tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7935414907358055162024-03-18T19:45:13.027-07:00Bishop's Homegrown Produce/Face Of The Earth SeedBishops Homegrownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16530035650083339042noreply@blogger.comBlogger396125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-793541490735805516.post-13685094164801740342012-07-17T15:22:00.000-07:002012-07-17T15:23:42.065-07:00"The Real" A lowdown upon my whereabouts in the summer of the year of our lord, 2012.Anyone who knows me well knows I like to be cryptic and sometimes morose, allow me to be both for a moment if you will.<br />
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The internet is no longer (and hasn't been for a while) a safe place to be for those who are aware like us.<br />
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For that matter neither is the above ground economy, workplace, public, or schools but you work with what you have.<br />
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Right now extreme drought is laying a heavy weight upon an unstable US economy and more than ever those previous asleep to their plight are being awakened to a startling reality, one we have been aware of and preparing for for sometime, for those people let my phone number and e-mail provide access to the questions you need answered, perhaps ocassionally also the uber dark void that is facebook might be just as efficient a tool.<br />
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Currently I am in the midst of helping build a local food and trade shed in my community which takes up most of my time, what is left is filled with farm work and the learning of and then perfection of other survival skills and building infrastructure. I will be back here sometime soon to share photos, seed, and ideas with all, at least so long as the framework still exists.<br />
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Until then I will mostly be in the "stix" studying Bachannalia and other forms of herasy which will hopefully insure the survival of my friends and family in the coming years. Between all of that I'll be working to build my community into something respectable and regenerative.<br />
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I can't be sure of the return of the public seed list to those who aren't CSA members but I can assure the return of a trade list to those experimenting with plant breeding (though it's getting late in the game for that) and specifically to those in the regional area who may be able to fill spots in my seed list, this is of high importance to me, moreso than monetary gain in fact.<br />
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Please take the time to leave the internet as you have the chance and learn something of value, while doing so take a moment to look around and thank whatever god or chain of consequences you believe in for the very breath you draw. Don't forget that no one makes it alone and most certainly no one ever gets out alive as Jim Morrison once stated.<br />
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For those who wish to speak of seed, trades, poultry, pigs, rgenerative growth, and in general preparing for shit to hit the fan please feel free to call me: 812-967-2073 or e-mail <a href="mailto:bishopshomegrown@gmail.com">bishopshomegrown@gmail.com</a><br />
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As well allow homegrowngoodness.blogspot.com to forever be a resource to all. You may find me there more often.Bishops Homegrownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16530035650083339042noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-793541490735805516.post-87345018803683873592012-03-21T12:00:00.002-07:002012-03-21T12:03:36.961-07:00The "White Blackberry" rabbit hole goes deeper still!Hey guys, back after a break due to the tornado which ravaged my small town and a week of upper respiratory sickness. I'll be making frequent updates to the blog in coming weeks regarding farm work, animals, fruit stock, and distilling as time allows.<br /><br />Anyhow, recently my good friend Mark Walmsey who I've been doing a bit of trading with passed some new White Blackberry information my way which completely opened up a whole new field of research for me. As he says in the e-mail; Viva Orange!<br /><br />I've recently done some reading on white blackberries. Regarding 'Nettletons'/'Iceberg', let me propose another theory:<br />From what I have read, the 'Nettletons' white blackberry was collected in Albion, IL. This is the same location that John Orange - one of the early collector/breeders of white blackberries - lived and sold his plants. Albion is 30 miles from where one of the Nettletons lived/lives, so I would take a guess that they went down to Orange's or someones old homestead and found some crazy-old clones. Chances are that this is Orange's 'Orange's Crystal' aka 'Crystal White', 'Colonel Wilder' or a seedling of one of them. I know Burbank's photo of 'Crystal White' shows it to be a muddy color, but I really question his photos and chain of events regarding his work with white blackberries. Burbank states "that the berry with the aid of which I developed the new fruit was called a white blackberry. It was a berry found growing wild in New Jersey, and introduced as a garden novelty, with no pretense to value as a table fruit, by Mr. T. J. Lovett. He called the berry "Crystal White...". Is this the same as 'Orange's Crystal'? Orange's 'Crystal White' came out in the 1850's. More than likely Burbank got most of his white blackberry breeding material from the chain of plants John B. Orange collected and distributed. Burbank was twelve when Orange was advertising his "choice blackberry plants" that included white blackberries in the 1861 version of American Agriculturist. Regardless, I believe very strongly that 'Nettletons' owes it's genes to John B. Orange. Viva Orange! To me, this find is extremely rare. How could they have survived 160 years? These are John B. Orange's releases per The Small Fruits of New York: Albion [flesh color]-Rural N. Y. 11: in. i860. 2. Downing Fr. Trees Am. 443. 1869.A white sort found in the wild prior to 1860 by John B. Orange, Albion, Illinois.Although introduced as having productive plants and large fruit, Downing found the plantsunproductive, the fruit only fair in size, imperfect and without flavor. Colonel Wilder [white]-Mag. 30:360. 1864.Originated prior to 1864 by John B. Orange, Albion, Illinois. Fruit of medium size,oblong, slightly pointed, light cream color, moderately firm, does not develop well ; very good. Crystal White [white]-Elliott Fr. Book. ig6. 1859.Orange's Crystal. 2. Mag. Hort. 30:359. 1864.Raised from seed by John B. Orange, Albion, Illinois, prior to 1859. Plants vigorous,not hardy, suckering freely, very productive when grown with other sorts; prickles few,weak; fruit of medium size, oblong-oval, light creamy white, translucent, sweet; good. Dr. Warder [pink]-Mag. Hort. 30:360. 1864.Raised by John B. Orange, Albion, Illinois, prior to 1864. Fruit large, dark rosyred; good.Bishops Homegrownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16530035650083339042noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-793541490735805516.post-69995455771843570312012-02-12T12:36:00.000-08:002012-02-12T12:39:17.403-08:00Even Great markets have slow days....Even great markets have slow days.....<br /> <br />This past Saturday Washington County Artisans and Farmers once again set up shop at the Pierce Polk Vol. Fire Dept in Pekin Indiana for our Valentines weekend offering of local handmade goods and homegrown products. The day started off with a low temperature of 19 degrees F. and a bit of snow but the hot breakfast, good coffe, and friendship amongst vendors and customers definitely made the event worthwhile!<br /> <br />Given the weather we figured the crowd would be quite slow and that we may indeed have a few vendors cancel their appearance at the market and certainly that was the case but it didn't seem to dampen the mood too awful much as it provided the opporotunity to see the market at the opposite extreme of the spectrum compared to the success that we have had at our previous three events. Even with a small crowd and a shortened vendor list I believe all managed to have a good time and some commerce was completed on behalf of market vendors and the fire dept. As well we welcomed with open arms our new dual market masters Anne and Kevin Mutschler who brought along plenty of sunshine on a cold/gray day in the form of their ever optimistic daughter Bonnie.<br /><br />We even had some fresh produce from our newest vendors R and D Aquaphonics!<br /> <br />As always there was a sense of comraderie and a feeling that we are building towards truly great things for our market and the wider community both within and outside of Washington County. Around 9:00 we were entertained by the strains of music coming from a music circle that we hope to see at market for the forseable future. The nice thing about a slow day at market as well is that the few customers who do come through take a bit more time to peruse items and get to know their vendors and for the vendors who attended this will pay off in spades in coming months as those customers will recall that even during the slow times we are there to provide our goods and services.<br /><br />All in all a slow market day is just a small piece of the larger puzzle that makes up a successful market and is a growing experience which we can learn from. Sometimes weather and sickness will hinder our market days a bit but brings us closer to the realization that we are a family working to better not just our own business but the market as a whole. This my friends is the "value" in the experience.<br /><br />We look forward greatly to our two upcoming winter market events in March. The first will once again be at The Pierce, Polk, Vol. Fire Dept with a benefit breakfast on St. Patricks Day (March 17'th) and looks to be a crowd pleaser with a longer vendor list and music circle while the second will be at The American Legion Bingo Hall in Salem Indiana on March 31'st (look forward to more info on special events for this market in the coming weeks).<br />-Alan Reed BishopBishops Homegrownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16530035650083339042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-793541490735805516.post-86963686939441271362012-02-02T15:51:00.000-08:002012-02-02T16:41:45.736-08:00The Great Glass Elevator<div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k-TVwGdYAx4/TysoN2B6pMI/AAAAAAAAF6c/D5aZTFocVtc/s1600/farm2011%2B799.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704697571301827778" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k-TVwGdYAx4/TysoN2B6pMI/AAAAAAAAF6c/D5aZTFocVtc/s320/farm2011%2B799.jpg" /></a> "....a reminder that I am not alone here..." Nothing better than that beautiful blue Febuary sky and daytime moon to remind us just how close to spring we are.<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-60eN7hGeaGI/TyskzaWdLmI/AAAAAAAAF6M/lsduhIEmFYY/s1600/farm2011%2B793.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704693818660302434" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-60eN7hGeaGI/TyskzaWdLmI/AAAAAAAAF6M/lsduhIEmFYY/s320/farm2011%2B793.jpg" /></a> Worm Compost!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="left">So, I teased you guys with my Great Glass Elevator plans the other day and thought I'd take a moment to snap a couple pics and share with you. One of the things that has always stuck out as a possible problem in my sustainability plan for the farm should shit ever get "that bad" was that my greenhouse set up's rely on a petroleum based economy to remain viable due to the plastic covering that needs to be replaced every four or so years. Sure it's nice having a greenhouse, but let's face it, if things are that bad and that plastic goes there's not a lot those frames are potentially good for unless you can find some sheet metal and self taping screws somewhere.</div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left">I've been contemplating building a glass house for some time but never had the materials until this past season when I helped a neighbor repair a fence in exchange for some really nice sliding glass storm doors which I put to use for this project. I've still got quite a few out in the supply pile that I'm holding onto in anticipation of Kim and I moving to the backside of the property and building a passive solar greenhouse on our home.</div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left">Until then though I've been in need of a bit more space and some higher humidity conditions to help in propigating/rooting small nursery stock so I set out to find a small area of ground to house my new "Elevator" The berry patch just so happened to be just about right.</div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left">All that was needed were a few cedar posts and some nails. I recently cut some cedar posts for a friend as a custom order and went ahead and droped the needed posts for this project at the same time, so technically I actually got paid to cut my own posts...... :) I love it when plans work out like that.</div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left">Anyhow, one of the other varied needs on the farm was that of a solar dehydrator, I can, in a pinch dry things on racks in the greenhouse and cure turkish tobacco on a specially made tobacco lath rack out there but air control and humidity control are a real pain even with electricity in what amounts to a glorified cold tunnel and without electricity (SHTF) how can I be expected to dry bulk amounts of food?</div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left">This project has completely solved that issue. As you can see from the photos below the new greenhouse is in no way air tight, in fact theres lots of fairly large sized cracks and crevices currently filled in with old greenhouse plastic and feed sacks as well the backside of the greenhouse has one window on the outside bottom and one on the inside top leaving a six inch gap with a 12-14 inch differential, the door is also removable on the front and the house is positioned in a north east/south west direction for air flow! This should make for a nice, naturally regulated dehydration house!</div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left">While building the house I knew that it wouldn't be heated and that I would need to make up for the lack of heat early in the year with heat sinks if possible thusly the tables you see (soon there will be a set of three shelves around the two side walls and back wall) are set atop of 50 gallon blue poly barrels filled with water (3 to be exact) this is probably actually a bit overkill in a house this small but time and experience will be the true judge.</div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left">Also included below are some pics of the nursery stock I started propigating today. Anyhow, enjoy.<br /></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Mt2piLZyrOY/Tysj4M6aP2I/AAAAAAAAF58/8BvrGy7ah1o/s1600/farm2011%2B797.