Archive for February, 2010

Offerings at Market Today, Spring Planting

Published by
admin
at February 27, 2010 in Sustainable farming and Triad Farmers Market. 0 Comments

This winter will probably be remembered for a long time. Winter weather just keeps coming. And it is not just in our area. Some cities in the northeast already have record breaking snowfall.

The few warm days this week were too short lived. We did hear and see a mockingbird a couple of days and the spring toads began their chorus. But the return of winter weather and cold wind has temporarily halted spring’s progression.

We have been working in the greenhouse filling trays with soil and planting seeds. We plan to have a large selection of vegetable plants and a few herbs. Many of the varieties are heirlooms. All will be grown without synthetic pesticides or artificial fertilizers. In fact, we plan to have a few cabbage plants for sale this week.

The weekend weather is forecast to be dry but a little on the cool side. So we plan to be at the Piedmont Triad Farmers Market Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 until 3:00. We have all cuts of Pasture Finished Jersey Beef. In Pastured Chicken we have whole chickens and leg quarters.

Our hens are real troopers in spite of the adverse weather and are providing us with lots of fresh free range eggs and we will have them for sale. An article we read this week talked about in some areas people are willing to drive for miles to obtain fresh pasture based eggs. Prices ranged from 5 to 8 dollars per dozen. At around $4 per dozen our eggs are a real deal.

Collards have grown a bit so we will have a few for sale. Although the color is still bluish from the cold they are so sweet they taste like you added sugar. The other greens have not yet grown enough to harvest.

We hope you will put on your coat and hat and come visit us at the market!

Peterson Farm Featured, the Meadow Lark Returns

Published by
admin
at February 20, 2010 in Farm News, Nutritian and Triad Farmers Market. 0 Comments


Peterson Farm is featured in the March issue of Common Ground. Click here to view the article by Gwen Roland about the history of our farm and the benefits of grass fed beef. Or visit http://www.sare.org and search for article OS06-032 to read the research on the grass fed beef project.

The days are getting noticeably longer so it won’t be long until spring arrives again. After the persistent cold and snowy winter I think I will have an acute case of spring fever when warm weather arrives. It won’t last long though because it will be time to plant all the seeds we have been ordering for the past two months.

Something that has been missing for the past few years has returned this year. That is the meadow lark. I saw three today in the south pasture. The past couple of evenings I have heard them making their mating call. They fly high above the field and hover stationary while repeatedly making short shrill sounds often around sunset. Mid February is their mating season. It sure is nice to see and hear them again.

The last few days I have seen bluebirds around our bird feeders. They have probably already picked out their nesting places for the season.

The snow last weekend disrupted our market plans. It is supposed to be dry and a bit warmer this week so we are planning to be at the Piedmont Triad Farmers Market both Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 until 3:00. We have plenty of beef, chicken, and eggs. There will probably be nothing yet from the garden except perhaps a bit of Savoy cabbage and collards.

We hope to see you at the market.

Happy St. Valentines Day

Published by
admin
at February 12, 2010 in Farm News and Triad Farmers Market. 0 Comments

Our usual weekend storm is forecast to stay south of us this week so we are making plans to be at the Piedmont Triad Farmers Market Saturday from 10:00 until 3:00. If the storm changes course and there is snow our plans will change.

We are restocked with all cuts of Pasture Finished Jersey Beef. Items for sale include beef, Pastured Chicken, free-range eggs from pastured hens, and perhaps a few heads of Savoy cabbage.

Due to the cold temperatures our usual winter greens are not growing. I am sure we are all hoping it will warm up soon.

See You at the Farmers Market

Published by
admin
at February 4, 2010 in Nutritian, Sustainable farming and Triad Farmers Market. 0 Comments

It looks like this year will be remembered as the year winter returned to North Carolina. The snow and cold temperatures remind me of winters several years ago. The last few years warm winters seemed unusual so maybe we are experiencing a more normal climate.

The cows are sure eating hay so we are running short. In fact, we hauled in a load today which makes the third load we have bought. And we will need another one before spring arrives. At least there is plenty available due to the timely rains we had last growing season. With it being so cold our winter forage is not growing much but the cows seem perfectly content to munch on hay. And they really get noisy if they run out!

The hens are still laying eggs like crazy even with the bad weather. Of course, we feed them the very best feed available and they have some protection from the cold wind at night. They seem perfectly happy and keep singing contentedly. But they do not like to walk on the snow. I guess it is too cold on their feet.

We have some cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower sprouting in the greenhouse. It will be a while before the plants are big enough though. Soon it will be time to sow lettuce, tomato, pepper, and other things to get those plants started.

We already have most of our greenhouse supplies and we are beginning to obtain seeds, etc., for our outdoor gardens. Spring and the growing season will be upon us before long!

The weatherman has slacked off a bit for predictions of another winter storm this weekend. For Saturday, one predicts a high in the thirties and another in the forties with a chance of rain. So we are making plans to be at the Piedmont Triad Farmers Market from 10:00 until 3:00 on Saturday. If things change and there is ice and/or snow we won’t be there. But, hopefully, it will remain above freezing so we can make it. I am sure some of you need meat or eggs by now so we want to make them available for you.

We have chicken, beef, and eggs. It is doubtful if we will be able to bring anything from the garden.

If all goes as planned, we hope to see you at the market on Saturday.