Fall has arrived and we're enjoying the cooler weather. The flowers are still in full bloom and we're happily bringing in beautiful bouquets to brighten up the house. You can pick up a bouquet for yourself at the market. Bonnie has been doing a wonderful job making the arrangements in assorted colors.
It's been a very hectic summer but the harvest has been pretty good in all of the gardens. The tomatoes have been wonderfully delicious and most of the varieties are still producing. The okra went crazy this summer and are still covered in blooms to be enjoyed every morning. The cooler weather has slowed them down a bit, but they're still producing. The rainbow swiss chard is looking beautiful again. The bugs are finally leaving it alone.
It's finally time to harvest the sweet potatoes. We have two different varieties this year. Danny and Bonnie began digging them last Friday. If you had a savory crepe at Oh Crepes this past weekend, you got to enjoy some of them! This evening, I tried to duplicate the same mixture and filled tostada shells with it. It was delicious!
If you'd like to try it, come by our stand on Saturday and pick up some freshly dug sweet potatoes, an assortment of peppers and swiss chard. Then saute some chopped onions in a little olive oil, add chopped peppers (whatever kind you prefer) and cubed sweet potatoes. Cover pan and allow to cook on medium heat until sweet potatoes are tender. Add chopped swiss chard and cook just until chard begins to reduce. Sprinkle with sea salt to taste. Use this mixture to fill a tortilla shell and fold over. Then enjoy for yourself!
If you haven't had the pleasure of enjoying our heirloom watermelons this summer, you'd better hurry. The Sugar Baby variety is gone now, but we still have the Desert King's. It's a deliciously sweet yellow variety with big black seeds. Bonnie picked the last of them and I'll be bringing them with me this weekend.
It's not too late to fill your freezer with tomatoes for the winter. We have 20 different varieties and they all freeze very well. Just wash, cut in half, take out the core and fill freezer bags with them, squeeze out as much air as you can and put in the freezer. Then take them out as you need them all winter. I love cooking with them. They taste like you just picked them from the garden.
There are only 3 markets left at the Tower Grove Farmers' Market. Don't miss out! Hope to see you there soon!
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When our boys help in the gardens they represent the fifth generation of the family to work the soil on Kimker Hill. Four generations still live on the farm today. Strong family bonds and a deep love and respect for the earth influence all of our farm practices.
Our gardens provide us with the best and purest of food, matchless beauty, and the ultimate earth science classroom for our homeschooled boys.
Sustainability is a popular buzz word among small scale agriculture. To us it means giving more than you take. Putting back what you use. Remembering that this beautiful earth will last forever and it's our commision to care for. In our gardens we try hard to follow these ideals and work with the earth's design, not against it.
While we are not “certified” organic by the USDA (not yet anyway), we do try to practice natural organic principles. We do not use any synthetic chemical fertilizers. We use only natural fertilizers like manure from our chickens, horse and cow manure from neighbors, and our own compost.
Pest problems are handled naturally as well. We do companion planting and encourage natural predators (aka: good bugs). Most of the time a healthy plant can tolerate a little nibbling and we do nothing. But when we do intervene we try to be responsible and use things such as Neem oil, cayenne pepper or simple dish soap. We’ve even gone after bad bugs with the shop-vac. The kids call it playing “suck-a-bug”.
A True Family Farm
When our boys help in the gardens they represent the fifth generation of the family to work the soil on Kimker Hill. Four generations still live on the farm today. Strong family bonds and a deep love and respect for the earth influence all of our farm practices.
Our gardens provide us with the best and purest of food, matchless beauty, and the ultimate earth science classroom for our homeschooled boys.
Sustainability is a popular buzz word among small scale agriculture. To us it means giving more than you take. Putting back what you use. Remembering that this beautiful earth will last forever and it's our commision to care for. In our gardens we try hard to follow these ideals and work with the earth's design, not against it.
About Us
- Kimker Hill Farm
- St. Clair, Missouri, United States
You can contact us at
kimkerhillfarm@gmailcom
You can e-mail us about our blog, to order our products, and for more info.
Now you can also call us at 636-629-7838.
Call to schedule a visit to our farm. We now have a small on-farm stand. You'll be able to order ahead or just come browse what is currently available.
You can e-mail us about our blog, to order our products, and for more info.
Now you can also call us at 636-629-7838.
Call to schedule a visit to our farm. We now have a small on-farm stand. You'll be able to order ahead or just come browse what is currently available.
Places We Sell Our Products
- -Tower Grove Farmers' Market, Tower Grove Park, April 19, May 3,17, June 7, July 12, August 16 September 6, October 4 & Harvest Festival, November 1, 2014
- -Mac's Local Buys
- -Local Harvest Grocery, Tower Grove, MO
Posts
Websites of places we sell
TRY DENISE'S HEALTHY MIXES
- Denise's Banana Muffin Mix-$4.50 Made with freshly-ground, organic wheat berries and flaxseed. Also makes great Banana Bread or Banana Cake.
