THE ANSWER IS....

On Thursday, March 17, we posted the first WHAT IS IT?.  Leah had the first answer and she guessed tomato.  More specifically an heirloom tomato was the answer we were hunting for, but we will gladly accept tomato!

Heirloom's are generally considered to be a variety that has been passed down, through several generations of a family because of its valued characteristics. Since 'heirloom' varieties have become popular in the past few years there have been liberties taken with the use of this term for commercial purposes.

Tomato experts, Craig LeHoullier and Carolyn Male, have classified heirlooms into four categories:

1. Commercial Heirlooms: Open-pollinated varieties introduced before 1940, or tomato varieties more than 50 years in circulation.
2. Family Heirlooms: Seeds that have been passed down for several generations through a family.
3. Created Heirlooms: Crossing two known parents (either two heirlooms or an heirloom and a hybrid) and dehybridizing the resulting seeds for how ever many years/generations it takes to eliminate the undesirable characteristics and stabilize the desired characteristics, perhaps as many as 8 years or more.
4. Mystery Heirlooms: Varieties that are a product of natural cross-pollination
   of other heirloom varieties.

(Note: All heirloom varieties are open-pollinated but not all open-pollinated varieties are heirloom varieties.)
(Adapted from What is an Heirloom Tomato? - Tomato Fest.)

2010 Green Zebra, Red Zebra, Hartman's Gooseberry, and Stupice.

This year we are offering 28 heirloom varieties.  Some new, some our favorites, some little, some green, but all of them loaded with juicy, mouth watering flavor. 





Leah will be able to pick out six ready to go plants in 4" pots from either our sweet and hot pepper varieties and/or our herbs.  We will also include her choice of six tomato plants!

Thanks for participating and watch for the next installment of WHAT IS IT?

WHAT IS IT? - THE FIRST OF THE SEASON SERIES

THE CLUE
They are many different sizes, colors, shapes, and tastes.  They have fun names like Snow White, Boxcar Willie, Believe It Or Not, or Tiny Tim.  There are over 600 to choose from. 

Luke says "I think I know!"
Luke was one of our best help in 2010.

TO PARTICIPATE
1)  Well you have to go to SOL 'N TYNE BLOG. 

2)  In the comment section below this post you must leave your answer.  You cannot leave an answer until after 12:00 pm on Friday, March 18.  You also cannot post an answer on facebook - you have to leave your answer in the comment section below this post on the blog and you cannot email me the answer!

THE WINNER GETS
Soooo...what do you get if you do all the above and your answer is the FIRST correct answer after 12:00 pm on Friday, March 18.

Well.....for the very first ever SOL 'N TYNE WHAT IS IT? posts give aways - your choice from one of the following:

A) Any combo of six started hot pepper plants ready for planting the end of May. 

B) Any combo of six started sweet pepper plants ready for planting the end of May. 

C) Any combo of six started herb plants ready for planting the end of May. 

There ya have the rules and regs for the SOL 'N TYNE WHAT IS IT? give away posts!  Have fun!!!

This is the first in a series of  WHAT IS IT? give away posts.  We will do these intermittently through November 1, 2011.

SO IT BEGINS

This morning the sun was brilliant in the eastern sky, filling the Wells Creek basin with warmth, causing the snow pack to sweat moisture upward creating a bluish gray, hazy fog along the edges of the valley tree line.  She is powerful now, the sun.  She fills the land with her spring bringing heat and mud running rays.

Because of the life cycle she brings -- deposited in trays, filled with nourishing, warm dirt, are seeds of Imperial Star Artichokes, Tango Celery, Blue Solaize, Giant Musselburg, and Pricetaker Leeks, and a variety of herbs.  In a few short days we will see their little, green, sun seeking sprouts of hope! 


Ahhh spring is coming upon us and the cycle begins.  Next week more seeds, the week after more seeds, and so on until we begin the actual dirt devotion in May.

BLACK BEAN HUMMUS

My daughter shared a recipe from the Whole Foods Market website for Black Bean Hummus.  Unfortunately, the recipe was calling for an ingredient I had never heard of and another we did not have on hand.

Sooooo...we took the recipe for hummus from the Back Room Deli out of the Minnesota Homegrown cookbook, combined it with the Whole Foods Market recipe, and added some of our own modifications to make the SNT Black Bean Hummus.  After one bite we knew two batches were necessary for a Sunday afternoon visit with friends.

SOL 'N TYNE BLACK BEAN HUMMUS

Photo courtesy of Food Network

2 cups cooked organic black beans, rinsed and drained. (We used 1 15oz can Eden Organic black beans rinsed and drained.  Eden Organic uses BPA free cans.)
4 to 6 organic garlic gloves - minced
1/4 cup organic tahini (We purchase tahini in bulk at a local food co-op.)
1 to 2 T organic extra virgin olive oil
2 T organic onion - minced (we used a red onion)
1/8 cup lemon juice from an organic fresh squeezed lemon (takes about one lemon).
1 tsp sea salt
1 tsp cumin
Pinch of cayenne (we used several "pinches")
1/2 cup chopped fresh organic cilantro (optional)

Combine ALL ingredients in a food processor.  Pulse until smooth and all ingredients are combined.  Transfer to a serving bowl and fold in cilantro. 

This is simple and easy to make, delicious, and healthy.  Enjoy and share!

HOME GROWN REVOLUTION

A Homegrown Revolution! To all of you who are growing your own food - freedom!  You can do it!  If you can't grow your own ---- FIND someone who does and get on board with freedom!  Love it.  Gotta love it!!!!