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December 2013

www.MinnesotaGrown.com

In This Issue
Poinsettias
Make it with Wool!
Minnesota Grown Supporters
O...Christmas Tree
Local Gift Ideas
Save the Date - Events
Minnesota Grown Fan of the Month
Holiday Ham

Ham is a frequent center piece for holiday meals. The Minnesota Grown Directory has nearly 60 producers of local pork - give one of them a call today! Below you'll find a recipe for a honey butter ham - try using local honey and/or butter to make your meal as Minnesota Grown as it can be!   
Honey Butter Yule Ham
 
Honey Butter Ham  

Ingredients:

1 (12lb) bone-in ham

3/4 cup butter, softened

3/4 cup honey

1/2 whole cloves (optional)

 

 
Directions:

1. Preheat over to 350 degrees F

 

2. Cut 1 inch deep criss-crosses into the flat side of the ham. In a small bowl, mix together the butter and honey. Slather onto the ham, making sure to get it in the crevices too. Insert closes in for the ham, if desired. Place in roasting pan. 

 

3. Bake for 4 hours in the preheated oven, or 20 minutes per pound. The internal temperature should reach 160 degrees F. Baste every 20 minutes with drippings.  

 

4. Remove, slice serve and savor!    

 

Recipe & photo courtesy of piscesbetty from allrecipes.com     
Holiday Appetizer:
 Wild Rice Meatballs
  

Holiday Meatballs

 

Meatballs: 
2 lb. lean ground beef 
1 lb. bulk pork sausage 
1 5oz. can evaporated milk 
1 1/4 cup old fashioned oatmeal 
1 3/4 cup cooked wild rice
1/2 teaspoon black pepper 
3/4 teaspoon garlic powder 
2 teaspoon chili powder 
2 teaspoon salt 
2 large eggs 
1/2 cup onion, chopped

 

Sauce: 
3 cup ketchup 
1 3/4 cup brown sugar 
1 1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke 
1 teaspoon garlic powder 
3/4 cup chopped onions


Directions:

1. Mix all meatball ingredients together and shape into one-inch balls.

 

2. Place in baking pan in single layers.

 

3. Combine sauce ingredients and pour over meatballs.

 

4. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

 

Makes approximately 9 dozen meatballs.

 

Recipe & photo courtesy of Red Lake Nation Foods. 
Poinsettias  
It seems fitting that the Latin name for this holiday plant means "very beautiful." Their dazzling red is only one of many colors including white, pink, burgundy and mixes of each. So this December 12 on Poinsettia day, visit one of Minnesota Grown's 14 poinsettia growers to pick up your plant and catch these tips on how to make the plant last well past Santa's visit.
Poinsettias
This 10 bloom poinsettia was grown at Hilltop Florist and Greenhouse 

 

Poinsettias love basking in the warm glow of natural sunlight for about six hours of the day. They can be picky about the conditions around them, preferring a range of 65-70 degrees Fahrenheit and to be kept away from areas where temperature varies such as heating vents or fireplaces. Frost is deathly to the plant, which must stay inside all winter. Watering the poinsettia is a balancing act. Give the plant enough water to fully moisten the soil but stop once water starts coming out the holes on the bottom of the pot.

 

Don't toss your plant when the leaves begin to brown. In April, when your plant is temperamental, cut the plant back around eight inches. While it doesn't look its best by the end of May there will be plenty of new flowering growth. Mid June is the ideal time to transplant poinsettias to a preferable south facing garden wall.

 

Poinsettias, while not intended to be eaten, are not poisonous. Unlike other holiday favorites holly and mistletoe, poinsettias have been proven to be harmless unless ingested in large doses.

Minnesota Wool
 
There is SO much a person can do with Minnesota wool! On Saturday, Nov 16th, 2013, Minnesota Grown employee Jessica Miles was in Otter Tail, MN at the Minnesota Lamb and Wool Producer's annual conference. 

