There's a little white duck
Sitting in the water.
A little white duck,
Doing what he ought -ter. He took a bite of a lily pad.
Flapped his wings and he said,
"I'm glad, I'm a little white duck
Sitting in the water."
Quack, Quack, Quack!  Items for this week for all sizes click here: What's in my bag
Dear Friends,
This may be a long newsletter:
I have been looking forward for 28 days now to tell you the tale and happy ending of the mama duck sitting on her 16 eggs. She had been missing for a couple of days (everyone goes into secure pens at night here) and Kendall found her under the clothes line defiantly nested in the clump of ferns. If you remember from a few weeks ago, we had one baby duck hatch and it was the cutest little fellow. The afternoon of that newsletter when I called it 'the lucky duck' I stood for probably 15 minutes watching him following his mom, papa and his aunties around the gardens. About an hour later walked back outside to see a hawk carrying him off. So we were especially thrilled about this new nest.
When I checked on her yesterday morning, there was one egg shell outside the nest so I knew nature was right on time. But sadly, this morning about 6:30 I checked her nest (Kendall had built a pen around her) and she was gone leaving 3 baby ducks and 6 unhatched eggs. Sad, very sad. We still have many predators around us in spite of being surrounded by mega-mansions although its been years since I've seen a mountain lion but there still are coyotes, hawks, bobcats and the curses of 'neighborhoods' - raccoons and skunks. It had to have been a raccoon because they are so crafty and agile.
So the good news is the 3 babies you see in the photo and I'll let you know next week how the other hatchlings come a long. For now, they are safely in the house and will stay there until we move them into their secure 'grow up' pen. We now have duck eggs for sale on the Green Store again from my friend Bethann's farm.
Why are ducks so important to us? Because without them roaming the grounds, we wouldn't be able to grow a thing being this near the coast with snails and slugs. They cruise thru out the days searching and hunting for them. Bless their little hearts. Please remember we encourage all our shareholders to come and visit the farm. Call or email for a time (not Sundays please) and come see for yourself what can be created and bounty grown on a small amount of land. Guaranteed to lower your blood pressure.
Here is a link to a radio show I did this spring with Kelly Emberg I Heart Radio.
Another link: The $11 Trillion Reasons to Eat Your Fruits and Vegetables
I'm so worried you all are tired of our Purple 'green' beans. If you are, try this addictive little recipe and let me know if you like them: Panko Green Beans
And I can guess that most of you still have your spaghetti squash on your counter (and by the way, they can stay there for weeks and weeks until you're ready to cook it). The main thing is do not over cook them as you'll loose the crunchiness that make it so good. Here's one of my favorites: Spaghetti Squash
It's been a good year for delicious and nutritious russet potatoes. If you're loathe to turn on the oven like I am, try washing them, rub with coconut oil and put in your slow cooker. You won't believe how delicious they are and can easily be made into a main course.
One more thing if anyone is still reading. A shareholder called last week and wanted to cancel because she didn't think chives were a food and didn't like the mixed sprouts. After our conversation, she had a whole new base of information. Here are links to a couple of things we discussed:
Health Benefits of Chives
Health Benefits of Sprouts
All of your Green Store orders are much appreciated and if there are items you'd like us to carry, please drop me a note. To thank you for your $50.00+ Green Store order, we will add a $6.00 store credit to your account.
Happy cooking and feel free to contact me if you need help or suggestions--and that includes your likes and dislikes..
I read all the emails.
Stephenie Caughlin
Seabreeze Organic Farm
Seabreeze Green Store
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