Status Report

We continue to work with fine local restaurants, including The Edible Garden and The Black Sheep, and retailers including Good Foods Grocery and Ellwood Thompson's Local Market, while expanding the supply to meet the ever growing demand at farmers markets and perhaps larger grocers.

Virginia State University continues to encourage and support our efforts, and we do the same for them.  The soybean breeding group is improving strains all the time, and is now testing for shelf life and other characteristics that will help bring the market home to Virginia.

Epic Press

Epic Gardens has been covered in Style Weekly, where the writer spoke of our work and philosophy and caught the big picture nicely; on WRIC TV 8 in a series on green living; and in our local daily paper, Richmond Times Dispatch in an article about gardening to improve your cash flow as well as your diet.

We have eggs from the faithful hens, whose numbers are increasing, thanks to preschool projects and one broody hen. 

Edamame as Dried Beans.

Speaking of good protein sources, I heard a lament from a locavore that there is a dirth of good quality protein within the 100 mile diet.  Epic Gardens Edamame, dried, is the answer to that problem.  It's ready to be cooked and used in recipes such as Boston Baked Beans, Spicy Roasted Snack Mix and many other creative ways.

Jerusalem Artichokes have a crunchy texture and a sweet, nutty flavor.   Jerusalem artichokes are a variety of sunflower.  We add the flowers to herb bouquets just for the color. 

They can be planted now, so buy some from Epic Gardens soon!

These lumpy, brown tubers aren’t even distantly related to the globe artichoke. The name is derived from the Italian word for sunflower, girasole. They are sometimes called sun chokes. With their thin brown skin they resemble ginger root, but have a pale white interior, crunchy texture, and sweet, nutty flavor.

September, 2008

It has been a wonderful summer, and one of the best things has been frequent visits from the community gardeners.  They are neighbors who have become friends, and that is a truly priceless gift.  Thanks to everyone for their digging and picking and excitement.  

Welcome to all you new folks who found us through the publicity and the website.  That includes two people looking to learn organic practices who are now working here. 

Edamame Harvest 2008

It has been fun to see friends at farmers markets selling edamame from Epic Gardens Seed!   Ours are coming in and are delicious.  We will provide them to our regular stores and restaurants as well as the Epic Friends List.  If you want to get on that list, email us by clicking the picture.  And here is a link to an info sheet about Edamame nutrition and preparation.

And

Look at these Rattlesnake Beans!  They are an heirloom variety which we have selected for uniformity and tenderness, our first notable experience in selective seed saving.  They’ve gotten rave reviews, whether hot or cold, sautéed in a bit of olive oil and butter, salt and pepper or tamari. We'll have Rattlesnake seeds to sell for next year's gardens.

The famous Half-Runner Beans are still coming in, too.  They are so good cooked southern style, either with a few ham chips or with olive oil and soy sauce. There will be seeds so you can grow them, too.

Basil is ready to be cut-to-order for your pesto or bruschetta.