Art, Earth Day, and The Return of the Goat Cheese 10am – 12 noon

Overall, the tomato plants are slowing down as the weather gets slightly hotter, but we still have tons to pick and for you to enjoy!
Overall, the tomato plants are slowing down as the weather gets slightly hotter, but we still have tons to pick and for you to enjoy!
Our sunflowers are getting ridiculously tall! They seem to love our soil. We field tested some cut sunflowers this week in a jar of water and they lasted at least six days with no added care. If you change the water more regularly and add a couple of tablespoons each of apple cider vinegar, sugar, and baking soda to the water, they should go even longer!
Our sunflowers are getting ridiculously tall! They seem to love our soil. We field tested some cut sunflowers this week in a jar of water and they lasted at least six days with no added care. If you change the water more regularly and add a couple of tablespoons each of apple cider vinegar, sugar, and baking soda to the water, they should go even longer!
Can you find the melons in the melon patch? Lots of exciting varieties, soon come!
Can you find the melons in the melon patch? Lots of exciting varieties, soon come!

The arts are very busy this weekend with the VI Lit Fest partying hard at UVI and CMCArts, and various art exhibitions including a mix of student and professional work at the Good Hope Country Day School. Get out and enjoy some culture, or stay in and practice your own creativity!

Yesterday’s full moon coincided with Earth Day. We hope that more and more people will join communities like ours of small farmers and their dedicated customers, to practice Earth Day consciousness and conservation around the calendar all year long.

Fiddlewood Farms goat cheese is back today! Pairs perfectly with any and all of the following items: Sweet salad mix, baby arugula, baby spicy salad mix, lettuce heads; onions, radishes, pumpkin, sweet potato, green, red, and orange bell peppers; seasoning peppers, both types of hot peppers, a few cucumbers, a few bunches of kale, bunched arugula, parsley, Italian basil, chives, rosemary, lemongrass, ginger root, papaya, passionfruit, cherry tomatoes, medium heirloom and red tomatoes, recao, farm fresh eggs from ARTfarm and from Heather’s hens; and more of Dr. Bradford’s unbelievably fresh, delicate goat cheese.

Aaaand…Decorate your table or make a lovely gift of fresh cut zinnias and sunflowers.

Life Is Good! Fishmonger Wednesday 3-6pm

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 Aho
Fiddlewood Farms goat cheese with Errol’s Virgin Fresh raw local honey and cinnamon! Photo (c)2016 Marjo Aho
Fiddlewood 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.

ARTfarm Abundance 10am – 12noon Saturday 

The drought conditions drastically reduced our beneficial insect population; we planted wildflower mixes in the gardens to try and boost their numbers. A side effect of this farming technique is the beautiful flowers.
The drought conditions drastically reduced our beneficial insect population; we planted wildflower mixes in the gardens to try and boost their numbers. A side effect of this farming technique is the beautiful flowers.

We are a small, highly diversified family farm. We grow smallish amounts of many things, of the highest possible quality. This is an intensive and time consuming way to farm but it is also highly biodiverse and, we feel, sustainable.

Because we often have limited quantities of certain items, we encourage customers looking for specific items to try and come near the beginning of our farmstand hours. Additionally, due to reduced rainfall over the last year and reduced growing capacity, we are only open two instead of three days a week this year. This often results in a line of customers at the entrance prior to opening. We appreciate your dedication to good food.

Let’s all try to maintain a sense of abundance as we go through our day. There is enough good food for everyone. We are all more fulfilled when we can share what we have with our neighbors around us. Let’s all take a breath and appreciate all the blessings we can be grateful for.

Today’s abundance: Sweet salad mix, arugula, spicy salad mix, and lettuce heads;

Cherry tomatoes, sturdy slicing and delicate please-handle-gently heirloom tomatoes, summer squash, pumpkins in all different shapes and types, green bell peppers, kale, scallions, onions, carrots, radishes, a handful of wild cucumbers;

The Seminole and other small pumpkins are finally ready! The plump seeds are delicious roasted with olive oil and a generous pinch of sea salt, don't forget them!
The Seminole and other small pumpkins are finally ready! The plump seeds are delicious roasted with olive oil and a generous pinch of sea salt, don’t forget them!

Red and green serrano peppers, red and green Indian chilies, cilantro, dill, garlic chives, parsley, Italian basil, lemon basil, holy basil, rosemary, ginger root, a few passionfruit, loads of zinnia flowers, loads of edible marigold flowers, wildflowers, and a few bags of figs​.

The drought has pushed us to do a lot of experimentation on the farm this year. Our rain catchment ponds are suffering from algae overgrowth and increased evaporation. We are trialing different floating aquatic plants to serve as an eco-friendly and economic pond cover. This fuzzy friend is called Salvinia.
The drought has pushed us to do a lot of experimentation on the farm this year. Our rain catchment ponds are suffering from algae overgrowth and increased evaporation. We are trialing different floating aquatic plants to serve as an eco-friendly and economic pond cover. This fuzzy friend is called Salvinia.

Happy Holidays! ARTfarm OPEN 3-6pm Today!

 

Baby! Baby arugula, Baby!

Lots of beautiful things for your holiday table at ARTfarm this afternoon! Come down the South Shore and enjoy this beautiful day.

We have plenty of beautiful fresh sweet salad mix, baby and teen arugula and spicy salad greens, and oak leaf lettuce heads;

Freshly harvested garlic chives, lemongrass, rosemary, recao, and lemon, Italian, Thai and holy basils;

Ethiopian, dinosaur and purple kale; wild pickling gherkins (click for recipe, halfway down the page) and beautifully domesticated slicing cucumbers, zucchinis and squashes (click for recipes and suggestions), and fresh eggs from Yellow Door Farm.

Early birds may experience: fresh Mediterranean figs, zinnia flowers and a few cherry and slicer tomatoes.

Special guest Ms. Wanda will have beautiful gift boxes of Crucian Mead samplers!

We will be open again on Saturday, December 26. We should have sweet corn, more tomatoes, and a few other additions to the lineup for Saturday.

Wishing a merry and peaceful holiday season for all. We are blessed to have such enthusiastic customers and the privilege to work with our family and friends on beautiful land. Thanks for your support!