This Week at Ramsey Farms

Sunday (3/23)

It rained most all day here on the farm while my daughter and I drove back from the beach. This rain is making it tough to stay on target for planting dates!

Monday
Today I mixed up a batch of  rosemary-oat infused body wash (I have updated the original recipe). For dinner I made cinnamon-oatmeal sourdough bread, omelets, and oatmeal served with homemade apple sauce. I taste-tested my original batch of apple cider vinegar (still needs more time to build acidity). I tossed out the second batch of vinegar I started last week, a small portion of apple core was not under water and got moldy and stinky. I also made a small jar of sour cream by combining whole milk with white vinegar - it should be a thin sour cream consistency after 24 hours.

Tuesday
Now that the herbs are growing again I've been enjoying them in everything, lemon thyme and mint are wonderful in my sweet iced tea! :) I tried my homemade sour cream on baked potatoes and it was really delicious! More watery than store bought, but amazingly tasty! I'm interested to see if it thickens as it ages. The forecast overnight was for 25 so I took precaution and covered everything in sheets.

Wednesday

Removed the bed linens from the garden plantings as the sun hit each area and when it finally rose above freezing! The cabbages are getting so big - I can't wait to eat them! It will soon be time to take up the cabbage, kale, and garlic for the spring plantings...if it ever stops raining long enough to dry the soil. Recovered the cold frame in its bed sheet for added insulation and left everything else to fend for themselves for the 29 degree forecasted overnight low.

Spent a fantastic 36-minutes on the phone with a farm, land, and "country home" (larger parcels of land with houses) lending professional this morning. He knew because of my geographical location that I won't be his customer but he educated me on this land buying process so much more. I feel empowered and more excited than ever to forge ahead in the next step in our journey to The Big Farm! (Excitement screech!)

Thursday
All the plants made it through the cold night and with the high in the 60s, the lid on the cold frame stayed open. I made peasant bread, tortillas, and croutons today. To make croutons, slice day-old bread. Butter each slice (I actually used coconut oil), then cut into cubes. Spread them out on a baking sheet and sprinkle with your favorite dried/powered seasonings. I used black pepper, salt, cumin, rosemary, oregano, thyme, pineapple sage, & parsley. Bake at 375 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes. Watch closely! (This time I did not burn them.)

The tortillas turned out wonderfully for my chicken tacos. We used leftover shredded chicken, my homemade salsa and sour cream (still runny), rice and beans, and lots of cheese. Very filling and delicious and even my picky eater ate it and liked it! :)

I'm so happy it's herb season again as I used up the last of my dried German thyme and hot & spicy oregano today! The basil is nearly empty so c'mon! grow herbs! I did get the potatoes planted today (finally) and both Chief Farmhand, Chris and I worked the soil in the Back Forty for planting carrots and beets. Too bad it's going to rain all day Friday and Saturday. :( We did re-cover that back row with the heavy plastic sheeting to hopefully keep it dry so that planting can be done next week.

Friday
I roasted a whole chicken in my crockpot - stuffed with scallions, tons of flavorful herbs, carrots, and even an orange! YUM. Stuffed fresh herbs under the skin and seasoned the entire skin with kosher salt, black pepper, and more fresh herbs. Served with baked potatoes along a salad straight from the garden and homemade ranch dressing.

chocolate mint popping up in the herb garden

I finally got the carrots and beets planted on the "back forty" row Friday afternoon! Whew...we were "behind schedule" thanks to tons of rain and heavy, wet red clay dirt. All our efforts of turning and sunning and covering with plastic in case of rain paid off after spending a couple hours working the soil by shovel and hand after Chief Farmhand Chris had tilled it several times. We are still "behind" on getting the head lettuce seeds in the ground.

Check out my recipe for my gourmet ketchup - this stuff is super delicious, easy to make, and you'll want to put it on more than just burgers and fries!

Saturday
The stomach bug attacked me and I was down and out all day being sick. :( A big thank you to the kids, Chris, and my friend Katie for being such a big help and bringing me the comforts I needed to get well fast!!  It rained all day Saturday, so at least I didn't waste a farm work day being sick. Luckily, there is always another day (at least hopefully).

