Cedar Rock Family Farm

Dear farm supporter.  We didn't even think about offering our clients the use of Pay Pal payments toward the CSA.  But we do have an account available.  We have also begun setting up a Webstore.  Tell us what you think of it so far.  You can order what you want and how much of it.  You don't pay until we send you a Pay Pal Invoice.  For those who want to be apart of our CSA you just let us know.  Those who are interested in joining next year for sure let us know then we are happy to set monthly payments up toward the $200.00 .  For more specific info. about the CSA please check that page out.

We have finally obtained a Chicken Plucker.  It's not very big but it will still save us a lot of time we are hoping.  It does just one chicken at a time.  We hope to bring fresh whole chickens to the market as a pre-ordered item.

Dean and I went to load a 10 foot stainless steel sink.  It has 3 different sink areas.  This is perfect for washing up the veggies outside in the nice weather instead of our kitchen.  We got it used for a really good price.  I will take some pictures and add them on  here as soon as we get it all cleaned up.

Also the Leghorn hens we got at the end of last year are laying much larger white eggs this year and are off to a good start.

Yesterday Dean received all his vegetable seeds that he ordered.  He is like a pig in slop!  He has spent many weeks going over every seed catalog that we have and believe me it's a lot, looking for the perfect varieties.  As usual we will be trying to grow some new items as well.  We are also trying some new varieties of Tomatoes.

It's also that time of year that we need to know how many CSA customers we will be growing for.  So for specific info., click on the Cedar Rock Farm CSA page.

 New:  Be sure to check out the new "Midtown Farmers Market" page.  I will be working on this on a ongoing basis adding more info. and pictures as they become available to me.  The Midtown Farmers Market is a GROWERS ONLY market.  We have several farms that grow using Organic methods.

 April  27, 2009

STIMULUS PACKAGE

Our Stimulus Package really benefits every person that eats.  With the economy in such  uncertain times.  We want to encourage and teach people how to garden even if for just one person by sharing our knowledge for FREE 

ATTENTION: All who sign in to the Guestbook.  Unless you sign up. We don't have access to your E-mail address to respond to any questions.  Also feel free to email us directly at www.chief27816@msn.com or www.tamerarnonthego@msn.com  or you may also call us at Deans's Cell # 919-604-3840  or Home 919-853-2753.

CSA still some shares available. If you have any questions feel free to email or call. Also on the CSA page I hope it answers a lot of your questions.  This is a unique way of doing a CSA.

 To send your $50.00 for CSA send to: Dean Sergent 5399 NC Hwy.56 East Castalia NC 27816

All of the plants are growing very well.  We are just waiting for the ground to warm up and avoid any late frost.

This Jan. we planted our Sugar Snaps in the ground some of them already sprouted but we did have to re-sow most of them.  They just didn't like the prolonged cold weather.

November 17, 2008

Well the holiday season is upon us.  Dean and I are still growing some items in our friends greenhouse.  He has 19.  Dean and I intend on coming into the Spring season with a bang.  The advantage of a greenhouse is you can get an earlier jump on your planting and also can extend the growing season as well.

For example: we currently have our Cedar Rock Farm Lettuce mix still growing and available.  We also have some Red Sails leaf lettuce.  It currently cost $3.00 a bag.  I have started shredding some carrots straight out of garden to the lettuce mix.

Dean and I are really excited about all the wonderful produce we will be showing up with in April of 2009 at the North Hills Farmers Market.  We should have our kitchen inspected during the winter months.  This is so that we can make our own fresh pasta with organic grown wheat berries from Montana that we grind fresh when we do a batch.  We also are thinking about making our own pastry strips for chicken and dumplings.

We are going to attempt to grow some garlic , horseradish and peanuts.  If the peanuts do well we are hoping to offer Boiled, Roasted and will try our hand at making fresh organically grown peanut butter.

