current and future customers for your patronage. Please drop us a line and let us know your comments, suggestions, and just to say Hi. We value each and every one of you!
Take Care...
Tera Biaggi and Gary Moyer
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Snider Farms
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Hey everyone,
I know it's hard to believe for the folks farther east but we're really dry here. We're still having to feed hay because what little grass we had is gone and there's not much hay left. Isn't it something how different parts of the state have different problems at the same time? But we still have peanuts and we're still flavoring peanuts and making peanut butter. Don't forget if you need snacks for 4th of July you need to order now. We can also make you a really great gift for your Dad or a favorite guy for Father's Day. Check out our gift boxes!
Stay cool, and more importantly, stay safe,
Jamie & Stephanie Snider and family |
Cross Timbers Farm
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So many busy days at Cross Timbers Farm!!! Thank you to all our coop customers who purchase our Goat’s Milk Soap and Goat’s Milk Lotions and Laundry Care Products. We greatly appreciate your continued interest in our project and would like you to know that with the profits from March and April Coop sales we were able to purchase a two-goat milking machine. Don’t we feel up-town and special!!! After milking 16 goats by hand twice daily for the last two years…the kids were ready to modernize a bit, and are extremely happy with the new/old surge milking machine we bought.
Now that kidding season is almost over for us (we kidded 35 babies this year,) Quentin and Ethan have been busy attending the 4-H and American Dairy Goat Association Shows in Tex, OK and Kansas. They enjoy being around other goat raisers and competing in the show ring with their herd progeny. So far, several of their does have shown quite well and brought home ribbons, but the whole point of going to shows for the kids is to have fun and enjoy being with others of like interest. They have learned quite a bit and have ideas about improvements to the herd genetic line for milk production and conformation.
New products this year have focused on a line of essential oil soaps. Of these the Lavender has been the most popular, with the Bourbon Geranium running a close second. These soaps have a much milder scent than the fragranced soaps and are every bit as therapeutic in recipe ingredients. We will be adding to this line as time allows.
Lotions!!!! Great stuff, but oh so very fickle. We had a batch of Cocoa Butter misbehave last month (it decided that oil and milk do not have to mix after all) and separated. We like our lotions a lot when they cook up right; they have some of the best, most wholesome ingredients you will find in any lotion recipes, but we are always first to admit a failed batch. We will, without hesitation, replace any that are unsatisfactory. So, order without fear, and if you ever have a problem, send me an e-mail and we will replace or refund as quickly as possible.
The chickens who survived a winter long predation by a hawk are now laying well and we do have some eggs for sale. We are raising replacements for the ones who flew away so unwillingly and have bird netting in place over their laying house.
Thanks for your support. Drop by the farm for some goat’s milk if you can, or visit us at www.crosstimbersfarm.net to see what all is going on here.
Lisa Lusby, and Mike
Quentin, Ethan, Hannah, Miriam, Rebekah, Gabriel, and Garrison
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Sugarloaf Farms
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Summer is almost here and the crazy weather seems to be on hold. Steaks on the grill with roasted new thin red skin potatoes and candy onions on a salad makes a great meal. Whether you are grilling for yourself or having company, we have great burgers, roasts, steaks, and just about every other cut of beef.
We have cubed steaks on special this month. They are great chicken fried along with red skin potatoes which can be fried, baked, roasted with garlic, or made into potato salad.
Remember, you can save a bundle by buying a half or whole beef.
You can also split a half or whole beef with a friend. Stock up on
healthy beef at the best possible price of $3.60 per pound hanging weight.
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Fisher's Produce
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The sweet corn is tassling, and it is warm enough that we have started swimming in the pond after supper. Summer is here! Unfortunately, that also means strong thunderstorms. We suffered significant hail damage with the last round. Our most severely damaged crops were the green leafy veggies, lettuce and early tomatoes. We will also have to replant some squash and okra that were killed. Our thoughts and prayers are with those who suffered much greater losses.
