Barrington Farm Tour Day

The 3rd annual Barrington Farm Tour Day is coming up on June 27th. Farms will be open from 10am-4pm and there are 8 farms to visit this year! Download and print a map and farm descriptions

Participating Farms 2010

#1 Warren Farm
30 Warren Road, 868-2001
Offering fresh picked vegetables in season and “pick your own“ vegetables, berries and flowers. We have fresh picked strawberries June thru October and handmade herbal soaps year round. Cut Your Own Christmas trees and handmade wreaths Nov -Dec. Tour the farm and eat strawberry deserts for a small fee. Common sense, sustainable farm practices.
www.warrenfarmnh.com

#2 Sallie’s Fen Alpacas
97 Swain Road (come from Route 9)
Tour our alpaca farm. Meet our award winning livestock and cute crias (baby alpacas). We
have been raising these beautiful relatives of the camel for show and for their luxurious fiber here in Barrington since 1995. Learn about alpacas, watch a hand spinning demo. Available for purchase we have yarn grown and spun on the farm in a wide variety of natural undyed colors, as well as our hand painted options. We also have hand made scarves and hats made with our fiber, and New England made socks.
(603)664-2916.
www.sfalpacas.com

#3 Yellow House Farm
541 Route 202
We specialize in foundational breeds of heritage chickens, ducks, geese and turkeys for the
production of meat and eggs. Gradually we are developing a permaculture model to complement our breed preservation and hatchery efforts. We also cultivate many heirloom vegetables, fruits, herbs and flowers, combining beauty and production. At Yellow House Farm we are developing a curricula of classes and seminars for our friends and neighbors to promote our collective efforts to create a more beautiful and sustainable local culture of awareness. Come and Enjoy!!
www.yellowhousefarmnh.com

#4 Nippo Brook Farm
628 Mount Misery Rd.
Growing fresh vegetables in season, Nippo Brook Farm is committed to raising local food in a healthy and ethical way. Come tour our beautiful vegetable fields and ask the farmer for tips and tricks to growing your own food! Learn about heritage breed chickens and turkeys, and visit with the newest members of the farm, old fashion meat rabbits.  We look forward to seeing you!
Abram Pearson and Jessica Hebert
nippobrookfarm@gmail.com

#5 Castle Anam Cara “The Castle”
20 Hansonville Rd.
The noted medieval living history residence of David O’Connor (Lord Duncan) and Loretta Salazar (Lady Espringale). In addition to stepping back in time 1000 years, you will see how committed David and Loretta are to solar, organic, self responsible and sustainable living: from organic food production and food preservation to organic mushroom growing, heating and cooking with wood and solar furnaces to irrigation with collected rain water. David is also the well known “Dr. Tomato” and partner in HEALTHY HOME HARVEST LLC - known for their organically grown vegetable and flower plants grown in their self built, fully insulated, petroleum AND bio-fuel free green house! Come see how you and your family can begin to move in a more self-reliant direction.  Please note you must sign a liability waiver to tour the grounds and Castle. (500 ft. from Greenhill Rd. intersection)
www.castleanamcara.com

#6 Profile Alpacas
345 Dry Hill Road
Enjoy the day while taking a tour of our farm and viewing our Alpacas. Lear how their fiber is spun into yarn and what you can do with just the loose Alpaca fiber. See examples in our new farm store. Be sure to ask questions about how this fine fiber is so warm on those cold New England winter days!

#7 Lasting Legacy Farm
148 Second Crown Point Road
Come and enjoy this family farm that has been in existence since the late 1700’s. Raising farm animals as it once did for it’s family and neighbors we are always learning about farming an environmental friendly way, allowing the animals to do what they naturally do using their individual assets to work with mother nature at her best. Come and enjoy other aspects of agriculture here at Lasting Legacy. Taste the bounty of flavor in our burger raised on our farm while you have lunch with us!!
www.llfarm.net

#8 Spring Harvest Maple Farm
220 Route 9 (Across from the police and fire station)
We are a producer of exceptional maple syrup and maple products. The sugar house will be open for tours and we will be available to answer questions. We will also have samples of maple syrup and other products. We have recently completed our second year of production with great success. The support from the local community is amazing and will allow us to expand for next season. Also, we will have maple syrup, maple cream, and maple candy available for sale. We look forward to seeing you.

