Friday, December 25, 2009
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Last Chance for Local Produce!
Well, not the last chance ever - but the last chance in 2009! Today is the last Bayview Farmer's Market Holiday Fair and Willowood Farm is bringing the green! We dug deep (sometimes literally), for one last great farmer's market.
Surviving the recent deep freeze, was quite a range still of lovely veggies:
* Collards
* Fabulous Flat Cabbages and Lovelier Red Cabbages Too!
* Mixed Baby Kale
* Baby Spinach!
* Baby Palla Rossa Radicchios (similar to Belgian Endive)
* Carrots!
* Rutabagas (in their prime right now too - perfect size!)
* Japanese Salad Turnips
* Kohlrabi
* Jerusalem Artichokes (aka Sunchokes)
From the storage cellar we will be bringing:
* Potatoes! Potatoes! Potatoes! Several kinds, including fingerlings.
* Garlic!
* Winter Squash
* Dry Beans
We are also hoping for a early morning delivery from our neighbors Prairie Bottom Farms with leeks, beets and (we hear rumors...) maybe even some Rockwell Beans!
On top of all that fabulous fresh food, Willowood Farm is also featuring a number of great Holiday Food Gift Ideas including -
* Garlic Braids, Garlic Sampler Bags (4 kinds of different roasting garlics), Garlic Lovers Gourmet Box, Garlic Flakes
* Bagged dry beans and Rockwell Bean seed packages
* The Willowood Farm "Harvest Feast" box. A perfect local food holiday gift!
So we hope to see you today! If you've never been there, the market is located at the Bayview Hall behind Bayview Farm and Garden. And yes, it is indoors!
And on a final note, I wanted to include a link on a GREAT blog posting from "locovore" Vincent Nattress. Vincent's blog, Puget Sound Bites, has become one of my favorites. Check it out!
As always, THANK YOU! for your support of local food
Farmer Georgie
Willowood Farm of Ebey's Prairie
Surviving the recent deep freeze, was quite a range still of lovely veggies:
* Collards
* Fabulous Flat Cabbages and Lovelier Red Cabbages Too!
* Mixed Baby Kale
* Baby Spinach!
* Baby Palla Rossa Radicchios (similar to Belgian Endive)
* Carrots!
* Rutabagas (in their prime right now too - perfect size!)
* Japanese Salad Turnips
* Kohlrabi
* Jerusalem Artichokes (aka Sunchokes)
From the storage cellar we will be bringing:
* Potatoes! Potatoes! Potatoes! Several kinds, including fingerlings.
* Garlic!
* Winter Squash
* Dry Beans
We are also hoping for a early morning delivery from our neighbors Prairie Bottom Farms with leeks, beets and (we hear rumors...) maybe even some Rockwell Beans!
On top of all that fabulous fresh food, Willowood Farm is also featuring a number of great Holiday Food Gift Ideas including -
* Garlic Braids, Garlic Sampler Bags (4 kinds of different roasting garlics), Garlic Lovers Gourmet Box, Garlic Flakes
* Bagged dry beans and Rockwell Bean seed packages
* The Willowood Farm "Harvest Feast" box. A perfect local food holiday gift!
So we hope to see you today! If you've never been there, the market is located at the Bayview Hall behind Bayview Farm and Garden. And yes, it is indoors!
And on a final note, I wanted to include a link on a GREAT blog posting from "locovore" Vincent Nattress. Vincent's blog, Puget Sound Bites, has become one of my favorites. Check it out!
As always, THANK YOU! for your support of local food
Farmer Georgie
Willowood Farm of Ebey's Prairie
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Come get your local food economy!
I was forwarded a link to this article recently and I wanted to share it.
Can local food jump-start the economy?
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/all-we-can-eat/sustainable-food/can-local-food-jumpstart-the-economy.html
Basically, this article says that yep, sure enough, local FOOD businesses in particular are a great way to stimulate a vibrant, locally based community. Well...NO KIDDING!
