Gravel Knolls Farm

SWOEFFA would like to invite you to see Farmageddon-The Unseed War on American Family Farms

noreply@blogger.com (gravel knolls farm) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:36:00 +0000

Hi,

The Southwest chapter of OEFFA will be showing the film FARMAGEDDON-THE UNSEEN WAR ON AMERICAN FAMILY FARMS on Sunday, March 4, at 2:00 pm. The location is Xavier University at Kelley Auditorium in Alter Hall.
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CSA memberships available for the 2012 harvest season

noreply@blogger.com (gravel knolls farm) — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 15:18:00 +0000

Things are quiet now on the farm, at least from where I stand. Jim and our hired hand Steve have been busy building a second hoop house to start seeds in March. Jim is hoping to get some early tomatoes going in it as well. The big plastic hoop house in the field by Cinti.-Dayton Rd. has been adapted to house meat chickens. Hoping it holds up well to predator exploration.

This weekend Jim and I are off to the OEFFA conference in Granville. Take in a few sessions and connect with the many organic growers in this area. Nice little get away with some enjoyable learning involved.

In another week my routine will CHANGE to include seeding trays for the crops on the farm. Almost everything gets started in the hoop house that we put in the fields and I'm hoping to have extra transplants available for gardeners to sell through The Feed Barn.
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Laying low and making plans for our 2012 harvest season on the farm.

noreply@blogger.com (gravel knolls farm) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 01:47:00 +0000

Has anyone heard how the weather is going to turn out this year? I'm picking lettuce varieties that will
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Peaceful Holidays to All

noreply@blogger.com (gravel knolls farm) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 15:12:00 +0000

Merry Christmas

A peaceful holiday season to you and yours.

Jim, Linda, Morgan, Erin and Lane.

Gravel Knolls Farm

Butternut Squash Lasagna Recipe

noreply@blogger.com (gravel knolls farm) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 15:27:00 +0000

Delicious. Recipe from Jen @ My Kitchen Addiction
You will need a 9x13 inch pan
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Heading to The West Chester's Farmer's Market tomorrow

noreply@blogger.com (gravel knolls farm) — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 02:59:00 +0000

Happy Thanksgiving,

Is everybody ready with their recipes for the big feast next week? I heard on NPR a mouth watering description of squash lasagna so I've been doing some research and taste testing. It's
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Shares are done but some of the harvest continues

noreply@blogger.com (gravel knolls farm) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 14:48:00 +0000

I remember several days this past summer when our son Morgan, Jim and I had to work in 1 hour shifts during store hours to get through the extreme heat;
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Packing shares for this week.

noreply@blogger.com (gravel knolls farm) — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 15:48:00 +0000

The orders are in. Time to pack them up. Your preordered share will be ready Wednesday by 1pm thur Saturday 2pm during business hours.
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Romaine again this week

noreply@blogger.com (gravel knolls farm) — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 01:14:00 +0000

Here's what I have found in the gardens...
Romaine, getting sweeter and
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Packing shares this morning

noreply@blogger.com (gravel knolls farm) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 12:33:00 +0000

Thanks for your orders. Jenny (our new helper) and I have been harvesting as quickly as possible before the rain for this week's pick up. Don't
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Lets do it again this week

noreply@blogger.com (gravel knolls farm) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 19:49:00 +0000

Looks like, for those pre-ordering shares, it will contain some romaine or large colorful gourmet mix lettuce, red radishes, poc choi, green tomatoes. There may or may not be a few more goodies, we'll see. Please order through email to jrosselot2@cinci.rr.com by Wednesday noon this week. Then plan to pick up during business hours Wed. thru Sat. Thanks, Linda

Thanks for your orders...

noreply@blogger.com (gravel knolls farm) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 12:57:00 +0000

Got a nice response from the CSA for fresh greens this week. Thanks. I'll post again next Sunday,10/16, or Monday 10/17 as to what is available for pick up next week and take orders from you until Wednesday evening then come to pick up the pre-packed share during business hours until close on Saturday.
Have a great weekend. Maybe see you at the market for our final regular Saturday on West Chester Towne Centre. Check out www.westchestersfarmersmarket.com for winter dates.

