what a time

Really, it wasn't about meeting Alice Waters again. Don't get us wrong; we ARE happy when she comes to New Orleans to see and cheer on her newest Edible Schoolyard...



But it was nice to see the work the kids have been doing to make their working garden a success.Nice compost, and incredible school!


and, speaking of entrepreneurs, check out Mockingbird Cafe on Oak Street to see another lovely, peaceful inexpensive food place with a soul.



And another entrepreneur on Toulouse between Royal and Chartres...




Finishing it all off with a work of edible art...

No easy puns about them I promise

So, fava beans. The farmers market is the place to get baskets of these to de-pod right now, along with flats of strawberries to pluck greens from and cut to freeze to have all year long for fruit beverages, waffles and over ice cream. Strawberries I mean...
I make fava beans steamed with sea salt and olive oil, over whole wheat pasta, next to some catfish.

Sitting in the sunset getting fava beans ready for the pan, watching the bayou flow by and the tomato plants growing on the vine. Life in New Orleans, old city.

~ Raw Abundance ~

Raw Foods & Sprout Workshop
At Maras Farm*

The workshop will involve:
∑ Tips on how to grow your own sprouts, shoots and wheatgrass at home
∑ A tour of the garden and greenhouse
∑ Information and tips on optimum nutrition and healthy raw foods
∑ A discussion and demonstration of appliances and kitchen tools used in basic raw food preparation
∑ Demonstrations of 5 delectable raw food recipes
∑ A live food buffet

Note: Raw food products and sprouts will be available for purchase at the workshop.

Dates: March 9th, April 13th, May 18th
Time: 2:00-5:00 PM, workshop followed by a live food buffet
Where: Maras Farm, 30002 Purvis Thomas Rd, Franklinton, LA 70438
Given by: Tommie Maras and Audry Herbert
Cost: $50 by registration date, $60 after registration date (if space is still available)
Registration Dates: March 4th, April 8th, May 13th. To register, call or email.
Methods of Payment: Send a check in the mail made out to Maras Farm
Phone: 985-848-1618
Email: MarasFarm@gmail.com
Web: www.Myspace.com/MarasFarm

*At this time we are only offering workshops at Maras Farm but look forward to offering workshops for groups in homes or other locations. Please let us know if you are interested.

Farmer Conference in Jackson MS

New day celebrated with a potluck

On Feb 10th, Slow Food New Orleans and marketumbrella.org convened the first Sunday potluck at La Provence to bring a small Focus Group of chefs and farmers together-some of the chefs who had expressed interest in buying from farmers directly and farmers who are mostly not the same faces who come to markets to sell retail to happy shoppers and generous chefs and restaurants, but folks who want to make new customers of building a partnership with one, two,more restaurants who get to sit and pick seeds with those farmers and explain about size and color they would like in 2 months when that crop comes in.

This small group left some paragons of the local food movement out of the room, but that input will be added and more familiar names will become alumni every time; excitement is building all over the place, serious viral marketing going on.
Lunch was brought by farmers and chefs (like the menu item above) and the back doors stayed open to see the livestock that Chef Rene Bajeaux has behind the kitchen, and after lunch, urging among staff to get folks to crowd around 3 tables carefully diversified among the groups to talk about:
pricing
selection
distribution
Expressly: how can we get more farmers and chefs to feel like they are getting their true, deserved value in each area and to get this big idea in all and then beyond our elegant dining places with our one of a kind professional chef leaders?

Good talk, honest talk and some ideas thrown out, so much that notes and discussion and analysis are still happpening, but what is clear is a hub of some kind must be created, either virtual or real and more intentional work from marketumbrella.org Forager Mischa Byruck, who seems to be the first of his title in the country to tackle the entire entrepreneurial regional food system as his homebase.

Stay tuned.

Learn about life as a farmer...

lifeonafarm

growing a garden..

M & V and I are starting to work seriously on plants and soil. 18 free trees have been delivered by Parkway Partners and 7 more are still coming for all of the property owners who asked for one on the front of their property. Marilyn at NOFFN has offered volunteers to put the trees in the ground; that should happen next Tuesday.
We are about to plant some rye grass on the farm site and on the front of my property (see picture below) to reduce the run off of water off the front onto St. Peter. I am researching bamboo for the front of the wooden yurt and will be picking out a type that does not take over the front of the property.
Trying to find soil in the city is problematic; the person at the place that Macon recommended was incredibly hostile and told them they were closing next week. Went to Grant's place (Laughing Buddha on Cleary), and he was gracious and helpful.
All of the AgCenter literature is out, as we read and puzzle about which type of fig trees and citrus trees we want to have on the farm and in our yards.



Next, is the vetiver for soil erosion; stay tuned!