Carstensen Farms

Veggie goodies/strawberries at Petaluma Bounty today, strawberry workshop, strawberry crowns available, egg membership

2011-09-23T11:05:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

Petaluma Bounty is open today 3 – 6pm and overflowing with fantastic goodies like:

salad mix, arugula, baby bok choy, tomatoes, beets, carrots, squash, eggplant, sweet peppers, onions, melons, strawberries, raspberries, kale, chard, and flowers! Pictures on their website at www.petalumabounty.org or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/#!/petalumabounty Gorgeous stuff!!

This may be their last week for strawberries! Stop by and grab some while you can.

Speaking of strawberries…..

Bounty will transplant 1000 crowns again this season! Yeah – the same Chandler variety I always grew and…. I’ll be there this Sunday teaching a “Success with Strawberries” workshop from 9 - 11. Cost is $35 to attend with $10 going to support the Bounty Farm and 5 strawberry crowns for you! Check out the details and register on my website at www.carstensenfarms.net.

Speaking of strawberry crowns…..

If you missed out OR found out you would like a few more crowns to fill out your garden, I still have a limited amount available. Order what you need and email me for pickup instructions. They will all be gone by next Sunday so jump on it if you want them J

Egg Family Membership

My batch of new hens will start laying within the next month giving me room to welcome more families to the egg membership. The membership is full right now but I would love to add you to the wait list. My hens are cage free, pastured and spoiled. Just like strawberries, fresh, pasture raised eggs have a wonderful flavor all their own. Interested??? Drop me an email and I’ll fill you in on the details.

And….. I just put in 400 strawberry plants to supply my egg membership. My egg family gets their own self-serve, private farmers market! Strawberries, asparagus, blueberries, apples, ….. whatever I grow and harvest here.

Cheers!

Sally

Cheers!

Sally

Strawberry Growing Workshop at Petaluma Bounty

2011-09-14T11:58:00.001-07:00

Hi all,

Sunday, September 25^th will be my first ever workshop at Petaluma Bounty. The farm has 1000 plants to get in the ground and the perfect classroom for hands on learning! You’ll work with me in the garden as I “show” you how to properly transplant the crowns and teach you how to coax the most delicious strawberries from your own plants. I will have a sheet detailing the process for all participants, no need to remember it all! Get all your questions answered and take a peek at last year’s plants and root systems in the Bounty gardens (how did they do??)

The cost of the class is $35. $10 will be donated to Petaluma Bounty AND you will receive 5 strawberry crowns. Preregister on my website www.carstensenfarms.net by Thursday, September 22^nd. Space is limited so please register early.

Petaluma Bounty is a wonderful organization and I’m happy to help any way I can. Please pass this information on to any gardening soul who would love to learn how to grow their own delicious strawberries with me.

You can find Petaluma Bounty on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/#!/petalumabounty

or at http://www.petalumabounty.org

Cheers!

Sally

Cheers!

Sally

Last chance to order strawberry crowns!

2011-08-30T20:28:00.001-07:00

Hi everyone,

If there are any of you who have not reserved your strawberry plants AND want to try your hand at growing the sweet berries I used to……. now is the time to reserve your plants! Not sure you can grow strawberries? I put 4 varieties in my back yard before I became a commercial grower and - - - failed with all of them. BUT, after 10 years, I know all the secrets! You can learn too. I have email coaching for you to grow step by step along with me or a hands on class in my yard. Check out my website for details and ordering instructions www.carstensenfarms.net. The website says orders close on August 31^st. If I have plants beyond August 31^st I’ll extend the deadline but…. don’t wait, I may run out!

Cheers!

Sally

Eggs at Petaluma Bounty again this Friday

2011-08-11T17:18:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

Petaluma Bounty had a very nice showing of support last Friday! Thanks to all of you who came out to support them. They really had a super nice assortment of goodies available. I personally saw all kinds of squashes, carrots, greens, eggplant (I know, here??), yummy cherry tomatoes, lettuce, onions, and…. my eyes couldn’t take it all in. I personally sampled the oodles of yellow cherry tomatoes growing in the greenhouse (super sweet and tasty) and saw the lovely eggplant growing in the tropical hoop house.

They’ll be there again this Friday from 2 – 6pm with veggies, my eggs and possibly a small qty of strawberries and raspberries. Address again is 55 Shasta Ave., Petaluma (near Craig’s Warehouse and the old Lucky)

If any of you have time and a need to garden or learn how to garden, Petaluma Bounty is the place to go. They are always in need of volunteers, no matter how much time you can spare. Simply go to their website at petalumabounty.org and click on the volunteer tab.

This Saturday is Kid’s Activity Day at the farm from 10 - 12.

From their website:

Bounty Community Farm has long held volunteer days on the second Saturday of the month during our growing season. To help muster as much community support as possible on our work days, the Farm is pleased to offer kids’ activities on the second Saturday of August. Come lend a hand in the field while your children join members of our education group in activities like planting, hunting for insects, bouquet making and storytelling. Be sure to bring your sun hats and sun screen! 55 Shasta Ave., Petaluma. Please contact Farm Education Coordinator Eric Brosio at education@petalumabounty.org with questions.

Cheers!

Sally

Honey - available all day Friday! Fresh eggs and strawberry plants too

2010-09-09T15:48:00.001-07:00

Hi all,

Sorry….. a bunch of folks asked for my address again so here it is 484 Ely Rd N, Petaluma. That will help you find the honey, eggs, and plants on Friday and Sat!

Cheers!

Sally Strawberry

Honey - available all day Friday! Fresh eggs and strawberry plants too

2010-09-09T12:03:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

EXPANDED hours! The honey will be here Friday at 9:30, 11, 1:30 and 3:30 along with the strawberry plants instead of just 9:30. Also - I’ll have fresh eggs available and room for a few more egg family members. I will also have some extra strawberry plants if have not reserved yours and would like to grow your own lovely strawberries. The extra plants are first come, first served.

Cheers!

Sally Strawberry

Honey available on Friday, 9/10 from the O'Honey gang from 9:30 - 11:00

2010-09-07T14:25:00.000-07:00

Hi all!

Exciting news! Megan O’Neill from the O’ Honey gang will have their famous local honey here at my home this Friday from 9:30 – 11:00. TONS of you have expressed sadness and dismay about not having access to their honey so swing by and stock up! Honey NEVER goes bad. You can store it for eternity.

My home location 484 Ely Rd N, Petaluma Use mapquest for directions if needed. I’ll have an orange cone at the entrance to my driveway and cones to direct you to parking. We have a white Laredo travel trailer in the driveway and chain link fence.

Old Adobe Old Redwood Hwy

to Corona turn at Place of Fruit on the corner of Ely Rd and Old Redwood

Rt on to Ely N

Pet Blvd to

Corona

Left on to Ely N

FRESH free range eggs will also be available on Friday. The eggs but NOT the honey will be available on Thursday and Saturday as the berry plant sale and distribution takes place – Thurs 9:30, 11:00, 1:30 and 3:30 and Sat 9:00. Plants will also be available and distributed on Fri @ 9:30.

Cheers!

Sally Strawberry

Good news!! More plants available if you would like to increase your order or jump on the berry bandwagon

2010-09-03T18:05:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,

I reserved an extra box of plants from the nursery and will have plenty to go around. If you want to add to your current order or thought you were too late…. jump in and grab some. If you’re all set – GREAT!

Go to my website www.carstensenfarms.net to reserve your plants before Sept 7^th. The plants will be distributed from my home on the following days:

Thursday Sept 9^th at 9:30 or 11:00 or 1:30 or 3:30 location – 484 Ely Rd N

Friday Sept 10^th at 9:30 only

Saturday Sept 11^th at 9:00 only

Strawberry growing class will be at 9:30 if you want to join in at the last minute– cost is $26 per person

AND FYI…. I just reserved our plants for NEXT year today. They are already sold out but seemed confident I would be able to have my order filled. This nursery has been good to me and we are lucky to be getting plants next year!

Cheers!

Sally Strawberry

Deadline for ordering strawberry plants is Tuesday

2010-08-28T06:40:00.001-07:00

Hi everyone, Last day to order – Tuesday, 8/31 visit www.carstensenfarms.net to order

I’ll be wrapping up my strawberry plant orders this next week. Tuesday is the last day to put in your order – 8/31. I have 245 left in the 3^rd box. Boxes are 1000 plants. Orders over this 3^rd box will be on hold unless I have enough requests to fill the 4^th box. First come, first served.

5 plants - $5

10 plants - $8

25 plants - $19

Growing Strawberries with Sally email coaching - $26

Strawberry growing class – Sept 9^th $26

Distribution day will be Sept 9^th as planned. Location may change from the Casa stand to my home to facilitate the classes. Will let everyone know the exact location for sure by Sept 5^th. If you have a conflict for Sept 9^th the plants will be held in a cooler at my home for pick up on Sept 10^th or Sept 11^th. You’ll need to let me know if you need the alternate pick up days or I’ll expect you on the 9^th.

Cheers!

Sally Strawberry

Cheers!

Sally Strawberry

Second try with the TIME TO ORDER STAWBERRY PLANTS memo

2010-08-13T13:25:00.000-07:00

I’m getting messages from people asking when to order plants or talking with me and saying they never got my email. Forgive me if you DID get this message originally. I’ve got to send it out again just to make sure my computer isn’t doing something funky. If you have the time, tag me back so I know you got it AND if you’re ordering plants using the website, let me know when you have done it so I can confirm THAT works well also.

Sally

Hi everyone,

Sending a quick memo out again so you don’t miss the once a year ordering window! I want to make sure everyone get’s the memos and has the opportunity to purchase the special variety of plants I use to produce our juicy, sweet berries. I have a limited amount reserved so please make sure you order quickly if you really want plants. I’ll keep sending reminders 1 or 2 times a week until Aug 31 (the deadline) so none of you are forgotten! Plant distribution day is September 9^th.

If you want to reserve plants, take a class or join/renew your email coaching membership ….

Go to my website @ www.carstensenfarms.net and order what you need.

Send me a check to reserve your items 484 Ely Rd N, Petaluma, CA 94954

Pricing

$5 for 5 plants

$8 for 10 plants

$19 for 25 plants

Special pricing for over 150 plants – inquire

Growing Class on Sept 9^th - $25 choose 10:00, 11:30, 2:00 or 3:30

Growing Strawberries with Sally email coaching (1 year) $25 (need your email address to join)

Commercial Grower Consulting - inquire

Cheers!

Sally Strawberry

U-Pick blueberries for a few more weeks - come and get 'em while you can Watch for email regarding berry plants

2010-08-05T16:33:00.001-07:00

Hi gang,

Strawberry plants

I’m working on getting my website up and functional so I can begin to process berry plant orders/requests. I need about 3 days to finish it and then I’ll blast the ORDERING memo. Stay tuned and watch for it!!! Strawberrry plants will be available for ordering until August 31^st and distributed on Sept 9^th. All the details will be included in my memo and on the website.

Blueberries

We’ll have ripe blueberries available for U-Pick for just a few more weeks. If you’ve been planning a fun harvesting trip here please get in touch so I can make sure you get some blueberry picking in before the season is over.

For those of you who would like them pre-picked and packaged, I have those as well. They are available thru Petaluma Bounty on Wed, Thurs and Fri AND you can get them directly from me. Check the petalumabounty.org website for mobile market times and locations. Email me for pickup directly from my home location @ 484 Ely Rd. N, Petaluma.

I MAY bring them 1 or 2 days a week to the ole strawberry stand if there’s enough customer interest. If having them at the stand makes it easier for you I’d like to hear back from you within a few days so I can make the decision. I would most likely bring them @ 8:30AM and stay till 10:30 on Wed or Thurs since I have U-pickers here on Fri, Sat, Sun, Mon.

Cheers!

Sally Strawberry

Blueberry U - Pick ------ opening the field for the first time ever

2010-07-18T09:46:00.001-07:00

Hi all,

Thank you Sabrina and Rachel for being my very first blueberry U-pick customers yesterday AND making it a wonderful experience! I enjoyed having them, they had a great time and they walked away with 25 pounds of blueberries in about 2 hours.

Since we all had such a wonderful time, I would like to open my field to you folks as well.

Here’s the scoop….

The field will be open on the following days and times. Arrive at 9:00 or 2:00 for your slot. You may leave earlier or stay later but I need to start everyone at the same time.

Monday 9 – 12 and 2 – 4

Tuesday 9 – 12 and 2 – 4

Friday 9 – 12 and 2 – 4

Saturday 9 – 12 and 2 – 4

Sunday 2 – 4 only

We have a fabulous berry ready to pick. Large size, plenty of them, and very sweet. I’m REALLY impressed with this first variety!!! This is the kind you want to pick and eat! Jammers ----- THIS is your opportunity to harvest superb organic blueberries in quantity.

I encourage all of you to do as I do ------ harvest what you can eat fresh for the next week or 2 (they keep that long) and put the rest away in the freezer for the winter. They are lovely in pancakes, muffins, making jam, pies, in yogurt or fruit salad, etc. The berry will be soft after being frozen but the flavor is the same. I put away AT LEAST 25 – 30 lbs each season and wipe them all out by June. You can use Ziplock/Glad freezer bags or containers for easy storage. Wash before freezing and dry completely.

Our bushes are in a field. There is no shade or bathrooms. There is a hose for water. You will walk out among our horses and Jersey cows to get to the field. You’ll need to bring all of your own picking containers. Because of the livestock and the setting, please do not bring your dog or energetic young children. Young children become bored in 15 minutes and become interested in climbing fences and wandering. This activity is best suited for focused adults and young adults.

I ask that you email me for an appointment or call 778-8934. I’ll meet you on your day and get you to the field and started. The cost per pound is $5.45. Cash is preferred. When you finish picking we meet on my front porch, weigh your goodies, and off you go.

Looking forward to seeing you!!! I miss seeing all my customers at the stand J I had so much fun yesterday that I want to see more of you in my field!

Cheers!

Sally Strawberry

Blueberries available again thru Petaluma Bounty

2010-07-08T21:00:00.001-07:00

Hi all,

Harvested blueberries again today. I’ll have them available at the Petaluma Bounty farm stand tomorrow, Friday 7/9. For the last batch we sold out the first week and….. I was gone for 2 weeks and unable to restock again. I’m back and rollin’ with the blueberries so grab them while you can. I’ll be harvesting again on Sunday or Monday so they should be available for the Bounty mobile market locations as well next week. That’s my plan at least J

Look for my update in a few days regarding eggs. The new hens are just starting in and I have interesting information about the health benefits of healthy, free range hens.

Cheers!

Sally Strawberry

Blueberries are here!!!

2010-06-21T09:58:00.000-07:00

Hi gang!

Our first batch of blueberries is has just arrived. We will have them available all over town thru a cooperative effort with Petaluma Bounty.

You can find them at the Petaluma Bounty Mobile Market as follows:

WEDNESDAY

8:30 am - 11:30 am: Petaluma Mail Depot
40 Fourth Street (between B & C)

12:30 pm - 4:00 pm: Kaiser Medical Offices
3900 Lakeville Highway

THURSDAY

1:30 pm - 3:30 pm: Petaluma Health Center
1301 Southpoint Blvd.

AND at the Bounty Farm Stand

Friday

3-5 pm at the Bounty Farm 55 Shasta Ave. off of Petaluma Blvd N.

