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Old Tavern Farm

Kitchen Gardens

May 17, 2023 By marketeditor

By Andrea Grom

 

Have you been thinking about adding more fresh vegetables, herbs, and fruit to your diet? Going to the farmers’ market and purchasing produce from local vendors is a great start. Better yet, try creating a kitchen garden. 

 

Kitchen gardens are special in that they’re totally geared toward your preferences. The scale and variety of plants is up to you. For example, if you like cooking with fresh herbs, consider planting a variety in a nearby patch of earth or in pots on your patio. If you love salads, plant lettuces, cherry tomatoes, sweet peppers, and cucumbers. 

Old Tavern Farm, photo by Pattie Garrett (Kitchen Gardens)

 

When creating a kitchen garden, consider how much time you can devote to it, your space, and who can help. Most food plants prefer full sun, a well-drained, fertile soil, and enough water to get them established and keep growing. Locating the garden close to your kitchen will make it easy to grab things for meals. Having a small garden is ideal for beginners and busy people. For those with kids or grandkids, encourage them to help and try a few things that they might like.

Gomez Veggie Ville, by Pattie Garrett (Kitchen Gardens)

Many Saratoga Farmers’ Market vendors are selling plants that are perfect for a kitchen garden. Here are their ideas: 

 

Green Jeans Market Farm: Jason and Andrea enjoy fresh herbs, so they always plant a lot in their kitchen garden. They especially love rosemary, basil, dill, thyme, cilantro, and parsley. 

 

Lovin’ Mama Farm: Lucas likes oregano because it’s easy to grow, versatile and it overwinters. Also special are violas (an edible flower) and their salad bowls with a variety of lettuces in a large pot.

 

Gomez Veggie Ville: The Gomez family suggests large tomato plants and mixed herb pots for an instant garden.

 

Balet Flowers: The crew recommends planting basil for an abundant supply, herbs like mint for teas and salads, sweet peppers, and tomatoes. 

 

Burger’s Market Garden: Andy recommends planting lettuce, tomatoes, greens, cucumbers, and herbs. Their hanging baskets of tomatoes, green beans, and strawberries are perfect for smaller spaces. 

 

Old Tavern Farm: Nicole suggests their herb pot packages. They have three levels with a collection of herbs for every chef. 

 

Scotch Ridge Farm: Ryan recommends their everbearing strawberry baskets, which will produce an abundance of delicious strawberries over the entire summer. 

 

Happy gardening!

Filed Under: Featured Article, homepage feature, News Tagged With: at home gardening, balet flowers, beginner gardening, Burger's Market Garden, Gomez Veggie Ville, green jeans farm, kitchen garden, Old Tavern Farm, scotch ridge farm, starter plants, strawberries

Finding the unexpected at the farmers’ market

August 23, 2021 By marketeditor

By Emily Meagher

Stevia plant from Green Jeans Market Farm, photo by Madison Jackson

When you take a trip to the farmers’ market in August, what do you expect to find? Surely, fresh produce comes to mind. Sweet corn, tomatoes, and peppers. Maybe eggs, bread, or meats. While those are all certainly a big part of the market right now, keep an eye out for these more unexpected products the next time you visit the farmers’ market.

Plant power
The lush array of plants and herbs at Green Jeans Market Farm include some unusual items that you might have never thought to grow yourself. Take the stevia plant: rather than the powdered white substance found at the grocery store, the plant’s lush green leaves add a hint of natural sweetness to tea or baked goods. Or pick up a catnip plant to use for your cat to enjoy, or, avid gardeners: plant it between rows of vegetables to deter certain pests and animals.

Cyser from Ballston Lake Apiaries, photo by Madison Jackson

Adult beverages, done differently
There are several great distillers and cider makers at the farmers’ market. If you’re looking to try something new, consider “cyser” from Ballston Lake Apiaries. Cyser is a honey apple wine, a sweeter and tarter type of mead made with the apiary’s honey and New York apples.

Canned wine from Old Tavern Farm, photo by Madison Jackson

A new vendor this season, Old Tavern Farm, offers 4-packs of canned wine. Choose between rose and chardonnay, and be forewarned: each can contains half a bottle of wine! Ideal for bringing to the track if you’re looking to pick up some beverages before the Travers.

Sip your way to wellness

A2 milk from Argyle Cheese Farmer, photo by Madison Jackson

Argyle Cheese Farmer has a product for you if you enjoy farm-fresh milk but have noticed digestional discomfort after drinking it. Using only milk from a specific type of cow, their “Just A2” kinds of milk don’t contain the A1 protein associated with some cases of indigestion. A gentler way of drinking milk without sacrificing taste.

Moon Cycle Seed Company knows all about being gentler with your body. The wellness brand offers “moon milk”: a soothing drink blend derived from ayurvedic traditions. Grab any of three flavors: cherry beetroot, lavender cardamom, or golden turmeric, and brew with warm milk and honey for a heart-warming concoction.

The next time you visit the farmers’ market, spend some time visiting vendors off the beaten path and uncover an unexpected item that might become your new favorite.

