Monday, July 07, 2008

Monday Farm Photos

It was eggplant picking and packing morning at the farm. I got to be on the packing committee with Gillen. This picture only represents less than one fourth of the total eggplant that was boxed this morning and will be coming to a Whole Foods near you (if you are in GA) very soon.

There are Calliope:Black Beauty:Asian (or Japanese):I didn't get pictures of the "Louisiana Long Green" or the "Snowy" Eggplant. Both are like the Asian, in taste and shape. But as the name says, one is white and one is green.

I thought that today marked the temporary closing of what has been the poult nursery on our side porch. The surviving poult, Invincible, is finally old enough to move to the farm today. But when we got to the farm we learned that three more poults had successfully hatched under an unsuspecting chicken, so the sound of baby poults will continue to fill our days. I truly am happy for Gillen that his turkey business seems to be making it after all.

We got to see all of the baby ducklings together under their tree. I like watching the Mommas, Jet and Mae Belle, waddle as they herd their offspring away from me. I am afraid I am getting to know them way too well. I can see myself helping them to escape before Christmas.Once home, away from all hard working, serious farmers' eyes, I was free to do what I'd wanted to do all morning (and only succeeded in doing once there) - take portraits of those eggplants that placed highest in The Eggplant Personality Contest that I sponsored for them while they underwent being boxed.

Here are the winners:An Asian contortionist:
This Louisiana Long Green was really loving her mermaid self.
The grand prize went to these two Calliopes for their strong, harmony-filled rendition of "Lean on Me":

13 comments:

Tamar Orvell said...

Dreading the tasteless produce in local stores, I illegally imported in my picnic bag, a few cherry tomatoes on my return flight from Israel July 4.

Can't wait to taste your eggplants at my local Whole Foods market. Which variety, if any, is healthiest, most vitamin packed?

kelli said...

That's so awesome that your veggies will be at a Whole Foods. OK, and now I need to find out where the stores are located :)

Angie said...

Holy Eggplant! Black Beauty is my all-time favorite.

Love the duck pictures - so adorable.

Madeline Rains said...

Tamar! you are back! I'm glad. I have no idea which is most nutritious. I like the ease of the long thin ones.

Kelli! You're here?! In GA? That is so exciting!!! I am sure that there is a Whole Foods near you. I wish that we were nearer to you but if we can't be, then I am glad that you can get some of our produce locally. But you still have to meet us at our market (which is maybe half way between us?) once you are more settled.

Angie, I like the Calliope the best, especially when they have noses and hats like Pinnochio.

Sandra Dodd said...

Those are the sexiest vegetable photos I've ever seen. Really nice portrait art!!

Madeline Rains said...

Oh no! sexy? I was seeing them through rose colored kids' book glasses, even thinking of making a little book of them for my not quite one year old niece. Not that I don't see how easily the sensual eggplant can move one in a different direction.

Ren Allen said...

Those are beautiful. My eggplants started from seed didn't do so well this year. wah.
I'm craving some baba ganoush now!

Madeline Rains said...

Hi Ren! Baba ganoush. What a great idea. I was just going to saute it up with rice tonight but that sounds much better in this heat. Nicolas can give you some eggplant tips. Will you be at the L&L conference? Or maybe we will see you before then, with Kelli sometime?

gail said...

Brenna and I are loving these pictures! Did I tell you that I have the word "Georgia" up on our vision board. I think I'll change it "Madeline". We are getting a Whole Foods here this fall and I can't wait!

Madeline Rains said...

Oh Gail, we'd love to see you guys! Come stay with us, in the fall, when it is cool. Although, you're used to that. Come on up anytime!

CG said...

LOVE baba. Also love them stuffed with a rice pilaf. And fried. Ren, you probably have trouble with eggplants in this climate because its a little cool for them. Not unlike okra, they like it a little hotter. They also attract flea beetles like crazy so that when you do get them growing here, then you have to battle the flea beetles.

Unknown said...

The winning eggplants are truly some of the sweetest things I have ever seen. In my mind they are old and married and have been together for sixty years. At the end of a hot summers day in GA, they sit on the porch in silence and hold hands and quietly think about how lucky they are.

Madeline Rains said...

cg - I think I shall try fried eggplant next. We've never done that but we love fried okra.

naomi - I am so touched by that description - may Nicolas and I emulate the winning eggplants. I'm going to use these photos in a tiny board book for your girl!