Category Archives: Howard County

Strawberries at Gorman Farm Today

Posted on May 15, 2013 by AnnieRie

I stopped by Gorman Farm today to say hi to Dave and check out the strawberries. I will have a long farm report in a few weeks once the farm stand opens but pick your own strawberries just began yesterday.

Check their facebook page to see what days they will have strawberries. Dave told me they might not be open some days to allow for more ripening for the weekend. There was a steady stream of visitors at 2 pm when I was there.

I didn’t pick today as I didn’t have the time to stay, and I would rather enlist my helper aka my better half to make picking go quicker. I did manage to pick up a pre-picked pint to use in a few salads since we got lots of greens in the CSA. Eight of them didn’t make it home though. This is what’s left when I got there.

So much better tasting than those institutional strawberries at the supermarket. As for other HoCo farms with berries, not ready yet. TLV Tree Farm told me maybe two weeks. Larriland also isn’t open. Their web site says something about late May. Cold weather will do that to you.

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Posted in Farmer's Markets, Farms, Food, Howard County, Local Businesses, Locavore, Weather and tagged farmer's markets, farms, Food, Howard County, local businesses, weather. Bookmark the permalink.

Back in the Saddle Again

Posted on May 14, 2013 by AnnieRie

West County style.

The tractor. Probably driven some weeks more than the car. At least in hours.

I used to ride the tractor more than my husband. He did the trim stuff. The weed whacking. The cleaning around trees and under bushes. I rode the tractor. Until my surgery. Since then, I haven’t been on the tractor. October 2011, the last time I cut the grass.

Today I mowed the back yard. Slowly. Carefully. But, still a big deal for me to feel like I am once again back in tune with the land where we live. I also spent lots of time planting veggies. All but the tomatoes. Tomorrow is tomato planting day. All 40 plants. I must be crazy. Or a canning, freezing fool. Twenty cages each in two sections of the garden.

Finally, it seems we are past the cold weather. Last night I used row covers to keep the herbs safe.

Today, I spent all day out in the glorious weather getting things in the ground. So glad my surgery is behind me and I can do those things I love, like plant my garden. The cukes are in. Ten plants.

Putting anything interesting in the garden this year? I planted Thelma Sanders squash. They need 110 days until they produce. That means babying them until September. And, Japanese white sweet potatoes, in a shady spot.

So glad spring is finally here. Even if the rhododendron are late, as are other flowers. Spring just creeps up on us and the flowers burst forth with color.

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Posted in Food, Gardening, Howard County, Nature, Real Food, Weather, West HoCo and tagged Food, gardening, heirloom tomatoes, Howard County, nature, spring flowers, tomatoes, West HoCo. Bookmark the permalink.

Wegmans, wordbones and howchow

Posted on May 13, 2013 by AnnieRie

Say what? This title conveys my route to finding howchow and wordbones aka Dennis Lane. I am a foodie, and yes, a locavore, but still a foodie. Hunt Valley Wegmans was an amazing source of foods years ago, when we ran up and down I-83 to PA to visit my MIL.

Rumors that HoCo was getting a Wegmans sent me on a google search which led me to howchow. This post sent me to discover Tales of Two Cities, and all that lovely inside information Dennis managed to find.

I used howchow to find restaurants and checked out a few posts about Wegmans by Dennis. A year or so later, I started blogging. I approached howchow to get linked into his web site, and he graciously helped me with links and references. I owe quite a bit to him in getting me local readers last year.

I then met Dennis at my first hocoblogs party, and we talked about many mutual friends. A week later, after my spinal fusion, I was housebound, so I read his entire blog. WOW, what I learned about living here would fill a book!

Tales of Two Cities gave me more info about HoCo than any newspapers did. For me, though, having Dennis add me to his sidebar, and help me grow my locavore/retiree/west county blog was just one of those unselfish things HoCo bloggers like he and howchow did.

