Morechella

 Finally a fortunate stroke of luck in one of last years burns thanks to the uncanny abilities of our mountain morel guru friends. The burn was in an old growth cedar forest with punctuated stands of douglas fir and larch interspersed with birch and aspen groves. We reached near frolicking levels if it wasn't for the vertical slope and rocky cliffs.

The birds of the burn included mountain bluebirds, townsend's warblers, three toed woodpeckers, varied thrush, juncos and american dippers-the little penguins of the river.
It is a mystery why Townsend's song vary subtly from the regions of the Kootenai and throughout the Flathead National Forest but several pairs were establishing territories flanking the creek.

The neighborhood bear, snow capped peaks and two merging mountain creeks sheltered by an old growth cedar stand dripping with Alectoria made for a wonderful afternoon.

Marinated Artichoke and Morel Pasta

Heirloom Sun Dried Tomatoes

Asian Green of Choice: Pak Choy

Marinated Artichokes

Garlic

Fresh Chives

Brown Rice Ribbon Pasta

Cook down a handful of morels in marinated artichokes, salmon, Pak Choy and sundried tomatoes. Add garlic for the last 3 minutes and serve with fresh chives over a bed of noodles. 

Farm Stand

Depending on volume we'll likely have a weekly farm stand. The days changing as the crops fill out so come grab a bag we're overflowing!

Moving with the Sun

 The greenhouse plants took a spin in the warm sunshine yesterday to prepare them for the move outside. While moving them back in during the setting sun a pair of sandhill cranes arrived to feed in the wetland, their ebullient calls halting our movements. I think the plants grew taller to catch a peak of these fleeting migrants.

Another hot day in the garden followed by a trip to the lake

Other summer resident birds are making their return too as the days are getting noticeably longer here. The yellow rumped warblers rode this unusual warm current in and the evening grosbeaks are back along with a pair of american goldfinches making use of the last stalk of sunflower in the garden. We've been intentionally luring the Calliope in with red garments to get a better look at him.

  Tonight's dinner fresh from the garden really hit the spot and makes it all worth while. 

Sweet and Spicy Greens with Carrots and Sesame Seeds

Raw Spinach Artichoke Dip

Zip Ties and Zippers in 10 minutes or Less

Ever wonder how to fix a 7 foot zipper on your high tunnel after the brutal winds rip your hand stitched-3 hour sewing project to bits.

Soap on my Barefeet

Something I read today from the Dandelion Campaign :

"Dandelion has a strong will and feisty spirit and will grow in the toughest conditions from a city sidewalk crack to a chemical-laden yard.  That strong will to survive is telling of the role it plays in its environment. Dandelion does a spectacular job of cleaning up toxicity in both the environment it dwells in and the human body.  Not to mention the joy it gives to children when they blow the white globe of seeds into the wind.  How smart of the plant to make it fun for people to spread its seeds!"


Okay- agreed bitters have a very important place in the digestive world. Dandelion being clearly one of them working very effectively. However, as I appreciate and whole heartily support the need to completely eliminate the use of herbicides for the sake of our drinking water, aquatic fauna and general cancer free health in all age groups- I disagree with the cavalier suggestion that "smart" people spread an aggressive and invasive plant by sending seeds airborne and it's "fun" to teach this to the youth. Is this campaign really reaching the people heavily addicted to herbicides and unlikely consumers of medicinal herbs? 


Instead, let's continue to teach all ages that the value in dandelion is in it's Root. That controlled management of the species, by removing flowers and buds, has more practical purposes in protecting our health. Let's limit it's existence and connection to herbicide usage and plant native seeds instead. 


Teach people to dig dandelion root up and bottle and cover it in vinegar or brandy to extract it's magical properties. Follow this by teaching them the abundance of flowers that remain should be collected for wine, and the roots sprayed with straight vinegar or boiling water verse toxic herbicides. Help them understand hydrology and run off principles. Educate them on the cancer causing agents found in Round Up and Defoliant Sprays and take them to a VA hospital where the Veterans that served in Vietnam have aggressive-metastatic cancers exclusively correlated with 2,4 D type herbicides (defoliant sprays). Stop using toxins that will bio-accumulate in the food chain. 

