Events - Saturday, March 18th and Sunday, March 19th, 2017

We will be attending the following two events this weekend:

Saturday, March 18, 2017

@ Elyria High School

&

Sunday, March 19, 2017

@ Strongsville Holiday Inn

2017 Soil Test Results

I have been wanting to get my soil tested for quite some years now, but just have never gotten it done.  But this year I decided that I had to get it done, I have been having some problems growing things in certain areas, and needed to find out what was going on.  I looked at several companies that test soil in Ohio, Indiana, and Pennsylvania.  After searching around for a day, looking at websites, sample reports, and packages that were available, I ended up getting my tests done with Spectrum Analytic.  I liked the look of their reports, so I sent them an email asking how much they charged.  Within a matter of minutes I got a reply.  In fact every time I emailed them I got back the same almost instant reply, I also asked them a couple of questions and they seemed to really know their stuff.  So I was very impressed from the beginning.  They also have very good prices, I was planning on only have 1 or 2 samples done, but after I found out how much they charge I decided to have 3 samples tested.

I followed their instructions on taking the soil samples, packaged it up, and dropped off my box at the post office on a Tuesday.  I shipped it flat rate priority so I had a tracking number, Spectrum Analytic received my package on Thursday.  I was shocked the next day on Friday when I checked my email and they had already gotten the results back to me.  Once again very impressed!  I would recommend Spectrum Analytic to anyone who wants to get their soil tested.

Below is part of my three reports that I got back from them.  They also gave fertilizer recommendations for the next three years crops that I plant to grow in that area.

LEFT FRONT #1

 RIGHT FRONT #2

 LEFT BACK #3

  
I am so glad I got these tests done!  I have learned so much from them.  Now I want to get another 10 or 12 tests done so that I know what is going on with the rest of my farm.

At first when I saw the results, I thought this can not be right, every area is completely different.  But then when I looked at them closer and started to think about it everything kind of makes sense.

Similarities between the different samples:
In all three areas the level of Boron is low, and Iron is sky high.

LEFT FRONT #1
This is an area that I really have not added much to the soil, the past couple of years. I have been having trouble with a horrible grass taking over anything that I plant there.  I believe that grass likes soil that is low in nutrients, which makes sense now.  Also I grew corn there last year which is a nutrient demanding crop.  Soil pH is also a little low 6.1, so I will be adding some lime to this area soon.
I have a cover crop of rye currently growing in this area, and it will more than likely be a work in progress throughout the spring and early summer, I will probably plant some later plantings of beans in this area.

RIGHT FRONT #2
I found the results from this area very interesting.  This is an area that I have been having troubles growing things in for the last few years.  No matter what I seemed to do in this area things just did not grow very well.  Last year I even added a lot of manure to this area and still no luck.  The only thing that grew well here last year for me was broom corn.  So at first glance when I saw the results I was really shocked that everything was so high.  Then I looked closer at the report and realized that my pH was too high.  A normal pH should be about 6.5, mine is 7.5 in the area.  I did some further research and found out that one of the few vegetables crops that can tolerate a pH of 7.5 is corn, which explains why my broom corn is the only thing that did good in that area.  Also I had most of that area that I did not plant in had Wild Carrot growing there which is a weed that likes a higher pH.  When your pH is too high it can tie up the nutrients in the soil, which explains why the nutrients in the soil are so high, plants have not been able to absorb them.  So big thing with that area for next year is to lower the pH. 
I will more than likely be planting my tomatoes here this year, once I make some adjustments of coarse.

LEFT BACK #3
This is where I had most of my tomatoes planted last year.  I also added a lot of manure to this area last year.  All the levels here seem to be pretty good.  A little boost of Phosphorus, Potassium, of coarse Boron, and maybe a little Sulfur, and I should be pretty good.  I may have to add some Nitrogen also, but we will see.  Everything else seems to be in a good range, including the pH which is right where it should be.
This area will probably be used for a mix of things, I am thinking summer squash, winter squash, and maybe some sweet peppers.

