When it’s too hot: Get ready…set…ferment!

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

It feels like 150 degrees out there; way too hot for picking beans, weeding beets and thinning carrots. And the thought of putting huge pots of water to boil to blanch greens and can veggies is crazy-making. But that’s what summer’s about, isn’t it – enjoying what you can now of the fruits and veggies from your garden, CSA box or farmers market, and preserving the rest for the much cooler days we know are ahead.
Fermentation is a great way to preserve veggies without heating up the kitchen. For example, yesterday – when it was 84 degrees – I put up kimchi (think of a very spicy Asian version of sauerkraut) and swiss chard stems. It was easy.
What is fermentation, you ask? It’s a method of preserving foods that’s been used for thousands of years by cultures the world over.
In a nutshell, and at its most basic, what you do is submerge your chopped, sliced or whole veggie in salted water (a brine) and then let the action of anaerobic bacteria do their work to “sour” the food. The beneficial micro-organism harnessed for this work is lactobacillus bacteria. That’s why this process is sometimes referred to as lacto-fermentation.
By the way, although the terms sound similar, lacto-fermentation has nothing to do with milk and lacto-intolerance. Instead, lacto refers to the lactic acid produced by the bacteria which acidifies the food, releases additional nutrients from the veggie, and keeps it safe to eat. Think of sauerkraut – fermented cabbage. Fermented foods can be ready to eat in a handful of days or after several weeks, and then stored for months more. Key to this process is constantly keeping the veggies submerged.

Napa cabbage kimchi and swiss chard stems ferment

Napa cabbage kimchi and swiss chard stems ferment


Oh, and what did I do with the chard leaves I stripped from the stems? I blanched them in boiling water for two (2) minutes and then plunged them into ice water to stop the cooking and ready them for the freezer. Again – easy.
So what’ll it be this weekend (after it cools down enough to head out to the garden)? I think I’ll pick green beans to ferment with a brine and a variety of other spices. Fennel? Caraway? Dill? What will work best with my grass-fed beef burgers, pot roasts and steaks?
Here are some of the books I’m using to build my fermentation skills:
– The Art of Fermentation, by Sandor E. Katz
– Fermented Vegetables, by Kristen K. Shockey & Christopher Shockey
– The Kimchi Cookbook, by Lauryn Chun
– The Nourished Kitchen, by Jennifer McGruther
– Preserving Food Without Freezing or Canning, by The Gardeners & Farmers of Terre Vivante
What are you fermenting?
Sylvia

Sat., Aug. 15, 9-9:30AM CT, Deep Roots Radio – the health & eco-benefits of bison

What: Deep Roots Radio chat with Mary Graese of North Star Bison about the environmental and human health benefits of bison.
When: Saturday, Aug. 15, 2015, 9:00-9:30AM Central
Where: Broadcast and streamed live from the studios of WPCA Radio, 93.1FM, and www.wpcaradio.org
Why: Millions of bison roamed America, grazing as they moved. Their grass-only diet, combined with the weight and hoof action of the huge herds, helped create the deep and fertile top-soil that was, once upon a time, six feet deep across significant portions of our continent. Today, many ranchers are capitalizing on the best qualities of bison to restore grasslands while producing excellent meat products.
Join us tomorrow morning, as co-host Dave Corbett and I chat with Mary Graese about the Wisconsin-based bison ranch she runs with her husband Lee and family.
I hope you’ll tune in.
Sylvia
About-Us-Bison-History

Connecting the dots between what we eat and how its grown

Connecting the dots between what we eat and how its grown

Legislation to keep you – the food consumer – in the dark. Deep Roots Radio, Aug. 8, 2015, 9-9:30AM CT

What: Deep Roots Radio takes a quick look at recent legislative moves to keep us – the food consumers – in the dark. One of these has been popularly dubbed the DARK Act. In Congress it’s known as H.R. 1599. It passed in the US House of Representatives in July. The other is about the June move by the House to repeal COOL – Country-of-origin-labelling.
When: Aug. 8, 2105, 9:00-9:30AM Central
Where: Broadcast and streamed live from the studios of WPCA Radio, 93.1FM, and www.wpcaradio.org

Here are links about the Dark Act:
– About the act – http://www.justlabelit.org/dark-act/
– What corporations lobbied for it – http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/billsum.php?id=hr4432-113
– Who voted for it –https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/114-2015/h462

About COOL
– The basics: http://www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/consumer-questions-answers-country-origin-labeling
– Wall Street Journal article about House vote to repeal COOL, http://www.wsj.com/articles/house-votes-to-remove-country-of-origin-labels-on-meat-sold-in-u-s-1433990294

I hope you’ll listen in.
Sylvia

Deep Roots Radio, 91.3FM and www.wpcaradio.org

Deep Roots Radio, 91.3FM and www.wpcaradio.org

Sizzling burgers, juicy steaks, luscious roasts – time to order 100% grass-fed beef

It’s that time again – harvest at Bull Brook Keep, home of 100% grass-fed beef.

