-
Erin Donahue -
Christina Barkanic -
Brittany Trott -
Emily Wiley -
Jessica Reilley -
Chris Raines -
Will Nichols -
Emily Reddy -
Michele Marchetti -
Michele Frank -
James Gherardi -
Kit Henshaw - Christina Barkanic and Erin Donahue
-
Kim Tait -
Erin McKinney -
Steve Spanelli -
Sam Komlenic -
Katherine Taylor Grofic -
James Eisenstein -
Tony Ricci -
Laura Young -
Kristin Camplese -
Fresh and Local Team, Harrison's Wine Grill -
Jamie Oberdick -
Local Food Journey - Kristine A.
-
Linda Weaver -
Naomi Elle Schwartz
All Posts including “farm”
The Zen of Weeding
You may think that spending some 20 hours hand weeding asparagus would be an onerous task, but only because you haven’t had to slog through grading a big stack of blue books or papers. I’d much prefer the weeding, though my knees and back provide a dissenting view.
Continue Reading: The Zen of Weeding
Posted by James Eisenstein on 05/14, 2012 at 02:14 PM
Roller Coaster Ride of Weather
Last week brought with it a roller coaster ride of weather events – one day sweating into the black plastic as we lay out the onion crop; the next day freezing in an arctic wind as we try to tack down row covers to protect tender seedlings from impending frost.
And, of course, there was the freak snow storm that came and went like a gaff from presidential candidate. It was horrible at the time, but we were over it by the next day, having forgotten what all the fuss was about as we went on with the daily task of surviving in an uncertain world.
Continue Reading: Roller Coaster Ride of Weather
Posted by Tony Ricci on 04/30, 2012 at 09:33 AM
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
Posted by Kim Tait on 04/26, 2012 at 10:21 AM
Comments (0)
| Permalink | Tags: farm | spring | recipe | asparagus |
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
Posted by Kim Tait on 04/12, 2012 at 09:33 AM
Comments (0)
| Permalink | Tags: fieldnotes | farm |
Farm Diary: Pruning in March
Most people know that pruning does not consist of attaching prunes to fruit trees and bushes, despite what Amelia Bedelia understood it to mean. But beyond that, I’ll wager that most folks who read Unpaid Field Hand only know that it involves some sort of cutting and thinning of fruit trees and canes.
Of course, you can learn all about it by going on the web and googling “fruit pruning.” But even after reading the 7,280,000 results available, you might be forgiven for still not knowing just how to do it. And for good reason. That’s because even the most knowledgeable experts sometimes give contradictory advice. Even Michael Phillips, whose book The Apple Grower is considered an authority to many apple cultivators, confesses that he hopes to know how to do it by the time he is eighty.
Continue Reading: Farm Diary: Pruning in March
Posted by James Eisenstein on 03/30, 2012 at 10:13 AM
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)?
Posted by Kim Tait on 03/19, 2012 at 01:32 PM
Why are Dairy Farms in the Marcellus Shale Closing?
Is mighty Marcellus squeezing the milk industry? That’s the finding of a new Penn State study. The Allegheny Front’s Reid Frazier set out to find why dairy farms are folding amidst the gas boom.
Continue reading to hear Frazier’s audio story.
Continue Reading: Why are Dairy Farms in the Marcellus Shale Closing?
Posted by Emily Wiley on 03/14, 2012 at 04:59 AM
Muddy Boots
Spring has established a strong foothold in spite of some chilly mornings. The distinct smell of thawing earth has brought on the irresistible urge to roll shamelessly in the grass – or at least to get my boots muddier.
Continue Reading: Muddy Boots
Posted by Tony Ricci on 03/13, 2012 at 09:14 AM
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
Posted by Kim Tait on 03/08, 2012 at 09:00 AM
Comments (0)
| Permalink | Tags: fieldnotes | farm |
Farm Diary: Seeding Fun in Late February
Seeding is a critical component of farming. No seed flats planted in February means no crops later. It is a laborious and painstaking, but oddly, satisfying task that I tackled two weeks ago. Here is how it works.
