Spring Radish and Pea Shoot Salad

Pea shoots are one of the easiest things to grow, in early spring. Here on our farm they are fleeting, here one day and gone the next , like the weather you better enjoy while you can.

FOR THE SALAD
2 C Pea Sprouts
1/2 bunch (about 5) radish, thinly sliced
1/4 cucumber, thinly sliced
1/4 C feta cheese crumble
and this week I am adding 3 slices crisp bacon diced

For The Dressing
1 tsp Lemon juice
splash red wine vinegar
1 tbsp olive oil
salt and course black pepper
In a medium bowl, toss pea sprouts, radishes, and cucumber.
In ball jar shake lemon juice,splash red wine, 1 tbsp olive oil salt and pepper, pour over salad
crumble feta and bacon over top

171 Pounds of Pork

The pig is officially back on the farm , all 171 pounds, not a bad haul for nine months.

Today I picked up the smoked meats. Time to heat up the cast iron and do some farm house cooking.

Pasta Carbonara

12 oz Pasta, shape and size
8 pieces Farm raised, THICK cut Bacon diced
1/2 of a whole white onion
2 Cloves Garlic, Minced
3 Whole Farm fresh Eggs
3/4 Cup Parmesan Cheese
3/4 Cup cream
Salt and Black Pepper
Green Onions

Cook pasta
While pasta is cooking , fry the bacon until crisp. Remove from pan and drain on paper towel.
Pour off the bacon grease DO NOT clean pan.
Return pan to stove med. low heat cook onions and garlic, set aside.
In a bowl, mix together, eggs, cheese, cream salt and pepper until smooth.
Drain pasta SAVE A CUP OF PASTA WATER, place pasta in bowl. While pasta is still really hot, drizzle in the egg mixture, stirring the pasta the whole time, 1/2 way through add the green onions,baconand sauteed onions with garlic. Finish adding the sauce, plus pasta water as needed.
Serve

Memorial Day Week end Wagon Train

 We had the pleasure of taking part in a wagon train ride on Sunday. 

It is always fun to get out with the horses and it is safest to do so in numbers.

Five teams of Belgian Draft Horses  hit the streets of Lyman.This can be a sight, each team of Belgian horses weigh about 4000 pounds. Each wagon and driver (teamster) is  different .

 The Belgian Heavy Draft horse stands between 16.2 hands and 18 hands (66-72 inches). On average the Belgian grows to weigh slightly over 2,000 lbs.

We started on Duke Lane, at the Abenaki Draft Horse Club house.

Courtesy and common sense are important when horses share the road with vehicles.

Horses tend to be wary of unaccustomed sights and sounds.

Horses' main defense to perceived threat is flight ( to run), and if a horse or team of horses acts upon this urge while on the roadway, consequences can be devastating.

In total we traveled about ten miles, encountering cows, cars , cyclist, motorcycles and even street sweepers. All went well and everyone returned safely.

  After the wagon train we hosted a small lunch on the farm.

Nice time of year for an evening drive.

Start of Garden Season

We have officially begun our garden season.

After a very long, very cold winter, the farm gardens and club house gardens are underway.

Step one : Spreading of  manure.

Manure hauler/ spreader drawn by a Pioneer fore cart.The cart is Pulled by Team Nickel and Tom and the team is driven by Bob.

The manure is a blend of cow, horse chicken and rabbit.The pile gives off a tremendous amount of heat and has a rich smell of earth.

This picture gives you a good look at Thomas, he is always eager to work.

Awake From Hibernation

As I awake from hibernation or recover from the winter blues I am going to rededicate myself to the blog.With a new web address and a new computer I had become frustrated, and got out of the routine of posting.

With the arrival of spring after the long winter, there is much to share.I am very much a creature of habit so today I am starting a new routine one that will include dedicated time to once again blog and exercise.

 Look for lots of new posts. here.