You can have all the money in the world and a big fancy house and a big fancy car, but that won't take care of you when you're sick or hug you when you feel sad. Remember that and keep those people who love you close. Hope you have a wonderful week - I'm looking forward to sunny weather with temps in the 70s and even touching the 80s this week!! April begins in just two days!!! ~Ramsey

Homemade Gourmet Ketchup UPDATED

This is by far the best ketchup I've ever tasted! This is not "kid's" condiment but a nice sophisticated tomato-based sauce that is great for fries, burgers, or anything! Use your favorite herbs and try a different vinegar like white, balsamic, or red wine rather than the cider vinegar it calls for in the recipe. You'll never want the stuff from the grocery shelves again I bet! ;)

Homemade Gourmet Ketchup

Makes about 16 ounces * Prep Time ~ 5 minutes * Cook Time ~ 68 minutes attended * Cooling/Chill Time ~ 75 minutes to overnight

Ingredients

• 28 oz tomatoes
• 1/2 cup scallions or 1/2 small onion, chopped
• 1-2 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 Tbsp tomato paste
• 2/3 cup packed brown sugar (Try 1/3 cup or so next time)
• 1/2 cup cider vinegar
• 1/2 tsp kosher salt
• ground black pepper
• Fresh minced: Greek oregano, German thyme, hot & spicy oregano, lemon thyme, rosemary

Directions

1. Puree tomatoes (including puree from jar or can) in a blender until smooth.
2. Sauteed onion in a 4-quart heavy saucepan over medium heat, stirring, until softened, about 5-8 minutes. 
3. Add tomatoes, tomato paste, brown sugar, vinegar, salt, pepper, and herbs. Simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally until very thick, about 1 hour (stir more frequently towards the end of cooking to prevent scorching.)
4. Remove from heat and allow to cool for 15 to 20 minutes.
5. Puree ketchup in 2 batches in the blender until smooth (use caution blending hot liquids).
6. Chill, covered, at least 1 hour for flavors to fully develop. (Though it's fine to use right away - best after it's cooled then chilled overnight).
7. May be stored up to 3 weeks in glass jar in refrigerator.

UPDATE Notes to Self: Next time, cut this in half as we don't need this much ketchup! :) Also reduce the brown sugar by 25%-50% as it sweetens as it sits. Will not last longer than 3 weeks in the fridge.

March 2016 UPDATE: This is a decent recipe (please try it), but as I'm always trying to improve on the last thing I did, I found a more delicious recipe for ketchup that I will share soon!

This Week at Ramsey Farms

Last Sunday (March 16)
Today was a dark, rainy, lazy day here. Following my daughter's birthday party ongoings, we didn't do much other than read, rest, and relax. We even ordered take-out for dinner! :) I did make some rosemary hair rinse (I even added some lemon thyme) and look forward to washing my hair later!

Monday * Saint Patrick's Day
Happy birthday to my daughter! :) It's a cold rainy day here and even a chance of some wintery mix. We're going to stay warm and happy by celebrating life, love, and family tonight!! My daughter selected lasagna for her birthday dinner so that is what I made - baked lasagna full of cheese and fresh herbs, homemade oregano Parmesan garlic bread, and a salad.

I was fortunate to accompany my friend, Kelly C. to Sam's Club to purchase flour and sugar in bulk. I'm tired of buying a couple of 5-pound sacks of flour at the store every week. So I got 75 pounds of flour and 25 pounds of sugar. That should last me a little while. :) If you're local and interested in purchasing fresh, homemade bread that will help support our local farming efforts, let me know! (Leave a comment below this article or if you're my friend, call me!)

Tuesday - Wednesday - Thursday
This has been another blur of a week. A former classmate of mine died suddenly over the weekend and the emotional toll of that shock and the logistical decision making on whether to make the 9-hour round trip to the funeral have been my major thoughts this week plus still trying to celebrate and enjoy my daughter's birthday week and juggle the normal routines of work, the kids, home, and the garden. Whew!

Wednesday I made a wonderful black bean and shrimp jambalaya using shrimp my mom delivered fresh from the beach last week! It included some of the salsa I made last week, onions and garlic and herbs from my garden, peppers from the freezer, and rice. Served with toasted sourdough bread.

It's been rainy most all week until Thursday - the first day of spring! I love spring and the feeling of renewal, hope, new life, rebirth, and growth that accompany this special time of year. I never will lose the feeling of relief that winter is ending and that I'm here for another rotation of the earth around the sun.

HAPPY SPRING!! The sun came out for the first time this week and we ended up with a beautiful sunny day near 70.  I got to do a little work in the herb garden then we grilled pork chops, asparagus, and potatoes and enjoyed more fresh toasty sourdough bread!

Friday
Made a batch of English muffin bread and several loaves of onion-oregano-parsley bread Friday. I made yet more (OMG so delicious) creamy ranch dressing and harvested 9 or 10 radishes to go with dinner tonight. Mostly just rushed through the day packing and preparing for my whirlwind trip to the coast this weekend for my long-time friend's funeral.

