As the tomato bounty comes rolling in, the question arises, "what am I going to do with all of these?"  You can't just let them rot on the counter, all that fruitfulness going to waste before your very eyes!  But, a lot of days, we don't have the time or maybe even resources to preserve our lovely tomatoes through the most common method of canning.  Did you know you can ferment your whole tomatoes?  It's quick, easy and affordable!  Not only that, but where canning kills enzymes and nutrients through its heating process, fermenting increases the  nutritional value, becoming full of beneficial bacteria that can help heal your body and give you energy.  How exciting!  Once your tomatoes are fermented, they store well in a cool place for up to 6 months and are ready to pull out,  puree and use as pizza sauce, spaghetti sauce or anything else you would like!  We hope you give it a try!  Drop us a comment if you do!

Fermented Tomatoes - Per Quart

• 3 T  Pink Himalayan Sea Salt, Realsalt, or salt of your choice (DO NOT use white table salt, as it will kill the good bacteria in your ferments... the very thing that is preserving your tomatoes.
• 1 garlic clove (optional)
  
• Whole tomatoes - as many as you believe you can squish into the jar, still leaving 1 inch of head space.
• 3-4 basil leaves/ fresh herbs of your choice (optional)
• Water (filtered or distilled)
  

Directions:
-First, clean your jar with hot soapy water before using.
-Put salt in jar, add garlic clove and fill about half full with water. 
-Stir well to dissolve salt, then add whole tomatoes and fresh herbs if using, one at a time, pushing, or "squishing" as many as you can into the jar - Medium size tomatoes work best for this. 
-Top off with water, if needed, leaving 1 inch of head space at top of jar.  Add a weight, if needed, to keep everything under the liquid and then cap off, screwing the lid loosely to allow gas to escape.  Set on counter or shelf and leave for 3 weeks to ferment, then put in refrigerator or cool area to store. 

Summertime is almost here!  We are so thankful for God's abundant blessings in every direction!  Anyone who farms knows the difficulties that can arise when you grow produce for your family and others and/or raise meat for the freezer.  Our heavenly Father is ever faithful to send rain when we need it, allow the gardens to produce to their fullest, keep the meat birds safe from a multitude of predators, as well as, protect the individuals who plant, pick and butcher meat birds.  Praise to the LORD, the Almighty!
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"Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honor and majesty.  He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills.  He watereth the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works.  He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth;...  O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches."  Psalm 104
 
Here at Reformation Farms, we have mainly been busy picking green beans and cucumbers, harvesting lettuce and rainbow chard, weeding and tending to the bee hive and meat birds.  The tomatoes, wild blackberries, raspberries and peaches are just beginning to come in, and before we know it, the wild elderberries will be fruiting - waiting to be harvested and frozen for winter use.
After taking a few weeks off from the market, we are starting up again this week!  In addition to non-GMO lettuce, arugula and herbs, we will also have non-GMO green beans and non-GMO cucumbers for sale when there is an over-abundance.  Come and see us at the Collegedale Commons on Wednesdays from 4-6pm! 

Georgia peaches, raspberries and wild blackberries.

A recent harvest - 35 lbs. of onions!

Reformation Farm's latest venture - beekeeping!

Our batch of 40 Cornish Cross meat birds are almost ready to be butchered and put in the freezer!

A pretty poppy with one of Reformation Farms' honey bees collecting pollen.

It's that time of year again when we start freshening up our gardens for another season of growing!  Here at Reformation Farms, we are busily preparing for another year of producing fresh greens and veggies and all of that starts with... the soil!  What an amazing setup right under our feet.  Simple yet complex, humble yet so stunning, Gods beautifully designed system gives such an abundance if we give to it abundantly with the resources our Maker provides!   As you all may be "digging" into your garden plans (pun intended ; )  we thought we would post a few of the things we are doing to achieve maximum fertility this year:

1. Take A Soil Test                                                                                                                            This may seem like an obvious suggestion, but it's amazing what you learn about your particular soil needs after getting a soil analysis (we are not talking about a local university lab where they only test N, P, K and PH levels.)  Logan Labs, located in Lakeview, OH, is the company we have had great results with and they have affordable prices with straight forward instructions anyone can follow.   We definitely recommend them!
2. Get a Soil Recommendation                                                                             ​It's one thing to get a soil test, but it's a totally different thing to decipher what all of those numbers mean.  Having someone else give you a professional reading and recommendation is absolutely the easiest and most stress free option out there.  They not only interpret the soil test, but they also tell you what to buy and how much to apply to get your mineral levels where they need to be.  Here is a link to the gentleman we consulted.  www.soilminerals.com/soiltestservices.htm​​
3. Apply Extra Compost                                                                                                      Adding extra compost to your soil - especially if it's a first year garden - really boosts soil health and overall yield.  Also, feeding the organisms living in your garden is a very important part of sustainable agriculture.  When you put compost and organic material down, worms, nematodes, fungi and other micro organisms attack and process it, turning it into something your plants can utilize.  Without organic material to attract and feed these little power houses, your dirt (i.e. minerals) are just sitting, waiting to be mined.  How does this affect your plants?  Well, they either are stunted in their growth, or they die all together.  We can see then that these macro and micro-organisms are really the key to a successful garden.
4. Cover The Soil With A Mulch                                                                                    In addition to compost, we have found another amazing boost to overall soil health is always keeping it covered, especially in the hot and humid summer months.  A covering, whether it be wood chips, leaves, grass clippings, landscaping fabric, or even compost, keeps the soil moist for your plant's root systems.  This allows you to water less, keeps your beautiful soil and mineral amendments from washing away, provides a welcoming environment for all of your beneficial insects to hide, and much, much more.  This is also one of the best ways to attract earth worms if you don't have a large population already established in your soil.