Jessica first stopped in to see how to make your own wool rug. A group of about 5-6 women were working hard at creating their own custom wool rugs. These rugs are made with little stripes of wool that are pulled through, similar to crocheting. The wool stripes are often cut from extra pieces of wool from other projects. You can draw any pattern, design or image you want. Just know, the more intricate of a drawing you make, the more difficult the pulling of wool will be!

Then you work on pulling the stripes of wool back and forth to the pattern, leaving the loop on top.
Wool Rug

It certainly takes longer than a few hours to learn what you are doing and to complete the project - but with patience and practice, when you are done, you can have a beautiful custom made rug like  this:

Finished Wool Rug

Next, Jessica peaked in on the judging of the Minnesota Make it with Wool, and boy was the competition fierce!  Make it with Wool promotes the beauty and versatility of wool fabrics and yarn and encourages the personal creativity in sewing, knitting, crocheting, spinning and weaving wool fabrics and yarns.

Contestants ranging in age from around 7 to 80 entered their home made clothing to be judged. There are six categories that were being judged  on this day in Minnesota:

1) Pre-teens, ages 12 and under
2) Juniors, ages 13-16
3) Seniors, ages 17-24
4) Adults, ages 25 and older
5) Made for others (any age)
6) Wearable Accessories (any age)

Make it With Wool

Entries must be 100% wool or wool blend (minimum 60% wool or specialty wool fiber) for each fashion fabric or yarn used. Specialty wool fibers include mohair, cashmere, alpaca, camel and llama. The ENTIRE garment body (back, front and sleeves) must be wool or wool-blend fabric, only the trims, facings, linings, interfacing and underlinings may be fabrics other than wool or wool blends.

Each fashion pieces is judged on the following criteria:
1) Appropriateness to contestant's lifestyle
2) Coordination of fabric/yarn with garment style and design
3) Contestant's presentation
4) Construction quality

The judging is done in two stages. First, the contestants must appear in a fashion show with their category. Showing their piece is wearable, functional and well fitting. Next, the judges inspect the clothing off the contestant. Looking closely and critiquing the construction of each piece.

At the Minnesota Lamb and Wool Producers annual conference, all Make it with Wool contestants showcased their fashion pieces in front of all the conference guests during lunch in a fashion show. Each and every contestant had a beautiful and well constructed outfit! It was amazing to see the skill level and creativity of each person! You could really see the personality in each contestant based on what they decided to make and what fabric they chose.

What do the winners win?? Each winner will receive fabric, sewing books and/or equipment at the state level. The junior, senior and adult state winners advance to the National Competition, which is held in a different location each year.  The National competition has the following scholarships:

$2,000 American Sheep Industry Women (Junior and Seniors)

$1,000 Pendleton Woolen Mills (Junior winner)

$1,000 American Wool Council (Fashion/Apparel Design)

There are additional awards given out for different categories of style, material and others at the National level.

For more information, follow this link to the Minnesota Lamb and Wool Producers website!

Minnesota Lamb and Wool Producers

 
Minnesota Grown Supporters
  
The Minnesota Grown Program is supported by buying local enthusiasts, individual farm members and several producer associations. This month, we want to highlight and thank one of those supporters: The Minnesota Grape Growers Association.


Minnesota Grape Growers Association

The Minnesota Grape Growers Association was formed in 1976 to heighten public awareness of the Minnesota grape and wine industry, advance legislative support of the grape and wine industry and advance quality standards in the production of Minnesota grown grapes and wines. We invite you to explore our website and discover the exceptional quality of the Minnesota Grape and Wine Industry.
Find Minnesota Grown 
  
Are you on Facebook? If so, we want to be friends with you! The best way to stay in touch is to like our comments and photos, participate in our conversations and post to our page. The more active you are with us, the more active we can be with you and also, the more likely you are to see information from us!    
   find us on facebook

Recommend our page, share our posts, comment and spread the good news about Minnesota agriculture! We love to giveaway prizes to fans who interact with us! :)
   
 
How Can You Win?