The largest qty of blueberries will be offered at the Bounty Farm and I encourage you to swing by and enjoy the wonderful feast for the eyes (their gardens are beautiful!). Their farm stand will be open where you’ll have a chance to purchase ultra fresh veggies and flowers from a wonderful community organization. To learn more about Petaluma Bounty and all they do…… check out their website @ www.petalumabounty.org. They can always use volunteers!

In July I may add 1 more east side Petaluma blueberry sale day @ my home and possibly 1 day @ the Casa location from 10 – noon. Right now the relationship with Petaluma Bounty is so supportive and gives me more time in the field growing and harvesting. I’ll let you know.

Cheers!

Sally Strawberry

Cheers!

Sally Strawberry

Chandler berries from Petaluma Bounty, free range eggs, and Scotland or Bust! Invite reminder from Sally Strawberry

2010-05-20T16:24:00.001-07:00

Hi all!

Amy from Petaluma Bounty is harvesting Chandler berries from her 400 plants. I know MANY of you have emailed and called asking for a referral for berries. Amy will have them at the Petaluma Farmer’s Market on Saturdays and at the Petaluma Wednesday nite market. I have Chandler from my 200 plants that are being gobbled up by my “egg family” group. One of the perks of “egg family” membership.

I’ll have 100 new hens coming into production in July and I’d like to invite you to join the group. Next week I’ll send details about how the group works. If you’re sure you would like fresh, local, free range eggs, (even before the details memo), email me back. I’ll add people first come, first served with the overflow added to the wait list. More strawberries will be available to the “egg family” next year since I’m increasing my berry planting from 200 to 400. Silly me! I actually ENJOY harvesting now!

If you’re looking for something to do on Saturday night……… (can you tell I’m REALLY proud of these kids??) I judged dairy cattle back in my youth and it’s not easy! I placed 1^st once in my career. These kids are really talented and consistent. Winning State, then 2^nd at Nationals and an invitation to the International competition – that’s big. It’s a first for any Petaluma FFA dairy team to earn an International contest invitation.

Scotland or Bust!

Spaghetti Feed

A benefit for the Petaluma FFA Dairy Judging Team

Pasta Dinner and Silent Auction

Saturday, May 22^nd

4:30 - 9:00pm
Hermann Sons Hall

Sam Cheda, Rocco Cunningham, Mandy Brazil, and Kelli Carstensen

Meet me Saturday night for the Scotland or Bust! Spaghetti Feed and Auction Event. Visit the website at www.petalumaffa.org for a quick review of the auction/raffle items and more details.

Serving dinner from 4:30 – 8:30PM

Raffle at 7:30

Silent auction begins at 4:30 closes at 8:00

Fabulous pasta prepared by the Sons of Italy! Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for kids and kids 5 and younger are free.

Cheers!

Sally Strawberry

Cheers!

Sally Strawberry

Petaluma FFA Dairy Team Invite from Sally Strawberry

2010-05-05T17:17:00.001-07:00

Hi gang!

So perhaps you thought I’d have plenty of time this spring right??? Oh no….. my strawberry hours have quickly been filled coordinating the fundraiser event for my daughter Kelli and the Petaluma FFA dairy team. I am such a proud momma and more than pleased to help these awesome FFA members gather support for their adventure to Scotland. Some of you know I was a 9 year 4-H member and a 4 year FFA member in my youth. I can’t even begin to tell you how much those activities and experiences shaped my life. Club meetings, projects, public speaking, recordkeeping, scheduled practice, dedication, accomplishment …… I could go on and on. I am who I am today because of it.

This Dairy team has done a fantastic job representing Petaluma for the past 4 years and managed something no other team in the Petaluma FFA history has ever done – receive an invitation to compete at the international level. All of the team members have been judging individually since they were between 8 and 10 years old, and as a team for the past 4 years. They won the state level competition and advanced to the national competition where they placed 2^nd in a field of 50 competing teams! This is truly an honor and an accomplishment.

Please visit the team website, www.petalumaffa.org (created by yours truly) for a snapshot of each team member AND…..

I’ve posted details about our FUN event on May 22^nd, there’s a page of wonderful auction/raffle items donated by generous community businesses, and an opportunity for you to support youth in agriculture on the “Support the Team” page. The team needs a great deal of sponsorship and support (sincerely, any sponsorship amount is gratefully appreciated) to allow them to travel to Scotland for the competition. Please visit the “Support the Team” page to learn more.

I would love it if you would forward this email to friends and family to help spread the word about our event and the team! We all have address books and many have Facebook pages or Twitter accounts. I’m aiming to pack Hermann Sons Hall full and create a community event to remember with your help!

A personal invite from Sally Strawberry J

Meet me at the Scotland or Bust! Pasta Feed and Silent Auction event to support the Petaluma FFA dairy judging team.

Saturday, May 22^nd

Hermann Sons Hall, Petaluma

4:30 – 9:30PM

Pasta with all the yummy fixins’, no host bar, silent and live auction, raffle, and plenty of good time community fun.

All proceeds benefit the 2010 state winning team traveling to Scotland in June to compete for the international title at the Royal Highland Livestock Exposition.

Cheers!

Sally Strawberry

Petaluma FFA Dairy Judging Team event coordinator

Cheers!

Sally Strawberry

Un-Berry Upate from Sally Strawberry

2010-05-01T18:09:00.000-07:00

Hi gang,

Seems really strange….. an UN-Berry Update! You can’t get rid of this farmer girl! I’ve got a bunch of things to share and I’ll send a few “newsy” updates in the next few days so you’re not overwhelmed with a big huge memo.

This one is about the Nicasio/Tri-Valley Faire tomorrow, Sunday May 2^nd, at the Marin French Cheese factory. The 4-H kids bring their bunnies, chickens, a few cows, goats, and other assorted projects for the day to be judged and to receive feedback and coaching. There’s a raffle, kids games, and an AWESOME chicken BBQ. Angela, daughter of Angelo Ibletto, is the queen of the fixin’s and puts together a killer plate complete with BBQ chicken, pesto pasta, beans, green salad and a roll. Plus… all the 4-H families bring a dessert to share!

If you’re looking for a nice drive and a tasty lunch, head out to the Marin Cheese Factory for lunch at 11:30. Drive past the main buildings to the back. The activities are in the area with the picnic benches and lawn.

Best BBQ chicken dinner EVER!!

Cheers!

Sally Strawberry

Happy Berry New Year Update from Sally Strawberry

2009-12-28T17:02:00.000-08:00

Hi all,

I want to wish each of you who have touched my life and supported my strawberry endeavor over the past 10 years a very Happy New Year!! You are wonderful people who helped me find my passion for farming all those years. I’m tickled to report that I’m so darned happy in my retirement and farming change. I really needed to do something different and mix things up. I’ve got 200 berry plants in my yard and can whip out the chores in about an hour – WOW!! I also have 100 asparagus plants, 15 apple trees, 2 apricot trees, 2 plum trees, 620 blueberry bushes and plans for artichoke, watermelon and cantaloupe. I didn’t stop farming….. I just made a change from the large scale production all these years. Shuffle it up a bit.

I’m keeping an ear out for a potential berry supplier for the stand. So far, nothing has materialized but I never give up! You never know who you will come across or meet in the future. The stand will still be open during June and July with blueberries, I’ll still have the O’Honey Kids honey, and who knows what else.

Thank you again for supporting me, I have truly enjoyed you all and will miss our daily/weekly visits! Remember – I’m as close as an email away J

Cheers!

Sally Strawberry

For any latecomers - berry plants available tomorrow Fri 9/11

2009-09-10T18:18:00.001-07:00

Hi everyone,

Thousands of strawberry crowns will go home with 85+ folks tomorrow. If anyone missed out on the order or has friends or family that would love plants, I’ll have some available. A few folks needed to adjust their orders and I promised to try and find homes for their plants. Please swing by between 10 -1 or 4 - 5:30 and I’ll set you up. 10:00 will be your best bet if you want to be positive I’ll have some. This is absolutely your last chance to get the same plants that produce those outrageous berries you love. These plants are not available anywhere at this time of the year!

Cheers!

Sally Strawberry

To be removed from this list send an email with the title "unsubscribe" to sally@sallystrawberry.net.

Carstensen Farms

Look for our berry updates at carstensenfarms.blogspot.com or google "carstensen farms"

Hours:

Casa Grande location 490 Casa Grande Rd (across from Casa Grande High School)

Opening Day April 30th thru June 26 ...... Open daily 10 - 6, closed Tues

June 27 thru July 31 ...... Open 12:30 - sold out Days open/closed TBD follow "Berry Updates"

Aug 1 thru Sept 1 ..... Open at 12:30 till sold out Days open/closed TBD

Sept 2 to end of season ...... as available

Can still take orders for berry plants, time from nursery was extended

2009-09-02T10:11:00.000-07:00

Hi gang,

For those of you wondering if it’s too late to jump in and get some berry plants for your home garden - you will be pleased. The nursery has given me until 9/8 to get my order in. You still have time!! 400 plants are still available and up for grabs from the 3^rd box. That’s right, I’ve already gathered orders for 2 full boxes and working on the 3^rd!! If I get enough interest I’ll go for the 4^th. So tag me back and pass the word along.

Plants will ship on 9/9 and be distributed from my Casa stand on 9/11. Plan to plant them on the 9/12 weekend. You can hold them but only for 5 days on the bottom shelf of your fridge. Most people are choosing 10:00 or 4:00 to pick up plants so those are the times I still have available for additional orders. Don’t worry if you have sent me an order already and are scheduled for another pick up time (12:00 or 2:00). Unless you hear from me, those times are still a go and you should plan to stop by as scheduled. I’ll send complete details (some repetition/reminder) again next week to get everyone on board. Friday 9/11 will be a WILD day!! I can’t wait to see all of you taking your baby plants home and I’m soooo looking forward to spilling out all I know about growing berries to those of you in the class. I’m even going to create an email “Growing” update list for my class participants and send you growing reminders throughout the season to help you succeed with your berries. This is exciting!!

Cheers!

Sally Strawberry

To be removed from this list send an email with the title "unsubscribe" to sally@sallystrawberry.net.

Carstensen Farms

Look for our berry updates at carstensenfarms.blogspot.com or google "carstensen farms"

Hours:

Casa Grande location 490 Casa Grande Rd (across from Casa Grande High School)

Opening Day April 30th thru June 26 ...... Open daily 10 - 6, closed Tues

June 27 thru July 31 ...... Open 12:30 - sold out Days open/closed TBD follow "Berry Updates"

Aug 1 thru Sept 1 ..... Open at 12:30 till sold out Days open/closed TBD

Sept 2 to end of season ...... as available

Berry Plant order - still time!!!

2009-08-31T13:27:00.000-07:00

Hi gang,

I’m working on a second box of 1000 plants and have a little more time to call in the order. If you want plants email me back by Tuesday with the information requested in my previous email. I can still take orders. I’m going to schedule the order either to ship on Wed 9/2 or ship on Tues 9/8. The plants will arrive in 1 or 2 days so plan on either Fri or Sat 9/4 or Sat 9/5 for pickup OR Thurs 9/10 or Fri 9/11. I will give you firm details when the order is placed and shipping is confirmed.

Cheers!

Sally Strawberry

To be removed from this list send an email with the title "unsubscribe" to sally@sallystrawberry.net.

Carstensen Farms

Look for our berry updates at carstensenfarms.blogspot.com or google "carstensen farms"

Retirement!!! Chandler plants for your home garden - time sensitive read ASAP This is a LONG message :)

2009-08-27T08:22:00.000-07:00

Hi gang,

The time has come for Sally Strawberry to hang up her commercial strawberry growing gloves. It’s been a wonderful 10 years gang!! I’ve thoroughly enjoyed meeting all of you and watching the pure strawberry enjoyment on your faces each season. The berries we grew were such a gift and a treat and …. sharing them with you has been such a joy.

Now, it’s time for me to change paths and make new choices. My focus will shift from growing to consulting with new strawberry growers and home gardeners and coaching them to success. I’ve learned so much during the past 10 years! One of my first tasks is to coordinate an order of plants (my special variety) and teach a class on growing berries. There are so many things to know about growing berries in Sonoma County! What I have learned and can share will mean the difference between live, healthy, producing plants or…… zero production – seriously!

For those of you who would rather not or can’t grow berries on your own, I’m working with CA Farmlink to find a new grower of organic berries in our area. Petaluma Bounty has entertained the thought of taking over the production chores but is stretched for resources and is unable to jump into the mix this year.

So…. I’m still looking and putting the word out. I hope to keep our Casa location and mentor a new farmer to provide you with fresh, local berries – maybe in time for the 2010 season. Time is running out so that’s a big, huge maybe.

For those of you wishing to grow the exact same plants as I do in your home garden……

The first thing you DO NOT want to do is purchase plants from a garden center in Dec/Jan/Feb. Even if you get the same variety I use, they will disappoint you. These are fresh dug plants and they will grow but you will have no production. Trust me…. I tried it at home before I became a commercial grower. Dismal failure.

We use a summer planting system and frozen strawberry crowns shipped to us from the commercial nursery. Minimum orders are 1000 plants and they come frozen. I reserved plants at the nursery and can get them for you. You cannot get the same variety, Chandler, to plant at the correct time, anywhere (I checked).

Transplanting for this system happens during the first week in September. I know it’s a short time frame, but I just got the brainstorm to pull this off J

You’ll be ahead of the game if you have your beds prepared and amended, irrigation installed, and ready to pre-water when the plants arrive. If you need instruction on how to do that, no worries – keep reading. I’ll offer a class at the time you pick up your plants to help you prepare. You can keep your plants in the fridge for up to 5 days before transplanting while you prepare your beds.

To go ahead with this I need to order at least 1000 plants to make shipping feasible and in multiples of 1000 thereafter. The cost per plant is 60 cents. Bundles of 10 are $6, 25 for $15, 50 for $30 etc. We space them 12 inches apart so calculate your area/number of plants based on the spacing. If they produce well and Ma Nature is kind with the weather, you can expect about 1 - 2 pint baskets per plant.

IMPORTANT and ASAP

Tag me back if you would like to be included in the order. Pass the word along to friends and family. I’ve enclosed an order form at the end of this message. Just cut and paste it into your reply. If enough folks are interested I’ll move forward with the order. If you want in I’ll need to hear back from you by Sat 8/29 to allow for possible shipping on Wed 9/2 (arrival on Thurs or Fri) or possibly Mon 9/7. The shipping is ALWAYS in flux every year for us. This seems last minute but this is really NORMAL for us. When the plants get here we hit it!! I’m checking with the nursery to see how much time we have before the plants HAVE to be shipped.

If enough folks are interested, I’ll email you back with a confirmation and firm distribution details. If we fall short I’ll send out a blanket email letting you know we didn’t have enough interest.

I plan to distribute plants at the stand the day after they arrive (they have to unthaw so I can break them apart). I’ll set up several times (possibly 10:00, 12:00, 2:00 and 4:00) so you can schedule time to pick them up. I’ll also offer a “Sally Strawberry Success” berry class at all of the distribution times. The cost of the class is $25 and I’ll provide you with planting instructions, tips, answer any questions you might have, and spill out 10 years worth of growing experience. I want you to SUCCEED!!!

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Name: Email: Phone:

# of plants requested___________

Desired pick up time 10:00 12:00 2:00 4:00

Sign me up for the class Yes No Number of people attending ___________

Remember…… the distribution date is in flux right now and entirely dependent on the nursery and shipping coordination. I’ll have firmer details today or tomorrow at the latest. Keep an eye out for my messages J

Cheers!

