Monday, December 16, 2019

HAPPY HOLIDAYS


 We are now getting some frost.  The persimmons trees are bare or have lost their leaves exposing the remaining fruit.  Some, the birds will feast on.  Others will be dropped to feed the Canada geese and other critters we hesitate to mention. Many that are left on the trees are of the pollination dependent type that will remain inedible for a long time.




       The season is moving on to citrus.  We started to harvest our Satsuma mandarins.  They are sweet and easy to peel.  The blood orange tree is letting go of so many fruit to the ground that we decided to start harvest with a gentle tug.  Navel oranges and Eureka lemons are hanging on for more days yet.




       Amazingly, we still have a supply of Fuyu and Hachiya persimmons.  The color is intesifying and the sweetness is increasing.   There are still some Vodka persimmons ready for your holiday treat. Hope you don't miss out.




        My stress is decreasing and my sleep is increasing as I can now see the end of hoshigaki processing.  Many are still hanging on the racks to finish off their drying.  In the photo, I have turned the hoshigaki stem side down to control  over-drying of the stem end.  We have bags of hoshigaki in the freezer waiting to be handled and sorted one last time for your eating pleasure.   Hoshigaki is available at the farm stand and through mail order.
     

Official Statement: We have NO pick-your-own activities.


  HOURS

Tuesday to Saturday: 10 am to 6 pm 

Sun: 11 am to 5 pm


 Closed on Mondays

Here's what we have in the farm stand from Otow Orchard:
Apples:   Fuji, Granny Smith, Reinette Simerenko
Brown Asian Pears: Okusankichi
Pomegranates:  White (sweet and pink seeded) 

Red Pomegranates:  Wonderful
Persimmons:
       Brown Fleshed Persimmons:  Maru, Hyakume

       Vodka Treated Persimmons: aka Hyakume
       Apple Type Persimmons:  Fuyu
       American Persimmon:  Gyombo, Hachiya (must be soft to be sweet)
       Hoshigaki: dried persimmons
Winter Squash:  Butternut

Citrus:  Satsuma Mandarins, Blood Oranges
Rosemary
Calendula salve and lip balm
Honey from our orchard

Nuts:  Walnuts and Pecans


This is what we have from other producers: 
Sunnyslope Farm:  Granny Smith apples

Quince from Steve
Jams from The Good Stuff
Bee pollen from Top O' The Hill Apiary
Honey from Top O' The Hill Apiary
Comb Honey from Top O' The Hill Apiary
Eggs from Two Feather Farm

2020 Garden Planning Calendars from Placer County Master Gardeners



Friday, November 29, 2019

PERSIMMONS AND MANDARINS

      ORANGE is the color for this season.  Mandarins have arrived from Lincoln.  These Satsuma mandarins were grown at Pleasant Hill Farm in the foothills of Placer County. The cool temperatures stimulate mandarin ripening.
       Our farm stand is filled with  the color orange.  Fuyu, Hachiya, Vodka and brown fleshed persimmons fill our display table.  We are now offering bags of Fuyu persimmons.   
       We enjoyed this bright fruit salad for our Thanksgiving meal.  It included slices of mandarin oranges, firm fuyu persimmons, apples and pomegranates.  I used a ripe soft gyombo persimmon as a dressing.
        Now that the weather is cooling (did I mean cold),  the texture of persimmons, especially fuyu, will respond by ripening and losing their crispness.  For those who are looking for crisp fuyu we still have a supply of firm fuyu persimmons stored away from the cold.

        Hoshigaki continues to demand its share of attention and time.  After the days activities and usually after dinner, we begin tending the dry persimmons inside the building.  We are massaging and checking for dryness.  Hoshigaki is now available at the farm stand.  Mail orders for hoshigaki are suspended  while we assess availability.  Please email inquiries.







Official Statement: We have NO pick-your-own activities.