The corn looks like it will still be making, though! We are glad, as it is one our favorite summer veggies! We freeze bushels and eat it all winter long. All of our corn is non-gmo and insectide free. To help combat corn ear worms, we are trying out biological pest control this year with Trichogramma parasitic wasps. For our June delivery we will have an excellent bi-color Triple Sweet variety. This month we will also be digging plenty of organic new potatoes, onions and leeks. Also have cutting celery, and rainbow chard on the menu.
Luke Fisher
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Fluffy's Compleat Boutique
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Fluffy's Compleat Boutique is rocking your Father's Day this year with plenty of new Men’s Apparel Shirts and Tees for the men on your gift list. Prices to fit a range of budgets. Father's Day is the weekend after Delivery so you'll be stocked for the event at the right time. Also in this order cycle, fulfill your Independence Day Weekend grilling and chilling swank-- stock up on festive, goofy, bizarre potholders and hot pads that will make cooking Not Boring. Potlucks are more fun with Fluffy gourmet kitchen kitsch.
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Wagon Creek Creamery
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We've got lots of calves on the farm now. We're still leaving the babies with their mamas until they're ready to wean. It's fun to see how the little ones sort themselves off when we bring the herd up to the milking barn. The youngest calves might stay with mama and go on into the holding pen, but most stay in the lot. It looks like a nursery school class with all the little ones hanging out together. Once the cows go through the barn, the pairs find each other and head back to pasture.
The continuing drought is still a big factor out west. Enid, 30 miles to the east of us, has had about 12" of rain in the last several weeks while we've had 1.5". Farmers in this area are feeding hay to their livestock and everyone is concerned about hay supplies for next winter. No grass growth means no hay to bale. So, butter will still be in very short supply. However, we should have plenty of yogurt, Greek style yogurt, mozzarella and raw milk jack cheeses. We also have a good supply of 100% grass fed beef. All of our beef comes from our own herd and is never treated with hormones or fed antibiotics.
Barbara and Ron Crain
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Heaven Sent Food & Fiber
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Welcome to June, Local Food Month!
This June, come take a tour with OKHorizon television show or watch the clip on the internet as host Rob McClinen takes a tour of our farm here at Heaven Sent Food & Fiber. The show is to air the Sunday before Local Food Week. You'll also get a quick peek at the Muskogee Farmer's Market.
We are busy here at the farm...gathering brown eggs from our free range chickens, hand dyeing yarns and roving from our Merino sheep, Alpacas, and Angora Rabbits, harvesting green beans, squash, tomatoes, cucumbers and country flower bouquets from our garden, and keeping up with the felted soaps.
We have planted heirloom popcorn and are working on the peanuts for fall snacks, so keep checking our listings!
Let us know how we can become your personal farmer, let us know what you want and have not been able to find. Need Sorrel -- it will be on the menu in a month or so. Can't get enough Swiss Chard? We grow it regularly.
Here's a great summer soup recipe that is tasty cold or hot from Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone by Deborah Madison (a wonderful book that no kitchen should be without).
2T butter
1 onion (check out our listing)
3 small potatoes (check out our listing)
1 bunch chard (check out our listing)
2 cups sorrel (should be available next month) or juice of 1 large lemon
salt and pepper
1/3 cup sour cream
½ cup cooked rice
Heat butter and saute onions and potatoes until they begin to color. Add ½ cup water and scrape the bottom of pan for juices. Add greens and 1-1/2 tsp salt. As soon as the greens wilt, add 6-1/2 cups water. Bring to boil, then lower the heat and simmer partially covered for 12-15 min. Puree the soup, then return to pot. If didn't use sorrel use lemon juice. Mix the sour cream with some of the soup to smooth out, then swirl into soup. Serve with rice in each bowl.
We look forward to serving you in June.
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Semkin Longhorns
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June is already here, I can’t believe it! The recent rain was well appreciated; but I definitely could do without the tornadoes. Even though we did suffer some slight damage from our Oklahoma wind, breaking tree branches, we feel fortunate here at the ranch to have missed the tornado activity. This past month we have been very busy getting all the cattle worked and sorted and finishing up the last of our calving season. We will begin putting the bulls back out with the cows the beginning of June so things are going to start slowing down around here.