Continue Reading: Farm Diary: Seeding Fun in Late February
Posted by James Eisenstein on 03/07, 2012 at 10:00 AM
Farm Diary: Late Winter on the Farm
Every occupation has its rhythm. The rhythms of farming are special because they coincide with earth’s yearly swing around the sun. January and February provide an opportunity to contemplate the prospects of the upcoming growing season. So my unpaid field hand’s diary for 2012 begins with news from winter.
Continue Reading: Farm Diary: Late Winter on the Farm
Posted by James Eisenstein on 02/29, 2012 at 11:40 AM
Early Signs of Spring
Signs of spring are appearing a little early this year, as can be seen from the picture above showing new garlic shoots poking through the soil. Garlic is always the first crop to make an appearance and has more credibility in predicting the beginning of spring than pampered rodents.
Continue Reading: Early Signs of Spring
Posted by Tony Ricci on 02/23, 2012 at 06:34 PM
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
Posted by Kim Tait on 02/17, 2012 at 08:00 PM
Comments (0)
| Permalink | Tags: fieldnotes | farm |
Late January Greens
Green Heron Farm still has a nice supply of greens this week, but order early for those items – they fly off the shelf this time of year:
Baby Arugula
Baby Spinach
Baby Chard – Green, Red and Gold
Italian and Red Rib Dandelion
Continue Reading: Late January Greens
Posted by Tony Ricci on 01/23, 2012 at 09:20 AM
Fall Garlic Fun on the Farm
It is now late fall on the farm, and the last vegetables have been harvested. Time to sit by the fire, do our nails, and dream of spring, right? Yes? Shows how much you know about life on an organic vegetable farm.
Now is the time to plant next year’s garlic. Notice the nifty planting grid our intrepid intern Hannah is using to make sure the cloves are properly spaced. If you squint and look at the front of the wooden form, you’ll discover both some intact garlic bulbs and some individual cloves ready to stick into the soil.
Continue Reading: Fall Garlic Fun on the Farm
Posted by James Eisenstein on 11/14, 2011 at 10:00 AM
Comments (1)
| Permalink | Tags: fieldhand | farm | garlic |
Field Notes: Rainbow Carrots in November
I had never belonged to a CSA before I came to Tait Farm. I read about them, knew of some, and had friends and coworkers who picked up their shares weekly and absolutely loved being a part of it. We, however, were lucky enough to have a plot of land large enough to grow more than enough of our own produce.
Continue Reading: Field Notes: Rainbow Carrots in November
Posted by Erin McKinney on 11/10, 2011 at 10:00 AM
Unpaid Field Hand: Name this Crop
We have lots of customers who buy lettuce, onions, carrots, and beets. Then there are many who merely stroll by and say, “Everything looks beautiful.” True Fact: People who say, ”Everything looks beautiful” really mean, “I’m not going to buy a single thing.”
What is this wonderful, under-appreciated vegetable?
Continue Reading: Unpaid Field Hand: Name this Crop
Posted by James Eisenstein on 09/14, 2011 at 11:38 AM
How Floods Affect Farms
Last week’s flooding was an adventure—one that I would prefer not repeating once every 15 years or so. We got off easy by some accounts. Most of our crops are still in the ground, although about a third of our lane was redistributed to the entrance of our house.
Living on a slope has its advantages and as long as the water keeps flowing through the basement, we’re doing OK. Getting off the farm in a flood is the tough part.
Continue Reading: How Floods Affect Farms
Posted by Tony Ricci on 09/13, 2011 at 11:23 AM
Turning Toward Fall
The season is tilting decidedly toward fall, and the crops are shifting toward soup ingredients and fall fruit.
Continue Reading: Turning Toward Fall
Posted by Tony Ricci on 09/07, 2011 at 01:58 PM
Unpaid Field Hand: Mystery Crop Update
I suspect that my faithful followers have been distracted from their routine activities wondering how the various “name this crop” vegetables are doing. Fear not! I have a few updates for you.
Continue Reading: Unpaid Field Hand: Mystery Crop Update
Posted by James Eisenstein on 09/06, 2011 at 01:55 PM
When Natural Disasters Strike
The week wouldn’t be complete without a natural disaster. Last week we hit the jackpot with two – an earthquake and a hurricane – although it was our eastern neighbors who were most affected.
