You Don't Even Need a Knife!

Hi Ya'll! So I was a touch off about the rain, it sprinkled occasionally and rained a bit Monday and Tuesday. The crops were happy and so were the interns, no pipe change! Have I explained pipe change already? Well basically because of the irrigation needs here in Colorado, we have pipes with attached sprinklers (seen below) that water the crops in the "field" (garden) and the grass in the pastures for the happy cows to eat (100% grass-fed beef people). Anyway, we must move the pipes in unison to different locations so everything gets watered. Monday we "mulched" the potatoes mounds with straw (spread straw over the potatoes) as well as planted more crops and weeded. We have really been on top of our weeding and it looks great! We talked about permaculture and the compost piles out back with Patrick (garden manager, the composting is his project. Along with the chickens! And our summer camp- Patrick is a busy man!) Once I have a better idea of permaculture I will explain further.
Fields of neatly weeded crops

Sunny John, the Composting Toilet!!

Tuesday held more weeding and planting, I learned to use the rototiller in the afternoon! That was fun but we use it sparingly as it requires fuel (boo fuel). I also was able to help Patrick with "farm school". Every once and a while we meet up with the on-site childcare program (children of people who live here and are working during the day, anywhere from 3-7 kiddos). We get together and teach them things about farming. We talked about weeding with them, planting and compost tea (compost and water mixed together to oxygenate the water). They love getting their hands in the dirt and helping out. I am lucky to have been invited to have a more permanent role in farm school (currently one of Patrick's many projects). So I will have to put my thinking cap on for activities (any suggestions?). The kiddos are so cute, when we are in the field working they will call out HI FARMERS, and we call back HI KIDS! Precious, as you can imagine.


Three of our Farm School Attendees. Photo courtesy of Kate Fallon

Last night we went to Victor and Helena's house, another couple here in the community who are engaged to be married in August. There were other community members there and we had homemade enchiladas! Dave and I brought dessert- Dave's newly discovered butterscotch custard with whipped cream and I made a honey ginger carrot cake with cream cheese icing. It was all very yummy!!

Today, Wednesday, is our day off. Dave and I lounged around, went "shopping" in the kitchen, read some and generally relaxed. But the climax of the day was dinner. Have I mentioned the seconds box? Cuts from harvest/slaughter that don't quite make the cut (no pun) for sale to the public go into the seconds box. So we were fortunate enough to get a package of two T-Bone steaks that "weren't quite right", we cooked them up with mashed potatoes and our homegrown garlic with another side of onions mushrooms and spinach (picked yesterday). Naturally, they were fantastic, so good in fact you didn't even need a knife!

Let me have word about cooking grass fed beef. To truly savor in the superior flavor of the beef be aware it takes less time as well as heat, or you will end up with a poorly cooked piece of meat.

For more on cooking grass-fed beef: https://sunriseranch.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/Cooking-tips1.pdf



Well, thanks for reading!
<3 A