Sep 22, 2008

Fallon Centennial Maze to open at Lattin Farms

Lattin Farms is celebrating agriculture and history with the opening of the Fallon Centennial Maze. This is the tenth year for the corn maze which attracts thousands of visitors each fall. On Saturday, September 27, and Fridays and Saturdays throughout October, visitors can enjoy the maze and other family attractions at Lattin Farms. Appointments may be made to visit the maze during other days of the week. Located at 1955 McLean Road in Fallon, a fall festival, pumpkin patch, scarecrow factory and hay rides are just a few more of the fall harvest festivities.


The field in which the maze is built consists of 12 acres of corn and more than a mile of twisting trails. The corn stalks will peak at a height of over 10 feet. “Fallon is celebrating its 100th birthday in 2008 and we’re joining the party,” says Rick Lattin, owner of the family farm. “This year’s maze theme will reflect the history of this great city.” Visitors can try their luck at getting through the maze by moonlight Friday and Saturday evenings in mid-October during the full moon.

A fifth generation farm, the Lattins have been farming in the Lahontan Valley since the 1860’s. In the late 1970’s, Rick and BAnn Lattin opened their farm to the general public to share their farm experiences and traditions. The farm features pick-your-own produce, children’s play area including Critterville, a roadside stand, and educational tours. For more information, call 1.866.638-6293 or visit www.lattinfarms.com.

LATTIN FARMS CENTENNIAL MAZE

What: Centennial Maze, a three-acre, living crop corn maze

Where: Lattin Farms, 1955 McLean Rd., Fallon, NV

When: Saturday, Sep 27 ~ 10am-8pm
Fridays in October ~ 5-8pm
Saturdays in October ~ 10am-8pm
By appointment Monday thru Thursday
Special Moonlight Mazes in mid-October
Closed on Sundays

Phone: 1.775.867-3750 or 1.866.638-6293
Website: www.lattinfarms.com
E-mail: mail@lattinfarms.com

Cost: Adults - $7
Children 14 and under - $5
Under 4 - free
Group rates available (call for price)

Other Attractions at Lattin Farms:
Children’s play area including Critterville
Hayrides & Cow Train
Lattin’s Country Kitchen
Pumpkin Tower (Saturday, October 18)
Old fashioned roadside produce stand
Open picnic area and sheltered area for group/company events

Pick-your-own raspberries & produce
Educational tours
Group parties and company events!

Special Events:
Goat Days -September 27
Fall Festival with Scarecrow Factory, hayrides and more – various dates
Pumpkin Tower & lighting - October 18
Craft fair – Saturdays, September 27 - October 25

Sep 18, 2008

Goat Days 2008 at Lattin Farms in Fallon

Celebrate everything goat at the 3rd annual Goat Days at Lattin Farms in Fallon. Highlighting the event will be a contest including ugliest, prettiest, best-dressed and stinkiest goat. Goat owners are encouraged to enter their animals in the free competition. In addition to the contests, there will be a goat obstacle course, a pack goat demonstration, goat meat samples and recipes. The celebration will be held on Saturday, September 27, from 10 am to 6 pm at Lattin Farms, 1955 Mclean Road. Goat Days is also grand opening day for the Fall Festival at the farm. Every Saturday through October 25, the farm will host a cornucopia of family activities including the Magical Corn Maze, hayrides, a pumpkin patch, the cow train, a scarecrow factory, and pick-your-own produce. A fifth generation farm, the Lattins have been farming in the Lahontan Valley since the 1860’s. In the late 1970’s, Rick and BAnn Lattin began selling produce and opened their farm to the general public to share their farm experiences and traditions. For more information, call (775) 867-3750 or visit www.lattinfarms.com

Sep 17, 2008

Freezing our CSA eggs

This post is a little late in the season, for which I apologize. Our CSA egg season is over so these instructions come "after the chicken coop door is closed", but perhaps you can use them next year.

I like to have eggs on hand year-round. Since chickens don't naturally lay year round (at least that's what I've been told by my chicken-friends) I freeze a supply for those inevitable cold season ice cream cravings. Here are the instructions I use.

And to Lauren at Prism Magic....Thanks for asking!


Sep 15, 2008

Want to learn what it takes to create or manage a cow/goat share program?

I'd desperately love to have a cow-share program in our area, but I also know it's not an easy thing for a producer to make happen. It involves legal issues and complications I can't even imagine, let alone understand. But now there's a way for consumers and producers to learn more about what is necessary to make these programs work. If you want to learn more it won't cost you anything but time.

