Wednesday, June 24, 2009

What's At Market This Week - June 25th and 27th


Another week's gone by and the amount of in season produce is growing! Here's what Ber-Gust Farms hopes to have at the Farmer's Market booth this week:

Tomatoes
Cucumbers
Green peppers
Jalapenos (possibly)
Lettuce
Onions
Zucchini
Summer Squash
Red Potatoes
Strawberries (possibly)
Cherries (possibly)

And as always, you can get Canal Junction Cheeses and Rada Cutlery at the booth.




Also, at the Saturday market there will be a diaper drive for Heartbeat of Lima. Bring an unopened package of diapers in any size to any of the vendors and receive a money saving coupon to use at the market.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Show The Farmer's Market Some Love!

I just voted to help the Lima Farmers Market win $5,000 in the "Love Your Farmers Market" online contest, sponsored by Care2.com and LocalHarvest.org. Every vote helps promote local food, family farms and sustainable agriculture. Please help the Lima Farmers Market win by voting today. Thanks!

http://www.care2.com/farmersmarket/4701/?refer=5661.02.1245778049.698151

Thursday, June 18, 2009

What's At the Market - June 18th and 20th

Wondering what will be at the Ber-gust booth at this week's markets?

Tomatoes
Yellow squash
Zucchini (probably)
Cucumbers (picklers)
last of the garlic scapes
Green onions
Soap nuts (hulls of dried fruit of the Chinese soapberry tree)
Honey sticks
Red beets
Hanging flower baskets
Red potatoes
Lettuce greens

Hope to see you there!

Monday, June 15, 2009

Do You Make A Mean Blueberry Pie?


Do your family and friends beg you to make your famous berry pie? Now's your chance to let all of Lima know that yours is the best Berry Pie in town! The Lima Farmer's Market is featuring a Very Berry Pie Baking Contest on Saturday, June 20th.

There is a $5 entry fee. Please bring two (2) pies. One for the judges to try and a second one to auction of to the crowd. Also, please bring a copy of your recipel. Entries should be at the market by 9:30 am.

May the best pie win!

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Jacob Sheep

Thanks to every one that stopped by the booth at the Farmer's Market on Saturday!

There were several little guests at the booth for visitors to meet- baby ducks and a Jacob Sheep.

I've heard several people mistake the lamb for a baby goat - in fact, I did the same thing last year when Rick and Joanie brought one of the lambs to the market with them.

The Jacob is an ancient breed, sometimes referred to as a primitive breed. The exact origins of the Jacob are not known. There is evidence of strong Mediterranean roots and it is thought they were brought from that region, a, through Spain to England and from England to North America. Both males and females are horned, sporting two, four and occasionally six horns. Jacob Sheep get their name from Biblical story of Jacob in Genesis 30:31-70. It tells how Jacob took every speckled and spotted sheep as his own from Laban's flock.




Ber-Gust Farms is home to a flock of Jacob sheep. When my husband and I visited the farm, we were both amused and amazed that Joanie could tell which sheep was which just by listening to their Baas.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

What's At Market This Week - June 11th and 13th


Tomorrow's the first day for the all new Thursday Farmer's Market. The market will be from 3pm until 6 pm at 221 Main St in front of the AARP Tax building. So if you work downtown, why not stop by on your way home? There will be door prizes given away to several lucky attendees!

The Saturday market will take place as usual from 9am until noon at the Lima town square. For the kids, there will be baby farm animals. Also, there will be a cooking demo - "Fun with Greens".

What can you expect to find at the Ber-gust booth at the upcoming markets?
Garlic scapes (see the pesto recipe recently posted for one way to try these!)
Green onions
Strawberries
Zucchini (hopefully)
Beets (hopefully)
New potatoes (hopefully)
Radishes
Honey sticks (I was informed by my husband that we will be stocking up on these - they're perfect to take to work for in tea)
Hang plants
Jams & Jellies
Maple Syrup
Pectin

Saturday, June 6, 2009

What the Heck are Garlic Scapes?!?!


If you had the chance to stop by the booth this morning at the Farmer's Market, you probably noticed the tub of garlic scapes. Garlic scapes are becoming more well-known, but the are still new to a lot of people. If left on the plant, they will eventually flower, pulling energy from the plant that could go into making a bigger garlic bulb. Growers often remove the scapes for this reason.

The good news? Garlic scapes are also very tasty!!

So....how does one use garlic scapes? They have a mild garlic flavor and pretty much anything you'd put garlic in tastes good with garlic scapes instead. Stir fry, soups, stews, salads, softened cream cheese, and fresh salsa are just a few things that you can use them in.

To roast garlic scapes:
Put chopped scapes into a lightly oiled over-proof pan. Sprinkle with salt.
Cover and put into a 425 degree oven for 30-45 minutes or until they begin to brown.

Garlic Scape Pesto:
This one is a favorite at Ber-Gust Farms and Joanie gets lots of requests for the recipe!

Chop 4-7 scapes and place in food processor or blender.
Add 1 cup grated asiago or parmesan cheese, a 1/4 tsp salt, and 1 cup olive oil.
Blend until smooth. If needed, add water, a tablespoon at a time, to reach the desired consitency.
Store in the refrigerator in an air tight jar.

The pesto can be served over pasta, on bread, in omlets, brushed onto meats before grilling....the possibilities are limitless.

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

What's At the Market this Week - June 6th



This Saturday, June 6th, will be the first Lima, Ohio Farmer's Market of the season!








Just because it's early in the growing season doesn't mean that there's not much to be had at the market. Joanie and Rick plan on having plenty at the Ber-Gust Farms booth.


Here's some of what they'll be bringing this Saturday:

  • Black raspberry jelly
  • Strawberry jam
  • Maple syrup
  • Green Onions
  • Beets
  • Radishes
  • Lettuce
  • Strawberries (if the weather cooperates)
  • Garlic Scapes
Or maybe you want to work on your own green thumb this year? Ber-Gust will also be offering geraniums, hanging baskets and tomato and vegetable plants.

The Lima Farmer's Market is every Saturday morning from 9am until noon in the Lima Town Square at the intersection of Market and Main St. Hope to see you there!

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Twitter and Facebook

Ber-Gust Farms is now Twittering and is on Facebook!
Click the badges on the right of this page to follow or become a fan!
We'll try to issue updates through out the growing season to let you know what's being harvested that week and other farm related events that are taking place.