“No man needs a vacation so much as the man who has just had one.”
― Elbert Hubbard
Farmers don’t really get vacations, weekends, or holidays. Saturdays and Sundays are just like every other day. Labor day, Memorial Day, Veterans Day….just like every other day.
We plan times to leave. Usually something dramatic happens.
I remember, Curtis and I years ago, planned a ski trip with family. Got up to feed cows on our way to the airport, and a cow was dead as a doornail. Right outside our neighbor’s window. Hmmmm….called a friend with a bulldozer and hoped for the best:) We ended up coming home early for a different cow that had milk fever and a horse with a serious foot injury. Maybe we should have seen the bad omen!
There is no day off. Animals and plants need to have water and care. They get sick, sometimes… there are predators. Even if your management is holistic and organic.
So….most of the time Curtis and I travel separately. Someone is always at the farm. Jennifer and Josh take care of things when we really need to get away together, and they are amazing.
Farm News: Diamond and I snuck away to NC mountains to visit my parents this weekend. Soooooo much cooler. We did not want to come home. But weeds, heat and a tired Curtis welcomed us back.
What’s in the bucket?: Sweet potato greens, Daikon radish, summer squash, spaghetti squash, a tomato?, baby kale, turnip greens, sweet peppers, hot chili peppers.
I tried this Congolese sweet potato greens recipe a while back. It is fantastic, even Curtis raved about it. Serve with rice, and protein if you wish (beans, tofu, or meat)
And of course….it has a wine pairing from Scenic City Wine
Bodegas Frontonio “Microcosmico” Garnacha Valdejalón
Congolese Sweet potato greens
2 bunches sweet potato greens, leaves separated from main stem, washed and sliced thin
2 fresh tomatoes
3 cloves garlic
hot peppers and sweet peppers, to taste
2 T creamy peanut butter
1 T salt
3 cups water
1 tsp smoked paprika
Bring water, PB, salt and smoked paprika to a slow boil
Meanwhile, put tomatoes, onion, garlic, sweet pepper in a food processor
add tomato mixture and sweet potato greens to water etc and simmer 20 minutes
Serve with rice, salted fish or protein of choice
Happy Eating….Happy vacation….and thanks for buying local food from Circle S Farm!