We have recently had to increase our beef prices due to the rising production and fuel costs. We raised our ground beef and premade patties $.50/per lb, but have kept our sides of beef at the incredibly low price of $2.95/per lb on the rail. We want all of our repeat and new customers to know that our Longhorn beef is still the same great lean grass fed beef that we have always sold! Even with the increase, our prices are still some of the lowest around!
Remember to stock up. With all of the Father’s Day and 4th of July cookouts right around the corner, you are going to need plenty for the grill, and burgers are always a crowd pleaser. I’ve included a tasty new recipe for a juicy lean Longhorn Burger! The twist in this recipe will keep them coming back for more…
Juicy Longhorn Burgers
1 lb Longhorn Lean Steakburger
½ cup homemade or store-bought black bean dip
½ tsp. Kosher salt
4 wheat buns
Mix Steakburger and black bean dip together, being careful not to over mix, as this will make the meat tough. Shape the beef into 4 equal patties, packing them firmly. Season with kosher salt and put on a pre-heated grill or grill pan. Cook 4-6 minutes on each side. Top with more black bean dip, avocado slices or fresh salsa. Serve alongside roasted corn on the cob and southwest baked beans and you are sure to have a crowd pleasing hit!
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Two Tomatoes Veggies
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Dear customers:
Due to a direct hit on May 24th, the tornado left nothing untouched in our area, including our house and garden. However, since the garlic is underground, only the tops were damaged.
We are in the process of harvesting and are offering only the best to our Food Co-op customers.
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NEW! Coop Classified Ads
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Make connections with other coop members via our new Classified Ad section! Only $5 for 150 words ($13 if you run it for 3 months!) Buy, sell, brag, advertise.
He (or she) who has a thing to sell,
and goes and shouts it in the well,
is not so apt to make the dollars,
as he (or she) who climbs a tree and hollers!
So send a shout-out to 4,000+ coop members plus everyone else who looks at our website by ordering a classified ad today!
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Cattle Tracks
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HELLO and WELCOME SUMMER. Wow – it’s been an interesting week here. John and I managed to take shelter at the neighbor’s, who had fortunately left their door unlocked. We do not have a cellar – they do! We watched a rope tornado form and when it was in the pasture across the road from our house (approximately 1/8 mile from us.) We took cover, waiting to hear things come crashing down or swirling around. Nothing happened; there was no noise. After a few minutes we emerged from the ‘fraidy hole’. We’ve had opportunity to watch video taken by persons to the east of us – as the tornado was moving in our direction it began to rise and then fell apart – PRAISE GOD! Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have sustained horrific loses; we have been blessed in helping with clean-up and restoration to those in our community who face sad situations.
It’s June, and as we look at the Coop ordering opportunity let’s remember this order is the one that will bring 4th of July food to your table (grill and smoker). In way of anticipation of July 4th and the celebration of our many freedoms, we have reduced many of your favorite cuts such as steaks – including KC’s, rib-eyes, sirloin steaks, ranch steak, plus K-bob chunks and fajita meat. Plan ahead for the next Holiday weekend which is known as the largest cook-out weekend of the year in the US and order delicious, organic beef from Cattle Tracks. While you’re at it, keep in mind our burgers and brats – they are the best!
THANKS to those of you who contacted us after hearing “Fairview” on the weather alerts; we appreciate your concern and even more your friendship. Living in Oklahoma is the grandest! America, America, God shed His grace on thee...
John and Kris at John’s Farm
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Magee Farm
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As you read this I will be cutting our 2011 wheat crop. As such, I will be more than likely unable to list anything for the month of June. Check late in the week to see if anything has been posted. I’m not expecting a large crop this year, but hope to get some. We have planted white proso millet, Indian corn, and watermelon this year and are praying for rain. Our apples look good and we are looking forward to see how they do. We have missed all of the bad weather but have also missed most of the rain, just a half inch since the big snow. Our Devon bulls are now large enough for service and we have two for sale. Happy Trails, all.