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704692801440726882" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Mt2piLZyrOY/Tysj4M6aP2I/AAAAAAAAF58/8BvrGy7ah1o/s320/farm2011%2B797.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HVYrwEt0V4A/TysjL7I7sxI/AAAAAAAAF5w/aH0lZrJiBD8/s1600/farm2011%2B798.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704692040755557138" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HVYrwEt0V4A/TysjL7I7sxI/AAAAAAAAF5w/aH0lZrJiBD8/s320/farm2011%2B798.jpg" /></a> Propigation materials from left to right: Blackberry rootstock, Bishop's Dewberry cuttings, Jewel Black Raspberry cuttings, Burbank "Snowbank" blackberry root cuttings.<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MW8BSYo-ny0/Tysif3I1g7I/AAAAAAAAF5k/YowtYdfa4ok/s1600/farm2011%2B800.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704691283767165874" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MW8BSYo-ny0/Tysif3I1g7I/AAAAAAAAF5k/YowtYdfa4ok/s320/farm2011%2B800.jpg" /></a> And thusly spring 2012 begins!<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FRFL-xRNZ3I/Tysh7j9SF2I/AAAAAAAAF5Y/avE11a6E4uE/s1600/farm2011%2B801.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704690660143142754" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FRFL-xRNZ3I/Tysh7j9SF2I/AAAAAAAAF5Y/avE11a6E4uE/s320/farm2011%2B801.jpg" /></a>The Great Glass Elevator (or variously The Cosmic Cube!) </div>Bishops Homegrownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16530035650083339042noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-793541490735805516.post-83145392332705744422012-01-30T18:11:00.000-08:002012-01-30T19:50:01.837-08:00An idea to bring something special back to pekin....Some of you may not know but my hometown Pekin Indiana is well known for one thing; hosting the longest consecutive running 4'th of July celebration! It's something I am immensley proud of (along with much of the other local history of the area) and something that anyone else in Pekin or Washington County should be proud of. Unfortunately for the entirity of my lifetime the celebration has been on a downhill slide (minus the awesome Guiness world record breaking spoon playing of Pekin native Steve Tankersly at this past years celebration) and has moved away from anything which for the most part represents the town, the culture and least of all the history.<br /><br />In the past several years short of a prince and princess and king and queen contest the celebration has failed to celebrate what makes this town unique, sinking down to having a small midway, cheap Chineese made crap trinkets, and a flea market. To me this is unacceptable. As well far too much money has been spent on far little.<br /><br />Fortunately this year I decided to get involved and contribute some ideas. I don't expect all of my ideas to necessarily be well accepted and nor do I believe my ideas will change the festival in a single year, but you have to start somewhere. The biggest hurdle likely will be getting others in my age group involved in the festival (well that and the fact that the deed to the park includes a covenant against alcohol on the premises).<br /><br />Ultimately, it all seems to be working out for the better as the Pekin Betterment (this is the organization, independent of the town, responsible for the festival) welcomed me in with open arms and they seem to be aware that new blood is needed and things need to change. Part of this is likely due to the deep deficit they have ran in recent years hiring in outside musical acts and over priced midway equipment.<br /><br />Some of the valid points I have tried to bring to the table include:<br />-Why do we pay musicians and entertainment from out of town that are not related to our culture or history in any way and serve only to cheapen the event. Moreover, why do we pay at all, if this festival was where it needed to be it would be a privelage for these folks to play at the event.<br />-Why do we not have historical re-enactments including demonstrators as well as revolutionary and union and confederate troops on hand<br />-Why do we need a midway when we could instead bring the community together and make it a more memorable event for all involved by having childrens games such as sack races, cornhole, watermelon eating contests, exct as well as sports based contests with community teams.<br />-Why do we have a flea market that is litterally on the leading edge of the festival where it can be seen by all who pull up. It looks bad on the town and the culture.<br />-Why is it reffered to as "Pekin Park" when it was deeded as "Gills Grove" to the betterment/town and should be billed as such in honor of the family who donated it.<br /><br />Luckily, for the most part these folks have been highly receptive to my thoughts and ideas. Part of this I believe is due to the fact that I am part of the new Washington County Artisans and Farmers project that is bringing a new market and commerce into the town and particularly the park. In fact, they have gone way out of their way to offer the new market a spot on the Saturday of the celebration for a way discounted price in order to allow the market to set up during the busiest time in the town. This is something that prior to my joining we were told was off limits and I've been told that we are given this chance so that eventually with can replace the flea market with something totally new, unique, and authentic! I am beyond excited about this<br /><br />When I brought up the games, they were very interested in my ideas as well. I will follow up on that soon enough.<br /><br />But most excitingly of all, when I pointed out to them how far the festival had fallen in terms of most of the town avoiding it up until last year when the local spoon player broke a world record and brought the community together again, they agreed and realize they need that "feeling" consistently from year to year and gave me permission to move forward with an idea for the mainstage for this year, so here I present it to you, my faithfull blogger and homegrown audience for review and commentary.<br /><br />Before reading, here is a bit of history about a subject mentioned. The Pekin Panther is a local legend that has been bandied about for well over 100 years. Cougars are native to Indiana and were once common here although common knowledge dictates that they are all gone from the area (despite constant sightings in neighboring Illinois and recently Indiana). From time to time you will hear folks bring up this living legend as well as sightings therof. Buster Crockett was the town barber at one point, this automatically makes him the center of many past "liars circles" likely many that included Panther stories. Think of him as a modern day Floyd the Barber.<br /><br /><br />At the moment this is simply a rough concept of an event that will be held at the 2012 Pekin Indiana 4'th of July Celebration. To better cater the event to the town and community at large this page will stand as a way to solicit ideas for this contest as well as to form ...a committee who will help see this event to fruition. If you would like to serve on the committe which will entail helping work out details as well as judging and signing up participants or if you would be interested in participating please e-mail Alan Bishop at bishopshomegrown@gmail.com or call 812-967-2073.<br /><br />The Ol' Liars Club<br />2012 Pekin Indiana 4'th Of July Celebration<br />A celebration of the long held small town tradition of stretching the truth to it's breaking point without cracking a smile!<br />By : Alan Reed Bishop<br /><br /><br />Every small town business establishment has one. It's not even discrete, in fact, if you walk into a locally owned resteraunt, caffee, gas station, barber shop, local tavern, or any other institution which actively fosters socialization, you are likely to wonder what all that ruckus over in the corner is about. It's the local Liars club, usually a group of older fellows sharing stories of bygone eras and conquests which may or may not be grounded in some amount of truth.<br /><br /><br />Often these clubs turn into events of their own, a reminder of our culture, a reminder of what having "character" is all about. Local legends are born this way. Pekin Panthers, 500 lb watermelons and fourty foot Tall mushrooms notwithstanding, it is through these stories that any local "everyman" can become something of a local institution. The best examples are the stories from which you can't seperate the milk from the cream or the lie from the truth, even better are those instances where one mans bending of the truth becomes a full on group effort with each of the participants taking their turn greasing the axels of what constitutes "truth".<br /><br /><br />We would like to see this local institution celebrated. Particularly in the year when Buster Crockett is being celebrated. Mr. Crockett surely participated and or overheard more than his far share of these circles in his days cutting the hair of some of the best lia...storytellers in the town. <br /><br />Some may wonder why one would want to celebrate something as devious as a lie, it's quite simple really, it's entertaining and it keeps one on their toes, oftent the lie is told in front of a newcomer to see just how quick on his toes he/she truly is, this is often a sign of being invited into the community and an assurance that next time the joke won't be on you.<br /><br /><br />The idea:<br /><br />Part one:<br /><br />Do you have a story to tell, can you stretch the truth in a believable way? Can you do so without cracking a smile? If you can and you can do so in 15 minuites or less come and visit us at the festival. Tell the town your story and make whatever embelishments (family friendly) you can. The more mundane the story begins and the more exuberently it is skewed the better. At the end of the day we will pick ten "storytellers" to put on stage the next day. Props and audience participation will be encouraged!<br /><br />Part two:<br />The next day we will put the ten winners on stage in a circle with Buster Crockett presiding as he would have in the days of his barber shop. The ten contestants will be encouraged to begin a dialoge, based on the local legend of the Pekin Panther, from there they will collaboratively craft a story for the audience based on local townsfolk and should be encouraged to use the names of townsfolk as they craft the story. Our special invited guest on stage at this time will be Steve Tankersly, in honor of his gift to our town via his world record breaking spoon playing at last years celebration.<br /><br />The Rest:<br /><br />We will actively seek the help of Traditional Arts Indiana or any other interested parties in recording the event for posterity.<br /><br />Prizes:<br /><br />I'm still not sure how to handle this part, perhaps a "key that opens any door in the town" would be a nice sybolic prize as it could be used in future contests as part of a story. I could possibly also work with Washington County Artisans and Farmers on a gift certificate.Bishops Homegrownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16530035650083339042noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-793541490735805516.post-81451616092857476752012-01-29T17:05:00.000-08:002012-01-29T17:22:33.076-08:00New tobacco lath display racks available.<div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4wVoSLDxnDM/TyXwp3-4_JI/AAAAAAAAF44/joLqFPQWpzw/s1600/farm2011%2B715.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703229105327635602" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4wVoSLDxnDM/TyXwp3-4_JI/AAAAAAAAF44/joLqFPQWpzw/s320/farm2011%2B715.jpg" /></a> Soap Drying Dish of Tobacco Lath. 4.50 each.<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XgXlcBPcFQw/TyXv9hkiyyI/AAAAAAAAF4o/7p5vbGlXCyY/s1600/farm2011%2B712.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703228343397305122" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XgXlcBPcFQw/TyXv9hkiyyI/AAAAAAAAF4o/7p5vbGlXCyY/s320/farm2011%2B712.jpg" /></a> Soap Racks 25.00 each<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RRhTMpTKZCM/TyXv9fLpkaI/AAAAAAAAF4g/S7zTG3aQOLs/s1600/farm2011%2B714.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703228342756020642" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RRhTMpTKZCM/TyXv9fLpkaI/AAAAAAAAF4g/S7zTG3aQOLs/s320/farm2011%2B714.jpg" /></a> Chapstick Rack 40.00 Each<br /><br /><br /><div>We've been making a lot of new tobacco lath items lately, mostly in the form of various display racks including seed racks, soap racks, and chapstick display racks. I thought I would include a few photos here. If your interested in purchasing some let us know.</div><br /><br />As well, we also have some new Face Of The Earth 9 Variety seed racks (five packs each) avalable for sale for 150.00. Seed rack included (you can see one of these on the very end of the market table below)<br /><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703225599609889250" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4RsFwF5tzdM/TyXtd0KpYeI/AAAAAAAAF4A/wurGu9PcvdM/s320/397370_373492479333240_100000174747808_1698086_141329036_n.jpg" /><br /><br />Above you can see our table from our recent farmers market event. Upfront is the four rail chapstick rack. It's made completely of tobacco lath and has a full back. There is also an area that's empty in the front for displaying either salves/creams/soap exct. These are 40.00 each. Directly behind this and to each side are our soap racks, these are 15 inches by 15 inches and fold down flat, they also have legs bolted on with wingnuts to tighten down. 25.00 each.<br /><br /><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703226481509434818" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zeLG_TgKMdc/TyXuRJf4hcI/AAAAAAAAF4Q/20Lg2Tv5vfQ/s320/430356_373490852666736_100000174747808_1698083_474947993_n.jpg" /><br /><br /><p align="center">Another picture of the previously mentioned. ON the far end of the table you can (barely) see the seed rack. The seed rack is 10 x 10 inches with 9 seed compartments. 100% made of tobacco lath and all seeds are Face Of The Earth produced and grown. Seed includes: Paradigm Red Tomato Landrace, Prometheus Yellow Tomato Landrace, Phoenix Pink Tomato Landrace, Landrace Cucumber, Landrace Moschata Squash, El Diablo Tobacco, Aunt Nellies Mushroom Bean, Rattlesnake Bean, Astronomy Domine Sweet Corn, GNR Okra Grex. </p><br /><br /><p align="center">We can and do also make other custom display Racks, just let us know what you want and we will quote you a price. E-mail: <a href="mailto:bishopshomegrown@gmail.com">bishopshomegrown@gmail.com</a> or call 812-967-2073<br /></p><br /></div></div>Bishops Homegrownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16530035650083339042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-793541490735805516.post-73567173458086770112012-01-29T16:53:00.000-08:002012-01-29T17:05:12.054-08:00Your Friendly Neighborhood Artisans and Farmers Market.......<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vop3pQOMkIs/TyXsiqoC30I/AAAAAAAAF3s/tslbyhjHQGY/s1600/397370_373492479333240_100000174747808_1698086_141329036_n.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703224583436558146" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vop3pQOMkIs/TyXsiqoC30I/AAAAAAAAF3s/tslbyhjHQGY/s320/397370_373492479333240_100000174747808_1698086_141329036_n.