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Pasture-raised cows produce healthier milk

A UK study of milk from conventionally-raised vs. pastured cows has discovered that the milk from pastured cows contains more antioxidants and vitamins than that from conventional dairy farms:

An al fresco diet in cows results in milk with up to 60 per cent higher levels of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA9) which has been linked to a reduced risk of cancer, according to research from Newcastle University. The same study found 39 per cent more omega-3 fatty acid and 33 per cent more vitamin E, which are also thought to reduce the risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Grazing provided 84% of food for cows on organic farms during the summer. In winter, when pastured cows in the study weren't able to graze, the differences between their milk and that from conventionally-raised cows was smaller.

U-pick Strawberries

Strawberries are ready for U-Pick at Branstrator Farms in Clarksville and at Bergefurd Farms in Wilmington.

For up-to-date U-Pick info for Bergefurd, call 937-383-2133. Bergefurd strawberries are also available at Hyde Park Farmer's Market (Sun 10am-2pm.)

For up-to-date U-Pick info for Branstrator, call 937-725-5607. Branstrator strawberries are also available retail at Lebanon Farmers' Market (Thurs noon-5pm), Wyoming Farmers' Market (Tues 3-7pm), Pipkin's in Blue Ash, Schucter's Farm Market in Morrow, Spaeth's Farm Market in Mason, Madison's at Findlay Market and for retail purchase at the farm at 885 North George Road in Clarksville.

Farmers' Markets May 31 - June 6

Here is what you can expect to find at local farmers' markets this week. Things do change due to weather and other factors, but as of the time of this post this is what the vendors at each market think is likely they will be bringing this week to market. As information comes in, I'll update.

Oxford Uptown
Saturday 7am - noon
Uptown Oxford
Lamb, chicken, beef, pork, breakfast sausage, eggs, goat cheese, strawberries, arugula, sunflower sprouts, red leaf lettuce, red romaine, buttercrunch, spinach, tat soi, Mizuna, red mustard, radishes, green onions, kale, broccoli, cut & dried herbs, canna lily bulbs, herb plants, tomato and pepper plants, honey, apple cider, popcorn, jellies, breads

Findlay Market Farmshed & Grow West
Saturday 8am - 6pm
1801 Race St
Back Acres Farm: Eggs, beef, pork whole-hog sausage, farmstead cheeses, ice cream
Bauer Farm: Cut flowers
Kist Greenhouse: Bedding plants, both flowers and vegetables, hanging baskets
Margaret's Garden: Herb plants, forget-me-nots, perennials, rosebushes & cut flowers
Neltner's: Hanging baskets and bedding plants, butterhead lettuce, early tomatoes
Northgate Greenhouse: Spring bedding plants, hanging baskets, planters, perennials and landscape plants
Shady Grove: Green garlic, arugula,lambsquarters, baby kale & mizuna, limited asparagus & rhubarb, & 8 or 10 cooking herbs. Field-ready tomato plants, basil (Sweet, Thai, Opal, Lemon, Lime, Cinnamon & Lettuce), edible/ornamental hot pepper seedlings, fragrance roses

Batesville Village Green
Saturday 8am - 11am
George & Main Sts
Batesville IN

West Chester
Saturday 9am - 1pm
The Square at Union Centre

Simon Kenton
Saturday 8:30am - 2:00pm
Simon Kenton High School
11132 Madison Pike
Independence KY

Hyde Park Opening Day!
Sunday 10am - 2pm
US Bank parking lot
3424 Edwards Rd
BD Goats: Goat's milk ricotta, spreadable goat's milk cheese, goat's milk fudge, rosemary raisin sourdough bread, goat's milk lotion
Bergefurd Family Farm: Strawberries
Home Grown Bazaar: plant starts, potted herbs & vegetables, container gardens
Organic Farm at Bear Creek: Spring mix lettuce, cut oregano and thyme, pepper and heirloom tomato plants, salsas, sauces, soups, dressings, jams, blueberry sauce
RJ Veggies: lettuce,radishes,green garlic,tomato plants sweet bell plants, hanging cherry tomato plants, hanging flowers, herbs, green onions, ruhbarb.
Eaton Farm: strawberries, radishes, green onions, salad greens
Walnutridge Acres: gourmet salad mix, arugula, baby spring bok choy, tatsoi, komatsuna
(asian green), red chard, fresh garlic chives, romaine, green garlic, garlic scapes, green onions,
radishes, potted herbs, vegetable plants and heirloom tomato plants.
Mohr's Animal Acres: fresh beef and chicken, pork, lamb, goat, goat's milk feta, cheddar, pepper jack, and mozzarella
Farm Beach Bethel: radishes,rhubarb, Italian dandelions, lettuce, and a delicious wild-crafted edible greens mix.
Sheltowee Farm: organic mushrooms, local raw honey, asparagus
Linwood Sausage Company: handcrafted homemade sausages and sausage sandwiches.
Plus: Embrace Sweets, Taste of Belgium, and Madisono's ready-to-eat items