Sally Strawberry

To be removed from this list send an email with the title "unsubscribe" to sally@sallystrawberry.net.

Carstensen Farms

Look for our berry updates at carstensenfarms.blogspot.com or google "carstensen farms"

Hours:

Casa Grande location 490 Casa Grande Rd (across from Casa Grande High School)

Opening Day April 30th thru June 26 ...... Open daily 10 - 6, closed Tues

June 27 thru July 31 ...... Open 12:30 - sold out Days open/closed TBD follow "Berry Updates"

Aug 1 thru Sept 1 ..... Open at 12:30 till sold out Days open/closed TBD

Sept 2 to end of season ...... as available

Berry Update for Wed 8/12 - OPEN with BLUEBERRIES, season is coming to an end

2009-08-12T08:21:00.001-07:00

Hi all,

Harvested the last of the blueberries yesterday. This is it for the season. I brought in about 35 lbs so we will have enough for today and possibly Friday. I never promise because these things go quickly. I let these ripen on the plants extra long and the sugars are really optimum. This is your last chance to pack some away in the freezer for the winter or enjoy them fresh off the bush.

We’ll be open today from 10:30 – 2:00 alongside Petaluma Bounty. If we have ample blueberries, we’ll be open again on Friday as well from 12:30 – 3:30 only (different hours).

Last call - round ‘em up little doggies!!!

Cheers!

Sally Strawberry

To be removed from this list send an email with the title "unsubscribe" to sally@sallystrawberry.net.

Carstensen Farms

Look for our berry updates at carstensenfarms.blogspot.com or google "carstensen farms"

Hours:

Casa Grande location 490 Casa Grande Rd (across from Casa Grande High School)

Opening Day April 30th thru June 26 ...... Open daily 10 - 6, closed Tues

June 27 thru July 31 ...... Open 12:30 - sold out Days open/closed TBD follow "Berry Updates"

Aug 1 thru Sept 1 ..... Open at 12:30 till sold out Days open/closed TBD

Sept 2 to end of season ...... as available

Berry Update for Wed, 8/5 Open @ 10:30 w/ blueberries Petaluma Bounty 10:30 - 2:00 Next open day - Wed 8/12

2009-08-04T06:49:00.001-07:00

Hi all,

We’ll have blueberries available tomorrow from 10:30 until 2:00 (or when sold out).

Our next day open will be Wed 8/12 when we bring in more blueberries. We’ll probably have blueberries for a week 8/12 – 8/19 and then the season will be over for the year. We’re down to waiting for our last berries to ripen in this cool, foggy weather.

Honey will be available on Wed if you need to stock up. Once our stand is closed the honey will be gone too L.

Petaluma Bounty will be with us again with fresh produce tomorrow from 10:30 – 2:00

Blueberry Upside Down Crunch

3 c. fresh or frozen blueberries
1 1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. chopped nuts
2 tbsp. margarine
2 eggs, beaten
1 c. flour
1/4 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. lemon extract
Ground nutmeg

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spread berries in a greased 10 inch pie pan. Sprinkle 1/2 cup sugar and nuts over the berries. Blend margarine, eggs, flour, 1 cup sugar, vanilla and lemon extract until smooth. Pour over the berries. Sprinkle with nutmeg. Bake 1 hour turn upside down on a plate and serve with ice cream, whipped cream or plain. Makes 6 servings.

Ice Cream Blueberry Muffins

1 pt Vanilla ice cream; softened
2 c Self-rising flour
3 tb Sugar
1/2 ts Cinnamon
1 1/2 c Blueberries; rinsed, drained

Combine ice cream and flour, stirring until batter is smooth and thick. Mix sugar with cinnamon; set aside 1 tablespoon. Sprinkle remaining mixture over batter. Gently fold in blueberries.

Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups 2/3 full with batter. Sprinkle with reserved cinnamon-sugar mixture.

Bake at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes. Makes 12 muffins.

Cheers!

Sally Strawberry

To be removed from this list send an email with the title "unsubscribe" to sally@sallystrawberry.net.

Carstensen Farms

Look for our berry updates at carstensenfarms.blogspot.com or google "carstensen farms"

Hours:

Casa Grande location 490 Casa Grande Rd (across from Casa Grande High School)

Opening Day April 30th thru June 26 ...... Open daily 10 - 6, closed Tues

June 27 thru July 31 ...... Open 12:30 - sold out Days open/closed TBD follow "Berry Updates"

Aug 1 thru Sept 1 ..... Open at 12:30 till sold out Days open/closed TBD

Sept 2 to end of season ...... as available

Berry Update for Sun 8/2 thru Wed 8/5 Please read

2009-08-01T14:59:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

We’re between blueberry harvests and waiting for more to ripen. We’ll be on our last harvest of the blueberry season next week sometime (if the weather ripens them). The season is almost over so make sure you get your fill and stock up the freezer.

So the scoop for the week is…..

Sunday CLOSED

Monday CLOSED

Wednesday OPEN 10:30 – 2:00 blueberries only and Petaluma Bounty

Strawberries….. has anyone guessed yet??? The season is over. Our plants will not make a fall crop this year. Quite the disappointment I’m afraid. The weather and soil presented quite a challenge all season and the plants just don’t have any more to give. We will be mowing the plants down, and removing the plastic in the next couple of weeks and finishing our fall chores early this year.

Cheers!

Sally Strawberry

To be removed from this list send an email with the title "unsubscribe" to sally@sallystrawberry.net.

Carstensen Farms

Look for our berry updates at carstensenfarms.blogspot.com or google "carstensen farms"

Hours:

Casa Grande location 490 Casa Grande Rd (across from Casa Grande High School)

Opening Day April 30th thru June 26 ...... Open daily 10 - 6, closed Tues

June 27 thru July 31 ...... Open 12:30 - sold out Days open/closed TBD follow "Berry Updates"

Aug 1 thru Sept 1 ..... Open at 12:30 till sold out Days open/closed TBD

Sept 2 to end of season ...... as available

Berry Update for Wed, 7/29 Petaluma Bounty 10:30 - 2:00 Blueberries 10:30 - 2

2009-07-29T10:47:00.001-07:00

Hi all,

Petaluma Bounty will open early and stay with us today. We’ll have blueberries from 10:30 – 2 only. Friday will be the day for 4:30-5:30 folks to score on their way home from work.

Here’s what the Bounty will have to offer…..

From Taylor:

The exciting things that I’ll be bringing tomorrow are: dinosaur kale (limited), yummy bright lights rainbow chard, Chioggia beets, gypsy broccoli...oh, and some great fennel. In addition I’ll have various heads of lettuce, carrots that just keep getting sweeter, various squash and cucumbers , purplette onions, various stone fruit and melons, some Cherokee purple tomatoes (limited) as well as some slicing tomatoes and an on the vine variety as well. I’ll hopefully have some fresh bouquets as well.

Blueberry Stuffed French Toast

12 sl White bread
1 pk Cream cheese
1 c (full) blueberries
12 Eggs
2 c Milk
1/3 c Maple syrup
Sauce:

1 c Sugar
2 tb Cornstarch
1 c Water
1 c Fresh berries
1 tb Butter

Cook sugar, cornstarch, and water until boiling. Add berries and butter.

Break bread into small pieces. 6 slices first - place in bottom of 9x12 oven proof dish. cut cream cheese into many small pieces and spread over bread cubes. Cover cheese and bread cubes with 1 full cup blueberries. Place 6 (left) slices of bread cut into cubes over all. Mix milk, eggs, and maple syrup with mixer and pour over all. Bake at 350 degrees for 1/2 hour covered. Uncover and cook about 15 minutes.

Blueberry Tea Bread

2 c All purpose flour
1 c Sugar
1 tb Baking powder
1/4 ts Salt
1 1/2 c Fresh or frozen blueberries
1 ts Grated orange peel
2 Eggs
1 c Milk
3 tb Vegetable oil
Whipped cream cheese; optional

In a bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Stir in blueberries and orange peel. In another bowl, beat eggs; add milk and oil. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Pour into a greased 9x5x3 inch loaf pan. Bake at 350 for 1 hour or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool in pan for 10 minutes; remove to a wire rack to cool completely. Serve with cream cheese if desired. Yield 1 loaf.

Cheers!

Sally Strawberry

To be removed from this list send an email with the title "unsubscribe" to sally@sallystrawberry.net.

Carstensen Farms

Look for our berry updates at carstensenfarms.blogspot.com or google "carstensen farms"

Hours:

Casa Grande location 490 Casa Grande Rd (across from Casa Grande High School)

Opening Day April 30th thru June 26 ...... Open daily 10 - 6, closed Tues

June 27 thru July 31 ...... Open 12:30 - sold out Days open/closed TBD follow "Berry Updates"

Aug 1 thru Sept 1 ..... Open at 12:30 till sold out Days open/closed TBD

Sept 2 to end of season ...... as available

Open for blueberries 4:30 - 5:30 today, check schedule for the week, honey

2009-07-27T16:24:00.001-07:00

We were open today from 10:30 – noon with blueberries. I just lost track of time and didn’t get a message out. We’ll be open again from 4:30 – 5:30 today. Please note……. I won’t send a daily email this week or next. I’ll post the schedule and will update you if it changes.

Open only with blueberries on:

Wed 7/29 10:30 – 2:30 (this is a change from the previous schedule) (we will not open 4:30 – 5:30 on this day)

Fri 7/31 10:30 – 12:30 and 4:30 – 5:30 (added an extra 1/2 hour at lunch time, the late hour worked well last week)

Sun 8/2 10:30 – 12:30 only (again an extra 1/2 hour, no late hour)

If you need to swing by after work choose Monday or Friday.

Sorry….. no strawberries this week L Petaluma Bounty will be with us on Wed from 12 – 2:00.

We have a new delivery of honey. Stock up while you can.

OPEN 10:30 - 12 and 4:30 - 5:30 with BLUEBERRIES only, read for schedule, Honey arrived!

2009-07-24T08:54:00.001-07:00

No strawberries today or in the near future. I’ll update you more on that after I scan the field in the next few days.

The honey was delivered on Wed afternoon. We are fully stocked with ½ and 1 lb jars. Honey will be available for about 2 – 3 more weeks. Let me know if you desire the 3 lb size and I’ll try to get that for you.

I will be open with blueberries today and all next week. This is our second harvest from these plants and a third is still out there waiting to ripen. The season is short and will end in 2 – 3 weeks. Get your blueberry fill while you can and stock your freezer J

We have adjusted our stand schedule to accommodate the requests of folks for preferred hours. This schedule is a test – both for days open and hours open. I’ll adjust the schedule next week based on the traffic and demand for each of the days and hours.

Today ------- 10:30 to 12:00 and back again at 4:30 to 5:30.

This schedule should help folks who are early birds, folks who normally come around 12:30 and those of you who can never catch us after work.

Then….
Sunday 10:30 to 12:00 and back again at 4:30 to 5:30

Monday 10:30 to 12:00 and back again at 4:30 to 5:30

Wednesday 10:30 to 12:00 (and possibly until 2:00 alongside Petaluma Bounty) and back again at 4:30 to 5:30.

Blueberry Nut Bread

3 c Flour
3 ts Baking powder
1 ts Salt
1/2 c Sugar
2 Eggs, well beaten
2 tb Salad oil
1 ts Lemon extract
1 c Blueberries
1 c Chopped nuts
1 c Milk

Sift together flour, baking powder, salt and sugar. Combine eggs, milk, oil and lemon extract. Add to dry ingredients and mix just enough to moisten. Fold in blueberries and nuts. Pour into greased and floured 9 x 5 x 3 inch loaf pan, letting stand about 15 minutes. Bake at 350 degrees 1 hour or until done. Cool 10 minutes, then turn out of pan and finish cooling on wire rack.

Blueberry Sour Cream Cake

1 tb Butter
1 1/2 c Flour
1/2 c Sugar
1/2 c Butter, at room temperature
1 1/2 ts Baking powder
1 Egg
1 1/2 ts Vanilla
4 c Fresh or frozen blueberries thawed
Custard
2 c Sour cream
2 Egg yolks
1/2 c Sugar
1 ts Vanilla

Position rack in center of oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Generously butter 9-or 10-inch springform pan. In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, 1/2 cup butter, baking powder, and vanilla and mix thoroughly. Turn into prepared pan and sprinkle evenly with blueberries. Combine sour cream, egg yolks, sugar, and vanilla. Blend well. Pour over blueberries. Bake 1 hour or until edges of custard are lightly browned. Serves 10 to 12.

open at 12:30, VERY small amount - read please BLUEBERRIES!! Petaluma Bounty @ 12:00

2009-07-22T10:23:00.001-07:00

Very disappointing day in the strawberry field. We have just 4 flats to offer and all will be sold in ¼ flat sizes. If you absolutely need a full flat or ½ flat the price will be the same as for ¼ flats or $18 and $36 each. Sorry, but with the amount of time spent searching for them, that’s simply the price I have to get to break even. With that being said….. there are literally no strawberries out there. We will not have strawberries this Fri or Sun, only blueberries. Again ------ we will be open on Fri and Sun but will only have blueberries for you. I can adjust our stand open times because blueberries are picked and packed in advance so I hope the following schedule will make it easy for all of you to score on blueberries!!

Let’s try this schedule……. Remember, this is for blueberries only ( no strawberries until further notice)

M,W,F,Sn 10:30 – 12 (for the early errand runners and lunch crowd) and again between 4:30 – 5:30 (for those of you stopping by after work)

The blueberry crop is looking great and we should have those for probably 2 more weeks.

Petaluma Bounty will be with us today – read on:

It’s a pretty exciting time of year because the farm is burgeoning with amazing food! This week I’ll have various heads of lettuce, purplette onions, carrots, very very tasty green beans, some cucumbers (souyo long, lemon, and Armenian...my favorite!), Red Ace Beets, and a myriad of summer squash (zephyr, raven, eight-ball, and tromboneccino). Stone fruit season is officially in full swing: dapple fire pluots, raven red plums, diamond princess peaches and nectarines!.

This week nearly all of the produce is from right here in Petaluma and all of the proceeds help Petaluma Bounty develop a sustainable food system right here in Petaluma with healthy food for everyone.

10:30 on Fri - only 6 flats will be available, finished harvest at 10:30, no berries Sunday

2009-07-17T10:51:00.000-07:00

Up to the minute news flash!!! I only have 6 flats for today. Those of you who come at 12:30 could possibly get some if we all share and take ¼ flat each. Please come for the blueberries as I’m sure there won’t be more until at least next Wed or possibly Fri. They will keep in your fridge. Sorry…. Just thought I’d let you know so you aren’t disappointed. This is what happens in July with extreme heat.

Open at 12:30, 1 load only, blueberries, recipes

2009-07-17T09:54:00.000-07:00

Coming in today at 12:30 with whatever we can find in the field. I have a feeling it will be a small amount. Come at 12:30 if you need berries and blueberries. This is the typical July for strawberries. They do not like the hot weather. If we harvest a tiny amount today we’ll be closed on Sunday. It’s just not worth it to walk the field and come up empty handed.

We’ll have blueberries for sure today and possibly Sunday (if we have not sold out of them today and are open with strawberries). Lot’s of IF stuff this week. The next batch of blueberries won’t be ready until next Wed or Fri. Come and get a few to hold you over until the next harvest.

