Location: The Lofts, building 51
Time: 10:00 – 12:30

We will have Baby Spinach and Mixed Greens and a variety of prepared foods.  Looking for a special gift for a child…  place an order for a Waldorf Doll at the Market too.

Our Heirloom greens are enjoying the cooler season and a few varieties will be ready for harvest next week.

We are letting each plant get further established before harvesting begins.  Look for Baby Spinach and Baby Heirloom Lettuce Mix at the Island Market in downtown Marshall a week from Sunday.

New things are evolving in the kitchen as well.  I have created a new Granola flavor inspired by the season.  Nearly Raw Pumpkin, Coconut, Ginger Granola will be available at our usual weekly Farmers Markets and the French Broad Food Co-op in Asheville.

In other news, we visited the Madison County Fair last night for Althea’s first Goat Show.

She showed Lindy, a Nubian from Appleberry Cove Farm, who will be coming to live with us in November along with her friend Lony.

Althea was very proud to bring home a ribbon and a pin after walking Lindy before the Judge.

As you can see things are changing around here as the weather grows cooler and the sunlight hours get shorter.  We hope you are enjoying the changes of the season too.

~With Love~

The beautiful Cherokee Purples with their dark green shoulders and dusky pink exteriors, boast full sweet flavor with a smoky, almost chipotle essence.  Pruden’s Purple ripens to a dark pink and has a wonderful sweet flavor.  The Moskvich tomatoes have deep red, smooth skins and are what you would think of as conventional store bought tomatoes, but with a richer taste.

Then there are the strikingly orange Valencias with their meaty interiors.  Last but not least, Yellow Pears with their mild flavor and low acidity.  A great salad tomato or eat them for a quick snack as Althea does.  She can often be found slowly making her way through the yellow pear vines, feasting on the lemon yellow fruits!

Last Sunday at the Marshall Island Market all of our Heirloom varieties were flying off the table!  I didn’t get a chance to take a picture until nearly half of them were sold.

Finally a big welcome to Blackberry season!  We have been picking them here and there on our morning walks for a couple of weeks now.

They have been super tart and delicious in Blackberry Rhubarb Pie.  (Rhubarb from Doubletree Farm)  Now that they have had a chance to mature, they are sweeter and ready to for snacking.

Place your order for pick up at the Weaverville Tailgate Market and the Mars Hill Market or stop by the Marshall Island Market to taste the new fruits of the season.

With Love~

JN_Summer_Art_Dance_Poster

Parent and Child Art Exploration (Ages 1-3)
Contact:
michelle@ardfieldfarm.com
Wondering how to introduce art to your toddler while learning more yourself? Join us for Parent and Child Art Exploration. Inspired by the Waldorf philosophy of early childhood education, I believe that the young child learns best through imitation. Each class will follow a rhythm of circle time with songs and stories to introduce the days medium, further exploration of the medium during which the parent will create a piece of art in tandem with their child, simple clean up activities to help the child gain a sense of completion of the artwork, followed by a closing circle. We will learn simple songs to guide children through the activities of each class. You can expect to learn techniques in clay, fiber arts, natural dying, and painting through out the session while fostering a love of art in your little one.

Weaverville Classes will meet Wednesdays, starting July 11 through August 15, from 10 AM- 11AM, at the First Presbyterian Church in Weaverville. Tuition: $75 plus $15 materials fee.

Downtown Marshall Classes will meet Thursdays, starting July 12 through August 16, from 10 AM- 11AM, (location TBD). Tuition: $75 plus $15 materials fee

Art Exploration (Ages 4-7)
Contact:michelle@ardfieldfarm.com
Art Exploration is a wonderful introduction to various mediums and art techniques for the young child. Inspired by the Waldorf Philosophy of early childhood education, each class will follow a rhythm of circle time with songs and stories to introduce the days medium, further exploration of the medium during which the students will create a piece of art, simple clean up activities to help the child gain a sense of completion of the artwork,
followed by a closing circle. Simple songs will be learned to guide children through the activities of each class. You can expect your child to learn techniques in clay, fiber arts, natural dying, and painting through out the session while fostering a love of art. Parents
are welcome to attend with their child.

Weaverville Classes will meet Wednesdays, starting July 11 through August 15, from 11:30 AM- 12:30PM, at the First Presbyterian Church in Weaverville. Tuition: $90 plus $15 materials fee

Downtown Marshall Classes will meet Thursdays, starting July 12 through August 16, from 11:30 AM- 12:30PM, (location TBD). Tuition: $90 plus $15 materials fee

http://weavermamahandmade.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/jn_summer_art_dance_poster.pdf

We would also like to introduce our newest item, Raw Chocolate Almond Butter Cups, available at the Madison County Farmers and Artisans Market, Weaverville Tailgate Market, and the Marshall Island Market!  These decadent little treats are sweetened with local Raw Honey and a touch of Grade B Maple Syrup and Coconut Palm Crystals.  Packed with super foods, Virgin Coconut Oil, Raw Cacao Powder, and Crispy Almonds, the cups give you a boost of energy and treat for your taste buds.  We planned to offer a photo with this post, but they sold out at the market yesterday!

Finally, a friend of mine shared a beautiful chart showing the benefits of various herbs.  Several of our prepared foods feature items on the chart!  If you haven’t tasted our Gluten free Tabouli or Thai Almond Butter Sauce see the chart for another reason to check out our tasty items.  And, if you already know how delicious they are, feel good about the health benefits you have been providing your body!

Visit the the new page on our site, Yahoo Orders Database, under the Looking for Year Round Produce tab and the CSA tab for information on how to join the yahoo group and start picking up fresh produce at a market near you!

http://buyappalachian.org/listing/ardfield-farm

Look for us in the print version this spring as well.

As you can see Aaron has built low tunnels to protect the Greens and Roots from the cold, frost, and snow.  We purchased a really neat tool that allows you to bend 1/2″ EMT (electrical conduit) into 4′ hoops.  After bending the hoops, Aaron dug holes to insert the ends of the hoops into.  Next he packed the earth around the ends of the hoops in the holes and the tunnels were ready for covering.  Right now we are using a layer of UV resistant plastic, held down by rocks, bricks, and logs to keep everything cozy.

The morning after the snow, I went out to check on our Greens and Roots.  A nice wave of warmth and humidity exited each tunnel as I opened the ends, and fogged up my camera lens.

After my lens cleared up I was able to get a shot of the salad greens in the tunnel.  You can see the Arugula in the foreground, followed by the Rouge de Hiver (an Heirloom purple lettuce variety), Lola Rosa Darky (another Heirloom purple lettuce), and Mesclun Mix.

The Beets were so beautiful with water droplets shining on the leaves in the sunlight, their roots slowly growing below the earth.

Farm fresh Greens picked the day of the market:  Baby Spinach, Arugula, Mescelun, Kale, Collard Greens, Swiss Chard…

We will also have beautiful Purple Plum & China Rose Radish bunches.

Come visit us and bring home delicious produce grown organically with love~

Radish leaves are high in Vitamin C , Calcium, Protein, Iron, and Vitamin A.   They contain nearly six times as much Vitamin C, and higher levels of Calcium and Protein than their roots.  They are a member of the Cruciferous family, which contain cancer-protective properties.  And like other greens, they are a good source of vitamin K and magnesium.

Radishes have been known through out history as a medicinal food for liver disorders, containing a variety of sulfur-based chemicals that increase the flow of bile.  Increased flow of bile helps maintain a healthy gallbladder and liver, and improves digestion.