Wednesday, October 28, 2015

What's in a name...

Several people have asked about our farm's name, so I typed up the long-winded lengthy answer.  ;)

When we decided to establish our farm on some family land in the shadow of Six Mile Mountain, we wanted a name... one that reminded us of the history of the land and also represented our future.  We settled on Seven Springs Farm.


The old, terraced cow pasture where our home will be currently hosts a multitude of wildlife including deer, turkey, and beaver.  The surrounding woods boast an old logging road, indicating one of the land's past uses.  Our goal is to reclaim enough of the pasture in as sustainable a manner as possible, for our home, animals and garden/ farm area.  The rest we want to remain natural so we can enjoy the great outdoors in our own backyard.



The spring-fed pond was built by my husband's grandfather back before his parents had bought the land and was a pay pond in its heyday.  We hope to install a pump system to use the pond for crop irrigation and watering our animals.  It's also one of our boys' favorite spots to fish for bass and bream.


The creek flowing out of the pond tumbles over rocks as it winds its way along the edge of the woods.  For me, there is not a more soothing sound. We're in the process of clearing out some walking paths along the creek so we can enjoy it even more.

My father-in-law used to talk about the 7 natural springs that were scattered across the property.  We have found several and others are underneath the pond.  We'll be raising our 5 boys here and they think it's unique that there is one spring for each member of our family.  :)

We found this verse in Deuteronomy 8:7 and thought it was a fitting verse for our farm.   We feel so blessed and thankful God has allowed us to establish our home at Seven Springs Farm:
"For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land-- a land with brooks, streams, and deep springs gushing out into the valleys and hills."

Thank you so much for sharing our belief that fresh, local and natural is best.  We really appreciate the tremendous support we've received in our first year!

Friday, September 4, 2015

Availability List for this week

Cilantro
Flat Parsley
Curly Parsley
Oregano
Sweet Basil
Thai Basil
Lime Basil
Cinnamon Basil
Holy Basil (Tulsi)
Chives
Rosemary
Sage
Thyme
Lemon Balm
Peppermint
Bee Balm

Monday, May 18, 2015

Availability This Week

Basil is ready!  We have several varieties including Sweet, Thai, Lime and Purple.  Also available this week are Parsley, Cilantro, Lemon Balm, Peppermint, Oregano, and Bee Balm.  The Rosemary and Thyme are almost ready!  We still have Jerusalem Artichoke plants for sale, and delicious Kale!  Let us know what you'd like!  

Don't Count Kale Out!

When you mention kale, a lot of people immediately think "health food" or "green smoothies". ;) Besides the traditional ways to enjoy this healthy, leafy treat, kale can be eaten as a chip!  That's right, Kale chips are easy to make, delicious and good for you!  Warning: kale chips are addictive and may require baking of repeated batches.

Seven Springs Farm has plenty of fresh kale for sale!  You may contact us directly or it is also available through Clemson Area Food Exchange (www.cafe.com) and Six Mile Farmer's Depot (Thursdays, Main St. Six Mile, 4-7pm).  


                     Kale Chips

1 bunch kale
1 tsp sea salt or seasoned salt for more flavor
1 Tbsp olive oil

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  You may line a baking sheet with parchment paper or spray lightly with a cooking spray.

2. Wash and dry kale leaves well.  Tear or cut leaves off of the thick stems and tear into but size pieces.  

3. Drizzle kale with olive oil and sprinkle with salt. 

4.  Bake 10-15 minutes until leaf edges are browned and crispy. (Do not let them burn).

Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Herb Butter for Extra Flavor

The multitude of culinary herbs add such delicious flavor when cooking.  Whether it be a marinated chicken breast, a creamy sauce or a hot slice of bread, herbs impart their unique taste to each recipe. A fun way to give a little boost to your dishes is with homemade herb butter!

There are many different recipes for herb butter or you can create your own unique spread.  It is so easy to make these!  We enjoy our homemade herb butters on fresh bread or with grilled chicken or fish. The one I make most often is an Italian spread.


Italian Herb Butter

Take one stick of real butter and allow to soften to room temperature.  In a large mixing bowl, combine the following herbs and seasonings with the butter:

1 Tbsp Italian herb seasoning
1/2 tsp minced garlic
Ground sea salt to taste
A small pinch of ground peppercorn 

Mix with a large spatula until ingredients are mixed thoroughly. Spoon mixture onto a piece of wax the edge of a piece of wax paper, rolling into a log.  Chill until firm.  The herb butter is best used within a short amount of time to avoid spoiling or it can be kept in the freezer and cut off as needed.  

Now, for our exciting news!  Seven Springs Farm is thrilled to announce we will soon be carrying our own dried herb blends for cooking.  We will have several to choose from including a Garlic Sea Salt blend (made from our own fresh garlic), Seasoning Salt, Lemon Pepper, Ranch Dressing mix, and of course, Italian seasoning.  Fresh herbs are healthy and delicious, but in lieu of fresh, locally-grown dried herbs are best!  

A sincere thanks to all our customers!  We love what we do and enjoy being your local provider for fresh, naturally-grown herbs.  Please contact us with any questions or for orders.  Our products may also be purchased through the Clemson Area Food Co-op (CAFE) or Six Mile Farmer's Depot.
 

Monday, April 20, 2015

The Appeal of Cilantro

To many people, cilantro is one of those herbs that, because of its distinctive aroma and taste, makes you think of certain foods.  Around our house, cilantro is very popular.  Cilantro is bursting with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and phytonutrients.  It is good and good for you!

One of our family's most often requested meals is Black Bean Corn Salsa.  We eat it with corn chips or in a wrap.  It's also fantastic just by itself!                    

Another delicious summer cilantro recipe is Cilantro Lime Chicken.  As a bonus, this one is made in the crockpot!  

      Black Bean Corn Salsa recipe                                         
                                                                                       













      Cilantro Lime Chicken recipe
 

Photos courtesy Foodnetwork.com and Allrecipes.com




Friday, April 17, 2015

Get ready for summer with Peppermint Lemonade!

This sounds like the perfect beverage to cool off with after a hot, summer day.  Besides being refreshing, both lemon and peppermint are excellent for aiding indigestion.  Mix up a batch of this delicious lemonade for your next backyard cookout or BBQ.  We have fresh peppermint available all summer long!

Recipe for Peppermint Lemonade