Summer in a Jar

Strawberries mean the start of summer and watermelons mean the end. By Labor Day, watermelons are everywhere. One year, we tried to grow them without success. I haven’t wanted to give up prime garden space to try again but maybe someday.

Earlier this week, I bought three huge watermelons and got to work making this week’s offerings: watermelon lemonade jelly and cinnamon watermelon rind pickles. Wow! It was a lot of work — but worth it. After all, capturing summer in a jar is no easy feat! 😀

Even though making the watermelon recipes took two days (the rinds have to brine overnight), it was fun! And I was able to use the food mill that my mother-in-law gave me earlier this summer for my birthday. (When I first heard of food mills, I was skeptical. It reminded me of the old hand-crank beaters that everyone used to make whipped cream with. But, unlike a manual whipped cream beater, no one has come up with a way to improve what a food mill does, which is separate large seeds and pulp when pureeing. Food processors and electric blenders puree everything together, which is gross if you have bitter seeds or too much pulp.)

What else am I bringing tomorrow?

Classic BBQ Spice Rub: I’ve offered this before, back in June for Father’s Day. Use it to season rib racks, flank steaks, or anything else you want to grill.

How to use the jelly and pickles

Watermelon Lemonade Jelly: In addition to your morning toast, use this to flavor cakes, cupcakes, or other baked goods. Can also be used as a flavoring for vodka cocktails (which is how I used it after two days of chopping, peeling, hand-cranking, and processing!)

Watermelon Lemonade Cocktails
Put 2-3 tablespoons of Windtree Bee Watermelon Lemonade Jelly in a rocks glass. Heat in the microwave for 10-15 seconds. Watch it and remove it as soon as it turns to liquid. (Don’t overheat.) Fill the glass halfway with sparkling water. Add a shot of vodka (citrus flavors work well). Stir, add ice & enjoy!!

Cinnamon Watermelon Rind Pickles: these turned out fantastic! They are delicious paired with chicken salad or pork chops. They would also be perfect on a charcuterie board, especially if you are looking for something different and hard to find.

We’ll be at the Hereford Farm Market, 17004 York Road, in Parkton, Maryland, from 9:00 a.m. until noon tomorrow. Look for us at the “Hats & Honey” table beside The Contented Rooster.

August 26, 2021September 3, 2021

The Dogs of Hereford Farm Market Pics!!

Thanks to all the dogs and dog lovers who came to the market a few weeks ago for our first Dogs of Hereford Farm Market Day! The dogs and puppies were absolutely adorable. Below are the pictures that Haley took of all the amazing pups who participated. Feel free to use these pics however you’d like. If you have trouble copying them, reach out or stop by my table and I’ll try to help. If we made any mistakes (names, spellings, dog breeds, etc.), please let me know and I’ll change the info on this post. It was truly an honor meeting each of your wonderful four-footed BFFs! We hope everyone enjoys the pics!! 🙂

ALMA

Can you believe Alma is a puppy?! She’s only six months old. She’s a Great Pyrenees, which is a mountain sheep dog. These dogs were originally bred to help guard sheep in the Pyrenees region between France and Spain. They’re known in France as the Chien de Montagne des Pyrenees, a.k.a. Le Patou.

COOKIE BEAR, THEO, AND GINGER BEAR

Cookie Bear and Ginger Bear are border collies. Border collies are another working dog breed, but they are herders, not guard dogs. This breed originated along the border of England and Scotland. Theo, in the middle, is a Pomeranian Chihuahua mix. Pomchis are gorgeous, feisty lapdogs who were bred to be companionable and awesome.

ENZO

Enzo is a fox-red lab. You’ve probably heard of the three standard colors most labs come in (yellow, brown, and black) but there are other, less common shades out there, including fox-red. He’s a handsome pup and was very cooperative!

LILY

Lily is a Golden Retriever. These dogs were originally bred to be hunting/birding dogs. They have super soft mouths and are able to retrieve ducks and other game birds without damaging them. They are also excellent companions because of their intelligence, loyalty, and friendliness. Lily was such a sweetheart!

LUNA, LEO, BRUNO, AND STELLA

Okay, so this pic wasn’t taken at the market — but I wanted to include it because some of these dogs have visited our table this season. Dog rescuer Karen Dubs is fostering the big guy, Bruno, and has adopted the other three. Check out Karen’s book, Adopting Joy, the story of how she found, rescued, and adopted Stella.

MR. WRINKLES

Mr. Wrinkles is Mandi’s adorable pug. He is wearing one of Rosie Posie‘s knitted cowls. Doesn’t he look dapper? (He certainly looks like a good sport!!) Pugs are great companions! The breed started in China and then became popular in Western Europe. Queen Victoria was a fan. Mr. Wrinkles couldn’t make it to HFM Dog Day, but I wanted to include his pic because he’s the best! 😀

OSCAR

Oscar is a white boxer, which is a recognized AKC color, but less common than brindle or fawn. He was very happy and easygoing. Funny, since boxers were originally bred to hunt big game like boar, bears, and bison. In modern times, they’re used for tough tasks and are often war dogs, watchdogs, police dogs, and the like… but Oscar was chill. A real cutie!!

