Musings about Food & the Politics of Food.

TartQueen's Kitchen


Archive for August 12th, 2015


Eating Locally Project 2015: June & July 0

Posted on August 12, 2015 by Sahar

Apologies to you all for not writing this up sooner. With all the family visits, travel, and, yes, a summer sore throat & cold, I’ve been a little neglectful in getting anything written and posted.

I only shopped at 3 places this time around – Boggy Creek FarmSpringdale Farm, and at the farmers market in Quepos, Costa Rica. As I stated in May, I volunteer at Boggy Creek, so I shopped there twice and only had time to go once to Springdale. Because we were out of town so much, it simply wasn’t feasible to go more often to the farms or even make it out to any of the markets in Austin.

 

June 18 – Boggy Creek

Volunteer Day. I was experimenting with travel time from my house to the farm. I gave myself almost an hour that morning and arrived at the farm 20 minutes early. I decided to use the time semi-wisely and take a few photos of the soon-to-be cut flowers

IMG_6279_2

Next time I go, I really need to ask what flowers they’re growing.

IMG_6281_2

Ditto.

IMG_6282_2

Rows of Zinnias

IMG_6283_2

Zinnia ready for its close-up

As I recall, it was an overcast and humid day. There hadn’t been rain for several days at this point, so the ground was beginning to harden. And, it was weed-pulling day. The weeds are almost a lost cause on the farm, but everyone does their best to keep them in check. Most of them are fairly easy to pull; but the Bermuda Grass – ugh. After the weed pulling, composting was next on the list. I know the compost they use at Boggy Creek is excellent quality because it’s steaming as you fill the bucket.

IMG_6297_2

After weeding and composting. Bermuda Grass – ugh. Trust me – this is so much better than any before picture would’ve suggested.

At the end of the day, I dragged myself into the farm stand to collect my “pay”. I wanted to be somewhat judicious since I knew Steve & I were going out of town again that weekend (it was his birthday), and I didn’t want to take the chance of anything going bad before I had a chance to use it.

IMG_6284_2

Heirloom tomatoes.

IMG_6290_2

Purple Bells.

IMG_6289_2

The first butternut squash of the season. I was excited; it’s my favorite.

IMG_6288_2

String beans are kicking in.

IMG_6286_2

The red tomatoes are Indigo Rose. The yellow ones are Sungolds.

After my shopping, I decided to stretch my legs a little and walk around the farm. I discovered if I didn’t do this – basically cool down after a workout – my legs became very painful on the drive home.

IMG_6293_2

Figs! I missed the crop she picked that day.

IMG_6296_2

Cinnatree flowers.

IMG_6295_2

Tractor study.

IMG_6294_2

Carol Ann’s tea roses.

IMG_6298_2

The okra is doing well.

IMG_6301_2

Okra flower.

IMG_6299_2

There they are. Baby Okra.

IMG_6302_2

Another flowering tree that I don’t know the name of. I really need to stick asking about these in the old brain box.

IMG_6303_2

Tatsumas. They’ll be ready in the fall. If the birds don’t get to them first.

IMG_6305_2

My purchases: Dandelion Greens, Butternut Squash, Indigo Rose Tomatoes

IMG_6306_2

Eggs. I gave these to my fitness trainer.

 

Saturday, June 27 – Boggy Creek

I missed my volunteer day at Boggy Creek that week (at this point, I can’t remember why), so I contented myself with heading out on Saturday instead; this way, I could also head to Springdale afterwards.

IMG_6394_2

Cut flowers for sale

IMG_6395_2

Basil and Dandelion Greens

IMG_6396_2

Curly Mustard Greens. My current favorite.

IMG_6397_2

Some of the Pursulane I helped to plant back in May. It has this wonderful sharp flavor to it. The leaves are almost like biting into a succulent.

IMG_6398_2

‘Tis the season for tomatoes.

IMG_6400_2

New potatoes. Always welcome.

IMG_6401_2

The ladies waiting until the people have all left so they can have run of the farm.

