8-1-18 Market Update – Please see our Market Page for times and schedule of our market visits. We have Melons (both Cantaloupe and Watermelons), Tomatoes, Basil, and Cut Flowers ready now. Eggplants and Peppers (both Sweet and Hot) coming in the next few weeks. Contact us here at the farm if you want more information or to purchase direct from the farm.
3-19-18 market products update – We are working on the 2018 Fruits/Vegetables page and updating the 2018 offerings. We have several exciting new selections of basil, eggplant, and a new tomato from West Virginia we believe will do well in our climate. We ordered some pickling cucumber seeds that were standards in the Chicago markets at the turn of the century for my mom’s small garden; we will also plant some in our cucumber patch here at the farm this year. Of course we will have your favorites and will be planting more of the Kajari Melon (see header on this page for a picture) this year. This melon from India is as tasty as it is beautiful and will surely sell out quickly like it has in the past. The Ozark Pink has become our standard market tomato, it is reliable, tasty, productive, and can handle the heat of the summers here as well as the rainy seasons. The current seed we have planted are Bedford Garden 5th generation seed so they are fully acclimated to our unique terroir.
2-25-18 update – Rain Rain Go Away Come Back in The Summer! The rains of January and February have been torrential but we are surviving. We spent the last two day sloshing around in the septic leach field with a chainsaw and shovels trying to brush it out to drain it and we were successful. Living on a farm has many advantages, but being connected to city sewer is not one of them! Meanwhile two stray cats showed up after the last freeze and have found comfort in our cellar and seem to be enjoying their new food choices – we are now up to 3 dogs and 3 cats at Bedford Garden. Seeding will begin next week for indoor starts. We are planting later this season because last year we sold out by August; hopefully this year we can go through early September and have more products for the customers at the local markets. We are going to plant tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, herbs, flowers, and of course our specialty melons this year. We will have a posting of our selections up here soon. The melon on our home page sitting on the whiskey barrel is my all time favorite melon. It is a Kajari melon from India. They are beautifully colored with a sweet pale green flesh that is aromatic, a bit musky, and simply delicious. We will be planting them again this year for market sales. Last year we planted some for our own table and to harvest seeds for a larger market planting – success!
11-12-17 sales update – We still have Aloe Vera plants available. We sell two sizes in small and large pots. Aloe is a hardy succulent that is drought tolerant. It is easy to grow and maintain indoors or to keep outside in the summer. Our aloe is the type that people use for burns and to enhance healing. Simply cut off a leaf and split it down the middle, then place the gel from the leaf on the burn. They look great on a windowsill and will give your winter home some nice foliage. These plants are big sellers at the market and they make a nice gift. Use the contact form for questions and to place an order. The small pots are $3.99 and the large $5.99. We have over 100 potted plants on site, we will happily discount large orders. We will deliver locally for free.
10-15-17 update – Fall is finally arriving here at Bedford Garden, With lingering heat and humidity the fall colors have been slow to turn, but we are finally seeing the leafs drop. We had a chance to add a new recipe in the Food Section of the web page for Sourdough Starter and Bread. Please take a look at it and feel free to offer your suggestions. We are regularly in the gardens cleaning up and getting things ready for overwinter.
As of 8-26-17 we are sold out of all of our locally grown organic summer produce, please see the 2017 blog post for an update on the 2017 season. Thank you to all our customers for a successful market season, and we look forward to working with you again in spring 2018. If you are a local chef or retail outlet and would like to discuss a specialty growing request for next season please use the contact form.
5-07-17 update – Spring has sprung here in Tennessee! Our farm survived a small tornado in April, although some of our neighbors suffered severe damage and there were power lines down all along the highway. One of us was home alone with the pups and the cat, while the others drove right through it by accident when it was on the ground. There were limited warnings and it was fierce with loose stuff flying all around. Our thoughts are with everyone who lost animals and equipment; but thankfully no human life was lost. A big thank you to our power company for getting the power back on so quickly – within 24 hours! The utilities people work in some awful conditions to help us, and I think Americans take for granted just how wonderful life is with an excellent and efficient power grid (a big shout out to my cousin who worked for the power company). Although the current administration seems hell bent on destroying much of the progress we have gained over the years with such things as wind and solar power that are improving long term supplies and reducing costs. Maybe some of the elites in trump’s Washington swamp should head outside and work once in a while doing some actual labor and see just how powerful the sun and the wind really are! We will be up on the roof next week replacing shingles and crossing our fingers for no structural damage from the tornado. We are busy planning and planting for the 2017 season and look forward to seeing everyone at our market stands in 2017. Wee are out in the fields daily working with the soil and dealing (sometimes cussing) with the weather conditions; temperatures have fluctuated from the high 80’s (day) to the mid 30’s (overnights) and rain has come in torrents. This morning we woke to 39 degrees (5/7) – Brrrr! We are excited to be growing some new (heirloom) varieties of tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, and melons as well as our old favorites that everyone enjoys. Please feel free to look through the website to find out what we are up to at Bedford Garden.
I was searching for ideas for a name for our new watermelon grown here at Bedford Garden and I came across this wonderful poem by a fellow named Jeff Breese. When I read his bio, a few things hit home in regard to his motivation for writing; but when I read this poem it reminded me of waking and working and enjoying our farm here at Bedford Garden, thank you Mr. Breese.
With childhood eyes, reflecting
Clear mountain day, remembering
Fresh cut hay, reviving
Together we’d play, etching
Memories never to be forgotten
The morning crisp, awakening
Aromas hint, of baking
Small morning eyes, awaiting
The wrinkled chef, creating
The delicacies of home-made art
Calloused hands, observing
A rugged land, preserving
Unwilling souls, still learning
Dust and heat for hours, shaping
Young men soon to face the world
Cool mountain shadow, approaching
The weathered rancher, nodding
Nightly ventures, seeking
The crystal streams, providing
All a boy could ever want
The dinner table, calling
The cold night gently, falling
The glow from window, beaming
Through which family is seen, praying
Thanking God for what He’s given
The warm fire softly, crackling
The elder folk, chatting
While childhood eyes slip, drifting
Off to pleasant dreams, forever
Calling my heart back home to Bedford
Bedford Garden of Tennessee 