{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual.

A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week.

 A simple, special, extraordinary moment.

A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Go here to see other {this moment} 's

or to participate.

Peace and Love,

Georgiann

Getting To Know My Local Farmers {part2} The Cranberry Farm!

After a fun morning at Terry's Berries Organic Farm we were off to a Cranberry Farm over in my neck of the woods! I never even knew there was a Ocean Spray grower out here.
WOW how cool is that?

The berries are floated then picked by machine. Once picked the berries are trucked to Aberdeen a few hours away to be processed into sauce etc.. The machine can't get the berries that are along the irrigation ditches or the sprinkler heads,so my Self Reliant group was notified.
Bruce the farm owner said,we could come pick for a few hours on Saturday.

Here's a look:



Cranberries grow in mushy airy compost in 5 soil from clippings.



Rufus the farmers bloodhound, kept chasing the kids,knocking them over and 
trying to do the  humpty dumbty on everyones  leg.......EEEKKK!

Me and my Little's at the Cranberry farm!



~Cranberry Fields~


I hope you have enjoyed taking a look at a cranberry farm that grows for Ocean Spray.
We had a bundle of fun getting to pick {even though Rufus was a bit of a pest at times}.
Now its time to make a batch of cranberry sauce! I only had time to pick about 1 large bowl full,
before we had to leave to get ready for church. (we go to the Saturday Mass and CCD beforehand.)
We had a FULL day~

The herb class I took the other night was fun and informative.
It only cost me $1.00 for the hand out. The class was offered at The Free University in my area.
 At the Free University they have all sort of classes from painting, guitar, beading and gardening.
The next class I'm signed up for is a Herbal Tea class!
I bought the Herbal Remedies For Dummies book while I was there. I will share more when I post on the subject!
As for now...my nose is in my new book!
{and a quick stop for a sip of tea and a bite of fair trade chocolate.}

Be sure to stop by tomorrow for my Friday post of

{this momment}

Peace and Love,

Georgiann

Getting to know my local farmers! {Part 1}

The air was crisp outside when early Saturday morning I roused my three Little's out of their warm beds for a day of Farm field trips!We all  dawned our rubber boots and headed out for a days venture to several local farms. The first farm we stopped at was Terry's Berries! I had always thought this farm to be just a berry farm, the name IS Terry's Berries. This place was much more than JUST a Berry farm, I once thought it was.
I had heard from a church friend about this farm (just last week). So when the Daisy Scout troop my daughter just joined said, Saturday we are going on a field trip there, I was thrilled! My friend was sharing with me how she goes the the farm once a week to pick up her stuff! (not really knowing what she meant) Just thinking she meant shopping there! But she belongs to the CSA food share co-op.

What is a CSA co-op?
Community Supported Agriculture    
Terry's Berries is a local organic farm that has a CSA co-op program. For a fee of X amount of dollars (paid at the beginning of the 8 week season) you go on YOUR pick up day and get to fill your basket with what is there in the co-op area and the quantity specified.
Though the idea sounds tempting I have my own veggies I grew in my own yard! (I might join in the spring or summer because you get more food for the money and a bigger variety in the share.)

I will now definitely shop there for things I do not grow! Though this years growing season was a bit rough, I do have plenty to feed my family. The winter list for the winter co-op share is mostly squash,potatoes and winter greens (I grow Swiss Chard and the other). So no need to join the

pre-pay co-op,  I will just shop for what and when I have a need!

You can also go and shop (and not belong to the co-op).
She sells fruits and veggies,eggs,honey,breads,nuts and knitted wears.
{On a side note: I will be learning to knit soon, so be prepared for me to post pictures of some really poorly knitted things! lol}

Also Terry is sell a few of her layer hens for $8.oo each....I'm tempted to get a few but they are not as pretty as the ones I can get if I just wait until spring! Hubby wants me to just wait.

Call me weird, but there is just something sexy about an eggplant!
It looks like its wearing a hat!

Most of the stuff is grown right on the farm or from a local farm in the area. All organic!

We had a awesome time. The kids got to take a hay ride,pick a pumpkin, press and taste some fresh apple cider!

I bought a jug of cider, an eggplant,some blue potatoes and a loaf of Artisan Bread (Sweet Perrin).
 It is made with pear,hazelnuts and figs! It is yummo for breakfast!

Noah found a twin pumpkin!

After we left that farm, the kids and I went to pick cranberries at a little farm a bit closer to our house!
My Self Reliant group was invited to glean from the cranberry field for a few hours! Only myself and Rhonda came from our group! (She brought her mom and I brought my three youngest kiddos!)
Bruce the farmer is contracted by Ocean Spray.....I will post more about the cranberry picking venture soon in {part 2}. (I will shoot for tomorrow) It was cool that Terry from Terry's Berries knew Wayne the founder of the Self Reliant group I belong to.

Tonight I will be going to a Herbs for Flu and Cold season class.
I can't wait to share what I learn!
I will be posting soon about my stash of Homeopathic remedies!

Lots of fun and exciting things happening here at
The Garden Gate!

Peace and Love,
Georgiann

Celebrate The Harvest {stuffed zucchini}

Stuffed Zucchini

In a large pot boil zucchini WHOLE for about 5 minutes.

{I used one medium sized for this recipe.

I was cooking for just me.}

Meanwhile.....

In a skillet brown a small bit if bulk Italian sausage {I used 1/3 of a small tube}

You could also use a vegetarian sausage.

once browned add

1/4 cup frozen kennel corn

1 tablespoon chopped onion

1 tablespoon chopped red OR green bell pepper

1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

2 tablespoons cream cheese

Cut steamed zucchini in half and with a melon scoop or a apple corer hollow out the center.

Place on a cookie sheet and add filling.

Top with dry Panko {a Japanese breadcrumb}

Bake for about 30 minutes at 350.

Enjoy!

If you have a recipe to share of how you use up your garden goodness, please leave a link in my comment box!

{I will not be using Mr. Linky today}

Peace and Love,

Georgiann



{this moment}

Olivia on our bike ride....she was thirsty, so we stopped to pick a few blackberries!


To enjoy more {this moment}'s go here!


{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Have a great weekend~
See you Monday for my "Celebrate The Harvest" meme.
(recipe share)


Peace and Love,
Georgiann