Blueberry French Toast Sandwiches

2 c Blueberries
3/4 c Maple syrup
1 ts Orange peel; grated
1 tb Cornstarch
2 tb water
3 Eggs; beaten
3/4 c Milk
1 ts Vanilla
1/4 ts Nutmeg
8 sl Bread
3 tb Butter
Sugar, powdered

Combine blueberries, maple syrup and orange peel in a small saucepan. Dissolve cornstarch in water; add to blueberry mixture. Cook and stir until mixture boils; reduce heat and simmer 1 minute or until mixture thickens.

Combine eggs, milk, vanilla and nutmeg; mix well. Dip each slice of bread into egg mixture. Cook each slice in small amount of butter in skillet or on griddle about 2 minutes or until golden brown on each side.

Place one slice on each individual plate, spread with 3 tablespoons blueberry mixture, top with second slice and 1 tablespoon blueberry mixture. Sprinkle lightly with powdered sugar.

Blueberry Lemon Muffins

1 3/4 c. flour
2 1/2 tsp. baking powder
3/4 c. milk
1/3 c. cooking oil
2 tbsp. sugar
1/4 c. sugar
3/4 tsp. salt
1 egg, beaten
1 1/2 c. blueberries (keep frozen/do not thaw)
1 tsp. lemon peel

Sift flour, 1/4 cup sugar, baking powder and salt into mixing bowl. Make well in center of flour mixture. Combine milk, egg and oil. Add at once to dry ingredients. Stir quickly until moistened. Toss together berries and 2 tablespoons sugar; gently stir into batter with lemon peel. Fill muffin papers 2/3 full and sprinkle tops with sugar. Bake at 400 degrees for 25 minutes. Makes 1 dozen.

1 load at 12:30, plenty of BLUEBERRIES, Bounty Farm Produce 12 - 2, recipes

2009-07-15T09:42:00.001-07:00

It will be interesting to see how many strawberries we get today after that scorcher yesterday. My plants have quite a bit of foliage cover to protect the berries in the interior of the plant but those out in the sun will be toast. Today could be a quick day.

We’ve got plenty of blueberries today. I say that and then nearly run out each time I bring them. Today I’ll bring a ton just to be safe. I so enjoy all of you gushing over the wonderful flavor of the blueberries. Those little guys take an incredible amount of time to cultivate organically and I’m glad the effort is paying off!! Enjoy them while they last and seriously…. pop some in the freezer for the winter.

Petaluma Bounty will be on site again today from 12 – 2. Here’s the scoop from Taylor ……

From the Beautiful Bounty Farm I’ll be bringing: bunches of Purplette Onions, bunches of sweet Carrots, some Junior Summer Squash (including eightball, and raven squash), of course I’ll be bringing a few types of lettuce: heads of newfound red and Olga Romaine to name a few. Lastly I’ll have large bunches of Basil that we’ll be pulling up by their roots so to maintain the freshness of the leaves.

Note from me….. the basil plants were incredible. Put them in a vase of water and harvest for a week. If you can’t use it all strip off the leaves and freeze them. The lettuce is tender and sweet. I’ve chopped up the purplette onions and popped them in the freezer for use any time I need them in a pinch.

This week I’ve gotten hold of a bunch of produce from County Line Harvest (http://www.marinorganic.com/producers/producers_county_line.html) I’ll have Baby Bulls Blood Beets, some medium sized Rocky Cucumbers, and also some very very good Bright Lights Rainbow Chard. They’ve harvest it while it’s still pretty immature, making for a tasty green that is not at all bitter.

Saute the chard in olive oil, garlic and a splash of Balsamic vinegar. I love it mixed with rice. You can use the beet greens the same as chard in the same dish.

Sonoma County Grower’s Exchange which is a local food distributor was able to get a hold of a few different Stone Fruits: Peaches, Nectarines, and again some really great Apricots.

In addition we’ve got some sweet and crisp green beans, fresh white corn, Diamond Princess Peaches, seedless Red Flame grapes, just a few Apples, some baby Yukon gold potatoes as well as Yellow Onions.

Just to remind you and all of your faithful fans, all of our produce that is not grown here in Petaluma comes from regional organic farms within 150 miles.

Apple Blueberry Crumble

1 c. flour
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 lemon or a little juice
1 pt. blueberries
Cinnamon to sprinkle
3 Granny Smith apples
1 stick butter, unsalted

Peel, core and slice up apples into 8-10 slices. Arrange in a circular motion in baking dish. Sprinkle lemon juice on apples so they don't change color. Arrange blueberries on top of apples. Mix together flour and sugar, then cut in the butter with a knife and crumble all together with hands; put over blueberries. Sprinkle cinnamon on top. Bake at 375 degrees for 25 minutes. Serve with vanilla ice cream on the side.

Blueberry Crisp

4 c Blueberries, fresh
1/3 c Sugar, granulated
1/2 Lemon; grated zest
3/4 c Flour
1/4 c Rolled oats
1/3 c Sugar, brown
1/4 ts Cinnamon
5 T Butter
1/2 c Almonds, toasted sliced

Mix the blueberries, sugar and zest in a lightly buttered 1-1/2 quart baking dish and spread evenly. Mix the flour, oats, brown sugar and cinnamon in a bowl. Cut the butter into small pieces and work it into the dry ingredients with your fingers until the mixture is crumbly. Add the almonds and sprinkle the topping over the berries. Bake 30 to 40 minutes in a 375 F. oven until the top is golden brown and the juices are bubbling. Serve warm.

Suprise!! OPEN today with berries, blueberries too

2009-07-13T08:04:00.000-07:00

We had a nice little harvest yesterday and were able to be open more than 30 minutes! When more berries come in I make changes quickly – let’s open Monday! The heat is coming and the berries that are ready today will not make it until Wed to be harvested. So you’ve got an extra day and opportunity to get berries J Is this really July?? I never have this many flats in mid July! Crazy year.

I’ll come in at 12:30 as usual with 1 load for the day. We could be open for quite a few hours so don’t be afraid to take the chance and swing by. I’ll bring plenty of blueberries with me again today. I also might bring a few plums from my son’s trees (maybe).

OPEN at 12:30, 1 load of berries, plenty of BLUEBERRIES, 3 blueberry recipes, recyling packing containers

2009-07-12T11:25:00.001-07:00

Open today at 12:30 with strawberries. 1 load coming in only. Plan to come at 12:30 if you would like strawberries or a planning on snagging some blueberries. We could be open 40 minutes or 2 hours. Coming at 12:30 will up your chances of getting what you desire J

The blueberries are absolutely fabulous!! These bushes are making up for the poor showing of our other bushes this season. This is my very best producer and flavored variety. I just love them for their consistent med/large size and ease of harvest. The blueberry season is very short, so eat them while you can and definitely freeze them. I know I mentioned freezing before but ….. if you have never tried it or don’t do it you’ll miss out this winter.

Some of you wanted to know if the qty of blueberries in a clamshell was a cup. I measured some and it comes out as a heaping, overflowing cup.

For those of you who so kindly offer to recycle packing, here’s what we can reuse:

Green baskets – we give them to Petaluma Bounty to pkg cherry tomatoes, peppers, etc.
½ flat boxes – we reuse those in the field
Full flat boxes – reused
¼ flat boxes – reused (if they’re still in good shape)
Blueberry clamshells – reused (we’ll take them all back)
Egg cartons – dozen and 18ct paper cartons

Alaskan Blueberry Coffee Cake

1 1/2 c All-purpose flour
3/4 c Sugar
2 1/2 ts Baking powder
1 ts Salt
1/4 c Vegetable oil
3/4 c Milk
1 Egg
1 1/2 c Blueberries
1/3 c All-purpose flour
1/2 c Brown sugar, firmly packed
1/2 ts Cinnamon (or more to taste)
1/4 c Firm butter (1/2 stick)

In a medium mixing bowl, blend together 1-1/2 cups flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, oil, milk, egg and 1 cup blueberries. Beat thoroughly for 30 seconds and spread in a greased round 9x1-1/2-inch pan or an 8x8x2-inch pan. Combine 1/3 cup flour, brown sugar, connamon and butter. Sprinkle over batter and top with the remaining berries. Bake in a 375 degree oven for 25 to 30 minutes, until done. Don't overbake. Serve warm with butter or honey. Serves 8.

Blueberry Batter Cake

2 c Blueberries
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1/2 c Sugar
3 tb Butter
1/2 c Milk
1 c Flour
1 ts Baking powder,double-acting
1/4 ts Salt
2/3 c Sugar
1 tb Cornstarch
1/4 ts Salt
1 c Boiling water

Oil or spray an 8 x 8 inch baking pan; put cleaned berries into pan and sprinkle with lemon juice. In a mixing bowl, cream 1/2 c. sugar and butter; add milk alternately with flour, baking powder and salt which have been mixed together. Pour batter over berries. Combine 2/3 c. sugar, cornstarch and salt; sprinkle over top of cake. Pour boiling water over all. Bake at 350 degrees, 45 minutes to 1 hour.

Blueberry Cheesecake Ice Cream

2 Eggs
3/4 c Granulated sugar
1 c Sour cream
1 c Light cream
1 ts Vanilla extract
1/2 ts Lemon rind, grated
1 c Blueberries

Beat the eggs; add the sugar and beat until stiff. Beat the sour cream, light cream, vanilla extract and lemon rind until smooth. Add the to the egg mixture; chill. Freeze in an ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's directions. Stir in the blueberries. Makes about 1 quart.

Open at 12:30, 1 load only, lots of blueberries, DAYS OPEN are changing - please read

2009-07-10T08:31:00.000-07:00

Hi gang,

Our new days open schedule will be……. Wed, Fri and Sun only (until further notice). We will come in with 1 load only at 12:30 on each of those days. Please make a note.

I’ll have 1 load of berries today at 12:30. All in and all out! We’re finding very little qty out there and those that do come in are the small little jewels.

I will have 6 cases of blueberries available today. Hopefully this will cover everyone since the last time they went flying off the shelf before I could get them out of the van!! These are my “best” variety and personal favorite. Medium/large size, packed with blueberry flavor. This is the first harvest from these plants and might last a week or so depending on weather. Blueberry season is short so grab some while you can.

If you want to enjoy blueberry pancakes and muffins in the winter, these are perfect for freezing. I’ve frozen blueberries for at least 20 years and they continue to be the easiest to put up and use after thawing. I just throw them into a plastic container with the blue lids and stuff them in the freezer. I don’t even wash them! If you wash them I would dry them as much as possible and put them 1 layer deep on a cookie sheet until frozen, then scoop them in to containers. They will stick together if you freeze the bunch in a container with any amount of residual water (been there, done that). You will thank me when you pull out delicious blueberries in the middle of winter and cook up a batch of warm tasty muffins or pancakes. Even blueberry sauce drizzled over waffles is to die for!! Or over cheesecake!! Wow – I must be hungry.

The weather is supposed to heat up next week so…. how about a cool treat??

Triple Berry Pops

Vegetarian Times Issue: July 1, 2008 p.45

Berries are excellent sources of anthocyanins, potent antioxidants that fight disease and are best preserved when frozen.

Directions

Purée all ingredients in blender 1 to 2 minutes, or until smooth.
Strain through fine sieve into bowl to remove seeds. Ladle into ice pop molds, and freeze at least 4 hours.

Ingredient list
Makes 8 pops

1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen strawberries, thawed
1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries, thawed
1 cup fresh or frozen raspberries, thawed
1/2 to 1 cup frozen white grape juice concentrate

Open with 1 load at 12:30, Bounty Produce available 12 - 2, small qty of blueberries

2009-07-08T09:58:00.000-07:00

I’ll have just 1 load of berries today. Not really sure how many flats I’ll have. It’s that July time when everything is in flux for the berries. If the qty is low today we’ll move to our W,F,Sn open schedule and close on M, T, Th, and Sat. Won’t know until I see what comes out of the field! I’ll keep you posted as usual J

I’ve got 1 ½ cases of blueberries for today. I’m waiting on my next 4 rows for a few more days – they’ve got to come up in flavor first. When those start to roll in we should have plenty for everyone! I may be able to snag some of them this week. I’m keeping an eye on them (and tasting a few of course).

Petaluma Bounty will be will us again today with their mobile market stand. They had a gorgeous variety of produce last Wed and Taylor was kept very busy! Thanks so much for supporting this wonderful program in our community.

Here’s what will be available today:

Coming from farms within 100 miles

Peaches ready to eat in 2 days
Nectarines ready to eat in a day
Apricots REALLY delicious!!
Fuji apples
Red table grapes
Slicing Tomatoes

Direct from Petaluma Bounty

Basil bunches (pulled from roots) will stay in water for 1 week
Lettuce – huge heads (this lettuce is awesome)
Carrots
Purplette onions
Chives

Countyline Organic Farm – Marin county grower

Rainbow chard
Savoy Spinach
Broccoli
Yellow onions
Yukon gold
Squash (baby mix size)
Baby golden beets

Open at 12:30, more at 2:15, BLUEBERRIES will be there today! Trifle recipe again

2009-07-04T08:13:00.001-07:00

Will bring in berries at 12:30 and another batch at 2:15 today. We have them but demand is outstripping supply! We sold out at 1:15 and 2:35 yesterday.

We have blueberries today!!! There should be plenty for everyone. Come and get ‘em. They were harvested yesterday at 2:00 just to make it in time for the 4th of July holiday.

I’m sending this recipe out again in case you missed it the first time! It looks absolutely wonderful. Don’t use frozen strawberries and blueberries when you can use fresh. Show up with this and be the hit of the party!

Melt-in-Your-Mouth Berry Trifle

Vegetarian Times Issue: September 1, 2006 p.85

Even though you can use fresh berries in this trifle, frozen work better because they give off more juicy goodness for the chunks of pound cake to absorb.

Note from Sally – that’s not necessarily true with our berries!

Directions

Toss together strawberries, blueberries, sugar and lemon juice in large bowl. Combine yogurt, sour cream and vanilla in separate bowl.
Stand pound cake on side. Cut cake into 4 thin slices lengthwise. Spread first slice with 1/4 cup jam, and top with second slice. Continue with remaining slices and jam, and finish with layer of jam on top of cake. Cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices.
Line bottom and sides of clear trifle dish or large glass soufflé dish with prepared cake slices. Spoon in half of fruit. Top with half of yogurt mixture. Layer with remaining cake slices, fruit and yogurt mixtures. Cover with plastic wrap, and chill 4 hours, or overnight, to allow trifle to set.
Member Rating:

Ingredient list

Serves 16

2 10-oz. bags organic frozen strawberries, thawed
2 10-oz. bags organic frozen blueberries, thawed
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup lemon juice
3 cups low-fat vanilla yogurt
2/3 cup low-fat sour cream
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 16-oz. fat-free pound cake
1 cup raspberry jam

Fri 7/3 OPEN and Sat 7/4 OPEN and..... Sun 7/5 CLOSED

2009-07-03T10:38:00.000-07:00

I’ll be at the stand today at 12:30 with berries. If the weather holds I should be able to bring a second load in at 2:00. We’ll be there until we sell out. I may (but no promises) be able to get more blueberries harvested today and possibly on the stand tomorrow, Saturday. It will depend on the harvest of strawberries, the weather and ripeness of the blueberries. They’re coming slowly J

Tomorrow 7/4 the schedule will be …… 1 load at 12:30 and 1 load at 2:00. If we sell out before 2:00 the door will come down, the gate will be open, and we’ll be back again at 2:00.