After this fully engaging, eye opening and educational experience teach them what oregon grape looks like or your respective native bitter herb. Have them discover how it propagates through it's fruit and sucker shoots and then plant some in your yard under trees replacing the grass. This will hopefully help children recognize the determined, mindless masses spraying toxic chemicals over their favorite garden nemesis is careless.


Granted it's possible this campaign will reach the rank of herbicide crazy people-but is most likely doubtful. But maybe just maybe it will reach a few previously irresponsible adults and affect a growing mass of young people who can make ecological connections. 

I admit I've made mistakes letting the dandelion go to seed but I'm learning to keep up with the mowing and digging, still making bitter tonics of Dandelion and teaching our son how to return our corner of the world to native habitat and vegetable gardens. Will we win the battle on invasive weeds? Maybe. But know it's okay to ask others if they'd rather drink vinegar or herbicide, suggest more exciting ways to damage weeds with flame throwers and campaign for walking barefoot on toxin free ground. The health of all organisms depend upon it. 

Squash Blossom Farm Food Share Form

You'll find Squash Blossom Farms Food Share Form here. Fill out submit or pass on to a friend. There is an array of choices from Full Shares to Heirloom Tomato Shares. We hope this variety of choices offers everyone a way to experience locally grown food in the Flathead Valley.
Food Share pick ups will likely be in the garden on Wednesdays 12-4pm throughout the season.
Contact us with any questions you have.

2012 Summer Food Share

The Song Sparrows started singing last week and the Robins arrived around Flathead Lake which means spring is on the way. We are up to our usual antics on the farm and have onions, herbs, flowers and an early round of peppers sprouting. After much dilly dallying we've decided to heat the greenhouse, during the transition into spring, with a a small woodstove. We've been playing with our thermal mass barrels which work quite well during the evenings of a sunny day. However, most days cloud cover abounds in the our pocket of the Northwest. Both my other ideas of a solar panel and small wind turbine to power a heater or the original plan of building a pocket rocket failed. One seemingly capable of burning down our sacred 200 square feet greenhouse while the other just didn't have the juice. So, we're saving the steel drum for the outside rump warmer around the Earth Oven and firing away in the woodstove instead. They'll be an opportunity to join us this summer for another community building project of a Cob Oven and Rocket Bench with our hands and feet so stay tuned.


We hope you enjoyed your Farm Share last summer and really appreciate your support during our first season. This summer's shares will run about 20 weeks. If you miss securing your spot by March 15th we have some late spring sign up options to choose from. For those of you who love greens, are turning over a new leaf in your nutrition or curious what Asian Greens are we have an Asian Greens Share that runs 20 weeks. We also have an Heirloom Tomato Share that gives you our bounty of Siberian and European Tomatoes in 10 weeks. Or perhaps you're in the mood for for a weekly Cupcake Card for yourself or someone sweet to your heart that can be purchased all season long. And if you're planning an occasion that requires some vibrancy we're offering event and wedding flowers by the stem or prearranged Mid August through September.
The Full Shares will start late May to early June depending on how warm spring and fall is and run into October. You can find a general idea of what we'll be offering week to week by reading some of last summers Weekly Share Blogs.

Full Share $500 (20 weeks)

Asian Greens Share $70 (20 weeks)

Heirloom Tomato Share $100 (10 weeks)

Cupcake Card $10 

Event and Wedding Flowers by request

Send us an email or letter by pony express when you're ready to reserve your space or purchase today via Pay Pal

Food Share Choices

Full Share $500.00 USD Cupcake Card $10.00 USD Asian Greens Share $70.00 USD Heirloom Tomato Share $100.00 USD

Discover this great recipe for enticing leprechauns. They can't resist the temptation.