Scenes from September

Chef Paul Frueimuth from the Hyatt's Harvest Kitchen
works diligently to prepare his dish.

Can it be possible it's just a few days away from October! Our Local Food - South Central members have had a busy month of exciting activities. The Old Town Farmers Market kicked off September with the 9th annual Iron Chef Competition on the 3rd. Four chefs from around Wichita demonstrated their unique culinary skills by preparing dishes made from ingredients collected at the market. All chefs used a secret ingredient announced at the beginning of the competition. This ingredient was.....arugula! The winning chef was Chef Paul Frueimuth from the Hyatt's Harvest Kitchen in Downtown Wichita with his Italian inspired dish. Chefs were also awarded titles such as "most creative" dish and "best use of secret ingredient." This crowd drawing attraction sent irresistible aromas throughout the market. It's a good thing samples were given out to the hungry crowd after the chefs had finished their artful dishes!

Pat Randleas (Right) chats with Adam Courtney (Left), Chef at the new
Drury Hotel at the Broadview in Wichita, as he prepares his masterpiece.

Norm Oeding discusses the Janzen Family Farms Grass-Fed beef
operation as we gather in a corral with  newborn calf nearby.

On September, 17 OLF-SC member, Janzen Family Farms along with Our Local Food - South Central and Slow Food Wichita/ Flint Hills hosted a farm tour and picnic at the Janzen's farm. Janzen Family Farms is a grass-fed beef and organic grain operation near Newton, KS.  Despite the rainy, cool weather [which was warmly welcomed] many great folks came with homemade pies, cobblers, garden fresh veggies, casseroles, and many other goodies made with local ingredients! Norm Oeding, farm manager, gave everyone a tour of the farm and flour mill.  Highlights of the tour included sight of a baby calf born the night before, and a quick lesson in milling flour!  The flour Norm mills is used to make his Little Red Hen Bakery bread available at Food for Thought and Whole Foods locations in Wichita.  No doubt the the most popular activity of the evening was eating!  Nobody left this picnic hungry!  A special thanks from Our Local Food -South Central to Norm Oeding, the Janzen family, and Slow Food Wichita / Flint Hills for a fantastic afternoon of fun and food!

Oeding demonstrates how this stone wheel is used to
grind wheat into flour.  Oeding grows organic white and red
wheat on the farm.

Folks gather in line after the farm tour to take advantage of the fantastic food!

Janzen Family Farm Tour & Picnic

Join SlowFood Wichita/Flint Hills &

Our Local Food - South Central at

Janzen Family Farms

Saturday September 17, 2011

Come and visit with Norm Oeding, farm manager, and learn about the farms unique history and future! Janzen Family Farms is a diversified livestock and grain operation. The Janzen Family believes in sustainable practices specializing in 100% grass-fed beef and organic crop production. Wheat from the farm is stone-milled at the on-farm Henry Creek Flour Mill and is the primary ingredient in Janzen Family Farms' signature product, Little Red Hen Bakery Bread. Organic seasonal vegetables are also grown on the farm.

3:00 p.m. Farm Tour

Get a walking tour of the Janzen Family Farm flour mill or driving tour to see the cattle herd.

4:00 p.m. Potluck Picnic

Pack the picnic basket with your favorite dish to share, a serving utensil and a chair! Feel free to bring a bottle of wine to have with your meal.

Drinks, cups, plates, utensils, and napkins will be provided.

Please email Natalie Fullerton at southcentral.olf@gmail.com if you plan to attend. 

Directions to Farm:

Located at 15076 NW 180th St.

Newton, KS

At the corner of Prairie Creek Rd & NW 180th St.

From Newton at I-35 & First St., go 11 miles east to Prairie Creek Rd, then north 3 miles. If traveling from the north through Marion County, the address is 10th and Nighthawk.

 

www.janzenfamilyfarms.com

Enjoy Fresh Produce Longer with Fall Gardening

Within the next few weeks is a great time to be planting fall gardens. Planting cool season vegetables is a great way to extend the growing season and harvest delicious, fresh food in the late fall and early winter months. Cool season vegetables are often tastier then their spring counterparts. Gradual cooling sustains the plants and prevents "bolting" (setting seed instead of producing vegetables). Carrots for example become sweeter and much more flavorsome after a freeze.

For a successful fall garden, some plants like broccoli may need to be purchased as already growing plants while some can be planted as seeds.

From Plants                        

Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower                     
Seeds

Beans, Beets, Kale, Bok Choy, Carrots, Chard, Lettuce (Head & leaf), Radish, Spinach, Turnips

Even if you don't have a plot in your back yard or community garden, keep in mind many fall plants grow well in containers! Check out the video below for more great tips and suggestions for your fall garden.