2014 growing list

The seeds are ordered and arriving. Some are started. Lists are being made. Garden plans drawn. The 2014 growing season is upon us. Here's what we'll be growing...in no particular order:

Beets
Yukon Gold Potatoes
Sweet Potatoes
Tomatoes
Sweet Peppers
Hot Peppers
Okra
Amish Muskmelon
Cucumbers
French Filet Green Beans
Fava Beans
Collards
Chard
Kale
Cabbage
Napa Cabbage
Corn Salad Greens
Oak Leaf and Buttercrunch Lettuce
Spinach
Black Diamond Watermelon
Shallots
Leeks
Crenshaw Melons
Sweet Peas
Snow Peas
Radishes
Scallop Squash
Zucchini
Butternut Squash
Acorn Squash
Delicata Squash
Spaghetti Squash
Eggplant
Basil
Tarragon
Oregano
Parsley
Mint
Thyme
Chive
Cilantro
Rhubarb
Berries
Zinnias
Bells of Ireland
Hollyhocks
Hops for Homebrew
AND Sweet Corn from Sarah and David

We're looking forward to trying out a few new varieties, but sticking with proven winners too. To receive first dibs on our Weekly Bounty Boxes please email us to get on our newsletter list.

coming soon...weekly bounty box

Not feeling like you can or want to commit to a CSA? Weather you travel a lot during summer or don't cook often every, single week...or are a picky veggie eater (you know who you are)...we offer you the Weekly Bounty Box! Every week you'll be offered the chance to purchase a box full of veggies, recipes to make them delicious, and a shopping list to make it easy. Bounty Boxes will available for pick up at our farm or in Midtown Omaha. Payment can be made beforehand with a card or cash payments can be made at pickup. Newsletter recipients get first dibs and there will be limited quantities so sign up to receive our newsletter. Email clementinespandp@gmail.com. Eat local without committing to more than you want. 

oh, spring. where art thou?

I realize it's the end of February and it snowed this morning. But I can't take it anymore. I've been shopping for a Spring wardrobe for weeks now. I've bought seed for the garden. And now we have some sweet corn growers that will be selling produce with us this year. The BEST sweet corn in Sarpy County. I want Spring! Spring means we will be planting. Windows can be opened. May Day Baby parties will be happening. Weekend farm stands. Fresh greens.
This season, in addition to Sarah and David's sweet corn,  we will have a some new offerings...a punch card for Loyal Customers, a weekly farm stand in Gretna, and a farm stand in Midtown. We will have online ordering/purchasing via this site and Facebook again, too.  We'll be narrowing down our growing list this week and I will be making the March monthly plan, too. Stay warm today and dream of Spring.

whoa baby. here we go again.

hendrix made this in preschool

well, it's official.  we're expecting.  for those of you who have been reading this blog for awhile you know that i have been baby crazy since about hendrix's first birthday.  i am happy to say that shortly after hendrix's fourth birthday in march we will be saying hello to another baby.  baby #2 is due may 7th.   i'm getting pretty excited now that the morning sickness is starting to go away and my energy is coming back.  also, if your morning sickness is real bad....zofran is your friend. for reals. hendrix is pretty pumped too and has been pretty great on the days i am feeling especially gross or tired.  mike is like a deer in headlights, but what can you expect?
which brings me to the story i promised to tell all of you...the one about how we brought hendrix home and we had no food in the house.  hendrix was born about 2 1/2 weeks before his due date and i was on bed rest the week before he was born. silly me thought you actually went around your due date and that i had time.  i did not.  also, mike can not be trusted at the grocery store.  i remember coming up with a list of a few things for him to get based on a few quick meals i figured i could throw together.  he came back with cans of chef boyardee. gross.  see why i insist on giving new parents food, slow cookers, and recipes? i did, however, have my slow cooker that my girlfriend, becky, had given me at my baby shower.  becky has five boys...i think she understood the need for a momma to have some arsenal and how great it is to receive something non-baby related at your shower.  because really...how many blankets and hats does one baby need?  i broke that slow cooker out and used it all the time.  it was a few weeks though before i could really come up for air and go to the store for what i really needed....easy snacks + meals. let's face it, actual meals don't always happen in the first few weeks. so, that brings me to what i think you really need to stock your pantry, fridge, and freezer with before the baby arrives....