  HOURS

Tuesday to Saturday: 10 am to 6 pm 

Sun: 11 am to 5 pm


 Closed on Mondays




Here's what we have in the farm stand from Otow Orchard:
Apples:   Fuji, Granny Smith, Pink Lady
Brown Asian Pears: Shinko, and Olympic
Quince
Pomegranates:  White and Ambrosia (sweet and pink seeded) 

Red Pomegranates:  Wonderful
Persimmons:
       Brown Fleshed Persimmons:  Maru, Chocolate, Tsurunoko, Hyakume

       Vodka Treated Persimmons: aka Hyakume
       Apple Type Persimmons:  Fuyu
       American Persimmon:  Gyombo, Hachiya (must be soft to be sweet)
       Hoshigaki: dried persimmons
Tomatillos
Winter Squash:  Butternut
Chili peppers

Rosemary
Calendula salve and lip balm
Honey from our orchard

Nuts:  Walnuts and Pecans


This is what we have from other producers: 
Sunnyslope Farm:   Fuji apples, Granny Smith apples

Quince from Steve
Jams from The Good Stuff
Bee pollen from Top O' The Hill Apiary
Honey from Top O' The Hill Apiary
Comb Honey from Top O' The Hill Apiary
Eggs from Two Feather Farm

Saturday, November 2, 2019

PERSIMMON TIME



         We are now harvesting Fuyu and other persimmons.  Fuyu are the dependably sweet and crisp persimmon that so many people are learning to love. The color is getting deeper, and the fruit is getting sweeter and the fruit is firm and crisp.  Not only are we harvesting hachiya persimmons but they are ripening right along.  These hachiya persimmons are puckery when firm but become tender sweet globes of pudding texture.  Just right for spooning right out of their skins. Many  people use this variety for cookies, breads and puddings,
       We currently have 3 pollination dependent varieties of persimmons.  The presence of seeds make these persimmons brown fleshed (chocolate color) and sweet.  The problem  is that we are never 100% sure if the fruit has seeds.  We try to make an educated guess. Sometimes there are less than 8 seeds and the fruit will be partially sweet and the non-brown flesh will remain puckery.  Maru, Nagamaru, and Hyakume varieties are available in the farm stand.  When uncertain, we treat the hyakume with vodka to make it 100% sweet.  Unfortunately we are not 100% good at this and sometimes the persimmon gets ripe too fast or the weather changes and we left them in the vodka for the wrong length of time.  There are just too many factors for this non-scientific farmer to manage.
      Hoshigaki, dried persimmons, are making progress.  The days seem to be too warm so we try to shade the persimmons and keep them out of the sun. We are having difficulty making the first ones tender as well as sugared.  As the  weather cools the process will slow down and the end result will be more to our liking. We are starting to put in many hours day and  night squeezing, trimming, tossing and tending hoshigaki.  Many visitors have been to the farm to see us at work and see the wall of persimmons on the side of our warehouse. Hoshigaki is now available in the farm stand.

      Purchasing hoshigaki is not always straight forward.  We  hope to start selling the early ones by the beginning of November.   The premium grade usually shows up after Thanksgiving.  We are now accepting mail orders for people who cannot come to the farm to pick up their order.  Although we do not start shipping till December, you must send in your order soon since we fill requests in the order received.  For instructions on how to get on the list for mail order please go to our mail order form page.    If you are purchasing a small amount of  hoshigaki at the farm, we hope to have a supply on hand.  If you are looking for premium grade or more than one pound, we ask you to come by the stand or  call: (916) 791-1656 or email: (otoworchard@yahoo.com) for a pre-order.

     We are selling apples and Asian pears. We have Shinko and Olympic brown Asian pears. They are sweet,crisp and juicy.  The difference is in the slight flavor difference and the texture.  In the apple department there are Fuji, Reinette Simerenko and Black Arkansas.  Sunnyslope Farm is bringing us Fuji and Mutsu apples.
       We continue to have a good supply of winter squash.  There is Kabocha, the sweet Japanese pumpkin with thick orange flesh. Also we have Butternut squash, a tradition at our table for holiday dinners.



Official Statement: We have NO pick-your-own activities.



  HOURS

Tuesday to Saturday: 10 am to 6 pm 

Sun: 11 am to 5 pm


 Closed on Mondays




Here's what we have in the farm stand from Otow Orchard:
Apples:   Reinette Simerenko, Fuji
European Pears:   Comice
Brown Asian Pears: Shinko, and Olympic
Quince
Pomegranates:  White and Ambrosia (sweet and pink seeded) 

Red Pomegranates:  Wonderful
Persimmons:
       Brown Fleshed Persimmons:  Maru, Chocolate, Tsurunoko, Hyakume

       Apple Type Persimmons:  Fuyu
       American Persimmon:  Gyombo, Hachiya (must be soft to be sweet)
       Hoshigaki: dried persimmons
Tomatillos
Winter Squash:  Kabocha,  Butternut
Chili peppers

