AMAIZING Facts about the Future of the Farm. Sounds Corny?

HYDRO HARVEST FARMS

BOK CHOY

Greetings!

John, Billie and I just took a ride out to Myakka City to visit some friends. We always take all the country roads,(only 1 stop light from Ruskin to Myakka City). We pass by huge farms that produce everything from potatoes to melons to corn, or whatever the season allows. Well, after reading and looking at the corn to ethanol conversion and the push to have farmers switch to all corn crops, I said, I'll bet in 3 years all of these vast fields that are now growing the largest percentage of winter crops for our nation will be producing only corn. Do we really have any concept of what that really means? I'm not a scientist, or a genius, but what I see is disaster for our health and pocket books, Politically, Environmentally and Financially. Politically one factor as pointed out in an article "FACT: By increasing the demand for corn, and thus raising corn prices, ethanol helps to lower federal farm program costs. In a January 2007 statement, the USDA Chief Economist stated that farm program payments were expected to be reduced by some $6 billion due to the higher value of a bushel of corn."This doesn't translate in what is best for the consumer. Also, don't forget the huge farms are huge corporate farms with Wall Street investors. Environmentally the facts are:

The carbon footprint of the agricultural machinery run to plant and harvest, and to spread chemicals in between rows far exceed the savings.

The environmental impact of those chemicals themselves, including fertilizers and pesticides necessary for efficient mass-production of the grains used. Even resources such as water, needed in huge amounts for grain production, can have serious environmental impact, including ground water depletion, pollution runoff, and algae blooms from waste runoff.

Financially, check out this website for some interesting tidbits. If corn prices continue to spiral up, the food to feed the animals will rise too. Do you remember .19/ lb chicken, or .99/lb ground beef? I know that is long ago, but if the prices went up then it was like .05/lb. Now, yikes, $8.99 sirloin is $12.99???? Of the 10,000 items in a grocery store, 2,500 items use some form of corn. The math tells me, I am going to pay much more for my gas in my tank and now in my body........

I don't want to sound like a dooms day prophet, and I know with my readers, I am just preaching to the choir, but I hope, this country can and will come up with better solutions.

So, as I always say, take control of your life. Our little farm and your backyard farm may be a small piece of doing just that.

As Always Thanks for Picking US!

Please forward this newsletter to a friend. We are going to be giving away a free garden after the Florida State Fair and maybe you or someone you love can win it! All of my email recipients are already enrolled and anyone who signs up between now and February 21 can win.

So Forward To A Friend

John and Terrie Lawson

HydroHarvestFarms.Com

Bok Choy, Lettuces and others you should be getting ready to plant.

Many of our farmers ask, when should they plant certain crops. We do have a fairly general seasonal chart on our website. If there is any lesson we have learned in the 5 years we have been growing is, you can't fool Mother Nature. So, what we decided to try to do is include in our email what we are planting each week. Then, perhaps it may be a good guide to what you should be planting.

This week John suggests planting directly outside in the garden, lettuces, green onions, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, bok choy and arugula. Inside, perhaps in a warm widow or actually somewhere you have warmth and light, plant: peppers, tomatoes, eggplant and okra.

Here are a few tips about Bok Choy:
1. Seed directly into the corner of each pot.
2. If you drop too many seeds, extra seedlings can be thinned out at about 10 days
3. The plant should mature in 45-50 days with proper nutrition
4. The best way to harvest is to cut the crown, right above the medium (vermiculite and perlite)
5. Start with the bottom of the tower, if you planted a whole tower.
6. Dig out old roots, clean medium with a 10% solution of bleach and water, and make sure if need be you add enough medium back to grow your next crop and keep the level of the medium to about 1 inch below the rim of the pot.

Try some of Andrea's Recipes!

Pretty Peyton Says Drive Down to The Farm Today, Eat Great Tonight!

"WASTE NOT, WANT NOT"

"BUY LOCAL, BUY SEASONAL, BUY FRESH"

STRAWBERRY FIELDS FOREVER

SPINACH DILL SALAD

DRESSING

� cup extra virgin olive oil

� cup red wine vinegar

� cup sugar

2 cloves garlic, minced

� tsp. salt

� tsp. freshly ground black pepper

� tsp. dry mustard

� tsp. onion powder

Whisk oil, vinegar, sugar, garlic, salt, pepper, dry mustard and onion powder until blended. Cover and chill.

SALAD

2 pounds fresh spinach or mixture of any salad greens torn and coarse stems removed

1 bunch green onions, chopped

� cup toasted slivered almonds

1 pint strawberries, hulled and sliced

� cup chopped fresh dill

Toss spinach and greens, green onions, almonds, strawberries and dill in a salad bowl.

Just before serving, pour dressing over salad and toss. Serve on chilled salad plates.

STRAWBERRIES AND CREAMY VANILLA SAUCE

1 pint fresh strawberries, hulled

1 cup Cointreau or brandy

Place strawberries in a shallow bowl and cover with Cointreau. Stir to combine well. Cover and refrigerate.

CREAMY VANILLA SAUCE

8 ounces cream cheese, softened

� pound powdered sugar

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 cup heavy whipping cream

Combine cream cheese, sugar and vanilla in a blender or food processor. Pour in cream and continue mixing until well blended. Serve sauce over strawberries.

TIP: Place strawberries over pound cake and drizzle vanilla sauce over.

ADD FRESH SLICED STRAWBERRIES IN YOUR CEREAL. ADD TO PLAIN YOGURT OR TRY SOME PLAIN GREEK YOGURT. JUST EAT PLAIN STRAWBERRIES FOR A SNACK.

BRING DOWN THE ENTIRE FAMILY TO PICK STRAWBERRIES, OR FARMER JOHN OR FARMER FRANK WILL PICK THEM FOR YOU.

RECIPES COURTESY OF ANDREA FREEBODY, APOLLO BEACH, FL.

Best Nutrients, Best Price, Anywhere!

HYDRO HARVEST FARMS NUTRIENT SPECIAL!

The nutrient solution is the most important factor in the success or failure of a hydroponic system. Most fertilizers commonly available in garden centers do not contain all of the 13 elements necessary for plant growth because the growing media usually provides many of them. Hydroponic plants receive nutrients from a different source; so it is necessary to use a fertilizer formulated for hydroponic systems. It is important to follow the dilution rate recommended on the label.

One Pair of Nutrient (MAKES 256 GALLONS!)

$19.90

(shipping $6.95