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I can hardly believe that Dan the Man and I found time in our crazy busy schedule to take a "field trip!" What is even more amazing to me is that I got Dan the Man to go on a "field trip" with me! LOL! After we finished our chores on Saturday, I talked Dan the Man into going to the Wind Harvest Farms with me. I have been wanting to go there since I read about them in the paper either last year or maybe it was the year before. We are in a bad habit of not taking the time to go and do things that we would really like to do because of the great excuse of "we don't have time today." Who else falls victim to this? Is there anyone else out there who always feels like their plate is too full and doesn't have room for dessert? Well, that's how I feel most of the time during the summer and I know that it just isn't true. I'm trying to break that habit and leave a little room for dessert on my plate every once in a while. I encourage you to do the same.
So here is the lowdown on the Wind Harvest Farms. The Wind Harvest Farms is owned and operated by Jeff and Diane Edwards. It is located 8.3 miles north of Henry and offers an array of produce and fruit along with various value-added products. The Edwards plan on offering asparagus, strawberries, sweet corn, raspberries, melons and various squash this year. All berries are offered for sale as u-pick or pre-picked. If you don’t have time to run out to the farm, you will be able to find them at the Morrill Farmers Market on Tuesdays, 3:30-6:30 PM and at either of the Torrington Farmers Markets on Thursdays 3:30-6:30 PM or Saturdays 7:30-11:00 AM. These Markets are open mid-July through mid-October.
Dozen of Strawberry Blooms!
What a wonderful surprise to find this little jewel in our part of the state. The Edwards were gracious enough to give us a tour of the farm and explain their operation to us. We started the tour in the strawberry fields where rows and rows of several varieties of strawberries are just beginning to ripen. Diane has already been selling strawberries and predicts that the berries will be in peak production within a week. I am definitely going to buy enough to make some strawberry jam!!!!! I'll post a recipe later for you so you can do the same. If you haven't ever made jam before, don't worry, it is soooooooo easy. Trust me!
Tons of Strawberries like this on each and every plant!
Next to the strawberries are rows and rows of raspberry bushes beginning their journey to their fall harvest. I can hardly wait to come back in the fall and pick some. Just the other day I was talking with a chicken customer of mine and asked if they had heard of the Wind Harvest Farms and they said “Oh yes! They have the absolute best raspberries!” After the berries, we glanced at the other crops.
Rows of Raspberry Bushes!
Dan the Man and I were both fascinated with the asparagus, neither one of us had ever seen an asparagus plant. It made me realize how far removed we can become from our food source if we choose to alienate ourselves from the process. Did you know that asparagus can grow under the surface of the soil and if not harvested can grow to 8 feet tall? The day we visited was the last day for the asparagus harvest, but now I know for next year when it is available and I definitely plan on getting in on that culinary treat.
Jeff pointing out an asparagus plant poking out of the soil.
Newly planted apple and plum trees.
After the tour of the various crops, we moseyed on over to the store. What a beautiful building! Inside on the first level is the store and a BEAUTIFUL commercial kitchen (be still my heart, I would love a commercial kitchen!!!) I had to control myself and not run my hands over each shiney piece of stainless steel! Oh, what I could do with a stove like that! And a walk-in freezer like THAT and a WALK-IN refrigerator like THAT! Okay, I'll stop now, I'm getting way too excited. Back to the kitchen, which I do love. This is where Diane makes all her jellies, jams, pies and other desserts and what ever else she makes. Lucky girl that Diane is! I asked her if she held any cooking classes there. She said not at this time and I told her I thought she could do pretty well teaching people how to make jams and jellies, but I'm sure, just like me, Diane's days are busy! And besides, who am I to tell her how to run her business! LOL!
Jeff and Diane in their commercial kitchen.
I knew immediately that I had a "kindred spirit" in Diane when I realized that the color scheme she had chosen inside was the same as the one I had chosen for my studio!! Red and Yellow, and the exact same shades I think, along with hard wood floors. Upstairs houses an "art gallery" in which local artists have pieces for sale. Like a dork, I have forgotten the name of the photographer that has things for sale there, but they (the pictures) were beautiful and very reasonably priced.
Upstairs in the "Art Gallery"
There is also a beautiful room, almost like a dining room, where groups can come and enjoy the farm while having a meeting, playing cards or just to enjoy each others company. This is a perfect place for various "ladies groups" to come. Diane said that she makes dessert for them along with coffee and tea. Her desserts feature whatever is in season. If you belong to such a group that has meetings or such, you should consider this as your next gathering spot! If you would also like, you can congregate on the patio outside!
"Dining" room upstairs, but this is only half of the room.
I realized I didn't take a picture of the other half which also has a nice table.
Patio outside!
Diane and her strawberries!
(I snagged this photo off her website, she said it was okay!)
I am especially excited for the upcoming Strawberry Festival at the Wind Harvest Farms this Saturday, June 26th from 10am to dusk. The festival will host a day full of strawberry picking, a Farmers Market from 10 AM-1 PM featuring local producers (including me!!) and vendors, a lunch featuring pork sandwiches prepared by Ron and Lynn Pulley of Heritage Hogs and strawberry sundaes prepared with strawberries from the Farm and if that in its self isn’t enough, there will also be live music by the Ft. Laramie Fiddlers from 1 PM-2:30 PM. For more information on the Wind Harvest Farms you can contact the Edwards at (308)247-2334 or check out their website at
www.WindHarvestFarms.com.
Roadside stand they use in the summer on an honor system.
Jeff, Diane and Dan the Man shooting the breeze.Hope to see you this Saturday at the Strawberry Festival!
Happy Pickers!
This is where you got your flat for picking and payed for your purchase.
"Hay Castle" for the kid-o's to play in.
Dan the Man manning our booth.
Our booth, look free recipes!!
Libby Lundgren and her weaving booth. Several kids tried their hands at weaving with Libby's instruction! She's got those table-top looms for sale. Neat stuff!
Other vendors including a "Bread-Lady" from Torrington, Goshen County Mastergardners, Lingle High School FBLA (I think it was the FBLA) selling plants, and someone selling various hand sewn goods along with soaps and such and someone else had dry beans for sale, all different varietals, I guess I didn't get a picture of her table, sorry bean lady!
Jeff and Diane being interviewed for the live broadcast with KGOS.
Ron & Lynne Pulley serving pulled pork sandwiches, which were delicious.
Cute dog!
Ft. Laramie Fiddlers were fantastic! So fun to listen to them.
Fantastic harmonica player!
Hey, is this guy and the fiddle player brothers?
Nice sized crowd eating lunch and enjoying the music.
Making the strawberry sundaes!
Diane in her strawberry apron with a strawberry sundae. The sundaes were worth the drive if you ask me! (Dan the Man asked me to go get him one and like the loving wife that I try to be, I gladly obliged. But on the way back to the booth I started chatting with someone and had to eat the sundae before it melted. By the time I made it back to our booth and Dan the Man, the sundae was gone!
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