All Posts by Kim Tait

Field Notes: Late July and Recipe for Fresh Basil Pesto

Field Notes: Late July and Recipe for Fresh Basil Pesto

Cooler temperatures and rain offered some much needed relief over the weekend. Fortunately, it was gentle and steady enough to soak in and provide moisture to farmers around the county. The plants in the field should grow like crazy given the forecast for sun and warmer temperatures this week.

As we have been saying all season, the crops are coming on early and fast this year. This week we will have an abundance of basil, carrots and cucumbers. It is a great time to make some pesto, as well as freeze some basil for the winter months.

Continue Reading: Field Notes: Late July and Recipe for Fresh Basil Pesto

{name} Posted by Kim Tait on 07/26, 2012 at 09:14 AM

Tags: recipe | summer | basil |

Field Notes: Early July

Field Notes: Early July

One of my fondest childhood food memories was frequenting local farm stands in the summer to get fresh fruits and vegetables. I remember our dinners often consisting of sweet corn, green beans, sliced tomatoes, and peaches for dessert. I was fascinated that the fields growing the food were right there, sandwiched between the rapidly expanding housing developments of Southern California. But it was that experience that developed my true appreciation for the taste of fresh food and I have never looked back.

Continue Reading: Field Notes: Early July

{name} Posted by Kim Tait on 07/05, 2012 at 02:15 PM

Tags: farm | summer |

Summer Field Notes + Recipe for Cucumber Salad with Mint and Feta

Summer Field Notes + Recipe for Cucumber Salad with Mint and Feta

As we roll into summer, things on the farm seem to be going pretty well. The sugar snap peas are coming on, and we will start seeing them in the share this week – they are such a treat! The farmers got the strawberry plugs planted late last week, and we will look forward to having delicious berries in the share next year. We thought we might be able to get one more year out of the old patch, but it gave up the ghost earlier in the spring.

Continue Reading: Summer Field Notes + Recipe for Cucumber Salad with Mint and Feta

{name} Posted by Kim Tait on 06/21, 2012 at 09:06 AM

Tags: fieldnotes | recipe | summer | cucumbers | onions | radishes | mint |

Early June Field Notes + Recipe for Garlic Scape Pesto

Early June Field Notes + Recipe for Garlic Scape Pesto

Very well watered would best describe the condition in the fields. Thankfully we have most of the newly planted summer crops on raised beds, which keep the plants up and out of the saturated earth. The black plastic we use to cover the raised beds keeps the soil temperature a bit warmer, the weeds at bay, and the moisture in—all good things if you are a heat loving tomato, pepper, or eggplant.

Continue Reading: Early June Field Notes + Recipe for Garlic Scape Pesto

{name} Posted by Kim Tait on 06/08, 2012 at 06:59 AM

Tags: fieldnotes | recipe | spring | garlic |

Field Notes and Mesclun Salad with Mango Chutney Dressing

Field Notes and Mesclun Salad with Mango Chutney Dressing

Farming is hardly ever a perfect world. It is often too wet or dry, too hot or cold—but then every once in a while along comes the perfect day.

Continue Reading: Field Notes and Mesclun Salad with Mango Chutney Dressing

{name} Posted by Kim Tait on 05/17, 2012 at 07:43 AM

Tags: fieldnotes | recipe | spring | greens |

Field Notes and Stir-Fried Asparagus with Shiitake Mushrooms

Field Notes and Stir-Fried Asparagus with Shiitake Mushrooms

This crazy spring just keeps on coming! Thankfully we are getting a bit of rain to settle the dust and take the dry edge off of everything.

The asparagus was starting to come on early last week, but rapidly retreated after a few cold days – so we have a just small amount for everyone. The early spring greens we planted in March are growing and this week we get to enjoy yukina savoy. Between the flea beetles and the extreme temperatures, it doesn’t look beautiful, but it still tastes good. This vegetable needs very little cooking, which makes it perfect in stir-fry, or as a late addition to Asian style soups.

Continue Reading: Field Notes and Stir-Fried Asparagus with Shiitake Mushrooms

{name} Posted by Kim Tait on 05/03, 2012 at 12:35 PM

Tags: fieldnotes | recipe | spring | asparagus | mushrooms |

April Weather and Asparagus Salsa

April Weather and Asparagus Salsa

Mid-April felt more like July. We had full irrigation running on the crops in the fields since the beginning of the month, as we took turns waiting for the next available hose to water a greenhouse. It was dry, dry, dry!

Continue Reading: April Weather and Asparagus Salsa

{name} Posted by Kim Tait on 04/26, 2012 at 09:20 AM

Tags: farm | spring | recipe | asparagus |

Field Notes: An Unusual Start to Spring

Field Notes: An Unusual Start to Spring

Thank goodness the weather seems to be back to normal for this time of year. The past few weeks of warm weather had us moving around at warp speed trying to get fields prepared and planted.

In all my years at Tait Farm, I have never seen anything quite like this spring. We already have kales, chard, beets, Asian greens, and head lettuce seedlings planted out, as well as peas, carrots, and lettuce mix seeded in the fields.