Saturday
Drove down to the coast for my friend's funeral. It was great to see old friends from school, but such a sad occasion. I did get to visit with my mom, my sister, and my nephews and my daughter went with me to entertain and navigate. She enjoyed great quality time with her grandmother, aunt, and cousins. Back home at the farm, Chief Farmhand Chris and our son got some work done but the ground was still too wet to do any planting...Hopefully it will dry out as we are getting behind in our planting schedule! They did get to attend another cousin's 5th birthday party and had a great time with family there.

This week and the death of my dear friend has helped me to continue to prioritize my life and what's truly important. So much that goes on around us is merely a distraction to divert our attention from the key pieces of our lives - family, friends, and loved ones. Make it a priority to spend more time with your children and family and less wasting time in technology and frivolous matters. I saw the sun rise this morning and am reminded that we only get a limited number of those sunrises and sunsets... ~Ramsey

~

This post ranked #5 in the 2014 top 5 blog articles.

Homemade Creamy Ranch Dressing

Quick, easy, and delicious! The best kind of recipes for me! This ranch dressing is that and more. So creamy and tasty, you will want to eat it with a spoon. Mix and match herbs with what you have on hand and what you like. Use the comment section to tell me what you think if you make this at home!

Ingredients

• 1 cup mayo 
• 1/2 sour cream
• 1 clove garlic 
• 1/4 cup fresh parsley
• 2 Tbsp. fresh chives/scallions
• 2 tsp. white vinegar (optional)
• fresh herbs: rosemary, German thyme, Greek oregano, hot & spicy oregano lemon thyme
• dried herbs: dill, basil
• cayenne pepper (optional)
• salt to taste
• milk or buttermilk (as needed for thinning, per your preference)

Directions

1. Mix mayo and sour cream. 
2. Mince garlic into cream mixture. 
3. Mix all other ingredients in well, tasting frequently and adjusting seasonings as needed.
4. Use now or for best results, refrigerate for 2 hours. 
5. Add milk/buttermilk to thin to desired consistency if desired.
6. Serve on salad, with fresh veggies, crackers, or as a sandwich spread or dip for pizza crust...endless...

This Week at Ramsey Farms

Last Sunday
Another fantastic work day on the farm! My mom had to get on the road early Sunday morning - sure wish she could've stayed longer! It was still way too wet to till. The main job I tackled was continuing sifting through compost, adding worms to my worm bin in the process. One more productive afternoon and the compost will be done until the next batch is ready.

Meanwhile, Chris continued his clean-out of the northwest corner of the farm. He discovered a concrete pad about 10x8' underneath the decades of overgrowth and yard debris, along with a roll of old chain link fence, an old hose, a tire, a tarp, a 12-foot long mental pole (oops typo, Chris just informed me that the post isn't "mental", it's metal), an exhaust pipe, and various other uninteresting relics including an old Sundrop bottle, a tennis ball or two, and a decaying baseball. It appears that the concrete pad is truly just thin concrete slabs on top of dirt and surrounding by a million red bricks. We have found over 1,000 bricks in our yard over the years.

The moral of that story is - no matter how you try to bury it or hide it, if you don't clean up your own mess, someday somebody else will have to do it for you. Take care of your own problems and issues, don't try to shrug them off on others.

My friend, Stephanie came for a farm visit and to soak in the sun while enjoying the great out of doors! She played soccer and baseball with our four year old and worked on her tan. She also kept me entertained while I sifted through compost. I enjoyed giving her a tour of the recent farm changes and showing off the pretty sprouts and plants in the cold frame. We all enjoyed ice cold beers in the hot afternoon sun when the workday was done. The high today hit 72.

Monday
Great afternoon and evening in the garden and playing outside. Daylight savings time means the sun didn't set until about 7:30. It was the perfect backyard day with a high of about 74!

• Homemade Salsa - Quick & Easy to make on days you don't want to even be inside!

Tuesday

I mailed more sweet basil seeds off today for a trade! I can't wait to receive my borage in the seed-exchange. I received another trade - nasturtium and yellow summer squash (two varieties) from Taryn in Ohio.

Today was one of those days that "required" that I take the old laptop outside to work in the sun and fresh air. The temperatures topped 83 degrees today. (Frost warning tomorrow night!) There is a chance of rain in the morning, so we covered the area for potatoes and beets in plastic to help keep it dry.

• Pure & Perfect Body Moisturizer - No harmful chemicals or fragrances, just pure Shea butter, natural oils, aloe, and vitamins.