A few weeks ago Bari, the local Weston Price rep, sent out information about an upcoming teleconference called Cow Share College and Goat Share University (I love the names). See the Cow-Share College flyer for more info.

I MUST GO! This is a series of three teleconferences; beginning, intermediate, and advanced. Each goes from 1:00 to 2:30 on consecutive Thursdays. The beginner class is on October 2nd, the intermediate class is on Oct 9th, and the advanced class is on October 16th. The classes have already been paid for and I can arrange space for up to 6 people to listen in and ask questions. If YOU FEEL YOU MUST GO, IT'S FREE.

If you want to get in on this great opportunity, contact me.

What are we going to do with all those green tomatoes!

My yard will experience below freezing temperatures sometime late this week so I’ll have lots of green tomatoes this year. I’ve been told that if you uproot your tomato plants and hang them in a room or garage the tomatoes will continue to ripen. We’re going to try this method with our Brandywines, which have just now started ripening en masse. Even with this I’m pretty sure we’re going to have plenty of green tomatoes to use in other dishes. We made this recipe, Green Tomato Dip, earlier this year and we thought it was great; friends tell us the same. It’s good on sandwiches, mixed with egg salad, spread on crostini, and used in any number of other ways we haven’t even thought of yet.

Happy eating!

Sep 14, 2008

Two recipes

For all those who came to Being a Nevada Locavore at Moana yesterday, here are the two recipes I promised.

Strawberry Sundried Jam

Zuni Cafe Zucchini Pickles

Happy eating!

Sep 11, 2008

West Street Market urban garden harvest party -- all are welcome!

Early in 2008 we started hearing about the West Street Market plans and the urban garden, which is planted smack in the middle of West Street. Over the last few months the garden has flourished under the care of the groups involved in the planning and planting, and the attention of downtown residents who have adopted it as their own.

Now it's time to harvest! So please join us Friday, September 12th at 5:00 pm to harvest whatever is ready. We'll be there to talk about how to tell what's ready to eat, what we'll do to get the garden ready for fall crops and winter cover cropping, and answer any questions.

Hope to see you there!

Being a Nevada Locavore presentations in September

The warm crop growing season is coming to and end and we're planting cool weather crops. It's this time of year that gardeners and food producers evaluate the food coming out of our yards and fields and think about what we could do better next year. It's also a great time to ponder what it means to eat locally.

In September Leslie Allen and Shelley Brant will host three Being a Nevada Locavore presentations, which are open to all. The discussion will include images and descriptions, resources to help those who want to include a little, or a lot, of local food in their life, and some Q and A time.

Saturday September 13th, 10:00 to 11:00 am at Moana Nursery in the new building located at the west end of the parking lot. Free.

Saturday September 13th , 12:00 to 1:00 pm at Moana Nursery in the new building located at the west end of the parking lot. Free.

Sunday September 14th, 11:00 to 11:45 am at The Sustainable Living and Renewable Energy Roundup at Lampe Park in Gardnerville – directions. The presentation is part of a larger program so attend the entire weekend or call Steve Lewis at 775-782-9968 for more information about possible attending specific presentations.

Sep 8, 2008

Sep 5, 2008

Nevada you-pick apples 2008


Organic Nevada-grown apples are ready to pick!

A couple of days ago we visited The Apple Basket at Agape Organics in Washoe Valley where Delane showed us around the orchard. For four years she and her husband have been caring for the 190 dwarf apple trees on their property, and this year the harvest is good.


Delane and Al use organic practices to grow and maintain their apple trees; we learned a little about what that looks like in an orchard and some of the tools they use. My favorite of their organic “tools” is the flock of chickens; 6-8 of them following everyone around doing that really soothing clucking thing, eating bugs, laying down really great fertilizer, and then scratching it into the soil. From each tree hangs a coddling moth trap filled with home brewed bug juice. Delane generously shared the recipe so I’ll be making some to counter moth infestation on my neighbor’s tree next year. Toads hide during the day, patrolling and eating bugs at night. Daily maintenance consists of picking up windfalls to ward off coddling moths and other orchard issues. No conventional chemical pesticides or fertilizers are used!

Apple Basket is a you-pick operation. So, starting September 20th, each Saturday from 8-5 anyone can visit the orchard, pick and pay for apples in the really cute gift shop, and have a bring-your-own snack at the newly installed picnic table.

And bonus, this year my husband and I will be canning Nevada applesauce!