Creekside Natural Farm, Minooka, IL – Blog

I made a fresh batch of Fresh Salsa this morning and have it in the cooler in the stand. $5.00 for a 1 lb container.

We had to put up a second row of electric fence around the meat chickens yesterday to keep our local raccoon from getting another chicken dinner – now he’s moved to the sweet corn! We would rather loose some sweet corn than chickens. I guess Gilda Radner was right – It’s always something!

We will be at the 3 French Hens Market in Morris tomorrow from 8 till 2. We will have Austrian Crescent fingerling potatoes, Flavorburst bell peppers, Golden beets, Cyndrilical beets, hard neck garlic, Sunflowers, okra, heirloom eggplant, heirloom tomatoes (both big and cherry), red cherry tomatoes, poblano peppers, herbs, herb plants and our 100% Suri Alpaca yarn.

I made our first batch this season of Fresh Heirloom Tomato Salsa using our heirloom tomatoes and peppers, garlic, onions, fresh cilantro and fresh lime juice. It’s in the cooler in 1 lb containers for $5.00

Pull behind combine

Saturday was harvest day for our small patch of oats. It’s good to have friends with antique combines when you have a small piece. The modern combines are made for large acreage.  Our hens will have lots of oats for the next year and we baled the straw today for their winter bedding.

Unloading the oats into the wagon

Antique combine

Baron was supervising the progress from the shade.

antique style harvesting

We have some beautiful Strawberry Blonde sunflowers at the Minooka Market – Just cut this morning!

We are picking a variety of heirloom eggplant and peppers that includes Fengyuan, Pandora, Kazakhstan and Ronde De Valence eggplant and Jimmy Nardello’s and Bullnose sweet peppers. the eggplants are $4.00 per bag, the Bullnose peppers are $1.00 each and the Jimmy Nardello’s’s are $3.00 per bag.

We are just starting to pick okra and have it in the stand for $2.00 per pint. It’s great pickled with some of our fresh garlic.

We are starting to pick the heirloom tomatoes as well as cherry tomatoes. The cherry tomatoes are sold either as a mixed pint of Sungold, Black Cherry and Red Cherry or by the individual variety. The Full-size tomatoes that are ready are Cherokee Purple, Mortgage Lifter and Arkansas Traveler. They’re in the stand for $3.00 per pint.

We moved the fall chicks out to their pasture this morning. We gave them an electric netting fence in addition to the electric pasture fence. the extra protection keeps Tiger the barn kitty away. They really enjoy the fresh air, green grass and sunshine!

We will be at the Minooka Farmers market today from 9 till noon in the lower parking lot across from Cookies. We will be selling sweet corn that Bill is picking this morning, cherry tomatoes, heirloom beets, herbs and zinnias. We also have a few heirloom tomatoes, peppers and eggplant.

For all of you who have been asking for sweet corn – it’s ready! This is non-GMO and un-sprayed calico corn. We picked it this morning, checked each ear and removed any bugs. It’s bagged and in the cooler.

$6.00 per bag of 13 ears

Sweet Corn

This is why we laugh when people ask if they can buy 2 ears of sweet corn. Tonight’s side dish for 2!

cherry tomatoes are ripe and in the stand. They are a mix of Black Cherry, Sungold and Red Cherry. $3.00 per pint.
we also have lettuce, green and yellow beans, red and green cabbage, eggplant, herbs and eggs.

We are having a fantastic crop of green and yellow beans and are offering either at $3.00 per pound if you would like to buy either a half (15 lbs.) or full (30 lbs.) bushel for canning or freezing. The regular price per pound is $4.00. These are un-sprayed and hand picked like everything we grow. They will be picked on the day you pick them up if you come in the afternoon or the previous day if you want to come in the morning. Please call 815-467-5259 or e-mail pam@creeksidenaturalfarm.com ahead of time. These quantities will not be available without advance notice.

We will be at the Minooka Farmers Market tomorrow from 9 till noon with green and yellow beans, eggplant, zucchini, red and green cabbage, garlic scapes, beets, assorted herbs and flowers. We Will also have yarn from our Suri alpacas.

Garlic scapes are ready and it’s a very short season. If you’ve never tried them, here are some suggestions. $4.00 for a 1/2 lb bag

Garlic Scape Butter

6 garlic scapes, finely chopped (cut off the bulb at the top & snap of fibrous end)

1 lb of butter softened

Finely mince scapes (I use a small food processor). Add the butter and mix well.

You can also add other herbs or Parmesan cheese. I use this this for a garlic bread spread. It would also be good for pasta.

GARLIC SCAPE AND ALMOND PESTO

Makes about 1 cup

10 garlic scapes, finely chopped (cut off the bulb at the top & snap of fibrous end)

1/3 to 1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan (to taste and texture)

1/3 cup slivered almonds (you could toast them lightly, if you’d like)

About 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

Sea salt

Put the scapes, 1/3 cup of the cheese, almonds and half the olive oil in the bowl of a food processor (or use a blender or a mortar and pestle). Whir to chop and blend all the ingredients and then add the remainder of the oil and, if you want, more cheese. If you like the texture, stop; if you’d like it a little thinner, add some more oil. You can also add basil or other herbs that you like. Season with salt.

If you’re not going to use the pesto immediately, press a piece of plastic against the surface to keep it from oxidizing. The pesto can be stored in the refrigerator for a couple of days or packed airtight and frozen for a couple of months. Serve with pasta or use as a sandwich spread.

Other things to do with Garlic scapes:

Chop and add them to stir-fry, salad or pasta. They can also be pickeled or used to make herb vinegar.

Beets and kale are ready in the stand. $3.00 per bunch or bag
We also have broccoli, sugar snap peas, red and green cabbage, various herbs and eggs.

Cour Di Bue and Red Express cabbage are ready in the stand. They make a beautiful cole slaw!