Sponsored by the Barrington Parks and Recreation Department.
Download and print a map with farm descriptions to guide you throughout the day on June 27!

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A Springy Weekend

I am over the moon right now!  My garden is sprouting!  I took a risk and planted just a bit of Swiss chard and peas back on March 17th.  And sure enough, it's popping out of the garden!  Today I planted more chard and peas as well as (purple) carrots, beets, radishes, lettuce, and tended to my one little wintered kale.

Before I got to gardening though, I spent the day be-bopping around NH.  I started the morning at the last Seacoast Eat Local Winter Farmers' Market in Exeter.  I love seeing all my friends at the markets!  I picked up a nice lunch of potato hash from White Heron Tea.  (Check out Warren Farm's blog about their experience at the market today and what Amy is pondering and an update on her homesteading life.)  Now we can officially move on to the spring and summer markets!  Can't believe summer is on our doorstep...

After the market I zipped up to the Made in NH Expo.  What a fun time that was!  There were so many food samples and lovely products to browse.  I purchased some spice mixes from Camp Mix, one of which is a mix of granulated honey, brown sugar, and cinnamon.  I can't wait to try it on my oatmeal...  I also picked up this really neat ceramic grater for garlic, nutmeg, cheese etc.  Hope it works well (it did during the demo)!  The last thing I snagged was the new SPF 30 sunscreen/bug repellent from Badger Balms.  This sunscreen is highly rated by the Environmental Working Group. 

The Made in NH Expo will be open Sunday from 10 am - 4 pm.

The last stop of the day was the A Market Natural Foods Store in Manchester.  It was my first time there and it was quite a lovely store.  They had a very thorough selection of natural and organic products.  If you're in the area, be sure to check them out.

Oh, I have a gluten-free product review coming up for you!  Should be up within the next week, be sure to stop on back here!

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O Christmas Tree!

Do you have your tree up yet? This year we're ditching the fake tree for a fresh cut tree from Warren Farm.

Our 53rd “Cut Your Own” Christmas Tree Season is about to begin. We have the best selection of 5-9 foot Fir balsam, Blue Spruce and Concolor Fir trees that we have had in quite a few years. We have improved the road to our newest tree patch (west field) and added a parking area. This field is well stocked with balsam fir and blue spruce trees up to 8 ft. Our old patch (back field) has a selection of Concolor fir, Blue Spruce, and Balsam Fir up to 9 ft. Beginning Saturday November 21 we will be open 6 days/week, 9am to dusk. We are closed every Monday and Thanksgiving day. You are welcome to cut your tree beginning 11/21 however the free bow pile and hot mulled cider (cider on weekends only) won’t start until the day after Thanksgiving, 11/ 27.

Our “Cut Your Own” price is $35.00 per tree. We will also have available “already cut trees” priced from $10 to $35 per tree. Saws, netting and twine are provided.

At the farmstand we have local maple syrup in ½ pt, pint, and quart containers, quite a few varieties of potatoes from Heron Pond Farm in South Hampton and everlasting dried flower wreaths. We are well stocked with our own naturally made soaps and will offer them packaged and unpackaged. All soaps are vegan and contain no animal products except for our three varieties of goat’s milk soap.

This is actually the first time I've ever gone to a farm and cut down my own tree! A sad fact, I know. Check out the post Colleen at Penny-wise People just posted about real vs. fake trees, quite an interesting blog post!

