Cathy2 wrote:
we visit the farm stand we fondly refer to as, “The Hippies.” This farm, which I believe is a commune, is just east of Richmond. In addition to offering organik (sic) produce, they also sell furniture, clay garden pots and rugs. If you are out this way and value organik produce, then this is a must-stop because the prices are largely $1 per pound for heirloom tomatoes, new potatoes, several varieties of eggplants, onions, carrots and beets. I bought a softball sized beet for 50 cents, which will be grated to make a salad. I spent $12 for quite a lot of vegetables.
For the first time ever, we met the organik farmer. We didn’t quite know who he was until he opened the honor-system cash box. Pulled out some money holding it out for inspection commenting triumphantly, “Who says there isn’t money in farming!” He gave us a verbal tour of the half dozen varieties of tomatoes. A few were specific to this farm, because some of the tomatoes had cross-pollinated creating some improved varieties. He did not use Luther Burbank’s method of hand pollinating. He simply planted tomato varieties adjacent to each other and let Nature do her thing. If he liked a tomato, then he kept the seeds for planting the next year.
Hi,
An update on my dear farmer friend aka "The Hippie." While open every day during the growing season, you can buy your produce from 10 am to 5 pm. At 5 pm, they put up a barrier to prevent pilfering.
Tomatoes, potatoes, beets, carrots, onions, leeks and cabbage are all $1 per pound. Garlic is 50 cents each. This most important element has not changed.
***
This was my first farm visit for the year. While tomatoes are not yet prime, I bought some for marinara sauce. I tasted 30 tomatoes last week for the Highwood Historical Society tomato competition. Most of the tomatoes needed more time on the vine, though cosmetically they looked good. My farmer friends all advised to wait at least a week for better tomatoes.
I bought a half bushel of red haven peaches, some will be canned as halves. If some are past their prime, they will go to jam and peach pie filling.
I skipped buying quantities of corn and apples to avoid overwhelming myself. Royal Oak's first apples of the season were available today. I don't recall the name, though the taste was excellent. A half bushel of wind blown apples was $20 per half bushel. I couldn't decide whether I liked that price, too.
I did buy a half bushel of medium sized pickles. Many will be made into fermented dill pickles with the remainder going toward bread and butter pickles.
My kitchen looks like a fruit and vegetable storage room.
Regards,
_________________
Cathy2
"You'll be remembered long after you're dead if you make good gravy, mashed potatoes and biscuits." -- Nathalie Dupree
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Additionally, none of my jars resulted in any off-tastes, colors, or smells.