Ahh, the sizzle of grass-fed beef!

Ahh, the sizzle of grass-fed beef!

What does it mean? Great taste, high nutrition, and eating with a tiny carbon hoofprint(c) because our happy cattle enjoy fresh pasture grasses all summer and high-quality hay in the winter. They get a natural diet – no grains, no hormones and no subclinical antibiotics. Our herd is out in the sunshine year-round.
Harvest time means it’s time to reserve a variety package (ranging from 30 lbs. up to 220 lbs., or more) to suit your family size and freezer space. It’s easy to do with a deposit online or with a check.
What will you get? Steaks, roasts, ground beef, and more. The steaks include these types: T-bones, ribeye, sirloin, sirloin tip (tender!), tenderloin, NY Strip, top round, flank and skirt. Roasts will include two or more of these: chuck, arm, cross-rib, sirloin tip. And ground beef, is, ground beef.
You can order now. Here’s how

July 18 – Eat Local Farm Tour and Hungry Turtle Weekend – Amery, WI – Here’s the skinny

Mark your calendar. Set your iPhone (or Android). Gas up the car, or oil the bike chains. Car-pool with friends. Create a MeetUp.
Whatever you do, get ready to make tracks to this weekend’s Eat Local Farm Tour and Hungry Turtle Weekend in Amery, Wisconsin. Here’s what’s happening July 18:

Eat Local Farm Tour
What: This is the annual Eat Local Farm Tour organized by the Twin Cities’ metro area natural food coops. A great brochure EatLocalFarmTour_2015_Guide-Map-WEB has a map and descriptions of sustainable farms within an 80-mile radius of Minneapolis and St. Paul. Yup, we’re just a lovely scenic drive from where you live.
Bull Brook Keep is one of several farms northeast of the Twin Cities, and we’re part of the Hungry Turtle Farmers Cooperative. Steady Hand Farm and Fresh Pastures Farm are just a stone’s throw away.
When: July 18, 2015, 9:30AM – 4:00 PM

At Bull Brook KeepSummerIcon
– We’ll demonstrate rotational grazing at 10:00AM, 1:00PM and 3:00
– You’ll have a chance to see how many plants you can identify within a square yard
– Sample our summer sausage (nitrate- and nitrite-free) and ground beef
– Guided pasture walk
Map and directions

Hungry Turtle Weekend – July 18
Hungry Turtle Weekend activities are held at the Amery Food Hub (comprised of the Farm Table restaurant, the Hungry Turtle Farmers Cooperative and the Hungry Turtle Institute (educational nonprofit)). The Hub is housed within totally renovated historic buildings in downtown Amery, just 10 minutes from my farm. The address is 110 Keller Avenue, Amery, Wi.
– 9:00-9:30AM – A quick walk across the street to the Saturday morning Farmers Market to pick up ingredients for the food cooking demo back at the Food Hub
– 10:00 – Tour of the Amery Food Hub (restaurant, commercial kitchen/teaching kitchen, and art gallery)
– 11:00 – Play with Your Food – activities for children
– 2:00PM – Tour of the Amery Food Hub
– 2:30PM – Book signing and talk with Beth Dooley, food journalist and cook-book author
– 3:00PM – Demo by Farm Table Executive Chef Jesse Spitzack
– 5:30PM – Meet & Greet with local sustainable farmers, and entertainment by the Danger Rangers

I hope to see you Saturday!
Sylvia

July 11, 9-9:30AM CT. The power of the Hungry Turtle (Institute) to re-invigorate local food culture.

What: Deep Roots Radio interview with Kristen Lee-Charlson, new Executive Director of Hungry Turtle Institute in Amery, Wisconsin.
When: Saturday, July 11, 2015, 9:00-9:30AM Central Time
Where: Broadcast and streamed live from the studios of WPCA Radio, 93.1FM and worldwide at www.wpcaradio.org.
Why: Consumer demand for local, sustainably-produced food continues to climb. Food lovers are also searching for information about the farms, nutrition, taste and preparation of the delicious and nutrient-packed veggies, fruits, and pastured meats. Ah, that’s were the Hungry Turtle Institute (HTI) comes in.
In its second year, HTI is a nonprofit dedicated to connecting food lovers and food growers to practical info and experiences, lively discussions, and other useful and fun resources. An example is the Hungry Turtle Weekend coming up July 18th.

