Turkey day is a comin!

Turkeys go to the butcher Monday, they have a 7am appointment. We have 4 left and they will be de feathered and ready for your brine Monday about 4pm. If you want a fresh turkey for Thanksgiving let us know before Monday and we will save one for you after that it is first come first served. Our per pound price this year is $2.50 and birds will weigh between 15 and 30 pounds. I don't think we have any birdzillas this year so there shouldn't be any over the 35 pound mark this year. We got a late start as our hatchery is in Iowa and my baby turkeys got flooded in, flooded out and shaken up by a tornado. So if they are a little tougher this year you will understand why. Just joking about the toughness, but the weather story is all true. I am sure we will all be glad to start a new year in January. I myself will be praying for rain in smaller amounts and plenty of sunshine. The wind and lightning can take a vacation for the 2009 growing season. We do have many things to be thankful for this year in spite of the weather we like to complain about. Our crops grew wonderfully; grain prices were up; markets went well; our equipment didn't break down too much; our help almost always showed up on time and worked; our family is healthy and mostly happy. The fire is warm, the coco is hot, and I hear a seed catalog calling.

Meet Your Producers this Saturday

This Saturday we will be at Meet Your Producers, hosted by Roberts Sysco and Illinois Buy Fresh Buy Local. This is a chance to get your last of the season produce for Thanksgiving dinner, find help baking for the holidays, or just visit with your favorite producers from the summer markets. It has been a while since we've seen many of you. The event will be in the Illinois building on the Illinois State Fairgrounds.

Great Fall Festival

We had a great opening weekend for the pumpkin patch. Fun was had by one and all. But don't worry if you couldn't make it by, our big pumpkins are just now getting ready and we will be picking late this week. We also have apples, broccoli, potatoes, onions, cucumbers, zucchini, peppers, egg plant, pumpkins, gourds, baked goodies, see pop up in loaves below, squash, eggs and 6 un-adopted turkeys.
Fresh is best so stop by and try our fresh difference.

Watch that bread pop up in loaves!!!

Bread, cookies, cupcakes and soon pies and cakes. Our bakery is hot and baking! You now can have fresh bread baked on Wednesday or by custom order. Cookies are available by the dozen or by the piece. We will have a lie of pies soon. Cakes are coming first cakes and later decorated cakes. I need to practice my roses and such for a little while longer. Our baked goods list is below. Making bread is really fun, I had forgotten how much fun and there is enough down time during proofing that I can get a few little projects done.
White bread whole and half loaves
Whole wheat bread whole and half loaves
oatmeal raisin cookies
chocolate chip cookies
iced sugar cookies in seasonal shapes
peanut butter cookies
snicker doodles

coming soon
7 grain bread
pumpkin bread
zucchini bread
muffins
and pies
pumpkin,
pecan
apple

Orders are taken for any of the above. We bake on Wednesday, so Thursday is the day for fresh goodies of course we take requests for most any item to be fresh when you need it.
Enjoy the day it is beautiful outside and too nice to be behind this computer!!!

Whats fresh?!?!?

Here's what is fresh at our stand we will not be at the Products market 9/4 but plan to be in Taylorville 9/6 and back at the Products Market 9/11/08 (what a sad day that will be)

eggs
candy onions
new crop norland red potatoes
zucchini
egg plant
jalapenos
banana peppers
tomatoes
green beans
lima beans
straw bales
coming soon
pumpkins
gourds
mums
and
corn stalks
bakery should be up and baking before Halloween so check with us for your trick or treat teats and holiday goodies .

Gustav go rain somewhere else already

It is raining a steady stream and it is cold rain! I am starting to have flash backs from this Spring, water everywhere, horses needing life jackets, and hip waders required to go the basement. EEECK! I suppose some day sooner than we want the snow will be flying and I won't like that either. I need to pick green beans and lima beans but not in this rain. Tomorrow is supposed to be dry at least and hopefully they are right with that forecast. 8 rows of greens 2 rows of limas and 40 tomatoes plants won't wait too very long. My pumpkin vines are dying back and revealing the prettiest orange globes. They are not real big but they are plentiful. I hope they will last to see the great pumpkin on Halloween. My peppers are finally starting, we are getting a few jalapenos and bananas every day the bell peppers are growing a little more slowly and my red chile's are loaded. Egg plant is doing well I am amazed at how many each little plant will produce. Our late tomatoes are just starting to turn and our summer vines are finally ending. So that timing worked out great. Well I should go do something domestics since I am not going to be able to play outside today and yesterday I spent the day with my Mom. She called about 6 am to say her kitchen cabinets fell off the wall. What a wake up call! It wasn't as bad as it could have been only a few dishes broke, the cabinets are of course junk but neither the counter nor the floor was damaged and most importantly, Mom wasn't hurt.

Back to school and all is well

School has been in now for 2 weeks!!!! My kindergartner has already lost a ticket for not being quiet and my second grader brought home papers tonight with errors due to not paying attention. AHHHH!! At last all is well at the Lazy T. My husband is gearing up for the busy time of year and so am I. Corn is gone, sniff sniff, tomatoes are slowing down, green beans are going like crazy, as are the limas and pumpkins. Yes the great pumpkin is coming and it looks like it might be a little early this year. So check early to get the best selections. We are cutting cabbage and digging potatoes and onions still. We also have plenty of straw bales for you Fall decorating, puppy or garden. Well until I steal a few more minuets from my vida loco, have fun, and work smarter not harder. And yes my egg plant was scrumptious, I can't wait for the next one hope you enjoy Maine.