snack time!
granola (loose and bars)
yogurt
applesauce
hummus + pita chips
black beans, shredded cheese, and tortilla chips
cut veggies
oatmeal
fruit
dark chocolate

homemade freezer meals!
lasagna
pizza dough
marinara
pizza pockets
runzas
quiche
sliced meatloaf for sandwiches
pot pies
rainbow soup
quinoa pancakes
whole grain muffins
chicken hand pies
enchilada's
burritos

store bought freezer meals!
ravioli
trader joe's gyoza dumplings (so good!)
trader joe's burritos
.....

• if you are still building your pantry, check out my pantry checklist.  to spread the cost out when building your pantry just add a few items every week to your shopping list.  you'll get there in no time. 
• to see more tips on prepping food for a new parents, check this post out. 
• to see what supplies i think a new baby and parents actually need...check this post out. 

anything i am missing? let me know.  be kind, though.  remember i have pregnancy brain.

{garden}REVOLUTION:: one

where: stella's burger joint in bellevue ne
awesomeness: see that barrel in the middle? tubes split up and run through the raised beds in a square foot garden style grid.  it created a grid for planting and watering (soaker hose style).  awesome.

.....
have you noticed a revolution happening, friends?  there's a gardening revolution happening.  look around.  raised beds popping up, overfilled with greens and tomato plants.  pots on balconies filled with herbs.  blue barrels growing herbs, peas, and greens.  people are taking back their yards, balconies, and windows....they are growing food.  i'm keeping my eyes peeled and snapping photos.  every week, i'll feature the photos. want to see your garden here? invite me over! want to start a garden? email us at clementinespandp@gmail.com.

catch up::prep

spring cleaning + organizing, beautiful weather, garden prep + planting, three year old birthdays, and time with my {baby}boy won out, my friends.  sorry, dudes.  i'm back.  i swear.

it is garden and rain barrel time!!

here's what i HAVE to tell you....

tilling: mike is quickly becoming booked, but for $50 (up to 500 sq. ft) mike will come till your garden with our commercial tiller.  tilling is a must for your traditional, in ground garden, to prepare the space for your new boxed, raised garden, or to work the ground of your raised dirt garden. email us to schedule a time.

compost:  $40 for 1/2 a pick up load.  mike can also till this into your garden if you book him for till job.  contact us for smaller or larger purchases.  this compost is black gold and will make your garden glorious.  great for containers, as well.

rain barrels:  check out our craigslist post for more info., the basic info is that these are brand new barrels with a garden hose spigot and are ready to go.  these are a great way to reuse water...so great we are putting one in at our rental property.

all natural, pest control:  we have 50 lb bags of diatomaceous earth available and duster applicators available, as well.  DE is an all natural way to treat those little buggies in the garden that won't bug off..pun intended.  read more here.  check out our craigslist posting.  the great thing about buying from us is that if you are in the omah area, no shipping!!

virtual gardening clinic: i'll be back.  i promise.  in the meantime, if you are semi experienced and ready to go...now is the time for collards, radishes, beets, asparagus crowns, onion sets, peas, spinach, & turnips to be planted.  (i know what i am doing when i get done writing this post!)  if you are not ready...no worries!!! you still of plenty of time.  we'll talk more later this week.

