investing in the future

one of my favorite things about being a grower and expanding this company is all of the investing in the future i get to do.  five years ago, i wasn't much of a "invest in the future" sort of girl.  then i turned 26, got a bit wiser, met mike when i was 27, and had a baby when i was 28. having a child, especially when it is unplanned, really gets you into investing in the future. 
growing your own food is really an investment in your health for the next few months.  preserving all that food is an investment in your grocery bill and health for a year. 
CSAs (or veg boxes) are investments into the future of your local grower.  when people agree to pre purchase produce from their growers they become investors of that farm.  they ensure that the farm can purchase seed, equipment, pay workers, and buy supplies.  subscribers invest in the farm, their grower's family, their own health, and the local economy.  they create jobs in a 10% unemployment market.   facts like these are the reason i believe that food has the power to inspire, change the world.  food is powerful. 
so to all of our subscribers and restaurant clients.  thank you. thank you for investing in our farm, our family, your economy, your business, the enviroment and your health.  you inspire.  to our future subscribers. . .please consider the power you have to change the world.

out with the old and in with the new

it's a new year! for most of us that means new resolutions like eating better and saving money. . .how about you start by cleaning out the fridge and pantry. a well stocked pantry can help you when you're making dinner. and a clean fridge makes it easier to see what the hell you got in there. if you are just getting started on the whole "cooking at home thing" and building your pantry i suggest adding a few pantry items to your grocery list each week. the cost will be spread out and won't be such a downer. here's the list that i go by and send out to our provision subscription clients. . .for FREE! use it and get organized, healthy, and save a few bucks.

grains + legumes:
dried &/or canned beans (cannellini, black, & kidney)
rice (white, brown, & quick cooking)
assorted pasta shapes
couscous
quick-cooking polenta &/or cornmeal
barley
oatmeal
flours (white & whole wheat)

oil + vinegars:
balsamic vinegar
olive oil
white vinegar
cider vinegar
vegetable oil

cans + jars:
anchovies
dried mushrooms
sun-dried tomatoes
roasted red peppers
capers
olives
tomato paste
marinated artichokes
tomatoes ( whole, diced, crushed, pureed)
soup (tomato, cream of chicken, & cream of mushroom)
broth (chicken, beef, & vegetable)
honey
garlic, minced

frozen + veggies:
onions
potatoes
puff pastry, frozen
peas, frozen
spinach, frozen

baking + extras:
bread crumbs
sugars (white, brown, & powdered)
baking soda
cinnamon
cloves
baking powder
active dry yeast
nutmeg, dried
ginger, dried

herbs + seasonings:
crushed red pepper
chili powder
cumin
basil, dried
oregano, dried
thyme, dried
garlic salt
onion powder
black pepper
salt

p.s. check out the fashion cleaners blog for our shout out! thanks, ashley!

veg box subscription

for the 2011 growing season, clementine's p+p will be expanding it's services to include providing weekly veg boxes to residential customers. any household can sign up to receive a weekly veg box that they can either pick up at our farm, at a midtown location (TBD*), or have delivered to their house**.

what you need to know:

our produce is grown on our family farm in gretna, ne by us. the produce is grown using only natural and organic practices. this farm is the original homestead of mike's great great grandfather, alfred brockman.

veg boxes will be ready weekly from may 2011 through september 2011 (22 weeks).

the sign up deadline is february 15, 2011.

veg box subscriptions are a commitment to the entire growing season and are not available on an as needed basis. meaning, by signing up you agree to pick up/receive veg boxes weekly from may 2011 thru september 2011 and to pay for the whole subscription (22 weeks).

the cost is $7.50 per person per week. ex: if you have four people in your house, the cost would be $30/week ($660 for the season) . however, if a 4 person household believes they only go through enough veggies for 2 people they could choose the option that cost $15.00/week ($330 for the season) . this will give customers the option to receive only the amount of vegetables they will go through in a week.

customers will also have the option to opt out of certain vegetables. don't like brussel sprouts? just tell us and you'll never see them in your veg box.

a 20% deposit is required at the time of signing up and you must pay the entire balance in full by march 31st. households that pay for their veg box subscription in full at the time of signing up will receive a 10% discount.

payments can be made on this website using the paypal option or by sending a check made out to clementine's produce and provisions, at P.O. Box 312, Gretna Ne 68028.

the veg box subscribers will have the opportunity to celebrate with us by visiting the farm during planting season and with a year end potluck harvest supper.

interested and future subscribers can leave a comment or email us and we will send you the subscription form.

look under what's growing and you will see a complete list of what we will be growing and including in our 2011 veg boxes. questions? email us at clementinespandp@gmail.com. we look forward to the 2011 growing season and hopefully, feeding you and yours!

*the exact location and pick up time has not been determined for the midtown picker uppers. there will be one and we will send subscribers information by the end of 2010.

**there is a $25 per week delivery charge. for instance, a family of four that wishes to have their produce delivered would pay $55 per week ($1210 for the season).

the red guy is coming.

the holidays are approaching. quickly. after halloween. . .there's thanksgiving. then CHRISTMAS. i'm still debating about weather to be a scrooge or excited. but i do know what you all get your loved ones. or your hairdresser.

1. my friend, summer, makes amazing marshmallows. i mean these things are handcrafted, artisan, crack-injected puffs of deliciousness. she has a big holiday promo going on. place your orders people and get all your stocking stuffer, random service people, neighbor shopping done.

2. or you could go to the nomad this sunday, october 24th and bid on some silent auction items. there will be some artwork up for bid or clementine's p+p will be donating a six month veg box subscription. wouldn't you love to receive that for a holiday gift? 6 months of weekly organic produce deliveries!! and all the money raised will go to the avery clare latham education fund. two presents at once. you can't beat that.

