A New Farm

Yeah, we discovered a new farm recently - Fresh Start Farm - in White Plains. It is only a few miles away and we can ride there on our bikes if we choose. We visited the farm and liked what we saw. They have organic fed, pastured egg laying hens of various breeds. They are growing meat chickens as well but we have not tried those yet. We love our eggs and other stuff from Good Fortune Farm. We love to support local farmers, especially those as local as we get. I am considering starting a CSA type of program to make it easier for families to get their food locally.

Beach and Bike

Well, remember that go-kart part replacement from last time? The part worked just fine. After another spin in the go-kart, DS decided that it was really not what he wanted. It jiggled his body around too much, he couldn't start it himself (pull start from the back with driver pushing gas pedal down), and who knows what other reasons. So now, he wants to sell it. Hmm.

Yesterday we went to pick blackberries at a new farm with friends that we see rarely (but the Dads are officemates). Monsieur Louis' farm to be exact - in VA. Blackberries for $1/lb that are fabulous. Monsieur Louis apparently came to the US from France to be the Queen's master gardener somewhere and then never left. He has all sorts of yummies and beautiful flowers. We then went to Colonial Beach to play in the water. It was so nice to sit with a friend, have good conversation, and have all 5 kids be happily playing with each other. We decided that we really did not live too far to see each other more often. We made a pledge to see each other every other week or more. We can't wait. Our ice cream on the way home was yummy and refreshing.

Today, we got everyone up, left the house at 8, and went on a 15 mile bike ride with our bike club (Oxon Hill Bike Club). It was at a member's horse farm with a family picnic afterwards. We exercised, saw the countryside, ate with friends, petted horses, jump started my car (boy did that take a long time - it was totally out of juice from leaving my XM radio plugged intot he power outlet and the headlights on!), and headed home in the middle of the afternoon.

The rest of the day was spent resting, eating, and packing so that DH and DS can leave in the am for cub scout camp. They will be gone Sun-Sat. Yeah for them and yeah for DD and I :-)

New Energy

I have been a few times to the farmer's market at Dupont Circle in NW Washington DC. It is fabulous. I wish it was more convenient, but alas. I went just this past weekend with Daughter and had a great time. We took Metro up there. We ate freshly baked gingersnap cookies and apples purchased from market. We came home with ground beef, sausage, and thinly sliced ham - all from local, antibiotic free, humanely raised farms. The grass-fed beef is from Eco-Friendly Foods. We got yummy goat cheese from Firefly Farm and raw cow's milk cheese from Keswick Creamery. Apples from Toigo Orchards and Black Rock Orchard. The cookies and 3 loaves of fresh bread came from Atwater's Bakery. Yes, we had to cart it all back on the Metro, but it was well worth it for the environment and our collective tummies.

Now that we have all this fabulous food, I want to cook a lot more. I am enjoying cooking and eating yummy foods. I guess you could say I have found new energy for cooking. I think being away from home for a week while visiting relatives helped a bit too. You know, absence (of cooking) makes the heart grow fonder...

Local Poultry and Dairy

Today Son and I visited our old friend - Good Fortune Farm. We went intending to pick up 4 frozen local, pasture-fed, chemical-free chickens. We came home with a bounty! Besides those 4 chickens, we got 3 dozen organic, free-range, chemical-free eggs, fresh homemade butter and buttermilk. The butter on warm homemade sourdough bread was just fabulous with our dinner.