Sunday 7/5 we will be CLOSED.

OPEN at 12:30 - small qty of our blueberries! Petaluma Bounty mobile market opening day 12 - 2

2009-07-01T11:29:00.001-07:00

We should have a nice qty of strawberries again today. The crop seems to be holding up even though it’s JULY 1st !! Won’t it be awesome to have plenty for all on July 4th??? I can only cross my fingers J I’ll have a small qty of blueberries at the stand today. Our early varieties are not performing like the late ones unfortunately. I’ll keep you updated as the harvest comes in.

You really must stop by and check out the Petaluma Bounty Farm mobile market. Today is their first day and the list of fruits and veggies is impressive. Apricots, grapes, melons, nectarines, corn, potatoes, lettuce, WOW. I’m thrilled to have them at our site!! They will be with us every Wednesday from 12 – 2.

Special from the Petaluma Bounty Farm

We’ll be featuring bunches of purplette bunching onions, which are incredibly tasty with a bit of bite perfect for salads. We’ll have a few summer squash varieties: zephyr, green, zucchini, and round globe that we’re just beginning to harvest this week. Various lettuces, bunches of sweet skinny carrots, and scallions will also be featured from the farm.

In addition to Petaluma Bounty produce, we’ll have the following selection purchased from a few nearby farms:

Modesto Apricots
Green Table Grapes
Ambrosia Melon
Juneglo Nectarine
Flavorcrest Peaches
Santa Rosa Red Plums
Tomato
Yukon Gold Potatoes
Yellow Onion
Cucumber
Sweet White Corn
Broccoli
Green Beans

OPEN at 12:30 with berries

2009-06-29T11:23:00.000-07:00

Yes, we’re open today. Coming in at 12:30 (new summer hours). I have about 21 flats. We’ll be there till we sell out.

We’re harvesting blueberries today so you should see them on the stand Wed.

We will be open again on Wed with berries at 12:30.

Make a note….. we will be closed on Sunday, July 5th. As it looks now, we will be open on July 4th with as many berries as the temperatures will allow.

4:45 on Sat 6/27 - still OPEN with 10 flats in the cooler ..... they need homes

2009-06-27T16:55:00.001-07:00

The heat has thrown all of us off today!! I picked everything I could by 12:00 and brought it in. I put everything in the cooler and set it for 55 degrees (a nice cooool morning temperature). Usually we’re completely wiped out by now on a Saturday but…. we have 10 flats. If you can use berries or might need them for tomorrow, consider getting them today. I don’t know how many flats I’ll have tomorrow after this heat. Our harvest could be cut in ½. The remaining flats that are being kept at optimum temperature and will not have that after 6PM since the cooler must go off.

OPEN 10 - ??, heat is coming, Summer hours start tomorrow - please read, Bounty Farm Produce

2009-06-26T13:23:00.001-07:00

OPEN, OPEN, OPEN today J This is one of the cooler days and we’ll be able to bring berries in and hopefully keep the stand stocked till 6PM. My harvest is dropping off (it’s almost July) and the heat is coming tomorrow. Soooo….. it’s time to switch to summer hours – starting tomorrow – Saturday 6/27 we’ll open at 12:30 instead of 10:00. This allows us to bring in as many berries as we can before the day heats up and keeps the stand stocked instead of running out every hour.

For those of you who need berries for tomorrow – Saturday – GET THEM TODAY. I will surely run out tomorrow!! The heat will reduce our harvest time and we will have 1 load of berries at 12:30 only on Saturday. Since today is cooler, we’ll add in a load at 2:00 if needed to cover you. Better to have the berries 1 day early than to show up tomorrow to a sold out stand when you really need them.

Waiting on blueberries to ripen!! I’ll need a few more days of heat. My next batch could be available on Monday. Stay tuned J

Our berries are at the Petaluma Bounty location today. This will be the last day for berries there until August. They have so many yummy veggies you’ve really got to stop by. They’ll be open today and tomorrow from 11 – 4. You absolutely can’t get anything better or fresher! Amy and her crew do an absolutely fabulous job.

Here’s what’s harvested today:

Rainbow assortment of lettuces
Braising mix (delicious stir fried)
Rainbow chard
Broccoli (this is the end of this succession)
Summer squash
Purplette onions
Scallions
Lots of beautiful carrots
Basil (genovese and thai)
Cilantro
Dill
Flower bouquets

OPEN, blueberries available today, CLOSED tomorrow, see us at the Sonoma Marin fair

2009-06-24T12:25:00.001-07:00

The strawberries look great considering the heat we had yesterday. We should have a good harvest today with a fully stocked stand till 6:00. I’ll try for that at least!!

My first batch of blueberries are at the stand right now. If you’ve been waiting for them, now’s your chance. This variety produces berries of all sizes so you’ll have a mixture in each container. We have 2 cases to start. I may harvest again tomorrow or Friday depending on what is ripe. I’ll let you know when the next harvest is due to arrive.

We are sold out of honey today EXCEPT for 1 large 3 lb size. I put a call in to the O’Honey gang and they’ll bring more when it’s bottled.

REMINDER – I’m closed tomorrow – THURSDAY. We will be closed every Tues/Thurs until August. I’m still opening at 10:00 this week. If we see slower harvest time I start opening at 12:30 next week.

We’re participating in the Farm to Table Agriculture Showcase at the Sonoma Marin Fair on Thursday. If you’re there stop by and check out all the wonderful farm products. Visit the livestock area to see the FFA and 4-H members showing their projects. My daughter will show her jerseys all day from 8 – 3. There’s even free Clover ice cream from 1 – 4!!

3:30, Mon 6/22 - 16 flats available, Open till 6:00, 6:00 will not happen as often

2009-06-22T15:29:00.001-07:00

Afternoon update for you….. we have plenty today. The stand will be open until 6:00. This will not happen as often with the heat coming up. If you can only get berries after work between 4:30 and 6:00, today is your day.

OPEN, getting hotter - harvest will be reduced, now closed Thurs, blueberries coming soon

2009-06-22T09:10:00.000-07:00

he heat will rachet up this week. With it we will see reduced quantities of berries. It’s that time of year again – right on schedule with the Petaluma Fair. Please note – we’re coming into our summer schedule so I will start closing on THURSDAYS. We will be open today, Monday at 10:00 and will be CLOSED this Thursday – 6/25. As the week progresses I’ll determine if we’ll move to opening at 12:30 to accommodate the reduced harvest. Stay tuned.

The blueberries are starting to ripen!! I hope to have some by Wed or Fri. We have to juggle the strawberry and blueberry harvest and find enough cool hours to do both. I’ll let you know for sure when the blueberries will be at the stand.

It’s possible that I’ll only have berries at Petaluma Bounty on Friday or maybe none at all. If the heat reduces the harvest I won’t be able to supply both locations. We may have to wait until August when we get more coming in to run 2 stands again.

Open @ 10:00, time your visits, honey arrived, Petaluma Bounty

2009-06-20T07:43:00.000-07:00

If it seems like harvest conditions change in an instant, you’re right! We’re moving into our summer harvest where it becomes more challenging to find ripe berries. We usually slow down in mid June – right about now. It’s possible that our hours will change next week to closed on Thursday and possibly opening at 12:30 instead of 10:00. I’ll keep you updated as always. I monitor the harvest daily and make my scheduling decisions based on what I see coming in.

For today, time your visits to my deliveries to up your chances of taking home your strawberry prize. I’ll come in at 10:00, 12:30, and a little before 2:00. I’ll deliver berries to Petaluma Bounty at 11:00 and possibly 1:00 only. I really have to guess how many to bring to the Bounty site since we don’t know how many folks prefer to go there. Don’t get miffed with the great folks over there when we run out, they can only sell what I give them. J

I took home some AWESOME broccoli from Petaluma Bounty yesterday. Give yourself a treat and try it. We watched Amy harvest it and I ate it about 7 hours after. You will NEVER find anything more tasty. My favorite part was how sweet the stem was. My hubby and I fought over it!!! If you appreciate fresh food and want farming to continue in your neighborhood, you really must try the goodies at Petaluma Bounty. Every time I pick up something I get inspired to cook and create!

Honey has arrived once more. We have a limited qty of 1 lb jars, 12 (1/2 lb) jars AND 3 (3 lb) jars. If you’re interested in the 3 lb size please ask - it’s too large to put on the display but we’ll be happy to hook you up.

OPEN, time your visits to my delivery times, selling out before 6PM, customer recipe, Petaluma Bounty today and tomorrow

2009-06-19T09:26:00.001-07:00

The berries are still flowing in. We have been keeping the stand fully stocked so far. Not sure what will happen this weekend with the warmer temps and Father’s Day. We’ve been selling out every day before 6PM. I guess how many to pick every day and make my harvest decisions by noon. If it’s really warm out there Ma Nature makes my decisions for me!

I’ll have berries at Petaluma Bounty today and tomorrow. They’re open from 11 – 4. If you want them from that location your best bet is 11:00 or possibly 1:00. I deliver for the 11:00 opening and guess how many I’ll need. I hope to drop off enough to keep the stand stocked but sell out before 4:00 to limit my trips across town. I’ll have 10 flats over there today.

We will be open Sunday, Father’s Day. All the berries for the day will be in by 12:30. Time your visits to catch me at 10:00 or 12:30. The 12:30 batch should last us thru the day but…. if you really need them …… get there when I drop them off.

Enjoy the recipes and Happy Fathers Day!!!

Flan de Fresas–Spanish Strawberry Flan

Here’s a recipe forwarded to me by a strawberry and egg member.

In addition to eating "FRESH STRAWBERRIES", occasionally we will seek a new and different way to serve up your delicious berries.

Here is one we tried. It actually made more than six serving with the size of ramekins we used. The first flan we ate we thought was "just OK". Then we let them "age" a day and found they were more tasty.

So much so we thought of sharing the recipe with you in case you too were looking for another recipe for strawberries.

Works best if Sally's fresh natural eggs are used. Enjoy.

This rich dessert is a variation of the traditional Spanish dessert called "Flan." Instead of vanilla, this flan is flavored with fresh strawberries.

Ingredients

· 1 pint Fresh, Ripe Strawberries
· 3/4 cup Granulated Sugar
· 1 can (14 oz) can Condensed Milk
· 6 Eggs
· Caramelized Sugar Topping
· 1/2 cups Granulated Sugar
· Mint for Garnish

Preparation
Serves 6.
Optional: Reserve about 4-5 diced fresh strawberries for garnish.
Heat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Caramelize the Sugar for Topping
Put a heavy skillet or saucepan over medium heat for 30 seconds.
Add 1/2 cup granulated sugar.
With the back of a wooden spoon, keep sugar moving constantly in skillet until sugar is completely melted, and of a rich medium brown color (caramelized).
Pour caramelized sugar into each of the ramekins. Set aside.
Prepare Flan
Wash the strawberries and remove the stem. Place the strawberries, sugar, eggs, and condensed milk in to a food processor or blender and blend until strawberries are minced and all ingredients are mixed thoroughly. Ladle the strawberry mixture into each ramekin. Cover each ramekin with aluminum foil.
Place Ramekins in a Water Bath
Place each ramekin into a large open, oven-proof pan, such as a broiler pan. Add very hot water to the pan. The ramekins should be submerged approximately 3/4 in the water.
In Spanish, a “water bath” is called a “baño Maria”.
Carefully place the pan on to the middle shelf of the oven and bake for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, carefully remove each ramekin from the water, uncover and to allow to cool.
Plate, Garnish and Serve
Once cool, place in refrigerator to chill. When you are ready to serve, run a paring knife around the outside of each ramekin to loosen the flan. Then, place the serving plate on top of each one and flip it over. It may be necessary to tap the ramekin to force the flan to fall out onto the plate. Garnish with fresh strawberries and mint. Serve.

Note Bene: We sliced up fresh strawberries and spooned them over the flan just prior to serving with a mint leaf on top for garnish to our guest.

Source: http://www.spain-recipes.com/strawberry-flan.html

OPEN 10 - 6, outrageous sugars and quality, veggies at Petaluma Bounty, awesome recipe

2009-06-17T12:48:00.000-07:00

Seriously….. the berries couldn’t and won’t get any better than this. The sugars are waaay up, and the weather is perfect. This will not last. Higher temperatures will ripen them faster and could reduce our harvest (or wipe it out) if it gets too hot for too long. If you plan to freeze for your winter needs, please take my advice and do it while the berries are like this!! I can’t promise when or if they will do it later in the season and when Ma Nature will take them away. We get berries in August but there are no guarantees!

Petaluma Bounty will not have our berries at the Wed nite farmers market. Paperwork and politics. They WILL have them on Fri and Sat this week from 11 – 4 (unless we sell out). The also will have fabulous fresh veggies:

Lettuces
Salad Mix
Tuscano Kale
Purplette onions (salad sweet onions)
Scallions
Cilantro
Basil (Thai and Genoevese)
Japanese Turnips
Braising mix (asian greens to saute)
Asian greens (pak choi, bok choi and mei qinq choi - delicious stir fried with garlic, ginger and soy sauce)
Beets
Lots of sunflowers and some smaller bouquets

Melt-in-Your-Mouth Berry Trifle
Vegetarian Times Issue: September 1, 2006 p.85

Even though you can use fresh berries in this trifle, frozen work better because they give off more juicy goodness for the chunks of pound cake to absorb.

Note from Sally – the above is not necessarily true with our berries!

Directions

Toss together strawberries, blueberries, sugar and lemon juice in large bowl. Combine yogurt, sour cream and vanilla in separate bowl.
Stand pound cake on side. Cut cake into 4 thin slices lengthwise. Spread first slice with 1/4 cup jam, and top with second slice. Continue with remaining slices and jam, and finish with layer of jam on top of cake. Cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices.
Line bottom and sides of clear trifle dish or large glass soufflé dish with prepared cake slices. Spoon in half of fruit. Top with half of yogurt mixture. Layer with remaining cake slices, fruit and yogurt mixtures. Cover with plastic wrap, and chill 4 hours, or overnight, to allow trifle to set.

Ingredient list
Serves 16

2 10-oz. bags organic frozen strawberries, thawed
2 10-oz. bags organic frozen blueberries, thawed
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup lemon juice
3 cups low-fat vanilla yogurt
2/3 cup low-fat sour cream
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 16-oz. fat-free pound cake
1 cup raspberry jam

2:45 - Open till 6:00, new batch coming in at 3:15

2009-06-15T14:40:00.000-07:00

I’m delivering more berries to the stand at 3:15. We’ll be open till 6:00 today. This week looks good – here’s the schedule….

Mon – Open

Tues Closed

Wed – Open

Thurs – Open

Fri – Open Casa @ 10:00, Petaluma Bounty 11 – 4

Sat – Open Casa @ 10:00, Petaluma Bounty 11 – 4

Sun - Open

OPEN 10- 6, berries look AWESOME, Bounty Farm location OPEN 11- 4, more honey today, Open Sunday 10 till sold out

2009-06-13T07:55:00.000-07:00

Open as usual today with berries. I couldn’t be MORE pleased with the quality of these berries. They’re ripening really slowly due to the cool weather. Really great for you J

The Petaluma Bounty Farm is also open today with berries from 11 – 4 if you’re on the west side. Again, they’re located at 55 Shasta Ave off Petaluma Blvd. Shasta is the street next to Luckys. Stop by their location before going to the farmers market to score on some really awesome veggies without the crowds. They have beets, turnips, kale, chard, cilantro, greens, lettuce (full heads and bagged mix). I took home some greens and made the most awesome dinner.

