Day of Rest

"Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work"

Spring time on the farm brings with it lots of work. It seems that from sun up till sun down and sometimes even longer, we are working. Preparing the soil, plating the seed, watering, not to mention the feeding, moving, cleaning, cooking, washing, all day every day six days a week. 

But on Sunday afternoon... we rest. We put aside our tools, we make a cup of coffee, and we sit, or maybe we nap, or sometimes we visit.  And we walk over the fields hand in hand just looking at the ground and the plants. We talk of there needs or the needs of our children. We discuss plans for the future or projects that need to be done. But most of all we rest and renew ourselves for the coming days that bring with them more work. We are so very thankful for this day of rest and the peace that it brings with it.

CSAs and Springtime

Spring time has once again made it to the farm. This year it has brought with it rain, lots of rain. You are right farmers do need rain and we are happy to have it but... This early in the spring it does make working the ground for planting a little difficult. Crops here in South Central Kentucky may be a little later getting in the ground. Slowly but surely we will get it all in.
The rain sure has made the grass green up and our cows are loving it. They are so fat and happy that they just lay out in the field all day. Loulou doesn't even like to get up when you call her anymore.
Baby chicks are here. Fifty of them were living in the house until they became way too noisy and had to be banished to the barn. I actually think they like it better out there anyway and I like it much better as well.
Farmers Market starts back to every week on our lovely Court House lawn soon. We are excited to see everyone again. It's such a great atmosphere.
The Growing Boys Farm CSA will start back up in a few weeks and we have just a couple of spots left. If you're still thinking about it, you may want to drop us an email or give us a call soon.We have planted lots of goodies in the high tunnel for the CSAs and we have a few treats...like maple syrup... that may make it's way into the green baskets. (I will put the brochure with information below if anyone needs to see it.)
In other exciting news, we bought another high tunnel that will hopefully be put up later this summer. That will double our growing space and I am thinking more carrots! Oh and more spinach for sure!

We will try to keep everyone updated on the progress with lots of pictures.

Salmon on the Square

You are not going to believe this, but here goes...

Saturday April the 25th is the first day of Summer Market for Bounty of the Barrens Farmers' Market. It's the day when we bust out the white tents and move back to the square. This year we have decided to add a new feature to the Summer Market, the "Guest Vendor"( more info on that later). And April the 25th our guest vendor will be Wild Caught. What is Wild Caught you ask? Well, they are Jason and Mary Beth McKinley, Kentucky's Salmon Fishermen... And here's the part you might not believe. They are bringing Wild Caught Alaskan Salmon to our farmers' market. If you want a little more information about Jason ans Mary Beth just hop on over to their website, 

 www.caughtwildsalmon.com  

The Growing Boys chef (aka Mama) is excited to get a little salmon to go with all the fresh green salads we have around here! If you are interested in getting salmon be sure to stop by market April 25th on the square. Or you may want to preorder. by sending an email to mb@caughtwildsalmon.com

Cleaning House

This week I taught a class at our local library on organization. I will be the first to admit I am far from perfect in the being organized department. Sometimes with all that goes on here at the farm I do forget a few things or I find myself procrastinating. In preparation for the class I decided to get rid of some bad habits and to tackle the clutter that had made it's way into our house.
Bad Habit: I loose my keys weekly. Ok, I don't really loose them I just forget to put them back where they go and it takes me a little longer to get them when I need them. And sometimes I can't remember which pocket they are in. So I decided to get a hook on my purse and every time I get in or out of the car I hook them on my purse. This seems to be working for me so far.
Bad Habit: I procrastinate and I am not sure why but I am working on it.
There are more Bad Habits but I think I will try to work on them one at a time for now.
Clutter: I don't know if your house is like mine but clutter just seems to find it's way in. We have more stuff than we need and we have things we just don't use often enough for it to take up our space and time.
 We started getting rid of the clutter in our closets first. The result was 4 garbage bags of clothes that just didn't work for us anymore. (That's not including the boy's hand-me-downs that get passed to a smaller cousin.) The next area was our bathroom where I found 18 bottles of lotion or soap that didn't work for us. We make our own soap and lotion that I really enjoy using so all those extra bottles just taking up space under the sink needed to go. I also got rid of any towels or washrags that were ratty. In the living room we found 52 books from the bookcase that we probably will not read again, 20 some videos/dvds, and my husband gave up his entire tape collection from the early 1990's.  The kitchen cabinets held still more clutter with lots! of  plastic bowls, 5 baking dishes, 4 pots and pans, 23 cups/mugs, etc, etc. You get the idea. So far the total is up to 360 items!
While it's still a work in progress, it feels really good to get rid of things that just take up precious space and time. Our next goal is to try and eliminate the clutter before it even comes through the door. That may be the most difficult task.
"I make myself rich by making my wants few." Henry David Thoreau

The closet

Our laundry room.