Continue Reading: Field Notes: An Unusual Start to Spring

{name} Posted by Kim Tait on 04/12, 2012 at 08:32 AM

Tags: fieldnotes | farm |

Why Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)?

Why Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)?

For over 25 years, the CSA movement has been gaining popularity with small to medium size farms across the country. In its simplest form, a group of individuals become paying members of a farm and in return, the farm grows fresh produce for the members. In this mutual partnership, the farm and the members share in both the abundance and short falls associated with farming.

Continue Reading: Why Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)?

{name} Posted by Kim Tait on 03/19, 2012 at 12:31 PM

Tags: farm | csa |

Field Notes: Early March

Field Notes: Early March

The feel of early spring is already in the air. The smell of sleeping soil waking up, the reddening tips of the trees as the sap begins to flow upwards, and the songs of robins are just a few of the early harbingers of spring. We are continuing to stay busy seeding in the greenhouse, spreading compost on the fields, finishing up the new high tunnel and generally trying to get all the winter
work completed.

Continue Reading: Field Notes: Early March

{name} Posted by Kim Tait on 03/08, 2012 at 07:59 AM

Tags: fieldnotes | farm |

Field Notes: Mild February

Field Notes: Mild February

The mild February temperatures are allowing things to roll along pretty smoothly these days. We have made great progress on the new high tunnel and should have the ends completed, the roll-up sides installed and the plastic cover on within a couple weeks. Once this is complete, we will lay in compost and seed an early spring greens mix, which we plan to be eating come April!

Continue Reading: Field Notes: Mild February

{name} Posted by Kim Tait on 02/17, 2012 at 06:59 PM

Tags: fieldnotes | farm |

Holiday Greetings from the Farm!

Holiday Greetings from the Farm!

We are home to many local families’ holiday traditions and lasting memories. There is an honesty and simplicity that comes with the annual pilgrimage to Tait Farm. The ritual is predictable, as well as comforting—it often includes cutting a tree, chatting with friends, visiting the Bassets, sipping a cup of tea, and sampling our food products in the Harvest Shop

Continue Reading: Holiday Greetings from the Farm!

{name} Posted by Kim Tait on 12/09, 2011 at 11:24 AM

Tags: holidays |

Bon AppeTait:  Spicy Autumn Salad

Bon AppeTait:  Spicy Autumn Salad

I love fall on the farm. It is the season of bold flavors and stunning natural beauty. The changing leaves are slowing winding their way up Tussey Mountain, creating a tapestry of subtle color. The fields abound with beautiful fall greens and root crops, still soaking up as much sun as they can before harvest. And after months of ripening in the fields (or drowning), the winter squash have been harvested. Our attention will now turn to getting the fields into cover crops for the long winter’s rest. And all the while, I will delight in the flavor of my first butternut squash soup, as well as the site of colorful, funky pumpkins and gourds that bring fall blessings to my home.

Continue Reading: Bon AppeTait:  Spicy Autumn Salad

{name} Posted by Kim Tait on 10/17, 2011 at 01:15 PM

Tags: recipe | fall |

Change is in the Air and a Recipe for Vegetable Soup

Change is in the Air and a Recipe for Vegetable Soup

The unusually wet and cool weather of mid-September must be a prelude to a fabulous Indian Summer coming our way. Nature has its signals in every season, and the fall is no exception. The dizzying activity of insects and migrating birds, the prolific blooming of goldenrod and asters, and the breathtaking color transformation of the native Sumac all confirm the change that is in the air. And even though the tomatoes are slowly slipping away, the abundant greens, hearty squashes, pears and more, are ready to make their debut and step in where the others are leaving off. Oh, how lucky we are!

Continue Reading: Change is in the Air and a Recipe for Vegetable Soup

{name} Posted by Kim Tait on 09/19, 2011 at 10:16 AM

Tags: recipe | fall | soup | celery | onions | garlic | carrots | potatoes | greenbeans | tomatoes | corn |

Corn Salad with Sweet Chili Lime Vinaigrette

Corn Salad with Sweet Chili Lime Vinaigrette

It’s no wonder that sweet corn is right up there with tomatoes as America’s favorite vegetable. Nothing beats the flavor of fresh picked corn. Whether you eat it on the cob, or turn it into delicious salad, the time to enjoy it is now!

Try this nice, light, and refreshing salad courtesy of Cindy Tait Law. And don’t forget to share your favorite sweet corn recipe before July 31st for your chance to win a $25 gift certificate to Nature’s Pantry in State College!

Continue Reading: Corn Salad with Sweet Chili Lime Vinaigrette

{name} Posted by Kim Tait on 07/27, 2011 at 09:58 AM

Tags: recipe | summer | corn |

Welcome, Kim Tait

Welcome, Kim Tait

We are pleased to welcome Kim Tait, co-founder of Tait Farm Foods and Tait Farm’s community supported agriculture program, Community Harvest to the Local Food Journey. What does Kim have to say about eating locally this growing season?

Continue Reading: Welcome, Kim Tait

{name} Posted by Kim Tait on 05/09, 2011 at 02:35 PM

Tags: farm |

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