I always tell people, when they ask me, why in the heck I'm crazy enough to think I can make a living selling food???...The thing is, everybody has to eat! I worked for 10 years in the gift industry selling "stuff." Nice stuff, stuff that provided jobs for very needy folks overseas (not to mention a core of folks on Whidbey Island as well...), but in the end it was just "stuff." Nothing that anybody HAD TO HAVE to actually survive the day.
Food on the other hand, well again, we all gotta eat! This is why is seems so strange to me that we, as a society, have so undermined the value of what farmers do. As the saying goes - No Farmers No Food. It's a pretty simple equation.
For me, as a small farmer, with products that sometimes are on par with but are oftentimes much more expensive than the current equivalent at the grocery store, I understand that for many folks eating an entirely local or organic just isn't in the budget. That's okay! I don't need everybody on Whidbey Island to adopt the 100 mile diet and storm my fields! The weekly $5, $10, $20 purchases. Even the monthly $5, $10, $20 purchases are what keep my small local business stimulated! And hopefully, provide you with something that you can not only feel good about buying - but enjoy eating too!
So now, off my soapbox and on to the important info I know you are all looking for. WHERE AND HOW to buy all this great local food, especially in December in the middle of a deep freeze???
At the Bayview Farmers Market Holiday Fair! Today! Saturday, Dec. 12th, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Bayview Hall.
While I must admit, the selection of green stuff at market today has been, unfortunately, nixayed by the current hold Jack Frost has on my fields (cabbage popsicles anyone?), I will have a selection of stored and cold-tolerant veggies to bring home for dinner tonite. Plus a wealth of great local food gift items to share for the holidays. So coming to market today -
- Potatoes, potatoes, potatoes! Still have several selections....
- Jerusalem Artichokes - greatly cold tolerant! We will have a small basket dug out of frozen solid ground!
- A few rutagabags as well! Again, greatly cold tolerant. Now if the ground would unfreeze we might actually be able to get more. (We had to give up when we broke the shovel!).
- Winter squash. Stored inside!
- Dry beans.
- Gourmet garlic!
On the holiday gift list...We will have:
- Dried garlic flakes, gourmet garlic gift boxes, garlic braids, garlic roaster bags, Rockwell Bean seed packs and the ultimate Willowood Farm "Holiday Feast" gift box featuring a mix of straight from the farm goodies all packaged in an attractive, reusuable, wood slate box.
So we hope to see you out at market today!
Thanks for all your support of local food.
Farmer Georgie
Willowood Farm of Ebey's Prairie
Can local food jump-start the economy?
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/all-we-can-eat/sustainable-food/can-local-food-jumpstart-the-economy.html
Basically, this article says that yep, sure enough, local FOOD businesses in particular are a great way to stimulate a vibrant, locally based community. Well...NO KIDDING!
I always tell people, when they ask me, why in the heck I'm crazy enough to think I can make a living selling food???...The thing is, everybody has to eat! I worked for 10 years in the gift industry selling "stuff." Nice stuff, stuff that provided jobs for very needy folks overseas (not to mention a core of folks on Whidbey Island as well...), but in the end it was just "stuff." Nothing that anybody HAD TO HAVE to actually survive the day.
Food on the other hand, well again, we all gotta eat! This is why is seems so strange to me that we, as a society, have so undermined the value of what farmers do. As the saying goes - No Farmers No Food. It's a pretty simple equation.
For me, as a small farmer, with products that sometimes are on par with but are oftentimes much more expensive than the current equivalent at the grocery store, I understand that for many folks eating an entirely local or organic just isn't in the budget. That's okay! I don't need everybody on Whidbey Island to adopt the 100 mile diet and storm my fields! The weekly $5, $10, $20 purchases. Even the monthly $5, $10, $20 purchases are what keep my small local business stimulated! And hopefully, provide you with something that you can not only feel good about buying - but enjoy eating too!
So now, off my soapbox and on to the important info I know you are all looking for. WHERE AND HOW to buy all this great local food, especially in December in the middle of a deep freeze???
At the Bayview Farmers Market Holiday Fair! Today! Saturday, Dec. 12th, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Bayview Hall.
