Presidential Farmstand, 3-6pm Today

“It will not be doubted that with reference either to individual or national welfare, agriculture is of primary importance.” – President George Washington

“Cultivators of the earth are the most valuable citizens. They are the most vigorous, the most independent, the most wedded to its liberty and interests, by the most lasting bonds.” – President Thomas Jefferson

“The nation that destroys its soil destroys itself.” – President Franklin D. Roosevelt from the Letter to all State Governors on a Uniform Soil Conservation Law (February 26, 1937)

ARTfarm is open today at our regular Monday 3-6 time and place on South Shore Road: Sweet salad mix, spicy salad mix, arugula, microgreens, sweet corn, loads of cherry tomatoes, slicing tomatoes, heirloom tomatoes, chili peppers, sweet peppers, Italian basil, holy basil, garlic chives, cilantro, fresh ginger root, loads of Julie mangoes, and loads of sweet Mediterranean figs!

From our partner we have I-Sha’s vegan coconut cream ice cream in local fruit flavors!
IMG_8276.JPGWe hope everyone has spent some enjoyable time at the Ag Fair this weekend! The fair is still open today if you haven’t had a chance to get your local-flavor-farm-groove on yet! Go, ride the rides, eat yummy local foods, enjoy the great wares and crafts of artists and vendors, look at all the school projects, get your groove on with some great local bands, ride the soul train, pet baby animals, smell the pigs, and check out all the plants and produce!

Wednesday’s Corny Joke – Open 3-6pm Today!

We hope you’ll agree with us that an excessively corny joke can never be in truly poor taste. Well, you be the judge: ARTfarm Theatre presents “A Radish Walks Into a Bar”.

It’s true, all of the featured actors in the presentation above are available for purchase at today’s stand, along with other fresh items: Sweet salad mix, arugula, spicy salad mix, sweet corn, loads of tomatoes and cherry tomatoes (all types), beans, Italian basil, holy basil, lemon basil, Thai basil, parsley, cilantro, garlic chives, radishes, beets, onions, scallions, chili peppers, a few mangoes, black sapote (chocolate pudding fruit), passionfruit and a few bags of fresh Mediterranean figs!!

We still have plenty of freshly made refreshing vegan coconut ice creams in a rainbow of natural fruit and vegetable flavors from I-Sha.

Hey, don’t forget the salsa ingredients!IMG_8205.JPG

And…an exclusive for our subscribers, a behind-the-scenes look at our film studio…IMG_8207.JPG

Monday Mango Special Bonanza! 3-6pm Today!

Unbelievably off-season, some of our mango trees flowered in early winter. The Julie mango fruits are actually ripe now and we have more than we can eat, so a tub of mangoes will be available at the farmstand today! Open today and Wednesday, 3-6pm (Saturday 10am – 12noon on South Shore Road, between Ha’Penny and the Boy Scout Camp.

I must be dreaming. Farmer Luca is filling a bucket with RIPE MANGOES in FEBRUARY?? Off season madness!
I must be dreaming. Farmer Luca is filling a bucket with RIPE MANGOES in FEBRUARY?? Off season madness!
Several dozen green-to-purple mangoes are piled in a large green rubber bucket that is almost the same shade of green.
Julie mangoes grown at ARTfarm! Ripe in February – very unusual.

Also available for your health and enjoyment: Sweet salad mix, microgreens, baby and regular spicy salad mix, baby and regular arugula, purple yard long beans, loads of tomatoes of all types, piles of pints of cherry tomatoes, black sapote (a.k.a. chocolate pudding fruit), passionfruit, Italian basil, holy basil, lemon basil, garlic chives, cilantro, chili peppers, fresh ginger root and fresh cheerful zinnia flowers.

Two giant baskets hold dozens of large green-skinned black sapote fruits, also known as the "chocolate pudding fruit".
Two giant baskets hold dozens of large green-skinned black sapote fruits, also known as the “chocolate pudding fruit”.
By now you’re wondering what the heck to do with chocolate pudding fruit…these will be ripe in a few days to a week, when the skin takes on an olive-yellowish cast and the fruit softens, so you have time to research more recipes for these Mexican persimmons! (If you cut into it and the flesh isn’t dark brown, it isn’t ripe yet and will have a bitter flavor). Black sapotes are great eaten out of hand, prepared either sweet OR savory, blended in a drink or smoothie…with a pinch of brown sugar the sweet dark brown flesh takes on the character of chocolate pudding! The Crucian Contessa has promised to give us some more ideas soon for this vitamin C-rich fruit!

Have you tried the coconut-based homemade vegan ice cream we get from I-Sha? Right now we have some of their absolute best flavors: beet ginger, mamey apple, locust bean, avocado and banana! We’ve got spoons at the farmstand so you can take a few minutes and enjoy one after you shop!

Delicious, non-dairy, coconut based local fruit ice creams from I-Sha are the creations of Feel-I and Shalima. The coconut cream used in the ice cream is made fresh from local coconuts! Nothing canned!! These little treats are the perfect size for a light and refreshing dessert or anytime snack. Pictured here, clockwise from top: Beet-Ginger, Banana, Mamey Apple, Locust Bean, and Avocado!
Delicious, non-dairy, coconut based local fruit ice creams from I-Sha are the unique-to-St.Croix creations of Feel-I and Shalima. The coconut cream used in the ice cream is made fresh from local coconuts! Nothing canned!! These little treats are the perfect size for a light and refreshing dessert or anytime snack. Pictured here, clockwise from top: Beet-Ginger, Banana, Mamey Apple, Locust Bean, and Avocado!

Sweet and Spicy Saturday at ARTfarm 10am Today!

Season’s Greetings! Saturday ARTfarm holiday goodies, 10am – 12 noon: sweet salad mix, spicy salad mix, all sizes of arugula, itty bitty microgreens, crisp cucumbers, two types of radishes, beets, cheery cherry tomatoes, kale, sweet potato greens and lettuce heads. Plenty of freshly picked herbs: Italian basil, lemon basil, cilantro, recao, mint, garlic chives, rosemary, dill, ginger, chili peppers, lemongrass and holy basil. Rumor has it that lemongrass is effective in the treatment of chikungunya symptoms.

Luca also has selected pineapple and vegetable starts available for your garden.

For your holiday gift list, why not a bunch of exuberant fresh zinnia flowers, a pineapple or basil plant that you pot up yourself in a pretty pot, or a bunch of sweet bananas. ARTfarm gift certificates are also available.

From our partners we have the last of the ripe, juicy mangoes for this winter season from Alex at Tropical Exotics, petite (perfect stocking-stuffer-sized) honey bottles from Errol Chichester, and we have big “Marcus Pumpkin” avocados from retired UVI fruit tree agronomist Aberra Bulbulla.

We’ll also be open 12-4pm on Christmas Eve day (Wednesday, December 24th) and we’ll start up Monday farmstands again right after Christmas!

We look forward to seeing you. Thanks as always, for supporting small local family farms on our beautiful little jewel of an island. Having the privilege to farm organically in this place is a gift that our customers give to us year-round. Happy holiday season!

IMG_7177.JPGMatthew loves cultivating with our wheel hoe. No fossil fuels required!

IMG_7178.JPGColors are so bright at this time of year on the farm. It’s a great season to be inspired artistically. This section of the farm has been grazed/graced by the ARTfarm sheep flocks for several years. This year, it is rotating in to be a productive powerhouse of tomatoes and veggies and herbs!