Wyoming
Tuesday 3 - 7pm
Wyoming Ave and Van Roberts Place
Back Acres Farm: Eggs, grass-fed beef, whole hog sausage, farmstead cheeses, ice cream
Branstrator Farms: strawberries, jams, maybe asparagus
R.J. Veggies: Lettuce, green onions, herbs, hanging flower baskets, hanging cherry tomato baskets, and tomato and bell pepper plants. (This vendor accepts WIC.)
That Guy's Family Farm: organic lettuce mix, mesclun mix, green onions, fresh-baked boule bread, daisy bouquets.
Walnut Ridge Acres: Micro mix, radishes, green onions, herb and vegetable plants.
Also: La Terza coffees, Sweet Miss confections

Sayler Park
Tuesday 4 - 7pm
Town Square Park
Parkland and Monitor Aves
Lettuces, herbs, carrots, perennial and native plants, homemade granola

Northside Opening Day!
Wednesday 4 - 7:30pm
Hamilton & Lingo

The Dixie
Thursday 2:30 - 6:30pm
Erlanger Baptist Church parking lot
116 Commonwealth Ave
Flowers, vegetable plants, baked goods, jams

College Hill
Thursday 3 - 7pm
5742 Hamilton Ave

Brookville
Friday 3:30 - 8:00
110 Main St
Brookville IN

Boone County
Daily 9am - 6pm
Burlington Pike
Burlington

Elk Creek Vineyards announces summer concert series

Elk Creek Vineyards in Owenton, KY, has announced their summer 2008 outdoor concert series which includes a Blues Festival, a Jazz Festival, and a Motown Revue & Fireworks show.

Toll Gate Cafe opens in Loretto, KY.

Makers' Mark in Loretto, KY is opening the Toll Gate Cafe in an old tollhouse on the distillery grounds. It'll be open every day 11:30am - 5:00pm (noon to 5 on Sundays) and will feature "bourbon-inspired foods with seasonal sandwiches, salads, desserts and beverages, and using mostly Kentucky products." You can tour the distillery while you're there. For reservations or directions, call 270.865.4982.

Local farm stores, u-picks, and farmers' markets

Today's Enquirer has a terrific rundown of where to buy local foods in season.

New resource: seasonal ingredient map

Epicurious is offering this (somewhat incomplete, but I'm sure they're working on it) Seasonal Ingredient Map. According to Epicurious, all we have available here right now are asparagus, collard greens, peas, spinach, and strawberries. Well, yeah, but we also have sorrel and green garlic and garlic scapes and lettuces and rhubarb and...

But it's a nice start.

Store Wars: May the Farm be with you.

Very cute short (5:45) Stars Wars parody starring Cuke Skywalker, ObiWan Cannoli, and Chewbroccoli.



Thanks to Jim Schwartz at BackAcres Farm for the link!

Germany bans pesticides linked to bee deaths

After the death of millions of honeybees sprayed by a misapplied pesticide earlier this month, Germany has temporarily banned the use of neonicotinoid pesticides.

Bayer CropScience, the maker of the pesticide clothianidin which is sold in Germany and the US under the brand name Poncho, blames an application error. The pesticide, which was sprayed in the field on seeds of sweet corn that had just been planted near the Rhine river, was supposed to include a glue-like substance to make the chemical stick to the seeds. Instead the pesticide became airborne, killing the bees and presumably any other insects it came into contact with.

In a press release last week, Bayer CropScience says, "We are saddened by the loss of the bees." Bayer CropScience is a subsidiary of pharmaceutical giant Bayer (whose corporate motto is Science for a Better Life) with annual sales of EUR 5.8 billion (about $9.4 billion.)