Do YOU want to be the Minnesota Grown fan of the month?

One or more Facebook fans will be chosen each month from our Facebook page and will be announce in the Pick of the Month. The more you comment, like, post are share our information as well as sharing your ideas and photos with us - the more likely you'll be the one saying "I'm the Minnesota Grown fan of the Month!" and enjoying a FREE prize! 
  fan of the month
O  Christmas Tree, 
O Minnesota Grown Christmas Tree
 
Now that everyone has had their fill of turkey and potatoes the holiday season has officially kicked off! What better way to get in the spirit than to decorate your Christmas tree from one of over 65 Minnesota Grown Christmas tree farmers. Tree farms opened as early as the week before Thanksgiving this year and will stay open until the days leading up to Christmas. Picking out a tree is a tradition children will remember throughout their lives. Remember these key points when you help the environment by purchasing a real tree this year:
  1. GoGreen.GetReal For every tree cut at least two to three are planted in its place. 

  2. Trees can be recycled, some people call it "Treecycling"

  3. The tree often grows for 6-10 years before being harvested. During that time it provides shelter for local wildlife.

  4. The true smell of a real tree cannot be replicated.

  5. The average lifespan of artificial tree is six years, after that it ends up in a landfill where it will remain indefinitely. Real Christmas trees are immediately replaced by 2-3 seedlings and contribute  positively to the environment while growing and even after being harvested! 
Christmas Trees
Photo by Newell Family Christmas Tree Farm
Before your visit: 
Measure not only the height of the space you are thinking of placing the tree, but also the width. With only the open sky above, trees can look deceptively small on the lot. Once you know how big of a tree you are looking for make sure your tree stand can accommodate it. Trees taller than ten feet often require more heavy duty models. Some farms have tree stands for sale or you can always ask for their advice on what stand would work best for the tree you choose. 

 

Getting your tree: 
Whether you cut your own or buy from a retail lot, make sure you shake the tree before bringing it into your car or home. This will help to get rid of the extra needles before you bring it into your home and make the set up process cleaner. 
 
At home: 

If you are not ready to set your tree up immediately, you can leave it in a cool area for a few days. Try a darker corner of your garage or a place outside that is protected from the wind and sunlight. It won't hurt to put the tree in a five-gallon bucket of water too! When you are ready to bring your tree inside, cut about a half of an inch to one inch off from the bottom of the tree. A fresh cut will allow the tree to drink up much needed water. Some people keep the part of Christmas Tree Ornament

the stem they cut off and make it into an ornament to remember each Christmas tree!   

 

Avoid putting your tree next to: direct sunlight, heaters, furnace vents and fireplaces. Heat sources dry out the tree making the needles fall off faster. If you are concerned that the tree is too dry, try placing a small humidifier underneath. 

 

Watering: 

The first one to two weeks the tree will take in more water than in the later weeks. Always use cool temperature water in the tree stand. If the tree is under-watered and dries out the needles will start to fall out rapidly. If this happens the tree should be taken down and the trunk re-cut, allowing the tree to take up water again. Think about covering the stand if you have family pets like dogs and cats that might be thirsty for a pine-flavored drink! 

 
At the farm it can be overwhelming how many different varieties of trees there are. Here is a bit more information about what types of Christmas trees are popular in Minnesota.  

  

Scots (or scotch) pine: This variety is known for having the best needle retention. The stiff branches are ideal for supporting heavy ornaments yet the full body shape means less area on the interior of the tree to decorate.

  

Balsam Fir Balsam fir: Often thought of as the most fragrant tree, the Balsam is the only fir native to Minnesota. Flexible branch tips can make placing heavier ornaments difficult, however the balsam has open branches meaning more ornaments can go in the interior. 


Fraser fir: This high quality fir has a reputation for being one of the best. It has the sturdiest branches among firs and a bluish-colored underside. 