Rosemary
Olives (raw)
Calendula salve and lip balm
Honey from our orchard

This is what we have from other producers: 
Sunnyslope Farm:   Fuji apples, Mutsu (Crispin) apples
Jams from The Good Stuff
Bee pollen from Top O' The Hill Apiary
Honey from Top O' The Hill Apiary
Comb Honey from Top O' The Hill Apiary
Eggs from Two Feather Farm




Saturday, October 12, 2019

APPLES, PEARS AND PERSIMMONS

        It is mid October and we have started the hoshigaki process.  The Hachiya persimmons are coloring up nicely so we are peeling and hanging them up on the racks in the sun.  Some have been massaged and are taking on their droopy wrinkled appearance.  Soon we hope the magic will happen and tiny sugar crystals will appear on the surface.  Wa-lah, Hoshigaki.  The whole process takes 4 to 6 weeks so be patient.
      Purchasing hoshigaki is not always straight forward.  We  hope to start selling the early ones by the beginning of November.   The premium grade usually shows up after Thanksgiving.  We are now accepting mail orders for people who cannot come to the farm to pick up their order.  Although we do not start shipping mail order till December, you must send in your order soon since we fill requests in the order received.  For instructions on how to get on the list for mail order please go to our mail order form page.    If you are purchasing a small amount of  hoshigaki at the farm, we hope to have a supply on hand.  If you are looking for premium grade or more than one pound, we ask you to call: (916) 791-1656 or email: (otoworchard@yahoo.com) for a pre-order.
      Meanwhile other persimmons are showing up at the farm stand.  Hachiya persimmons that were not peeled are ripening into soft succulent globes of sweetness.  Fuyu, the apple type, are just getting ready.  We have some of the brown fleshed varieties:  Maru, Nagamaru, Tsurunoko, Chocolate, Coffee Cake, and vodka.
       Not to be overshadowed by persimmons are pears and apples.  We have D'anjou and Comice European pears.   There are several varieties of juicy, sweet and crisp Asian pears (see the list below).  In the apple department there are red and gloden delicious apples.  Also the memorable Reinette Simerenko  and Fuji apples are available.  Sunnyslope Farm is supplying us with Fuji and Mutsu (Crispin) apples.
      White pomegranates are a specialty item that we are now harvesting.  While light creamy yellow on the outside the ariels are pink with a small core. These are sweet with no tartness.  Hope you will try some.  Red Pomegranates are on the horizon.
        Many summer vegetables have gone by the wayside.  Amazingly, the gardens are still giving us tomatoes.   It is time for winter squash.  You can bake, steam, microwave or blend them for a warm fall meal.  We are changing into cool weather vegetables.  BarleyOats Farm has begun to harvest winter vegetables.  So far we have had salad mix and Napa (Chinese cabbage).




Official Statement: We have NO pick-your-own activities.


  HOURS
Tuesday to Saturday: 10 am to 6 pm 
Sun: 11 am to 5 pm
 Closed on Mondays



Here's what we have in the farm stand from Otow Orchard:

Plums: Casselman,  Elephant Heart, Empress
Apples:   Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Reinette Simerenko, Fuji
European Pears:  D'anjou,  Comice
Brown Asian Pears: Shinko, Yoi, and Olympic

Yellow Asian Pears:  Yali
Jujube:  Li

Quince
Pomegranates:  White (sweet and pink seeded) 
Brown Fleshed Persimmons:  Maru, Coffee Cake, Chocolate, Tsurunoko
Tomatoes:  Red, Heirloom, Yellow, Pink, Roma,
Tomatillos
Okra
Winter Squash:  Delicata, Red Kuri, Black Futsu, Kabocha
Chili peppers: Shishito,   Jalapeno,
Eggplant: Japanese (Limited supply)
Beans: Chinese long beans
Basil, Rosemary, Red and Green shiso

Olives (raw)
Calendula salve and lip balm
Honey from our orchard

This is what we have from other producers: 

Sunnyslope Farm:   Fuji apples, Mutsu (Crispin) apples

Jams from The Good Stuff
Bee pollen from Top O' The Hill Apiary
Honey from Top O' The Hill Apiary 
Comb Honey from Top O' The Hill Apiary
Eggs from Two Feather Farm 

Winter vegetables from BarleyOats Farm

Monday, September 23, 2019

PEAR SEASON

   Welcome to cooler days. It certainly was a very warm summer.  As we leave summer days, we look forward to fall.  A walk in the orchard finds empty peach and plum trees.  There is a good crop on the jujube, persimmon, pomegranate, quince, apple and pear trees.  We are noticing that many persimmons are dropping their fruit.  While the trees currently have a good crop, we hope that most of the fruit will hang on until maturity.  Last year we had a scarcity of persimmons in part due to the fruit drop.  As we near harvest, we are hopeful to have a normal crop.  Time will tell. Stay tuned.