Wednesday

Today was a dark and rainy day with a high of 77 when the sun did finally venture out from behind clouds. I'm glad the planting areas were covered in plastic to maybe help them stay drier than without a cover.

I made ranch dressing, ketchup, 40 minute hamburger buns, and tuna burgers. We harvested about six radishes from the cold frame and a bowl of kale so I made...kale/radish salad to go with our burgers and baked potatoes! :) The radishes from my own garden are absolutely yummy - crunchy and zesty! Mmmmm! Lettuce by next week?

Thursday
Cold but gorgeously, blindingly sunny today. Too cold to do any work, but sunny enough to vent the cold frame and hopefully dry out the areas we're planting this weekend. I received my borage seeds in the mail from Zech in Ohio in trade for sweet basil seeds I sent him last week. (So exciting to receive something as fun as seeds in the mail!)

I made an oregano-thyme-Parmesan bread to go with our dinner of grilled pork chops, rice, and sauteed veggies! I am so ready to start eating salad from the cold frame!

Chris and I re-measured the newest "back row". The planting area is 4-feet wide and 40-feet long! I'm referring to this part of our garden now as the "Back Forty". Because the dimensions vary from the original garden plan, I redesigned that section using the garden planning software.  The Back-40 will still have corn, cucumbers, and bush beans and will now (probably?) also be home to sunflowers, more radishes, more beets, more carrots, soybeans for edamame, and some sort of dry, hearty bean like a kidney, navy, or black bean.

Friday & Saturday
The Ramsey Farms Bakery sold it's first loaf of bread! :) My friend, Amy ordered a one-pound loaf of herb bread.  It was nice to give her a tour of the garden when she came to pick up her bread. I made a half-pound loaf of the herb bread for my neighbor, Mike and was happy to be able to put that in his hands while it was still hot from the oven! I also made two loaves of sourdough French bread for all my farmhands.

Chris used Mike's tiller again for the "Back Forty", row 1, and row 2. The soil was still very heavy and wet, so we put off planting in row 2 and the back forty until next week. We did purchase our seed potatoes and corn seed Saturday. I have cut the potatoes and they will sit at room temperature for a couple days to form a protective layer on the cut side. This is to help prevent rot or disease.

I uncovered the sweet peas in the kids's raised bed, reseeded mesclun and lettuces in the cold frame and row 1, uncovered & reseeded the chamomile in the herb garden, planted beets in row 1, weeded in all the planted zones, harvested six or seven radishes and a basket of mesclun mix greens and made another batch of homemade creamy ranch dressing (with fresh herbs from the garden) for a salad for our dinner.

Our daughter's birthday is Monday so she had several friends over Saturday evening for a slumber party. My friend and the new Recreation Coordinator here at Ramsey Farms, Stephanie, dropped in about sunset. We all celebrated the lovely evening with a bonfire and garden party complete with cake and ice cream under an almost full moon.

Support our Farming Efforts ~ 8x10 prints $40, 11x14 prints $50

Be sure to check out this week's other posts: Quick & Easy Salsa (not for your skin) and an Incredible Skin-Nourishing Lotion (for your skin)! :)

Be nice to yourself this week - we all have much to celebrate and appreciate! Get outside when you can and find a way to celebrate the March Equinox on Thursday. Let Spring restore your hope, excitement, and lust for life. Kiss your children, plant a flower, hug a tree. Go on, try it. Have a fantastic spring week! :) ~Ramsey

DIY All Natural Lotion: THE Best Stuff for Your Skin!

In my quest to reduce chemicals and toxins on our skin and in our home, I have found a really excellent way to nourish and moisturize my sensitive skin. This lotion rejuvenates dry skin, reduces / improves rashes from dermatitis, eczema, winter dryness. I firmly believes it provide a little sun protection, helps heal minor wounds, cuts, abrasions, and acne, and helps to reduce the appearance of lines especially around the mouth and corners of the eyes. This lotion can safely be used on your lips and children's delicate skin. I also use it on the ends of my hair to repair split ends and add moisture.

Look up your lotions and personal products at http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ and familiarize yourself with the benefits of the ingredients listed below. Then try it for yourself - your skin (& hair) will love you.

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup Shea butter
• 10 ml coconut oil
• 10 ml almond oil
• 10 ml olive oil
• 1 Tbsp aloe
• vitamin E (I used one gel capsule, poke it with a pin or cut it open, squeeze into jar)
• essential oil - sweet orange (choose your own), use as little or as much as you prefer. I use about 6 to 10 drops.