While I must admit, the selection of green stuff at market today has been, unfortunately, nixayed by the current hold Jack Frost has on my fields (cabbage popsicles anyone?), I will have a selection of stored and cold-tolerant veggies to bring home for dinner tonite. Plus a wealth of great local food gift items to share for the holidays. So coming to market today -
- Potatoes, potatoes, potatoes! Still have several selections....
- Jerusalem Artichokes - greatly cold tolerant! We will have a small basket dug out of frozen solid ground!
- A few rutagabags as well! Again, greatly cold tolerant. Now if the ground would unfreeze we might actually be able to get more. (We had to give up when we broke the shovel!).
- Winter squash. Stored inside!
- Dry beans.
- Gourmet garlic!
On the holiday gift list...We will have:
- Dried garlic flakes, gourmet garlic gift boxes, garlic braids, garlic roaster bags, Rockwell Bean seed packs and the ultimate Willowood Farm "Holiday Feast" gift box featuring a mix of straight from the farm goodies all packaged in an attractive, reusuable, wood slate box.
So we hope to see you out at market today!
Thanks for all your support of local food.
Farmer Georgie
Willowood Farm of Ebey's Prairie
Friday, December 4, 2009
Busy elves at Willowood Farm...
The worker elves have been busy, busy, busy at Willowood Farm this week!
Busy putting together lots of great local food gift ideas just in time for the holidays. (Unlike Santa's workshop, however, which consists of mistletoe and smells of Christmas wreaths and hot chocolate the Willowood Farm workshop consists of strawbales and smells of garlic and apple cider. But otherwise, you'd never know the difference - really...).
Here's the list of local food gift ideas, straight from the farm, we will be bringing tomorrow (Saturday, Dec. 5) to the Bayview Farmer's Market Holiday Fair at the Bayview Hall, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., along with a nice selection of frost-kissed local greens and other veggie goodies (think chard, collards, mustards, spinach, arugula, winter squash, etc...).
Roasting Garlic Sampler Bag
- Prepackaged net bags of 4 DIFFERENT kinds of jumbo size roasting garlic. Each garlic is marked with name variety. Comes with information sheet explaining each different variety, instructions on how to roast garlic and information on the differences of gourmet garlic vs. that boring nasty stuff you find at the grocery store! This is great for a garlic lover or great to bring as a dish to a Xmas party. Simply roast the garlic, add some soft spreadable cheese and crackers or bread, include the tag with the info on the garlic varieties and voila! A tasty and conversation-inspiring dish! $8.99 a bag.
Gourmet Dried Garlic Flakes
- This is a great stocking stuffer! A ½ cup worth of dried Willowood Farm gourmet garlic flakes. To use simply take a pinch of flakes, a pinch of kosher salt and mash together. Makes perfect, aromatic garlic powder everytime! Nothing like that rancid, old store-bought garlic powder. (The difference #1 – Start w/ good garlic and #2 – Only “mash” up as much as you need so it is super fresh and retains all it’s garlic goodness!). Packaged in a clear spice jar with a label and great for those “garlicaholics” who go crazy in the “downtime” of early spring waiting for the next crop…$4.99 a jar.
Garlic Lovers Gift Box
- Already wrapped and ready to go! Includes 2 jumbo size gourmet
garlic (marked with name), an informational card talking about each variety and the differences of gourmet garlic. Plus a 1/4 cup bag of dried Willowood Farm garlic flakes. Attractively packaged in a natural-hued box, tied with ribbon and a little garlic “embellishment.” Perfect gift already ready to go. $10.99 a box.
Garlic Braids
- Approximately 1 lb worth of softneck garlic. Softneck garlic is your best storage garlic and braiding them allows them to keep even longer. Kept in a most homes, not to hot not to cold, they should last 4 months or longer…Braided attractively with decorative dried flowers and an attractive ribbon. 3 kinds of garlic types (specific with one). All braids $14.99
o Inchelium Red. Washington native. Mild raw, decent baker. Good all-purpose.
o Red Toch. From Russia with HEAT! Hot, hot, hot raw! Good all-purpose.
o Nootka Rose. From San Juan Islands. Attractive rose-colored cloves. Sharp, hot flavor good for all purpose.
