Sweet and Sassy - The Aji Dulce Pepper

Hello to all from The Pastures of Rose Creek!

Hope this week finds everyone well! We have a lot going on at the farm this week from saving your lovely veggies from our ever-growing and demanding free range chickens (who having done their job at pest control around the garden area, now find that they desire the pretty green leaves growing in the garden - have no fear though! Damage has been minimal and the chickens are happy in their new location) to working our lovely cows and sacrificing another to our local abbatior. T-Bone, although you will be missed - I am sure you will also be tastey!

And now news from the farm....

VEGGIE OF THE WEEK: Sweet and Sassy - The AJI DULCE PEPPER

OK- so I know we have been featuring a lot of peppers latley - and that's because we have a lot 'em (those suckers can endure just about any weather!) This week we wanted to focus on the aji dulce because there has been a lot of interest generating around these colorful peppers. They also look a lot like a habenero or scotch bonnett - you know, the kind that looks like it will destroy you just by looking at it? Well, although the aji dulce looks similar - it's flavor is much more mild - carrying only the slightest heat with sweet, citrus notes.

This particular pepper is hard to find locally and is a Venzuelan Heirloom, found in many latin american and carribean dishes. Because it carries that sweet, citrus flavor it's a perfect pepper to be used raw or cooked (great on a hawiian pizza or in your favorite salsa!). High in vitamin c and beta-carotene it also has a lot of health benefits ranging from the strange - aids in night blindness (?)- to the more common afflictions - helps in the fight against heart disease, boosts immune system, and is known to decrease cholesterol.

So, whether you're looking for that perfect pepper for your mango salsa or maybe you're looking for the cure to your night blindness - come on out to the Watkinsvile Farmers Market and sample these sweet and sassy little peppers.

Attached you will find a recipe for Puerto Rican Sufrito (a base stock recipe for soup, beans or rice) and Mango Salsa with Aji Dulce. Try it out!

THIS WEEK'S HARVEST...

Aji Dulce Peppers

Americana peppers (bell peppers with a kick)

Banana Peppers

Bell Peppers

Eggplant

Okra

New Mexico Green Chiles

Mixed Greens

Parsnips

Radishes (Red and White varities)

Tabasco peppers

Thai Dragon Peppers

**Come check out other surprise veggies we may have to offer!**

HAPPENINGS:

FARM-FRESH EGGS - And yes! They are definitely here! Every week we are finding more and more eggs in our roaming egg mobile - which means more eggs for you! Although we have had some rogue (and naughty!) chickens attacking the gardens

- the rest of our chickens have been following our cows and foraging our fields - seeking out those pesky bugs and fly larvae - and of course being good little fertilizing machines along the way! Which means not only healthy, free-range eggs for you, but also healthy cows for you too! By using the chickens in this way they help decrease the fly population AND our need for commercial, chemically based pesticides and fertilizers - a healthier forage for the cows - and better eatting for you!

So, you don't want to miss out on these happy healthy eggs! You can find them at our market table!

POTTERY - And of course come out to see the beauiful, hand-crafted pottery made by the one and only, John Bradford. These pots are the product of his first firing at the Pastures of Rose Creek - a hand-made (literally down to the bricks!) and custom designed, Japanese style kiln, made by the potter himself. This kiln uses wood as it's only source of fuel and reaches temperatures of 2400 degrees! The product is a beautiful, earthy - and functional- pottery. You can also find some of his work at Sunshine Village Gallery, downtown Watkinsville.

GRASS FED BEEF - Well, let's all give a big thanks to T-Bone - the wonderful steer who has dedicated his life to becoming the tastiest beef the side of the Mississippi. He is the 2nd of our beef to be sold and will soon find himself on the plates of many satisfied customers.

And a big thank you to all of you for the support and interest in our grass fed beef! Although we are temporarily sold out, we are excited to know that there is such a high demand and interest in healthy, environmentally sound beef. After working the cows this week and weighing some of the up and coming steers and heifers - it look like we will have more cows ready for your dinner table by January at the latest! So go ahead and put your order in today and reserve your beef! These last cows went FAST!

Feel free to stop on by the Watkinsville Farmer's Market or give one of us a call/email if you have any questions about our grass fed beef! Dana Bradford: 575.613.2029 or Will Powers: 706.254.9391

"I was so excited to find out there was local grass fed beef available in Monroe. Only a week after placing my order for 1/4 of a cow, it was delivered to my door! Let me say, it did NOT disappoint. My husband and I have cooked it several times already and it is absolutely delicious, not to mention better for you than the beef you find in the grocery store. Will, John, and Dana at the Pastures of Rose Creek were a joy to work with. They made the process easy and convenient. We are extremely pleased and cant thank you enough!" -Meredith Bowman, Monroe

BAKED GOODS by Dana (Watkinsville Market):

No baked goods this week! Sorry to all the biscotti fans! They will be available next week though.