I was inspired to whip something up! Try it for yourself….

1 cooked sausage, chopped into small pieces
1 cup of rice, cooked
Chopped greens
Grated parmesan to taste

Saute the sausage in a fry pan to heat and coat pan with juices. Add greens and rice (mine was freshly cooked). Saute quickly just until greens are wilted. Sprinkle with parmesan and stir in pan to incorporate. Serve. It was yummy and really quick. I added a salad with the salad mix from the Bounty Farm and dinner was served!!

More honey is coming today from the O’Honey gang. They’re bottling their spring harvested crop this morning, and delivering ½ lb jars to the stand.

I’ll open tomorrow, Sunday, at 10:00 and will be open until I sell out. I’m hosting my daughters grad party and will have berries delivered to the stand at 10:00 and 12:30 only. Then it’s party time!!!

Open 10 - 6, West side location details, tell a friend "Berry Bonanza" celebration - must read

2009-06-10T14:58:00.000-07:00

The berries are really flowing in now. We will be open with regular hours today, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday.

West side location ------ we have a stand at the Petaluma Bounty Farm at 55 Shasta Ave. Craig’s Warehouse is on the corner of Shasta and Petaluma Blvd. The police station is across the street at that intersection. We’ll have berries there on Thurs, Fri, and Sat from 11-4. Our berries will also be available at the Wed nite market at the Petaluma Bounty booth. We’re so very excited to be working together! Carstensen Farms is donating 20% of berry sales at the Shasta Ave and Farmers Market to Petaluma Bounty. Let’s help them grow! J You can find out more about Petaluma Bounty at their website - petalumabounty.org.

Tell a friend “Berry Bonanza” celebration! Remember our “Berry Buck” weekend last year??? THIS year it’s going to be even better!!! Our production is finally up, it’s our 10^th year in business, we want everyone to be able to experience our sweet berries, (even in this economy) and we’re excited to be working with Petaluma Bounty! To celebrate we’re blasting the doors off, turning the pricing clock back a few years, and asking for help spreading the word.

Our “Berry Bonanza” celebration will start tomorrow, Thursday June 11^th and go thru Sunday, June 21^st

Flats will be $22 ($6 off)

½ flats $13 ($3 off)

¼ flats $8 ($1 off)

Bring this coupon with you to either our stand on Casa Grande or the 2^nd location at the Petaluma Bounty Farm at 55 Shasta Ave. Forward the email/coupon, pass it along to friends, hand it out to folks you pass by – Let’s celebrate and share!!!

NOW is the time to stock up!! Freeze them, make jam, bake pies, share with friends….. Get ‘em while the getting’s good!! ________________________________________________________________________________________

Berry Bonanza Celebration Coupon 2009

$22 flat or $13 ½ flat or $8 ¼ flat

Thursday June 11^th and thru Sunday, June 21^stonly

OPEN 10 - 6, berries are AWESOME right now

2009-06-08T08:38:00.001-07:00

I couldn’t be more pleased with how the berries are tasting, looking, and flowing in right now. This is the weather we live for!! The berries ripen really slowly and the sugars build. I can’t guarantee what the rest of the season will look like, but right now – I’m freezin’ and jammin’! And eatin’ J

I’ve been on the run lately and promised to have details about the west side location. I’ve got to have a minute to write and think. Heads up….. the location is at the Petaluma Bounty Farm on Shasta Ave. Our first day will be Thursday with berries from 11-4. We’ll also have berries there on Friday and Saturday from 11-4. Since this is our first experience and week there, I don’t know how many to deliver for them. If you know you would like berries this week, at that location, and know what day, can you let me know so I make sure I bring enough. I’m just guessing right now. I’ll set them up with advance order sheets so we can manage it that way in the future so you know there will be berries waiting for you. I’ll write more about this exciting addition later J Off to the field!!!

I almost forgot!!! Petaluma Bounty will also have our strawberries with them at the Wed nite Farmers market starting 6/10.

1pm Berries just arrived GORGEOUS open til 6

2009-06-07T13:10:00.001-07:00

The berries are looking and tasting absolutely gorgeous! The stand is fully stocked and will be open until 6. Come by and pick some up, we will have plenty today!

Regular hours today, OPEN SATURDAY!!!, recipe, exciting news coming

2009-06-05T08:24:00.000-07:00

I’m so darned excited ------ my kid is graduating, the berries are coming in with awesome flavor and quantity, Ma Nature didn’t get us with too much rain, AND I‘ve got the stand covered for Saturday so we can be OPEN. Yes, that’s right, I WILL be open tomorrow.

Today we’ll harvest until we drop to make sure all of you are covered with our sweet berries. There’s lots of partying and celebrations going on based on the advance orders I’ve got on my board.

Stay tuned for REALLY exciting news about a second location on the west side of town. I’ve got lots of details and very little time this morning to write about it. Let’s just say all you west side folks who requested something closer will get your wish - next week!

Warm Strawberry Puff

Sent to me by Barbara. You can substitute maple syrup for the corn syrup.

Strawberry shortcake is a given at this time of year, when strawberries are so plentiful and delicious. But when you tire of shortcake -- or even if you never do -- this is a nice change.

Batter
3 eggs, separated
2 tablespoons (7/8 ounce) sugar
1/2 cup (4 3/8 ounces) light cream
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon (1/2 ounce) butter, melted
1/3 cup (1 3/8 ounces) unbleached all-purpose flour

Filling
1 tablespoon (1/2 ounce) butter
1 tablespoon (3/4 ounce) corn syrup
1/4 cup (1 3/4 ounces) sugar
1 pint (10 1/2 ounces) fresh strawberries, washed, hulled and sliced in half
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1 to 2 tablespoons creme fraiche or sour cream (for topping)

Batter: Place the egg whites in a clean, grease-free bowl, and whip them until frothy. Add the sugar and whip until soft peaks form. Set this mixture aside.

In a medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together the egg yolks and cream, then add the salt, vanilla, melted butter and flour. Whisk until smooth.

Heat a 10-inch pan with heatproof handle over medium-low heat (an omelet pan or cast iron skillet works well). Spray the pan with non-stick vegetable oil spray, or rub it with a bit of vegetable oil.

Gently fold the egg whites into the batter. Pour it into the heated pan, and swirl the pan gently. Continue to cook for about 3 to 5 minutes, until the bottom is light brown. Place the pan in a preheated 350°F oven and bake the "cake" for 10 to 12 minutes, until it's puffy and set.

Filling: While the cake is baking, melt the butter in a small skillet. Add the corn syrup and sugar, then bring to a boil. Add the strawberries, lemon juice and cinnamon. Stir to coat the strawberries with the sauce, then remove from the heat.

Remove the cake from the oven, and slip it onto a serving platter. Spread the strawberries over half of the cake, then fold it over to cover the filling (as you'd fold an omelet). Dust the edges with confectioners' sugar, and garnish with a dollop of sour cream or creme fraiche and serve immediately. Yield: one 8-inch puff, 1 to 3 servings. Note: this recipe is easily doubled.

Nutrition information per serving (1/3 of pancake and filling, 236g): 375 cal, 22g fat, 8g protein, 9g complex carbohydrates, 29g sugar, 2g dietary fiber, 263mg cholesterol, 173mg sodium, 285mg potassium, 255RE vitamin A, 57mg vitamin C, 1mg iron, 84mg calcium, 146mg phosphorus.

4:00, 10 flats available, looking VERY good, should be open till 6:00

2009-06-03T16:10:00.001-07:00

4:00, 10 flats available, looking VERY good, should be open till 6:00

OPEN, bronzing berries, watching rain, CLOSED Sat (unless I can get it covered)

2009-06-03T06:06:00.000-07:00

My schedule for the week:

Wed: 6/3 OPEN
Thurs: OPEN
Fri: OPEN
Sat: CLOSED (unless I can get it covered) my daughter is graduating at 10AM
Sun: OPEN

Plan ahead. Get your berries on Thursday if you need them for Friday and get them Friday if you need them for Saturday. We will work long and hard on Friday to cover you.

Of course you know all of the above goes out the window if we get much rain. It’s moist out there right now but not enough to change anything. If we get measureable rain things change.

I am REALLY pleased with the berries right now. They love the cool weather and I see a lot of them bronzing. For those of you who don’t know, bronzing is when they turn more of a salmon color, have ripened slowly, and the sugars really concentrate in an awesome berry. If you’re making jam or freezing, now is the time to get them. There are no guarantees – the berries do this infrequently and we never know what kind of crop we will have in the future.

Sold out @ 3:00, week ahead, egg cartons

2009-05-31T15:53:00.001-07:00

Whew!! Today you wiped me out clean at 3:00. It’s always a guessing game. I’ll have more for you on Monday J The berries are starting to do their bronzing thing again and the weather is PERFECT to ripen them slowly. I’ll do my best to keep the stand fully stocked from 10 – 6.

To help you plan your week…..

Mon 6/1 Open
Tues 6/2 Closed
Wed 6/3 Open
Thurs 6/4 Open
Fri 6/5 Open
Sat 6/6 CLOSED (my daughter is graduating!)
Sun 6/7 Open

If you need berries for graduation parties on Friday, I strongly suggest getting them on Thursday afternoon or morning, with this weather they’ll keep. If you need berries for Saturday we’ll be open for you Friday to get them in advance. We’ll bring a bunch on Friday to cover what you’ll need for Saturday. You’re welcome to stop by the stand and place an advance order if you want to be sure to get berries this coming weekend (it’s going to be busy).

I’ll also be closed on Sunday, June 14th for a huge family graduation celebration (that I’m in charge of).

SOS ….. I’m looking for 1 dozen size egg cartons. I would love it if you would help me recycle and reuse. My stock is getting low and I’m hoping a bunch of you can start saving them for me in advance – the new chicks will start laying in 4 months. Thank you so much for your help.

GREAT news - Open again at 10:00 READ THIS bargain hunters and jam makers

2009-05-31T08:06:00.000-07:00

This is just a crazy year! I’m getting a better harvest now and can resume opening at 10:00. All bets are off for this one!! I guess we just have to roll with it.

BIG news for jam makers and bargain hunters …… tomorrow morning I will be there from 9:30 to 10:00 with my first ever day old berry bonanza. The crop came in and I misjudged the harvest. Lucky for you!!!

I’ll sell what I have available first come, first served basis. There’s a limited amount. I’ll sell flat size only for $20 each. Jam ON!!!

We’ll open at 10:00 with regular hours and fresh berries.

4:00 - Fully stocked, open till 6:00, open tomorrow at 12:00

2009-05-29T16:13:00.000-07:00

The subject line says it all. Hope the afternoon update still helps J

4:00 - 13 flats available, looks good till 6 tonite Open again tomorrow at 12:30

2009-05-28T16:04:00.001-07:00

Berries are available. The schedule worked today, fully stocked since 12:30.

We’ll do the same again tomorrow.

REMEMBER opening at 12:15 instead of 10::00

2009-05-28T08:52:00.001-07:00

Just a reminder….. I’ll bring in berries at 12:15 instead of 10:00 for the rest of the season. IF I am pleasantly surprised within the next 2 weeks and have enough to keep us fully stocked from 10 – 6, I’ll let you know and open earlier. The shortage is due to the heavy frost we had on April 29th that wiped out 50% of the existing blossoms. Blossom to fruit is 25 – 30 days so….. this is the result. I’m truly sorry if the change makes it difficult for you – I’m trying to keep the stand stocked for a consistent time period instead of running out every hour and disappointing people. Last year we changed our schedule on June 15th so we’re about 2 ½ weeks early this year.

On the flip side….. I still see blossoms out there! This is a crazy year overall. I may have decent amounts of fruit in late June and some of July. Time will only tell.

4:30 7 flats available, fresh from the field HOURS CHANGE - please read

2009-05-27T16:31:00.001-07:00

First off, there are 7 flats at the stand just in from the field. We’ve been selling out quickly so this looks like a good opportunity to grab some if you’re near there.

Our hours are changing starting tomorrow 5/28, Thursday. I will arrive at 12:15 instead of 10:00. This will allow me to keep the stand stocked from 12:15 to 4:00 every day(hopefully) without running out. With the crop way down this year (we’re off by more than 50%), I’m spending my time running from the field to the stand and not being productive AND we know it’s difficult for you to stop by only to find the door down.

OPEN harvest depending on heat CHICKS have arrived!!

2009-05-27T08:09:00.000-07:00

We’re open as usual today. I’ll manage the field based on the temperature today. Berries become soft and are difficult to snap off without bruising when the day is hot. We start at 6:00 and will go as long as we can. There will definitely be berries at 10:00 and 12:30. I’ll update you later about the afternoon.

I’m sooooo excited about the new chicks!!! I just brought home 60 new babies that range in age from 1 week to 4 ½ weeks old. We should have fresh eggs in September. I’ll write a memo regarding the eggs and send it to the folks who responded back requesting eggs or more information. I received a HUGE response back and I expect to have a waiting list.

I thought I would share a tested, “best tasting smoothie recipe ever” from a berry customer I received.

Carrine says…. unlike most recipes for smoothies, this one does not use ice. Take a handful or two of your frozen (incredible!) berries and toss in blender, then add one halved frozen banana, and then pour in enough Silk Vanilla Soy Milk to cover fruit. Turn on blender and blend until you get the desired consistency adding more Soy as needed. Due to your berries being so sweet, no sugar is needed.

OPEN at 10:00, more at 12:30 and 2:30 will close when sold out

2009-05-25T09:05:00.001-07:00

Happy Memorial Day. I want to send a thank you out to each and every person who fought for the freedom we enjoy and sometimes take for granted – those still living and those of gave their lives. We are grateful.

I’ll have berries for you today starting at 10:00. I guess how many we need each day and harvest more if the demand is strong in the morning. Stop by early if you can and keep me pickin’. If it looks like things are slowing down by the afternoon we may stay till we’re sold out of the 2:30 berries – could be between 3:30 and 4:30. If it’s busy we’ll stay open till 6PM.

2:30 - stand is fully stocked, hours change for Sunday, should be open Monday

2009-05-23T14:37:00.001-07:00

Just dropped off 29 flats with another small load coming at 3:30. The stand is fully stocked! The harvest day turned out WAY better than I expected. Come and get ‘em!!

Good news…. I will be open tomorrow, Sunday and Monday. Tomorrow my hours will be 10 – 3:30 only. I’ll bring in 1 load at 10 and one more at 12:30. I’ll close the doors at 3:30. If you’re concerned about getting berries tomorrow, swing by today while the stand is stocked to make sure you have them.

Monday I should be there all day – all subject to change based on the harvest and the help J I’ll update you as usual.

3:00 - Berries on stand now, get them today if you can, may run out between deliveries tomorrow

2009-05-22T14:57:00.000-07:00

We’re still harvesting today. I’m trying to keep up with the demand. There are 14 flats on the stand now at 3:00. I will bring more at 3:30 (last load of the day). I will have approximately 14 flats with that load. If you need berries AND it’s a holiday weekend, my advice…..

If you need berries for tomorrow and can get them today, I would do so. They are moving off the stand fast today. Take a chance and swing by, even if it’s close to 6PM. We will have berries tomorrow but…. I won’t know how many people will be waiting for me to drive in at each delivery and how fast we can pick! You can up your odds by getting them today. They will keep in the fridge overnight. Just bring them to room temperature before serving.