Directions

1. Melt Shea butter and coconut oil over low heat or in glass jar in microwave.
2. Add almond and olive oils, aloe, and vitamin E
3. Mix well. Allow to cool for about 20 to 25 minutes.
4. Add essential oil.
5. Whip with electric hand-held mixer (optional) for creamy consistency.
6. Allow to cool completely. Store in air-tight jar with lid.
7. I use a cleaned popsicle stick to scoop out just a tiny bit of lotion to use. A little bit will go a long way! :)

If you like this lotion, try these recipes also:

• Deodorant
• Rosemary Hair Rinse and Bodywash

Quick & Easy Homemade Salsa

This is a very easy and quick to make salsa! Use with your own fresh or canned tomatoes or store-bought will work perfectly fine too. Make this as spicy or mild as you like by adjusting how many and what type of peppers. Use your own taste preferences and what you may have available as to what spices and seasonings you use.

Ingredients

• 28 ounces diced tomatoes (drained)
• 8 ounces diced hot peppers / jalapenos (about 5-6 peppers+/-), per your spice and taste preference
• juice of 1 lime (or lemon) 
• 1/4 ounce beer (optional)
• 3 Tbsp. sugar +/- to your taste
• dash of salt and black pepper
• dash of dried ginger and cumin powders
• 3 dried pineapple sage leaves 
• fresh lemon thyme, rosemary, Greek oregano, hot and spicy oregano, German thyme, 1 mint leaf

Directions

1. Add all ingredients to blender or food processor. Blend until desired consistency. 
2. Serve with chips, guacamole, and sour cream! 

This Week at Ramsey Farms

Last Sunday
Last Sunday was a perfect garden day. Warm and sunny with a light breeze, a high temp of 76. My Chief Farmhand, Chris and I worked until we were just about delirious. lol We spent more than eight hours straight outside I do know that!

I started my day by baking several batches of sourdough bread! When they all came out of the oven, I promptly wrapped the loaf in paper and ran it next door to the neighbors. I will surely take them plenty more bread and veggies over the season, in my thanks and appreciation for use of their tiller!

Chris worked the tiller nearly all day (I did help by taking over for 5 or 10 minutes here & there!). Row 2 is done and ready for planting! Row 1 was very damp still so will need more tilling. He plowed the back row and created an additional 20 feet or so of planting space where once was lawn, grass, and various overgrown bushes, vines, and weeds!

I prepared the area for the leeks in row 1 by hand and hope to plant those seeds later in the week. My main job of the day was to go through compost. I filled up several 5-gallon buckets full to that got tilled down into row 2 and dumped onto row 1. I filled multiple wheelbarrows full of dried leaves that got tilled into row 1 and 2 and the new 30-foot back row. I also made plant markers for everything that is in the ground and transplanted some red pepper seedlings into larger seed pots. I must have done much more than that...but that's all I can recall now!  I did give a few "farm tours" to neighbors, family, and friends that popped in for a visit.

Chris built the raised bed for row 3 and row 4. We have their spots marked off but not installed permanently yet. I had to pull up one kale plant that was in the way of the row 4 bed (don't worry, we will eat all that pretty kale!)

Monday
After a sunny day in the upper 70's, of course we're expecting more winter weather today. It's been cloudy, cold, and rainy with the wind howling around the corners of the house all day. I have covered the seedlings in row 1 with their sheet of plastic again just to protect from the 20-22 degree lows tonight and to help keep my area for planting the leeks dry.

My shoulders and neck are aching from all the manual labor done over the weekend, I can't imagine how Chris's arms and shoulders must feel after running that bucking bronco of a tiller for over 12 hours this weekend! But I can't imagine anything more gratifying, satisfying, and thrilling than the sweat equity of tilling the land, planting a seed, and feeding your family from it! All while getting to be out of doors in the sun and fresh air! Man....I can't wait to get to wherever the Big Farm is located! ;)

Tuesday - Wednesday - Thursday is a Blur
Ever have those weeks when you're not sure what day it is or was or where you've been? Yeah. It's been that kind of week for me. I do know that my daughter made up a new batch of peppermint laundry soap during this time and who knows what else happened.

I received a beautifully hand decorated envelope from Tina in Kentucky this week filled with seeds! One of my seed-exchange friends sent: Carentan leeks, lemon cucumber, northern pickling cucumber, Little Gem butterhead lettuce, Golden bush zucchini, Cocozelle zucchini, buttercup squash, sweet dumpling squash, and Love In A Mist flower seeds! I was overwhelmed! I knew she was sending leeks and maybe lettuce and possibly something else, but this was incredible!