This week’s recipe: Stress Relief Smoothie

Filed Under: Featured Article, homepage feature, News Tagged With: A2 milk, Argyle Cheese Farmer, Ballston Lake Apiaries, canned wine, catnip, catnip plant, cyser, green jeans market farm, indigestion, market finds, mead, milk, Moon Cycle Seed Company, moon milk, Old Tavern Farm, stevia, stevia plant, summer 2021, unusual items, wine

Smart gardening with starter plants

May 18, 2021 By marketeditor

Green Jeans Market Farm, photo by Pattie Garrett

By Julia Howard

With spring’s last projected frost date safely behind us, gardening enthusiasts take out their trowels and prepare garden plots for planting. But if you’re new to gardening, the process may seem overwhelming. We spoke with Susan Beebe, Assistant Director/Agriculture Issue Leader of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Saratoga County, to understand the basics of gardening with starter plants.

To begin, determine where you would like to plant. Perhaps you have space for a garden or raised beds in your yard, or maybe planting in containers seems more feasible. If planting in the ground, Susan Beebe explains that the first and most crucial step is to determine the pH of your soil. “Soil pH is important because it will help you prepare to plant your garden,” explains Beebe. To collect a soil sample, walk through the area that you would like to plant and collect soil samples from various places. Dig 3” to 8” deep and scoop about ½ cup of soil into a clean container. Soil samples may be brought to Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Master Gardener table at the farmers’ market on the third Wednesday of every month or directly to their office.

Balet Flowers & Design, photo by Pattie Garrett

If planting in raised beds, Beebe recommends combining potting soil and compost to hold water and prevent moisture from draining out. “Soil is alive and full of microorganisms that plants need to survive,” says Beebe. “Adding green manure, compost, or even a cover crop can keep soil healthy while planting in raised beds.”

If planting in containers, Beebe advises using soilless mixes rather than potting soil. “A benefit to the soilless mixes is that they are much lighter than potting soil and allow you to move your containers around. The counterpart is that these mixes have a tendency to dry out, so depending on the location, you may have to water your containers more,” explains Beebe.

Once your soil is ready, it’s time to buy plants. Several vendors offer various herbs, fruit, and vegetable starter plants at the Saratoga Farmers’ Market. These plants are typically several weeks old and have been nurtured through the most delicate early stages of growth by professional growers in a greenhouse. If you have questions about what to plant, ask the growers; Balet Flowers & Design, Burger’s MarketGarden, Gomez Veggie Ville, Green Jeans Market Farm, Leaning Birch Farm, Old Tavern Farm, and Scotch Ridge Berry Farm.

Burger’s MarketGarden, photo by Pattie Garrett

Now it’s time to plant. Once you’ve popped the first plant out of the container, pull the roots apart with your hands gently; you can look to see how tightly wound the roots are. “You need to pull the roots apart with your hands gently,” Susan Beebe instructs. “You may even use a little knife to break the roots because the goal is to stop their circling motion so that they can spread into the ground,” she adds. When planting, maintain the level it was grown at rather than planting deeper. “The only exception is leggy tomato plants that you can bury deeper,” says Beebe.

Once your starters are planted, water generously and ensure 6+ hours of sunlight a day. Some leafy crops like spinach can thrive with less sun; however, vegetables like carrots, beets, and peppers need 6+ hours a day.

Fruit and vegetables thrive and produce more with light fertilizing at planting. The appropriate fertilizer depends on how you’re growing and what your growing. Beebe recommends side-dressing again with fertilizer 2-3 weeks after planting to ensure healthy, productive plants.

Filed Under: Featured Article, homepage feature, News Tagged With: Balet Flowers and Design, Burger's MarketGarden, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardener, gardening advice, Gomez Veggie Ville, green jeans market farm, Leaning Birch Farm, Old Tavern Farm, planting, Scotch Ridge Berry Farm, seedlings, seeds, spring, starter plants

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Our first outdoor market’s tomorrow!!! Stop by H Our first outdoor market’s tomorrow!!! Stop by High Rock Park from 3-6pm to join us for the the start of our 45th season! 

Swipe right to see our 2023 list of Wednesday vendors. 🌾👩‍🌾

Find us every Wednesday and Saturday in High Rock Park, now through October. Hope you can make it!

#saratogafarmersmarket #saratogasprings #thingstodoinupstateny #agriculture #518makers #shoplocal #farmtotable
It's almost time for our beloved Saratoga Farmers' It's almost time for our beloved Saratoga Farmers' Market to move outdoors to High Rock Park! But before we do, join us one last time indoors at the Wilton Mall tomorrow from 9:30-1:30!

Support us by making a purchase at our first ever Tag Sale! Located by the information stand- all proceeds go the the Saratoga Farmers’ Market Association.

We move back to High Rock Park this Wednesday, May 3rd from 3-6 pm. See you there! 🍅🌽🍓 

#SaratogaFarmersMarket #ShopLocal #SupportLocalFarms #SeasonalRhythms #HighRockPark #WiltonMall #DowntownSaratoga
Only one market left until we move outside! Hope y Only one market left until we move outside! Hope you can make it for the last of our winter markets. Stop by this Saturday in the Wilton Mall food court from 9:30-1:30 and say hi to all your favorite winter vendors!

Our first outdoor market is this Wednesday May 3rd, from 3pm-6pm. Join us in High Rock Park for the start of our Summer season!
Happy Earth Day!! Stop by our market today from 9: Happy Earth Day!! Stop by our market today from 9:30-1:30! It’s our second to last market inside at the Wilton mall before our big move May 3rd to High Rock Park.

#earthday #agriculture #farmersmarket #saratogasprings #saratogafarmersmarket #thingstodoinupstateny

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