Saturday, March 11th & Sunday, March 12th 2017

Here are our next two craft shows that we will be attending this weekend.

Saturday March 11th @ St. Mary Magdalene Byzantine Church

&

Sunday March 12th @ Middleburg Heights Community Center

Saturday, March 4th 2017 - Brunswick Kiwanis Spring Craft Fair

We are going to be attending our first craft show of 2017 this weekend.  We will be at the Brunswick Kiwanis Spring Craft Fair, at the Brunswick Recreation Center, on Saturday March 4th, from 10am- 3pm.  We will have pasta, bread, and pizzelles.  Hope to see everyone there!

 

Real Veggies Farm Garlic

Here are the varieties of garlic that I currently have in the ground and will be digging up in July.

Chet's Italian Garlic

#1

Soft Neck (Artichoke)

Nice Medium Taste, HOT Raw 

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Red Tochliavari Garlic

#2

Soft Neck (Artichoke)

Mild Flavor

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Inchelium Garlic

#3

Soft Neck (Artichoke)

Medium Flavor

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Korean Red Garlic

#4

Hard Neck (Rocambole)

Strong Flavor, HOT

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Bogatyr Garlic

#5

Hard Neck (Marbled Purple Stripe)

Medium Strong Flavor

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Khabar Garlic

#6

Hard Neck (Marbled Purple Stripe)

Medium Flavor

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Musik Garlic

#7

Hard Neck (Porcelain)

Nice Strong Flavor, Large Cloves

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Romanian Red Garlic

#8

Hard Neck (Porcelain)

Strong Flavor, HOT

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German White Garlic
#9
Hard Neck (Porcelain)
Strong Flavor, Large Cloves
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Latina Italian Garlic
#10
Soft Neck (Silver Skin)
Very Nice Medium Strong Flavor
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German Red Garlic
#15
Hard Neck (Rocambole)
Full Body Robust Flavor
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Carpathian Garlic
#17
Hard Neck (Rocambole)
Hot & Spicy
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Siberian Garlic
#18
Hard Neck (Rocambole)
Lots of Heat, Raw
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Georgian Fire Garlic
#20
Hard Neck (Porcelain)
Pleasant Strong Flavor, HOT Raw
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Chinese Red Garlic
#21
Medium Flavor
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I also have some new varieties in the ground, but I will be saving most of what I have in the ground, of those varieties, for planting this year, so that way I will have more next year.  When I start to dig out the new garlic varieties in July I will have to do a post on the new varieties and how they did.

White & Whole Wheat Swirl Bread

Just thought I would let everyone know about the new bread that I started making and selling this fall, White & Whole Wheat Swirl Bread.  Ingredients in this bread are:  All purpose flour, whole wheat flour, milk, shortening, sugar, molasses, salt, and yeast.  This is a two tone bread, two different types of dough, a white dough and a whole wheat dough, are rolled up together to create a beautiful swirl look when the bread is sliced.

It is a nice bread because it has a good amount of whole wheat flour in it, but it does not have a super strong whole wheat taste, and it is not dry like a lot of whole wheat breads are.  It makes a great sandwich bread, great for toast, with peanut butter, and is basically a good all purpose bread.  I made some tuna salad the other day, and I think this bread is my favorite to eat with the tuna salad. 


If you come to one of our shows (we will be starting up again in the beginning of March) you will most likely find this bread, and many other types of bread, for sale at our table. 


I am going to start booking shows for this spring within the next week, so be sure to check back to see where we will be selling starting in the beginning of March, until our farmers markets start in the beginning of June.

Bread!

Right now I am busy making breads for tomorrows show at Normandy High School.  So far I have finished making my Onion Bread and Garlic Herb Rolls, I am working on the Garlic Herb Braided Bread, next will be my White & Whole Wheat Swirl Bread and finally Cinnamon Raisin Bread.

So if you are craving some pasta or fresh baked breads, come and see us at:

Normandy High School PTA Holiday Arts & Crafts Fair

2500 West Pleasant Valley Road, Parma, Ohio 44134

Saturday December 3, 2016

10:00am - 4:00pm