My fabulous friend & housekeeping partner, Katie returned to town from her Mardi Gras adventure in New Orleans this week. She visited the farm and was so sweet to bring my son some Mardi Gras snacks, my daughter a baking mix for beignets (yum), and hot sauce and coffee for me! Love it all - thank you Katie!

Another fantastic delivery to Ramsey Farms this week was a totally unexpected gift via the UPS man. One of my long time and dear friends sent me a gift they knew I had a long wanted...my very own copy of Walden by Henry Thoreau!! I've read this book in borrowed form a few times, but to have my own copy to highlight or underline or otherwise make notes in is incredible! Thank you to my dear, sweet, and thoughtful friend!

Freezing rain was expected so my teen daughter and I covered the plants inside the cold frame with several layers of crumbled newspaper, the kale and the herb garden covered in an old bed sheet with plastic on top of that, and most of my daffodils with plastic 2 liter bottle halves. The sweet peas were already under cover of plastic cloches, the plastic lid and humid conditions of the cold frame protect & cover those plants, and the seeds in row 1 are already covered by 4mm plastic sheeting. Will this protect everything? Stay tuned to find out!  The garlic and cabbage are on their own. They survived snow for three days, so I'm not really worried. Forecasted low is a mere 30 with strong winds and a mix of rain and freezing rain.

Friday
A cold and rainy day all day today. I am slow cooking chicken thighs to make a chicken rice casserole tonight and the aroma is incredible! The casserole includes my homemade healthier cream of chicken soup recipe and plenty of dried herbs from my garden. We will also have fresh Italian herb bread with just a hint of dried parsley and rosemary mixed into the dough.

My mom is coming for a visit Saturday as part of my daughter's birthday celebration! So excited to get to show her the work we've been doing and see her face!

Did I mention that this blog has had more than 1,000 page views already?! Wow! Thanks for stopping by to read so much. The cold frame page is the most visited of all. The majority of our readers are in the U.S., but apparently this blog is a big hit in Malaysia and we've had quite a few views from readers in Germany and Argentina too. Who knew?! lol

Saturday

Today was exciting because my dear, sweet mom came to visit!! She and my daughter spent the day in town together. We had lasagna with homemade garlic Parmesan bread and sauteed asparagus for dinner. Lasagna was my daughter's choice since we were celebrating her upcoming 14th birthday!! She even gave us all some pointers and help in knitting! I loved having her here, just wish it could have been longer. I miss the visits and discussions we used to have alone together before she moved four hours away.

Chief farmhand, Chris and I worked in the garden as the sun was shining and the temps hit about 72. After two or three days of heavy rains, it was way too soggy to do anymore tilling. Chris continued working on clearing of the back corner...it seems not only is there part of a chain-link fence, a tire, and a tarp, he has unearthed a concrete foundation of sorts that must have been under an old building at some point. I was a little worried about what he might actually uncover back there! He also got the compost pile moved and started separating the good, usable compost from roots and other debris.

I got my leeks planted! Hopefully on Sunday we will be able to prepare the soil for next week's (March 15) plantings of potatoes, beets, and head lettuce. You should SEE the sweet peas! They have gotten so big! My little boy and I pulled a radish and ate it. It was very small and very delicious. (I did replant in that empty spot though). We should be enjoying salad in another week or so!

• If you missed my other posts this week, be sure to check out the recipes for chicken 'n dumpin's and cream of chicken soup for cooking. 
• I will post new cold frame and garden photos Sunday night so check 'em out! :)

Thanks for reading!

Enjoy your week. Slow down. Take time to breathe deeply and enjoy your time here on earth...it'll be gone fast and rushing around to run errands and working late isn't how you might want to spend it? Call your mom, spend time with your dad, hug your children, watch the sunrise or set, and take time to listen to your own thoughts. ~ Ramsey 

Healthier Homemade Cream of Chicken Soup

I love the creamy flavor and ease using a can of cream of chicken soup in various casseroles and other recipes. However, I don't like some of the canned soup's ingredients (modified food starch, dehydrated chicken, soy protein concentrate, MSG, "flavoring", and "coloring") nor the high sodium and fat content.  So I have found a way to make my own.  Add sauteed mushrooms for a cream of mushroom soup or add sauteed onions for cream of onion, etc. I use my own homemade chicken stock.