Continue Reading: When Natural Disasters Strike
Posted by Tony Ricci on 08/29, 2011 at 11:07 AM
Mothersbaugh Farm in Spring Mills
Chuck Mothersbaugh is a staple at the Friday market in downtown State College. It’s easy to spot his buckets of beautiful sunflowers on Locust Lane. Of course, he also sells a wide variety of produce—from cucumbers to tomatoes to onions to squash. Watch this short video interview to learn more.
Continue Reading: Mothersbaugh Farm in Spring Mills
Posted by Katherine Taylor Grofic on 08/26, 2011 at 10:00 AM
Clan Stewart Farm in Huntingdon
Clan Stewart Farm is a 160-acre farm located in Huntingdon. The Stewart family came to Pennsylvania from Ireland in the 1700s and began farming the land in 1793. Now in its seventh generation, the family continues to work together to keep the farm alive.
Hear about their popular whole hog sausages—from andouille to spicy chorizo to mild Italian—in this video interview.
Find them at the Boalsburg Farmers Market on Tuesdays from 2-6pm and at the North Atherton Farmers Market on Saturdays from 10am-2pm.
Continue Reading: Clan Stewart Farm in Huntingdon
Posted by Katherine Taylor Grofic on 08/15, 2011 at 02:54 PM
Greenmore Gardens CSA
Greenmore Gardens CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) is located in Port Matilda. The farm uses sustainable practices and recently became certified organic. Find out what they have available this month—from kale and cabbage to hummingbird cakes made with vegetables and honey—in this video interview.
Visit them at the North Atherton Farmers Market on Saturdays from 10am-2pm.
Continue Reading: Greenmore Gardens CSA
Posted by Katherine Taylor Grofic on 08/12, 2011 at 01:11 PM
Comments (0)
| Permalink | Tags: video | farm | market | csa |
Heirloom Tomatoes
There is a general consensus among marketers that an adjective can mean the difference between making a sale and bringing home ingredients for a gourmet compost pile. Flat parsley does not have the same resonance as Italian parsley. Without the appellation “French,” shallots would just be small, pale red onions. Then there is Red Russian kale which is neither truly red nor Russian (at least according to the Russian customers I’ve talked to who think it’s just another Ukrainian conspiracy). But who wants to say purple-stemmed blue-green, flat kale? It just doesn’t slide off the tongue with the same romantic flare. You can practically hear the balalaikas playing in the background when the words Red Russian are invoked.
Continue Reading: Heirloom Tomatoes
Posted by Tony Ricci on 08/09, 2011 at 01:27 PM
A Rainy Day on the Farm
Despite the rain, many community members came out on Saturday to support the 6th Annual Farm Tour sponsored by PASA and Buy Fresh Buy Local.
Student intern Katherine Grofic visited three farms on the soggy day and captured several photos from each. Continue reading to see the slideshow.
Continue Reading: A Rainy Day on the Farm
Posted by Katherine Taylor Grofic on 08/08, 2011 at 03:09 PM
How to Plan a Day’s Work on a Vegetable Farm
For those of you who are having trouble falling asleep beset by curiosity over how farmers plan their workdays, this post is for you. Actually, it is a laughably simple two-step process. Step 1: List everything that absolutely must be done. Step 2: Rank the tasks in order of importance and do the work. Ready?
Continue Reading: How to Plan a Day’s Work on a Vegetable Farm
Posted by James Eisenstein on 08/04, 2011 at 02:49 PM
6th Annual Central Pennsylvania Farm Tour
It’s Local Foods Week in central Pennsylvania! Celebrate the farms, markets, restaurants, and businesses that support our regional food system. Then wrap up the week with the 6th Annual Farm Tour sponsored by PASA and Buy Fresh Buy Local.
Pack your cooler, hop in your car (or on your bike), and explore our beautiful agrarian landscape this Saturday from 12:30pm-5:00pm. Continue reading for more details.
Continue Reading: 6th Annual Central Pennsylvania Farm Tour
Posted by Emily Wiley on 08/03, 2011 at 02:55 PM
Unpaid Field Hand: Name this Crop
Driving around central Pennsylvania, I typically see entire fields dedicated to neat rows of corn and soybean plants – all instantly recognizable. And photos from mega-agribusinesses show similarly uniform fields. Any media consultant smarter than a brick would advise a farmer client to only depict similarly pristine views of growing crops.
But what do you notice about the photo of this farm field?
