One bite and you will taste (and see) the difference between local farm fresh strawberries and the supermarket variety. Not only do local berries taste sweeter, they also are red all the way through as they are fully grown. Local strawberries are allowed to ripen in the fields and picked at the peak of freshness. …
Rhubarb is a vegetable often put into the same culinary uses as fruits. Rhubarb consists of red stalks (similar in texture to celery) with long green leaves which are non-edible. Considered a powerhouse veggie rhubarb is rich in phytochemicals, phenols, as well as other vitamins, minerals and nutrients. Rhubarb is in season April through June …
Father’s Day is celebrated annually on the third Sunday in June as a way of honoring those who embrace the role of fatherhood. Names for fathers vary and include dad, father, pop, papa, poppa and so many more variations. Historians say that the very first Father’s Day occurred on June 19, 1910 in Spokane Washington …
There are two measures that matter most when growing plants in your home garden: the hardiness zone and frost dates. These provide a helpful guide for best planting times to safely plant in different regions of the country. Our zone in Northern NJ is 6 which indicates that it is safe to plant in our …
Leeks are in the allium family related to onions, garlic, chives, shallots, ramps and scallions. One taste and you will be able to tell that very easily. Leeks have a sweet, milder onion flavor that works so well as a base for soups, stews, pasta dishes. It’s a long bulbous vegetable with white flesh and …
It’s Mid May here in Chester NJ, and that means it’s safe to plant without fear of frost in this region, so it’s time to get outside to the garden. Gardening is such a great pastime with so many added benefits. It can help reduce stress, helps you connect with nature while staying active, and …
Asparagus is a nutrient-dense perennial vegetable and a member of the lily family. It is only harvested during spring months in our area, so when it’s available be sure not miss the chance to savor some of these tender veggies. Remember that eating in season and eating local is more sustainable and tastes best! We …
It’s been a cold start to the Spring season and if you have visited our farm you may have noticed that we have a wide variety of our own fresh picked produce available in our farm store. How does that happen when it’s cold outside? It starts with hard work and planning along with the …
Farmer’s Folklore and wisdom was a necessary way to pass down knowledge through families and generations. It was a way for Farmers to pass along historical information and to preserve oral history. This provided a sense of community for their rural lifestyles and brought people together. This was done through these sayings, songs, and tales …
Greens is a common term used to describe the leaves of green vegetables that are eaten as food. Greens comprise a wide list of vegetables that we grow on our farm, including; kale, arugula, spinach, lettuce, sorrel, mizuna, swiss or rainbow chard, mustard greens, Tatsoi to name a few. Greens are not only limited to …
If you visited our farm during our Springtime Festival you would have seen the regenerative agriculture work we are doing here on our farm namely on the hill overlooking the orchards. Restoring this land back into productivity will help with sequestering carbon. When carbon is stored in the earth, there is less carbon in the …
Meet Trish Cirelli, our CSA administrator here at Alstede Farms. Trish adores being a part of our Community Supported Agriculture program as she just loves helping people enjoy all the benefits of eating farm fresh. Some of her best recipes she has learned from our culinary specialist or from CSA members themselves. It’s their interest …
