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Turning Today’s Scraps into Tomorrow’s Topsoil

May 17, 2016 By marketeditor

By Sadie Ross

If you visit one of the 40,000 farms in New York State, chances are that you’ll be greeted by a smell that evokes pungent goodness. It is neither the scent of a fresh harvest nor the fragrance of bee and butterfly attracting flowers. Rather, it is compost, the rotting remains of yard waste, food scraps, and other foodstuffs that reside in heaps, barrels, or massive bins, breaking down slowly to produce new fertilizer for farmers to work into and revitalize their current topsoil.

Composting at Denison Farm
Composting at Denison Farm

This is compost, a mixture of decaying organic substances typically used to amend soil. When added to a garden, compost improves the organic matter content of the soil, leading to increased water and nutrient holding capacity.

The best news about compost is that it is easy to make in your own backyard. Compost comes in three varieties: yard waste, food scraps, and table scraps (which include such items as meat bones and leftovers that are heavy with oil, butter, or other additives.) While local farmers regularly incorporate table scraps into their compost piles, I advise that home composters stick to yard waste and food scraps. This is because home compost piles rarely get to a high enough temperature to guarantee that other table scraps will be effectively sterilized.

Yard waste – leaves, grass clippings, perennial cuttings – can be left to decompose quite simply in a heap. Chicken wire or wooden pallets placed on three sides keeps the heap contained so the center of the pile remains hot, allowing the material to decompose. One partition area can serve as the pile that is being left to “cook” and a second can be used for actively accepting materials. Both piles should be placed in the sun and turned with a pitchfork whenever the center has been hot enough long enough to decompose some of the core.

worms at Fresh Take Farm
Worms at Fresh Take Farm

One of the best ways to compost food scraps is in a barrel, either homemade or purchased. Place such items as vegetable peels, fruit rinds and relatively clean napkins and paper plates into containers that have screens at the bottom to allow air to come into the container and lets the water created from decomposing materials out. The container should be easy to spin to allow for the materials to get turned over and mixed up but be sealed enough to keep animals out. Many people prefer to use a food grade container if their compost is going to be used in their vegetable garden.

Some rules for good compost are smell, color, and texture. Good compost should smell like the earth, be dark brown or black in color, and be somewhat clumpy in texture. Basically, to make good compost there should be more “brown stuff” than “green stuff”. But keep in mind that green stuff has a lot of water in it, so you can add a lot of cut leafy perennials and grass clippings compared to dry brown leaves. Food compost will almost always need additional materials. Paper towels, egg cartons, pizza boxes and other food grade “brown things” will add the carbon and structure necessary.

 


Kale Salad with Micro Greens

Adapted from Faring Well

Image courtesy of Pattie Garret.
Image courtesy of Pattie Garret. Salad Bowl with Compost Bowl.

Ingredients

Salad:
• 1 bunch of Kale, stems removed and chopped
• 3 carrots, grated
• 1 bunch of radishes, tops and bottoms removed and thinly sliced
• 1 bunch of micro greens, (e.g. pea shoots, radish shoots)
• ¼ cup sunflower seeds

Tahini Dressing:

• ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
• 1 cup tahini
• 1 ¼ cup water
• 1 green garlic, minced
• ¼ teaspoon cayenne

Instructions:

For dressing: Blend ingredients together and adjust to taste. Recipe will make 2 ½ cups. Store in a tightly sealed glass jar in the refrigerator for up to one week.

For salad: Toss ingredients together. Plate servings and drizzle on dressing and top with sunflower seeds (or pepitas).

Options: add goat cheese, use favorite dressing.

 

Filed Under: Featured Article, News, Seasonal Recipes Tagged With: Composting, Growing Vegetables, Saratoga Farmers' Market Recipes

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Have you tried any of @nettlemeadowfarm's newest S Have you tried any of @nettlemeadowfarm's newest Schroon Moon spreadable cow's cheeses yet? Go for savory or sweet with 5 different flavors. Pick some up at this Saturday's market - we'll be open 9:30am - 1:30pm at the Wilton Mall food court!
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#farmersmarket #saratogafarmersmarket #saratogasprings #saratogany #wilton #518 #518eats #farmfresh #nofarmsnofood #dairy #cheese
We are honored to be nominated as one of the Best We are honored to be nominated as one of the Best Farmers’ Markets in the Capital Region for the Times Union’s Best of 2021! Thank you to all of our amazing customers and community for your continued support! You can vote for us daily under the category “Goods & Services” using this link: https://www.timesunion.com/bestof2021/ 
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#timesunionbestof2021 #timesunionbestof #saratogafarmersmarket #farmersmarket 
#supportlocal #shoplocal #saratogany #saratogasprings
Starting off the week with another MCM (Market Cru Starting off the week with another MCM (Market Crush Monday!) This week we talked to Kim from Mugzy’s Barkery who brings healthy, locally made dog treats to the market. 
 
1. How did Mugzy’s Barkery get started? 
My sister Jaime started the business just over 5 years ago to have a healthier treat option to give her beloved Olde English Bulldog, Mugzy. Our treats are all natural and organic, providing a healthy alternative to mass-produced treats for caring dog parents. 
 
 2. What’s your favorite part about vending at the market?
Definitely getting to see all the dogs! The funny thing is I know all our regular customer’s dogs by name, not the owners. 
 
3. What are your most popular treat flavors?
Pumpkin paws (grain-free biscuits) and the pupcakes (a bite-sized treat) are really popular with the dogs but we also have flavors like PB cookie cups, apple cheddar training treats, banana buddies and more, so something to fit any pup’s tastes!
 
The PB cookie cups have been tried and approved by our market assistant’s dog, Lacey! 
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#saratogafarmersmarket #farmersmarket #saratoga #upstateny #shoplocal #saratogadog #farmersmarketfresh #mugzysbarkery #dogtreats #healthydogtreats
No need for an international flight when you can j No need for an international flight when you can journey around the world at the market! 🌍 Between Italian, Mediterranean, and Ukrainian, our vendors bring some of their best home cuisines to the market.
 
Have you tried My Dacha's Ukrainian food yet? Choose from lots of delicious options like pierogies, stuffed cabbage, kielbasa, or opt for sweet crepes. 🥟🤤 (If you've tried their food, what's your favorite?!)

We're open this Saturday, 9:30am - 1:30pm at the Wilton Mall food court!
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#farmersmarket #saratogafarmersmarket #saratogasprings #food #ukrainian #pierogies

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