Checking on the plants & the soil with fertilization specialist, Steve Diver. Best crop of beets ever! Photo by Scott David Gordon
From the Farmer’s Perspective
A little over a year ago, I made a smart decision: I hired fertility specialist Steve Diver as a consultant. I had heard of Steve long before I met him through his many years at ATTRA, the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service. When researching farming topics on the Internet, I had come across his name on numerous articles about vegetable growing. When he decided to move to Texas, I was glad to hear he was interested in assisting us with our organic fertilization and pest management systems. Now that Steve works with JBG, he takes weekly soil samples, does leaf tissue analysis, makes recommendations, and is developing a comprehensive organic fertilization and pest management program for the farm. Steve helps identify the soil inputs we need and has been invaluable in assisting us with the mountain of paperwork and detailed record keeping required for us to maintain our organic certification. I am excited by all we are doing this year with Steve’s help. This includes the mobile fish fertilizer injection unit that we got up and running last week. Also, we are working on planting flowers in strategic locations around the farm to provide food and habitat for beneficial insects and pollinators. With Steve’s assistance, we are growing strong, healthy, and nutrient-packed crops. Thank you, Steve, for your expertise and for taking the time to write the article included below about your work with JBG.
Soil Health and Crop Quality, by Steve Diver
This is my second growing season working as a soil and crop consultant for the JBG River Road farm. My horticultural background includes 30 years of experience working in organic and sustainable agriculture, but only the last two years running an independent agri-horticultural consultancy firm. It seems like I’ve needed all that experience just to keep pace with Brenton and the needs of JBG.
It’s been a steep learning curve getting a handle on the complex system of planting dates, crop acreage, soil fertility and pest control products needed to manage a large-scale organic vegetable farm like JBG. The systems we put into place in 2011 will help because this year brings new challenges. Crop acreage has grown from 40 acres in 2011 to 70 acres in 2012, the new irrigation system is being developed, and crop rotations that include soil-improving cover crops will soon be in place on the new farm land. We are also devising a “farmscaping” plan to raise flowers intermixed with vegetables to attract beneficial insects like lady bugs, lacewings, tachinid flies, and braconid wasps.
A big part of my consulting work is monitoring the nutrient status of soils and crops, as well as pest occurrence, to maintain crop yields. JBG employs a modern eco-agricultural approach to soil amendments, fertilizer injection, and foliar sprays. Soil minerals, organic fertilizers, composts, microbial inoculants, and biological stimulants are used to ensure yields and crop quality. The aim is to grow healthy crops that are full of flavor and nutrients.
I’m just one of the behind the scenes workers that help JBG run smoothly, but glad for the opportunity to be on the team and work with Brenton and the farm crew.
Steve Diver
Agri-Horticultural Consulting
http://www.agri-synergy.com
Steve Diver takes a soil sample. Photo by Scott David Gordon
Close-up of soil sample. Photo by Scott David Gordon
Steve & Brenton closely examine a plant's leaves for signs of spider mites. Photo by Scott David Gordon
1) Farm News
* Week of April 17th CSA Box Photo & Contents List
* Farm House for Rent at JBG
2) Updates, Meetings, and Events
* JBG Bulk Tomato Pre-Sale – Discounted Prices
* Help JBG Deliver Vegetables to Children in Need
* Homegrown Revival Dinner Featuring JBG Produce
3) Recipes by Dishalicious
* Beet Salad with Texas Citrus & Fresh Chevre
Christian tackles the huge job of tying the tomatoes. Photo by Scott David Gordon
1) Farm News
Week of April 17th CSA Box Contents. Photo by Scott David Gordon
Week of April 17th CSA Box Contents
Carrots
Beets
Chard
Kale
Green Onions
Kohlrabi
Lettuce
Cilantro
Basil
Two bedroom bungalow for rent at JBG
Farmhouse for Rent at JBG
Ever wanted to live on a farm? Now’s your chance! The two bedroom, one bath bungalow at JBG is available for a one year lease starting May 1, 2012. This great bungalow has bamboo wood floors, a garden spot, an outdoor shower, and a nice shady yard. It is conveniently located just five minutes from downtown Austin at 9515 Hergotz Lane, Austin, TX 78742. The rent is $1,000 per month. No pets, please. If you are interested, email us at farm@jbgorganic.com, and we will send you a rental application.
2) Updates, Meetings, and Events
Large Slicer Tomatoes. Photo by Scott David Gordon
JBG Bulk Tomato Pre-Sale – Order Now at a Discount!
This year for our Bulk Tomato Sale, we our offering an opportunity to pre-purchase bulk certified organic tomatoes prior to the beginning of our harvest at a discounted price. All orders will be available for pickup at the peak of our season, June 6th through June 10th, at the farmers’ market you select for your order.