- Denise's Cornbread Mix- $4.25 Made with freshly-ground, organic cornmeal. Gluten-Free Mix also available.
- Denise's Gluten-Free Spice Muffin Mix - $5.00 Made with my Gluten-Free Mixed Grain Flour.
- Denise's Healthy Buckwheat Pancake Mix - $4.25 Wheat-Free and Milk-Free. Made with freshly-ground, organic buckwheat, flaxseed and oats.
- Denise's Healthy Gluten-Free Pizza Dough Mix- $5.00 Made with my Gluten-Free Mixed Grain Flour.
- Denise's Healthy Gluten-Free Waffle Mix - $4.75 Made with my Gluten-Free Mixed Grain Flour.
- Denise's Healthy Pancake Mix 1lb- $4.25 -2lb- $8.00 Milk-Free Made with freshly-ground, organic wheat berries, flaxseed and oats.
- Denise's Healthy Pizza Dough Mix- $4.50 Made with freshly-ground, organic wheat berries, flaxseed and oats. Will make 2- 15" pizzas or a pizza and breadsticks.
- Denise's Healthy Waffle Mix-1lb-$4.25 Made with freshly-ground, organic wheat berries, flaxseed and oats.
- Denise's Mixed Beans & Peas Soup Mix-1lb-$4.50 A beautiful, colorful mix of organic dried beans, peas and lentils.
- Denise's Mixed Grains-1lb-$4.50 A blend of certified organic barley, brown rice, buckwheat, flaxseed, millet, oats, quinoa, rye, spelt and wheat.
- Denise's Spice Muffin Mix- $4.25 Made with freshly ground, organic wheat berries and flaxseed. Makes great Zucchini Muffins, Zucchini Bread or Zucchini Cake. You can even substitute applesauce, pumpkin or green tomatoes in place of the zucchini.
- Denise's Split Pea Soup Mix-1lb-$4.50 A delicious mix of organic split peas, lentils and barley.
FRESHLY GROUND, CERTIFIED ORGANIC FLOURS FOR SALE
- 10-Grain Flour-$4.50 lb. Made with the 10 whole grains in Denise's Mixed Grains
- Almond Meal Flour $7.75 lb
- Amaranth Flour $5.50 lb
- Barley Flour $3.75 lb
- Black Bean Flour $4.25 lb
- Brown Rice Flour $4.25 lb
- Buckwheat Flour $4.00 lb
- Chickpea Flour $4.25 lb
- Combo Flour $4.00 lb Made with wheat berries & flaxseed.
- Corn Grits $3.50 lb
- Cornmeal $3.50 lb
- Flaxseed Meal $3.00 4-oz
- Gluten-Free Mixed Grain Flour-$4.75 lb. A blend of amaranth, brown rice, buckwheat, flaxseed, millet, milo, oats, quinoa, soybeans & tapioca.
- Kamut Flour $3.75 lb
- Millet Flour $4.00 lb
- Milo Flour $3.75 lb
- Oat Flour $3.50 lb
- Quinoa Flour $7.50 lb
- Rye Flour $3.50 lb
- Soy Flour $4.00 lb
- Spelt Flour $4.25 lb
- Tapioca Flour $5.75 lb
- Whole Wheat Flour $3.75 lb
CERTIFIED ORGANIC WHOLE GRAINS, BEANS AND PEAS FOR SALE
- Amaranth $5.00 lb
- Barley $3.50 lb
- Black Turtle Beans $3.75 lb
- Black-eyed Peas $3.25 lb
- Brown Rice, long-grain $3.75 lb
- Buckwheat $3.50 lb
- Bulgar Wheat,
whole grain $4.00 lb - Chia Seeds 4oz $4.00
- Chickpeas/Gorbanzo beans $3.75 lb
- Corn, whole $3.00 lb
- Couscous, whole grain $4.50 lb
- Flaxseed, golden $2.00 4oz or $3.50 8oz
- Great Northern Beans $3.50 lb
- Kamut $3.25 lb
- Lentils- Red or Green $4.25 lb
- Millet $3.50 lb
- Milo (Sorghum), $3.25 lb
- Multi Popcorn $4.50 lb
- Mung Beans $2.50 4oz $4.00 lb
- Navy Beans $3.50 lb
- Oat Groats $3.25 lb
- Oats, Old-fashioned Thick cut $3.25 lb
- Oats, Steel-Cut $3.25 lb
- Oats, Steel-cut Rolled (quick) $3.00 lb
- Pinto Beans $3.00 lb
- Quinoa, Red $10.25 lb
- Quinoa, White $7.00 lb
- Red Kidney Beans, $4.00 lb
- Rye Berries $3.50 lb
- Soybeans $3.50 lb
- Spelt Berries $3.75 lb
- Split Peas- Yellow or Green $3.75 lb
- Unbleached Flour $3.00 lb
- Wheat Berries $3.25 lb
- Yellow Popcorn $3.75 lb
Free-Range Eggs
- Jumbo $5.50 dozen
- Large $5.00 dozen
DENISE'S MIXED BEAN SOUP
Using 1 pound of Denise’s Mixed Beans & Peas, begin by rinsing beans thoroughly with cold water. Then put them in a crockpot with a hambone or beef soupbones, cover with water and begin cooking on the low setting overnight.
