Back Acres - Featured Farm

Here at Back Acres farm we are so glad that spring has finally arrived!  We’ve been enjoying succulent salads topped with radishes and pecans, with dressing made with goat’s milk.  We’ve been busy planting seeds in the garden, and it is so very rewarding to see those little seeds pop up out of the ground, making thin green lines down the garden soil.

Through the winter we had many little goat kids born, so now the pastures are fun to watch as the kids follow their mommy’s and jump and play with each other.  A couple of our cows should freshen within the next couple of months, and we are eager to meet the new calves.

Luke, our 13 year old son, has two Rambiollet Sheep, which we will be shearing in May.  The plan is to shear them, clean and spin the wool, and create hats, scarves, mittens, and baby things to have for sale in the late autumn.

This week at the Brookside Market, we will have greens and radishes for sale, as well as pecans, and new to our booth will be our Pastured Pork.  The sausage and bacon are amazing!  It is so nice to be able to eat meat from our own farm, knowing that the pigs lived a very happy life digging around in the mud, eating grass, playing with each other, and being ordinary/ornery pigs!  They had no unnecessary hardship like confinement, antibiotics in the feed, etc.  They enjoy good sunshine, plenty of space…quite a good life, I think!

So that’s it for this week.  We have a facebook page, if anyone would like to follow us.  We try to keep it updated with current pictures of the activity on our farm.  Search for  the page “Back Acres Farm” and we are the one that has a picture of a white goat’s face! J

Children's Market Activities

Growing Brookside Kids

Sponsorship & Volunteer Opportunity at Brookside Farmers’ Market

WHEN:

Every Saturday – 8 am to 1 pm - April 23 to October 22

WHERE:

Border Star Montessori’s Outdoor Classroom Garden

63^rd & Wornall

WHY:

To support local food education for children in the community, bringing them closer to their food and how it is grown.  And, to help Border Star Montessori school maintain their outdoor garden classroom.

WHAT:
1. VOLUNTEER - Help the Brookside market kids learn to: developing healthy soil, compost (including vermicomposting), use healthy organic inputs, mulch, weed and protect plants; what are good bugs and challenging bugs.  And, many other fun activities and crafts!

2. SPONSORSHIP - $25 Supports one of the following activities for children at the market.  In return you receive recognition as a sponsor and information about you /your organization in:

·       Brookside Market Weekly Newsletter (over 2,000 distribution)

·       Brookside Market Facebook Page (over 350 friends)

·       Brookside Market Blog (new, but growing)

·       Signage at the Market on market day

·       Mention in all Press/Media Releases

For information, please contact:

fcminfo@farmerscommunitymarket.com

Shanita of Magnolia's Catering

Here is the bio for our featured chef this week.  She will be demonstrating soulful grees and organic, local cooking in the Chef's tent from 10 am on, this Saturday:

 Shanita McAfee, Chef &Proprietor of Magnolia's, a Kansas City full service boutique catering and event planning company, culinary passion began at age 14 when she began testing her culinary creations on her younger siblings. She attended the Culinary School at Johnson County Community College where she re-ceived a silver and bronze culinary award as a member of the 1998-2000 Culinary teams. McAfee continued to develop her talent with opportunities in some of Kansas City's well known res-taurants such as Rockhill Tennis Club, Kansas City Country Club, Yia Yia’s, Dean & Deluca and The Lodge of the Four Seasons. After a brief stint in Financial Services, McAfee returned to her passions of cultural diversity in foods. In 2008 Magnolia's bloomed from her admiration of Southern Chefs Edna Lewis & Scott Peacock. Chef McAfee also shares the believe that there is value in understanding the connection between the rich culture and history of the south, its people, seasons, and the natural rhythm of life. She believes that in addition to the nutritional value there are other benefits that come from the celebration of breaking bread. Shanita McAfee is a devoted of mother of three whom she enjoys sharing her love for food and nurtur-ing their inner culinary artist. She is also recognized as an active member of her community. She serves as Co-Chair of First Book Mo-Kan Advisory Board ,Recording Secretary for Johnson County Chapter of Jack & Jill, youth mentor on the Generation Rap Radio Show broadcast that airs on KPRS 103.3. Her Honors include in being nominated as one of 2010 Kansas City Sexiest Singles (an auction bene-fiting Big Brother Big Sister) and KC Business Magazine as a 2011 Rising Star.

Join Us at the Shawnee Organic Food Expo!

They say it’s Spring, but brrrrr…

Join us this Saturday inside where it’s warm for the Shawnee Food Expo.  Hungry for the green of spring?  Kick off the farmers market season at the Eat Local! (& Organic) expos.  Meet and buy direct from local, organic farmers and vendors.  Learn how to buy, preserve and dish up seasonal food in our free workshops.  Snatch up early seedlings, fresh greens, free-range meat & eggs and our free local, organic producers directory.  Get farmers market and CSA information. Admission and parking are free.

9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Shawnee Civic Center
13817 Johnson Dr., Shawnee, KS
(SW corner of Pflumm & Johnson Drive)

Join us for:

• Local, organic produce
• Free-range meat & eggs
• Vegetable seedlings
• CSA information & sign-up
• Free directory of local producers
• Free workshops

Free parking ~ Free admission

Free How-To Workshops at the Shawnee Expo

Buy It, Eat It! 9:30-10:30 a.m., Little Theatre, just inside the Civic Center’s main doors
Learn how to buy direct from family farms using CSAs, farmers markets, buying clubs and co-ops from Season Burnett, Kansas City CSA Coalition Director, and Emily Akins, KCFC Co-Coordinator.

Can It, Freeze It! 11:00-12:00, Little Theatre, just inside the Civic Center’s main doors
University of Missouri Extension Expert Karen Elliot shows you how to enjoy the fresh, delicious taste of local, organic food year-round. Bring your pressure canner gauges and the extension will check them for free during expo hours before and after the workshop. (Experts recommend you have your pressure canner gauges checked at least once per year.)

Dish It Up! 12:30-1:30 p.m., Little Theatre, just inside the Civic Center’s main doorsLocal Burger chef and owner Hilary Brown shares her delicious secrets for cooking local, organic fare at our Shawnee expo only.

Attention Potential Vendors

The Vendor Committee will be meeting this Thursday.  Be sure to get your applications in ASAP!

Welcome to our new blog!

Please, give us your feedback and come out April 23rd to help us celebrate the new growing season!