We planted over 30,000 tomato plants at our River Road farm and have a wide assortment of heirlooms, large red slicer tomatoes (perfect for a BLT or hamburger), and Italian heirloom sauce tomatoes (San Marzano). For small tomatoes this year, we have Juliet miniature plum tomatoes and multi-colored cherry tomato pints including super sweet Sun Gold cherry tomatoes, Red Super-Sweet 100s, Yellow Pear, and Black Cherry. I am happy to report that the tomato crop looks even better than last year! The plants are extremely healthy and loaded with fruit.
For more information and to place an order, click here.
One of JBG's hand-painted delivery trucks designed by Ryan Rhodes. Photo by Scott David Gordon
Help JBG Deliver Vegetables to Children in Need
Every week, JBG delivers CSA boxes to the Settlement Home, a wonderful local non-profit and residential program that cares for and promotes the healing of abused and neglected children. With the organic produce they receive from JBG, the Settlement Home provides nutritious meals and teaches the girls how to cook with all of these different kinds of vegetables. Thanks to the support of CSA members, this program has been a great success. We really need your help to keep it going! To donate, click here or go to http://www.jbgorganic.com/settlementhome. Participation at any level is greatly appreciated.
Radicchio - Photo by Scott David Gordon
Homegrown Revival Dinner Featuring JBG produce
What: “Salt Seeks Pepper” Dinner
When: Sunday, April 29th at 7:00pm
Where: The HOPE Market (414 Waller St. Austin, TX 78702)
Announcing the next dinner festivus hosted at and benefiting HOPE Market. DJ Chinocasino returns with musical pairings for this artistic supper club and the decorations will be alive with Texas springtime. This time Johnson’s Backyard Garden joins us with the fresh, seasonal produce bounty. Started in a backyard, JBG grew rapidly in East Austin to provide certified organic produce to the masses. A large delivery service provides Austin restaurants and CSA members with weekly supplies. At the HOPE Farmers’ Market, Johnson’s booth is popular and everyone from newcomers to the local scene to seasoned veterans visit.
Accentuate. Entice. Compliment. Aroma. Taste. Spices mingle and create. Salt Seeks Pepper sees Chef Coté utilize just the right amount of spice to create tasteful harmony in each dish. The produce will be star, but the spices will create lasting impressions.
Seating is limited. For more information or to reserve your seat, click here or go to http://lp2.thehomegrownrevival.com/thehomegrownrevival-com/.
Beet Salad with Texas Citrus & Fresh Chevre
by Louis Singh | photos by Jeff Stockton | dishalicious.com
If there’s a recipe that could sway a beet-hater into a lover, here it is. Most haters are unenthused by beet’s earthiness, or as they would put it, “they taste like dirt.” Alone, ok, beet is pretty “dirt-y” flavor. But cooking is about flavor enhancement & combinations. And enhancement through combinations. Calm those earthy tones with some high notes, some fruit & tang, and hear that terroir flavor sing. Get ready haters, you’re going to love beets after this.
For the salad:
2 medium beets, roasted, peeled & diced
½ Texas ruby red grapefruit, supremes
½ Texas orange, supremes
¼ cup toasted almonds
¼ cup beet vinaigrette
For the vinaigrette:
1 medium beet, roasted, peeled & diced
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
½ cup olive oil
Technique:
Start the beet vinaigrette. Place the beet into a mason jar, or any vessel that’s deep and narrow. Pour in the red wine vinaigrette and use your immersion blender (aka stick/hand blender) to start pureeing the beet. Slowly introduce the olive oil, adding a bit at a time until you have a nice, luscious puree. Season with salt to until the beet flavor pops.
Dice the two remaining beets into ½-1” cubes and supreme the citrus. (Not sure what supreme means? Check out our previous blog post to learn). And now, we assemble:
Here’s where you let your inner artist out. Even if it’s on your grandmother’s flowery plate. Gently toss the beets with the citrus and plate them however you desire. Fresh chevre over the top, sprinkle some toasted almonds, drizzle the beet vinaigrette and that’s it. Now…share:
By far the prettiest dirty plate you’ve ever seen.
A big, fat thank you to these beautiful ladies for hosting our beet blog night! Thank you (from left to right) Megan (of megangiller.com), Liz (of SeedlingsGardening.com) and Lydia (of atethatbeetlikeachamp.com). What a treat it was to cook with you classy dames.
Now you have the techniques and flavor combinations, play with it. Try different cheeses, nuts, or yogurt dressing. Experiment with different fruits. Take this recipe and make it your own. Get cooking!
Got any ideas for a blog night? Let us know at DISHALICIOUS.COM
A lady bug visits the farm. Photo by Scott David Gordon