This recipe makes a little over 1 cup, the equivalent to 1 can of soup

Ingredients

• 3 Tbsp. butter
• 3 Tbsp. white flour
• 1/2 cup chicken stock
• 1/2 cup milk or cream
• salt, pepper, fresh & dried seasonings (basil, rosemary, thyme, oregano)

Directions

1. Melt butter in small saucepan over medium heat, add flour. Cook, stirring rapidly, until mixture is thick.
2. Add chicken stock and whisk until smooth, add milk. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring, until thickened. 
3. Remove from heat, season with salt, pepper, fresh and dried herbs of your choice.

Chicken 'n Dumplin's

This is one of our favorite meals at our house & even our pickiest eater loves this! It's easy to make, delicious to eat, and perfect for cold winter days!  This is a very versatile recipe, which is another reason I like it. Substitute nearly any veggies or don't use any at all and let your own palate guide your seasoning selection. And of course there are half a dozen shortcuts you could use from pre-cooked chicken, canned broth, and canned-refrigerated biscuits, but why? This is worth the effort! YUM!

Serves 8-10 * 45 minutes prep time * 4 1/2 hours cooking time

Ingredients

• 3-4 lbs chicken thighs (boneless works best!)
• water, to cover
• black pepper, to taste
• kosher salt, to taste
• Herbs: Dried basil and fresh lemon thyme, parley, oregano, thyme, & rosemary, to taste
• 1-2 potato, chopped
• 2-3 carrots, chopped
• 1/4 cup flour
• 20-40 oz water (or combination of water, broth, wine, beer, etc.)
• 9-12 oz. peas (fresh is best, frozen better, canned will work)
• Baking Mix: 
• 3 cups all purpose flour
• 4.5 tsp baking powder
• 1.5 tsp salt
• 3 Tbsp. butter or oil

Directions

1. Put chicken thighs in large stockpot, add water to cover, season with salt, pepper, and fresh/dry herbs.
2. Bring to a boil, stirring frequently, reduce heat, cover, simmer for several hours until skin falls off and meat falls off the bone.
3. Remove chicken, set aside to add to soup later. Discard bones, skin, etc. (or use to make bone broth). Strain broth into jars for use in this meal and later. (Use broth within about 10 days or freeze for up to 6 months.)
4. Add about 20-30 oz. of your chicken broth to stock pot and heat over low, stirring constantly.
5. Add 1/4 cup flour to broth to create quick roux base for soup. Add 16 oz. water.
6. Add potatoes and carrots to broth flour mixture and season with additional salt, pepper, and herbs to taste. 
7. Add chicken. Add water to cover soup. Bring to boil, reduce to low, cover and simmer for about 30 minutes or until vegetables are tender.
8. Mix baking mix ingredients into separate bowl until mixed and doughy.
9. Add more water to fill stockpot about 3/4 full. Return to boil. Add peas.
10. Return to full boil. Drop spoonfuls of dough into boiling soup. I use varying size scoops so there is a good mix of small, medium, and large dumplings. (We like our dumplings around here!)
11. Reduce heat as needed to avoid over-boiling. Cook on high partially covered for 20-25 minutes or until dumplings are cooked through, are fluffy, and a toothpick inserted in center of large dumpling comes out clean.

This Week at Ramsey Farms

Last Sunday
My body hurts - that's how hard we worked this weekend. Row 2 is fully installed and we tilled about a ten-foot length down about two feet. By hand. By hand. Did I say, "by hand"? We don't have a tiller. We have a shovel (two in fact) and two perfectly usable arms and hands each.

My daughter made refrigerator bread. I marinated some beef tips/kabobs all day. When Chris and I finished in the garden, he fired up the grill for the steaks which we served with rice and sauteed frozen veggies and rolls.

• Refrigerator Bread Recipe
• Garden Pics

Monday

Another sunny day with temps near 70. I opened the cold frame all the way about 11:00 am - it had already hit 100 degrees in there! Finally, you can spot lettuce sprouts!
Also my daffodil bulbs near the bottle tree are blooming! There is a plethora of broccoli side shoots maturing so I'm forecasting broccoli in soon!
I got more hand-tilling done today after work, but we still have quite a bit of work to do before we can begin planting in row #2. I received seeds from my seed-exchange group today: chamomile and lemon balm! (Thank you Stephanie and Laurrie!)

Tuesday
It was such a nice, warm, sunny today! Near 70 degrees. I planted lemon balm seeds in a pot and cilantro and chamomile in my herb garden. It is a bit early still for planting herbs, unless you're planting indoors or under cover. Mine are nestled under the warmth of a plastic 2L bottle cloche for germination and will stay over the plants for two or three weeks (let me refer to my garden plan).