This little blogging community is simply awesome. We really care about where we live and what we do. Missing Dennis’ blog will be difficult for many. Missing his close friendship is something I won’t experience as he was a new friend, but I read in their blogs about the closeness of his friendships with my fellow bloggers and I see their pain.

From my little corner of the blogosphere, I think HoCo has many talented writers who will stand up and blog more to share things all of us love about living here.

The local bloggers are wearing red this week to celebrate Dennis’ life. I have nowhere special to go but here is my “red”.

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Posted in Commentary, Community, Howard County, Local Businesses, Locavore, People and tagged commentary, community, Food, foodie, hoco loco, hocoblogging, Howard County, local businesses, Locavore, wegman's. Bookmark the permalink.

A Hole in Our Hearts

Posted on May 10, 2013 by AnnieRie

I can’t even imagine how it feels to have this happen. To lose someone you love like this.

One of our best bloggers, someone we knew and liked, for years, is so tragically taken from us.

My favorite picture of Dennis.

Another Columbia pioneer. Whose blog was the second one I read in Howard County. Howchow was the first, and howchow’s blog sent me to Dennis aka wordbones.

We shared quite a bit. A hair stylist. Wayne at Cavallero. An old neighbor, who worked with him on Columbia Festival, Nichole Hickey. We talked at the hocoblogs parties about our small worlds, where we knew many of the same people.

When I was recovering from surgery, I read his entire blog. From 2006 until 2012. I learned so much about this county. Dennis really loved it here. He came here in 1968. Me in 1975. We talked the last time I saw him, about the Columbia Game. The monopoly like game from 30 years ago.

Dennis loved everything about his two cities. We will miss him greatly.

Rest in peace, friend and inspiration.

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Posted in Community, Howard County, People and tagged community, Howard County. Bookmark the permalink.

A Mother’s Day Garden Party

Posted on May 9, 2013 by AnnieRie

At the Conservancy.

May 11th Saturday morning at 10am. A Mothers’ Day Special-

Enjoy a beautiful Springtime morning out with your mother or a friend! Sip tea and sample home baked scones at the historic Brown sisters’ farmhouse.

Stroll to the Conservancy’s 8 gardens and talk with the garden clubs, Master Gardeners, and staff who design and maintain these gardens year round.

$5 per person, $10/family. In case of inclement weather, check website. This is something new the volunteers have been working. A Mother’s Day event. Last year we had children make cards and bouquets for their moms and grandmoms. This year, eight of the gardens will be open with many of them having the local garden clubs there to talk about what they do, at the Conservancy and in their clubs.

Additionally, the Master Gardeners will be at the historic garden plots. The community garden managers will be there to talk about their gardens, and the volunteers who will be busy grooming the Honors Gardens for Wine in the Garden will be hard at work, taking care of the three acre native plant site.

Crossing our fingers that the weather is lovely. At least the gardens are flourishing from these spring showers.

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Posted in Community, Gardening, Howard County, Volunteering and tagged community, family, gardening, Howard County, howard county conservancy, spring flowers, volunteering. Bookmark the permalink.

Early Bird CSA Week Ten …

Posted on May 8, 2013 by AnnieRie

… the drowning in greens week is here. In a good way, though.

Lots of greens in this week’s selection at Breezy Willow. We got:

half pound salad mix
one bunch rainbow chard
one pound spinach
radishes with greens attached
Zucchini (which I swapped for more radishes)
Asparagus
Spring onions
Three pounds red potatoes

Plus, I picked Great Harvest White Bread this week, and got my dozen eggs.

If that wasn’t enough, I stopped by Miller Library today for Thai foods and cheese, and was swayed into buying this peppery lovely arugula from Love Dove.

You can tell it isn’t sprayed or treated. Those little chomps by insects. I would rather have greens with holes than greens full of pesticides.

With all the greens that came today, I had to use up the kale from last week, as well as the chard from Burtonsville. So, I made a frittata.

