May 2023
Halfway between the Spring Equinox and Summer Solstice, daylight lengthens as summer approaches.
Farm Happenings
Growing season is upon us! Peas are popping, onions and kale have been transplanted, and we even were able to transplant our tomatoes into our rehabbed hoop house in mid-April.
Hoping to buy some high-quality, organically grown vegetables from us this season? We’ll be at the Lewiston Artisan Farmers Market on Saturdays between 9am-1pm starting June 3. We’ll be popping up in Pendleton for their farmers market for two Sunday mornings each month in July, August, September, and October (dates TBD but we’ll share those here and on our website once finalized).
In addition to our tasty veggies, at the farmer’s market we’ll also be sharing our homemade jams and jellies made with local fruit, freshly made bread, pizza crust, and sourdough granola.
We also want to share with our local readers: ticks are out in WNY. My mom and I both pulled a tick off of us within the last week while in our growing areas! Tick checks were still a habit we were trying to get into with the emergence of the pests into our region, but now I am becoming hyper vigilant. Learn more about ticks here.
Recipe Share
A digital index card with in-season, too-good-not-to-pass-along recipes.
Herbal Yogurt Dressing
½ cup full-fat, plain yogurt (for a vegan version, opt for plant-based yogurt)
⅛ cup chopped fresh herbs (parsley, dill, cilantro, sage, thyme, etc.)
1 clove chopped and peeled garlic
1-2 tsp lemon juice
⅛ tsp ground black pepper
salt to taste
Directions:
Simply place all ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend until evenly mixed. If you don’t have a blender, just shake all the ingredients up in a well-sealed glass jar (you’ll have to do an especially good job at chopping the garlic and herbs in this case).
Earth Stewardship
One of the benefits of buying vegetables at farmers markets is the way in which it introduces you to eating what’s in season. For example, cucumbers are not in-season during January in WNY.
Obviously, eating with the seasons results in fresher food on your plate, since it was picked just a few days before it reached you. Unlike out of season produce, which is harvested early in order to be shipped and distributed to grocery stores, crops picked at their peak of ripeness are also better tasting and full of flavor. Studies also suggest that in-season produce has more nutritional benefit.
Curious what is in-season in any given month? Use this guide.
Growing Together
Creating a habitat for pollinators is something that is critical for our farm - after all, we need pollinators to pollinate many of our crops so we can enjoy their fruits!
Around our growing beds, we grow hairy vetch, a cover crop that also attracts bees and other insects when they are in flower. We are also creating a few pollinator patches of yarrow, anise hyssop, and other perennial flowers that will attract butterflies, bees, flies, and other beneficial insects.
You too can create a pollinator habitat in your backyard with annual and perennial plants, like:
Perennial
Common Milkweed
Lavender
Echinacea
Wild Bergamont
Sage
Anise Hyssop
Annual
Borage
Zinnia
Calendula
Sunflowers
Nasturtium
We created a video on social media talking about how to bring pollinators to your yard, so check it out!
Featured Friends
WNY is home to many small businesses and community organizations. Each month we introduce you to 2 that we think you should know.
Business Friend: The Bread Baran
Matt Baran, aka: The Bread Baran, is a baker of homemade breads, rolls, muffins, and other flour-filled treats. From focaccia with heirloom tomatoes, braided cinnamon buns, honey sweet cornbreads, maple brioche buns, to a Buffalo wing roll - his creativity in the bread department knows no bounds! He even offers holiday/seasonal varieties, such as Irish Soda Bread, Challah, and Italian Easter Bread. Stop by his stand at the Lockport Community Farmers Market, Lewiston Grand Bazaar, or Pendleton Station Market early if you want to get a tasty treat (or two)! You can follow The Bread Baran on Facebook or Instagram.
Community Organization Friend: 5 Loaves Farm
5 Loaves Farm is a non-profit organization that seeks to provide healthy food, education, job-training, and spiritual resources to the community. In an effort to redeem vacant lots, the market garden farm expands over several lots on Buffalo’s upper west side. From CSA shares, Farmhouse Fridays, Pancake Breakfast to Art on the Farm, they offer many ways for new neighbors to connect with them and one another. During the growing season, they provide paid internships to youth for food and farm careers. They also offer volunteer opportunities on the farm every Saturday between 10am-1pm from April-October.