We are often asked what the heck is biodynamic farming and what does it mean to be Demeter certified? Farms holding the Demeter certification help preserve wildlife and endangered species habitat, they must dedicate a minimum of 10% of their land base as a biodiversity reserve. They measure their farm’s fertility by the ability of their soil to sustain agricultural plant growth by using green manure, crop rotation and planting legumes and nitrogen catch crops. They build their own compost piles with materials from their farm such as chipped wood, leaves, plant litter and animal manure. They control disease, insect and weed through plant diversity and planned plantings. Use of mulching and stale bed planting also helps control the weeds. The biggest requirement in biodynamic farming is the use of special preparations that are like healing remedies for the earth. We are proud to hold this certification.
Here is what you can expect this week:
Head of Lettuce I warned you there will be lots of greens early in our season. Keep adding a salad to your supper daily, its a good healthy habit to get into.
Garden Peas Also called sweet peas or English peas. The pod is not edible so you will need to shell them first. They don’t have to be a side dish, you can add them to everything you are cooking this spring. Fresh pasta with peas, pea chowder, green pea dip, stir fry on rice, salad with peas……you get the picture.
Strawberries It’s that time of year that everyone looks forward to juicy, sun ripened strawberries. To keep them fresh, sort and store them unwashed with their stems on in a shallow loosely covered container in your fridge. Remove the stems after washing them to avoid diluting the flavour.
Rhubarb We added rhubarb again because they are such a nice match to strawberries. We are bring two of spring’s best ingredients together for a winning combination. Not just for pies…..but chutney, punch, crumble. muffins, cobbler, and jam. The ideas are endless.
Frisee Lettuce Also referred to curly endive, a member of the chicory family. It has a deliciously bitter edge. Frisee can bring dimension and texture to any salad with its mildly peppery flavour and crunchy leaves. This green can be sautéed with olive oil and a few finely chopped garlic scapes (if you have any left) and bacon for an interesting side dish.
Farm fresh Eggs We have been saving up to give you a real treat this week. If you haven’t ever tasted farm fresh eggs before, there is no comparison to the grocery store factory eggs. They are simply the best eggs you will ever eat!
Spring Onions You can never get enough of these sweet and mellow onions because they are so versatile. They add a wonderful fresh flavour to salads and sandwiches when sliced and eaten raw. They have a delicious sweet, savory and mild flavour when cooked. Store in a vegetable bag in the fridge and use within five days.
Bunch Lavender Add a pleasant scent to your home with this small fragrant bouquet. Some other interesting ways to use lavender is in desserts and drinks. Perhaps make a small batch of infused oil or lavender bath salts.
Enjoy
