February 2024 Newsletter
Hello Mama!
Happy February! We are so excited to share this month’s goodies with you. Your tote includes a wonderful spread of fresh produce, dairy, meat, and grain, all from our incredible FarmHers. Make sure to check out this month’s recipes as well for some yummy meal ideas that are both nutritious and comforting. It’s hard to beat a tasty, creamy soup on a cold day!
It may still be cold outdoors, but the days are beginning to grow longer once again; although the official start to spring is still a month away, our FarmHers are already preparing for the seasons ahead! Our program has grown to 20 local female farmers who are all incredibly excited to be growing and producing for you and your babe in the coming months! This month, we are hosting a workshop for our FarmHers to help them plan out their growing season and prepare for what to grow. Is there anything you are especially excited for? We would love to hear what your favorite fresh foods are! You can connect with us anytime in our Facebook community (our Facebook group can be found through the QR code on the back of this sheet) to share ideas, ask questions, chat with our FarmHers, and get support from other Mamas.
Finally, Mama, we want you to know that we are so proud of you. Wherever you are in your stage of motherhood, you are exactly the Mama your babe needs, and you are doing an amazing job, just by being you. We hope you find joy in these food totes and that they provide an opportunity to bond with your babe through nourishing, nutritious meals. We have certainly found so much joy in bringing these items together with the help of our FarmHers and packaging this tote just for you. There is a whole long line of love and care we are sending your way - from the love that went into caring for each plant and animal, to the careful harvest and/or making of these items, to our team’s packing of the totes, and to the incredible nurses who carry each tote to you. From our hearts to your home, we hope you have a wonderful month!
Food Justice For All,
The FarmerHer to Mama Team
Anne, Anna, Porchea, Virginia, Becca, Dominique, Allyssa, & Veronica
February Goodies
Swiss Chard from Green Bridge Growers (Mishawaka, IN)
Garlic from Green Bridge Growers (Mishawaka, IN)
Winter Carrots from Perkins’ Good Earth Farm (Demotte, IN)
Sweet Salad Turnips from Perkins’ Good Earth Farm (Demotte, IN)
Granola from Perkins’ Good Earth Farm (Demotte, IN)
Lettuce Mix from Rainfield Farm (New Carlisle, IN)
Baby Bok Choy from Tuholski Produce (La Porte, IN)
Bacon from Tanglewood Acres (Mill Creek, IN)
Vanilla Yogurt from Crystal Springs Creamery (Osceola, IN)
Fresh Cheese Curds from Crystal Springs Creamery (Osceola, IN)
Foodie Tips
Swiss chard and other greens are best stored unwashed in the fridge until ready to use. Wrap with a damp paper towel and store them in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator to keep them fresh and crisp!
Root veggies can also be stored in the crisper drawer of your fridge. Give a scrub with a clean produce brush and water when ready to use!
Store garlic in a cool, dark place with air circulation (no airtight containers or plastic bags).
Granola should be stored at room temp in a sealed container for longest shelf life.
Keep bacon frozen in the freezer. Thaw in the refrigerator before use.
Store yogurt and cheese in the fridge.
Featured FarmHer: Ali Falatovics at Creative Nature Flower Farm
As we move into February our time of winter relaxation starts to dwindle on the farm. We begin seed starting in the basement - both flowers and early vegetables, soap making weekly, rendering tallow and lard for soap, as well as website updates and applying to farmers markets. I continue to revise the business plan for the upcoming season and the future; I love dreaming about what the business will turn into and where it will go. This season we plan to do several farmers markets every week to get our flowers and our veggies out to the community, but also plan on expanding by offering a u-pick field of flowers, a subscription flower pick up on farm, and hopefully some hands on classes! I love getting people out to the farm because there is so much beauty there that people can't access on a daily basis and it is truly a special place to be.
Some other fun additions to products we will offer this season are local tallow; rendered by us and infused with our organically grown lavender for a beautiful skin balm, radicchio, and seeds saved from last years field so you can grow some of our beautiful flowers at home. We hope to see you at some of the local farmers markets - we plan to be at the LaPorte Farmed and Forged Market on Sunday, New Buffalo Farmers Market on Thursday evening, and Three Oaks Market on Friday evening. Our U-Pick will be offered on Friday and Saturday mornings! Enjoy February!
XOXO,
Ali
Check out Creative Nature Flower Farm in action!
A Look Ahead
March - ground pork, spinach, goat cheese, apples, asian greens and more!
Join our FarmHer to Mama Facebook Group for support, recipes, tips, & community.
Questions or feedback about the program? We’d love to hear from you! Reach out to Anne (info@nwifoodcouncil.org, 219-313-8828) or Porchea (porchea@nwifoodcouncil.org, 219-316-4556).
