URBAN FARMERS...WELL KINDA.

When my grandfather started living with us he helped us get our urban farm on. He's a mathematician as well who taught for over 36 years, yet he seemed more proud to tell you that he also was an "Ag" man aka agriculture. He used to tell us many stories about how they were able to survive the Depression because everyone in his area was self sufficient. They grew most of there food and had a well in the backyard to draw water from. As long as I can remember my grandparents had veggies/fruits growing in the yard.

MY GREAT GREAT GRANDPARENTS CUPBOARD

MY GREAT UNCLE AT THEIR "URBAN" FARM

 My grandparents-in-law have the same principles running through there veins. Before Katrina, they had the most enviable orange and grapefruit trees in town. The whole family would eat off of those trees, they couldn't give them away fast enough. Grandpa Percy would always say "take as many as you want". And we did...

My great aunt Stella & uncle Homer had beaucoup apple and fig trees in the yard. It was like a mini orchard on an acre of land. I really miss those days...previous heirs sold the land but I hear the land is still producing much fruit. The pics above are actual pictures of my ancestor's "urban" farm. I recently found these pictures in my grandfather's keepsake book. I felt so blessed to find such rich history...so glad grandpa keeps everything.

Well, with this stock running through our blood it was only natural that we would get the urban farmer bug. Thanks to grandpa we actually started a few different backyard gardens over the past 5 years. Unfortunately, this year we didn't have grandpa to water and take care of our garden so we started on a smaller scale this year. 

So far, we have oranges finally coming in on our orange trees as well as some lemons. My green thumb husband took some watermelon seeds from a watermelon and planted them in the yard a few months ago. Well, low and behold watermelon started popping up every where even in our neighbors yard. I planted an heirloom lettuce rocky top mix that is coming in nicely so far. We should have a nice salad mix for the next couple of months. I also plan to plant collard greens and kale next week. I will keep you posted. 

Sweet Watermelon

Lettuce Rocky Top Mix

up close of lettuce mix 4-5 weeks later.

Navel Orange

Navel Orange Tree

Farmers Market Haul...Son's Hand lol

 We have a few farmers markets in our area that have reasonable prices for quality produce you just can't get in the grocery store. I got the above fruits/veggies for $25. This week I will make beets salad, fresh orange juice, strawberry smoothies, bake sweet potatoes, kale chips and steam broccoli/cauliflower.

-Sweet Potatoes (Pointe Coupee Growers Co-op, Pointe Coupee Parish)

-Navel Oranges (Star Nursery, Belle Chase, LA)

-Satsumas (Star Nursery, Belle Chase, LA)

-LA Sweet Oranges (Star Nursery, Belle Chase, LA)

-Pink Grapefruit (Star Nursery, Belle Chase, LA)

-Head of Broccoli (Monica's Okra World, Garyville, LA)

-Strawberries (Johnsdale's Farm, Ponchatoula, LA)

-Carrots or Kale (Monica's Okra World, Fekete Farms, Garden Guy Produce, & Vintage Garden Farm)

-Cilantro (Fekete Farms, Hungarian Settlement, LA)

-Head of Cauliflower (Glaser's Produce, New Roads, LA)

-All Natural Herbs (Community Growers, Hollygrove, NOLA)

-Beets (Fekete Farms, Monica's Okra World)

So what fresh food will you be eating this week?