     It is apple and pear season.  The Red and Golden Delicious apples are just that. Sweet, juicy and delicious.  Bartlett pears are just about sold out.  The other other European pear we are selling is Danjou.  We have several Asian pears being harvested.  Yoi and Shinko are brown skinned and very sweet, juicy and crisp.  There is also the large, dark brown Olympic pear that is also sweet, juicy and crisp but has a more dense texture.  On the lighter side is the Yali Chinese pear that is sweet, crisp and very juicy.  Yali is pear shaped rather than round.

    Winter squash is starting to decorate the farm stand.  We have small, easy to prepare delicata, meaty butternuts, and Kabocha, Black Futsu, and Red Kuri  sweet Japanese cooking pumpkins.

      By the beginning of October BarleyOats Farm will begin bringing winter vegetables for sale.  Please call for update.

       As we watch the color develop on the hachiya persimmons we are preparing for the task of making hoshigaki.  We are cleaning drying rooms, cleaning racks, repairing the tarp, and tying strings.  Many people are asking when hoshigaki will be available.  We will start peeling in October but the process takes 4 to 6 weeks to complete.  The early hoshigaki should be available by the beginning of November.  Those who want to mail order hoshigaki should look for the order form after mid October, on this web site.


Official Statement: We have NO pick-your-own activities.


  HOURS
Tuesday to Saturday: 10 am to 6 pm 
Sun: 11 am to 5 pm
 Closed on Mondays



Here's what we have in the farm stand from Otow Orchard:

Plums: Casselman,  Elephant Heart
Grapes:  Kyoho,
Apples:   Red Delicious, Golden Delicious,
European pears:  Bartlett, D'anjou
Asian Pears: 20th Century, Shinko, Yoi, Yali, and Olympic
Figs: Brown Turkey, Green Penache Tiger Stripe and Black Mission 
Jujube:  Li
Pomegranates:  White (sweet and pink seeded) 
Brown Fleshed Persimmons:  Maru, Coffee Cake, Chocolate (limited supply)
Cucumbers: Asian cucumber, Lemon cucumber and Armenian cucumbers 
Tomatoes:  Red, Heirloom, Yellow, Pink, Roma,
Cherry tomatoes:  Sungold, Rosalita, Black Cherry
Tomatillos
Okra
Summer Squash:  (limited supply)
Winter Squash:  Delicata, Red Kuri, Black Futsu, Kabocha
Sweet peppers (Limited supply)
Chili peppers: Shishito,   Jalapeno,
Eggplant: Japanese (Limited supply)
Beans: Chinese long beans
Basil, Rosemary, Red and Green shiso
Calendula salve
Honey from our orchard

This is what we have from other producers:

Jams from The Good Stuff
Bee pollen from Top O' The Hill Apiary
Honey from Top O' The Hill Apiary 
Comb Honey from Top O' The Hill Apiary
Eggs from Two Feather Farm

Saturday, August 31, 2019

FIGS ARE BACK

Figs are making their second appearance for the year.  Figs have two crops a year.  The first crop occurs in July.  After a rest, the next crop matures in late August and September.  The second crop usually has smaller fruit sizes.  This year our Brown Turkey and Penache Tiger Stripe figs are looking pretty good in the size category.  The Black Mission however are true to tradition and are on the small side so far this year.
       We are now harvesting Asian Pears, apples and Jujube.  A sign that fall is arriving.  We will still have grapes, peaches, plums, and pluots.  Peach season is coming to a slow close. We still have green Kelsey plums, soft Laroda plums, crisp Casselman and Cassie plums and a limited supply of Dapple Dandy pluots.
      The gardens are still producing tomatoes, cucumbers, okra, long beans, basil, peppers, and eggplants. We are starting to have some  winter squash.  Now is the time for Delicata winter squash.