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7Ag5pM-Ii_M/TyXsiSmaPOI/AAAAAAAAF3k/BHKZmRtLC1o/s1600/430356_373490852666736_100000174747808_1698083_474947993_n.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703224576987249890" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7Ag5pM-Ii_M/TyXsiSmaPOI/AAAAAAAAF3k/BHKZmRtLC1o/s320/430356_373490852666736_100000174747808_1698083_474947993_n.jpg" /></a> A couple pictures of the Bishop's Homegrown/Uncle Penn's/Face Of The Earth Seed Co stand prior to opening of the market!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div>This past Saturday our new Washington County and Artisans Market had the privelage of hosting our third ever winter market (with the much appreciated assistance of The Salem Indiana American Legion) in Salem Indiana at the American Legion Bingo Hall in Salem Indiana. This was a big, actually huge, step for our organization as it was the largest event we have yet put together as well as our first independent event and the first yet in neighboring Salem Indiana.<br /><br /><br />We had about 21 vendors turn out for the event which was held in what had previously been a town grocery store. Everyone was in good spirits and there was a general feeling of excitement in the air as what is slowly becoming a community event unfolded in front of everyone . The melding of music with the exchange of money for locally produced and grown goods and the smell and taste of soup and sandwhiches (provided as a benefit to the market by board members) created a wonderful atmosphere which really brought forth what a market is all about.<br /><br />Despite the event being held in late January there was some produce at this market as our new vendors R and D Aquaphonics were kind enough to bring along some hydrophonically grown greens and Joanne Jackson reminded us spring was around the corner with her beuatiful and flowering perrinial plants. .<br /><br />If this is anything representative of what this new market is capable of I would say Washington County is in for a big treat this coming summer at our main market location at the Pekin Park in Pekin Indiana (also known as Gill's Grove). Big things are on the horizon and I for one am beyond proud to have been a part of it both as a board member and as a vendor!</div></div>Bishops Homegrownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16530035650083339042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-793541490735805516.post-34000863240670094502012-01-12T10:00:00.000-08:002012-01-12T10:26:54.165-08:00Sustainability awareness in Washington County...perhaps it's getting through.The past seven months have been fairly busy for me between working on the farm and adding a lot of new projects to the business as well as working on community projects. All of these things have definitely contributed to my lack of presence here on the blog and at Homegrown Goodness but those sacrifices have been well worthwhile considering the payoffs.<br /><br />I've heard more locally in common everday conversations and political conversations about sustainability in the "status quo" as well as in TEOTWAWKI situations that I ever have in the past. Conversations which might lead to bigger projects for the local community in the future but which are leading to fairly paradigm shifting moments in the present. Hell, I even spoke in front of the Washington County Chamber Of Commerce about plant breeding and sustainability this year and ran head first into folks more than willing to concede that we need a council to discuss and implement agricultural, cultural, and local economy based sustainability in this county. Something I will soon persue.<br /><br />In the meantime I've been working towards agricultural history with my place at Old Settlers Days and hopefully the same will be said for my position in the Pekin Betterment.<br /><br /><br />The biggest and thus far most fulfilling (simply because it's further along) is the new Washington County Artisans and Farmers Market. Washington county has needed an alternative market for a long time, particularly one that was inclusive of local artisans and crafters so that they too have a venue through which to move their handmade and hopefully culturally signifigant work. The board is a nice mix of at large and producer members and we all share the same goal of both making the new market sucessful in terms of a farmers market but also in terms of economic development and agritourism opporotunities. <br /><br />Me, I see it a little deeper than the other probably just because my awareness and knowledge of the shifting paradigm of government, economy, and agriculture and just how fucked were about to be by the system crash that's bound to come, so it's my hope (on top of those mentioned above) to also create barter and trade systems amongst vendors and community so that in the course of things going south we have some system which is still managable within the community of holding onto some level of sanity and comfort.<br /><br />The one downside of the farmers market is our inability to have alcoholic beverages on the premises of the farmers market since it is on town property that was deeded over with the provision that no alcohol be allowed on the property. This is something that comes up over and over again in discussions with the board and in other areas of improvement and awareness of Washington County and it's unique wears. Since the Pekin Betterment also operates out of the park there too can be no alcohol via the Fourth of July Celebration. When it comes to Old Settlers Days in Salem, I'm still not sure of the opporotunities (probably if I joined the chamber I would have a better idea). This really is something that from an economic and tourism perspective we are missing out on as there are some fantastic beer brewers and wine vinters around and if anything draws a crowd it's good alcohol. This is the point of view by which most of my contemporaries also view the situation, purely from an economical and tourism view along with an express interest in seeing community members business flourish and artisan wares take off, but there is another side to it that relates just as much to TEOTWAWKI as well; alcohol and tobacco (also perfectly legal to sale uncut and in hands) will very well be a big part of the sustainability of Washington County should things get, shall I say, "That bad.". Nay, even in my opinion should be included some of the finest "likker" to ever roll off a still in the state of Indiana should be included (for the sake of either the Artisan status quo reasons or the other aforementioned) but would require an act of god to make happen given the start up costs of going "legit", none the less, we all know it exists and will be there when needed.<br /><br />The third and newest part of this whole Washington County waking up paradigm is an article that one of my farmers market board members shared with the group today about a school on the other side of the county (West Washington) and some children there interested in growing a larger proportion of the cafeteria food in a hydrophonic, on site greenhouse (I'll hold my tounge and content about hydrophonic and sustainability but it's a step in the right direction). This gives me much hope that perhaps Salem and my own Alma Matter Eastern will begin to promote such ideas and begin the ball rolling on their own food growing enterprises. In fact, when I was in high school we had a fantastic and deep agriculture program which taught even quite advanced plant propigation, landscaping, botany, animal science, and horticulture at a college level (to those students like me who actually paid attention) so theres no reason that this could not be furthered. In fact, it's my opinion that not only should all schools have a greenhouse for production of food but they should include at least some number of chickens for producing eggs as well as a small research garden and a small orchard. Seed saving and gardening should be prerequisite courses for graduation as both can be applied to any situation in which you might be living your future life as there are now so many balcony, rooftop, and urban gardens.<br /><br />None the less, if you appreciate such things, please take a moment to check out the link to the West Washington project that I am about to leave and donate a few dollars to further the cause of sustainability in Washington County. Much appreciated.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.wccfmarketplace.biz/donate/details/cat/1/id/13">http://www.wccfmarketplace.biz/donate/details/cat/1/id/13</a>Bishops Homegrownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16530035650083339042noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-793541490735805516.post-6709570996528229742012-01-11T20:24:00.000-08:002012-01-11T20:45:54.406-08:00Evaluating Waxy Maize Germplasm<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6jWgSDskyNk/Tw5lGulHauI/AAAAAAAAF3Q/OJK8XIXfbhY/s1600/farm2011%2B154.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696601744927582946" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6jWgSDskyNk/Tw5lGulHauI/AAAAAAAAF3Q/OJK8XIXfbhY/s320/farm2011%2B154.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-47CVdch83to/Tw5jzo8b9RI/AAAAAAAAF3A/souHvZj4OVY/s1600/farm2011%2B265.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696600317485643026" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-47CVdch83to/Tw5jzo8b9RI/AAAAAAAAF3A/souHvZj4OVY/s320/farm2011%2B265.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>This past winter my good friend Castanea at <a href="http://www.blogger.com/homegrowngoodness.blogspot.com">Homegrown Goodness </a>was kind enough to send me some bulk packages of Waxy Maize seed from Lion Seed. Three varieties in total which I posted pictures of on the blog back when. Two of these were hybrids and a third was OP all being white and 90 days to maturity (he also sent a yellow flint which was high oil and ended up in a backcross to Amanda Palmer this season).</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>I set out to test the germplasm this summer past. Due to cross pollination concerns with the wide range of DTM in my Amanda Palmer and flint corn populations I didn't bother to plant the Waxy corn until late June/Early July. I knew this would have a major effect on it's productivity. As well it was planted on unamended soil which had not been treated with lime in several years.</div><br /><br /><br /><div>The corn germinated quickly and seemed to grow well. It had a a bit of a nitrogen deficiency but continued on quite well regardless. By mid-October some of the corn was drying down and ready for harvest. As expected the harvest was a bit nill due to the late planting and fertility factors, none the less, I was rewarded with plenty of good seed for replanting this coming season.</div><br /><br /><div>A few observations about the corns growth that I made. It seemed to me the stalks were a bit fragile and pithy but this could be due once again to lack of nitrogen. The cob formation seems quite squat and the way the husk develops and connects to the handle is a bit odd with the husk itself having almost a vegetable quaility to it with a texture like that of the inside of a cabbage at the base of the cob. I did sample some of the corn in the milk stage and the flavor was similar to that of an SU sweet corn. Once I had dried ears in hand I took some of those that I rejected for seed and fed them out in an animal preference test to the pigs as well as the turkeys. 3 to 1 the animals seemed to prefer the waxy maize to Amanda Palmer, likely even they know they are able to process more of the starch than in a dent line. </div><br /><br /><div>This coming year I hope to grow a quarter acre and take a better look at the corn in more ideal conditions. One of the other major issues I experienced with the waxy corn was the preference deer and raccons and squirrels also showed for the corn so it's going to have to be planted somewhere a bit closer to the house and human activity that I am accustomed to planting Amanda Palmer for instance. This season I will also add a sample of colored waxy maize I recieved from my good friend Joseph Lofthouse as well.</div></div>Bishops Homegrownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16530035650083339042noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-793541490735805516.post-72599353073012908432012-01-11T20:21:00.000-08:002012-01-11T20:22:50.114-08:00New Peace Seeds Blog and 2012 seed listCheck it out at <a href="http://www.blogger.com/peaceseedslive.blogspot.com">peaceseedslive.blogspot.com</a> lots of great stuff!<br /><br />Also gotta love anybody who uses the term "OG since 73"<br /><br />And I got a shout out in there too, that's kind of tantamount to Geddy Lee giving me a shout out at a Rush show.Bishops Homegrownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16530035650083339042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-793541490735805516.post-32256646496842835112012-01-11T19:47:00.000-08:002012-01-11T20:21:03.164-08:00Tobacco Lath Display RacksOne thing that I've always been at a loss for at the farmers markets I've done is good display racks for handmade stuff and seeds. Recently I started building a few out of tobacco lath. I've had some luck selling some of these and thought I'd share with my blog readers as some of you might be interested.<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O0eIj9eL5As/Tw5b_92HrBI/AAAAAAAAF2g/DKuR68GiJd0/s1600/farm2011%2B614.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696591733161700370" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O0eIj9eL5As/Tw5b_92HrBI/AAAAAAAAF2g/DKuR68GiJd0/s320/farm2011%2B614.jpg" /></a> These ladder racks are fantastic for displaying handmade washrags exct. Or if you screw some i-hooks into them are great for displaying earrings. 20.00 plus shipping.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-URAp-JgxwPw/Tw5bRpc4-SI/AAAAAAAAF2U/G_4u0m_3SeI/s1600/farm2011%2B613.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696590937413187874" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-URAp-JgxwPw/Tw5bRpc4-SI/AAAAAAAAF2U/G_4u0m_3SeI/s320/farm2011%2B613.jpg" /></a> Next up are these custom made soap racks, they fold flat with the addition of a bolt and wing nut. These are 15 x 15 inches. I can make them like this or vertical racking as well. 25.00 each plus shipping.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-msctjomTQN8/Tw5YbxAZpJI/AAAAAAAAF2E/yz57HA7q0Y0/s1600/farm2011%2B498.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696587812704986258" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-msctjomTQN8/Tw5YbxAZpJI/AAAAAAAAF2E/yz57HA7q0Y0/s320/farm2011%2B498.jpg" /></a><br />Next up are seed racks we did for Fresh Start Growers supply in louisville KY. We can make these of any size you might want or need and make custom signs for them if needed as well. We also currently have three Face Of The Earth 10 variety seed racks for sale at 225.00 (the seeds alone would normally be 300.00) with your choice of seeds from <a href="http://www.blogger.com/faceoftheearthseed.blogspot.com">Face Of The Earth </a>(Amanda Palmer is completely sold out however). We can make you a custom seed rack for your needs. Just shoot as an e-mail or phone call (812-967-2073) for particulars<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>Bishops Homegrownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16530035650083339042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-793541490735805516.post-71832879724289043652012-01-09T15:38:00.000-08:002012-01-09T16:49:30.081-08:00Uncle Penns Circle W Old Fashioned Lye Soap shipping prices and cataloug.