IMG_6402_2

Whatever produce Carol Ann feels isn’t good enough to sell, she feeds it to the chickens. They’re a happy bunch. That day, it was butternut squash.

IMG_6404_2

Keeping up with the weeds is a never-ending battle. There are squash plants holding their own in there, though.

IMG_6405_2

Taking a look at some of the rows I helped clean up.

IMG_6406_2

Okra still going strong.

IMG_6407_2

More of Carol Ann’s flowers

IMG_6408_2

Waiting for the pecan season to begin. I don’t know that the farm sells them, but it’d be great if they did.

IMG_6410_2

Caged pepper plants.

IMG_6409_2

Cinnabar

IMG_6432_2

My Boggy Creek Purchases, Part 1: Hamburger Patties.

IMG_6433_2

My Boggy Creek Purchases, Part 2: Basil, Curly Mustard, Figs, Dandelion Greens, Indigo Red Tomatoes, Sungold Tomatoes

After a quick chat with Carol Ann, Larry (Butler, Carol Ann’s husband and farm co-owner), and the lead volunteer, Dana, I headed to Springdale. They open an hour later than Boggy Creek, so I arrived a few minutes early. So, I took my time walking to the farm stand and took a few flower pictures.

IMG_6412_2

I really need to buy a Flowers of Central Texas guide.

IMG_6413_2

More posies.

IMG_6415_2

I think this is a type of Marigold.

Springdale’s farm stand is smaller than Boggy Creek’s, but where Boggy’s is neat, pretty, and utilitarian, Springdale really put on a colorful and artful show. I love to walk in there and see what Paula, Glen, and their staff have done that week. It’s always lovely.

IMG_6416_2

Case in point, the tomato table. The photo doesn’t do it justice.

IMG_6417_2

The pepper table. I think they had 6 – 8 varieties that day.

IMG_6419_2

The herb table.

IMG_6420_2

Dill flowers. I didn’t buy any because I wasn’t quite sure what to do with them other than pickling. I’ll find something.

IMG_6421_2

Beautiful chicken eggs.

And, of course, after shopping, I wandered a bit.

IMG_6422_2

The ladies and gentlemen of the farm.

IMG_6423_2

Ahh… more flowers.

IMG_6424_2

Along the fence line.

IMG_6425_2

The ducks would have nothing to do with me.

IMG_6426_2

Ghost Peppers.

IMG_6427_2

I think this was an Anaheim.

IMG_6428_2

Some beautiful fungus growing out of one of the tree stumps.

IMG_6430_2

More tree stump fungus.

At this point, I decided to not go to any other markets since, yes, Steve & I were once again leaving for parts far away soon. I wanted to get what I bought eaten before we left.

IMG_6434_2

My Springdale purchases, Part 1: Thyme, Garlic Chives, Jalapeños, Mint

IMG_6436_2

May Springdale purchases, Part 2: Chicken Eggs (f), Duck Eggs (b)

Bonus: My mom was in town for a Contemporary Handweavers of Texas conference (she’s on the board), so I went to visit her. I gave her a goodie bag of the chicken eggs, figs, and about half of the tomatoes. I’m not sure if the figs made it back to Ft. Worth.

IMG_6439_2

Saturday’s Dinner: Baked Shrimp and Salad made with baby spinach, curly mustard, dandelion greens, tomatoes, Kalamata olives, feta, and extra virgin olive oil.

 

Saturday, July 11 – Farmers Market, Quepos, Costa Rica

I’ve already talked at length about this market in my previous post, La Pura Vida in Costa Rica, so I won’t go into too much detail here.

In short, the market is open late Friday (usually 4 – 9pm) and early Saturday (8am – noon).  The best time to go is early Saturday; the vendors are all set up and the crowds really haven’t gotten too big yet. The market is set up on the sea wall (Quepos is on the Central Pacific Coast) and the breezes coming off the ocean are a blessing and a break from the constant humidity.

The market isn’t large, but it is plentiful. Fruit, vegetables, seafood, prepared foods, handicrafts, and more than one general merchandise table were all in residence.