container gardening:  mike and i have been working on some awesome, {almost} completely maintenance free, container gardening set ups.  we have some around town that are going to be planted very soon...i will get some pictures very soon.  these are great ways for kids, busy people, people short on space, and handicapped folks to grow produce.  you can grow greens, herbs, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, cucumbers, peas, some root veggies, potatoes, and summer squash.  in fact, this year we will be growing quite a bit of own produce this way.  it will be easy for hendrix and easy for me if i am lucky enough to grow a baby this year, too.  pictures and details soon!!

consulting:  businesses and home gardeners, if you are wanting help with planning your garden or setting up your compost system please contact us.  initial consults are $40 and tailored to fit your needs.  i am becoming booked, but have time slots available.

community:  remember the heart ministry center when planting your gardens...plant extra and make a weekly donation to the food pantry.  fresh produce should not be a luxury.  also, did you know that the heart ministry center has a community garden??  perhaps plan to volunteer one afternoon there.  you will see our containers there, too.  we will be planting lots of herbs and greens in them making more room in the garden for other goodies.
.....
again, my apologies for a delay in posting.  frankly, i have been enjoying my time with hendrix and not having to rush to get things done like i had to last year.  this reaffirms our decision to not do the veg box this year.  i also have been percolating LOTS of ideas in my head.  so while i work those out...you may see lags in posting.  i will be back later this week with a clinic.  thanks!

damaged but not broken

well, one of the million storms during this growing season did us in.  on tuesday, a flash thunderstorm brought torrential rains and high winds that devastated our field.  about to bear fruit nightshade plants, greens, and baby melon/squash plants were the most directly affected.  after considering our options, mike and i decided to end the veg box season early.  our subscribers have, as always, been incredibly supportive.  the emails that we have received after sending them the email have all been kind.  it seems that even in our short season, we managed to help people eat healthier and to try new things.  i'd say that's not too bad. 
it could always be worse and this is just one of the many risks of opening/expanding a business.  we are in the process of assessing what can be salvaged and what is a loss.  in the meantime, we will continue on with our two dinner in the field* events and sell to our restaurant clients.  i am trying to see this as a business evolution and not a failure.  mike, as per usual, is unbelievably supportive and kind. 
will we grow veggies again? sure.
in the same capacity? probably not. 
but don't count us out yet. 
the most important thing that i need to tell you is. . .our interns and subscribers made this year all possible.  the interns and the subscribers have stuck through it all and continue too.  elle and bryce have been incredible beyond words.  we learned a lot, are still learning, and look forward to evolving.
* due to some schedule changes there are now 6 spots available for the now july 30th dinner. email us at clementinespandp@gmail.com , if you'd like to attend.*

virtual farm stand 2.0

it's that time of year again. . .FARM STAND time.  veggies lovers will have the oppurtunity to pre order & purchase their veggies on our blog site.  payments are taken via paypal.  the veggies will be available for pick up at either our farm or midtown location. . .look for the virtual shop to open soon . . .

veggies for sale

our farm stand will open this saturday just in time for the father's day bbqs.  we will now be open for business every saturday from 11 - 2.  look for thursday & friday evening hours soon.  also, our virtual farm stand will make a return soon.  customers will be able to pre order/pay through our website and pick up at our midtown location.  details coming soon.  this saturday we will have kale, collards, frisee, buttercrunch, daikons, icicle radishes, sugar peas, and swiss chard for sale.  our farm is located on hwy6/31 & giles rd.  look for the yellow signs. hope to see you soon!!

dinner in a field

clementine's produce and provisions will be hosting a. . .

dinner in the field 

 saturday, july 9th  

7pm to 9pm  

this dinner will be prepared by elle lien of daily grub and bryce coulton (the guy behind the charcuterie at the boiler room).  the meal will be prepared with produce straight from our fields and other locally sourced ingredients.  the dinner, refreshments, dessert, flowers, music, and atmosphere will be second to none.  if you ever wished you could attend an outstanding in the field dinner or you missed the emerging terrain dinner. ..our dinner is inspired by these very events. . .so rsvp on facebook or email us at clementinespandp@gmail.com.  the dinner is limited to 30 people and is $50 per person.  it will be held in one of produce fields and is a sit down, white tablecloth dinner. sure to impress.  hope to see you there.

let's get cooking AND eating

happy monday!!

elle and i only have a few spots left for our cooking classes on thursday, june 24th.  go here to sign up or email dailygrubomaha@yahoo.com.  here's a reminder about what will be happening: 

Take a cooking class with Anna Clements and Elle Lien, two cooks with the same focus of creating simple, seasonal meals.