PRINCE, A.K.A. “FRANK”

This adorable little pup was with his gang — a bunch of kids who told us that his name was Prince… but that he also goes by Frank (I think). I’m not sure what breed Prince/Frank is, but does it matter? He is 100% fantastic!

RILEY

Riley is another Golden Retriever. He’s also a rescue dog — from Cairo, Egypt, which is pretty cool. (Riley has traveled farther than I have! 😀 ). He and his human buddy, Bob, are frequent market goers.

RONAN THE DESTROYER

Ronan is an Irish name that means “little seal” and I’m sure, as a black lab puppy, that’s what Ronan looked like. Lab puppies are known for chewing. We’ve lived through two lab puppies now. Phone cases, TV remotes, dresser knobs, even wall trim has been gnawed. Ronan the Destroyer has likely chewed his way to his nickname. (Don’t worry, Chris! It’s all worth it. When he reaches two years, he’ll be Ronan the Best! 🙂 🙂 )

ROO AND MOE

Rumor has it Roo’s mum was a corgi (or, if you want to be posh, a Pembroke Welsh Corgi — ya know, the breed that Queen Elizabeth loves) and her dad was a sturdy German Shepherd. Even though the German Shepherd was originally bred to herd sheep, it’s now more famously known as the canine member of K-9 police units. They’re smart and have a good sense of smell while corgis mostly look adorable and are extremely agile. I’m sure Roo inherited all the fantastic traits of both her dam and sire, but Moe kinda stole the show. How cute is he?! 😀

SANDRINO

Sandrino is a Labrador Retriever, the most popular breed of dog in the United States. (I absolutely adore labs — one is a member of our family — but I was pleasantly surprised by all the dog diversity at HFM. Out of the twenty-one dogs pictured here, only four are labs.) Sandrino was sweet and calm, typical traits for an older lab. But he was also special for another reason. He’s a service dog for Warrior Canine Connection. He and his partner, John, are a team and they work together. All of the dogs in the WCC are named after Fallen Heroes. Sandrino is named after Sgt. Alessandro “Sandrino” Plutino, who died ten years ago in Afghanistan supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

While I was writing this post, thirteen U.S. service members were killed in Afghanistan and more were wounded. I’m still processing the news and what it means, but one thing is certain — my family is extremely grateful to all those who serve in the U.S. armed forces. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the fallen. If anyone is looking for an additional way to support veterans, Warrior Canine Connection is a Maryland 501(c)(3) that trains service dogs for veterans at Schaeffer Farm in Seneca Creek State Park in Montgomery County. You can donate to WCC here.

SHADOW

Shadow is a Shih Tzu mix. Shih Tzu’s were originally bred in China and were royal favorites. They are tiny but sturdy and super cute. Shadow is a rescue pup from Saving Grace Animal Rescue.

TUBBY

Tubby is a Keeshond, which is a beautiful breed I’d never heard of before meeting him. Keeshonds were bred to be barge dogs. Historically, they were companions to the captains of Dutch canal boats. Due to their friendliness, the breed is nicknamed “The Smiling Dutchman.” One other fun fact about keeshonds? If there’s more than one of them, they’re called keeshonden.

TUGG

Tugg is a chocolate lab, born and bred in Baltimore County. His full name is Tugboat (my kids added the extra g because, well… you’ll have to ask them. Ha!). His predecessor was another much loved chocolate lab named Clipper. We stuck with the boat theme for names. Tugg is sporting one of Rosie Posie‘s super cute canine kerchiefs. Many thanks to Mandi for making it for him!

Final Thoughts on Dog Day

Lots of tongues! So many tongues!! That’s because the Dog Days of Summer are hot. (Did you know dogs sweat through their tongues and toes?) Next year, I’ll have water at my table. As for where I got all the breed info above? The AKC website and Wikipedia. As for what the photographer is up to now? She’s back at Penn State for her sophomore year studying Public Relations. I’ve already booked her for the Second Annual Dog Days of Hereford Farm Market. Mark your calendars — August 2022!! 😀

What am I bringing to the market this Saturday?

We’ll be at the Hereford Farm Market, 17004 York Road, in Parkton, Maryland, from 9:00 a.m. until noon Saturday, August 28th. Look for us at the “Hats & Honey” table beside The Contented Rooster.

July 2, 2021July 2, 2021

Jar & Bottle Buy Back + 4th of July

Bring your old jam and honey jars back for 50 cents off!

Starting tomorrow, I’ll be offering fifty cents off per jar or bottle returned to me. The jars have to be ones I can use, which means NO CHIPS, CRACKS, OR DAMAGE.

I’m specifically looking for jam and honey jars that are:

Ball or Anchor Hocking brand canning jars with regular mouth openings in quarter-pint, half-pint, pint, and quart sizes.
Glass honey jars shaped like a bee skep in one pound and half-pound sizes. (Those are the shapes and sizes I sold at Hereford Farm Market and Hereford Fall Fest in 2019. If you bought honey from me, those are the jars I’m looking for.)

I’ll also accept any generic glass canning jar that has a regular mouth opening. (If my lids fit your jar, I can use it. Maybe not for canning, but probably for something else.)

