Mystery Heirlooms

At last week's farmers market, Nicole and I purchased some fingerling seed potatoes from one of the vendors, choosing three varieties: French fingerling, Blossom, and Austrian Crescent. We loved the unique colors and patterns, characteristics you don't get from your standard Russet or Yukon Gold varieties. They would make for a great addition to our All Blue's, which just decided to poke their heads through the ground!

Thyme and I prepared the starters last weekend, then I planted them Wednesday. I'm not sure the treatment of these were the best; but worst case they don't sprout and we plant something else.

Interesting fact: the USDA estimates that on a per capita basis, Americans eat one hundred twenty-four pounds of potatoes each year.

French Fingerling
Interesting marbled interiors.

Blossom
Interestingly, I can find nothing on the internet about Blossom. For all we know, the farmer could be making up the name; or we could be holding onto a unique heirloom that has not received enough publicity. Nevertheless, these are the most unique.

Austrian Crescent

Discovery

Today Nicole and I started with the 2010 garden expansion - the addition being a long row meant for this years potatoes and onions. Nicole had to leave around 5:00 and so I was left to finish things up. As the day wound down there was a large pile of weeds and lawn that was destined for my make-shift compost pile in the backwoods. I opened the back fence to begin the many trips to and fro, giving Apollo access to the neighbors yard. Ten minutes later he refused to come back, so I went after him and started to trek into the woods. Not 20 paces in I got distracted by some old, crumbling chicken wire and decided the dog can wait - he's not really going anywhere anyways. I wrapped up the wire into a roll, turned around to make my way towards the house, and spotted this:

Our very own Morel mushroom. These things are rare. Very rare. At the Mill City Farmers Market today they were going for $50.00 / lb. Besides being Minnesota's very own State Mushroom (statue 1.149), the morel is prized among gourmet chefs and mushroom hunters alike. Personally, I never had the pleasure of enjoying them. But all that is about to change.

Nate's Beautiful Drawing

This drawing is a hand-hewn representation of our garden that was a gift from Nate for our 12-week anniversary.  Not to gross any of you out, but could he BE any cuter?  (The answer is no).  I think it's beautiful and have even gone so far as to make it the wallpaper on my laptop.  Just wanted to share it with you all because not only do I love it, but it also gives you a feel for what we'll be planting and harvesting this year in our garden.

- Nicole

(click to enlarge the image for a better look)

Taters!

Potatoes are beautiful and amazing little things.  Chop them up and give them the right home, and they'll multiply like rabbits!  Nate and I chose the beautiful All Blue potatoes from Seed Savers.  I like these because they are an heirloom variety and I am a huge proponent of heirloom vegetables.  For those not familiar with the term, and heirloom variety is a variety of fruit, herb, or vegetable that has been passed through a family.  These seeds have been saved each year and kept as a treasured part of a family's livelihood.  The benefit of growing heirloom seeds is threefold:

1) Genetic diversity is maintained in our food supply.  These seeds haven't been produced in an agribusiness nor have they been genetically modified.  Since each variety is genetically unique, there is greater resistance to pests and disease.

2) It is easier to find unusual, often more nutritious varieties.

3) It is far more interesting!  Using heirloom seeds ties people to historically significant food crops.  I once had an apple at the Madison farmer's market that originated from an orchard in Russia in the 1800's.  The apple was small, but so juicy and tasted like raspberries!  It was incredible.

I also like this variety of potato because they were produced organically, and since Nate and I don't use chemicals on our garden, they will maintain their integrity.  This is especially important for potatoes, since they are one of the most pesticide intensive crops raised today and can contain as many as 37 different pesticides.  For this reason, they harbor many of these compounds even after a good wash AND after peeling.  The problem has gotten so bad that it is now recommended by some organizations that conventionally produced potatoes not be fed to young children.  Even more upsetting is that many potato farmers won't eat the very potatoes they are growing, and instead have a separate plot for their family that is not treated with pesticides or herbicides.  Boy am I glad to be growing my own!  Our crop will provide Nate and I with good potatoes for the whole winter (I hope).

Here is the process of potato awesomeness that took place about a week ago.

Spikey eyes!  These potato eyes are erupting into sprouts and are PURPLE!  How cool is that?  We cut them so each nub had at least a few eyes.

Here is what they look like when you cut into them.  They "bleed" purple juice everywhere!  These are going to be so fun to cook with. 

Now they are sitting snug in trenches in the garden.  We will be adding another variety of potato to the garden soon, so not all our potatoes will be blue.  I can't wait until it is fall and we can dig them up!  Harvesting potatoes is such a treasure hunt.  Then we will have a plethora of potatoes!  I'm not sure if the All Blues will be good for mashed potatoes, but I'm going to find out.  The idea of blue mashed potatoes is just TOO appealing!  Might be time to scour Goodwill and Sal. Army for an old hand mixer.

Potatoes and love, until next time,
     - Nicole and Nate