Ohiofarmgirl's Adventures in The Good Land is largely a fish out of water tale about how I eventually found my footing on a small farm in an Amish town. We are a mostly organic, somewhat self sufficient, sustainable farm in Ohio. There's action and adventure and I'll always tell you the truth about farming.


Friday, April 8, 2011

A Strawberry Concern & Farm & Cheese Notes

Today (Thursday) it was warm and sunny and the perfect day to start my venture.  Didn't you just love it in Edwardian Farm when they started their "strawberry concern?" Me too - so I thought I'd start one..and I can't wait until I have fresh jam for those cut rounds!


Our local feedstore had flats of strawberry starts for just $12.50! I got a variety called "Jewel." After I finished planting the flats I finished the rows in radishes and sugar snap peas.


Of course I got in a few purple onion sets as well.  Its a bit early but this bed is small enough to cover if I need to. I'll mulch the berry plants well. The onion and radishes should be able to take a little bit of a frost.

But that's not the big news. Wow was I excited to get a box from Leener's today! I'm so impressed with their service I just had to tell everyone. Leeners is my new "go to" place for cheese making supplies. I got some new cultures and also some bacteria to make blue cheese. Not only did they ship the order lickitysplit... but my order was really reasonable. Some of the other cheesemaking supply places had the blue cheese bacteria - but it was very expensive. I got some from Leeners for only $7.95!

Thanks Leeners - I can't wait to get my cheese on! In fact, I started another Gouda today.

Happy Friday everyone - don't forget its Farm Friends Friday!

18 comments:

Robin said...

We just love strawberries around here! We don't buy them though unless they are definitely organic...way too many chemicals!!

I have a small strawberry bed here and just planted 82 bare roots consisting of three varieties at the plots!! The Jewel variety is supposed to be a great June bearer!!!

The nice weather is not supposed to make it here until tomorrow :(

Here's to lots of strawberry jam this year!!

Faith said...

your living my dream.....glad I stumbled upon you...I'm a buckeye girl myself up North by the lake...looking for simple and away from the madness...look forward to reading more about your adventure.

Mr. H. said...

Jewel sounds like it will be a nice berry for you, I have thought of adding that variety before for a nice early crop...hope it does really well for you. I have got to get back to that Edwardian show, we started watching it but have not had a chance to see all of it yet. Have fun with your cheese.

Autumn said...

I didn't know blue cheese bacteria is so expensive! I really wish I could have a strawberry bed, but... ahem... I also like wild birds!

farmer said...

found you through FFF.
We grow Jewel here, they are the most delicious berry,just like the wild ones you would find as a kid,they make the very best jam.
Be interested to read about your cheese making,signing up to follow.

Kelle at The Never Done Farm said...

Our strawberries are still in hybernation covered by 2" of new snow*sigh*

Thanks for the new link to a cheese supply place. Now that we have milk again I need to place an order. :o)

Blessings for your weekend,
Kelle

becky3086 said...

I have a small strawberry bed going. I had one before but the fig tree overshadowed my other bed. I love Edwardian farm and really have enjoyed watching. Haven't finished all those episodes yet.

Gingerbreadshouse7 said...

The Strawberries look pretty healthy, I don't have enough room to grow then and there are a couple of farms near by we do pretty good at or our store runs pretty good sales to stock up....

JeffJustJeff said...

I'm itching to garden! It's so hard being in limbo. I keep telling myself that I'll be on the farm in less than 3 weeks..... Patience is probably not one of my strongest virtues ;-)

That free chicken ad on craigslist yesterday was you, wasn't it? I'd recognize that prose anywhere. LOL, you're my new favorite author.

Cheers,
Jeff

Dave @ HappyAcres said...

I got my first box from Leeners yesterday. I'm trying out their yogurt culture today. Thanks for the tip about them. Now I need to get busy and make some cheese too.

We love Jewel, it's done well for us here in SO. IN. I'm replanting a bed with it this year myself. Jam for everyone, I say!

Ohiofarmgirl said...

Hi Robin! 89 PLANTS! Holy Toledo - that is amazing. Great work! Our weather turned so I'm stuck inside today.

Hi Faith and welcome! We have lots of madness here...but in a good way. Feel free to join in on the conversation any time. And I'm happy to answer questions.
:-)

Mr. H, there is nothing but good timin' cheese-ing around here! I'll be ready to start another one tomorrow...maybe a blue one.

Autumn, we have the barn cats on the job out there running off the birds. Thankfully we have a lot of wild birds around - they do a great job with the bugs and such.

Thanks for joining, farmer! I started a category called Cheese Making. I'll update it so all of the cheese posts can come up together. Its a lot of fun and I can't believe it can be done at home!

Kelle, I hope your new dairy gals are settling in. You'll love all the cheesemaking fun. Right now I'm addicted to chocolate goatmilk. I'm drinking it by the gallon. I've NEVER liked choco-milk but now I'm gaga for it.

Ohiofarmgirl said...

Becky, its a great series and I'm sure you'll love finishing it. A great 'rainy day' thing to do. Good luck with your bed!

Thats the way, Ginny. I bet you make a wonderful jam. I'll be looking that up when the time comes.

Jeff, guilty as charged! I got a lot of fun feedback on it. But then someone pulled it down after I updated the post as "Sold." She really is going to a good home.

For everyone who doesnt know what I'm talking about... I think I'll post the craiglist ad I posted for one of my hens. I can't believe I had any takers!

Villager - what did you get!?!? I'm gonna pop over to see if you did a post on it. Yipee! And Jam For Everyone is just right!

suburban farm girl said...

Is a flat a seedling? I havent ever had any luck with Strawberries. Everyone else I speak to complains about them growing like a weed

Chai Chai said...

I have tried strawberries and they take a lot of patience and good goat proof fences - do you have what it takes?

Do you tell your old work friends that one of your new hobbies is ordering bacteria?

Blue Feather Micro-Farm said...

I also have a strawberry concern. I am concerned I don't have any ripe strawberries!!!

:D

I have a drake FREE to BAD HOME right now. If I can't get rid of him on craigslist, he is going in to the soup pot.

Ohiofarmgirl said...

Hey SubFG! a "flat" here is a tray of seedlings. So I got 32 (36??) seedlings in a flat. I hope mine grow like weeds!

CC - I got me some fence and some dogs and a bad attitude. And a barncat who's on the Audubon's most wanted list. Oh yeah, baby.... I got what it takes.
;-)

And are you kidding about the bacteria? They still can't believe I'd eat an egg that a chicken pooped out its um.... "caboose."

Blue Feather, I'm very concerned about your lack of strawberries! Send that mean ol' drake to the pot, I know you can pull on the granny panties and get the job done. Love ya, baby!

Teresa said...

The strawberry looks great. Hope they do well for you. Mine have almost taken over their area. I'll have to check out the cheesemaking supplier.

Ohiofarmgirl said...

Teresa, I hope they go nuts. The nearest 'you-pick' place is still a pretty far drive. I'd love it if we were over run with berries! And you will love Leeners - great service.

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