 

 

Thank you all for your support! Hope to see y'all Saturday at the Watkinsville Farmers Market!

For the love of community and all things farming...

Your local farmers,

Will Powers and John & Dana Bradford
The Pastures of Rose Creek, LLC
1051 Rose Creek Drive

Watkinsville, GA

(706) 254-9391

(575) 613-2029

This Week's Harvest...

Hello to all from The Pastures of Rose Creek!

And hope everyone is doing well this week!  We, here at P. of R.C. have been havin' fun this week finishing off hay and weaning calves - all important work to ensure the happiest, healthiest cows for y'all - but with all that hard work, this week's email is short and sweet.  So, please read on to learn more about this weekend's market table, and if you haven't read about it already be sure to catch up on our grass fed beef, farm fresh eggs, and pottery!

THIS WEEK'S HARVEST...

Americana Peppers (bell peppers with a kick!)

Banana Peppers

Bell Peppers

Eggplant

Kale

Okra

Mixed Greens

New Mexico Green Chiles

Radishes

Tabasco peppers

Thai Dragon Peppers

Our Gardens are in transition this month, so we're a little lighter in quantity (but never in quality!)...so hold on tight...we have more on the way!

**Come check out other surprise veggies we may have to offer!**

HAPPENINGS:

GRASS FED BEEF - A big thank you for all the support and interest in our grass fed beef!  Although we are temporarily sold out, we are excited to know that there is such a high demand and interest in healthy, environmentally sound beef.  The ball will really start rolling around January when we will have a steady supply of cows reaching their prime age and weight throughout the year.  Attached you will find the brochure, order form, and more detailed information on "what you will get."  Go ahead and put your order in today and reserve your beef for next year!  

 

Feel free to stop on by the Watkinsville Farmer's Market or give one of us a call/email if you have any questions about our grass fed beef!  Dana Bradford: 575.613.2029 or Will Powers: 706.254.9391

"I was so excited to find out there was local grass fed beef available in Monroe.  Only a week after placing my order for 1/4 of a cow, it was delivered to my door!  Let me say, it did NOT disappoint.  My husband and I have cooked it several times already and it is absolutely delicious, not to mention better for you than the beef you find in the grocery store.  Will, John, and Dana at the Pastures of Rose Creek were a joy to work with.  They made the process easy and convenient.  We are extremely pleased and cant thank you enough!" -Meredith Bowman, Monroe

FARM-FRESH EGGS - The FARM FRESH EGGS are here!!!  However, our chickens are not yet producing a large number of eggs, so we have a limited supply to sell this week.  We will be selling our eggs by the full and half dozen.  And hope to be able to provide more eggs as our chickens continue to mature!  

These birds have been raised with love and have been given the freedom to just be themselves!  Roaming and foraging our fields hunting for pesky bugs and doing a good deal of fertilizing along the way (eliminating the need for harmful pesticides and chemically based fertilizers).  

So, you don't want to miss out on these happy healthy eggs!  And in this case, the early worm gets the bird! (Well...egg, rather)

POTTERY - And you are in for another treat this week!  The very talented John Bradford is BACK with some of his beautiful pottery to adorn our market table! These pots are the product of the first firing of John's hand built wood-fired anagama/soda ash kiln located right here at The Pastures of Rose Creek.  Anagama wood-fired pottery is a fascinating Japanese tradition, in which pots are fired at temperatures in excess of 2200 degrees.  The product is beautiful, earthy pottery that varies in color and texture.  Come and check out his pots this Saturday...his pottery has been going fast!  You can also find some of his work at Sunshine Village Gallery, downtown Watkinsville.

 

MONROE MARKET - We are sorry to say that we will most likely not be apart of the Monroe Marker this year.  Our crops have taken an unexpectedly hard hit by the heat and unfortunately will not have enough to support both markets.  But, next year we are expanding our gardens by twice the size and are gearing up to be full time Monroe participants!  But until then, if you find yourself in Watkinsville (aka Wat-Town) on Saturday morning - stop on by the market!  And don't hesitate to call or email about our grass fed beef...we'll deliver!

BAKED GOODS by Dana (Watkinsville Market):

Cranberry Almond Biscotti (great for coffee and non coffee drinkers alike!)