<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0uhE79g9HcU/TwuIhTwQqwI/AAAAAAAAF0Q/_5ZFxqieq8w/s1600/farm2011%2B504.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695796259559877378" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0uhE79g9HcU/TwuIhTwQqwI/AAAAAAAAF0Q/_5ZFxqieq8w/s320/farm2011%2B504.jpg" /></a><br />Left to right/top to bottom: Working Man, Grit Getter, Aunt Hazel, Honey Wine, American Castille, Mull Digger, Dumb Ass Country Boy.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-402PBPeEQ8o/TwuJSF6gyOI/AAAAAAAAF0c/ojItYvEXcLM/s1600/farm2011%2B512.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695797097658370274" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-402PBPeEQ8o/TwuJSF6gyOI/AAAAAAAAF0c/ojItYvEXcLM/s320/farm2011%2B512.jpg" /></a><br />Grit Getter and Polenta from our newest recipie; much better lather with a balance of cleansing and conditioning properties. We haven't yet designed a wrapper for Polenta so allow me to introduce it: Polenta is a spin off of grit getter, this time without honey and with the addition of chamomille, lots of corn notes in a fresh clean scent. Great lathering properties and fantastic for getting the dirt off at the end of the day. The corn is well ground and close to corn meal in consistency so is suitable for a body bar. 5 ounce bars.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xA9hRBu6WgU/Twt-I5ZtvpI/AAAAAAAAFzI/vCR6TqHNUa8/s1600/farm2011%2B505.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695784845052853906" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xA9hRBu6WgU/Twt-I5ZtvpI/AAAAAAAAFzI/vCR6TqHNUa8/s320/farm2011%2B505.jpg" /></a> Uncle Penn's "Workin' Man": That he was! And of course theres that song ("I get up, seven yeah, go to work at nine" so what if the lyrics were a bit of a late starter!). This ones a straight up coffee scrub with a bit of honey for some "smellum good". Lot's of coffee grounds (home roasted from Sweet Maria's fair trade) for that extra grit you need to scrub out those deep workin man stains and as always some honey to help moisturize. 5% superfated too with the light scent of honey<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jObuD3MAJS8/Twt-I9LhlKI/AAAAAAAAFy4/vuozxLBoF7Y/s1600/farm2011%2B507.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695784846067078306" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jObuD3MAJS8/Twt-I9LhlKI/AAAAAAAAFy4/vuozxLBoF7Y/s320/farm2011%2B507.jpg" /></a> American Castille! This ones made from Sunflower Oil as opposed to Olive Oil. Sunflower and Olive oil share many similar properties with sunflower giving a bit of vitamin E to the mix. We use an Elderberry Wine base and add some homegrown honey to the mix with 5% superfat. A great skin conditioning soap for those with dry skin! 5 ounce bar.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U8yFGaIyn2Q/Twt8P20ZTlI/AAAAAAAAFyk/e7gZ1judEmM/s1600/farm2011%2B508.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695782765595283026" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U8yFGaIyn2Q/Twt8P20ZTlI/AAAAAAAAFyk/e7gZ1judEmM/s320/farm2011%2B508.jpg" /></a> HomeBrew/Honeywine/Yeah Buddy: A blend of homebrewed wine and beer meets up with old fashioned lard and lye (along with coconut and sunflower oil) and some Avena Nuda oats (farm grown) with a bit of honey and chamomille to give you that kick in the pants you've been looking for. 5% superfat and honey keeps you moisturized while the slight natural scent of honey and chamomille make you presentable for the speakeasy crowd. </div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JuJ8MylZ70I/Twt8PmnTdzI/AAAAAAAAFyc/6gwoa_40KPo/s1600/farm2011%2B509.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695782761245407026" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JuJ8MylZ70I/Twt8PmnTdzI/AAAAAAAAFyc/6gwoa_40KPo/s320/farm2011%2B509.jpg" /></a> Uncle Penns "Mull Digger": For those who don't know what a "Mull Digger" is down in the hills of Kentucky it's a term used to refer to a lazy or otherwise useless dog (or lazy person/a cheat) who digs for moles but never catches them, instead leaving only distruction and subsequent work in it's path. Here we use it to refer to our pine tar soap which harkens back to the days of "patent medicines...". Pine tar has been used for centuries to ward off bugs, deal with skin conditions, and mask the smell of hunters from prey. 3% superfat, coconut oil, sunflower oil, lard, rain water, and bees wax makes this superior to others. 5 ounce bars. </div><br /><br /><div><br />Uncle Penn's "Manda": Great grandma 'Manda Burns spent a lot of time rendering lard from homegrown hogs and screening potash for lye to make her families yearly supply of soap. This here is nearly as authentic and "real" as it gets. Straight up lye and lard by popular request. Pure as the driven snow and white enough to prove it. This one is 3% superfat but we can make it 0% by request. Old timers claimed it good for drying out poison ivy, washing stains from clothes, and dealing with other skin issues as well as washing out some "dirty" mouths when needed. 5 ounce bars.<br /></div><br /><br /><div>Uncle Penn's Castille: Straight up olive oil with 5% superfat, a great conditioning soap with a long and strong heritage. 5 ounce bars.<br /></div><br /><br /><div>Brand new and improved soap recipie and brand new shipping prices for the new year! All soaps are now 3.00 each and shipping is 3.00 a bar for single bars. Bulk prices: 6 bars for 30.00 (shipping paid) and 12 for 40.00 (shipping paid)<br /><br />If you live local don't forget to check out our stands at Addison's Graphics in Salem Indiana and McCarty's Sunoco in Pekin Indiana.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x-1iL8LyzMo/TwJtVFhbplI/AAAAAAAAFvs/gWtJ2MdIuWQ/s1600/farm2011%2B512.jpg"></a>Questions, inquiries, or thoughts about a custom soap order can be directed to <a href="mailto:bishopshomegrown@gmail.com">bishopshomegrown@gmail.com</a> or 812-967-2073</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Send orders with either postal money order, check made out to Alan Bishop or well concealed cash to:</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Alan Bishop</div><br /><div>5604 S. State Rd. 60</div><br /><div>Pekin IN 47165<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div align="center"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Bishops Homegrownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16530035650083339042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-793541490735805516.post-68534084110675105332012-01-04T17:25:00.000-08:002012-01-05T15:46:56.517-08:00A few (not anywhere near...) spring (wishful thinking) updates!<div align="left">I've used the past couple days of warmer weather to get a jump start on farm activities before the spring thaw (doesn't it have to freeze first?) sets in. Mostly I've focused on getting the greenhouse cleaned up after letting it go to weeds last summer and prepping the old goat pen for a new garden this year.</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><p><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NsCQynsGEfk/TwYwzLl_gvI/AAAAAAAAFxI/-wy8YjJlRM4/s1600/farm2011%2B526.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694292434700174066" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NsCQynsGEfk/TwYwzLl_gvI/AAAAAAAAFxI/-wy8YjJlRM4/s320/farm2011%2B526.jpg" /></a><br />Here is the goat pen as it was after I moved the goats. The goats have been in this enclosure for about 3 years so there is a great layer of cold composted organic matter accross the ground. I added several five gallon buckets of wood ash and worm compost to the top of the soil by hand.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6hra5g6nXRk/TwYwzQrGM5I/AAAAAAAAFxU/CBZVN9kIkcA/s1600/farm2011%2B531.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694292436063761298" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6hra5g6nXRk/TwYwzQrGM5I/AAAAAAAAFxU/CBZVN9kIkcA/s320/farm2011%2B531.jpg" /></a> </p><br /><p>I then proceeded to turn with a soil fork. All that's left now is to add a thin layer of nitrogen (since goat manure is low in nitrogen) which is accomplished easy with a minimum of physical effort by simply luring the turkey and duck flocks into the enclosure and feeding them scratch grains accross the surface of the pen and then enclosing them for the day for a period of a couple of weeks. By the time planting time comes along the pathogen issue should be well taken care of and the usable nitrogen level should be acceptable. I always ask myself this; Why bust ass if you don't have to?<br /><br /></p><br /><div align="left"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fToy1zYyoU8/TwT93G-1vKI/AAAAAAAAFwQ/kYKwvnHK1NI/s1600/farm2011%2B528.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693954952111963298" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fToy1zYyoU8/TwT93G-1vKI/AAAAAAAAFwQ/kYKwvnHK1NI/s320/farm2011%2B528.jpg" /></a><br /><br />I did fire up the hotbed we built last year to make sure the heating element was still working ok and to prepare for starting onions and long season hot peppers in the coming days. All was good to go so I went ahead and built a box fram accross the top to help hold up the plastic this year as the condensation on that sheet of plastic last year was more than enough that a few mornings I came out and the plants were laid out flat due to the water collecting on the plastic. Somewhere around here I have some grow tunnel hoops that I need to affix to the box to help support the plastic and get some more light penetration, if I can dig them out in the coming days I may go ahead and do that.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YsyPiEdPfhU/TwT92nHJk4I/AAAAAAAAFwI/gahXbgnyTfk/s1600/farm2011%2B527.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693954943556883330" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YsyPiEdPfhU/TwT92nHJk4I/AAAAAAAAFwI/gahXbgnyTfk/s320/farm2011%2B527.jpg" /></a><br />I've still got to get the rest of the propigation equipment sterilized and the floor swept and ready to go but at least all the tables and equipment is in place and still functional for yet another year. As you can tell the greenhouse isn't much of a "commercial" destination, just one for utilitarian commerce and production of good plants. Nothing fancy here, just usable and functional.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oLAEIfohohM/TwT92fHdl1I/AAAAAAAAFv4/xVk_Tcu1fUQ/s1600/farm2011%2B529.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693954941410711378" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oLAEIfohohM/TwT92fHdl1I/AAAAAAAAFv4/xVk_Tcu1fUQ/s320/farm2011%2B529.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Being the scavenger of materials that I am I long ago canibalized the cinder blocks and the hog pannels that I bought with the greenhouse and used for tables for years in order to make trellis systems for blackberries and raspberries and beans exct. Instead these days, as with most other things I build that don't have to be permenant, used pallets do the trick.</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yo515AqRvyk/TwY1nVnEm7I/AAAAAAAAFyM/ts9dJZu4QC4/s1600/farm2011%2B519.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694297728788765618" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yo515AqRvyk/TwY1nVnEm7I/AAAAAAAAFyM/ts9dJZu4QC4/s320/farm2011%2B519.jpg" /></a> Finally, just for fun a pic of the turkey and duck flocks respectively.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TGJJ9OwaIxk/TwY1nENWZTI/AAAAAAAAFyA/nwqR1mVfCLc/s1600/farm2011%2B520.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694297724117476658" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TGJJ9OwaIxk/TwY1nENWZTI/AAAAAAAAFyA/nwqR1mVfCLc/s320/farm2011%2B520.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div><br /></div>Bishops Homegrownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16530035650083339042noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-793541490735805516.post-68027002109087999392012-01-02T18:09:00.000-08:002012-01-02T19:47:18.955-08:00Uncle Penns Circle W Old Fashioned Lye Soap<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x-1iL8LyzMo/TwJtVFhbplI/AAAAAAAAFvs/gWtJ2MdIuWQ/s1600/farm2011%2B512.jpg"></a><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sCsb9UsIQao/TwJtU9iWZvI/AAAAAAAAFvc/-Edhh6mfP1U/s1600/farm2011%2B511.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693233085833176818" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sCsb9UsIQao/TwJtU9iWZvI/AAAAAAAAFvc/-Edhh6mfP1U/s320/farm2011%2B511.jpg" /></a> Uncle Penns Circle W Lye Soap inventory.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Kulk6UmH5fE/TwJtUj3IFEI/AAAAAAAAFvQ/FyGICQzHWuA/s1600/farm2011%2B510.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693233078940996674" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Kulk6UmH5fE/TwJtUj3IFEI/AAAAAAAAFvQ/FyGICQzHWuA/s320/farm2011%2B510.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div align="center"><br />We've been refining our products the past couple of weeks, changing up the recipie a bit and finding what shoes fit us best. It's our goal to provide a useful, healthful, and well rounded American product that is utiliterian in nature (no need to pretend to be Bath and Body supply for us!) and speaks to those folks who like life like us, simple. What we've come up with fits our personality here ...at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BishopsHomegrown" hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/page.php?id=269575804834">Bishop's Homegrown: The Southern Indiana source for Eco-Logical produce!</a> well and matches our needs (cleaning and conditioning of the skin) and we believe our customers would agree! In this spirit we have decided on a number of utiliterian soap types including Grit Getter (corn and honey), Polenta (corn and chamomille), Home Brew/Yeah Buddy (Elderberry Wine, Honey, Chamomille, and oats)Workin Man (coffe scrub), Manda (old fashioned lye soap with well water), Mull Digger (pine tar), Castille (Olive Oil and well water), American Castille (Sunflower oil, Elderberry Wine, Honey) to make up the bulk of our year round offerings. Other soaps will be seasonal in nature. All of these soaps use the same formula consisting of coconut oil, lard, sunflower oil, and beeswax (except of course Manda, Castille, and American Castille which are lard, olive oil, and sunflower oil respectively) and all (except "Manda" which is 3%) are 5% superfated for their moisturizing properties<br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XUsngOd7nYk/TwJk6TcEnYI/AAAAAAAAFvE/zcAS4skRheE/s1600/farm2011%2B507.