Pastures of Rose Creek: This Week's Harvest

Come get this fine fresh food and spicy stuff from my favorite folks at the Farmers Market

Sincerely, 

Dan Matthews

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Date: Fri, 14 Sep 2012 18:03:01 -0400
Subject: Pastures of Rose Creek: This Week's Harvest

Hello to all from The Pastures of Rose Creek!

Do you or someone you love have a...how do I put this delicately?...have a...chile pepper addiction?  You know the signs - hiding bottles of Sriracha in their purse or car because they can't bear the thought of having even one meal without it....topping every meal with some form of fiery hotness while you sit helplessly by, watching their eyes bulge and beads of sweat form on their forehead as they continue their quest for the hottest pepper?  Well, we may be able to help...this week we supply not the cure - but the fix...The Thai Dragon Pepper.  Just stop on by our market table - code word: Bangkok Heat Wave - we'll know what you mean.  

And for those of us who are a little more timid when it comes to the heat - we are also offering a variety of mild peppers and other non capsicum veggies at the market - scroll on down to learn more about out market table and other happenings around the farm.

VEGGIE OF THE WEEK: Some like it HOT! - The Thai Dragon Pepper

To get an idea of how hot this pepper is, let's first find out a little bit about peppers and what makes them so hot.  So what does give a pepper its heat?  Capsaicin.  Different peppers have varying amounts of it and therefore different heat levels.  Capsaicin is measured in Scoville Units.  You will find things like banana peppers and bell peppers on the very low end of the scale (0-50), while Jalapenos bring in around 2,500-5,000, and Tabascos around 5,000-30,000 Scoville Units.  The Thai Dragon Pepper registers around 100,000 units (just to give you an idea)...eat one whole and the next thing you know you'll find your whole face planted in the nearest water source. But used sparingly and in the right kind of hot sauce or salsa - you may find the Thai Dragon not only packs some heat, but also FLAVOR. The Thai Dragon carries a dry, nutty flavor (once you get past the heat), which is a great accompaniment to asian cuisine and other dishes as well.  Although there are certainly hotter peppers out there - Scotch Bonnets and Habeneros, for example, can register anywhere from 100,000 - 350,000 units - nevertheless, we encourage you to take the Thai Dragon Pepper Challenge! (Please use responsibly) 

And here's why....

There are a multitude of researched benefits to eating spicy foods.  Here are just a few...

1.  GOOD FOR THE HEART - reduces inflammation and improves the body's ability to dissolve blood clots - two known risks for heart diesase

2.  IMPROVED CIRCULATION - peppers are high in Vitamin C and A which strengthen blood vessel walls and improve circulation, and possibly lower blood pressure

3.  WEIGHT LOSS - Capsaicin found in peppers helps to speed up metabolism

4.  IMPROVES BREATHING AND REDUCES COLDS & FLUS - Helps to open nasal passages and may also reduce sinusitis and other flu symptoms

5.  MOOD LIFTER - Boosts the levels of endorphins and serotonin that dulls pain and gives us a sense of well-being.

So, come check out the Thai Dragon Pepper and other pepper varieties we are offering this week at the Watkinsville Farmer's Market!  Attached you will find a recipe for homemade Tabasco Sauce - make it with our freshly grown Tabasco peppers or spice it up even more with the Thai Dragon Pepper.

THIS WEEK'S HARVEST...

Banana Peppers

Bell Peppers

Eggplant

Okra

New Mexico Green Chiles

Radishes

Tabasco peppers

Thai Dragon Peppers

Our Gardens are in transition this month, so we're a little lighter in quantity (but never in quality!)...so hold on tight...we have more on the way!

**Come check out other surprise veggies we may have to offer!**

HAPPENINGS:

FARM-FRESH EGGS - Well, if you have read this far - CONGRATULATIONS!  You are in for a treat!  They have finally arrived!  The FARM FRESH EGGS are here!!!  However, our chickens are not yet producing a large number of eggs, so we have a limited supply to sell this week.  We will be selling our eggs by the full and half dozen.  And hope to be able to provide more eggs as our chickens continue to mature!  

These birds have been raised with love and have been given the freedom to just be themselves!  Roaming and foraging our fields hunting for pesky bugs and doing a good deal of fertilizing along the way (eliminating the need for harmful pesticides and chemically based fertilizers).  

So, you don't want to miss out on these happy healthy eggs!  And in this case, the early worm gets the bird! (Well...egg, rather)

POTTERY - And you are in for another treat this week!  The very talented John Bradford is BACK with some of his beautiful pottery to adorn our market table! These pots are the product of the first firing of John's hand built wood-fired anagama/soda ash kiln located right here at The Pastures of Rose Creek.  Anagama wood-fired pottery is a fascinating Japanese tradition, in which pots are fired at temperatures in excess of 2200 degrees.  The product is beautiful, earthy pottery that varies in color and texture.  Come and check out his pots this Saturday...his pottery has been going fast!  You can also find some of his work at Sunshine Village Gallery, downtown Watkinsville.

GRASS FED BEEF - A big thank you for all the support and interest in our grass fed beef!  Although we are temporarily sold out, we are excited to know that there is such a high demand and interest in healthy, environmentally sound beef.  The ball will really start rolling around January when we will have a steady supply of cows reaching their prime age and weight throughout the year.  Attached you will find the brochure, order form, and more detailed information on "what you will get."  Go ahead and put your order in today and reserve your beef for next year!  

Feel free to stop on by the Watkinsville Farmer's Market or give one of us a call/email if you have any questions about our grass fed beef!  Dana Bradford: 575.613.2029 or Will Powers: 706.254.9391

"I was so excited to find out there was local grass fed beef available in Monroe.  Only a week after placing my order for 1/4 of a cow, it was delivered to my door!  Let me say, it did NOT disappoint.  My husband and I have cooked it several times already and it is absolutely delicious, not to mention better for you than the beef you find in the grocery store.  Will, John, and Dana at the Pastures of Rose Creek were a joy to work with.  They made the process easy and convenient.  We are extremely pleased and cant thank you enough!" -Meredith Bowman, Monroe

MONROE MARKET - We are sorry to say that we will most likely not be apart of the Monroe Marker this year.  Our crops have taken an unexpectedly hard hit by the heat and unfortunately will not have enough to support both markets.  But, next year we are expanding our gardens by twice the size and are gearing up to be full time Monroe participants!  But until then, if you find yourself in Watkinsville (aka Wat-Town) on Saturday morning - stop on by the market!  And don't hesitate to call or email about our grass fed beef...we'll deliver!

BAKED GOODS by Dana (Watkinsville Market):

Cranberry Almond Biscotti (great for coffee and non coffee drinkers alike!)

Thank you all for your support! Hope to see y'all Saturday at the Watkinsville Farmers Market!

For the love of community and all things farming...

Your local farmers,

Will Powers and John and Dana Bradford
The Pastures of Rose Creek, LLC
1051 Rose Creek Drive

Watkinsville, GA

(706) 254-9391

(575) 613-2029