Thank you all for your support! Hope to see y'all Saturday at the Watkinsville Farmers Market!

For the love of community and all things farming...

Your local farmers,

Will Powers and John & Dana Bradford
The Pastures of Rose Creek, LLC
1051 Rose Creek Drive

Watkinsville, GA

(706) 254-9391

(575) 613-2029

Well, this week I'm lazy - I'm cheating once again - cuttin' and pastin' this week's email.  But, hey, those veggies aren't going to harvest themselves.  Or will they?....hmmm...

Hope to see you all at the market tomorrow!  

And here's this week's email...it's a long one...but read on - there are some special surprises embedded in all that text!

Hello to all from The Pastures of Rose Creek!

Do you or someone you love have a...how do I put this delicately?...have a...chile pepper addiction?  You know the signs - hiding bottles of Sriracha in their purse or car because they can't bear the thought of having even one meal without it....topping every meal with some form of fiery hotness while you sit helplessly by, watching their eyes bulge and beads of sweat form on their forehead as they continue their quest for the hottest pepper?  Well, we may be able to help...this week we supply not the cure - but the fix...The Thai Dragon Pepper.  Just stop on by our market table - code word: Bangkok Heat Wave - we'll know what you mean.  

And for those of us who are a little more timid when it comes to the heat - we are also offering a variety of mild peppers and other non capsicum veggies at the market - scroll on down to learn more about out market table and other happenings around the farm.

VEGGIE OF THE WEEK: Some like it HOT! - The Thai Dragon Pepper

To get an idea of how hot this pepper is, let's first find out a little bit about peppers and what makes them so hot.  So what does give a pepper its heat?  Capsaicin.  Different peppers have varying amounts of it and therefore different heat levels.  Capsaicin is measured in Scoville Units.  You will find things like banana peppers and bell peppers on the very low end of the scale (0-50), while Jalapenos bring in around 2,500-5,000, and Tabascos around 5,000-30,000 Scoville Units.  The Thai Dragon Pepper registers around 100,000 units (just to give you an idea)...eat one whole and the next thing you know you'll find your whole face planted in the nearest water source. But used sparingly and in the right kind of hot sauce or salsa - you may find the Thai Dragon not only packs some heat, but also FLAVOR. The Thai Dragon carries a dry, nutty flavor (once you get past the heat), which is a great accompaniment to asian cuisine and other dishes as well.  Although there are certainly hotter peppers out there - Scotch Bonnets and Habeneros, for example, can register anywhere from 100,000 - 350,000 units - nevertheless, we encourage you to take the Thai Dragon Pepper Challenge! (Please use responsibly) 

And here's why....

There are a multitude of researched benefits to eating spicy foods.  Here are just a few...

1.  GOOD FOR THE HEART - reduces inflammation and improves the body's ability to dissolve blood clots - two known risks for heart diesase

2.  IMPROVED CIRCULATION - peppers are high in Vitamin C and A which strengthen blood vessel walls and improve circulation, and possibly lower blood pressure

3.  WEIGHT LOSS - Capsaicin found in peppers helps to speed up metabolism

4.  IMPROVES BREATHING AND REDUCES COLDS & FLUS - Helps to open nasal passages and may also reduce sinusitis and other flu symptoms

5.  MOOD LIFTER - Boosts the levels of endorphins and serotonin that dulls pain and gives us a sense of well-being.

So, come check out the Thai Dragon Pepper and other pepper varieties we are offering this week at the Watkinsville Farmer's Market!  Attached you will find a recipe for homemade Tabasco Sauce - make it with our freshly grown Tabasco peppers or spice it up even more with the Thai Dragon Pepper.

THIS WEEK'S HARVEST...

Banana Peppers

Bell Peppers

Eggplant

Okra

New Mexico Green Chiles

Radishes

Tabasco peppers

Thai Dragon Peppers

Our Gardens are in transition this month, so we're a little lighter in quantity (but never in quality!)...so hold on tight...we have more on the way!

**Come check out other surprise veggies we may have to offer!**

HAPPENINGS:

FARM-FRESH EGGS - Well, if you have read this far - CONGRATULATIONS!  You are in for a treat!  They have finally arrived!  The FARM FRESH EGGS are here!!!  However, our chickens are not yet producing a large number of eggs, so we have a limited supply to sell this week.  We will be selling our eggs by the full and half dozen.  And hope to be able to provide more eggs as our chickens continue to mature!  