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693223831762935170" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XUsngOd7nYk/TwJk6TcEnYI/AAAAAAAAFvE/zcAS4skRheE/s320/farm2011%2B507.jpg" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FRbEuEaE61w/TwJk6P3dT8I/AAAAAAAAFu0/wVSI90j-KRU/s1600/farm2011%2B510.jpg"><span style="color:#ffffff;">honey to the mix</span></a>Another new one we came up with; American Castille. This one is made from Sunflower oil which has much in common with Olive Oil just with the addition of naturally occuring vitamin E. We throw in some homegrown honey and beeswax and superfat to 5% with an Elderberry Wine base.<br /><br /><br /><div><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZxSnZW9eHjg/TwJk58NaNDI/AAAAAAAAFuo/gYc-v2nDYhg/s1600/farm2011%2B503.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693223825527419954" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZxSnZW9eHjg/TwJk58NaNDI/AAAAAAAAFuo/gYc-v2nDYhg/s320/farm2011%2B503.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br /><div>For those with retail locations we do have soap racks available complete with retail racks for our other future products including kisser fixer. Get with us at bishopshomegrown@gmail.com or 812-967-2073 about getting a rack in your location!</div><br /><br /><div>All of our soaps are now 4.00 each. Were still working on some new bulk shipping prices and options. Individual bars are 3.00 each shipped. All soaps are at least 4.5-5.0 ounces.<br /><br /></div><br /><div>Send order inquiries to <a href="mailto:bishopshomegrown@gmail.com">bishopshomegrown@gmail.com</a> or call Alan Bishop 812-967-2073<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div><br /></div>Bishops Homegrownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16530035650083339042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-793541490735805516.post-70825911715938435362012-01-02T16:56:00.000-08:002012-01-02T17:01:18.723-08:00Now Accepting 2012 Farmstand Credit customersTell me this isn't an awesome deal? More bang for your buck and more choices! Please pass it on!<br /><br />Bishop's Homegrown Farm Stand Credit Program! A new local/regional CSA program alternative. Providing more convenience and better value to our community. For 2012 Season.Bishop's Homegrown is a small Eco-Logical and self sustainable farm in the town of Pekin Indiana. We are family owned and a fourth generation farm focused on providing quality produce from yesteryear as well as the new food and flower crops of the future to our valued friends and community members.<br /><br />We use the strictest possible sustainable guidelines for on farm food production and make no exceptions. We feel that it is of utmost importance that locavores, members of the slow food movement, and community members, know who and from where their food comes from and how it is grown. We produce 90% of our own seed crops as well as 100% of our own organic fertilizer and we never ever opt for chemical options to control pests or disease issues on farm, feeling that growing food “eco-logically” is the only alternative to our failing food system in the United States.<br /><br />We have searched the world over to bring you the most unique, exciting, and rare food crops from diverse cultures the world over with an emphasis on nutrition and taste! Our doors are always open to our community and customers who we encourage to visit the farm in order to see and know where and how their food was grown. Food security begins when a relationship is formed between the community and its farmers, this essential connection is what allowed civilization to flourish 10,000 years ago.This year we would like to introduce you to our newest program which we feel you will find immense value in!<br /><br />The Farm Stand Credit Program: The concept of Community Supported Agriculture (AKA. CSA) is generally defined as a mutually beneficial arrangement between a farmer and his customer wherein the customer agrees to share in the risks and rewards of local farming for the benefit of their food production and the farmers well being. The CSA consumers become by proxy shareholders in the farm and it's well being by paying an upfront membership due which covers the production of food in a “Share” system. Generally a traditional CSA allows for the consumer to pay for up front costs of the farmers start up cost with the farmer reciprocating by preparing a predetermined amount of produce every week through the growing season which the shareholders pick up once a week. The farmer generally picks the produce that the customer will receive. Bishop's Homegrown is looking to create a viable alternative to the traditional CSA program by creating a farm stand coupon program which will allow customers to still share in helping us get our business going during the part of the season in which seed and implements and other essentials are being purchased while also making the relationship more convenient for the farmer and the shareholders. In this arrangement, instead of the farmer putting together a box of produce weekly he has selected for you you will instead receive credit from our farm which will allow you to visit our farm stand or farm where you can make your selection of produce that we have available including also a selection of seedlings, nursery stock, seeds, compost, poultry and other items from our farm.<br /><br />This program gives you the opportunity to decide what you want instead of us deciding what you want. Every $100 you invest will also get you a 10% discount which means that you will actually get 10% more produce for your food dollars.<br /><br />Our produce will be available to you via Washington County Artisans and Farmers market held at Pekin Park in Pekin Indiana on Saturday Mornings from 8 AM to 12 PM as well as at all subsequent “winter markets” held at the Pierce Polk Vol Fire Dept. in Pekin Indiana (as well as any additional events) For convineince you can also schedule a time to pick up things or peruse the fields here at the farm!. It is important to note that we don't usually deal in custom ordered bulk produce on a normal basis (i.e., a bushel beans, or a bushel of corn) but that when these items are available at market, as they often are, your credit can be used to purchase them as well.<br /><br />FAQ<br />How much does it cost? The investment levels start at 50.00. An investment at the 100 dollar or above level will earn you a 10% discount which means that an investment at the $100 level only costs you $90! Thats right; $100 dollars of credit only costs $90! That's essentially the same as getting $10 of produce free just for paying ahead of time! Your credit is good for two years which means that whatever is not spent this season can be carried over to next season! The maximum investment is $500.<br /><br />Here is the layout:<br />$50 credit for $50<br />$100 credit for $90<br />$200 credit for $180<br />$300 credit for $270<br />$400 credit for $360<br />$500 credit for $450<br /><br />How will we keep track of your credit?<br />Good old fashioned pen and paper, anytime you make a purchase we will deduct that price from our ledger. You will receive a receipt after each transaction so you too can keep track of the amount of produce purchased.What if I make it to market late and you are out of what I want? Unfortunately this may happen from time to time which is why we are keeping the investment level low to start with. Sometimes we just flat out run out of an item due to popularity. The best bet is to show up to market early, the best of the best goes quickly! <br /><br />There are occasions when we may not be able to make it to market from time to time due to emergencies or just the need to take a break here and there but we will inform you a few days ahead of time via e-mail (unless it's a last minute emergency) that we will not be at market in the coming week.<br /><br />What can I purchase with Bishops homegrown credit? Does this offer only include produce? No, any item we bring to market is eligible for purchase via this credit, including seeds, plants, seedlings, poultry (chicks), occasionally rabbits, compost, fishing worms, handcrafts including soap and wood working or any other product we have at market or our farm stand. We also occasionally have winter produce available. This also covers poultry butchered here on the farm including a Thanksgivning turkey. This also includes nursery stock and our new Face Of The Earth Seed company seeds!<br /><br />Payment is due by the February 2012 in order that we know what we have in the bank and can plan accordingly. Payment can be made by check, money order, or well concealed cash. Credit takes effect immediately and rolls over for a two year period.<br /><br />Make checks or money orders payable to: Alan Bishop 5604 S. State Rd. 60 Pekin IN include a note with your full name, address, e-mail address, phone number and a list of people who you will allow to purchase items with your credit if you need to send someone to the farm stand in your place! If you have any questions feel free to e-mail <a href="mailto:bishopshomegrown@gmail.com">bishopshomegrown@gmail.com</a> or give me a call at 812-967-2073Bishops Homegrownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16530035650083339042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-793541490735805516.post-17290770775919530322011-12-28T12:10:00.000-08:002011-12-28T12:36:19.420-08:002011 can kiss my Ass!Wanted to take a few moments to tell my online and real life friends Happy New Years and to say sorry I've been scarce here on the blog and over at <a href="http://www.blogger.com/alanbishop.proboards.com">Homegrown Goodness </a>lately as well as to give some updates regarding the farm, life in general, and what is to come.<br /><br /><br />2011 was a freight train of a year, it sort of ran me over while I wasn't looking and just keeps soldiering on! It seems more than ever the world (even locally) has become increadibly polarized with those who "get it", those who "don't", and those still sleeping. Regardless, a lot of good came of it. We expanded the farm greatly by adding pigs and ducks to mix, learning some new tips and tricks and building some much needed new infrastructure (with more to come in the next few weeks which I'll report via this blog). We also expanded our business majorly by taking big steps into commercial seed production (even bigger in 2012) and adding two new lines of prodcuts in the form of Uncle Penns Circle W Lye Soap and Isla Tortuga Tobacco Lath work.<br /><br />We finally smartened up and told our prvevious farmers market endeavor to "kiss both sides of our collective ass" and joined in the mix of community minded folks bound and determined to create a new paradigm in local food and art via a new local foodshed (Washington County Artisans and Farmers) and we even dipped into a bit of community service by joining a couple local organizations that piqued our interest (It's those community projects that have taken a great deal of my time in the past six months and the subsequent political bullshit that goes along with such involvment that explains my absence from most social media sites as of late).<br /><br />Anyhow, 2012 promises to be a huge endeavor and the biggest year yet for Bishop's Homegrown. We have finished up most of our breeding projects and have a reliable repetoir of "Eco-Logically" grown seed to show for it as well as a solid set of homesteading, as well as land and animal managment skills to apply to our small but ever growing farm. This year, for the first time ever, we will finally be able to enter 100% into a full on small scale production model self-sustainable farm. Every day brings a new lesson and theres always going to be something new to learn and try, some new product to master, some new survival skill to implement, and some new infrastructure to throw together as well as a heap of challenges! Ultimately however, without the love and help of my friends, community, and family, none of it would matter as you are all the driving force behind my work!<br /><br />This year we look forward to making unique contributions to Washington County Artisans and Farmers, Old Settlers Days, and The Pekin Betterment committee as we move towards bringing food, history, and future together for the betterment of all in the local community. We also look towards working closely with other online bloggers and messageboards to bring our collective message to the rest of the world.<br /><br />I hope that you too have been watching the news and keeping an eye on your government and economy as we have (despite the lapse in recent blog posts regarding these topics). I hope that you too have been preparing and watching the paradigm shift as we move into this new year, and more than ever I hope your working to build your own community (and more importantly family) to prepare in whatever way possible for the shifts we are going through.<br /><br />In coming weeks I'll be posting a bit about our animal projects, a new greenhouse were building, our new root cellar, soap making, and gasp perhaps even passing on some information regarding distilling (don't overlook it's importance in tough times!)<br /><br />Until then, I'm taking a break until after the New Years Celebration has commenced. I'm worn down and worn out at the moment and need a few days to recoup (plus I've got a bit of a cold). I'll return to promoting the market, the farm, and other projects not to mention starting seeds, kicking ass and taking names, and in general being a shit kicker soon enough!<br /><br />Happy New Year,<br />Your Friend,<br />Alan Reed BishopBishops Homegrownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16530035650083339042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-793541490735805516.post-84435640581012415462011-12-21T18:02:00.000-08:002011-12-21T21:20:27.275-08:00Interesting......Wednesday, December 21, 2011<br />update as of 10:29 pm: Apparently the "reviewer" decided to contact an intermediary realizing that she was digging a hole for herself to let them know she didn't like the other vendors soap that well either......(too bad I know you've tried it before and your all buddy buddy with them and so does everyone else.) so expect her review of their product (if she decides to do one to be somewhat less "flowery" to cover her ass). You can fool some of the people some of the time but not all the people all the time! Puh-Pow motherfucker, that shit makes me harder than a Methodist Ministers pecker!<br /><br />Interesting......<br />So today someone decided to review our soap........Except it wasn't really a review and nor were it truthful, in fact one could argue it was a hit piece. You see, there are these other soap makers in the community, nay, in fact in their own eyes, they are the "SOAP MAKERS". That is to say, they believe that since they make soap, no one else anywhere near their market has the right to make soap, in fact, it might be punishible by death for you or I to even consider making soap if our marketing territory overlaps even the tiniest bit.