Earthworms & Empires
Preparing the soil for a new season.
“Plowed ground smells of earthworms and empires.” — Justin Isherwood
This May, bits of corn stalk from last season lay on the soil in preparation for the new yield. Lilacs are in view. The weather turns warm and then unseasonably cold. Weekly team meetings have become a norm at the farm, with updates on progress and collaboration amongst at least six different parties on the farm. (Plentiful amounts of popcorn, peanuts, and pizza have thus far made regular appearances.) Projects are moving along with seasoned farmers and eager learners side by side. Dead flowers and stalks in the previously frozen soil are now uprooted and tilled to reveal a fine, moist soil. Preparing the thawed soil for a new season can be involved, but, as a potato farmer and author Justin Isherwood writes, it is both lowly and glorious work—like much worthy labor.
Red Wagon’s asparagus is growing plentifully at the end of the spring season. Seeds for melons, tomatoes, kale, cucumbers, and corn are going in the ground. The farm is alive with family members, friends, and a group of teenagers who recently worked hard to uncover strawberries and work on other projects around the farm.
In the near future, we expect to welcome strawberry season, Fourth of July & the accompanying Park Rapids parade, and then Friday “Summer Night” events for the remainder of July. Check out our new calendar here to follow all the times we are at local farmers’ markets and hosting on site.
See more details on the upcoming Summer Nights here.
SPRING PESTO PASTA
A simply-seasoned recipe for your spring aspargus.
INGREDIENTS
asparagus
chicken
pasta (any!)
pesto (any!)
olive oil
salt & pepper
Boil your pasta in a pot of water until it is cooked according to your package. Meanwhile, sear your chicken with a bit of olive oil in a medium-sized pan. Season with salt and pepper. After the meat is cooked, remove and replace with chopped asparagus to use the fat in the pan. Season with salt and pepper. Cook till just softened—it shouldn’t take long, and you can pull a piece out to taste! Once the asparagus is cooked, add back the chicken (chopped), and mix together. Drain the pasta, and then you can add all the ingredients together. Enjoy!
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17
—Renée Carter