These birds have been raised with love and have been given the freedom to just be themselves!  Roaming and foraging our fields hunting for pesky bugs and doing a good deal of fertilizing along the way (eliminating the need for harmful pesticides and chemically based fertilizers).  

So, you don't want to miss out on these happy healthy eggs!  And in this case, the early worm gets the bird! (Well...egg, rather)

POTTERY - And you are in for another treat this week!  The very talented John Bradford is BACK with some of his beautiful pottery to adorn our market table! These pots are the product of the first firing of John's hand built wood-fired anagama/soda ash kiln located right here at The Pastures of Rose Creek.  Anagama wood-fired pottery is a fascinating Japanese tradition, in which pots are fired at temperatures in excess of 2200 degrees.  The product is beautiful, earthy pottery that varies in color and texture.  Come and check out his pots this Saturday...his pottery has been going fast!  You can also find some of his work at Sunshine Village Gallery, downtown Watkinsville.

GRASS FED BEEF - A big thank you for all the support and interest in our grass fed beef!  Although we are temporarily sold out, we are excited to know that there is such a high demand and interest in healthy, environmentally sound beef.  The ball will really start rolling around January when we will have a steady supply of cows reaching their prime age and weight throughout the year.  Attached you will find the brochure, order form, and more detailed information on "what you will get."  Go ahead and put your order in today and reserve your beef for next year!  

 

Feel free to stop on by the Watkinsville Farmer's Market or give one of us a call/email if you have any questions about our grass fed beef!  Dana Bradford: 575.613.2029 or Will Powers: 706.254.9391

"I was so excited to find out there was local grass fed beef available in Monroe.  Only a week after placing my order for 1/4 of a cow, it was delivered to my door!  Let me say, it did NOT disappoint.  My husband and I have cooked it several times already and it is absolutely delicious, not to mention better for you than the beef you find in the grocery store.  Will, John, and Dana at the Pastures of Rose Creek were a joy to work with.  They made the process easy and convenient.  We are extremely pleased and cant thank you enough!" -Meredith Bowman, Monroe

 

MONROE MARKET - We are sorry to say that we will most likely not be apart of the Monroe Marker this year.  Our crops have taken an unexpectedly hard hit by the heat and unfortunately will not have enough to support both markets.  But, next year we are expanding our gardens by twice the size and are gearing up to be full time Monroe participants!  But until then, if you find yourself in Watkinsville (aka Wat-Town) on Saturday morning - stop on by the market!  And don't hesitate to call or email about our grass fed beef...we'll deliver!

BAKED GOODS by Dana (Watkinsville Market):

Cranberry Almond Biscotti (great for coffee and non coffee drinkers alike!)

Thank you all for your support! Hope to see y'all Saturday at the Watkinsville Farmers Market!

For the love of community and all things farming...

Your local farmers,

Will Powers and John & Dana Bradford

A Born Again Blogger's Ode to the New Mexico Green Chile

And the weekly emails have finally found their way to the Rose Creek Blog spot!  As somewhat of a luddite, I am not completely well-versed in these new fangled things called computers - especially blogging.  Phobias aside however, I was thrilled to click "send" on the very first weekly harvest email that went out.  And still get a rush every time one is sent - like a mother hearing her newborn's first words - I feel overjoyed to see words appear on the screen.   

But as a newborn must suffer a few scraped knees as it learns to walk - so must the aspiring blogger suffer a few bruises (mainly to the ego) to write his or her first blog.  Mine came in realizing (rather painfully) today that the last few week's of publishing Pasture of Rose Creek's Weekly Harvest emails - have produced zilch...nothing...nada...on the Plum Life blog.  It took 3 weeks to actually discover the orange button that blatantly says "publish"...ohhhhh.... 

So who knows where those email/post/blogs are right now....probably floating along somewhere in that vast aether - we now call the inter-web...but for now, I can pat myself on the back and finally say, "I did it.  I did a blog....I posted a blog....I blogged....?" Well, we'll work on the semantics later.  I did it...a technophobe's rebirth (if you will)...and liked it too...

See y'all next week,

D.

AND NOW FOR THE WEEKLY EMAIL....

Hello to all from The Pastures of Rose Creek!

Well, we are kicking off this week's farmer's market with a VEGGIE OF THE WEEK!  And this week our fave veggie is the NEW MEXICAN GREEN CHILE.    Not only delicious and EXCELLENT roasted, served on a yummy grass-fed burger - it also holds a very special place in our hearts.  Taos, New Mexico is the memorable place where I met my husband, John - and where we met that spirited and fun-loving farmer, Will Powers (aka Willy P.), who planted the grass fed beef seed in us and brought us out to the farm in Watkinsville.  And there buried within all of our wonderful "Nuevo" (New Mexico, that is) memories - is the taste and smell of a New Mexico Green Chile.  So, come on out to the farmer's market this Saturday and bring a little "Nuevo" into your home.  