Elle is the chef and owner at Daily Grub, a locally sourced, whole food diner. Anna is the farmer and owner of Clementine's Produce and Provisions and a primary grower for Daily Grub.

Taking inspiration from what's fresh at Anna's farm each month, classes include recipes and cooking instruction for six meals with suggestions for adapting them to any diet. A seventh recipe for preserving that month's produce is also included in the class.

Each month's class is different. No recipes will be repeated. 

At the end of class we'll sit down with tasting plate of the recipes featured that month. Feel free to bring a beverage! 

Classes begin at 6 pm and are held at the Educated Baker kitchen, located in the Mastercraft building at 1111 N. 13th St.

Looking forward to cooking with you!

also, look for the dinner in the field event to go up this week. . . elle lien of daily grub and bryce coulton (the guy behind the meat) of the boiler room  will both be contributing to this memorable event.  we are lucky to have such great friends/chefs in our lives. 

are your plants in the ground!?!

there is an old adage that says wait until mother's day to plant.  most gardeners i know abide by this.  i guess we do to certain degree, as well.  i sent an email out to the subscribers last week informing them about our consultation services.  so for those of you still planning. . .send us an email.  clementine's will come out and help you plan the vegetable garden of your dreams or tell what perennials to plant where or whatever you need.  all of us have a ton of experience and would love to help you.  either myself, anna, or caitie, our operations assistant, will come out, talk with you about your experience and needs, draw up a plan, and give you tips.  initial consults are $40.  additional work is available at $10/hour.  we love to work with kids and families, too.  email clementinespandp@gmail.com

friday the 13th

caitie, our operations assistant, is a woman of many talents.  in addition to being a farmer, she is a teacher,  artist, and writer.  you can see her art, along with some other fascinating women's art, this friday.  for free.  go get some culture in your life and wish caitie a "happy birthday" while you are at it.

here's some info:

Mending: Premiere of the Omaha Women's Art Collective

Visual Art Displayed By:

Natalie Dixon

Kristin Lubbert

Shelley Smith

Rachel Tomlinson Dick

Melissa Amstutz

Brookelynn Musil

Caitie Caughey

Rebecca Lee

Josephine Joyner

Lindsay Trapnell

Shannon Carroll

Nicolette Biskamp

Jenna Morrison

Musical Performances By:

Jenna Morrison of Conduits

Honeybee

Wayward Little Satan Daughters

Miniature Horse

Caitie Caughey

Please come support women artists who live and create within our community!

Free show!

(and free will donations happily accepted)

Can't make it on Friday the 13?

Gallery will also be open for viewing 

Saturday, May 14 from 2pm-8pm

Sunday, May 15 from 2pm-6pm

get connected

3 things you could do to help and get connected to your community:

Great Plains Black History Museum Community Clean Up Day -- May 21 from 9:30 - 2:00

the muesum needs our help to clean up the grounds by mowing the grass, hauling trash, and pruning --- build up your karma bank and rsvp at their facebook page.

