Being organic means we must use natural methods to control insects. After watching some sort of beetle munch on our new cherry tree leaves last year, we decided to try something different….our Rumar chickens to the rescue! Using chickens to reduce bug pressure in orchards is a natural and eco-friendly way to manage pests. Chickens are known to be excellent foragers and can feast on a variety of insects, such as beetles, worms, grasshoppers, and even small rodents. This natural method of pest control has several benefits:
- Pest Reduction: Chickens can help control populations of insects that are harmful to orchard trees. They actively seek out and consume pests, reducing their numbers in the orchard.
- Natural Fertilizer: Chickens produce manure, which is rich in nitrogen and other nutrients. As they forage in the orchard, they also spread their manure, helping to fertilize the soil naturally.
- Weed Control: Chickens not only eat insects but also consume weed seeds and tender, young weeds. By scratching and pecking at the ground, they control the growth of weeds without the need for herbicides.
- Soil Health: Chickens help improve soil health and drainage through their scratching and pecking behavior. Their constant movement aerates the soil and prevents compaction.
So if you are driving by the farm, you may be able to see the red coop to the top of the hill. They love living here and are eating very well these days.
Here is what you can expect this week:
Early Golden Plums An early variety of plum makes a perfect snack. They are mildly sweet with a tangy yellow skin that gets a cherry red blush where the sun hits it. Medium size and firm. Did you know that Early Golden originated in Fonthill Ontario where it was discovered as a chance seedling. It has now become the most popular yellow plum in Ontario. Despite its Canadian origin, this is actually a Japanese plum.
Breakfast Radish Small, heirloom variety with elongated shape and excellent for veggie trays or chopped up and tossed into a fresh salad. A thin skin and white flesh, they have a mild earthy and peppery flavour. They also have edible leafy greens.
Swiss Chard One great recipe we return to each year when swiss chard is in season is our Rumar Farm Spicy Sausage and Chard Pasta. If you have been with us for a while you should know it well. So easy, you just cook 12 oz. of pasta (I prefer linguine). Sauté in a large wide pan hot Italian sausages (3-4 links) castings removed with chard stems. Add your chard leaves, couple of tomatoes, 1/2 cup onions, and two large garlic cloves…everything chopped up. Cook for 4 minutes then stir in 1/2 cup cream. Portion into bowls over the pasta and top with fresh slivered basil leaves and shave fresh parmesan cheese. Serve with a large salad.
New Potatoes Freshly dug white potatoes. New potatoes have thin, wispy skins and a crisp, waxy texture. They have been harvested early and have a sweet flavour. Easy to prepare, just boil and drizzle with a herbed olive oil or butter, salt and pepper.
Cucumber Mix Fresh and crunchy, a mix of green and white pickling cucumbers. Our unique white heirloom variety are extra sweet and look so nice paired with the green for a colourful salad.
Lettuce Mix Freshly harvested a mix of red and green lettuces.
Dill Weed Bunch of feathery greens with a unique flavour that has an earthy and almost grassy essence. Ways to use; try dill potatoes, creamy lemon dill salmon, dill and cucumber salad, dilled tartar sauce, dill zucchini cakes. Can be used fresh or if you want to dry, hang upside down in a warm dry place with plenty of airflow for about 2 weeks.
Enjoy
