With this week’s cold temperatures, I’ll take an opportunity to talk a little about the harvest this season and what to expect in the weeks ahead.
It appears that tomatoes (except those in the greenhouse), peppers, okra, eggplant, summer squash, and cucumbers are mostly done. Even though the plants look fine, they’ve stopped producing fruit. They just do not like the cold (me neither!).
Read More »September 17, 2014
This was one of those weeks when I wondered why I farm. As you know, it’s our busiest season of the year. Harvest is in full swing. The fields are bountiful and it takes alot of work to bring it all in, wash it, cool it, and pack it up. We thought we were ready.
Then, we had some employees unexpectedly leave. This caused all sorts of problems on the farm, pushing us further and further behind. The remaining crew doubled up but the work kept piling higher and higher.
Read More »September 10, 2014
Wow! We asked and you delivered. She is REALLY excited to volunteer on the farm! Thanks to all of the volunteers who came out last… Read More »September 3, 2014
Farmer Rob! We want to know what’s coming up in the harvest!
Sure, just let me consult my Magic 8-ball for one moment. Here comes the answer….it depends on the weather.
In the grocery store, every thing is in season all of the time. It’s a magical place where bananas and tomatoes are always available and the harvest season has neither a beginning nor an end. It’s La-LA land.
Nonetheless, there are some nuggets that I can (kinda) promise about the harvest.
Read More »August 27, 2014
Any Day this Week that Works for You, Works for Us We can definitely use help on the farm this week. If you are able… Read More »August 23, 2014
It’s the time of year that really impacts the farm. It is harvest season. Of course, we’ve been harvesting since May and we’ll continue to… Read More »August 20, 2014
When you go to the grocery store, you might have noticed that all of the produce looks exactly the same. Tomatoes, for example, are all exactly the same shade of red and an incredibly similar size. Carrots, too, are all the same width and length. It’s a remarkable lesson in how we all love uniformity.
But do vegetables actually grow like that? No way! In reality, vegetables grow in all shapes and sizes. They come big and small. Some ripen earlier than others while some straggle on later. So how do the grocery stores do it? They pass the costs onto the farmers, of course.
Read More »August 13, 2014
It’s early August at Montalbano Farms and the farm is bustling. We wake by 5 to prepare for the day, putting together to-do lists and making last minute changes owing to last night’s rain. The crew comes in at 6 and the work day begins. The days are long and we have all been working very hard. The crew is noticeably tired.
Read More »August 6, 2014
Thank you to everyone who submitted a recipe for our contest. I’ve listed each entry below. Of course, if you missed the deadline, send yours in and I will print it in a future newsletter.
Pink Pancakes
From “Deceptively Delicious” by Jessica Seinfeld
3/4 cup water
1/2 cup ricotta cheese
1/4 cup beet puree
Read More »July 30, 2014
Announcing the first ever Montalbano Farms Recipe Contest. It’s easy to enter and the prize, well, think produce. Send your favorite kid-friendly recipe to Farmer… Read More »July 23, 2014
Studies come out all of the time concerning the food we grow. Just last week, I read two different papers. The first said – surprise! – that all of the pesticides that we are spraying on lawns, gardens and farms are not only killing insects and bees but also birds. The second argued that the nutritional profile of organic produce was different than conventionally grown produce.
Read More »July 16, 2014
CSA Shares are Still Available Montalbano Farms offers two types of CSA shares for its member. Our standard share works just like a traditional CSA… Read More »July 9, 2014
It might seem like an ordinary box of produce this week. Lettuce and broccoli and other produce you see all the time in the grocery store. Does it really matter if you buy from a local farm (Chicago’s Best, by the way), or Whole Foods, or Aldis? We think it does.
There is nothing at all that’s ordinary about produce from Montalbano Farms. Here’s why.
Congratulations to the crew and families who make up Montalbano Farms! Named the 2014 “Best Local Farm” in Chicago by the Chicago Reader: http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/best-local-farmer/BestOf?oid=13794991
Being a farmer is kinda like being a rock star these days. Except for the huge piles of money and the loud music and I’m reluctantly short on the wavy locks of long hair. Anyway, everybody is interested in local food and getting back to the land. People want to know why their farmer chose to farm and what our days are like. They want to hear stories of quiet evenings and the hustle of the harvest. There’s a good deal of romanticizing about farming and I try to emphasize the positive aspects as much as I can.