In the morning add:
one chopped onion
2 to 3 stalks celery, finely chopped
minced garlic, about 1 T
1 t chili powder
½ t Italian seasoning
4-5 carrots, thinly sliced
(other vegetables if you like, sometimes I add turnips, beets, Swiss chard, cabbage...)
Allow to cook on high setting most of the day.
About an hour before serving, I add:
¼ C brown or raw sugar,
about 2 C chopped tomatoes,
more minced garlic & salt to taste.
I like to serve with my hot, fresh homemade cornbread or biscuits.
Using 1 pound of Denise’s Mixed Beans & Peas, begin by rinsing beans thoroughly with cold water. Then put them in a crockpot with a hambone or beef soupbones, cover with water and begin cooking on the low setting overnight.
In the morning add:
one chopped onion
2 to 3 stalks celery, finely chopped
minced garlic, about 1 T
1 t chili powder
½ t Italian seasoning
4-5 carrots, thinly sliced
(other vegetables if you like, sometimes I add turnips, beets, Swiss chard, cabbage...)
Allow to cook on high setting most of the day.
About an hour before serving, I add:
¼ C brown or raw sugar,
about 2 C chopped tomatoes,
more minced garlic & salt to taste.
I like to serve with my hot, fresh homemade cornbread or biscuits.
Interesting Info on Milo
Grain sorghum is native to Asia and Africa where it has been grown since ancient times. This marvelous, energy-producing plant is a basic food for mankind in regions of Africa, Asia and India, because it is very hardy and can be grown in areas of the world that are too hot or too dry for other crops to be grown successfully. Grain sorghum is a small round berry which may vary in color from yellow to cream to white. The crop has been adapted to the dry hot climate of the midwest and southwest United States.Sorghum may be ground in hand mills or food processors to the degree of fineness needed (coarsely ground for a cooked cereal, finely ground for flour). Flour should be prepared fresh and used within a few days, or it may be stored in the freezer. Whole grain, if kept cool and dry, may be stored for over a year without becoming moldly or rancid. Store sorghum flour in metal or plastic containers with a tight lid. Grain sorghum flour contains no gluten, so people who have Celiac disease are able to digest sorghum flour products. Because it is gluten free, recipes will need to be adjusted when replacing flour with sorghum flour. Add one tablespoon of corn starch to every cup of sorghum flour to improve smoothness and moisture retention. An extra egg white will also improve the smoothness and crumb texture. Basic cooking instructions: 2 cups of water to 1 cup of sorghum and cook for 45 min. season to taste. Nutrition Facts: Serving Size: 1/2 cup (100 g) Calories 339 Calories from Fat 8% Total Fat 3.31 g Saturated Fat 0.46 g Monounsaturated Fat 0.99 g Polyunsaturated Fat 1.37 g Protein 8 g Carbohydrate 74.6 g Dietary Fiber 10 g Sugar 1.20 g Calories from Carbohydrates 80% Sodium 6 mg Protein 11.3 g 15% Vitamin A 0% Vitamin C 0 mg Calcium 28 mg Iron 4.41 mg Potassium 350 mg
Labels
Followers
Are we ORGANIC?
While we are not “certified” organic by the USDA (not yet anyway), we do try to practice natural organic principles. We do not use any synthetic chemical fertilizers. We use only natural fertilizers like manure from our chickens, horse and cow manure from neighbors, and our own compost.
Pest problems are handled naturally as well. We do companion planting and encourage natural predators (aka: good bugs). Most of the time a healthy plant can tolerate a little nibbling and we do nothing. But when we do intervene we try to be responsible and use things such as Neem oil, cayenne pepper or simple dish soap. We’ve even gone after bad bugs with the shop-vac. The kids call it playing “suck-a-bug”.
2 comments:
I like the idea of freezing tomatoes...i was always worried that if i did that the water content would make them crystallize. I canned for the first time this year and it was very satisfying.
i am a first generation mini farmer. a refuge from the whatever this is we've morphed into. I sell art and food out of the back of my truck at the local farmers market. really loved it...now its closed and what to do?
i have some lettuce, spinach, chard, and onions growing. id like to try and grow some kind of flower over winter. researching that now.
enjoyed you blog. my labels are often "dogs" and "chickens" too.
happy sunday!
Welcome to the wonderful world of farming. Give freezing tomatoes a chance. You'll be really glad you did in the middle of winter.
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