If you are interested in our Flexible CSA please click on the left hand side under CSA.  This will hopefully answer any questions you may have and if it doesn't feel free to call us or send us an email to http://www.chief27816@msn.com/ 

September 10, 2008

We have received some much needed rain this month.  However; it has not been good on the crops to receive so much in a short time span.  The positive to this is that next year we won't go into the spring planting season hopefully in a drought.  I must confess it has been depressing watching our neighbors ponds slowly disappear.  Several are back up to there normal level so it appears.  Many of our neighbors are also farmers and rely on irrigating their crops from their ponds.

The Broccoli, Cabbage, Radishes and Carrots are doing well.  We pulled some of the carrots and radishes and are very pleased in the results we see.  The broccoli are beginning to form their crowns now.  We still have some new lettuce growing but it won't be ready for 3-4 weeks.  The first batch was supplied to the CSA and wasn't going to make it for a second cutting related to the hot weather.  Usually it keeps growing and we can cut for many, many weeks.  We tasted it and it began to have a bitter taste so Dean plowed it under and sowed new seed that has sprouted.  We have tried several times to grow Spinach this year sorry to say unsuccessfully.

This past week Dean and I put up some Pear Preserves in pint size jars.  They will be availabe next week.  The cost is $6.00 .We added just a pinch of cinnamon.  It is great on biscuits, a Ice Cream topping and don't forget about on your pancakes. 

We hope you all faired well during Hanna.  We lost some plants but it could have been much worse.  We look forward to seeing you at the market Saturday.

If you haven't checked out the new CEDAR ROCK FARM CSA page please do. 

August 22, 2008

Tomorrow is Dean's 48th birthday.

Dean and I are looking to have our kitchen inspected so that we can begin to make items in it to sell at the market.  We are hoping to offer:

Pear Preserves, Hot Strawberry Jam, Fresh Pasta and Loaf Bread.  All pasta's and breads will be made from certified organic wheat from Montana.  It will be ground fresh and used that same day, so you will get all the nutrients that your body needs.  Each loaf of bread and or pasta will be made fresh to order ONLY!  We would just need to know by Thursday nights so we can prepare for baking on Friday.

Let us know what your thoughts are on this and if you would be interested in purchasing. 

August 15, 2008

I have been having difficulty with our internet service.  I apologize that I haven't been able to keep it updated as I would like.

The third crop of string beans are finally beginning to produce some.  They are loaded with blooms that the bee's, butterflies and bumble bee's have been pollinating.  The second set of squash has started producing also.  The last crop planting of tomatoes are growing, doing well and tomatoes are present and growing.  We are hoping to have tomatoes all the way till the market ends for the season in October.  We have planted two more crops of radishes.  The second one is growing well and we expect to have some in 2 weeks.  The third one was just planted a few days ago and we see that they did germinate and are growing.

Our lettuce and spinach continue to do well at this time.  Hopefully in 2-3 weeks we will have enough to bring to market.  These two items are very difficult to grow in the summer.  When the weather was much cooler we took a chance to see if it would germinate.  It did!  These two require cool weather to germinate usually they like it around 50 degrees but it worked when the temps were 68 degrees.

We over the last few weeks have actually been getting some much needed rain almost 2 inches total.

Today we cut the last of the Swiss Chard for the summer season.  We do have some more planted but they won't be ready till the fall.

I have taken a new position at a new hospital.  I will be working a Baylor shift.  That is every Sat. and Sun..  This means I won't be with Dean at the market.  The great thing though is that I will have 5 days off each week to devote to the farm.  My duties are picking beans, washing eggs, weeding, making my handmade soap, updating web site and of course the most important keeping farmer Dean in line!  I thought you ladies would appreciate that.

 July 11, 2008

Finally Tomatoes are here!  We have string beans growing again for a third crop.  The first crop is finished and the second one should start producing in a week.  The deer continue to be a thorn in our side.  They love our beans.  We have certainly been getting the rain we have so desperately needed.  Be sure if you attend the North Hills Famers Market that you pick up a copy of the Mid Town Magazine.  They did a feature article about Dean.

   In the next few weeks Dean will start to dig up the potatoes.  We love this part.  You really get to see the fruit of your labors.  There is nothing like the flavor of fresh potatoes.

 Mountain of Ring of Fire!