<br /><br />Market farmers likely know the type, the insanely jealous folks that will do anything to protect what they rightly believe is theirs even if it means running others into the ground so long as the end goal of being a monopoly is accomplished.That is the situation that I have recently found myself in here in Washington County, made all the more troublesome by the hard work and time I've put into promoting the new farmers market that I and they are a part of which includes promoting their product even as they continue to deride me and my products, once with the husband even taking to facebook to proclaim that I should throw myself head first into a wood chipper and once refering to my inability to perform a certain task for market due to a family member being critically ill as a "Lame Ass Excuse".<br /><br />You see though, none of that suprises me, I have somewhat trained myself over the years to expect the worst of people, particularly those who you have tried your hardest to help over the years with gifts of seeds, labor, animals, exct.What does suprise me though is when those same people want to deride me and my product they choose not to do it themselves, instead relying on a good friend of theirs to do the job for them such is the case with this "review".I put "reveiw" in quotation marks as I'm not entirely sure you can call something a review if it is prefaced with the words: "NO. Its not about soap and never has been." But then perhaps that's my own critical thinking seeping into this blog post.<br /><br />I accept full responsibility for this piece of bad publicity though and for good reason. You see the reviewer (who I'm sure will also review the competitors product with glowing admiration within the next 24 hours) was at our most recent winter market this past Saturday (wouldn't you know it, hanging with the competetors and even helping move product) and despite my better judgment (I should have known after the last round of drama ended and after she berated one of my customers and her review on my facebook page which I readily admit to deleting and further banning her. You can talk about me all you want, not my customers!) I sold her a bar of our soap which she procedes to dissect in her review.<br /><br />Some of her observations I won't argue with such as packaging; yeah it's not for everybody and it's not meant to be, it's meant to be simple.<br /><br />The catchphrase; this was actually something my grandfather used to say, I have nothing to defend myself with here other than go fuck yourself, it's obviously not something you'll ever get and nor do I have time or energy to waste my breath arguing with you about it.<br /><br />The single point I agree with; yes, the ingredients label should be on the outside of the soap package, but for lack of time and space the night before market it ended up on the inside label, thanks for the tip though I'll make sure that happens in the future. ;)<br /><br />Now, onto the things I disagree with or take issue with.<br /><br />The soap not being cured in the center. Yes, the soap was well cured, over six weeks time. Honey is one of our main ingredients and in cold process soaps it takes some time to evaporate since it is unsaponified, as well the soap sat overnight in my truck where it likely did pick up some moisture (as the soap on the wrapper clearly shows). This in no way means the soap is somehow unsafe as you seem to imply as the saponification renders the lye and oils chemically into a different substance all together, it's called soap. It does mean it might melt a little faster, for that I do appoligize and am working to remedy that situation in future batches.<br /><br />The soap containing ingredients not listed on the label: That is a bold faced lie, there was no "corn" in this soap (though there is in Grit Getter), what there is is dried lavendar and honey. Everything that's in the soap is on the label and given how often I clean the equipment the chances of cross contamination are zero.Regarding skin issues. Every persons skin is different and every person has a different set of aggrevators which may effect their skin in a negative way. IF there was something in the soap that aggrevated your skin you should know before using the soap (since I know you read the ingredients label) if there is anything which may effect you negatively. Since the soap was properly cured and since the lye is not longer caustic after saponification and since I have the math setting in front of me and know as a matter of fact that the soap is 3% superfated (complete with three different folks reviewing the math) I know that it's not due to chemicals. As stated above, I agree with you, the ingredient label should be on the outside of the soap and in the future it very well will be.<br /><br />The fact that I don't generally accept checks and or credit cards. You can ask any customer of Bishop's Homegrown or Face Of The Earth Seed, we have almost completely relied on the well concealed cash or money order method over the past seven years for any number of our products and short an ocassional slow to ship complaint during busy times we've never had a complaint and nor has anyone ever claimed they never got their product, ask around, do a google search, were not fly by night, we've been around for quite a long time now. We did use Paypal for a short period of time but gave it up after reading a myriad of horror stories about treatment of their customers. When it comes right down to it we rely on our reputation in the community and at large which speaks for itself (at least when someone is not out running it into the ground to help out their friends and gain revenge for me telling you how I felt about the situation.)<br /><br />About an unbiased review: hint; they never start with the phrase: "NO. Its not about soap and never has been." and nor do they close with a quantifier like: "Due to the nature of the beast I know I will be called out in regards to posting this review and will be called biased, and hateful. It was not my intent. I paid cash to purchase the item in question and did an honest review of the product as a whole. I did not take into account who made it other than in regards to the end paragraph regarding the buyer being protected from bad product or negligent sellers. Simply put buyer beware."<br /><br />About the smell; the only smell you'll get from our soap is that of the natural products in our soap. As mentioned before we don't use fragrant oils or synthetic oils as our goal is to use what is available on the farm, this does not lend to a strong fragrance which is something that we have chosen to do purposely. Lard is our main base and depending on the forumla and what the soap is trying to accomplish, yes, sometimes it doesn't have a huge lather, other forumlas we use do. Different strokes for different folks. Nothing against those who use stronger oils to scent their soap but we are catering to a group who aren't after that and who want only a slight smell imparted by ingredients grown on the farm. Theres plenty of room for everybody to make soap regardless of your thoughts. If you had an issue with smelling bad after using the soap you should likely consult a doctor as it's likely clinical in nature and needs attention.<br /><br />In closing, yes you did buy the soap, and your intentions are now painfully clear for all the world to see. Yes, you got shitty customer service because we all know your a deceitful little troll with absolutely no respect for others (ask your peers at the other market, I'm sure they would be glad to let you know) and you've caused me just as many problems as your omipotent soap making gutter trash friends (even prior to the review). So, if you think Kim or I are going to kiss your fat fucking ass to make four dollars (and destroy our reputation) dream on. For those reading this post, I appoligize for my attrocious grammar and spelling but I couldn't set back and allow somone to damage my reputation (even for a new product which is really only a small percentage of what we do) by running myself and my product into the ground while attempting to decieve her readers into believing that it's honestly only about doing a review (convinent too that here she just started doing reviews and the first product she comes to is soap with mine conviniently being first and her friends surely coming soon! It's the details you'll notice!)<br /><br />For customers interested in our soap, please feel free to call 812-967-2073 or email <a href="mailto:bishopshomegrown@gmail.com">bishopshomegrown@gmail.com</a> for those concerned about our reputation a simple google search for bishops homegrown, face of the earth seed or hip-gnosis seed development should provide a list of nearly everything we've done over the years and just how reliable we really are. A look at alanbishop.proboards.com and a simple inquiry post about us should assuage any further reputation damage.<br /><br />To the reviewer, I'll gladly refund your money post haste as soon as I finish wiping my ass with it!Bishops Homegrownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16530035650083339042noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-793541490735805516.post-85348546590465463132011-12-19T13:34:00.000-08:002011-12-19T13:38:45.260-08:00Christmas time will soon be over!<div align="center"><br />Christmas time will soon be over!</div><br /><div align="center"><br />By: Alan Reed Bishop of Bishop's Homegrown/Face Of The Earth Seed/Uncle Penns Circle W Lye Soap.</div><br />This past Saturday morning I rolled out of bed at 5:00 AM to make my way down to Pierce Polk Vol Fire Dept for the most recent (only our second) Washington County Artisans and Farmers Market. Ambitions were high and the truck was loaded down with our Circle W soaps and tobacco lath work.<br /><br />Vendors started filing in and setting up right around 7:00 and so too did customers. A nice steady stream of Christmas shoppers looking for locally made and handcrafted goods and a little produce to fill out their Christmas list. Everyone was in good spirits and hopes were high for a good turnout and another showing of what the Artisans and Farmers of Washington county are capable of.<br /><br />At 8:00 Santa Claus arrived to share in the Christmas spirit and take a few photos with some delighted children (Thanks to Tanya Marie Davis and special thanks to Abigail Lengel for dressing up as an Elf!) while customers ate breakfast provided by Pierce Polk Vol. Fire Dept and commenced to shopping and spending quality time getting to know the vendors and their goods.<br /><br />A slowly building but steady crowd made for a great day and good second outing for the organization. With Christmas nearly over we will recess until January 28'th at the American Legion Bingo Hall in Salem Indiana with space for nearly twice the number of vendors and a “Souper Saturday” Super planned to benefit the market organization from 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM. We will follow this event up with our Valentines market on Febuary 11'th, back again at the Pierce, Polk, Vol. Fire Dept. I'm sure that by that time I'll be asking yet again; “Is it spring yet?”<br /><br />In the meantime Bishop's Homegrown would like to remind you that our soap and woodworking as well as our CSA option all remain available to you throughout the holiday season and thereafter. Don't forget, your gonna want to wash that old year (and possible hangover) away on New Years Day and we've got just the wares to do it with!<br /><br />We would also like to take a moment to point you in the direction of our good friends at Addisons Graphic Arts in Salem Indiana who have a wide selection of unique printing materials and shirts and are now carrying our Uncle Penn's Circle W Old Fashioned Lye Soap in their shop! We hope to have some more retail locations secured in the coming weeks!<br /><br />Anyone interested in becoming a vendor at Washington County Artisans and Farmers can either contact me at 812-967-2073 or send an email to <a href="mailto:wcaf@ymail.com">wcaf@ymail.com</a><br /><br /><br />Merry Christmas to all!<br />Your Friend,<br />Alan Reed BishopBishops Homegrownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16530035650083339042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-793541490735805516.post-79328880204089723722011-12-11T15:46:00.000-08:002011-12-11T15:48:48.924-08:00Bishop's Homegrown/Face Of The Earth Seed/Uncle Penns Circle W Lye Soap newsletterHey folks, would you be interested in recieving a newsletter from Bishop's Homegrown via e-mail on a twice a month basis in winter and once a month basis in summer? This would cover everything from seeds, plants, nursery stock, soap, produce, poultry, eggs, and anything else we produce here on the farm and the avilability thereof. If so please drop me a line at <a href="mailto:bishopshomegrown@gmail.com">bishopshomegrown@gmail.com</a>Bishops Homegrownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16530035650083339042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-793541490735805516.post-25162439934274166562011-11-29T18:53:00.000-08:002011-11-29T20:34:28.542-08:00Uncle Penn's Circle W Soap and Isla Tortuga woodworking cataloug.<div align="center"><strong><u><span style="color:#ffffff;">Uncle Penn's Circle W Old Fashioned Lye Soap is the newest addition to Bishop's Homegrown. Soap as it should be...simple. </span></u></strong></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><strong><u><span style="color:#ffffff;">If you want authenticity and only natural homegrown ingredients in your soap then we have the soap for you! We are sourcing a large portion of our ingredients from our own farm gardens and fields including grains (corn meal and oats), vegetables, dried herbs, fruit, and even local honey. </span></u></strong></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><strong><u><span style="color:#ffffff;">We are more concerned with sourcing ingredients that have been traditionally used in soap for their skin care properties (as well as sustainability) than with creating over scented bars using expensive essential oils or synthetic fragrant oils. Different strokes for different folks. Many of our soaps are one offs which are made in extraordinarilly small batches when and as ingredients are available from the farm while others are timeless classics (castille, raw, "Home-Brew") </span></u></strong></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><strong><u><span style="color:#ffffff;">We do use lard in our recipies along with a number of other oils simply because it's a reliable base fat that has been used since the begining of soap making and imparts qualities we appreciate, as well it is sustainable and and practical to produce on a small homested farm (which we are currently persuing). We use no artificial or natural dyes, just simple natural colors, imparted by our ingredients, which we feel speak to the earthiness and utilitarianism of the finished product. Completely bio-degradable and "Eco-Logical" just like all the Bishop's Homegrown products. </span></u></strong></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><strong><u><span style="color:#ffffff;">Most of our soaps use either homebrewed beer or wine bases or spring/well/rain water and nearly all include Honey in the mixture (a natural humectant and anti-bacterial), as well our soaps are all 3-5% superfated to help further moisturize your skin. Similarly the scet of our soap is in no way overbearing, owing it's slight scent to the