Official Statement: We have NO pick-your-own activities.


  HOURS
Tuesday to Saturday: 10 am to 6 pm 
Sun: 11 am to 5 pm
 Closed on Mondays



Here's what we have in the farm stand from Otow Orchard:

Yellow Freestone Peaches: Rio Oso Gem, O'Henry
Cling Peaches: Bowen
Plums:  Laroda, Kelsey, Cassie, Casselman
Pluots:  Dapple Dandy
Grapes:  Kyoho, Red Purlett, Thompson Seedless.
Apples:   Gala
European pears:  Bartlett
Yellow Asian Pears: 20th Century, New Century
Brown Asian Pears:  Hosui, Yoi
Figs: Brown Turkey, Green Penache Tiger Stripe and Black Mission 
Jujube: Sugar Cane, Li
Cucumbers: Asian cucumber, Lemon cucumber and Armenian cucumbers 
Tomatoes:  Red, Heirloom, Yellow, Pink, Roma,
Cherry tomatoes:  Sungold, Rosalita, Black cherry
Tomatillos
Okra
Summer Squash:  Zucchini, Crookneck, Tromboncino (limited supply)
Winter Squash:  Delicata, Red Kuri, Black Futsu
Sweet peppers (Limited supply)
Chili peppers: Shishito,  
Eggplant: Japanese (Limited supply)
Beans: Chinese long beans
Basil, Rosemary, Red and Green shiso
Honey from our orchard

This is what we have from other producers:

Peaches from Sunnyslope Farm:  Fay Elberta, O'Henry
Gala Apples from Sunnyslope Farm
Jams from The Good Stuff
Bee pollen from Top O' The Hill Apiary
Honey from Top O' The Hill Apiary 
Comb Honey from Top O' The Hill Apiary
Eggs from Two Feather Farm

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

PEACHES

We are into peach season. Yellow peaches will be in supply till the end of August and into the beginning of September.  Now is the time for peach pie, peach cobbler, peach smoothies, peach jam and freezing and canning peaches.  You get the picture.   We love these end-of-season peaches:  Fay Elberta, Rio Oso Gem, and O'Henry. Opale is our last white peach and it will be gone soon.  
     Fall fruits are definitely starting to show up in the farm stand.  Kosui and 20th Century Asian pears are yellow, sweet, and juicy.  Hosui is a sweet, crisp brown Asian pear.  Coming from Sunnyslope Farm as well as our own orchard are Gala Apples. These pretty apples have a yellow background and an attractive red blush.  And of course they are sweet, crisp, and juicy.  We are also starting to sell some Bartlett pears.   Figs are making their second showing for the year.  We have brown, green, and some black figs.
       Now it is grape season. Kyoho grapes are back.  Sweet juicy and oh so flavorful.  Although they have seeds, everyone has been loving them.   We also are harvesting Red Purlett grapes and Thompson seedless grapes. 
       In the vegetable garden the cucumbers and squash plants are battling heat stress.  We still have a good supply of tomatoes, cucumbers, tomatillos, and okra. A smaller supply of peppers, eggplant and beans.
     Out in the orchard we are trying to finish the persimmon thinning.  Their season  will be here in a couple of months.  So we have to get the crop ready.  We are also busy cleaning up fire blight in the pear trees.  The wet spring increased the fire blight damage in our trees especially since we don't spray.


Official Statement: We have NO pick-your-own activities.


  HOURS
Tuesday to Saturday: 10 am to 6 pm 
Sun: 11 am to 5 pm
 Closed on Mondays



Here's what we have in the farm stand from Otow Orchard:

Yellow Freestone Peaches:  Fay Elberta, Rio Oso Gem, 49ers,
White Peaches:  Opale
Cling Peaches: Bowen
Plums:  Burgundy, Red Ace, Laroda, Eldorado, Kelsey 
Pluots:  Dapple Dandy, Flavor King, and Flavor Queen 
Grapes:  Kyoho, Red Purlett, Thompson Seedless.
Apples:   Gala 
Yellow Asian Pears: Kosui, 20th Century
Brown Asian Pears:  Hosui
Yellow Nectarines: Fantasia
Figs: Brown Turkey, Green, and a few Black Mission
Cucumbers: Asian cucumber, Lemon cucumber and Armenian cucumbers 
Tomatoes:  Red, Heirloom, Yellow, Purple, Pink, Roma,
Cherry tomatoes:  Sungold, Rosalita, Black cherry
Tomatillos
Okra
Summer Squash:  Zucchini, Crookneck, Patty Pan, Tromboncino
Sweet peppers (Limited supply)
Chili peppers: Shishito,  
Eggplant: Japanese and Italian(Limited supply)
Beans: Chinese long beans(Limited supply)
Basil, Rosemary, Red and Green shiso
Honey from our orchard