There is never enough planting space.  So when Dean spotted a mound of dirt that he hadn't decided what and where to use it, he thought I'll just plant the Hot pepper plants there.  This produced the Mountain of Ring of Fire.  There are 6 different pepper plants there.

June 13, 2008

This week of course has been a HOT HOT HOT one.  The crops are not very happy.  Although we use soaker hoses to water, there is nothing like a rain from heaven.  So if you pray please ask for some rain for your farmers.

For the last 2 weeks Dean has been tilling up several areas at our daughter, Deans place so that we have more garden areas.  It has been very difficult with the heat.  We are hoping to still have some lettuce for a few more weeks but when it stays hot the tender leaves begin to have a bitter taste.

Unfortunetly after pulling the broccoli for the CSA the deer found a way inside and ate the rest.  We had planted 200, and 150 had survived.  Next year we will try another way of trying to protect it like we did this year our winter squash plants that are safe so far and growing inspite of the heat.

Next week we are hoping to have some Golden cherry tomatoes.

May 22nd

The wedding is over now Dean and I can get back to farming.  This week we planted two different varieties of Spinach that ARE supposed to do well through hot months.  It is also a Mexican Heirloom.  We have several containers of carrots growing.  We hope to have them ready for Fall season.

The String beans and Wax bean are growing well.  The deer have gotten into our sweet potatoes.  Broccoli starting to form their heads.  The strawberries are ready but we must confess we are very disappointed in the amount picked, so there will be very limited amounts this week.  The Squash are not quite ready for market this coming week.

Radishes are finished for Spring season.  We will try to have them again in the Fall. 

 String beans above

May 9th

Finally SNOW PEAS ready! This week has been a really busy one.  We planted some of our Fall crop produce: Butternut Squash, Acorn Squash.

We planted our second round of corn, transplanted tomato plants, pepper plants, Okra plants and a tomato pepper.  This is actually a stuffing tomato.  This is our first year trying them.  We are hoping they will do well.  Just imagine fixing tuna fish, chicken salad even a noodle salad and presenting it in a beautiful tomato!

Update on produce.  The first planting of corn successful.  It is about 1 inch tall and most of it did germinate.  This is really good because last year none of ours even after 3 plantings even came up at all.  The Carola potatoes and the sweet potatoes are growing well.  We look to harvest the Carolas in July and the Sweet potatoes in Oct.

Strawberries almost ready for the market.  Dean and I picked to small baskets just enough for us to have a little treat.  You are really going to love them.  They are so beautiful and extremly sweet.  We are hoping to have some for the next market we will attend May 24th. 

We will be celebrating our youngest daughters wedding MAY 17th so we will NOT be at the market that Saturday

 April 26th

Another perfect day at the market.  The weather was beautiful.  We really encourage people to arrive no later than 9am to get the best produce prior to us selling out.

April 23rd

The Strawberries should be ready in 2 weeks.  Dean planted approx. 500 seeds for corn.  He also  planted the Bell Peppers, Squash plants, Basil, Dill and cucumber plants.  I can't hardly keep up with him.  He is constantly planting seeds and when plants are big enough he puts them in the ground. 

The String beans are peaking there heads out of the ground.

 April 19th

Opening Day at North Hills Farmers Market.  A special thank you to all the North Hills staff. We know all of you have been working really hard on this.  To all who dropped by to extend your delight in us being there thank you.  We are very excited to be there too.  Dean and I are already beginning to plan next years season. 

The market is located off of Six Forks Rd. in Raleigh, NC.  If you are coming on I-440 take the Six Forks Rd. north exit.   Get in left lane prepare to turn left at second light. It is open every Saturday 8am-1200.

 Below you will find entries on what has been happening at the farm at different times of the year.

After the market Dean planted eleven Sioux and eleven Lemon Boys.  This is just the ones ready for transplant.  Lots more to plant.  Dean started some seeds of Cajun Delight Okra.

