If you haven’t tasted fresh garlic, you’re in for a treat. It’s more tender and less pungent then the dried sold in stores, so you can add it for punch to foods without cooking it. Of course, you can always dry fresh to use for the rest of the year, but there’s only one season you can get fresh garlic. In Roanoke, that’s now.
If garlic is one of those food items you relish and you live in the Roanoke area, give Halcyon Acres a call at (540) 400-7106 to place your order for fresh garlic delivered to you. Comes with greens attached in case you have creative ways to use that portion of the plant. Try fresh garlic in salads, atop cooked vegetables, grated over pasta or as a tasty kick for mashed potatoes. In fact, you can grate it over just about anything including sandwiches, rice, quinoa or eggs to add a softer flavor with more retained nutrients.
Raw garlic offers more health benefits than the dried version. It’s a good source of selenium (trace mineral that helps improve brain function and reduces signs of aging by helping the body make antioxidant enzymes). It also provides significant amounts of vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine) as well as Vitamin C, manganese and copper and also has some iron and calcium to boot. Studies on garlic have revealed benefits including cold fighting power, blood pressure reduction and lower cholesterol levels. With virtually no calories, this is a great food item to add to your meals.
What else is in season now at Halcyon Acres?
Admittedly, this year has involved some trial and error. New locale, new climate, new soil and a new market have all contributed to a learning curve that’s been exciting and challenging.
The ease of a longer season for heat loving crops has been a blessing. It’s amazing to already have green pepper edibles (May 30th is the frost fear hurdle in Upstate New York, but during 20 years there, snow’s fallen in June more than once, so even Memorial Day weekend plantings can be iffy).
The downside is, I’m still working on a strategy to keep one of my favorite crops, lettuce, producing through the summer. I figured shady area plantings would flourish, but the first seeds there of a Mesclun mix and black seeded Simon didn’t fare too well. Curiously, the high sun area flourished even as temperatures hit the 90s, but pickings are waning there. Need to test soil. Hopefully, next year I’ll come up with a good strategy for making lettuce (and salads – prepared with with thinly sliced garden vegetables and fresh herbs – yummy delivery client bonus) work as heat hits. I’ll also be testing head lettuce in the fall.
Anyway, here’s what we’re currently harvesting at Halcyon Acres:
Vegetables & Fruits
- Turnips (& turnip greens)
- Kale
- Beets (& beet greens)
- Yellow squash
- Zucchini
- Potatoes (blue)
- Carrots
- Radishes
- Swiss chard
- Beans (yellow)
- Onions
- Fresh garlic (with tops)
- Wheat grass
Fresh Herbs
- Dill
- Parsley (curly & flat leaf)
- Oregano
- Thyme
- Sage
- Lavender
- Peppermint
- Rosemary
- Basil
- Chives
Coming within the next two weeks:
- Cucumbers
- Green beans
- Green peppers
- Cilantro
- Tomatoes
If you live in the Roanoke area and are looking for customized deliveries of just-picked vegetables and herbs call (540) 400-7106 to get yours
. Know, though, once you’ve tasted your first delivery, supermarket produce will be tough to enjoy. That’s a challenge you won’t have to face until winter.