This is what we have from other producers:

Peaches from Sunnyslope Farm:  Fay Elberta
Gala Apples from Sunnyslope Farm
Jams from The Good Stuff
Bee pollen from Top O' The Hill Apiary
Honey from Top O' The Hill Apiary
Eggs from Two Feather Farm

Monday, August 5, 2019

HEART (HEAT) OF SUMMER



     Along with heat, produce is also thriving.  Some plums got sunburned, some peaches ripened more quickly than needed, some vegetable plants wilted but all is good now.  We survived the week of high temperatures. 
      White and yellow peaches are the stars of the show for now.  Now is the time for peak season juicy sweet peaches.  We are also getting cling peaches for those of you who like firm sweet peaches.
     Plums should not take a back seat to peaches.  We now have 7 to 10 varieties, all juicy sweet and tasty.  Just letting you know, we are now harvesting Kelsey the green plum. The skin is green and the flesh is sweet and yellow. 
       It is August but fall is starting to show up.  We have early Gala Apples and a few Asian Pears.
      In the vegetable gardens we are harvesting slicing tomatoes, salad tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, paste tomatoes, and heirloom tomatoes. We are getting some chilies and tomatillos.  The squash and cucumbers continue to produce their share.



Official Statement: We have NO pick-your-own activities.


  HOURS
Tuesday to Saturday: 10 am to 6 pm 
Sun: 11 am to 5 pm
 Closed on Mondays



Here's what we have in the farm stand from Otow Orchard:

Yellow Freestone Peaches:  Delight, Gene Elberta, 49er, Fay Elberta
White Peaches:  Babcock, Silver Logan, Opale, Paradise
Cling Peaches: Bowen
Plums:  Santa Rosa, Satsuma, Frontier, Burgundy, Red Roy, Laroda, Eldorado, Black Amber, Kelsey
Apples:   Gala 
Yellow Asian Pears: Kosui
Yellow Nectarines:  Flavortop , Fantasia
Wild Blackberries
Figs: Brown Turkey (limited supply)
Cucumbers: Asian cucumber, Lemon cucumber and Armenian cucumbers 
Tomatoes:  Red, Heirloom, Yellow, Purple, Pink, Roma,
Cherry tomatoes:  Sungold, Rosalita, Black cherry
Tomatillos
Okra (limited  supply)
Summer Squash:  Zucchini, Crookneck, Patty Pan, Tromboncino
Sweet peppers (Limited supply)
Chili peppers: Shishito, 
Eggplant: Japanese and Italian
Beans: Chinese long beans(Limited supply)
Honey from our orchard

This is what we have from other producers:

Peaches from Sunnyslope Farm:  Fay Elberta
Gala Apples from Sunnyslope Farm
Jams from The Good Stuff
Bee pollen from Top O' The Hill Apiary
Honey from Top O' The Hill Apiary
Eggs from Two Feather Farm

Monday, July 22, 2019

NOW WE HAVE PEACHES

        I should be showing you a picture of peaches, but these free spirited cucumbers that I found hanging on the vines inspired me to show off their creativity.  These cucumbers can behave and be very straight and in addition they are tasty, crisp, juicy, seedless and thin skinned. Hope you will have a chance to get some while they are plentiful.  Although we are flush with cucumbers it is peach season for sure.  
       We have yellow and white freestone peaches.  The next two weeks will be the height of the season.  Don't miss these tasty, sweet, juicy, gems of the season. 
       Many are asking about figs.  Figs are taking a break until at least August.  Please check later.  
      More plum varieties are now available.  Red fleshed plums include Burgundy, Satsuma and Frontier.  Yellow fleshed plums include Santa Rosa, Red Roy, Laroda, Black Amber, Cassie, and Eldorado. We are surprised to have some European plums this year.  Tulare Giant is a sweet yellow fleshed European plum with purple skin.
      Tomatoes are finally here.  Supply will be a little sparse for a week. We are starting to get larger ones as well a a few heirlooms.