presence of the natural ingredients inherent in the soap. We feel that there is an underserved soap market who appreciate a more subtle and earthy soap and share our appreciation of light natural scents imparted simply by on farm ingredients. </span></u></strong></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><strong><u><span style="color:#ffffff;">The main job of soap is to help water clean and moisturize your skin afterall.It's our belief that what you put on your body should be just as important as what you put in your body and the use of on farm ingredients assures that the two are one in the same (not to mention soap is another good form of preservation of the yearly harvest). </span></u></strong></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><strong><u><span style="color:#ffffff;">Keep your eyes peeled for further product introductions in the coming months! </span></u></strong></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><strong><u><span style="color:#ffffff;">If your after simplicity and quality over production and perfume we exist to cater to you! </span></u></strong></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><strong><u><span style="color:#ffffff;">Ordering information and custom orders: It seems like there is a growing trend when it comes to ordering from small business and farms online, utilizing credit cards, and unsecure digital forms and middleman services which cut into profit margins and play into the hands of the same big business we all seem so adamant to stand up against. Here we shun such practices and encourage ordering in the old fashioned way. </span></u></strong></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><strong><u><span style="color:#ffffff;">Give us a call and stop by the farm at 5604 S. State Rd. 60 Pekin IN 47165 or visit us at Washington County Artisans and Farmers market (spring-summer Saturdays 8-12 @Pekin Park. Winter @ Various locations) or order by mail the old fashioned way by sending well concealed cash or money order to Alan Bishop at the address above. </span></u></strong></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><strong><u><span style="color:#ffffff;">Shipping for wood products isn't currently available but will be soon</span></u></strong></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><strong><u><span style="color:#ffffff;">We also love custom orders, if you have something you'd like to see made drop us a line a </span><a href="mailto:bishopshomegrown@gmail.com"><span style="color:#ffffff;">bishopshomegrown@gmail.com</span></a></u></strong></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><u><span style="color:#0000ff;"></span></u><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EFLSHfIJbL0/TtWpM-qcW4I/AAAAAAAAFuE/wg9_xb_Qk-k/s1600/farm2011%2B480.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680632545442290562" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EFLSHfIJbL0/TtWpM-qcW4I/AAAAAAAAFuE/wg9_xb_Qk-k/s320/farm2011%2B480.jpg" /></a> Tobbacco Lath wall hanger. This one is just sanded down to reveal the natural stain from years of hanging tobacco in our family barn. 4 inches deep x 4 inches wide by 4 inches tall. Great for hanging on a wall for your candles or soap or other items ot interest. 5.00 locally. No shipping at this time, check back soon.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="left"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-H_boO7eMWZg/TtWoh2n1lBI/AAAAAAAAFt4/iRjolKCuZI8/s1600/farm2011%2B487.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680631804549501970" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-H_boO7eMWZg/TtWoh2n1lBI/AAAAAAAAFt4/iRjolKCuZI8/s320/farm2011%2B487.jpg" /></a></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center">Tobacco Lath Planter. Sanded down to reveal the natural tobacco stain. Great for a natural hanging planter complete with drainage holes and a bit of old barbless wire for hanging. 6 inches deep/wide/long. $15.00 locally, no shipping at this time, check back soon.<br /><br /></div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nwOTeZsRWWw/TtWnbS_1y0I/AAAAAAAAFto/7OxDmfvS53k/s1600/farm2011%2B477.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680630592395660098" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nwOTeZsRWWw/TtWnbS_1y0I/AAAAAAAAFto/7OxDmfvS53k/s320/farm2011%2B477.jpg" /></a><br />Tobacco Lath Ladders. We make these in several different sizes including miniatures and up to 5 foot tall. Great to lean against a wall or table to display items. Stained or unstained. Contact us for prices and sizes. No shipping currently. Locally available<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vVZsoqu7cC4/TtWmKOBnauI/AAAAAAAAFtQ/BC4GKZxDNlo/s1600/farm2011%2B483.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680629199491525346" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vVZsoqu7cC4/TtWmKOBnauI/AAAAAAAAFtQ/BC4GKZxDNlo/s320/farm2011%2B483.jpg" /></a><br />Hand split tobacco lath coat hanger. Rustic and cool coat hangar made from a hand split tobacco lath over 100 years old. Would look great hanging in your home this winter. Stained mahogany. 10.00 each. Available locally. No shipping at this time.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0wsVIfpYaM0/TtWlnhBT97I/AAAAAAAAFtE/tv4an4fEGqE/s1600/farm2011%2B474.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680628603295102898" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0wsVIfpYaM0/TtWlnhBT97I/AAAAAAAAFtE/tv4an4fEGqE/s320/farm2011%2B474.jpg" /></a><br />Tobacco Lath Stars. We make these in a variety of sizes, both stained and unstained. Great for hanging on walls, doors, barns exct and look great decorated with Christmas lights! Small stained star 5.00, Small unstained 3.00. Large unstained 5.00 and large stained 8.00. No shipping currently.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEVB09pd8CbZxC39YF00297hZZ8KMQK9lY9DTwDZRVStwWXsqLfi_-eJxaA84ACKp9Jg6MsQqlYPMqqnMewrtkhj4-xDris-g694kVs3wvdbJ_kPl_F3M3pMngn6tsvDa6oupMHx8ye9I/s1600/farm2011+473.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680627795167091778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEVB09pd8CbZxC39YF00297hZZ8KMQK9lY9DTwDZRVStwWXsqLfi_-eJxaA84ACKp9Jg6MsQqlYPMqqnMewrtkhj4-xDris-g694kVs3wvdbJ_kPl_F3M3pMngn6tsvDa6oupMHx8ye9I/s320/farm2011+473.jpg" /></a><br />Also for your Christmas shopping pleasure were proud to present some of our woodworking ventures. All of these products are handcrafted here on the farm using tobacco sticks (lath) that have graced our family farm fields for years (the hand split ones are sometimes near to or older than 100 years old and originally from Greensburg KY) First up is this hand split lath shaddow box window frame. The lathe were sanded and stained mahogany, would look great setting over a picture on your wall. 5.00 locally. No shipping at the moment, check back soon. Also available unfinished.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A0ebhAz9G2w/TtWjuRkpapI/AAAAAAAAFso/BULDjL-4k-w/s1600/farm2011%2B472.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680626520384170642" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A0ebhAz9G2w/TtWjuRkpapI/AAAAAAAAFso/BULDjL-4k-w/s320/farm2011%2B472.jpg" /></a><br />Uncle Penns "Dumb Ass County Boy": This ones all about the cooked down elderberry wine and fresh spearamint w/coarsley ground oats. This ones all about being unrefined and crude. 3% superfat with sunflower oil, coconut oil, lard, oats, honey, fresh spearamint, wine and mead. 5 ounce bars 4.00 each locally, 5.00 shiped. Bulk deals available.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dvt1cRlIn3s/TtWiuUygymI/AAAAAAAAFsY/zZ5NTJqosSc/s1600/farm2011%2B471.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680625421736004194" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dvt1cRlIn3s/TtWiuUygymI/AAAAAAAAFsY/zZ5NTJqosSc/s320/farm2011%2B471.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Uncle Penn's "Manda": Great grandma 'Manda Burns spent a lot of time rendering lard from homegrown hogs and screening potash for lye to make her families yearly supply of soap. This here is nearly as authentic and "real" as it gets. Straight up lye and lard by popular request. Pure as the driven snow and white enough to prove it. This one is 3% superfat but we can make it 0% by request. Old timers claimed it good for drying out poison ivy, washing stains from clothes, and dealing with other skin issues as well as washing out some "dirty" mouths when needed. 5 ounce bars. 4.00 each locally 8.00 shipped..<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fBbCW1sal1w/TtWh9jEJQlI/AAAAAAAAFsM/F16Kjt7VDdI/s1600/farm2011%2B470.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680624583754465874" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fBbCW1sal1w/TtWh9jEJQlI/AAAAAAAAFsM/F16Kjt7VDdI/s320/farm2011%2B470.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br />Uncle Penns "Grit Gitter": We love gritts here on the farm, to us there isn't a thing in this world better than real grits from home ground corn flavored with some homegrown honey! What better way to pay tribute than to make soap with the same aesthetic! Lye, lard, coconut oil, sunflower oil, bees wax, and elderberry wine hook up with grits from homegrown Amanda Palmer corn (ground fine in a coffee grinder) and flavored with homegrown honey. Great exfoliating body bar with moisturizing properties that smells like breakfast, lunch, and dinner! 5 ounce bars. 4.00 locally 8.00 shipped. Bulk discount available.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ren3MajVWtc/TtWhRPic48I/AAAAAAAAFsA/oHk2uuPi2UI/s1600/farm2011%2B468.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680623822598628290" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ren3MajVWtc/TtWhRPic48I/AAAAAAAAFsA/oHk2uuPi2UI/s320/farm2011%2B468.jpg" /></a><br />Uncle Penn's "Anne-Marie": Uncle Penns sweetheart (my grandmother) was "Anne-Marie", this ones for her. Lavendar Meets honey and wine w/sunflower, coconut oil, lard and beeswax. Great for those who want that light old timey sweetheart scent. Five ounce bars 4.00 each locally 8.00 shipped. Bulk deals available.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qv1tUOpEC0Y/TtWgqxtqsvI/AAAAAAAAFr0/9gVWxzwRfbc/s1600/farm2011%2B466.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680623161757577970" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qv1tUOpEC0Y/TtWgqxtqsvI/AAAAAAAAFr0/9gVWxzwRfbc/s320/farm2011%2B466.jpg" /></a><br />Uncle Penns "Aunt Molly". Aunt Molly is one of those somewhat shrude weomen who remembers exactly where she came from. Straight up, she tells it like it is. This ones made in her spirit. Farm fresh spearamint blended with coffee makes for a great work soap to scrub the dirt of a hard day away. The base is spring water from "down the hill" as liquor would serve only to infuriate the aunt who it's named in honor of. 3 ounce bar. 5% superfat. Castille (olive oil) based. Excellent moisturizure. 3.00 locally 7.00 shipped<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sOFe6CJwP5E/TtWfeQZBQWI/AAAAAAAAFrc/sjtUO-ZEx28/s1600/farm2011%2B463.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680621847142547810" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sOFe6CJwP5E/TtWfeQZBQWI/AAAAAAAAFrc/sjtUO-ZEx28/s320/farm2011%2B463.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Uncle Penn's "Workin' Man": That he was! And of course theres that song ("I get up, seven yeah, go to work at nine" so what if the lyrics were a bit of a late starter!). This ones a straight up coffee scrub with a bit of honey for some "smellum good". Lot's of coffee grounds (home roasted from Sweet Maria's fair trade) for that extra grit you need to scrub out those deep workin man stains and as always some honey to help moisturize. 3% superfated too with the light scent of honey. 4 ounce bars. 4.00 each locally 8.00 shipped. Bulk discount available.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vYtbQ_eBOqg/TtWecrWPZuI/AAAAAAAAFrM/6SoHdS-nT_8/s1600/farm2011%2B462.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680620720507283170" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vYtbQ_eBOqg/TtWecrWPZuI/AAAAAAAAFrM/6SoHdS-nT_8/s320/farm2011%2B462.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Uncle Penns Possum Fruit: Yeah, we went there, down in the hills of Kentucky nobody eats perssimmons, claiming their only good for possum feed! Good for us Hoosiers we know what they are all about! Luckily so to did those in the orient who used persimmon soap to aid in complexion and to cover body odour. True American persimmon meets lye, lard, coconut oil, honey, and elderberry wine. 3% superfat and honey means this ones great for moisturizing. Light honey-persimmon scent is reminicent of that famous pudding your grandma made. 5 ounce bar for 4.00. 8.00 shipped. Bulk discount available.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2dATZ63WT98/TtWd3iGhs0I/AAAAAAAAFrA/HQXWqSQ2NRI/s1600/farm2011%2B459.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680620082370294594" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2dATZ63WT98/TtWd3iGhs0I/AAAAAAAAFrA/HQXWqSQ2NRI/s320/farm2011%2B459.jpg" /></a><br />Uncle Penns Homebrew Soap: A blend of homebrewed wine and beer meets up with old fashioned lard and lye (along with coconut and sunflower oil) and some Avena Nuda oats (farm grown) with a bit of honey and chamomille to give you that kick in the pants you've been looking for. 3% superfat and honey keeps you moisturized while the slight natural scent of honey and chamomille make you presentable for the speakeasy crowd. 4.00 each. 8.00 shipped. Bulk discount available.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bjsdEsJckC8/TtWdJHZ_dYI/AAAAAAAAFq0/NuS09EAt1HI/s1600/farm2011%2B456.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680619284930196866" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bjsdEsJckC8/TtWdJHZ_dYI/AAAAAAAAFq0/NuS09EAt1HI/s320/farm2011%2B456.jpg" /></a><br />Uncle Penns "Turtle Creek": An homage to a small tributary to blue river where some of the best produce and homebrew are grown and brewed respectively. Beer base meets farm fresh cucumber (full of vitamins and nutrients and slightly astringent so good for oily skin) and oatmeal. Great for that early morning "wake up" call. 3% superfat, light oat and cucumber smell. Great lather. 5 ounce bars for 4.00 locally 8.00 shipped<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XHyWbBvmlU8/TtWcBvb28uI/AAAAAAAAFqo/VrRq4TwiPMo/s1600/farm2011%2B453.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680618058724864738" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XHyWbBvmlU8/TtWcBvb28uI/AAAAAAAAFqo/VrRq4TwiPMo/s320/farm2011%2B453.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Uncle Penns "Mull Digger": For those who don't know what a "Mull Digger" is down in the hills of Kentucky it's a term used to refer to a lazy or otherwise useless dog (or lazy person/a cheat) who digs for moles but never catches them, instead leaving only distruction and subsequent work in it's path. Here we use it to refer to our pine tar soap which harkens back to the days of "patent medicines...". Pine tar has been used for centuries to ward off bugs, deal with skin conditions, and mask the smell of hunters from prey. 3% superfat, coconut oil, sunflower oil, lard, rain water, and bees wax makes this superior to others. 