Continue Reading: Unpaid Field Hand: Name this Crop
Posted by James Eisenstein on 07/25, 2011 at 02:22 PM
July is National Ice Cream Month
As luck would have it, July is National Ice Cream Month as established by President Ronald Reagan in 1984. He also appointed the third Sunday of this month as National Ice Cream Day because an estimated 90% of the nation’s population consumes ice cream.
Continue Reading: July is National Ice Cream Month
Posted by Kit Henshaw on 07/20, 2011 at 10:24 AM
The Great Divide
Every once in a while I’ll get a question from someone who feels the need to engage me in agricultural discourse in order to spotlight my complete ignorance of farming. And quite honestly, I’m the first to admit that I don’t know everything about farming. That’s why I love this business – there’s something to learn every day.
Continue Reading: The Great Divide
Posted by Tony Ricci on 07/19, 2011 at 11:02 AM
NPR: How Industrial Farming “Destroyed” the Tasty Tomato
If you bite into a tomato between the months of October and June, chances are that tomato came from Florida. And it tastes dramatically different than the varieties you might grow in your backyard or pick up at your local farmers market during the summer.
Freelance food writer Barry Estabrook looks at the life of today’s mass-produced tomato — and the environmental and human costs of the tomato industry — in his book Tomatoland: How Modern Industrial Agriculture Destroyed Our Most Alluring Fruit.
Listen to his interview with Terry Gross for Fresh Air.
Continue Reading: NPR: How Industrial Farming “Destroyed” the Tasty Tomato
Posted by Emily Wiley on 07/13, 2011 at 11:32 AM
Garlic Harvest
There are several milestones during the year that mark dramatic shifts in the growing season. For me, it’s always the garlic harvest, which coincides with the first full week of summer. The harvest brings to a close the long wait for the king of alliums that started back in November when the final clove was tucked in the ground for the winter.
Garlic is a precise, no-nonsense crop that sticks to its preordained schedule whether you like it or not. It’s not going to wait around for a distracted farmer to fit it in to his daily planner. Wait a week too long and tough luck, it’s on to its next phase of development without so much as a by-your-leave.
Continue Reading: Garlic Harvest
Posted by Tony Ricci on 06/29, 2011 at 12:07 PM
Three Minute Gardener: How to Renovate a Strawberry Patch
After the June harvest of strawberries, patches should be renovated in preparation for the following year. Penn State Senior Extension Educator Kathy Demchak explains why these renovations are important and how to complete them.
Continue Reading: Three Minute Gardener: How to Renovate a Strawberry Patch
Posted by Emily Wiley on 06/28, 2011 at 10:05 AM
Comments (0)
| Permalink | Tags: strawberries | farming |
Welcome, Green Heron Farm!
Please welcome our newest contributor, Tony Ricci, of Green Heron Farm in southern Huntingdon County. Tony has been instrumental in bringing a year-round supply of local, organic produce to our area. He’s also the farmer who uses fryer oil to fuel his delivery truck.
Continue Reading: Welcome, Green Heron Farm!
Posted by Emily Wiley on 06/27, 2011 at 02:41 PM
Unpaid Field Hand: The Story of Peas
Last Tuesday night, Emily Wiley posted a picture of her dinner to the Boalsburg Farmers Market Facebook page. The caption said: “Dinner tonight courtesy of the Boalsburg Farmers Market. Pork chops from Cow-a-Hen Farm. Snap peas from Jade Family Farm. Bread from Gemelli Bakery with lemon-artichoke pesto from Fasta & Ravioli Co. And strawberries from Way Fruit Farm. Happiness on a plate.”
Emily knew the peas she bought were grown at Jade Family Farm, but how did the green pods find their way to our farm and then to the market? Well, this unpaid field hand decided to tackle that question.
Continue Reading: Unpaid Field Hand: The Story of Peas
Posted by James Eisenstein on 06/21, 2011 at 01:20 PM
Howard’s End CSA Farm
Do you belong to a CSA? Community-supported agriculture (CSA) connects farmers and consumers and offers advantages to both parties. Consumers purchase a share at the beginning of the season and receive a weekly box of fresh-from-the-farm produce. And because farmers receive payment early, they are able to more effectively manage their cash flow and their crops.