  

Colorado Spruce Colorado spruce: Also known as the Blue spruce, this tree has gained popularity over the years. The actual color ranges from blue to green and the branches are great for heavy ornaments. The needles are sharp which can make handling the tree more challenging but may prevent cats and other pets from getting too close.

 

White Pine Eastern White pine: The white pine is known for causing less allergic reactions than other varieties for sensitive customers. It is best filled with lightweight ornaments, bows, ribbons due to soft and flexible branches. These trees can be more difficult to find due to their susceptibility to disease.

 

White spruce: This tree continues to bud even when cut, making it uniquely beautiful. It is well suited to use on table tops, however they are sometimes associated with an less pleasant scent. 

 

Red (Norway) Pine: Finally, what says Minnesota more than our state tree! The red pine has the longest needles of pine varieties, that cluster in twos.  

 

Wherever you buy your tree and whichever variety you choose, enjoy the weeks of fresh pine scent and the holiday cheer it brings. When the new year rolls in and it is time to take down the tree, cover from the top down with a large plastic bag. If the tree is bigger than small to medium size, you may need to cut the tree in a few pieces in order to bag. This helps keep the loose needles in check and makes clean-up a cinch!  

 
Gifts that Give Back to the Community

  

 If someone you know has been Minnesota nice this year, they deserve the perfect gift. We have rounded up a few ideas for that special person to help you get out and go local for the holidays!  

Gifts for her

Alpaca fiber, mohair or wool for knitting or crafting  

 

A bag of Minnesota Grown wild rice with a bowl from a local artist

 

A plant such as a poinsettia that can be transplanted outside in the spring 

 

A bottle of wine or gift basket from one of Minnesota Grown's many wineries 

 

A chocolate bar, like Minnesota brand B.T. McElrath, and tickets to the February class Chocolate: Journey from Bean to Bar at the Arboretum

Gifts for Him

Minnesota Wild, Twins, Timberwolves or Vikings gear with a local micro brew six-pack

 

Minnesota cheese and a handmade cutting board

 

Minnesota Grown popcorn and a movie filmed in Minnesota such as: Grumpy Old Men, North Country, Jingle All the Way, The Mighty Ducks or Fargo. 

 

A cribbage board from Wood from the Hood 

 

Hops for the home brewer

Gifts for Them Throw or Blanket from Faribault Woolen Mill Co.

 

Weekend stay at a Minnesota Grown Bed & Breakfast or Farm stay 

 

Minnesota Grown CSA membership 

 

Cookbook paired with reusable market bag

 

Minnesota Grown Maple Syrup and a mason jar of pre-mixed dry ingredients for pancakes

 

Fresh mushrooms with a mushroom identification book

 

A quarter, half or whole animal from any Minnesota Grown meat producers: elk, bison, lamb, cow, pig, chicken or specialty game

 

One-year membership to the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum or Minnesota Farmers Union 

 

Gift cards to a local farmers market, garden center or farm 

Stocking Stuffers

Honey 

 

Jam or jelly from your local berry patch or homemade using frozen berries

 

Soap 

 

Beeswax lip balm or other products

 

Soy candles of a gift basket from a Minnesota Grown farm  

 

Socks made from Minnesota lamb or alpacas

Gifts for Kids

Seeds of native plants that they can start indoors or plant in the spring and gardening gloves

 

Kid's cooking utensils with a cookbook

 

Beginner knitting needles and wool

 

Book about identifying Minnesota plants

 

Minnesota Grown Shirts
The Minnesota Grown Promotion Group, Inc. has rolled out new shirts and a sweatshirt for sale, just in time for the holidays!
Blue "I Buy Local"  - Unisex cut - $15/each
Green "I Buy Local" - Women's cut - $15/each
Brown "I Eat Local" Unisex cut - $15/each
Forest Green Sweatshirt - $30/each

If you are interested in purchasing Minnesota Grown Clothing, please email Greta today! She will advise you on the steps to getting these great gifts! These tshirts and sweatshirts are being sold via the Minnesota Grown Promotion Group, Inc. The MGPG is a private, non-profit who works in partnership with the MN Department of Agriculture to produce the Minnesota Grown Program. This nonprofit consists of producers of specialty crops and livestock.

