We love it when groups of students come out to tour the farm! They ask the best questions and bring us youthful energy. We had a nice visit from St. Croix Montessori’s upper and lower elementary kids last week. The big discoveries? “Worm poop is soil.” “Bells help keep dogs away from sheep.” “There are different kinds of hoes.” “Neem trees grow fast.”
Cherry tomatoes, slicing tomatoes, heirloom tomatoes, the last harvest of sweet corn for the season, onions, yellow summer squash, kale, bell peppers, yellow seasoning peppers, radishes, a few cucumbers, squash blossoms;
These dramatically large squash blossoms can be stuffed, fried, or used as a garnish!
Italian basil, lemon basil, holy basil, Thai basil, red serrano peppers and red Indian chilies, garlic chives, cilantro, dill, parsley, assorted pumpkins, and cut flowers including loads of zinnias, cosmos and China asters!
From our partners we plan to offer fresh local goat cheese, vegan local fruit ice cream, raw local honey, farm fresh local eggs, and a few other treats!
A peaceful sunrise floods the pastures at Longford.
Life is good, people! Wanda the Bee Lady’s back! Oh gosh and Ryan and Kim will be on hand at 10am with fresh caught mahi! And we have tomatoes and sweet corn again, and arugula, and Bethany’s fresh goat cheese and Feel-I and Shalima’s ice cream! WOooooooOOOOOOOO!! Join us, 10am – 12 noon on the South Shore!
Lots of ARTfarm goodies at this bustling time of year…
The bell peppers have been plentiful this season!
Here is the full list for today: Sweet salad mix, baby spicy salad mix, baby arugula, teen arugula, sweet corn!, cherry tomatoes, slicing tomatoes, heirloom tomatoes, wild cucumbers, summer squash, loads of pumpkin, green and red bell peppers, yellow seasoning peppers, red serrano peppers, red Indian chilies, Italian basil, holy basil, lemon basil, Thai basil, garlic chives, cilantro, dill, parsley, rosemary, loads of onions with green edible tops, ginger root, lettuce heads, kale, carrots, multiple types of radish, a few figs, and loads of zinnia flowers, cosmos and marigolds!
From our partners we have Wanda’s local honey meads (smile and song included), fresh mahi from Ryan and Kim, local goat cheese from Fiddlewood Farms, and I-Sha’s locally made vegan ice cream!
Farmer Luca is staying optimistic! This week he planted watermelons, pumpkins, cucumbers, sweet potatoes, more salad greens and a mango tree. Fisherman Ryan is back on island and has some beautiful mahi today at 3pm!
Our good friend, fellow foodie and fabulous photographer Marjo Aho created some delicious goat cheese combinations and shared them with us on Facebook. Here are some great ideas to try with Fiddlewood Farm’s local fresh goat cheese:
Fresh Fiddlewood Farms goat cheese with ARTfarm heirloom tomato and basil! Is that Nidulari sourdough bread? Photo (c)2016 Marjo AhoFiddlewood Farms goat cheese with Errol’s Virgin Fresh raw local honey and cinnamon! Photo (c)2016 Marjo AhoFiddlewood Farms fresh local goat cheese with fresh passionfruit! A sweet and tart experience! Photo (c)2016 Marjo Aho
Wednesday’s selection: Sweet salad mix, spicy salad mix, arugula, cherry tomatoes, slicing tomatoes, heirloom tomatoes, kale, yellow summer squash, assorted pumpkins, red, yellow and white onions, red serrano peppers, red Indian chilies, yellow seasoning peppers, Italian basil, lemon basil, holy basil, Thai basil, garlic chives, dill, cilantro, radishes, zinnia flowers…
From our partners: Fresh goat cheese by Fiddlewood Farm, vegan local fruit ice cream from I-Sha, raw local honey from Errol, and fresh caught local mahi from Ryan & Kim!
See you on this beautiful sunny afternoon! We’re located on South Shore Road, east of Ha’Penny Beach and west of the Boy Scout Camp.
Don’t shy from vine-ripened goodness! A healed split tomato that is not leaking juices is safe to eat.The split on a vine-ripened tomato is simply a record of weather and a mark of authenticity – you won’t find these in the supermarket!
We have been blessed with a few substantial rain showers over the last week. While this has been wonderful for replenishing our groundwater supply, soaking parched, sunbaked soils, and greening up the pastures and gardens, it also causes some fruits to grow faster than their skin can hold them.
Behold, the split tomato! You will never see these in a supermarket, because they require more delicate handling. When an unusual amount of rain strikes ripening tomatoes on the vine, the combination of percussive hammering from the rain itself and the rapid uptake of rainwater into the plant can cause the fruits to grow rapidly and the outer skin of the tomato to split. As long as the inner skin remains intact and the tomato is not leaking any of its juices, these are perfectly safe to purchase and to eat, and the cracks confirm that the tomato is a truly local and extremely fresh vine ripened treat. Some nutritionists would probably agree that split tomatoes are better for you because you are more prone to eating more of them immediately, replacing any junk food in your diet. 😉
What to go with your delicious heirloom, cherry, and slicer tomatoes this morning? Loads of sweet salad mix, teen arugula, teen spicy salad mix, kale, lettuce heads, red and green bell peppers, yellow squash, amazing pumpkins, loads of cherry tomatoes, slicing tomatoes, heirloom tomatoes, loads of onions, scallions, radishes (three types), Italian basil, lemon basil, holy basil, dill, cilantro, parsley, lemongrass, rosemary, baby ginger root, wild cucumbers, zinnia flowers, marigolds, a few cosmos, loads of hot peppers, Indian chilies and serrano peppers, loads of Luca’s favorite not-hot seasoning pepper. And a few passionfruit.
From our partners we have I-Sha’s vegan ice cream and local fresh goat cheese from Fiddlewood Farm! Wanda the Honey Lady will be back next week, her eyesight has been successfully restored, friends, and she can see you quite clearly now! So bring your best smiles for her next week!!
ARTfarm on St. Croix, USVI 