It is quite simple to move a package of bees from the shipping box (in this case a “bee bus”) to the hive. Click on the link below to watch a short video of an installation right here at Five Feline Farm.
Author: Five Feline Farm
Five Feline Farm Plant Sale
Stop by the Farm this Saturday, May 17 or Sunday, May 18 afternoon from 1:00PM to 4:00PM. We are offering heirloom variety tomatoes and peppers for sale.
These plants have been raised from seed right here at FFF.
Naturally grown.
Watered with rain water.
Interesting varieties such as Chocolate Cherry Tomato, Vintage Wine, Abe Lincoln and more.
Five Feline Farm is in East Central Illinois. Email us if you need directions.
fivefelinefarm (at) gmail (dot) com
It’s Asparagus Time!
Don’t get caught eating slime.
Fresh asparagus is nothing like slimy canned stuff. Not that I’ve ever decided to try the slimy canned stuff. It just never appealed. But fresh, oh my. And to pick a handful, walk straight to the kitchen and have it on the table in under 30 minutes. Well, it just doesn’t get much fresher than that. One of my absolute favorite things is to pick something fresh and go straight to preparation then table. Ok, I know everyone can’t do that, but the next best thing is to buy from a farmer’s market.
Oh, but asparagus picked from your own patch. This delicious vegetable is one of the first in the spring to poke through the ground. It will provide a plethora of delicious meals.
Asparagus is a perennial vegetable that is planted in a row from root crowns. It does take awhile to establish a new asparagus bed. Although this is a bonus in years 3-25, it is a slow wait until your asparagus starts producing.
Buy root crowns from a reputable source. Asparagus comes in male and female although both are not required to produce. The female varieties produce a thinner stalk while the male produces a thicker stalk. Both are delicious and it is a personal preference which style you like.
To plant asparagus, dig a trench 6 inches deep, approximately 12 inches wide and layer in compost down the middle of the trench. Spread the root crowns across this mound of compost and cover with 2 inches of soil. After a couple of weeks, cover with another 2 inches of soil and repeat until the bed is slightly mounded.
Then the wait begins. You will not harvest the first two years from this bed so the plants can invest all of their energy into root systems. The third year you may harvest lightly and after the fourth year you can harvest as needed. Shoots will come up quickly. Monitor frequently through the early spring.
To harvest, cut the spears near ground level or bend gently until it snaps off. We use the bend and snap method.
What to do with that harvest? Try grilled or oven roasted spears. Drizzle spears with olive oil, salt and pepper to taste. To grill, place directly on the grill grates, turning frequently until lightly charred but still crisp-tender. When you aren’t grilling, you can roast in 425 oven, Use a shallow pan, toss with the olive oil, salt and pepper, then roast for 15 to 20 minutes, turning once.
If neither of those methods suit you, fresh asparagus is excellent in a quiche, sautéed with scrambled eggs or lightly steamed with a rich hollandaise.
Drop us a comment about your favorite spring vegetable and how you like it prepared.
Eat Healthy
What can you do to eat just a little bit healthier?
First, buy local whenever possible.
The farmer’s markets will begin soon. Just a bit of planning can have you looking for those growers in your area. Be cautious though. Some farmer’s markets have vendors that truck in vegetables from miles away. Although these people need to make a living too, this is not much different than buying your food at a national grocery store.
Next, learn what vegetables are in season.
When you eat seasonal foods, you do a couple of things for yourself. One is save money. Foods are abundant when they are in season, so the cost is lower. Seasonal plus local equals higher quality. The food has less time between farm and table so it retains more nutrients.
Grow your own.
Ok, everyone can’t grow their own vegetables due to space or time constraints. But maybe you can join in with a friend who has a garden. Check to see if there is a community garden plot available. If those are not options everyone surely has room for a pot of basil or chives on the window sill. Fresh herbs make everything taste better.
At Five Feline Farm we are striving to grow as much of our own food as possible. Keep checking back for updates on what is in season. You may even see a suggestion or two on how to use these garden goodies.
