This is my first spring on the farm. Since I was in China until July last year, I arrived back after things were already in full swing. This past month on the farm has given me a new definition of hard work. I have been aching, sunburnt, bug bitten and just plain worn out by the end of most days, but slowly things are coming together. We have most of the things we want to plant in the ground now.
The garden all planted and mulched, complete with Prayer flags from China!
With the long list of tasks and endless things to get done between rain storms you may think that spring on the farm is all work and no reward… It often feels like that when I look at the long list of thins left to do at the end of each day. However, while much of the bounty of farm work comes later in the summer and fall, spring has its own riches to share. This week I found the first of the seasons strawberries and they tasted amazing. there is nothing like the first real taste of fresh home-grown fruit. I cant wait to see how the strawberries do this year. They went in last year and we didn’t get too many as they take a year to establish themselves.
First strawberries!!!
Also this week we got a special delivery we have been waiting for. Our neighbor stopped by with a cardboard box of chicks! We gave him some of our eggs a few weeks ago and he hatches them for us in exchange for keeping half of them. Win win. so we have a few new animals on the farm now. Which of course comes with a few more chores every morning but it’s fun to check on the little peepers. They are so awkward and cute
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So we are starting to see some payoff for all the hard work we have put in since coming home. I cant wait to get some veggies out of the gardens… I love when we can put together a whole meal of food off the farm, what a great feeling.
S.
P.S. We are about to have more strawberries than we know what to do with… any great ideas/recipes for strawberries please let me know.
javostorm
sarahbellus
Friends Of The Earth Farm 
Posted by Wesley Voth on June 25, 2013 at 1:04 AM
I am so jealous….those strawberries look soooo good….and make sure you donh’t let those young roosters get too big….hahahah
Posted by Joana on June 25, 2013 at 7:21 AM
Hmmm… strawberry jam, shortcakes, cheesecake, froze some for smoothies through the year. Oh, there’s so many desserts you can do with strawberries! Ah, strawberries 🙂
Posted by Murray Walker on June 26, 2013 at 2:55 PM
I’ll be thinking of you on the weekend when you give this a try. Let us know how it turns out. M
Sparkling Strawberry Rosé Sangria
2 cups strawberries, hulled and sliced
1 Valencia orange, sliced into thin rounds
1 lemon, sliced into thin rounds
1 bottle dry, sparkling rosé
1/4 cup brandy (we went with Cognac)
3 tablespoons simple syrup (I used a lemon verbena-infused version. Here’s our recipe for herb-infused simple syrup.)
lemon verbena sprigs for garnish (optional)
2 cup sparkling water
In a large pitcher, combine the strawberries and orange and lemon slices. Use the end of a wooden spoon to muddle the fruit a bit.
In a small glass combine the brandy and the simple syrup. Pour this and the bottle of rosé over the fruit. Chill for at least an hour, or longer if you have it. Just before serving, stir in the sparkling water.
Spoon some of the fruit into glasses, pour in the liquid, garnish, and serve.
Posted by Susan L Daniels on July 3, 2013 at 3:36 PM
If you have a dehydrator, dried strawberries are GREAT just to snack on.