A kitchen sink frittata. Throw everything in the cast iron skillet. First, onions, garlic and chard stems. Followed by kale and chard. Add eggs with parmesan, chicken stock, salt and pepper. Let it cook a few minutes then finish in the oven. Served with a mixed green salad and CSA supplied grapefruit.

It does look like we will be eating lots of stir fries and salads this week.

Lovely greens.

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Posted in CSA, Farmer's Markets, Farms, Food, Howard County, Local Businesses, Locavore and tagged cooking, CSA, farmer's markets, Food, foodie, hoco loco, Howard County, local businesses, Locavore. Bookmark the permalink.

Opening Day Tomorrow!

Posted on May 7, 2013 by AnnieRie

Yes, the Howard County Farmers Markets open tomorrow at Miller Library at 2 pm. The first of five straight days of producer only markets. Three are at libraries. One at the hospital and one at a village center.

I have been going to our county markets since they first opened. Back when our local market was on Cedar Lane at the church. Of course, back then I also hit Clarks Farm produce stand on the way home, too.

There is nothing like freshly picked fruit and veggies, or fresh meat and dairy. It looks like we are getting a creamery back into the market to replace South Mountain leaving us. That means fresh milk.

I will be blogging about each market. I really intend to hit all five of them if I can, in their first two weeks of being open, just to see what they are offering this year.

Even though the weather is rainy and grey, spring is definitely here when the markets open.

Buy local. Support our MD, VA and PA farms in our surrounding area.

This year it looks like they are expanding to include producers of other items. I am intrigued to check out the Thai vendor.

And, of course, to get my Stone House Bakery fix.

See you there?

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Posted in Community, Farmer's Markets, Food, Howard County, Local Businesses, Locavore and tagged community, farmer's markets, Food, hoco loco, Howard County, local businesses, Locavore. Bookmark the permalink.

To Market, To Market We Go

Posted on April 27, 2013 by AnnieRie

The markets are starting up all over the area. For those who love the farmer’s markets and the farm stands, the season is beginning. Howard County opens their markets on the 8th of May, at Miller Library. They should have their vendor lists up soon. Most of last year’s vendors will be back.

Besides these Howard County markets, if you live on the far edges of the county, there are new and existing markets just over those county lines. Like a new one in Burtonsville, just a few miles west of Rte. 29 on Rte. 198.

I haven’t checked this one out yet but I will be there soon. If you live in Fulton or Scaggsville in Howard County, this market is just across Rocky Gorge and a few miles up the road. Atwater’s will be there, and so will Orchard Breeze, where I get quite a bit of my pork products.

Of course, for those on the west edge of the county, there are markets in Mt. Airy and Olney, as well as our Glenwood Market. For those in Ellicott City or Elkridge, you also have Catonsville markets near you.

I can’t wait for the markets to open, because when they do, I almost completely subsist on market goods and products from local artisans. Avoiding those grocery stores all summer long.

Add to the markets the farm stands. I will be checking out the opening of the farm stands. Gorman, Baughers, soon should be getting early spring items.

As for my farm series, I still intend to review Gorman, Love Dove, Copper Penny, Bowling Green and Baughers. Maybe a few more. I am waiting to get their information once they open for the season.

Come on and join me. Take a pledge. Seven items bought weekly at any market(s). Essentially one item for each day of the week. Support your local farms and artisans by buying their products and incorporating them into your diet.

It’s easy. Items like honey, meats, eggs, greens, bread, jams, herbs, fruit.

We are lucky here. We have Great Harvest, Atwater’s, The Breadery, Bonaparte, Canela and Stone House, all making baked goods for us. We have many farms selling chicken, pork, lamb, beef, eggs and cheese.

If we all just buy a little every week from our farmers, we keep them solvent. Not everyone needs to join a CSA, but for the six months of markets, you can do much better than that tired old stuff in a grocery store.