5 ounce bars. 4.00 each locally, 8.00 shipped. Bulk deals available.</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center">Check out these gift baskets, they make great Christmas gifts. Included is your choice of one of two different types of handmade wooden totes made from antique tobacco sticks from our family farm which have been sanded down and stained mahogany with a gift bow and decorative poinsettas and your choice of any four Circle W soaps as well as a tube each of "Kisser Fixer" Chapstick (Latte and Butter Cream). 40.00 each local only.<br /><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oEzy2ovzmlU/TtWcBFJzWMI/AAAAAAAAFqM/6T0dy74hmf8/s1600/farm2011%2B447.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680618047374842050" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oEzy2ovzmlU/TtWcBFJzWMI/AAAAAAAAFqM/6T0dy74hmf8/s320/farm2011%2B447.jpg" /></a><br />Not Everybody is lucky enough to have an Uncle like Penn Wilson. A simple appalachian man who has an insatiable passion for life and liberty. Our soap, like him, is as it should be...simple. Straight up natural, farm grown "smelllum good" herbs, honey, homebrewed wine and beer, spring and rain water, lye and oils. Never any artificial colors or scents out of a bottle. Just good old fashioned mountain wisdom.</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>"Uncle Penn says to stay clean you gotta wash ass!"<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /></div></div>Bishops Homegrownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16530035650083339042noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-793541490735805516.post-28771968722822901952011-11-23T08:16:00.001-08:002011-11-23T08:18:18.058-08:00Our article in Edible Louisville....<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GokzHqplip0/Ts0cjN_2qdI/AAAAAAAAFp8/4BUXS1o-hp0/s1600/safe_image.jpg"></a><br /><br /><div>Check it out <a href="http://www.ediblecommunities.com/louisville/november-december-2011/building-a-better-turkey.htm">Here</a></div>Bishops Homegrownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16530035650083339042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-793541490735805516.post-40331834591982186942011-11-20T13:12:00.000-08:002011-11-20T13:16:19.845-08:00Community, cooperation, and local goods. Pushing the boundaries of a local market!<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BGtX8xrPTHI/TsluG_ykn_I/AAAAAAAAFpg/gN5PUuYixfA/s1600/304263_169206219841524_115926528502827_296088_1202195463_n.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677189871759040498" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BGtX8xrPTHI/TsluG_ykn_I/AAAAAAAAFpg/gN5PUuYixfA/s320/304263_169206219841524_115926528502827_296088_1202195463_n.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><br />Community, cooperation, and local goods. Pushing the boundaries of a local market<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div>“Winter is no time for a local Artisans and Farmers market!”.....we blew that notion completely out of the water this past Saturday when 13 vendors and hundreds of customers poured into our first ever Washington County Artisans and Farmers event graciously hosted (along with a breakfast) by the Pierce Polk Vol Fire Dept.<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div>A steady stream of community customers filed into the building to check out all the cool and local handcrafted and homegrown items on display (including a handful of local produce including tomatoes, lettuce, turnips, and greens the week before Thanksgiving). Local (and those from as far away as English) really seemed to dig the wide selection of items including jewelry, baked goods, assortments of soaps and body care items, local meat, hand sewn items, and folk art.<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div>We (Bishop's Homegrown) were there in a corner set up between our friend Mary Beth Morgan and our friends Tye and Laura Gazarian taking in the awe that this project we've all worked (and are working) so hard to put together and promote seems to have begun to pay off in spades. We took the opportunity to use the event to show some of the other complex sides of what we do here on our small family farm by debuting our new Uncle Penns Old Fashioned lye soap (lip balms, body butter, and lotions too!) and Isla Tortuga trading company items (woodworking using 100 year old tobacco laths from the family farm). Of course our Face Of The Earth Seed Company also made a good impression despite the oncoming winter season (the persistence of hope in a gardener is hard to diminish even when the snow flies!)<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div>We look forward to the next event on December 17'th, from 8-12 (once again in conjunction with Pierce Polk Vol. Fire Dept and their awesome home cooked breakfast and an appearance by the man of the season himself Santa Claus) and will use it as an opporotunity to expand on the groundwork the market as well as Bishop's Homegrown has done so far.<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div>-Alan “The Working Man” Bishop<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div>homegrowngoodness.blogspot.com<br />faceoftheearthseed.blogspot.com<br />812-967-2073<br />bishopshomegrown@gmail.com</div>Bishops Homegrownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16530035650083339042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-793541490735805516.post-41807802730189511232011-11-16T11:36:00.000-08:002011-11-16T11:39:59.660-08:00Proof of Pre-Columbian New and Old World Trade.Check out the link <a href="http://frontiers-of-anthropology.blogspot.com/2011/11/scientific-evidence-for-pre-columbian.html">HERE</a><br /><br />Anyone who has read this blog for quite a while will know I have touched on the long history of new and old world contact and trade quite a few times (particularly in reference to corn, chickens, and peaches). Anyhow, there has always been proof of such movements but it's nice to see it broken down in such a way. Sure, similar organisms could have evolved in seperate circumstances, but not identical (well perhaps, but this would be pretty miraculous, tantamount to the Jesus argument, ie a man was born of a virgin, son of god, died and rose from the dead vs a man was born, had an inspired message, married, had children, died and lived on through tradition).Bishops Homegrownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16530035650083339042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-793541490735805516.post-75932274753470243592011-11-14T12:17:00.000-08:002011-11-14T12:25:03.308-08:00Back by popular demand; Bishop's Homegrown Farmstand Credit ProgramWell, we've heard our customes and listened. No traditional CSA here, seems the farmstand credit works better for our customers and since our customers keep us in business we do what makes 'em happy!<br /><br />Tell me this isn't an awesome deal? More bang for your buck and more choices! Please pass it on! <br /><br /><br />Bishop's Homegrown Farm Stand Credit Program! A new local/regional CSA program alternative. Providing more convenience and better value to our community. For 2012 Season.Bishop's Homegrown is a small Eco-Logical and self sustainable farm in the town of Pekin Indiana. We are family owned and a fourth generation farm focused on providing quality produce from yesteryear as well as the new food and flower crops of the future to our valued friends and community members.<br /><br />We use the strictest possible sustainable guidelines for on farm food production and make no exceptions. We feel that it is of utmost importance that locavores, members of the slow food movement, and community members, know who and from where their food comes from and how it is grown. We produce 90% of our own seed crops as well as 100% of our own organic fertilizer and we never ever opt for chemical options to control pests or disease issues on farm, feeling that growing food “eco-logically” is the only alternative to our failing food system in the United States.<br /><br />We have searched the world over to bring you the most unique, exciting, and rare food crops from diverse cultures the world over with an emphasis on nutrition and taste! Our doors are always open to our community and customers who we encourage to visit the farm in order to see and know where and how their food was grown. Food security begins when a relationship is formed between the community and its farmers, this essential connection is what allowed civilization to flourish 10,000 years ago.<br /><br />This year we would like to introduce you to our newest program which we feel you will find immense value in!The Farm Stand Credit Program: The concept of Community Supported Agriculture (AKA. CSA) is generally defined as a mutually beneficial arrangement between a farmer and his customer wherein the customer agrees to share in the risks and rewards of local farming for the benefit of their food production and the farmers well being. The CSA consumers become by proxy shareholders in the farm and it's well being by paying an upfront membership due which covers the production of food in a “Share” system. Generally a traditional CSA allows for the consumer to pay for up front costs of the farmers start up cost with the farmer reciprocating by preparing a predetermined amount of produce every week through the growing season which the shareholders pick up once a week. The farmer generally picks the produce that the customer will receive.This year Bishop's Homegrown is looking to create a viable alternative to the traditional CSA program by creating a farm stand coupon program which will allow customers to still share in helping us get our business going during the part of the season in which seed and implements and other essentials are being purchased while also making the relationship more convenient for the farmer and the shareholders. In this arrangement, instead of the farmer putting together a box of produce weekly he has selected for you you will instead receive credit from our farm which will allow you to visit our farm stand or farm where you can make your selection of produce that we have available including also a selection of seedlings, nursery stock, seeds, compost, poultry and other items from our farm. This gives you the opportunity to decide what you want instead of us deciding what you want.<br /><br />Every $100 you invest will also get you a 10% discount which means that you will actually get 10% more produce for your food dollars.Our produce will be available to you via Washington County Artisans and Farmers market held at Pekin Park in Pekin Indiana on Saturday Mornings from 8 AM to 12 PM as well as at all subsequent “winter markets” held at the Pierce Polk Vol Fire Dept. in Pekin Indiana (as well as any additional events) For convineince you can also schedule a time to pick up things or peruse the fields here at the farm!. It is important to note that we don't usually deal in custom ordered bulk produce on a normal basis (i.e., a bushel beans, or a bushel of corn) but that when these items are available at market, as they often are, your credit can be used to purchase them as well.<br /><br /><strong>FAQ</strong><br /><br /><strong>How much does it cost?</strong> The investment levels start at 50.00. An investment at the 100 dollar or above level will earn you a 10% discount which means that an investment at the $100 level only costs you $90! Thats right; $100 dollars of credit only costs $90! That's essentially the same as getting $10 of produce free just for paying ahead of time! Your credit is good for two years which means that whatever is not spent this season can be carried over to next season! The maximum investment is $500.<br /><br />Here is the layout:<br /><br />$50 credit for $50<br />$100 credit for $90<br />$200 credit for $180<br />$300 credit for $270<br />$400 credit for $360<br />$500 credit for $450<br /><br />How will we keep track of your credit? Good old fashioned pen and paper, anytime you make a purchase we will deduct that price from our ledger. You will receive a receipt after each transaction so you too can keep track of the amount of produce purchased.What if I make it to market late and you are out of what I want? Unfortunately this may happen from time to time which is why we are keeping the investment level low to start with. Sometimes we just flat out run out of an item due to popularity. The best bet is to show up to market early, the best of the best goes quickly!<br /><br />There are occasions when we may not be able to make it to market from time to time due to emergencies or just the need to take a break here and there but we will inform you a few days ahead of time via e-mail (unless it's a last minute emergency) that we will not be at market in the coming week.<br /><br /><strong>What can I purchase with Bishops homegrown credit?</strong> <strong>Does this offer only include produce? </strong>No, any item we bring to market is eligible for purchase via this credit, including seeds, plants, seedlings, poultry (chicks), occasionally rabbits, compost, fishing worms, handcrafts including soap and wood or any other product we have at market or our farm stand. We also occasionally have winter produce available. This also covers poultry butchered here on the farm including a Thanksgivning turkey. This also includes nursery stock and our new Face Of The Earth Seed company seeds!<br /><br />Payment is due by the February 2012 in order that we know what we have in the bank and can plan accordingly. Payment can be made by check, money order, or well concealed cash. Credit takes effect immediately and rolls over for a two year period.<br /><br />Make checks or money orders payable to: Debbie Bishop and send to: Alan Bishop 5604 S. State Rd. 60 Pekin IN 47165Also include a note with your full name, address, e-mail address, phone number and a list of people who you will allow to purchase items with your credit if you need to send someone to the farm stand in your place!<br /><br />If you have any questions feel free to e-mail <a href="mailto:bishopshomegrown@gmail.com">bishopshomegrown@gmail.com</a> or give me a call at 812-967-2073Bishops Homegrownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16530035650083339042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-793541490735805516.post-17649856314075419162011-11-08T19:10:00.000-08:002011-11-10T19:18:51.877-08:00Dear Seed Geeks......Don't forget that the official Face Of The Earth Seed Bazzare is up and running <a href="http://faceoftheearthseed.blogspot.com/">Here</a>. The very first CSA orders as well as customer orders went out this week and between that and selling seed at Friday Night On the Square, Old Settlers Days, and at Beck's Mill we are already running low on some items. Now is the time to get your order in. There is a strong demand for these seeds growing locally and I don't expect it to slow down any time soon. We have six events planned between now and next March so get on it quick!Bishops Homegrownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16530035650083339042noreply@blogger.com0