Here's info about the tree varieties available at Warren Farm:

Fir Balsam: ¾” to 1 ½” short, flat, long lasting needles that are rounded at the tip; nice, dark green color with silvery cast and fragrant. These needles are 3/4 - 1 ½ in. in length and last a very long time. This is the traditional Christmas tree that most Americans grew up with. This tree has a dark-green appearance and retains its pleasing fragrance throughout the Christmas season. Named for the balsam or resin found in blisters on bark. Resin is used to make microscope slides and was sold like chewing gum; used to treat wounds in Civil War.

Blue Spruce: dark green to powdery blue; very stiff needles, ¾” to 1 ½” long; good form; will drop needles in a warm room; symmetrical; but is best among species for needle retention; branches are stiff and will support many heavy decorations. State tree of Utah & Colorado. Can live in nature 600-800 years.

Concolor Fir: blue-green needles are ½ to ½ inches long; nice shape and good aroma, a citrus scent; good needle retention. They have good foliage color, good needle retention, and a pleasing shape and aroma. In nature can live to 350 years.

Warren Farm is located two miles west of the Lee traffic circle off route 4 on Warren Road. You can call the farm phone anytime at 603.868.2001.

For more tree farms in NH and beyond, be sure to check out Pick Your Own Christmas Tree.

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NH Natural History and Agricultural Fair

A new NH event not to be missed! This Saturday welcomes the first NH Natural History and Agricultural Fair at Warren Farm in Barrington, NH.

Natural Heritage and Agricultural Fair

When: Saturday, September 12, 2009

Location: Warren Farm, Barrington NH (Directions Below)

Time: 10-4

What to expect:

• Farmer’s Market with lots of great, fresh, local food!
• Crafts and Specialty items made by local artisans
• Educational Displays and Information about Agriculture, Land Conservation, Sustainability and Living Local
• Animals accompanied by their owners who can answer questions about the purpose each animal serves on the farm as well as in our healthy local diets.
• Musicians, Country Dancing, yummy local food cooked up fresh, Revolutionary War re-enactors in authentic garb, Jr. Militia, Mule Team Rides, and Old Fashioned Storytelling

Directions:

Two miles west of the Lee Traffic Circle off Route 4. From Lee Circle (where Rt 4 and Rt 125 intersect) head West on Rt 4 for 2 miles. Warren Road is on the Right hand side. The farm is down Warren Road 1/3 rd mile.

Contact for Questions, or to be a Vendor: nh.ag.fair@live.com, or call Jessica at 603.335.2605

I hope to see YOU there!! :)

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Natural Heritage and Agricultural Fair

Natural Heritage and Agricultural Fair

When: Saturday, September 12, 2009

Location: Warren Farm, Barrington NH

Time: 10 am - 4 pm

What to expect:

• Farmer’s Market with lots of great, fresh, local food!
• Crafts and Specialty items made by local artisans
• Education and Information about Agriculture, Sustainability and Living Local and option round table discussions
• Animals accompanied by their owners who can answer questions about the purpose each animal serves on the farm as well as in our healthy local diets.
• Fun Field Games for the Kids, Musicians, yummy local food cooked up fresh, re-inactors in authentic garb, Old Fashioned Storytelling

Directions:
Two miles west of the Lee traffic circle off Route 4. From Lee Circle (where Rt 4 and Rt 125 intersect) head west on Rt 4 for 2 miles. Warren Road is on the right hand side. The farm is down Warren Road 1/3 rd mile.

Contact for questions, or to be a vendor: nh.ag.fair@live.com, or call Jessica at 603.335.2605

There will be more information and updates on who will be there, as well as, a little about their farms, crafts, businesses, or talents in the coming weeks. This is an event you must mark on your calendars now though! Please spread the word, you can post this to Facebook or Twitter with the buttons at the end of this post. You can also join the Facebook group!

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One Berry, Two Berry

Pick me a blueberry! If you don't have kids or you're not familiar, that's a quote from the wonderful book Jamberry by Bruce Degen.