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DARP
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I can't believe it's June already! Wheeeeew, where has the year gone? Raymond and I want to thank everyone for a very successful year with the Co-op. I have had so much fun being able to work at the Co-op and meeting so many wonderful people, it has truly been a blessing. And to top it off, we have been able to provide you all with an all-natural, free-range chicken, that is not only good to eat, it is good for you as well. We would like to inform you that the plant here where we have our birds processed has recently become Cook & Thurber Certified. So the birds are hand-processed, using vinegar and water for microbiological inhibitors (NO NASTY CHEMICALS,) and the plant has a AAA rating.
Now let’s talk chicken. For June, we have the great specials we have offered in the past, from our 8-piece
cuts, to our 10 lb. packages of leg 1/4's, drums, wings and thighs. The breast meat seems to be an all time favorite, and we have had several requests for our bone-in, skin-on breast meat. We aren't able to offer this in June, but please look for this product in July!!!
We want to apologize again to all of you folks that ordered chicken in May and didn't get your chicken. This is the first time this has happened and it will be the last. And with that said, we want to say thank you again and look forward to another successful year.
Raymond and Lynn Jones
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Pork & Greens
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Hello Coop friends! Just a quick note that we’ve added Tenderloin, Pork Loin, Fresh Shoulder Roasts, Baby Backs, Spare Ribs, Boneless Chops, Bone In Chops, plus more sausages.
We’ve also added 3 new items, Fresh Side (unsliced,) Sliced Fresh Side, and Smoked Andouille Links.
Thanks again for your support of local farmers and producers!
Stephen Green
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High Tides & Green Fields
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High Tides Leeky Potato Soup (aka Potato Leek Soup)
4 T. Butter
5 Leeks sliced
6 T. Flour
4 C. Chicken stock or 4 C. water plus 1.5 tsp. bouillion
5 Potatoes: peel, dice
1 C. Milk
1/2 tsp. hot ground chiles- Paprika, Chimayo, or Ancho (you may substitute a dash or two of Tabasco sauce)
1/2 tsp. ground pepper
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. Cilantro
In a large pot over medium heat sauté leeks in butter until transparent. Remove from heat, let cool a bit. Stir in flour. Mix well. Add liquid and mix well again.
Return to heat and add potatoes, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil. Then lower heat, cover, and simmer for 30 minutes. When potatoes are tender, break up potatoes with a masher, add milk and spices and heat just under boiling.
Garnish individual serving dishes with butter and uncooked leek slices. Serve with a hearty bread and strong cheese. Refrigerate leftovers and have cold for lunch the next day.
Options:
Crispy bacon crumbled into the soup right at the end.
Slices or shreds of carrot added with the potatoes.
Garnish with microgreens.
Leeks are available at: Vegetables> Greens & Lettuces
Thank you for supporting our little farm!
Dev & Kip
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Anichini - Moore Ranch & Farm
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Hoping you are all enjoying the summer and thinking of buying and grilling lots of meat from the pastured lamb and beef we offer! We are having 3 beeves processed on the 13th and considering processing more beeves and lamb sooner than ideal due to the drought. We do not wish to liquidate our livestock, so are faced with hard choices of either processing sooner or selling. The former somehow seems more viable to us.
Missed the last notes due to a terrible virus that lingers still. There wasn't much to report that is different from our last note for June. Our high winds and heat remain and not one drop of rain has been received! We are in trouble without pasture and hay as is most of NW OK who has not had any rain whatsoever on their pastures or crops! The grasshoppers and now blister beetles seem to be having their own style of "hay day" so it is difficult to imagine that conditions can worsen! We continue to hope for rain and move our water daily trying to just stay abreast of keeping our produce moist enough to survive in these extremely unusual conditions! Another complication is that we now are dealing with daily swarms of pests that defy description. Hand picking blister beetles (with gloves) and spraying in Monterey Spray only goes so far and we're not keeping up because the entire farm is covered! The Semsmore Bait from Plant Natural has arrived to help us with the grasshopper population, but, it takes a while.