 This is the organization workhorse of our house. And this is the first time ANYONE has been let in.

Snow Cream

One of our favorite things about winter, aside from the rest we get, is snow and especially snow cream. While the Growing Boys do feel a little cheated because they never get snow days off from school, they do get to enjoy time in the snow after school work is done. And after all that playing, sledding, and snow ball fighting we always make snow cream. Here is our snow cream recipe but just make sure to get your snow from a clean spot.

Snow Cream

1 extra large bowl of snow

about 2 cups milk

2 tsp vanilla

1 cup sugar

Stir all ingredients together in a large mixing bowl. Consistency should be that of a thick milkshake. Taste and add more sugar or vanilla as needed. 

Maydough on a Snowy Day

My two year old niece loves play dough! Me not so much. The Growing Boys never really got into it and that just meant less I had to clean out of the carpet. But like I said "the Bean" loves play dough or in her words "maydough". So on this cold snowy January day Aunt Sarah decided it just might be a good day to make some maydough to play with. Here is the recipe which turned out not only to entertain The Bean but both of the Growing Boys as well today.

Maydough
1 cup water
1 cup all purpose flour
1/4 cup salt
2 tsp cream of tarter
Combine ingredients in a sauce pan over medium heat. Stir till mixture forms a ball. Dump out onto waxed paper and kneed untill smooth.
 Be careful it may be a little hot. Once cooled the maydough is ready to play with. Store in airtight containers.

Christmas Dinner with the Family

As one might imagine we like hosting events here at Growing Boys Farm and what better event to plan than a big ole Christmas dinner for the Lykens clan. I have fond memories from Christmases past with my Grandparents. There were always presents under the tree but none of them could be unwrapped till dinner was done and every single dish was washed, dried and put away. That was torture to a child but now as I have grown I appreciate the routines my Granny had even on this sacred holiday. My Granny was not one to decorate much (only a tiny tabletop tree and a wreath)but  she was one of the best cooks EVER. Her holiday spread would put any chef to shame. My Granny has been gone for several years but the tradition of a holiday feast has lived on. I thought I might share with you our Christmas Dinner Menu and a few recipes, one of which is very special to me.

 

Ham (local and pastured from Johnson Family Farms)

 

 

Apple Brined Slow Roasted Chicken (from Growing Boys Farm)

Broccoli Salad

Chinese Cabbage Salad

Corn

Mashed Potatoes

Deviled Eggs

Kale with vinegar

Mac and Cheese

Green Beans

Rolls

Strawberry Cheesecake Pie

Butterscotch Pie and

3 Different Chocolate Pies

 

 

Disclaimer: These are not the most healthy recipes but hey it's Christmas Dinner!

 

Chocolate Pie

 

"Why?", you might ask, "Were there three Chocolate Pies at the family Christmas?" That would be because my Granny made the most AMAZING Chocolate Pies. To this day they are still my favorite dessert bar none. Someone ask one time what type of food I cooked best and I think it would be Chocolate Pie. It was the first thing I really learned to cook on my own and I still try to immolate my Granny's Chocolate Pie oh and her biscuits but that's an entirely different subject.

 

1 Pie Shell Cooked

You can use store bought but I like to make my own

Filling

2 Cups Sugar

3Tbsp Cocoa Powder

4 Forkful corn starch

2 Cups Whole Milk

3 Egg Yolks

Meringue

3 Egg Whites Room Temp

6 Tbsp Sugar

Scotch of Cream of Tartar

 

For Pie Filling

In a large sauce pan mix dry ingredients

In mixing bowl whisk milk and sugar

With stove top on med/high Add milk mixture to dry ingredients

Whisk till lumps are gone then stir constantly

When chocolate mixture gets to a thick pudding consistency pour into cooked pie shell

 

For Meringue

Beat Room Temperature Egg White till they form soft peaks

While beating gradually add sugar and cream of tartar

Continue to beat until stiff peaks form

Spoon meringue over cooled pie filling

Broil in oven until lightly browned but don't run off and leave it

because it will burn fast.

 

Clover Leaf Rolls

2 cups warm water

1 1/2 Tbsp Yeast

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup butter or olive oil

2 t salt

4 cups unbleached white flour

2 cups whole wheat flour

I use a bread machine to mix the dough

and when dough is ready rolls into 1 1/2"

ball and place 3 balls in each hole of a

buttered muffin tin. (Great job for Growing Boys or Girls)

Let the dough rise again until

each roll is peeking over the top of the muffin

tin. Bake at 350 for 14min or until golden.

This is the same recipe I use

for White Bread but bake in loaves for 25min

 

Enjoy or as we did  Enjoy x 3