​Hopefully this was helpful to someone today!  May God Bless and happy Gardening!

This past week, we were excited to find out that Ray Tyler of Rose Creek Farms will be speaking at the Redeeming the Dirt Conference this year!  We would encourage you to read Noah Sanders' full post on his website -
redeemingthedirt.com/2018/09/17/does-jesus-want-us-to-sell-food-or-give-it-away/. 

​Below, is a portion of his post...

"I am excited to have Ray Tyler of Rose Creek Farms joining us for the conference! He is going to share his family’s testimony of learning to run a small farm business in a way that facilitates the things God calls them to as his disciples. Over the years Ray has gone from working super hard with an overwhelming farm business, to being a skilled farm craftsman with a highly productive and profitable farm that leaves plenty of time for family and other activities. Ray also educates other farmers in the skills and mindsets that have helped him so much over the years."

If you are interested in coming to the Redeeming the Dirt Conference click the following link for more info or to register!
Register for the 2018 Redeeming the Dirt Conference!

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Last year, a couple of us had the incredible opportunity to visit Noah Sanders' farm in Alabama to be taught the principles of Foundations for Farming based on God's Word.  We came away inspired, blessed, refreshed and equipped with the needed knowledge to farm and garden according to God's standards.  A few of us will be attending the conference in October and encourage you to consider being a part of the Redeeming the Dirt Conference, as well!  

The information below came from his website:   https://redeemingthedirt.regfox.com/redeeming-the-dirt-2018.  For additional information, visit: redeemingthedirt.com/2018/08/03/registration-now-open-for-the-redeeming-the-dirt-conference-2018/.

 Wanted: Champions for Jesus in Agriculture!

Come gather with Christian farmers and gardeners from around the country in Rockford, Alabama on October 11-13, 2018. 

Do you love Jesus and love agriculture? Are you interested in caring for the land in a way that isn’t just ‘organic’ or ‘conventional’, but is a reflection of the heart of Jesus?  Did you know that a Biblical Worldview impacts the way we view agriculture and can produce abundant, joy-filled farms? Do you desire to bring the hope of Jesus to people around you, and feel that God wants your garden or farm to play a role?  Imagine what it would be like if God called you to serve him and love others through connecting your faith and farming!

When I first started farming I was passionate about using it to serve God.  But there were few resources or people that I could find to help encourage me in my journey.  After writing my book, Born-again Dirt, I became aware that there were people all over the world who wanted to glorify God through agriculture!  They all had similar stories and similar challenges.  But many of them faced discouragement due to their sense of isolation and overwhelm with farms.  I felt a desire to encourage and equip other Christian farmers to live for Jesus, excel in agriculture, and make disciples.
As a result we had our first Redeeming the Dirt Conference and Training in 2014 where we gathered Christian Farmers from around the country for a time of fellowship, encouragement, fun, hands-on training, prayer, and inspiration.  It was an amazing time and we saw God work in peoples hearts in ways only He can get the credit for.  Since then, we have had several other conferences with similar results and are excited to be offering it again this year!

"The Redeeming the Dirt Conference was a fantastic weekend. The opportunity to meet with fellow believers who share both a passion for God and a passion for farming was invigorating and refreshing. The emphasis placed on our role as stewards and servants of God stimulated a great degree of introspection in not only how I farm and garden, but also how I manage the other resources God has given me in this life such as time, money, and relationships. I left encouraged, enlivened, and challenged." – Stewart, Redeeming the Dirt Alumni 

Conference Dates: October 11, 12:00 PM to October 13, 1:00 PM, Rockford, Alabama

The event will be held at Poplar Point Camp a few miles from my farm near Rockford, Alabama. Things you can expect to experience:

• Fellowship and networking with Christians from around the country 
• Hear stories of how God has been working in the lives of farmers and gardeners
• Practical training in topics like gardening, homesteading, and growing for market
• Hands-on compost making and no-till garden installation
• Worship, prayer, and practice in sharing the gospel through agriculture

Whether you are a full time farmer, part time homesteader, backyard gardener, farmer wanna-be, or someone interested in incorporating agriculture as part of your ministry or church, the Redeeming the Dirt Conference and Training is designed to help you in the journey God has you on. Our goal is that you will go away from this conference equipped to live for Jesus, excel in agriculture, and make disciples!

After taking a summer break from the lettuce production, we are gearing up for season two!  Four entire rows were planted in the ground yesterday, which was around 350+ lettuce plants.  The non-gmo, pre-washed, bagged lettuce mix will consist of green and red butter crunch and we look forward to having them available soon!

We just dropped off fresh cut zinnia bouquets at 2 Boy's Creamery! 

Since our bouquets are chemical free, you won't need to be concerned about breathing in harsh chemicals.  Not only are they grown safe for your home, but beneficial insect pollinators, such as bees and butterflies, will not be harmed by dangerous residues.   
Your day will definitely be brightened by  the splash of assorted colors.   What a great example of beauty in God's creation! 

To our customers at 2 Boy's Creamery and others:

Thank you for showing interest in our non-GMO lettuce mix and for your purchases over the past month!  We hope you all have a restful, blessed Memorial Day!

This spring is flying by and we just wanted to give you information on the growing seasons for our lettuce mix.

Spring growing season:
-Mid-April to Mid-June
Fall growing season:
-Beginning in mid-October

At this point, the lettuce is still growing strong and we will continue to have 8 oz. bags in the fridge each week for a little while longer!