Addison Hoffman from Howard’s End CSA Farm, located about 1/2 hour outside of State College, runs a CSA. They offer everything from chickens and ducks to berries to honey and yogurt. You can also find him at the State College Farmers Market on Tuesdays.
Watch a video interview with Addison and learn more about CSA farms.
Continue Reading: Howard’s End CSA Farm
Posted by Katherine Taylor Grofic on 06/17, 2011 at 11:21 AM
Comments (1)
| Permalink | Tags: farm | csa | video | market |
Moser’s Garden Produce from Centre Hall
Moser’s Garden in Centre Hall is a family operation. It began in 1976 as a half-acre garden with a few dozen fruit trees and grape vines. Today it has grown in both variety and acreage producing over 150 varieties of tomatoes, as well as berries, peppers, and sweet corn.
Watch a video interview with Barry Moser and find his produce at the State College Farmers Market on Tuesdays and Fridays and at the North Atherton Market on Saturdays.
Continue Reading: Moser’s Garden Produce from Centre Hall
Posted by Katherine Taylor Grofic on 06/15, 2011 at 03:23 PM
Wet Spring Impacts Farmers
This year’s wet spring not only dampened your home gardening plans, it put farmers way behind schedule, too. Find out how this may impact yields and food prices in an audio interview with James Dunn, Penn State professor of agricultural economics.
Hear the interview conducted by WPSU’s Patty Satalia.
Continue Reading: Wet Spring Impacts Farmers
Posted by Emily Wiley on 06/14, 2011 at 01:39 PM
From the Field to the Fryer and Back
Welcome to Kit Henshaw from Harrison’s Wine Grill, another new contributor to the Local Food Journey blog!
What do baby lettuces, garlic scapes, micro sunflower shoots, French sorrel, rhubarb, greens … and used fryer oil have in common? They’re all wrapped up in the partnership between Harrison’s Wine Grill and Green Heron Farm run by the talented Tony Ricci and Becky Smith.
Continue Reading: From the Field to the Fryer and Back
Posted by Kit Henshaw on 06/09, 2011 at 02:05 PM
Comments (0)
| Permalink | Tags: farm | restaurant |
“Taste of PA” at Way Fruit Farm this Saturday
Visit Way Fruit Farm on Saturday, May 14th and Saturday, May 21st from 10am - 3pm for a “Taste of PA.” The afternoon will feature free samples from local vendors like Goot Essa cheese, Wild Mountain Gourmet mustard, Galliker’s ice cream, and Hogs Galore. Way Fruit Farm will also have apples, applesauce, pie, donuts, and more.
Continue Reading: “Taste of PA” at Way Fruit Farm this Saturday
Posted by Emily Wiley on 05/13, 2011 at 02:41 PM
Field Notes: Asparagus Season and Recipe for Vegan Hollandaise Sauce
There are two times during the asparagus season that I enjoy picking it: the first time and the last time. Don’t get me wrong; I love asparagus in every way, shape, and form on my dinner plate, but the tedious task of picking it twice a day can make a person jump for joy at the end of its season.
Continue Reading: Field Notes: Asparagus Season and Recipe for Vegan Hollandaise Sauce
Posted by Erin McKinney on 05/12, 2011 at 04:08 PM
Comments (0)
| Permalink | Tags: farm | fieldnotes | recipe | spring | asparagus |
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
Posted by Kim Tait on 05/09, 2011 at 03:36 PM
Easter Eggs
Nothing says Easter like a bowl full of brightly colored eggs! Whether you dip the eggs into blue or purple dye or paint them with pink polka dots and yellow stripes, consider buying local eggs this holiday season.
Continue Reading: Easter Eggs
Posted by Erin Donahue on 04/20, 2011 at 04:11 PM
Comments (0)
| Permalink | Tags: holiday | easter | eggs | farm |
Easter Ham
Easter is just a few days away, and traditionally, most families feast on ham on this holiday. While the grocery store may seem like a convenient place to purchase your main course, those hams have probably been shipped across the country in plastic. Perhaps you should rethink your vendor this year.
Continue Reading: Easter Ham
Posted by Christina Barkanic on 04/20, 2011 at 01:06 PM
Field Notes: Cold, Wet Days
Erin McKinney is one of two full-time farmers at Tait Farm in Centre Hall who oversees the fieldwork for the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, Community Harvest. Find out from Erin what is “growing on” in the fields at Tait Farm this week.