Deep Roots Radio, 91.3FM and www.wpcaradio.org

Deep Roots Radio, 91.3FM and www.wpcaradio.org

How to find your local farmer – July 4, 9-9:30AM CT, Deep Roots Radio

What: Deep Roots Radio interview with Julien Roberge, co-founder of Agrilliance, a website that quickly helps consumers find their local, sustainable farmers.

When: Saturday, July 4th, 9:00-9:30AM Central Time

Where: WPCA Radio, 93.1FM and streamed live at www.wpcaradio.org

Why: The demand for high-quality, sustainably-grown foods continues to grow in the US and worldwide. Consumers are concerned about herbicides, pesticides, GMOs, sugar, salts, and processing chemicals in their foods. Food lovers are also increasingly interested in the systems behind their foods: the environmental impacts, use of energy, antibiotics used in industrial livestock operations, and fair wages on the farm.
Agrilliance also sees these local markets as strong and viable ways to meet the needs of a growing world population, the challenges of climate change, and the political pressures felt around the globe.
Agrilliance is a new effort, web-based, to make it easier for thoughtful farmers and consumers to find their local markets. The idea is to build local connections in every community – worldwide.
I hope you’ll tune in.
Sylvia

Connecting the dots between what we eat and how it's grown

Connecting the dots between what we eat and how it’s grown

June 27, 9-9:30AM CT, live w Wedge & Wheel cheese shop. Why a public radio guy now promotes local, artisan, farmstead cheese.

What: Deep Roots Radio interview with Chris Cahtz, owner/proprietor of Stillwater, Minnesota’s Wedge & Wheel cheese shop and bistro. Nineteen months into this venture, the assortment and menu is growing with demand.
When: Saturday, June 27, 2015, 9:00-9:30AM Central Time
Where: Broadcast and streamed live from the studios of WPCA Radio, 93.1FM, and www.wpcaradio.org
Why: Why would a public radio exec move from broadcast to cheese mongering? And why in Stillwater, Minnesota? Tune in and meet Chris Cahtz: hear his story and why he’s fostering the growth of local, farmstead cheeses. I think you’ll discover that it makes all the sense in the world to make tracks for the Wedge & Wheel.
I hope you’ll tune in.
Sylvia

Connecting the dots between what we eat and how it's grown

Connecting the dots between what we eat and how it’s grown

Cody Holmes – growing from grass-fed ranch to regional food hub.

Leave a reply
Deep Roots Radio
Deep Roots Radio
Cody Holmes - growing from grass-fed ranch to regional food hub.
Loading
/

Cody Holmes began beef ranching conventionally – with all the hormones, additives and labor demanded by the conventional system. Once he’d decided he’d had enough, he adopted and adapted his operation into one of the model multi-species grazing farms in the USA.
Author of “Ranching Full Time on Three Hours a Day,” Cody and his wife and partner Dawnnell and their daughter Taylor, operate Real Farm Foods on their 1,100-acre farm, Rockin H Ranch, in Norwood, Missouri (east of Springfield). But they are not standing pat in their business. Cody is extending his enterprise to include many other farms and farmers in a regional food hub providing grass-fed meats, vegetables, eggs and dairy, and a growing variety of value-added products.
In this Deep Roots Radio interview, Cody describes the vision and challenges of developing a local food hub to meet his area’s growing demand for delicious, high-quality, clean, and healthful foods. Enjoy.
Sylvia

Connecting the dots between what we eat and how it's grown

Connecting the dots between what we eat and how it’s grown

Investing slow $$$ to build a better food system, faster. Chat with Renewing the Countryside’s Brett Olson.

Deep Roots Radio
Deep Roots Radio
Investing slow $$$ to build a better food system, faster. Chat with Renewing the Countryside's Brett Olson.
Loading
/

One way to move America’s food system to great taste, high nutrition, environmental stewardship, humane animal welfare, and fair wages is through thoughtful investment – slow money. What is slow money? How does it work and what does it mean to you and me? How can you and I make a difference? Find out in this Deep Roots Radio interview with Brett Olson, co-founder and creative director of Renewing the Countryside. Minnesota’s first Slow Monday event is June 17, 2015, 5:00-8:00PM at Como Park, St. Paul, Minn. For information on this event, click here.