I also got more hand-tilling done in row 2. My wonderful neighbor, Mike, came over to chat and see what I was doing and so kindly offered his tiller! (They are such good neighbors). We couldn't use it in the beginning of our garden work this year, because

Me tilling last year's garden 3/2013

the soil was so wet and we were apprehensive about damaging the wooden raised bed frames. However, if conditions are good we are going to borrow Mike's tiller this weekend and knock out row 2 and 3 and get some other areas prepped as well. I will be taking lots more veggies and homemade goodies next door in the near future for sure (note to self: Mike's favorite veggie is broccoli). :)

Bread production is now a daily task here at Ramsey Farms taken on by any of the above-age-four "staff". The work and time involved are so worth the incredible aroma and flavor of fresh breads. Chris said he looks forward to lunch everyday even more because his ham and cheese sandwiches are much tastier, crunchier, and flavorful on homemade rolls or bread than store-bought white bread. I mean, this is food! The stuff you buy off the shelf in a plastic bag at the store was made three days ago in Pittsburgh and is functional. Why settle for just functional? It would be tough to go back to store bought bread now. This week I've made several batches of a basic white bread that includes egg and milk. It comes out perfectly tanned, moist, and delicious. I'm going to try out several recipes just for fun. I wish I had a little road-side market at which to sell my breads and kitchen delights! ;)

Wednesday

Covered the cold frame, sweet peas, carrots and leaf lettuce, and the herb garden and brought inside any of my tender potted plants that have been frolicking out of doors enjoying the spring-like weather. (As much as potted plants tend to "frolic" anyway.) Though I so wish it to be spring already, we really have 21 more days until the equinox and more cold temps to come. The low in the morning will get down to about 27 and another cold overnight to 21 for Friday morning!

Made a spicy red bean jambalaya for the adults and personal-sized pizza crusts for the kids to make their own homemade pizzas for dinner tonight!

Thursday
My little boy and I uncovered the gardens this morning as the sun began hitting each one and after the temperature rose above freezing. Each section got another good watering to help the soil retain more heat as temperatures are expected to get down to 24 over night. All the new plantings and the herb garden got covered in sheets again this evening.

I did not bother with covering the kale, garlic, broccoli, and cabbage as those plants have survived far worse with no problems. The kale is thriving once again after a short winter rest and I see marked growth in the cabbages. I love how the broccoli looks with all it's wild side shoots. The main head has been harvested and now the multiple side shoots are prospering! (See pic)

Friday
Everything survived last night's cold snap with flying colors.  Everyone around here is so glad it's finally Friday! Time to put the work week behind us for a couple days and focus on our favorite things: family, food, and farm! :) Saturday and Sunday are always busy garden / farm work days and I for one am really looking forward to it.

Saturday * Happy March! *
Today started out overcast and cold. But we worked anyway! The sun eventually came out and it was a nice, fairly warm sunny day. We got lots of work done including some plowing (thank you neighbor Mike!). All of row 1 and 2 are tilled in with compost and Chief Farmhand, Chris got the entire backrow plowed too. This is a 30' long row that mostly has not been used except for lawn and overgrown bushes since we've been here (over 13 years) but this year will be home to corn, beans, and cucumbers! I filled up two wheelbarrows full of clean compost (combing through it by hand to remove sticks, roots, and other debris). I got row 1 uncovered and reseeded onions, lettuce, and carrots where no growth was visible. We worked the sweet pea area - every seed has germinated! Got each sweet pea under a plastic cloche for two more weeks. And I made some row markers. I will update the garden pics album Sunday night if I'm awake.

Our teenage daughter kept things running smoothly inside including assisting the four year old whenver he went inside. She made bread and wound up making our chicken and dumplings (from scratch) too. Chris and I finally came inside when the sunlight was completely gone.  We showered, ate, drank some wine, and I know I was sound asleep by 9pm! A good night's sleep and another farm work day for tomorrow!

Happy March!
This month holds my daughter's birthday and the first day of spring - two of my all time favorite holidays.
Thanks for being a part of our farm and our blog. Listed below are the top three posts you guys read and shared in February. If you haven't seen them yet, check them out! :)

1. The #1 viewed post this month was...The Cold Frame!
2. 2nd was the Ramsey Farms planting schedule...weird that so many people read it...but yay! I am excited and curious to see how well pre-planning changes or enhances the gardening outcome.
3. And 3rd was the Rosemary Hair Rinse & Bodywash recipe post from January! I'm ready to make more of the hair rinse, but want my rosemary plants to look healthier and lose their winter pallor before I harvest large branches. Have you tried either of these? Leave a comment telling me about it.