And of course, READ ON! - there is more information to follow about those yummy chiles AND...RECIPE ideas! - and don't forget to check out this weeks harvest and other happenings!

VEGGIE OF THE WEEK: new mexico green chile

New Mexico is famous for it's chiles - red and green - they are a staple of almost any meal.  Walk into a restaurant and to any order you will be asked, "Red, Green or Christmas" - as it's a given that you will have your meal topped with red chile, green chile, or both (hence, christmas..ha!).  They are so popular in fact, NPR recently covered them, in their broadcast entitled: "It's Law: There's No Green Chile Like a New Mexico Green Chile."  Have a listen!  

http://www.npr.org/2011/07/31/138805258/chile-pepper-capital-seeks-to-preserve-roots  

And although, we are not in fact growing these chiles in New Mexico - the seeds we use are from the very famous NM green - the Hatch Green Chile, which Will acquired the last time he visited.  We try to grow our chiles on the mild and sweet side (although every once in a while one or two gets away from us!).  Check out the attached recipe on how to roast these chiles and serve on top of just about any meal! (This recipe can also be used to roast bell peppers and any other pepper or chile to add extra flavor!)

THIS WEEK'S HARVEST...

Banana Peppers

Bell Peppers

Eggplant

Okra

New Mexico Green Chiles

Variety of peppers 

Our Gardens are in transition this month, so we're a little lighter in quantity (but never in quality!)...so hold on tight...we have more on the way!

**Come check out other surprise veggies we may have to offer!**

HAPPENINGS:

FARM-FRESH EGGS - Keep an eye out in the next couple of weeks for our delicious free-range, all natural FARM FRESH EGGS!  Our chickens have just started laying and soon we will have more eggs than we will know what to do with!  These birds have been raised with love and have been given the freedom to just be themselves!  Roaming and foraging our fields hunting for pesky bugs and doing a good deal of fertilizing along the way (eliminating the need for harmful pesticides and chemically based fertilizers).  So, keep an eye on our market table for happy, healthy eggs for all your happy, healthy breakfast and baking needs!

GRASS FED BEEF - A big thank you for all the support and interest in our grass fed beef!  Although we are temporarily sold out, we are excited to know that there is such a high demand and interest in healthy, environmentally sound beef.  The ball will really start rolling around January when we will have a steady supply of cows reaching their prime age and weight throughout the year.  Attached you will find the brochure, order form, and more detailed information on "what you will get."  Go ahead and put your order in today and reserve your beef for next year!  

Feel free to stop on by the Watkinsville Farmer's Market or give one of us a call/email if you have any questions about our grass fed beef!  Dana Bradford: 575.613.2029 or Will Powers: 706.254.9391

"I was so excited to find out there was local grass fed beef available in Monroe.  Only a week after placing my order for 1/4 of a cow, it was delivered to my door!  Let me say, it did NOT disappoint.  My husband and I have cooked it several times already and it is absolutely delicious, not to mention better for you than the beef you find in the grocery store.  Will, John, and Dana at the Pastures of Rose Creek were a joy to work with.  They made the process easy and convenient.  We are extremely pleased and cant thank you enough!" -Meredith Bowman, Monroe

MONROE MARKET - We are sorry to say that we will most likely not be apart of the Monroe Marker this year.  Our crops have taken an unexpectedly hard hit by the heat and unfortunately will not have enough to support both markets.  But, next year we are expanding our gardens by twice the size and are gearing up to be full time Monroe participants!  But until then, if you find yourself in Watkinsville (aka Wat-Town) on Saturday morning - stop on by the market!  And don't hesitate to call or email about our grass fed beef...we'll deliver!

POTTERY - We are pleased to report that John Bradford's pottery has become so popular that we have temporarily run out!!  We have another wood-firing coming up in September....so no worries, those beautiful pots will be back soon!  You can also find some of his work at Sunshine Village Gallery, downtown Watkinsville.

BAKED GOODS by Dana (Watkinsville Market):

Cranberry Almond Biscotti (great for coffee and non coffee drinkers alike!)

Thank you all for your support! Hope to see y'all Saturday at the Watkinsville Farmers Market!

For the love of community and all things farming...

Your local farmers,

Will Powers and John & Dana Bradford