Why am I doing this?

Mostly because… reduce, reuse, recycle. I’m not sure what happens to the glass you give to Baltimore County, but if you give me a jam jar or honey bottle back that isn’t chipped, cracked, or damaged, you KNOW I will use it again. Glass is easy to sterilize and reuse.

What about the lids?

I can’t reuse them. I might be able to use the lid rings again if they are in good shape, but for now, I’m just offering a buy back for the glass jars.

Am I going to give you money for the jars if you don’t buy something new from me?

No. Sorry. I make so little on each sale, I can’t afford to fund that kind of program. For now, I’m just offering fifty cents off per jar returned to me from that day’s purchases. This is a pilot program for me. It’s something I’ve wanted to try for a while now. I’ve been selling jam at the Hereford Farm Market for two months now, so it seems like a good time to experiment with this buy back. I’m excited! Now, bring me those empty jars!!! 🙂

This Sunday is the 4th of July!!!

Which means our table is offering some fun things to celebrate. I’ll have a sampler pack of red, white & blue jams and jelly — a trio of 4 oz jars of red raspberry jam, white apple jelly, and blueberry jam.

Besides toast and PB&J, what can you use these jams & jelly for?

Red raspberry jam can be used to make thumbprint cookies.

White apple jelly is great with grilled sourdough & brie sandwiches or whole wheat crackers & whipped cream cheese.

Blueberry jam is terrific when mixed into plain yogurt or spread on French toast.

Mandi (Rosie Posie Design Co) also has American flag mug rugs, a.k.a. coffee coasters. If you’re headed to a neighbor’s picnic or backyard BBQ this weekend, they make great hostess gifts!!

See you at the Hereford Farm Market! Look for us at the “Hats & Honey” table next to The Contented Rooster.

April 2, 2020April 2, 2020

Spring 2020 – Honeycomb, Jam, and More Bees!

We lost all our hives over the winter. Total and complete bummer, but unfortunately not an uncommon experience. Craig’s beekeeping buddies lost most of their hives too. Everyone ordered new nucs this year from Central Maryland Beekeepers Association. Because the starter hives come from Florida, everyone’s been wondering how delivery and distribution would be handled this year due to COVID-19. CMBA made several changes to the way the pick-ups are normally handled to keep things safe and compliant with current state orders. If everything goes as planned, our new little bee buddies will be installed this weekend.

Swarm Catcher

April and May are great months for beekeepers to catch natural honeybee swarms. (For more info on what a swarm is, what to do if you see one, and who to call, check out CMBA’s site. Craig’s listed as a beekeeper to call for the 21120 area.)

What’s so great about a honeybee swarm?

Besides being just a neat nature-y thing, anecdotal evidence suggests naturally occurring bee swarms might be better adapted to our backyard than out-of-state nucs. (Two beekeeping buddies caught swarms last year. Post-winter, those hives are still alive.) If we manage to catch a swarm, and if it survives winter 2020, we want to split it into two Maryland-hearty hives next spring. There’s a lot of hoping, wishing, and praying to our plan, but that’s beekeeping.

First things first – catch a swarm. Here’s our swarm catcher. We’re going to hang it in one of our evergreens.

NEW THIS YEAR

Honeycomb

We bought some special frames, so that we could offer squares of honeycomb. If you’ve never had it, you will love it. It can be eaten plain, but is also great with tea and toast, figs and Brie, and – according to food writer Hattie Ellis – buttermilk panna cotta.

Jams and Jellies

For some time now, I’ve been wanting to add a new product to our Hereford Farm Market table, which would extend our selling season and diversify our offerings. Homemade jams and jellies seem like a perfect companion for home-harvested honey and cottage bouquets. To ensure that my methods were safe and my recipes sound, I enrolled in a water-bath canning course down at Baltimore Chef Shop, Hampden’s teaching kitchen, this past January. I hope to offer small batches, depending on what’s in season. Ideally, I’ll be using fruit from the farm market and/or local orchards.

Flowers

Before I could decide if I even wanted to do a soil test this year, UMass sent an email saying the lab was closed due to COVID-19. So I ordered some pH test strips online and bought some basic amendments based on last year’s lab test. Hopefully, all will be well. Seeds that need to be started inside have been planted and are happily growing beneath lights in my basement. (For a list of the types of flowers I’m growing this year, check out my flowers page.) In the meantime, I’m enjoying spring blooms.

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Farm Market

The Hereford Farm Market has a new website. Check out the other vendors and stay tuned for more info. As far as I know, it will still open, although there will likely be new rules for shopping and gathering. Get up-to-date info on the market via Facebook and/or Instagram.

State Parks

Governor Hogan’s stay-at-home order allows for limited hiking and biking in some state park areas. I imagine this is because exercising outside is a double benefit to people’s health. One of our favorite ways to cope with the current crisis is to take our dog, Tugg, for hikes and a swim in the Gunpowder River. We are very lucky to have such beautiful state parks so close to where we live! For DNR’s FAQs about the stay-at-home order, click here. For the Maryland Park Service’s list of state parks that are open or closed, click here.