3. or you could come to the farm on thursday night from 6:30-9:00 pm and participate in our first snack 'n swap night. just bring a snack to share with the group and 8-10 items to swap with other participants. it's going to be a blast.

i hope some of this information inspires you to give meaningful, cost efficient, delicious presents this holiday season. and, more importantly, to enjoy one another's fine company. xoxo

this is what i'm talking about

i read an article on babble today that absolutely encompasses what i've been preaching about for two years. eating dinner together as a family is important. you have to be a little prepared to pull it off at least few nights a week. feeding your children well is your job as a parent. it does not magically happen and like anything else if you don't really want to do it. . .it won't happen. i hope you all take the time to read this great (and short!) article. trust me, i know that it is really hard to get it all done somedays when you have children underfoot. but you don't have to cook a gourmet meal that takes an hour to prepare to have dinner with your family. anyone who reads this article and sends me an email with their thoughts will automatically get a custom-designed menu+grocery plan for a week. that's how important i think it is to eat a good and decent meal with your family. do you think it is important?

relationship with food

i've been thinking a lot about how much maintaining relationships require. if you slack a little bit the relationship can begin to breakdown. family relationships, marriages, friendships. . .they all require checking in with one another. and being available for celebrations and tragedies. in my life, food seems to be the center of most of the relationship maintenance. weather it is a bbq with friends i rarely see, dinner with mike and hendrix, or a 4th of july party at my brother's. it doesn't matter if it only took 10 minutes to make the salad or 5 hours to smoke the pork shoulder. it matters that you do it and that the food is enjoyed and the relationships keep on going on. everyone gets busy. especially, when they are in the "having & raising babies" phase of life. or the "trying to figure out what i want my life to be" phase of life. life is busy. but meals allow us to slow life down for a bit. and talk to one another. see how we are all doing. so, please, for the sake of your relationships have some dinner with your family or friends this week. and if you don't know what to make email us at clementinespandp@gmail.com to subscribe to our provision services (meal+grocery planning). we can get you all set up for weeks of relationship maintenance. xoxo.
(editor's note): i forgot to mention this. . .in the spirit of maintaining (& maybe building some new ones) relationships, i will be hosting a FREE monthly craft night at the farm. there will be 12 spots available each month. there are two available for this month. the craft night will be july 20th from 7-9pm. you just need to bring a project to work on and a snack to share with the group. you can join the event on facebook or email me at clementinespandp@gmail.com to reserve your spot at the table.

weekend bbq

mike and i are baby free as of about 4pm this afternoon. . .WHOO HOO! i love hendrix and he is a very easy baby. . .but i am looking forward to happy hour and brunch alone tomorrow. our family will be celebrating father's day on saturday with steaks, roasted eggplant with tomatoes & fresh mozzarella, pasta, and chocolate cake. on sunday, we are having my dad & brother's family over for burgers, corn on the cob, tomato salad, & more chocolate cake. on monday, we having a family bbq at aunt t.'s. my cousin r. is in town, so everyone going to aunt t.'s with their favorite dish. we always do it potluck style. i am bringing a mulberry peach tart with homemade creme fraiche. i love bbqs and family get togethers. ours all revolve around food. what are your plans for the weekend? do all of your get togethers revolve around too much food like ours? whatever you do. . .make something delicious & be thankful for the men, dads, and stand in dads in your life. xoxo.
p.s. you can still sign up for the free trial of the provision subscription. just email clementinespandp@gmail.com or look below for more info.

fresh mozzarella, changes, mulberries, and additions

it's monday morning and hendrix woke up early, so i am feeling especially random.
1. i am absolutely obsessed with fresh mozzarella. on pizza. in a caprese salad. on roasted eggplant. cubed on rosemary skewers. whatever, however, and wherever it is. . .i want it.
2. our mulberry bushes are bountiful and beautiful. i am going to make homemade mulberry ice cream for our neighbors and mulberry crisp for a family bbq. look for them on the dessert menu at buvette, too. (www.labuvetteomaha.com)
3. there will be a free trial and paypal option available this week. isn't that exciting? the best part is out of town fans can subscribe to our provision services, as well.
4. mike and i are coming up with creative ways to survive in this economy, maintain a quality family life, and have some personal happiness. are you and your family struggling with this? how have you coped and adapted to this economy?
5. i am so thankful that i can live on the farm, work at a restaurant like buvette, and help people eat better. i love food and all things relating to it.
6. look for the free trial this week and see how great our subscription service is!
7. mike and i are baby free friday night and saturday morning. oh happy day!
8. which reminds me check out this: http://jordanferney.blogspot.com
amazing! it reminds of when our family lived in a 400 sq. ft. house. i am not kidding. if we didn't have 5000 animals, i could of made it work.
9. this rain is obscene.
10. thanks for allowing me to rant my randomness.

do you have a plan? you gotta have a plan.

clementine's salad mix and french radishes are ready! the salad mix is $2 per 1/2 lb. or $4 per lb. & the radishes are $1.50 a bunch.

don't know what to make for dinner? subscribe to clementine's provisions services. we will email you a menu plan every week with an accompanying grocery list.

there will never be anything you don't like on the menu and no recipe will take more than 45 minutes to prepare. only got 25 minutes to get dinner ready? no problem. we will only send recipes that take 25 minutes or less to prepare.

a three month subscription includes a weekly dinner menu plan, weekly dessert or snack recipe, weekly grocery list, & pantry checklist. custom tailored to your needs and wants. . . subscriptions run between $35 and $48 for three months. a menu plan and grocery list could save you up to $50 per grocery vist.

email me or leave a comment for produce or subscriptions!