Dry Culinary Beans
- Peregion Bean Bag – Oregon heirloom. Gorgeous milk chocolate with dark mocha swirls plus a percentage of all dark beans. Beautiful mix. Firm, small nutty bean similar to a Black Turtle type. Perfect for side dish with wild game or go great with simply rich dishes. Bagged in 1 lb clear bag with descriptive topper including recipe. $9.99 a bag.
Heirloom Bean Seed Packs
All seed packs include 2 ounces of seed and come with growing instructions.
- Rockwell Bean Seed Pack. Coupeville heirloom! Grow these amazingly popular beans in your very own garden! 2 oz bag, comes with info on the Rockwell bean and growing instructions. Great stocking stuffer for gardeners! $3 a bag.
Willowood Farm "Harvest Feast" Gift Box
A lovely slatted, re-usable wood box filled with the following:
- Small Winter Squash (farm choice of variety)
- Roasted Garlic Sampler Bag
- Potato Bag (2 lbs of Willowood Farm gourmet potatoes)
- Peregion Culinary Bean Bag
- Spice jar of Willowood Farm Garlic Flakes
- One Rockwell Bean seed pack.
Includes informational sheet on Willowood Farm and the new Farms of Ebey’s self-guided driving brochure. A great gift for local food lovers! $54.99 a box. Preorders only and limited supply! FIRST BOXES WILL BE READY FOR DELIVERY WEEK OF DEC. 7TH or pick up at the Bayview Farmer’s Market Holiday Fair on Dec. 12th or Dec. 19th.
To pre-order any gift items for delivery or pick-up week of Dec. 7th contact Georgie at willowoodfarm@gmail.com.
You can also purchase many of these items directly at Bayleaf in Coupeville (www.bayleaf.us) , or from Whidbey Green Goods (www.whidbeygreengoods.com) on the southend of the island (and have them delivered to your doorstep!) or come to the Willowood Farm booth at the Bayview Farmer’s Market Holiday Fair (Dec. 5th, 12th and 19th) 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Bayview Hall to view any of the items and purchase their directly (as long as supplies last!) or preorder for delivery the following week.
Happy Holidays and THANK YOU for your support of local Whidbey Island farmers!
Farmer (Santa Claus) Georgie
Willowood Farm of Ebey’s Prairie
Busy putting together lots of great local food gift ideas just in time for the holidays. (Unlike Santa's workshop, however, which consists of mistletoe and smells of Christmas wreaths and hot chocolate the Willowood Farm workshop consists of strawbales and smells of garlic and apple cider. But otherwise, you'd never know the difference - really...).
Here's the list of local food gift ideas, straight from the farm, we will be bringing tomorrow (Saturday, Dec. 5) to the Bayview Farmer's Market Holiday Fair at the Bayview Hall, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., along with a nice selection of frost-kissed local greens and other veggie goodies (think chard, collards, mustards, spinach, arugula, winter squash, etc...).
Willowood Farm Local Food Holiday Gifts
“Gifts from the heart of Ebey’s Reserve…”
All gift orders are first-come, first-serve until I’m out!
“Gifts from the heart of Ebey’s Reserve…”
All gift orders are first-come, first-serve until I’m out!
WILLOWOOD FARM GOURMET GARLIC GIFTS!
Roasting Garlic Sampler Bag
- Prepackaged net bags of 4 DIFFERENT kinds of jumbo size roasting garlic. Each garlic is marked with name variety. Comes with information sheet explaining each different variety, instructions on how to roast garlic and information on the differences of gourmet garlic vs. that boring nasty stuff you find at the grocery store! This is great for a garlic lover or great to bring as a dish to a Xmas party. Simply roast the garlic, add some soft spreadable cheese and crackers or bread, include the tag with the info on the garlic varieties and voila! A tasty and conversation-inspiring dish! $8.99 a bag.