Official Statement: We have NO pick-your-own activities.


  HOURS
Tuesday to Saturday: 10 am to 6 pm 
Sun: 11 am to 5 pm
 Closed on Mondays



Here's what we have in the farm stand from Otow Orchard:

Yellow Freestone Peaches:  Red Haven, Frost, June Pride, Delight, Gene Elberta
White Peaches: Sugar Lady, Babcock, Nectar, Silver Logan
Plums:  Santa Rosa, Satsuma, Frontier, Burgundy, Red Roy, Laroda, Eldorado, Black Amber,
European Plum:  Tulare Giant
Wild Blackberries
Eureka Lemons
Valencia oranges
Cucumbers: Asian cucumber, Lemon cucumber and Armenian cucumbers 
Tomatoes
Cherry tomatoes:  Sun Gold
Okra (limited  supply)
Summer Squash:  Zucchini, Crookneck, Patty Pan, Tromboncino
Sweet peppers (Limited supply)
Chili peppers : Shishito, 
Japanese eggplant
Beans: Chinese long beans(Limited supply)
Calendula Salve and Lip Balm
Honey from our orchard

This is what we have from other producers:
 
Peaches:June Pride and Suncrest from Sunnyslope Farm
Jams from The Good Stuff
Bee pollen from Top O' The Hill Apiary
Honey from Top O' The Hill Apiary
Eggs from Two Feather Farm

Monday, July 8, 2019

SUN IS SHINING, FRUIT ARE GROWING

     Summertime fruit are shining.  Yellow and white peaches,and plums are definitely here.  The early crop of figs has just about finished. We have started the tedious task of picking wild blackberries. These are sweet, flavorful, juicy and of course seedy.
       In the garden we are into the cucumbers and squash harvest.  Tomatoes, Sungold cherry tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, wax beans and long beans are starting to produce.
       The cucumbers are plentiful:  Asian, Armenian and lemon cucumbers. Armenian are light green and firm with a small seed cavity.  Asian cucumbers are thin skinned, seedless, non bitter and juicy.  Lemon cucumbers are light green, lemon shaped, sweet and tender.  

Here is one of my favorite Asian cucumber recipes. 

              Cracked Asian Cucumber Salad
Use one or two Asian cucumbers. Wash and cut off the ends.  Make a partial 1/2 inch cut lengthwise in the end. Then use your hands to twist the end so that a chunk cracks off the end.  Continue to crack chunks (about 1" to 2") off the cucumber.  Slice only as needed to continue cracking off the pieces. Place in a serving bowl and sprinkle with 1/4 tsp salt. Toss.  Place in the refrigerator for half an hour while the liquid comes out of the cucumber.  Remove cucumber from refrigerator.  Gently drain off liquid and lightly squeeze cucumber to extract more liquid.  Pour 1 Tbsp soy sauce over cucumber and toss. Next pour 1/2 tsp sesame seed oil over cucumber and gently mix. Sprinkle with 1/2 tsp toasted sesame seed.  Serve immediately or refrigerate.



Official Statement: We have NO pick-your-own activities.


  HOURS
Tuesday to Saturday: 10 am to 6 pm 
Sun: 11 am to 5 pm
 Closed on Mondays



Here's what we have in the farm stand from Otow Orchard:

Yellow Freestone Peaches: Flavorcrest, Regina, Red Haven, Frost, June Pride
White Peaches: Sugar Lady
Plums:  Santa Rosa, Satsuma, Frontier, Burgundy
Apricot:  Royal
Wild Blackberries
Hoshigaki strips:  Hand dried persimmons
Eureka Lemons
Valencia oranges
Cucumbers: Asian cucumber, Lemon cucumber and Armenian cucumbers
Summer Squash:  Zucchini, Crookneck, Patty Pan, Tromboncino
Sweet peppers (Limited supply)
Japanese eggplant
Beans: Yellow wax beans, Chinese long beans
Calendula Salve and Lip Balm
Honey from our orchard

This is what we have from other producers:
 
Peaches:Flavorcrest, White Lady and June Pride from Sunnyslope Farm
Plums: Santa Rosa from Pleasant Hill Farm 
Jams from The Good Stuff
Bee pollen from Top O' The Hill Apiary
Honey from Top O' The Hill Apiary
Eggs from Two Feather Farm

Search This Blog

Followers