Tom DeBuse Memorial  and Fundraiser for Luci ---May 28 from 3:00 - 10:00

huge, family friendly fundraiser at the hot shops art center to raise money for a daughter and to celebrate the life of a father. . .rsvp on their facebook page

Plentiful Plant Sale benefiting the Heart Ministry Center and Sacred Heart School --starts tmrw. at 9 am

NE corner of 90th & Dodge; thurs - sat:  9am to 8pm and sun: 1pm to 6pm

2 ways to get connected with your health and spirit:

Consulting is now available from Clementine's.  For $40, Anna or Caitie can come out and give you a plan to get your yard or garden in tip top shape.  Additional help is available at a rate of $10 per hour.  We can help you get the herb garden, perennial garden, cut flower garden, back yard, or veggie garden of your dreams.  Email clementinespandp@gmail.com ---spots are filling up!!!

Cooking Lessons - June through October. Spots are selling out!! Rsvp on Facebook.

we love mobs!

yesterday, we had our second crop mob and it was so wonderful. mobbers put about 100 pounds of seed potatoes in the ground!  AND they planted more greens, root veggies, the entire cut flower/herb bed, and ONIONS.  awesome, awesome! thank you, thank you, thank you to:

1. the subscribers who came out and worked at THEIR farm--bryce, don, katherine, adam, and deb.
2. our intern growers!  you ladies are a godsend to our farm and family.
3. the levy family, michelle, anne, mary & daughter from the heart ministry center.  the plot is ready for tomatoes & peppers and the greens are thriving thanks to all of you.
4. taylor and friends got some hand planting done, people!  all of our beautiful flowers and herbs will be thanks to these ladies.
5. anyone who dropped a potato or onion in the ground! BRAVO!!!
6. the palubecki's!  melinda and joann helped us with hendrix, the dishes, the farm, and so much everyday.

we are blessed and supported by so many. xoxo

in other news, our beloved daily grub closed last week.  BUT we are still doing cooking classes with elle starting in june.  they will be held at the educated baker kitchen in the mastercraft building.  classes are for sale at the daily grub facebook page (under shop now tab) or email dailygrubomaha@yahoo.com to sign up. we are really excited to do these classes and hope to see you there.

also, would you like to come to a dinner in a field?  our field.  inspired by something like this. . .? details soon!

fresh air & sunshine free

our second crop mob is this sunday and today's sunshine has me excited.  we are going to be getting lots of potatoes & onions in the ground, making a giant hoop house, putting up fence, finishing signs, planting flowers, and stamping bags. there are a ton of kid friendly activities planned that day and hendrix will be joining in the fun.  check out this article to get some gardening with kids tips.  we are still taking rsvps for our crop mob so check us out on facebook  to sign up.  here are some photos to get us all happy about the arrival of sunshine. . .

photos by cami rawlings.

mobbed

we got mobbed.  crop mobbed.  on saturday, april 9th grower extraordinaries, children of all shapes and sizes, family, and strangers descended on our farm. their cars filled the driveway.  their tools covered the lawn.  their spirit filled the air.  their laughter brought life to an almost forgotten place.  their bodies made the soil pop.  their fingers placed life giving seed into the ground.  their love of farming made a little, old woman smile.
the turnout and work done during our crop mob was so overwhelming.  i haven't really been able to process it or write about it until now.  most of the people, mike or i had never met before.  all of the mobbers brought life and beauty to a farm that we cherish and hope so much for.  so thank you from the bottom of our hearts. we hope that our farm gave you as much life as you gave it.  you are helping us make food accessible, building a community, and bringing back the food farm to america.
we hope those of you who didn't get out last time will make it to our next crop mob.  and mobbers who came last time?  come on, back!  we already miss you. xoxo

sunday, may 1st --- 11:30 to 4
Our last crop mob was so wonderful, productive, and fun. . .we thought we'd do another. Crop mobs are a wonderful way to meet your growers and to see where the food is grown. We will start a bit later to allow people to go to church and we'll follow with a BBQ. Vegetarian and meat eater options available. 