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Posted in Farmer's Markets, Farms, Food, Howard County, Local Businesses, Real Food and tagged cooking, farmer's markets, Food, Howard County, local businesses, Locavore, real food. Bookmark the permalink.

Under the Weather

Posted on April 25, 2013 by AnnieRie

It never fails every spring, I pick up at least one cold while the weather keeps vacillating. Today after doing a fair amount of work in the gardens, I succumbed to that stuffy head, achy muscles and simply miserable feeling. Making me miss a hocobloggers get together at Xitomate. I judge a Mexican restaurant by their moles and their camarones dinners.

We will get there to try it with friends some night, just didn’t make it today. Besides, I can’t wait until they get to Turf Valley, much closer to our house.

Before crashing on the sofa with lemon water and rosemary crackers, I did get many of my herbs in the garden, and spent about an hour pulling up black fabric in the main veggie gardens. I will plant the tomatoes in three weeks, after the last chance of frost. Tell me, is there anything better than the scent of tomato plants?

They are all happy in the mudroom under the window facing east. As for the flowers outside, the dogwoods are blooming. The early azaleas too. I will be taking a trip to Brighton Dam tomorrow if I feel better to see what is happening there.

Yes, under the trees the dandelions are going nuts. So are all our other weeds, and the wild parsley that keeps the bunnies out of my herbs. Herbs planted and planned this year include blue sage, common sage, French tarragon, French thyme, African blue basil, marjoram and sweet basil. The chives and rosemary are coming back as well as that weed called mint. If you do nothing else, plant a few small pots of herbs. Thyme does very well around here.

As for the Thelma Sanders start from seed squash experiment, I ended up with one dozen plants from the saved seeds. Not a bad germination rate at all. There will be a section in the garden for the squash and cucumbers to hopefully happily coexist.

Finally, one last thing about locally sourced meats. We got half a lamb last week from England Acres. Twenty seven pounds. Dressed the way we wanted it. At a fraction of the cost of buying it at the store.

Next week is their first week for their chickens. Believe me, since there are none left in the freezer, I will be popping out to the farm for a couple.

I may be fighting a simple spring bug, but the weather and that beginning of growing season always gets me motivated to go out and enjoy my favorite time of year here in the midAtlantic.

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Posted in Food, Gardening, Howard County, Locavore, Nature, Restaurants, Weather, West HoCo and tagged azaleas, Food, gardening, heirloom tomatoes, hoco loco, Howard County, local businesses, Locavore, nature, spring flowers, tomatoes, weather. Bookmark the permalink.

Triadelphia Lake View Farm

Posted on April 21, 2013 by AnnieRie

The farm just down the road a piece. Closest to us, and a source of meat, eggs, plants, Christmas decorations, and veggies.

TLV Tree Farm. Known to many Howard County residents as the Christmas Tree Farm, where years ago we discovered the farm when we bought our first town house. Now known to much of Howard County as one of the farms at four of the five Farmers Markets in the county. They come to all the market days except the Thursday market.

You can go to the farm any Saturday in the winter and pick up meat, and sometimes there are eggs and Bowling Green Farm cheese in the fridge. They are open 10-2 every Saturday. I tend to stop there when I need something for a weekend dinner.

Just drive up to the farm and if no one is in the store, they have a number to call to get someone from the house. They have been farming in the county on these 100 acres for generations.

The farm house sits at the intersection of Triadelphia and Triadelphia Mill Roads. A pleasant back roads drive from Clarksville, using Triadelphia Mill, or from Columbia using Homewood, Folly Quarter, Triadelphia, what I call our direct route to Harper’s Choice. Easily accessible from Rte. 32 also.

The farm has U pick strawberry fields in the spring. Pumpkin picking, a corn maze and fall activities in October. And, of course, the Christmas tree cutting.

If you have the chance, check out their products at the markets, and then go visit the farm. Only three weeks until the 2013 markets open. TLV is present at Miller Library, Howard County Hospital, Glenwood Library and Oakland Mills markets.

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