Linda

Order a share of baby greens

noreply@blogger.com (gravel knolls farm) — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 16:16:00 +0000

CSA members - if you care to pick up a share here is what you will receive this week as harvest supplies last in your pre-packed order...

baby arugula about 1/3 lb.
small turnip greens 1/2 lb.
baby mustard greens 1/3 lb.
green pepper or two
8 green onions
5 jalapenos
1 heaping pint small potatoes (hopefully)
green tomatoes
winter squash
romaine lettuce 1lb.

Orders will only be taken till Wednesday and pick up is anytime during The Feed Barn business hours Wednesday thru Saturday.
Thanks, Linda

Baby greens are coming in.

noreply@blogger.com (gravel knolls farm) — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 13:59:00 +0000

Next week, Oct. 10 - 14, you will be able to pick up a share of greens and maybe some peppers and romaine lettuce. I will post more on Sunday about veggie availability, from that point you can place an order to me through e-mail as to what you would like in your share. Then swing by to pick up your pre-packed share anytime during Feed Barn business hours, M-F 1 to 6, Sat.9-2. If the pre-packed share ordered stays in the cooler past Saturday I will discard it.
Thanks, Linda
PS Open House Gathering this Sunday. Hope you got your invitation, if not it's from 2-5pm and if you care to you can go on a tour of the farm and help with our inspection for our Certified Naturally Grown certification process. Bring a veggie dish or a dessert to share. RSVP me if coming.

Last Regular CSA pick up for 2011

noreply@blogger.com (gravel knolls farm) — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 02:03:00 +0000

Looks like we are almost to the end of the harvest season for 2011. I feel like we have really concurred this growing year, from the long, wet, cold spring, to the hot, dry summer and I'm very proud of what our harvest had to offer. I hope you have enjoyed this year's offerings.
We are harvesting everything out of the fields that's ready to go. Here's what you can expect this week...
romaine lettuce, 1 or 2 heads depending on size
baby mustard greens; if you are a sandwich eater these are great on a sandwich.
winter squash, I think you should be able to take 4-5 home. I will have a better count tomorrow after more harvest.
green tomatoes; check out these recipes at www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/claire-robinson/green-tomato-and-vidalia-onion-gratin-recipe/index.html : www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/mario-batali/spaghetti-with-green-tomatoes-spaghetti-con-pomodori-verdi-recipe/index.html
peppers, both sweet and hot
Swiss chard
There are herbs to harvest; basil, oregano, lemon thyme, rosemary and a few remaining fennel bulbs plus some cherry tomatoes.
I had high hope of harvesting cucumbers for everyone but we have yet to get enough sunlight to get them cranking.

I will keep updating available harvest on this site as we go into the fall, please keep checking in.

Thank you so much for supporting the farm. Can't think of a better way to spend my summer then growing for you.

Linda

Open House / Farm Inspection

noreply@blogger.com (gravel knolls farm) — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 12:46:00 +0000

Members and friends,
Please join Jim and me at the farm for a bit of fun and help with our farm inspection to maintain our Naturally Grown certification.
Sunday, October 9, from 2pm to 5pm
We will provide volunteer inspectors with the necessary paperwork to follow through the inspection. You can view this form at www.naturallygrown.org. We will take you on a farm tour and invite questions from you about our farming practices.
Bring a veggie or dessert dish to share if you wish. Soft drinks and a meat dish will be supplied by us.
RSVP would be awesome. Look for an invitation by Punchbowl in your e-mail.
Hope you can all make it.
Linda

Wrapping it up

noreply@blogger.com (gravel knolls farm) — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 12:13:00 +0000

This is the second to the last week of our regular season pick up schedule and to celebrate we're going to have green tomatoes!
Your share should contain -
1 Acorn winter squash or green Burgess Buttercup. It can be cooked today or stored and cooked later.
2 Baby Boc Choi
1 1/2 lb. of Beets or a Summer Squash.
4 baby Leeks
2-3 lb. green tomatoes (Jim loves green tomato salsa with rice vinegar and fresh squeezed lime)

Chickens will be processed on Sept. 29, next Thursday, and ready for pick up by 4:30 that afternoon, no earlier sorry. There are still some available if you want to get on this list. The cost is $3.25/lb. and add $1.00 extra to total when you order it pieced.