It's berry season! Well it's been berry season, but strawberries are almost over for the season. But raspberries are in season now and blueberry picking is gaining momentum. Blackberry season will be here before we know it!

So here's where you can pick some tasty berries (here are my favorites):

• Berrybogg Farm in Strafford, NH (PYO blueberries and blackberries)
• Warren Farm in Barrington, NH (PYO raspberries)
• Butternut Farm in Farmington, NH (PYO raspberries and blueberries)

Places I haven't picked at yet, but I hear are great:

• Sunnycrest Farm in Londonderry, NH (PYO blueberries, raspberries and cherries)
• Emery Farm in Durham, NH (PYO blueberries)
• Inkwell Farm in Epping, NH (PYO blueberries)
• McKenzie's Farm in Milton, NH (PYO raspberries)
• Ridge Runner's Farm in New Durham, NH (PYO raspberries and blueberries)
• Spiller Farm in Wells, ME (PYO raspberries and blueberries)
  

For lots more PYO farms all around NH and beyond, be sure to check out Pick Your Own or Seacoast Harvest (NH and ME specific).

Berries are so easy to freeze and can be canned simply as well (I'm still eating last years frozen blackberries and blueberries)! I have found great guides from the Pick Your Own site:
How to Freeze Berries
How to Can Homemade Jam

Berries are also great to bake with...here are some of the recipes I've made in with blueberries in the past year:
Blueberry Yogurt Muffins
New England Blueberry Muffins
Blueberry Crumb Bars
Verry Blueberry Muffins

Can you tell I like blueberries and muffins? Hopefully I will branch out and share some other berry recipes with different berries!

What are you favorite berries and berry recipes? Happy Berry Picking!

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One Local Summer: Week 3

I am totally sneaking this post in! It's been such a busy week I can only share bits and pieces of a few meals. It's late now and I'm tired, so I'll make this short and sweet.

Beet Green Saute with Bacon and Walnuts

1 T olive oil
1 thick cut bacon slice, chopped
1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts (not local)
1 bunch beet greens

Heat oil in a heavy large skillet over medium-low heat. Add bacon; saute until almost crisp, about 6 minutes. Add walnuts; saute 1 minute. Add greens and toss until wilted, but still bright green, 5 to 7 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer to bowl and serve.

Scrambled Eggs with Greens

Olive oil
Handful of spinach
Handful of Swiss chard
1 whole egg
2 egg whites
Salt and pepper to taste

Saute greens in olive oil till wilted but still green. Crack egg and egg whites into a bowl and scramble lightly with a fork. Pour eggs over wilted greens. Stir till eggs are fully cooked. Transfer to a plate and season with salt and pepper to tasted.

This meal does not have to be diet. Feel free to use as many whole eggs as you like! Also, I made this an individual size portion since I only had so much greens from my garden.

The strawberries came from Warren Farm in Barrington, NH. Be sure to check their website for farm stand hours. They also have other greens and hand cut soaps for sale.

The last local fare I had this week was...popcorn! There's a farm/farm stand on Pickering Rd. at the Dover/Rochester town line (the farm is actually in Rochester). The farm stand is in the big white barn and what's currently available is hanging on the sign out by the road.

They opened for the season last week and I was SO excited to see popcorn for sale! The owner said that this is the season for popcorn because the kernels have to harden over the winter so they will actually pop. So this is last years kernels, all ready for the popping pot. Since it was my first time popping my own popcorn, I relied on this recipe from Simply Recipes:

Perfect Popcorn

3 Tbsp coconut oil (or another high smoke point oil)
1/3 cup of high quality popcorn kernels
1 3-quart covered saucepan
2 Tbsp or more (to taste) of butter
Salt to taste

1. Heat the oil in a 3-quart saucepan on medium high heat.

2. Put 3 or 4 popcorn kernels into the oil and cover the pan.

3. When the kernels pop, add the rest of the 1/3 cup of popcorn kernels in an even layer. Cover, remove from heat and count 30 seconds. (Count out loud; it's fun to do with kids.) This method first heats the oil to the right temperature, then waiting 30 seconds brings all of the other kernels to a near-popping temperature so that when they are put back on the heat, they all pop at about the same time.

