Culinary Types: Eggs

Sunday, March 09, 2014

Sprouted

Finally, the temperatures have risen above 12 degrees, and the onions are sprouting. Can spring be far behind? How often I cursed that repulsive groundhog as we awaited this glorious thaw.

As we navigated the cold, cruel winter of 2014, Restoration Farm was never far from our thoughts. In fact, planning for the new season began on January 1 with a social gathering to select and order seeds.

There’s nothing better than sowing something positive right at the start of the New Year. You can read more about the ritual of seed selection here.

Then in frigid February, the gang at Restoration Farm gathered to start seeding for the 2014 growing season.

Onions are always the first crop planted, and you have to have sturdy fingers to “dimple” all those seed cell trays. Don’t schedule a manicure during seeding time. When you’re done, the fingernails do indeed need scrubbing.

Read more about sowing the first seeds of the 2014 growing season here.

Despite the snow residue, Donna Sinetar's hens are laying stunning, pastel eggs. Talk about a harbinger of spring!

Yesterday we seeded beets and scallions, so it’s heartening to know there will be baskets of colorful organic vegetables before long.

There’s even more sprouting at Restoration Farm. A full slate of education programs will be launched this season, covering everything from backyard chickens to yoga in the fields. Read more about the newly established education program at Restoration Farm here and check out the link to all the workshops.

“Courage!” as Dan Rather used to say. Even the crocuses are peaking out of the ground!

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Onion Sprouts, Beet Seeding and The Egg and I

Just a few weeks have passed since our last seeding project, but already there are signs of new life at Restoration Farm as preparations are moving full tilt toward the 2012 growing season.

Fresh green sprouts of Gladstone Onions – seeded by me – are poking out of the loamy soil in the greenhouse.

We spend a crisp Sunday morning on the cusp of Spring seeding stacks of additional flats that will serve as the “birthplace” for Red Ace Beets, Touchstone Gold Beets, and Deep Purple Scallions.

The heritage chicks that arrived a few weeks ago have quickly become gangly teenagers, and outgrown their original brooder.

There is a flurry of adolescent activity when their breakfast of chickweed is served.

Outside, Head Grower Caroline Fanning peeks into the hen house. She emerges with a perfect brown egg, which she puts into my hand. It is still warm, and perhaps the freshest egg I’ve ever held.

There’s no chance I’m putting this new egg in the refrigerator. There’s a better way to celebrate this little life moment offered by Restoration Farm.