Next year's CSA application will be posted any day now. Since it's been a tough year members joining again next year will pay the same fee as this year, $375.00 for a share that accommodates 2 people. New joining members will be $425.00 for the same size share.

Jim and I are thinking about some gardening opportunities with families or individuals, taking care of certain crops such as peppers, egg plant, sunflowers, popcorn, flowers... on the farm throughout next year's CSA season. One vegetable type, one family or individual responsible for that vegetable, one CSA year, and we would pay you for what you harvested to share with the whole CSA. Let us know what you think the idea.

3 scheduled CSA pick up weeks left to go.

noreply@blogger.com (gravel knolls farm) — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 16:25:00 +0000

The CSA harvest season for 2011 is winding down. This week and the next two we will be harvesting anything that is ready and
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I just voted for Little Miami River Keepers - River Cleanup 2012 nonprofit organization at www.50statesforgood.com!

noreply@blogger.com (gravel knolls farm) — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 13:18:00 +0000

I just voted for Little Miami River Keepers - River Cleanup 2012 nonprofit organization at www.50statesforgood.com!: I just voted for Little Miami River Keepers - River Cleanup 2012 nonprofit organization at www.50statesforgood.com! Tom's of Maine's 50 States for Good initiative supports the goodness behind community projects and we need your help! Vote Today.

The farm is taking a breather

noreply@blogger.com (gravel knolls farm) — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 21:36:00 +0000

Jim and I are thankful for the rain and cooler temperatures, especially since last Saturday was such a scorcher. Unfortunately, the extremes we've been weathering has left us with a very low yielding week for CSA pick up. We can guarantee that the Wed/Thur pick up will be tomatoes in the quantity you're used to (2 lb.) and that is it. So if you feel like taking a breather too this would be the week to do it.
Thanks, Linda

Get your recipes out for Edamame'

noreply@blogger.com (gravel knolls farm) — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 01:40:00 +0000

This week has been another big adjustment week with our kids and our help going back to school. Hope all those going back have a thoroughly enjoyable, educational year.
Edamame in your share this week.
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Sorry for late share update

noreply@blogger.com (gravel knolls farm) — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 17:44:00 +0000

Crazy week here on the farm. Here is the harvest list...
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Heading to market with Panzanella Salad

noreply@blogger.com (gravel knolls farm) — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 03:00:00 +0000

With just a few ingredients you can have a satisfying, fresh, summer salad.

Panzanella Salad
ingredients:
* 1 clove garlic
* 1 pound day old bread
* 1 cup chopped tomatoes
* 1 cup chopped cucumber-peeled and seeded
* 1cup chopped red onion
* 1 clove garlic minced
* 2 cups chopped/torn basil leaves
* 1/8 cup thyme
* 1/4 cup olive oil
* 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

directions:
1. Rub a peeled clove of garlic around a wooden salad bowl.
2. pull abart or chop the bread into bite-size pieces.
3. In the prepared salad bowl, combine the bread, tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, garlic, basil and thyme. Add enough olive oil and vinegar to lightly coat, toss and serve.

Will Wonders of the Season Never Cease

noreply@blogger.com (gravel knolls farm) — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 21:32:00 +0000

I wonder about cabbage and what the maximum degree of temperature it can take during its growth and at what point of its maturity high heat affects it and cause it not to head up, like it didn't this year? I wonder if the Brussels sprouts, transplanted the end of May, will change their flavor from bitter to sweet in September? I wonder what's eating the soybeans. I wonder what's starting to eat the newly ripening tomatoes? I wonder if we will have enough time to get any Seminole pumpkins off the vine before frost? I wonder, I wonder, I wonder.
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Lovin' the weather relief

noreply@blogger.com (gravel knolls farm) — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 11:46:00 +0000

Bi-colored sweet corn today! We also have some lima beans to share out
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