OPEN today at 10:00, OPEN all weekend, same delivery schedule HONEY arrived

2009-05-22T08:18:00.001-07:00

FIRST….. the HONEY has arrived!! I know this will excite all of you who have inquired about it. Come and get it J

SECOND…… we’ve got berries ready to flow in for the holiday weekend. I’ll open at 10:00 as usual today and over the weekend (unless I update you otherwise). If we run out more will arrive at 12:30, 2:30 and 4:30. The days have been mild so I’m hoping ripening time has been slow to allow sugars to build. Can’t control it, just manage and harvest J

4:15 - Open with 10 flats available

2009-05-21T16:16:00.001-07:00

Your afternoon update to help with the errands on the way home and help you score some berries!

4:10 - 13 flats on the stand, will be there till sold out

2009-05-20T16:12:00.000-07:00

Your afternoon update to help with the errands on the way home and help you score some berries!

OPEN regular hours 10 - 6

2009-05-20T09:12:00.001-07:00

Short and sweet this morning…… OPEN We’re on regular hours and days! Gotta run to the field.

OPEN regular hours, Advance orders, later afternoon updates

2009-05-17T07:32:00.000-07:00

I think we’ll make it thru the heat. The plants have a thicker foliage cover this year, the location stays cooler, and we’ve picked the field clean Wed – today. I’ll take 75 degrees again. Perfect weather for berries and berry growers J

I’ll update you less frequently in the early morning since we’re operating on our regular 10 – 6, every day but Tuesday schedule. Figure we’re open unless you hear from me. If we have berries past 4:30 I’ll try to keep sending an update for all of you who gave me feedback on how helpful it is for you.

Graduation parties are just around the corner! I have a senior this year and can’t wait. If you need berries remember you can stop by the stand and place an advance order so we hold them for you. Advance orders are available on a regular basis until June 12th. After June 12th we will have to see how the crop is flowing before we take orders and what days and hours we’ll be open. To place an advance order we’ll ask for payment, your name, phone, and pick up time. We hold berries between 10 and 1.

Here’s a couple recipes tested and enjoyed by my strawberry customers.

Crème Anglaise with berries from JJ Harris
2 egg yolks
1/4 cup sugar
1 cup Clover 2% milk

Heat milk in a heavy-bottomed pan until it starts to steam (might get a little skin on the surface). Don't boil.
Meanwhile, whisk egg yolks & sugar in a bowl until pale & smooth.
Pour hot milk, a little at a time, stirring, into the egg yolk mixture. Too much at once will cook the egg yolks too fast.
Pour entire mixture back into the pan. Stay nearby & stir often, until mixture coats the back of your spoon.
Strain if it seems like it needs it, and chill. This makes a sauce, not a firm custard. Perfect for dipping berries into, or pouring over berries. The berries don't need to be sugared as the sauce is sweet enough. This allows different people to have different amounts of sweetness controlled by how much sauce they use. This is enough for 3-4 servings. Just double if you want more.

I wanted biscuits underneath the berries and creme, but I didn't feel like a big floury mess on the kitchen counters, so I made Stir & Roll biscuits:

Preheat oven to 450. Mix 2 cups flour, 3 tsp baking powder and 1/2 tsp salt in a bowl. Measure 2/3 c milk into a measuring cup and then 1/3 c canola oil into the same cup. You want to use a fresh, neutral, clean-tasting oil like canola. Pour this directly into the flour mixture. A few good stirs and the dough should clean the sides of the bowl and form a big ball. Turn it onto a sheet of waxed paper. Cover with another sheet of waxed paper and flatten. Peel off top paper. Fold the dough. Keep folding and flattening dough between the 2 sheets of paper until it looks smooth. Doesn't take long, maybe 6 foldings. Pat out until about 1/2 inch thick. Cut into squares or circles and place on ungreased cookie sheet. Check after 10 minutes, or until light golden.

They're not as good as old-fashioned Southern biscuits but they're pretty good. You can slice them open or crumble them into a dish, then put sliced berries and creme anglaise on top.

Strawberry Muffins from Barbara

I tried this out this morning and the recipe is pretty good! Only I learned you can't use an electric hand mixer to blend the wet and dry - use a spoon instead to mix. The batter is thick and sticky.

Ingredients

1/4 cup canola oil
1/2 cup milk
1 egg
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup white sugar
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup chopped strawberries

Directions

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Oil an 8 cup muffin tin or use paper liners.

In a small bowl beat lightly the oil, milk, and the egg. In a large bowl mix flour, salt, baking powder and sugar. Mix wet and dry ingredients with a SPOON (it will stick to your beaters and not mix well). Add a few splashes of more milk if you have trouble mixing. Add chopped berries and stir together.

Fill muffin cups. Bake at 375 for 25 minutes or until the tops are lightly golden brown and bounce back to the touch. Cool ten minutes before lifting from pans.

Note I put in less flour than the recipe called for - it called for 1 3/4 cups - and I still found the batter to be thick and sticky. It's okay to add a little extra milk too. The recipe made only 9 muffins, not 12 so double up recipe if you want more!

2:45 new berries on the stand, 27 flats available, get 'em quick and keep 'em cool

2009-05-16T14:51:00.001-07:00

Just dropped off the last berries for the day. They need to get home with you in coolness ASAP. Plenty for everyone with 27 flats. Don’t know what the heat will do to the crop tomorrow so…. you decide. Sugars are coming up!

Quick Update

2009-05-15T16:30:00.000-07:00

Here’s the recipes I attempted to send this morning. Outlook is giving me some problems. A few messages went out but then it locked up. It’s best to just start again and cover everyone.

It’s 4:30 and we’re open with 9 +flats available.

We’ll be open early tomorrow at 10:00 with more berries. If I sell out don’t worry, more will arrive at the usual times – 12:30, 2:30 and 4:30 (if the temps are mild). If the day is really hot we won’t be able to harvest much past 2:30.

Mangoberry Shake

1 Container or 1 cup plain; vanilla, or mango yogurt (8-ounce)
1 Soft ripe mango; peeled and cut up (about 1 cup)
1 c Frozen unsweetened strawberries cut up
Sugar; if needed

Puree yogurt and mango in blender. Gradually drop in strawberries through opening in blender cover. Taste shake. If you used plain yogurt you may like to add 1 tablespoon sugar. Makes 3 Cups.

Note: The berries bring out the flavor of the mango. Adding the frozen berries instead of ice means you get a cold drink without diluting the drink.

For a thinner drink, add 4 to 6 ice cubes

Berry Parfait

1 pt. strawberries, hulled
1 tbsp. sugar
2 c. whipped cream
1/2 tsp. almond extract

Chop 1 cup of berries; add sugar and let stand 15 minutes. Combine 1 cup of the whipped cream, the chopped berries and extract. Spoon into four dessert glasses. Slice remaining strawberries; arrange around rims of glasses. Garnish with remaining whipped cream. Chill 1 hour. Makes 4 servings.

Quick Update

2009-05-15T09:16:00.000-07:00

VERY quick message since my computer locked up 3x this morning. I’m OPEN – see you at 10:00 until 6PM today. Open all weekend with regular hours and regular delivery times. More info. later with recipes.

4:30

2009-05-14T16:32:00.000-07:00

We are open and fully stocked at 4:30 with 12 flats of berries. We’llbe open again tonite till 6PM.

5:00 Wed, 5/13 Open with 5 flats left!

2009-05-13T17:21:00.000-07:00

Hi gang,

Those of you who try for berries after 5:00 and find us closed are in luck…….. we have 5 flats available and fresh in from the field at 4:30. Hope this helps!!! Get ‘em if you can

2009-05-12T08:26:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

We’ll be back at it again tomorrow, Wed 5/9 with berries. I sincerely hope the sunny, mild weather has ripened up the crop and moved us past the rain challenges of last week. Weather like this will ripen berries slowly and allow the sugars to concentrate - come on super sweet berries!

My schedule this week (always subject to change as you know)

Wed 5/13 thru Mon 5/18 OPEN 10 – 6 (or when sold out)

My first load is delivered at 10:00. The gate will be open earlier for parking. I make trips to the field to restock again at 12:30, 2:30 and 4:30. These delivery times matter most if we run out. My plan is to have berries on the stand at all times but sometimes you folks scoop them up so fast I can’t keep up!

As soon as the berries are flowing in (this week hopefully), I’ll send updates less frequently. You’ll know I’m open and won’t need email clutter first thing in the morning so frequently. I’ll keep up the end of day update for those of you needing to stop by late in the day but are unsure if we’re still open.

All of these recipes come from juststrawberryrecipes.com

Spinach And Strawberry Salad

1 bunch spinach, washed and drained
1 pt. strawberries, halved
Dressing:
1/2 c. sugar
2 tbsp. sesame seeds
1 tbsp. poppy seeds
1 1/2 tsp. minced onion
1/4 tsp. Worcestershire
1/4 tsp. paprika
1/2 c. vegetable oil
1/4 c. cider vinegar

Put sugar, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, onion, Worcestershire and paprika in blender. With blender running, add oil and vinegar in steady stream until mixed and thick. Arrange spinach and strawberries on plate and drizzle dressing over salad.

Elegant Strawberry Torte

3 c Sifted flour
2 c Brown sugar; firmly packed
1/2 ts Salt
1 c Butter
1 Egg; beaten
1 c Sour milk or buttermilk
1 ts Soda
1/2 c Chopped nuts
1 pt Heavy cream; whipped and sweetened
1 pt Fresh strawberries; sliced

Mix together first 4 ingredients, reserve 1 cup crumb mixture. Combine egg, milk and soda. Add to crumb mixture; stir well. Pour into 2 greased, paper-lined 9-inch layer pans. Sprinkle with reserved crumb mixture, then add nuts. Bake at 375 for 25-30 minutes. Place one layer, nut side up, on serving plate. Spread with half the whipped cream. Top with sliced strawberries. Stack second layer and top as above.

Cheers!

Sally Strawberry

To be removed from this list send an email with the title "unsubscribe" to sally@sallystrawberry.net.

Carstensen Farms

Look for our berry updates at carstensenfarms.blogspot.com or google "carstensen farms"

Hours:

Casa Grande location 490 Casa Grande Rd (across from Casa Grande High School)

Opening Day April 30th thru June 22 ...... Open daily 10 - 6, closed Tues

June 23 thru July 31 ...... Open 12 - TBD Days closed TBD

Aug 1 thru Sept 1 ..... Open at 12:15 till sold out Wed, Fri, Sun only

Sept 2 to end of season ...... as available between transplanting

Berry Update for Saturday, 5/9 1 more load only at 12:30 today, closed Sunday and Monday to ripen

2009-05-09T11:51:00.000-07:00

Hi gang,

We’ve picked the field clean of ripe berries! Sorry to say we’ll have only 1 more load today at 12:30 and close when we sell out. We will be closed on Sunday and Monday to allow the field to ripen. Our next day open will be Wed 5/13. We should have a nice crop of deeper red berries after 3 days of ripening and should be open 10 – 6 daily (except Tuesdays of course).

Happy Mother’s Day!

Cheers!

Sally Strawberry

To be removed from this list send an email with the title "unsubscribe" to sally@sallystrawberry.net.

Carstensen Farms

Look for our berry updates at carstensenfarms.blogspot.com or google "carstensen farms"

Hours:

Casa Grande location 490 Casa Grande Rd (across from Casa Grande High School)

Opening Day April 30th thru June 22 ...... Open daily 10 - 6, closed Tues

June 23 thru July 31 ...... Open 12 - TBD Days closed TBD

Aug 1 thru Sept 1 ..... Open at 12:15 till sold out Wed, Fri, Sun only

Sept 2 to end of season ...... as available between transplanting

3:30 Fri, 5/8 7 flats available Open tomorrow at 10:00 Recipe

2009-05-08T15:48:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

Just delivered 7 more fresh flats to the stand. If you need them for tomorrow morning I would consider getting them today if it works for you. Lots of folks have asked what time I’ll open tomorrow and I may only have 20 flats to start.

Here’s the scoop for tomorrow….

OPEN at 10:00 with all we can pick

More at 12:30

Possibly more at 2:30 (99% sure)

4:30 ???? up in the air

If the field holds up (meaning we don’t need to pick in the same spot we were today) we’ll be open on Sunday. I’m 99% sure we will be open at least for 10:00 and 12:30. I’ll update you as always.

There’s a good chance we will be closed on Monday to allow the field to ripen more berries for Wed.

Strawberry Cream Cheese Poundcake

Yield: 4 servings

3/4 lb Butter -- softened
1/2 lb Cream cheese -- softened
2 cups Sugar
1 pinch Salt
2 tsp. butter flavoring (optional)
6 Eggs -- room temperature
3 cups sifted flour
1 pt Fresh strawberries sliced

Cream the cheese, butter, and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add a pinch of salt and the butter flavoring, and beat the mixture well. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating thoroughly after each addition. Stir in the flour. Gradually add the sliced strawberries, gently folding them in.

Spoon the batter into a buttered and floured cake pan (I use loaf pans or those nice little mini-loaf sizes for gift-giving), and bake the cake in a preheated 325-degree (F) oven for one-and-a-half hours, until the cake begins to shrink from the sides of the pan.

Place the pans on cooling racks until cooled; turn cakes gently onto wire racks.

Fri, 5/8 OPEN at 10:00 Stay tuned for Saturday/Sunday schedule

2009-05-08T07:44:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

I’ll be there at 10:00 today with berries. Depending on how many of you show up, we may sell out before our next delivery at 12:30. I hope to have another delivery at 2:30 and 4:30 is definitely up in the air. I’ll update you late in the afternoon.

I won’t know how many berries I’ll have until I jump into the van this morning and take a count. As you know the weather took away a huge amount of our crop. The same section we harvested a few days ago with 31 flats was only 16 flats yesterday. I’ll do my very best to get what we have out there.

Our schedule for Saturday and Sunday is totally up in the air. I’ll have to see how much of the field we harvest today before I can predict anything. I will guess that we will be there on Saturday at 10:00 and 12:30 at the very least. These warm, sunny skies may ripen more than I think by Sunday so…. it’s too early to call.

I’ll leave you notes on the board. Remember – if the gate is open and the stand is closed – I’m sold out AND coming back with more at the time shown on the berry clock. If the gate is closed I’m sold out for the day.

Happy Mother’s Day in advance!!!

11:30 - only 1 more load today, harvest WAY down

2009-05-07T11:40:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

It’s not looking pretty out there. We stopped picking good fruit and have switched to picking rotten berries. The rain did a real number on us this time. We’re down about 50% or more. There are berries at the stand and I’ll bring more in at noon. No other deliveries today. If you need berries for tomorrow consider getting them today since the harvest is so light. I don’t know how many I’ll have for tomorrow or how long it will take to harvest them. If you get berries today for tomorrow remember to keep them in the fridge and use them quickly.

All guesses are up in the air for how many we’ll bring in tomorrow and the weekend. We’ll stick to our 10:00, 12:30, 2:30 and 4:30 schedule. If the field gets picked clean we’ll be closed on Sunday. Let’s hope not!!