Continue Reading: Field Notes: Cold, Wet Days
Posted by Emily Wiley on 04/15, 2011 at 03:02 PM
Comments (0)
| Permalink | Tags: farm | fieldnotes | recipe | spring | springgreens | garlic |
Congratulations to Tait Farm
Last week Tait Farm’s Community Harvest won the Quality of Life Award at the CBICC Awards Gala. The award recognizes an individual or organization whose activities enhance the quality of life in Centre County. Tait Farm took home the award for its popular CSA and the relationship it fosters between the farmer and the consumer. Community Harvest provides a weekly supply of fresh, healthy, organic produce to subscribers and is committed to strengthening regional food systems.
Listen to an audio story recorded at Tait Farm last November, and view photos of the fresh produce available during that time of year.
And congratulations to Tait Farm!
Continue Reading: Congratulations to Tait Farm
Posted by Emily Wiley on 03/08, 2011 at 04:55 PM
Piper’s Peck in Bellefonte
Looking for quality homemade salsa and hot pepper jelly? Janet Robinson, owner of Piper’s Peck, started her pepper business in 1998. She grows nine different varieties of peppers at her farm in Bellefonte. Her products include salsas, pepper jellies, fruit jellies, sauces, relishes, and even fudge! Stop by one of the many local farmers markets to meet Janet, or order online at www.piperspeck.com.
Continue reading to see a video interview with Janet.
Continue Reading: Piper’s Peck in Bellefonte
Posted by Christina Barkanic and Erin Donahue on 02/26, 2011 at 12:59 AM
The Pennsylvania Farm Show (part 3)
Mary Miller of The Fork and The Road shares her final thoughts on the Pennsylvania Farm Show. If you missed the big event this year, mark your calendar for next year: January 7-14.
Continue Reading: The Pennsylvania Farm Show (part 3)
Posted by Emily Wiley on 01/19, 2011 at 03:20 PM
The Pennsylvania Farm Show (part 2)
Mary Miller of The Fork and The Road shares the second installment of her visit to the Pennsylvania Farm Show.
Continue Reading: The Pennsylvania Farm Show (part 2)
Posted by Emily Wiley on 01/14, 2011 at 03:13 PM
The Pennsylvania Farm Show (part 1)
The 2011 Pennsylvania Farm Show concludes this Saturday after one full week of livestock contests, horticulture exhibits, wine tastings, country music, and culinary cook-offs. Mary Miller of The Fork and The Road reports from the annual event.
Continue Reading: The Pennsylvania Farm Show (part 1)
Posted by Emily Wiley on 01/13, 2011 at 11:47 AM
Tait Farm in November
The days of fresh berries and sweet corn are long gone. Winter is right around the corner. So what is on the plate of a local foodie during this time of year? Emily Wiley visited Tait Farm in Centre Hall to find out.
Listen to audio and view a photo slideshow of November produce.
Continue Reading: Tait Farm in November
Posted by Emily Wiley on 11/19, 2010 at 03:19 PM
Toast to Elton Tait
Support farmland preservation today with a toast in memory of one of its local patriarchs, Elton Tait. Visit Elk Creek Café + Aleworks in Millheim for a pint of Elton’s ESB. Fifty cents of each pint sale goes to the Centre County Farmland Trust. Cheers!
Continue Reading: Toast to Elton Tait
Posted by Emily Wiley on 10/27, 2010 at 10:09 AM
The Garden in Centre Hall
Last Sunday afternoon, while driving along unfamiliar roads in Centre Hall, my parents and I stumbled upon “The Garden.” Though small, this shed off of Old Fort Road was packed with the summer’s final fresh produce. There were shelves of jams and jellies, fresh packed dill pickles and beets, salsas and jarred tomatoes. The options were boundless; which is often rare for a roadside farm stand of this size.
Continue Reading: The Garden in Centre Hall
Posted by James Gherardi on 09/09, 2010 at 11:12 AM
Goat: It’s What’s for Dinner
If you really want people to think you’re weird, tell them you ate goat. Ever since my husband and I cooked up some goat sausages on the grill, I’ve been singing this meat’s praises. It tastes great. It has less fat and more protein than beef. But the conversation seldom goes any further. When the subject of goat arises, so does the red flag in our brain that controls what goes into our mouth.