Fortunately, garlic and onions seem to be okay so far so we have started more onion seed to plant if the rest of our produce crops do not work out so well!
Twenty five at-risk kids from Stillwater are coming to learn about farms on the 18th with Shelley Mitchell from OSU and we're looking forward to their visit! Kefy Desta, OSU Ext. SSARE, is also coming to help out with their education about composting, rainwater harvesting, recycling and soil. The farm will not be green as we'd hoped, but I imagine they will learn a lot! On the 23rd we're honored to introduce Helen Dombalis from National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition to some our great Oklahoma people who work hard for a sustainable future and conservation!
Know other farms have had too much rain or even tornadoes, so our hearts go out to them along with best wishes for a speedy recovery!
Look for one more note before this month's order closes. Thanks for being our customers! We appreciate your business!
Kathy
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Skyridge Farm
Comfrey
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Here’s hoping the bad weather has missed you and yours. It did miss us. Here’s hoping we can move on to a nice summer of gardens and family gatherings. It was a rough spring.
Here at Skyridge Farm we still have a nice selection of plants to offer you for your herb gardens or butterfly gardens or patios. The tomato plants got long and spindly because we were unable to put them out to “harden off” because of the weather and shoulder surgery among other things. I do still have a good variety I have cut back which will still provide tomatoes if you wish to email me and tell me which ones you are looking for. I have peppers to offer, green bell, banana, Anaheim, and jalapeno. Some decorative – black pearl and lemon drop. For the butterflies I have the Coronation Gold yarrow which makes a nice addition to your flower garden, full sun. Some lantana confetti also for the butterflies this summer. For your bees I have some African blue basil plants to offer and shiso Britton, these get rather tall in the afternoon shade. For your medicinal garden I can offer lambs ears, (stops bleeding), feverfew (prevents migraines), comfrey (good for everything to include the compost pile, the watering can and beautiful hanging pink flowers.)
For the salad garden I now have Sylvetta arugula plants to go. These will make it through the heat of the summer in the shade and overwinter. Great flavor, high in nutrition. Sorrel which will go all summer in the shade and overwinter and come back. Great lemony flavor, high in vitamin C. For the shade garden there is all the mints, lemon balm, lemon verbena, catnip, and catmint. For the perennial bed, lambs ears, Veronica Goodness Grows, Munstead and Otto Quast lavenders, Mexican Mint Marigold, (smells like root beer, makes a great French tarragon substitute). If anyone can tell me what French tarragon likes in an Oklahoma garden, please let me know. Greek columnar basils have already gotten very large, they love the hot sunshine. They will get 2-3 feet tall in a large container or in your herb garden. For fun I have a variety of eucalyptus, silver dollar which gets quite large, apple which looks like silver dollar but more dime size leaves, honey and lemon eucalyptus. The lemon is very fragrant. Good insect repellent plant. And of course the Copper Canyon marigold which gets large and is the best insect repellent plant to be found. It loves the summer time, the mosquitos and flies and gnats hate it. Check out Live Plants/Herbs/Skyridge Farm.
Monica
monica@skyridgefarm.net
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Windeater Acres
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Summertime greetings from Windeater Acres! We want to thank you for supporting the Oklahoma Food Coop and its producer members. We know you have lots of choices when it comes to your grocery money and we appreciate your choice to spend it with us.
Windeater Acres is home to several different breeds of ducks, including some prolific layers like Khaki Campbells and Welsh Harlequins. Several of the breeds we raise are listed on the watch lists of the American Livestock Breed Conservancy and we are proud to be stewards of these beautiful birds.
We are also proud to offer Oklahoma Food Coop customers duck eggs for your eating pleasure. If you are a baker, you really must try duck eggs -- your pies and cakes will be even more scrumptious! Duck eggs' higher protein content is the key to giving your baked goods more lift and fluff, while adding a richer, delicious flavor. Need more minerals in your diet? Duck eggs can help add calcium, iron, magnesium, and potassium, just to name a few (www.duckeggs.com/duck-egg-nutrition-compare.html).