Last week Dean planted 40 lbs. of Carola seed potatoes and 5 lbs. of King Henry.  The strawberry plants are looking really healthy, lots of blooms present.  One hundred Asparagus plants planted also.  We won't get any harvest from it for the first 2-3 years but each year we intend on continuing to plant more. This is an investment for a future crop.  Asparagus once established can continue for 10-20 years.

Feb. 19th

Swiss Chard and Spinach have raised their little heads in Jan.  Broccoli started and in the greenhouse.  The beginning of March we will start our Tomato plants.  We are adding some new varieties of tomatoes : The Biltmore, rated #1 for taste last year at the Ashville Farmers Market, it is a rosey red color and 8-10 ounce in size.  Sun Sugar, this is a sunny yellow cherry tomato.  First Prize, Red in color, 10-12 ounce in size.

You can also count on us growing some of yours and our favorites:      

Heirlooms:  Cherokee Purple, Sioux,

Hybrids: Lemon Boy, Juliets, Solar Fire,

Sweet Peppers: The Banana Bill, these are a small sweet pepper, 6 1/2 inches long.

Egg Plant, Red Sails leaf Lettuce, Spinach, Swiss Chard, Green Beans, Wax Beans, Squash,

Onions, Arugala leaf lettuce and a spicy greens mix,

Leeks, Broccoli, Beet tops, Armenian Cucumbers, Asian Long Beans, Bell Peppers, Okra, Corn, 

Figs, Blackberries and lastly Strawberries.

  Back in Oct. Dean finished up building all 8 hoop houses to house our strawberry plants. After planting the last 200 giving us a total of 450 plants, God sent us some much needed rain while we were there.  We also attached  a 325 gallon water tank to our cabin gutter system to catch more rain water than the 55 gallon tank we had.  We currently have 5 more 55 gallon water tanks that collect rain water also.  We use all rain water that we collect to water plants, wash clothes and for bath water.  None goes to waste!  We are hoping to put a well in this spring for the crops only. Our cabin has no electricity or running water but we like life simple.

With the news media constantly talking about the water shortage, we all need to be mindful and be thankful, not wasteful of what God has so richly blessed us with.  Find ways to save on water. Rain barrels are a great way to collect water that you can use for flushing your toilet if power goes out, watering your flowers or house plants, drinking water for your pets and for yourself if you have a filter.  With rain barrels especially in the warmer months put real fine screen over it to keep mosquitos out.  As we are entering the winter months.  I think I might start putting some suggestions for survival tips if for any reason you find yourself without power.  We are also open to suggestions and any experiences you have had that you would like me to share with our readers.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ?

 We are considering inviting folks to come visit the farm for a day and for those who want to camp for the night we have lots of areas to choose from.  It is a great place to take a relaxing stroll down by the creek that lines the property and maybe pack a picnic lunch too! We have numerous trails just waiting to be explored.  The bottom of the property usually has a nice size stream flowing that you could dip your feet into and at times when it is lower you can actually walk in it.  We have lots of natural wild life present.  If you look well you will discover Raccoon and Deer tracks near the waters edge.  On days after a rain anywhere you walk you can see Deer tracks.

 Oh be careful you might even step in Deer poop!

Hi everyone!  Spring is in the air atleast here at Cedar Rock Farm.  Dean has finished the second greenhouse.  Our Americanu Chickens have begun to lay eggs.  They are blue and green in color.  We will be mixing these in with our eggs that we sell this spring. 

 Feb. 19th

Dean planted some Snow Peas, ran a 80 foot fence for them to climb on also.  After spring growing season ended we rotated our chickens into all the garden areas to fertilize it but it also was great for the chickens too!  They help to eat the less welcomed ones from that area and weed it for us prior to planting time. 

I am currently in Charleston, SC on assignment until the first week in May.  Dean holding down the farm while I am gone.   

Dean and are are considering raising Rabbit and Quail for meat in addition to our already free range pasture raised chickens.  We are thinking about doing pickled Quail eggs too!  Would love to hear from you and what your thoughts are on the matter.  Would you purchase if we make available?

We released the last of Ring Neck Pheasants on the farm a few weeks ago.  We only kept a few just for ourselves for breeding purposes.

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