Watch you corn pop up in rows

Our corn crop is at at its prime! The coons have found it but not all of it. Hopefully the electric fence will detour them tonight and for the next few. Of course if they eat 3 acers of corn in one night, that would be a BIG tummy ache. Our blackberries are also turning black, if I can now just keep the deer and coons out of them, we will have had a successful summer. 2 weeks before school starts, where did the summer go? I will miss my helpers when they go back to school. I am busy with markets and there is a five am call in the morning to pick corn, so I am going to make this short. Stop by and get some corn, tomatoes or squash. That reminds me I got the best recipie for summer squash today, you sautee summer squash in butter, reduce the heat and add corn freshly cut from the cob(a great way to use that corn that is a little to old) simmer untill the corn is tender. You can add salt and pepper to taste. We loved it! My 5 and 7 year olds even ate the squash and asked for more. Simple but good. If you have any recipies that are simple but good and use fresh veggies I would love it if you would share. I grew up in a mashed potatoe, corn, greenbean, and tomatoes house so I am always looking for ways to add breat veggies to our menu. Have a great one!

Summer up date

The days are packed with sunshine and to may things to do. Kids are gone this week so maybe I can get a few extra things done. We are in the heat of harvesting. We are picking about 50 pounds of tomatoes every other day. Potatoes have been dug and are ready. Our green beans can't wait to join them. We should have green beans 'till frost. Our Lima beans are growing by leaps and bounds as are our pumpkins. Our third crop of radishes are about half way gone so it is time to plant some more. Our fall crop of lettuce and spinach will be going in the ground soon as well. Our fingerling potatoes are just about ready to dig. And now for the big three: Sweetcorn, it's silks are turning so about 2 weeks; Blackberries are red and big so any day they should be ready; Melons are just around the corner as well maybe a week to 10 days. Check back for updates or email us for availability. littlefarmer@thelazyt.com
CURRENTLY PICKING
Greenbeans
Tomatoes
Peppers
Radishes
Cucumbers
Zuchinni
Summer Squash
Potatoes
Egg Plant

Summer at the Ranch

We have been a little bizy here at the ranch. Our baby turkeys finally found their way here from flood ravaged Iowa, only to get all wet in their water. After a small panic, they are all dried out and growing like weeds. The weeds here are on steroids this year, we can't keep up with the grass that needs pullin or mowin. The crops are finally starting to come on we are currently picking lettuce (1st planting about gone), cucumbers, tomatoes, zucchini, peas, cabbage, potatoes and green beans. We have blackberries, radishes(2nd planting), lettuce, sweet corn, melons, other squashes and pumpkins coming on. You can stop by the farm to get your fresh produce or we are at the Illinois Product Market on Thursdays. Till we meet again, enjoy the sunshine!

What is up at the ranch

It is finally warming up enough for things to grow. We currently have rhubarb, eggs, radishes, leaf lettuce, bib lettuce, spinach, and frying chickens. Reservations for fresh turkeys available the week before Thanksgiving are being taken through June 15 after that it is first come first serve. As long as the youngsters settle into a summer routine quickly and the rain stays away long enough for hay to be baled, we will get our second planting in this week. We will be planting green beans, peas, radishes and lettuce, egg plants, peppers, zucchini, cucumbers a few more tomatoes and a little more corn. The great pumpkin crop will also go in along with gourds. Currently out shivering in the field is corn, zucchini, peas, cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower. Our raspberries are setting tons of berries should be ready around the 4th of July. Our strawberry bed is about ready for picking.

It is drying up

It should be dry enough tomorrow to stir some dirt. Don't know if we will try and fit that in between the rain drops or if we will get a good day to work andmaybe get some seed in the ground! Keep your fingers crossed

When is Spring really gona get here?

Rain all day today again. A chance of snow Saturday uggghhh. I have plants and seeds out me ears if I can just get them in the ground. I was even talking with my grower today about Mums and Poinsettias. Hard to believe you need to plan for those in April. Oh well, at least it has gotten nice enough for the hens to be layin on a regular basis we are up to 3 dozen a day. AS soon as it does dry up the dust will be flyin around here. We have a barn to finish residing, a chicken shed to move from one farm to the home place and ground to work and plant. Then when the crop is in, there is another shed to tin, one needs a roof, the big barn needs a lot of work, it was built in the late 1800's, and they all could use a coat of paint. So if any of you get a little bored or just want some outdoor projects stop on by. The painting should be real fun. I am hoping the youngest son will only paint the sheds and not his sister, the dog or something else. Summer time is always fun around here. And I have gone from what ever this season is and blown right through Spring to Summer (can you tell it is my favorite time of year). Hope you had a good one I am gona put things in the shed and head for the house.

I know April showers bring May flowers but....

I know the saying goes April showers bring May flowers but it would be really nice to get the flower seed in the ground at some point. I am conditioning some new flats in the green house, and found 3 flats that have died. So once all the kids are off to school I will be off to plant more tomatoes. I also need to find some heavy conditioner for horse hair as we are getting ready for the horse show season. Short note today as not much going on in the fields today. Don't forget to reserve your turkey today we only have 12 left.

Another rainy day 4-8

Another rainy day here at the Lazy T. I have all my little plants ready to go in the ground but we can't get it dry enough to plant them. By July we will probably be wishing we had a little of this rain. As soon as it gets dry enough to till the garden we have potatoes both fingerlings and blues ready to go. Along with them will be onions, radishes, spinach, leaf lettuce and peas.
Our first calf is about a month old now and he is really cute. I can't wait to get the rest of this calf crop on the ground. We bought a new bull (daddy) last summer and he has made a real statement with the first calf we are hoping for a few more like him. We are still taking reservations for thanksgiving turkeys so reserve yours now and serve a natural fresh turkey to your family.