what we will be doing:
*we will finish up the signs that bring traffic to our farm stands (bring your creativity and good handwriting) - good for kids!
*we will continue planting veggies and pest deterring plants
* help plant the heart ministry center's plot
*build compost bins
*finish any planting in the cut flower/herb bed that needs to be done - good for kids!
*stamp our bags for subscription delivery & farm stand sales - good for kids!
*putting up fence 

what we need you to bring:
rakes
trowels
gloves
hammers
wheelbarrow 
post diggers
shovels

happy cake!

it is the one year anniversary/birthday of one of our favorite restaurants/clients this week.  daily grub, elle and the crew will be celebrating their amazing accomplishment this thursday.  if you have never been.  go.  just go.  have anything with ancho cashew cream sauce.  bring a vegan cake to enter in the contest.  watch the community, love, passion, and deliciousness unfold in front of you.  leave with belly full and a happy spirit.  places like daily grub make cities better.  they give other restaurants something to live up to.  elle and her restaurant inspire.  so from all of us at clementine's p+p. . .HAPPY CAKE, DG!!

the three c's.

i like things in threes. 
i feel weird with even numbers.
now you know one more weird thing about me.

1. crop mob!
the clementine's p+p crop mob weekend is next weekend: april 9th & 10th.  we will be making flower beds & planting flowers, making raised beds, constructing compost bins in the main field, painting signs for our farmstands, planting onion sets, planting potatoes, and putting up deer fence.  lunch will be provided, as well as, fresh air and sunshine.  volunteers will be given $10 gift certificates to clementine's p+p.

2. cook book review!
i impulse bought mark bittman's, how to cook everything, cookbook on sunday.  boy, am i glad i did that.  this book is amazing.  i am sure i am little late on this and everyone already knows this.  oh well.  i've been busy growing a human and produce.  this book has been revealing all sorts of cooking tidbits i didn't know. . .like you don't have to soak your beans and you can freeze (in cooking liquid) cooked beans almost indefinitely. go buy it.  only $24.95.

3. cooking classes!
cooking classes start in a month. you better sign up before they fill up.  elle, of daily grub, and i will be teaching a cooking classes twice a month at her restaurant.  classes are based on in season produce from our farm.  you can find more information here.  sign up happens on facebook or by emailing dailygrubomaha@yahoo.com.

stuff you should know about (& do). . .

happy day, all!  there is a lot of stuff i keep forgetting to tell you about.  and to remind you about.
so here's a run down:

1. the boiler room is doing another wine dinner on march 24th and their patio is open.  this looks like a real goodie.  remember chef paul gets to go to nyc at the end of this month and be super awesome at the dinner for the james beard foundation. 

2. we will be having our crop mob weekend on saturday, april 9th and sunday, april 10th.  both days from 8-1, lunch provided.  families are invited and more than welcome.  the fresh air and sunshine is free.  it is BYOT (bring your own tools).  some things we will be doing are: building raised beds, spreading compost, erecting deer fence.  every crop mobster will also get a $10 gift certificate to use at clementine's p+p.  go to our facebook events page to sign up for either day.  can't wait to get dirty with you. (gross)

3. clementine's p + p will start it's cooking classes with elle lein of daily grub in may.  classes are for sale now on daily grub's facebook shop.  these classes are going to be  a wonderful way to learn new ways to cook simple, delicious, and fast meals with the season's freshest produce.  classes run from may thru october.

4. my buddy, michelle, and i will be hosting a clothing swap on sunday, may 2nd at the farm.  everyone who comes must bring at least 7 items to swap and a treat to share.  we have a lot of 0/2, 4/6, 10/12, and 14/16 sizes.  if you and a group of friends are those sizes or another. . .contact me and i will include you on our mailing list.  this a great way to get some new to you, free stuff for spring.

5. clementine's p+p is donating it's surplus to the heart ministry in addition to growing a separate plot of veggies for them.  we are still looking for another $150 in donations to cover the costs of seeds and supplies.  i will post a blog with the details and greatness that is the heart ministry this week. 

6. daily grub has some new hours.  and is open for BRUNCH now.  the waffles on saturday were amazing.

xoxo