4. Return the pan to the heat. The popcorn should begin popping soon, and all at once. Once the popping starts in earnest, gently shake the pan by moving it back and forth over the burner. Try to keep the lid slightly ajar to let the steam from the popcorn release (the popcorn will be drier and crisper). Once the popping slows to several seconds between pops, remove the pan from the heat, remove the lid, and dump the popcorn immediately into a wide bowl. With this technique, nearly all of the kernels pop and nothing burns.

5. If you are adding butter, you can easily melt it by placing the butter in the now empty, but hot pan.

6. Salt to taste.

Makes 2 quarts, a nice amount for two people, or for one hungry one.
I used Kate's Homemade Butter and grocery store salt, but I did just find out that Elf's Garden Center on Elm Street in Rochester, NH carries Maine Sea Salt Company natural sea salt grinders. I plan to pick a grinder on up soon!



Onto One Local Summer week 4, hopefully this week produces a unique local meal! Have a good week!




Update on the popcorn...
The farm is actually in Rochester, on the town line with Dover, NH. The name of the farm is Parcell Farm (not posted anywhere on the farm). They are located at 589 Pickering Road.

As for varieties, they do have three kinds available. The red kind that I bought, it's a smaller popcorn with little husk, plus they have white popcorn and yellow popcorn. It's $1.50 for the tub of corn. I forgot to mention that I also bought the beet greens there.


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Barrington Farm Tour Day

Finally I can share information with you regarding the 2009 Barrington Farm Tour Day!! It will be held Sunday June 28th from 10 am - 3 pm with nine different farms participating throughout Barrington.

Participating farms include:

• Warren Farm
• Sallie’s Fen Alpacas
• Yellow House Farm
• Nippo Brook Farm
• Castle Anam Cara “The Castle”
• Profile Alpacas
• Lasting Legacy Farm
• Young Road Peaches
• Ramsbotham’s Riverview Farm

Download and print a brochure and map: Barrington Farm Tour Day (.pdf)

Also, at Yellow House Farm there will be a table with information regarding the first annual “Natural Heritage Agricultural Fair” September 12^th, 2009. Be sure to make at stop at Yellow House Farm for this exciting information...as well as to see the amazing flocks of heritage chickens and more!

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Crockpot Tomato Sauce

I've heard a few of you have an bumper crop of tomatoes. I have a ton of cherry tomatoes, but that has no relevance on today's post. I need to find a recipe for cherry tomatoes!

Anyway, I do plan on picking my tomatoes this year at Warren Farm in Barrington, NH. They have a pick-your-own tomato patch with tons of varieties and they only cost $1/lb!

Stephanie's Freezer Spaghetti Sauce

INGREDIENTS

• 4 onions, chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 16 cups chopped tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons dried oregano
• 2 tablespoons dried basil
• 1/4 cup chopped parsley
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 2 tablespoons salt
• 3/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
  

DIRECTIONS

1. In a slow cooker sauté together the onion, garlic, green pepper, and vegetable oil. Cook until onion is transparent.
2. Add the chopped tomatoes, oregano, basil, parsley, sugar, salt, and ground black pepper. Cook for 2 to 3 hours on low heat. Stir frequently.
3. Let sauce cool. Pour sauce into quart size freezer containers. Store in freezer.
4. When ready to use sauce, stir in can of tomato paste.
   

So while I hate posting a recipe I myself haven't tried, do know that I plan on trying this and I'll get back to you on how it goes. Judging by the reviews of this recipe on AllRecipes, it sounds like a keeper!

Oh and for reference, 1 medium tomato yields 1 cup chopped so you'll need at least 16 tomatoes for this recipe.

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