IMG_3948

One of the handicraft tables.

IMG_3951

Coconuts and (what I think are) Mamones Chinos – a type of lime with a hard shell and soft fruit. It’s related to the lychee.

IMG_3950

Potatoes and tomatoes are native to Central and South America. Carrots came along in the 18th or 19th Century.

IMG_3949

A cute, if formulaic, souvenir table.

IMG_3955

Pineapples, of course

IMG_3954

I think these were Fuji Apples.

IMG_3953

Beautiful produce.

IMG_3959

Mandarin Limes

IMG_3958

I was excited to see these – Otaheiti Apples. Steve & I first had them in Jamaica.

IMG_3957

We bought some beautiful Yellowfin Tuna from this vendor.

IMG_3956

Mangoes.

IMG_3963

And here is your general merchandise table.

IMG_3962

I believe these were the fruit of the Peach Palm. In the background are lychees; a lot of vendors were selling them.

IMG_3960

Bananas

IMG_3961

A stand backing up to the Pacific.

Steve found a gentleman selling fresh tamales and bought he & I some for breakfast. (Mom, who was with us and had already eaten, declined.) They were the most unusual tamales I’d ever eaten.

IMG_3966

Our view while we ate breakfast.

IMG_3965

These tamales had the usual masa base, bit they had a very soft texture along with rice and chunks of vegetables and pork. They were delicious.

IMG_3964

The still wrapped tamales.

After breakfast, while Steve decided to walk around town a bit, Mom & I walked our purchases back to the house. On the way, though, I ducked inside a carnecería and bought some epic chicharrones.

IMG_6694

Now, THAT’S a chicharron.

We bought potatoes, tomatoes, avocados, Mandarin limes, mangoes, pineapple, yellowfin tuna, prawns, Oteheiti apples, onions, and chayote squash.

Since it was our last evening in Costa Rica, we decided to make it a party. I made a large, simple dinner with what we bought at the market and whatever was left in the refrigerator.

IMG_6708

It took awhile to make dinner. The best parts – everyone enjoyed it and I didn’t have to clean up.

 

Thursday, July 30

Back at Boggy Creek after a 3-week hiatus.

We were tasked that morning with cleaning up 2 of the rows in the front field so they could be amended (Carol Ann’s organic secret recipe to add some nutrients back into the soil) and composted. I set about taking down the gherkin (small cucumbers) vines on my assigned row. It was great; the vines rolled up like a carpet.

After the rows were cleaned and we took our break, we laid a rather thick layer of compost on them. The farm is getting the fields ready for fall planting, so cleaning, amending, and composting at this point is essential for the new growth to be as healthy as possible.

The rows we cleaned, amended, and compsoted.

The rows we cleaned, amended, and composted.

We got lucky that day. There is a nice line of large pecan and oak trees lining the side we were on and it effectively shaded us pretty much all morning.

After our shift was over, we headed to the stand to collect our “pay”. Since it’s late summer, and we didn’t get the stand until after Noon, there wasn’t too much left to choose from.

But, it’s hard to complain about that when you’re getting the produce for free.

IMG_6740

A few squash but a lot of long beans and cucumbers.

IMG_6741

These are beautiful. I honestly had no idea they could be purple.

IMG_6742

More curly mustard. I’d better enjoy it while I can.

IMG_6743

Arugula.

IMG_6744

Okra. So good.

I picked up some curly mustard, long beans, okra, and arugula. (I forgot to take a picture when I got home.)

IMG_6745

More of Carol Ann’s flowers.

IMG_6747

More summer squash. Carol Ann told us basically, as long as you want to plant it before the first frost, it’ll grow.

IMG_6748

the ladies in the shade.

IMG_6750

Buddy, the farm dog, spent a good deal of the day digging a very deep hole a couple of rows away from where we were working. He kept on long after we’d finished. I have no idea what he was looking for or if he even caught anything. But, it was entertaining to watch. We were all rooting for him.

So much for June and July. On to August.

 

 

 

 

 



↑ Top