Continue Reading: Goat: It’s What’s for Dinner
Posted by Michele Marchetti on 08/17, 2010 at 10:12 AM
An Afternoon at Way Fruit Farm
Way Fruit Farm was one of 19 farms that participated in the5th Annual Central PA Farm Tour. Join Emily Wiley as she talks with sixth generation farmer, Brooks Way, and others who support local foods.
Listen to audio and view a slideshow of photos from an afternoon at Way Fruit Farm.
Continue Reading: An Afternoon at Way Fruit Farm
Posted by Emily Wiley on 08/12, 2010 at 02:41 PM
Farm Tour Fun
I met these three kiddos on Saturday at Way Fruit Farm in Port Matilda. They were there with dozens of other community members—of all ages—in support of our local food system.
Continue Reading: Farm Tour Fun
Posted by Emily Wiley on 08/09, 2010 at 03:28 PM
How to Enjoy the Remaining Days of a Happy Valley Summer
August is here, which means cranberries and pumpkins will soon replace blueberries and tomatoes. But there’s still time to enjoy the final quiet days of Happy Valley’s summer before football season begins. Michele Marchetti, co-founder of Homegrown Happy Valley, shares her favorite picks.
Continue Reading: How to Enjoy the Remaining Days of a Happy Valley Summer
Posted by Michele Marchetti on 08/04, 2010 at 02:38 PM
Fridays Mean Vegetables
Every Friday evening my housemate Kristen brings home a wooden crate overflowing with fresh-picked vegetables. This cornucopia is not from the grocery store.
Continue Reading: Fridays Mean Vegetables
Posted by Emily Reddy on 07/30, 2010 at 03:01 PM
Cow-A-Hen Farm in Mifflinburg
At Cow-A-Hen Farm in Mifflinburg, Bill Callahan believes animals were given legs for a reason.
Continue Reading: Cow-A-Hen Farm in Mifflinburg
Posted by Emily Wiley on 06/28, 2010 at 07:56 PM
Harner Farm in State College
It started as a simple apple farm, but today Harner Farm has over 100 acres of apples, peaches, sweet corn, Christmas trees, and pumpkins. Watch the video and find out from Chris Harner, third generation farmer, why it is so important to buy local.
Continue Reading: Harner Farm in State College
Posted by Brittany Trott on 06/10, 2010 at 10:56 AM
How to Eat Local
Want to join the journey? Here are five ways to eat close to home:
Continue Reading: How to Eat Local
Posted by Brittany Trott on 06/03, 2010 at 01:43 PM
Comments (0)
| Permalink | Tags: farm | restaurant | market |
Page 1 of 1 pages
Spring is here, and so is rhubarb!
Share your favorite rhubarb recipe by June 1st for a chance to win a pound of rhubarb from Jade Family Farm.
Additional Support Provided By
Seasonal Recipes
- Field Notes and Mesclun Salad with Mango Chutney Dressing
- Mother’s Day Brunch
- Rhubarb Vinaigrette
- (See All Recipes)
Food Stories from NPR
A Meat Mea Culpa: What Went Wrong With 'Pink Slime'
May 24, 2012
Meat processors blame social media and their own lack of transparency for the "pink slime" storm. . But will consumers ever trust the industry when it comes to understanding how the food processing system works?
Estonia's Fake Chocolate: Born Of Necessity, Reborn In Nostalgia
May 24, 2012
In tough economic times, people almost never cut out comfort foods like chocolate. But sometimes, when you just can't get the foods you love, deprivation can lead to a new food invention, like Estonia's faux chocolate bar, the Kama bar.
Many Americans Say Doing Taxes Is Easier Than Eating Right
May 23, 2012
More than 70 percent of respondents say they've made efforts to cut back on fats, added sugars and salt, they're trying to eat more whole grains, and they're trying to cut calories by drinking water, and low -or zero- calorie beverages.
Support WPSU. Shop Amazon.
We rely upon your support to help provide our community with quality public media. WPSU will receive revenue shares when you make purchases from Amazon through links on our website. There is no extra cost to you.