These ideas are just the tip of the iceberg. For more ideas, talk to your local farmer or visit a winter farmers market!


For her photos courtesyL: of Double L Grown, Bachman's, Winehaven winery and vineyard, and BT McElrath. For him photos courtesy of: Patriot Pops Popcorn, Shepherd's Way Farm and Wood from the Hood. For them photos courtesy of: Minnesota Maple Syrup Producers, Mississippi Mushrooms, Bossy Acres, Faribault Woolen Mill Co. and Moonstone Farm. Stocking stuffer photos courtesy of Bone Lake Meadows Apiary, Blueberry Fields of Stillwater and Scott Family Honey. 
Save-The-Date
Calendar
 Luverne Winterfest, Dec. 6-8
The 20th annual winterfest covers family fun for the whole weekend. Along with a cribbage tournament, lighted parade, feed the buffalo and other community events, a craft show will take place at the elementary school on Saturday.

Hometown Holiday Weekend, Dec. 6-8, Owatonna
Enjoy a Christmas parade, Lighting of Lights in Central Park and breakfast with Santa during Owantonna's celebration of the holiday season. Downtown merchants will offer deals so don't miss a chance to go out and buy local!

Winter Wonderland Celebration, Dec. 6-8, Downtown Caledonia
Join the Caledonia community for caroling, historic holiday displays a hot air balloon rally and so much more! The weekend is sure to be fun and festive for those of all ages in the Wild Turkey Capital of Minnesota.

Holiday Fest Celebration & Fireworks, Dec. 7 9-5:30pm, Jackson
Children are welcome to enjoy free activities all day during Jackson's holiday celebration. Visit Santa's workshop, see a free movie or go swimming, compete in a gingerbread house contest and listen to carolers. The day finishes with a lighted parade and winter fireworks show.

Great Meander, Dec. 7, St. Paul

Ring in the holiday season on Grand Ave. with Santa and his reindeer, fire truck and trolley rides, art and live music, soup tasting and annual tree lighting at 5! 


Flower Arranging: Make a holiday wreath, Dec. 7 or 14 9:30-noon, Minnesota Landscape Arboretum

All materials are provided at this festive holiday class. Acclaimed floral designer Ashley Fox will show participants how to make a holiday wreath that includes more than fir branches. Myrtle, spruce cones, cedar and more will be on hand to help you create the holiday decor. 

 

4x4 Culinary Minnesota Wine Series: Winter Magic, Dec. 12 6:30-8:30pm, Minnesota Landscape Arboretum

Experience Minnesota wines expertly paired with a meal from Joan Donatelle, chef and Byerly's culinary instructor. The menu includes LaCrescent and Marquette wine and a honey wine. 

 

Winter Parade, Dec. 13, La Crescent

Kickoff the holidays in La Crescent with local holiday shopping and their annual winter parade.

 

Gifts from the Bees, Saturdays and Sundays in Dec. 12-4pm, Minnesota Landscape Arboretum

There is a lot of buzz about the new family weekend activities at the Arboretum. Learn about honeybees, examine pollen and sample sweet comb honey. You can also make your own take-home beeswax lip balm!

 

Parade of Lights, Dec. 14 5pm, Downtown Pine River

The Parade of Lights begins at 5pm followed by free hot chocolate, cider and cookies at the Information Center. Enjoy the yuletide bonfire before the fireworks begin at 6:25pm.

Minnesota Grown Fan of the Month


Congratulations:

 

BILLIE ZIPPEL 

 

You have won a prize from the Minnesota Grape Growers Association! Please send us a private message via Facebook to claim your prize!


Celebration