Gotta run!! I’ll update you again before tomorrow at 10:00

5:00, Wed 5/6 OPEN with 7 flats available Twitter info. Open tomorrow

2009-05-06T17:01:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

First off, there are 7 flats still available and looking for homes. My daughter will be happy to help you adopt them J

Next, Twitter will not replace my emails. No worry. Twitter folks will get the updates faster because I only have to write 1 line of text, and I don’t have to cut and paste to fit 1100 contacts into messages. My emails will always be there for you, how would I fulfill my need for farmer chatter and distribute recipes without it??? (that’s right, you need some recipes tomorrow) Follow Twitter if you like, email if you like – be happy – that’s my only objective.

We will be open tomorrow at 10:00. I’m sad to report that the weather has really done a number on our lovely crop. Huge, beautiful berries are starting to mold or get severe brown spot from all the rain. Some of the white berries that would be red in a few days also have brown spot. They can take a small amount of rain but not 3 days of it. The plants will take on excess water and the berries will not have the concentrated sweetness until we dry up a bit. It’s as if we overwatered for 3 days straight – something I NEVER do. That’s one of my secrets to growing the berries you love. When Ma Nature waters I have to take what I can get. Keep your fingers crossed for clear weather!

Wed, 5/6 OPEN at 10:00, handling instructions, Twitter updates

2009-05-06T08:41:00.001-07:00

Hi all,

We’re opening at 10:00 with berries. I’ll have deliveries at 12:30 and 2:30 again and possibly 4:30. I’m attempting to stay open until 6PM. I’ll send an update around 4PM to let you know what’s available.

Handling instructions for berries this week – eat ‘em! The weather has been unfavorable for soft, ripe berries. They will not hold like the opening day harvest. The rain keeps them wet and will cause them go up and over fast. My advice is to buy what you need and can eat in a few days and let me pick you more every few days. We’ll get past this weather issue within a week or so (I heard 80 degrees by the weekend). I’ll do the best I can to work with what I have out there!

A longtime customer encouraged me to send quick updates on Twitter so….. I’m going to give it a try. It looks like a easy, quick way to get late afternoon updates out to everyone. I hate to have anyone drive over to a closed gate and make a special trip – that’s why I send afternoon updates – to take some of the guesswork out of your berry trips.

You can find me on http://twitter.com/carstensenfarms. It seems easy. I’m totally new at it so I’d like those seasoned twitter users to coach me on how best to use it and instruct other on how to find me. Let’s give it a whirl!!! If it makes your life easier I’m all in :-)

4PM Monday 5/4 Open with 14 flats

2009-05-04T15:55:00.000-07:00

Uh huh, we’re still open, just like I promised we’d be after Opening Day. We have 14 flats on the stand as of 3:55PM. You’ll have a good chance of getting berries on your way home tonite J This will be your only chance until possibly Wed. to get a taste of the new crop of spring berries.

Monday, May 4th OPEN at 10:00 - let's beat the rain!

2009-05-03T14:38:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

It was so nice to see so many of you on Thursday! I’m so glad so many of you got your first taste of spring berries and wish I had more for everyone. I brought in berries at 10, 12:30, 2:30 and 4:30. All were sold out within 20 minutes each time. Whew!!!

The rain has stopped and we’re going to harvest all we can before the next batch of showers come in. We will be open at 10AM tomorrow, Monday May 4th. We’ll harvest until we get rained out, pick the field clean or 6PM – whichever comes first.

I’ll bring fruit in at 10:00, 12:30, 2:30 and possibly 4:30. It’s supposed to rain on Monday afternoon so we’ll pick everything we can.

Do you know I still have some berries from Thursday sitting on my deck?? I only lost 1 berry to mold so far. This next batch won’t hold as long – lots of moisture from the last rain.

Updated schedule:

Monday – OPEN 10 – sold out or 6PM (could sell out quickly at each delivery)

Tuesday – CLOSED

Wednesday – OPEN??? Depends on timing of rain on Tuesday

Thursday, Friday, Saturday…… too early to call, guessing open as usual with the same delivery schedule

EGGS
For those of you who were looking for fresh eggs, I’m still working on it. I’m looking for chicks that will fit our season and weather. I don’t want chicks under a heat lamp in the heat of July! As soon as I get everything figured out (how many to purchase, from what supplier, what month, etc) I’ll send out another email. Thank you so much to everyone who responded. You gave me a good estimate of how many hens our farm could support and which direction I should go. Hang in there…… it will take me a little time to pull it all together now.

Berry Update at 9AM OPENING DAY, 4/30

2009-04-30T09:07:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

Based on the rate of speed for harvest, and the weather report, we will most likely be harvesting right up until 4:30 today. It looks about 99% positive that my loads will be at:

10:00

12:30

2:30

4:30

Our first harvest is a huge guess on how many I can bring in. We may be sold out first thing this morning if everyone is happy to see me and stops by. That’s OK, I’ll have more throughout the day.

Remember------ if the stand is closed but the gate is open, I’m coming back. Look at the berry clock to see what time I’ll arrive.

Happy Berry Day!!!

Berry Update for Thursday, 4/30 - OPENING DAY at 10:00

2009-04-29T10:55:00.000-07:00

Hi gang!!

Ma Nature is calling the shots – again! So welcome to the 2009 strawberry season berry fans!! We will open tomorrow, Thursday 4/30 at 10:00.

I had planned for Monday to open, allowing the field to ripen a sizeable quantity for opening day but…… we have a 70% chance of rain on Friday and I WON’T let my first harvest get wet!! So we’re opening tomorrow with every red berry we can pick J

Here’s the schedule to help you plan your day and up your odds of getting berries.

I’ll open at 10:00 AM with all that I have picked from 6AM to 9:00AM. I’ll arrive at the stand at 9:30 to open the gate and get set up. Please remember to leave the path by the stand open for me to drive in and unload.

My 2nd load in from the field will be at 12:30. If the field is not picked clean by this time I’ll have another load at 2:30 (good chance of this) and possibly another at 4:30. We have 3 acres to harvest. We’ll stay open until sold out or 6PM.

The berries are huge, soft, and sweet. Softer than other opening day crops. We’re on different soil in a different location this year (our home). We also had a HUGE mulch crop between the rows and had to weed eat it off. This caused the berries to get some fine straw chaff on them, something you’ll have to blow off or wash.

For the week:

Friday 5/1 is rain – we will be closed

Saturday we will be closed

Sunday – could possibly be open (based on weather and ripe berries after rain)

Monday – likely to be open

Tuesday – closed (another chance of rain)

Wed – too early to tell

Check your email and/or this blog closely for open/close updates as we get starting during our first week. Once the crop comes in heavy it will be “Open daily, except Tuesday, 10 – 6”

Berry Update - Spring gets you wondering ....... when will the berries be ready!

2009-03-23T16:10:00.001-07:00

Hi gang!

As I sit here scratching the computing cobwebs outta my brain, I realize it’s been a REALLY long time since I’ve created a Berry Update. A REALLY long time! I’ve been busy and resting with a welcome change of pace and feel of winter.

The berries are doing well. We see the very first blossoms peeking thru right now. That’s good…. keep them tucked away until the heavy frost danger is over – please. We expect to see the field turn white with blossoms in about a week. Then we pray for warm, mild weather with no frost. Full blossom next week puts us at about the first week of May for harvest. Warmer weather during spring will speed up the ripening and cool weather will slow us down. Very mild, cool summers produce the best, slow ripening berries. We’ll see what this year holds!

The blueberries are blossoming. We had some pesky gopher problems and lost a year’s growth on a small portion of our plants. We spent a week installing a 6 foot deep gopher barrier in an attempt to prevent further damage this season. If the plants ripen all the possible berries we see out there, it should be a very good blueberry year.

We will operate our one and only original stand this year on Casa Grande Rd. The Ely Rd. stand will not be a viable option because of parking concerns. We anticipate keeping the same hours as last year – 10 – 6 thru mid June then switching to 12:15 – sold out on as many days as we can for the remainder of the season. Of course I’ll keep you posted J

So the countdown begins!!

Cheers!

Sally Strawberry

To be removed from this list send an email with the title "unsubscribe" to sally@sallystrawberry.net.

Carstensen Farms

Look for our berry updates at carstensenfarms.blogspot.com or google "carstensen farms"

Hours:

Casa Grande location 490 Casa Grande Rd (across from Casa Grande High School)

Opening Day May 8th thru June 17 ...... Open daily 10 - 6, closed Tues

June 18 thru July 31 ...... Open 12 - TBD Days closed TBD

Aug 1 thru Sept 1 ..... Open at 12:15 till sold out Wed, Fri, Sun only

Sept 2 to end of season ...... as available between transplanting

Happy Holidays from Sally Strawberry

2008-12-24T15:33:00.000-08:00

Happy, Happy Holidays to all my cherished strawberry friends! I’m looking forward to spending time with friends and family and wish the same for all of you.

Cheers!

Sally Strawberry

Berry Update for....... fall Thanks for another berry good year!

2008-10-07T17:26:00.000-07:00

Hi gang,

Still tending those baby plants! We’re pulling plastic from the old beds, seeding cover crop, weeding and watering the new plants and cleaning up in preparation for winter. We’ve got a lot to do before the rains really come in. Winter is a slower time (thankfully) for us. I’ll miss you all. Thank you sincerely for supporting your berry farmer and keeping me entertained all these years!

A housekeeping note: Drop me a note, info@sallystrawberry.net, if you would like emails with this info :-)

Cheers!

Sally Strawberry

Saturday, 9/20 - THE VERY LAST DAY

2008-09-20T10:40:00.001-07:00

Hi gang,

Yesterday was unbelievable!!! I opened at 12:15 and sold out at 12:30!!! Last minute berry fixes before we take our winter slumber time off I assume??? :-) Today is your very last chance to enjoy our strawberries until next April. We will open at 12:15 and close when sold out or 2:00, whichever comes first. It’s time to pack everything up and shut ‘er down!!! Stop by for our very last visit of the season :-)

Thank you for being such wonderful customers and supporting your silly local strawberry queen.

See you next year!

Friday, 9/19 - OPEN at 12:15 till 2:00

2008-09-19T09:07:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

Yesterday we sold out at 12:55! We had quite a few more flats but folks were stocking up for jams and freezing. Smart thinking :-) I’ll be there today at 12:15 and stay open until 2:00 (if we still have berries). It’s anybody’s guess how quickly we’ll sell out. If you want them for sure….. stop by around 12:15/12:30.

IF we don’t finish the field today I’ll be open for our final, last day tomorrow, Saturday 9/20. I’m 99.9% sure we’ll be there but…. anything can change when I get to the field at this late date in the season.

Thursday, 9/18 - Ooops, forgot the time in my last message

2008-09-18T10:53:00.001-07:00

Silly me….. I keep forgetting to include the time I’ll be open. Today, Thursday, we’ll open at 12:15 and stay until 2:00 or when sold out. Yesterday we made it until 2:00.

Friday I’ll come in at 12:15 as well and stay till 3:00 if we still have berries.

Friday COULD be our last day. I’ll find out today when I see how far we’ve gotten thru the field at noon.

The berries are coming in really soft and quite juicy. Could be good if you’re eating them right away or freezing. Not so good if you intend to keep them for a few days. I took some home yesterday and noticed some were soft but I find that happens every year at this time. They just can’t hold up and many of them are on the small side. The poor plants have just about run out of steam for the year.

I’m getting that Fall clean up feeling and am soooo ready to put the old berry patch to bed. We need to strip the tops of the beds of plants, lift and pull plastic, disc and prep the field, and sow a cover crop. We can’t let Ma Nature sneak in some rain on the Adobe!

Thursday, 9/18 - the final days are here :(

2008-09-17T16:43:00.001-07:00

Hi gang,

I’ve made an executive decision…… we’ll be open Thursday, 9/18 and Friday, 9/19. If the field is not picked clean on Friday, we will open for our FINAL day on Saturday. So….. it’s either Friday or Saturday as our last day of the season. We have plenty of chores to tend to after closing and much to keep us busy. The new transplants are looking really good! My concern at this time is with gophers. Everyone who wants a great crop next year could help by sending a personal message to the gopher keep away angels to help protect those strawberry babies!!! LOLOL

TUESDAY, 9/16 - YES TUESDAY special open day

2008-09-14T17:16:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

Oh yeah, you read it correctly ----- I’m going to open on Tuesday, the day I’m never open. Why??? We finished transplanting today at 1:00, we’ve been closed for 10 days, we need a break on Monday, the field will have berries to pick AND you’ve been without berries for 10 days! And maybe, just maybe, I want to see how many of you really do read these silly memos I create J

I’ll open on:

Tuesday, 9/16

Wednesday, 9/17

If the berries and field look good we’ll harvest again on:

Friday 9/19

Saturday 9/20

We’ll be closed on:

Monday 9/15

Thursday 9/18

Sunday 9/21

It’s getting down to the last bit of the season now so anything can change. We’ll take it day by day. The above schedule is what I would like it to be. Ma Nature holds the cards.

Wed, 9/10 - CLOSED for transplanting

2008-09-10T09:26:00.001-07:00

Hi all,

Transplanting has been going well. We decided to stick with it and stay focused. At this rate, we should finish on Saturday or mid Sunday. I doubt we will be open on Sunday, 9/13. We will be closed all days up until and thru 9/13 unless you get a message from me.

We’ve finished about ½ of the field or 20 thousand plants. The new soil is a challenge, an adventure and something we’ve never worked with before. We were raised on adobe soil so sandy loam is completely different.

Friday, 9/5 - CLOSED for transplanting

2008-09-04T08:29:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

Today, Thursday, is the first day of transplanting for us. We will be closed tomorrow, Friday to stay with it. The next day we will consider opening is Sunday. It’s entirely possible that we’ll be closed for most or all of our transplanting time, which would be about 10 days. With the heat and the small amount of berries out there, our priority is the new transplants. After transplanting is complete, we may have about 6 open days left. Where did the time go??

Wed, 9/3 - Open from 12:15 to 1:30 only getting ready for transplanting, days and hours will change

2008-09-03T07:38:00.000-07:00

Hi gang,

I’m going to have a small window of open time today due to the transplanting jobs I need to get done. Our plants are arriving today, they need to be unloaded and unthawed, prepped in tubs and ready for 6AM tomorrow. It will take me awhile since I’m dealing with thousands of plants. So please stop by, grab your berries between 12:15 and 1:30 and get them to your cool homes. As of today I don’t know if we’ll be open on Friday, 9/5. It’s possible we’ll be closed. Get your berries while you can. We estimate about 10 sale days left.

Cheers!

Sally Strawberry
Carstensen Farms

Sunday at 3:15 - 3 flats left and... CLOSED tomorrow - Monday 9/1

2008-08-31T15:18:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

The good news – we have 3 flats left at the stand right now. The bad news – we’ll have to close tomorrow, Monday 9/1 since the berries were roasted in the heat. I don’t know what will happen for Wed. The plants are due to go in the ground….. will we have everything ready and still be able to harvest??? Keep checking your email. I guarantee things will change several times in the next 2 weeks!

Have a wonderful holiday!!

Cheers!

Sally Strawberry
Carstensen Farms

Sat, 8/30 - OPEN at 12:15 about 20 days left of the season

2008-08-30T10:40:00.000-07:00

Hey all,

Quick note since we haven’t been open on Saturday for a LONG time. I’ll bring berries in at 12:15. Come by as close to that time as you can since I don’t know how many I’ll have today and who will show up.

We have about 20 days of harvest left. That’s if I get the stand covered while we transplant and the field holds out. Can you believe the end of the season is almost upon us???

Cheers!

Sally Strawberry
Carstensen Farms