When you buy a dozen Windeater Acres duck eggs you receive a mix of medium, large, extra-large, and jumbo farm-fresh duck eggs to help you match your egg-size needs more easily to your recipes. To check availability and order, visit the Eggs Section and scroll down to the bottom of the page.
# 15562 Duck Eggs, Grade A Medium $4.00/dozen
# 15563 Duck Eggs, Grade A Large $4.25/dozen
# 15433 Duck Eggs, Grade A Extra Large $4.50/dozen
# 9275 Duck Eggs, Grade A Jumbo $4.75/dozen
Here's a recipe for some great cookies, using 1 duck egg in place of 2 chicken eggs.
Chocolate Chip Cookies - Made with Duck Eggs
2 1/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter flavored Crisco
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 duck egg
2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
1/2 cup old fashion rolled oats
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 375° F.
Step 2: Mix flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. In a large bowl beat crisco, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract until creamy. Add duck egg, beat well. Gradually stir in the flour mixture. Stir in chocolate chips and oatmeal. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets.
Step 3: Bake for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.
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High Tides & Green Fields
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POTATO AND LEEK FRITTATA
3 T. Butter
2 T. Olive oil
1 C. Potato, cooked and diced
3 Leeks, sliced
1/2 C. chopped vegetables: carrots, peas, celery*
Garlic to taste
5 Eggs
1/2 C. Milk
Cheese:
1/4 C. Parmesan
1 C. grated Cheddar
Salt
Black pepper
Pinch cayenne pepper
Preheat oven to 350F.
In a cast iron skillet, sauté leeks and garlic until soft. Add the potatoes and cook until lightly browned. Add other vegetables, heat through.
Meanwhile: in a bowl, beat eggs, add milk, whisk until blended. Add the cheeses, spices, stir together well, and pour over potato/leek mixture in hot pan.
Slide the cast iron pan into the oven and cook until center is set -- 20 to 25 min. Let rest for 5 minutes before cutting and serving. Leftover slices lightly heated in microwave make a hearty breakfast.
*Southwest version: corn, peppers, cilantro
Note-- if you have a gas grill with a second (upper) shelf, you can cook this in the grill and keep the heat out of the house. Serve with grilled summer squash, steamed greens, any fresh-from-the-farm vegetables. If your gang likes sauce, try a rancheros sauce or green tomatillo salsa.
Dev & Kip
"We grow beautiful food."
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Once Upon A Silver Moon
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We have incense again! Fox, Dragon Flight, Bat Wings and Wenceslas are listed now.
We have expanded our Dream Pillow line:
Stress Relief for restful sleep,
Starry Night for vivid dreams,
Night Magic for romantic dreams,
Adventure for action dreams,
and
Titania's Reverie for faerie dreams.
I've been using the Adventure blend the past week and I've noticed that not only are my dreams a bit rowdier than usual (car chases, climbing trees, etc), but I also wake up feeling energized.
One of The Teenz helped make these, and chose to try out the Night Magic blend. She said she dreamed about making dream pillows. Maybe not all that romantic, but it did involve the creative drive.
Slip one of these guys into your basket today, and let us know how it works for you!
Facebook update: we're now facebook.com/OnceUponASilverMoon. "Like" us and post on the wall about what you like about our products, and let us know what you'd like to see us make next.
Ande
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Worm Solutions
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After 11 years in the vermiculture business Paul & I have decided to sell Worm Solutions. This is a viable, profitable, growing business. This business provides a ready source of income and has great potential limited only by your imagination. The work at times requires physical labor but is very rewarding.
For further information contact Selena by email at sheckler@wormsolutions.com. You may also call Selena Heckler at 405-822-7591 or Paul Heckler at 405-822-4325 between 6-8pm M-F or on weekends.
Selena Heckler
www.wormsolutions.com
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