Decking the Halls with Red and Green

It seems as if the world is decked in red and green to celebrate this time of year. The farm is no different. It has always been our tradition to get a real tree and we make wreaths out of greenery gathered from the farm oh and don't forget the mistletoe. Mistletoe is a must. We also love to share the gifts of our farm with our friends at the Bounty of the Barrens farmers market. The boys have gathered grape vines, holly, berries and pine cones. This momma has put the crafting skills to use. We're also very excited to see the new high tunnel bursting with red and green. The lettuces and reddish are ready to share at market too. So join us Saturday the 8th from 8-12 for good food and good friends and maybe a little Christmas shopping. The extension office with be decked with red and green I am sure.

Stationery card

Flourished Elegance Christmas Card

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I'm not usually one to advertise for big ole companies but I did decide to use Shutterfly to do our christmas cards this year. They had a great cyber Monday deal. What can I say I'm a sucker for a deal. So here is our Christmas Card. Growing Boys wishes everyone a very early Merry Christmas!

Fire for the Mind and Body

(A house is not a home unless it contains food and fire for the mind as well as the body. Benjamin Franklin) Do you ever have those mornings when you just can't get the stove to start? You've done everything imaginable to get the fire going. Lighter, Crumpled paper, little sticks of wood, bigger sticks of wood, split stick of wood, more air, less air,nothing is working. The kids are snuggled up in blankets moaning I'm cold. How can it be so hard to build a fire? Cave Dwellers can do it with sticks, Mountain men can do it with rocks. So in this moment I have decided that my children need to know how to build a fire. They need to know how to build it with sticks and rocks and magnifying glasses. How did we as human beings get so far removed that we don't even know how to build a good fire (without lighter fluid)? There are lots of things I think little boys should know, and building a fire is now going on that list. Good thing we have a fireman around! P.S. I did get the fire going finally. I just had to throw on another log. The children did not freeze to death.

The Hightunnel is done! Here on Growing Boys farm we are so glad to have the hightunnel (also know as an unheated greenhouse) up and planted for winter. There are lettuces, spinach, carrots, onions, cabbage, greens, and radish all planted in neat little rows enjoying a nice warm fall and hopefully growing big and strong. Big and strong so we and maybe some of you can enjoy them all winter long. About a year ago we read a book about a farm who was growing veggies all year round. All Year round! Who doesn't want fresh salad in the dead of winter? Then we were blessed with on oppertunity to get our very own hightunnel. Now we will also be growing all year round. Some people say walking into the hightunnel is like walking into a nice spring morning. Let me tell you yesterday it was like working in the dead of summer, 40 deg outside the tunnel and 90deg inside. I could have planted carrots in my bathing suit (although I didn't). We are so thankful for all the help we had in putting up the hightunnel. Believe me it was not an easy task to put up a 30x72' building with just us four, so when friends and family showed up to help we were elated. Thank you all so much. And maybe we can pay back the favor with fresh veggies this winter. Don't forget winter market is the 2nd Saturday of every month at the Extension Office. I'm sure the other farmers will have lots of fresh goddies too.

The Dozer

I've read recently that to keep a healthy soil structure we should minimize tillage, ya know don't dig in the dirt too much and kill all the worms and bugs. Should we be scared because I think this is gonna mess with our soil structure. Actually I'm just poking fun at the men here on Growing Boys Farm. I've heard that men love their toys and my fellas are no different. 4-wheelers, tractors, anything with wheels and a motor but when the bulldozer pulled into the drive, we'll you can imagine the look on their faces. We really did need the bulldozer to handle some drainage issues around the new barn (I know I haven't shared pictures yet) and the greenhouse spot needed some leveling done. I guess boys and their toys come in handy, the fellas here like to remind me of that sometimes.

Summers End

Shew, It seems like forever since summer started. Who knew 200 tomato plants would take over our families lives. We'll they almost wore us down but fall is in the air and we are feeling the need to slow down. SLOW DOWN no way there is still wood to cut and gardens to finish getting ready for winter and don't even get me started on the new greenhouse that was just ordered. It's always so bittersweet when summer comes to an end.

Tomatoes

You know a tomato is big when you can eat it for lunch, supper, and breakfast the next morning. We'll this guy sure was big. 2 1/2 pounds, and yes it was actually one tomato it just grew a little strange! If the tomatoes on the vines are all this big we are gonna need some help eating them. I hope Bounty of the Barrens Market goers are hungry for tomatoes. My favorite way to eat a tomato is for breakfast covered in white gravy, but I also love them on a blolgna sandwich, and they are really good plain with a little salt on top. I also have a good tomato pasta salad recipe. Now I like my tomato peeled and that seems to be a big debate around here. Do we peel the tomato or not? My husband likes his cucumbers peeled which never crossed my mind untill we were married. So in our house tomatoes and cucumbers both get peeled in the name of compromise. Tomato Cucumber Pasta 2 extra large tomatoes chopped 2 cucumbers chopped 1/4 cup olive oil 1/8 cup balsamic vineger 1tsp salt 1 tsp pepper 1tsp garlic 1tsp oregano 2 cups cooked pasta (I use a veggie tricolor my kiddos call it wacky noodles or worms) Combine all in a large bowl and toss Grate a little Aged Cheddar Kenny's Farmhouse Cheese over the top enjoy