Gourmet Dried Garlic Flakes
- This is a great stocking stuffer! A ½ cup worth of dried Willowood Farm gourmet garlic flakes. To use simply take a pinch of flakes, a pinch of kosher salt and mash together. Makes perfect, aromatic garlic powder everytime! Nothing like that rancid, old store-bought garlic powder. (The difference #1 – Start w/ good garlic and #2 – Only “mash” up as much as you need so it is super fresh and retains all it’s garlic goodness!). Packaged in a clear spice jar with a label and great for those “garlicaholics” who go crazy in the “downtime” of early spring waiting for the next crop…$4.99 a jar.
Garlic Lovers Gift Box
- Already wrapped and ready to go! Includes 2 jumbo size gourmet
garlic (marked with name), an informational card talking about each variety and the differences of gourmet garlic. Plus a 1/4 cup bag of dried Willowood Farm garlic flakes. Attractively packaged in a natural-hued box, tied with ribbon and a little garlic “embellishment.” Perfect gift already ready to go. $10.99 a box.
Garlic Braids
- Approximately 1 lb worth of softneck garlic. Softneck garlic is your best storage garlic and braiding them allows them to keep even longer. Kept in a most homes, not to hot not to cold, they should last 4 months or longer…Braided attractively with decorative dried flowers and an attractive ribbon. 3 kinds of garlic types (specific with one). All braids $14.99
o Inchelium Red. Washington native. Mild raw, decent baker. Good all-purpose.
o Red Toch. From Russia with HEAT! Hot, hot, hot raw! Good all-purpose.
o Nootka Rose. From San Juan Islands. Attractive rose-colored cloves. Sharp, hot flavor good for all purpose.
OTHER GREAT LOCAL FOOD GIFT IDEAS FROM WILLOWOOD FARM
Dry Culinary Beans
- Peregion Bean Bag – Oregon heirloom. Gorgeous milk chocolate with dark mocha swirls plus a percentage of all dark beans. Beautiful mix. Firm, small nutty bean similar to a Black Turtle type. Perfect for side dish with wild game or go great with simply rich dishes. Bagged in 1 lb clear bag with descriptive topper including recipe. $9.99 a bag.
Heirloom Bean Seed Packs
All seed packs include 2 ounces of seed and come with growing instructions.
- Rockwell Bean Seed Pack. Coupeville heirloom! Grow these amazingly popular beans in your very own garden! 2 oz bag, comes with info on the Rockwell bean and growing instructions. Great stocking stuffer for gardeners! $3 a bag.
Willowood Farm "Harvest Feast" Gift Box
A lovely slatted, re-usable wood box filled with the following:
- Small Winter Squash (farm choice of variety)
- Roasted Garlic Sampler Bag
- Potato Bag (2 lbs of Willowood Farm gourmet potatoes)
- Peregion Culinary Bean Bag
- Spice jar of Willowood Farm Garlic Flakes
- One Rockwell Bean seed pack.
Includes informational sheet on Willowood Farm and the new Farms of Ebey’s self-guided driving brochure. A great gift for local food lovers! $54.99 a box. Preorders only and limited supply! FIRST BOXES WILL BE READY FOR DELIVERY WEEK OF DEC. 7TH or pick up at the Bayview Farmer’s Market Holiday Fair on Dec. 12th or Dec. 19th.
To pre-order any gift items for delivery or pick-up week of Dec. 7th contact Georgie at willowoodfarm@gmail.com.
You can also purchase many of these items directly at Bayleaf in Coupeville (www.bayleaf.us) , or from Whidbey Green Goods (www.whidbeygreengoods.com) on the southend of the island (and have them delivered to your doorstep!) or come to the Willowood Farm booth at the Bayview Farmer’s Market Holiday Fair (Dec. 5th, 12th and 19th) 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Bayview Hall to view any of the items and purchase their directly (as long as supplies last!) or preorder for delivery the following week.
Happy Holidays and THANK YOU for your support of local Whidbey Island farmers!
Farmer (Santa Claus) Georgie
Willowood Farm of Ebey’s Prairie
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