Mid-Valley Organics, Inc.
Pure and Simple

Our Journey  

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Hello Friends,


This month the Tommy Toe tomatoes continue to ripen, our kale is strong, the root vegetables are abundant, and the eggplants are ripening.  We continue to plant our fall crops.  The weather is holding strong. 
We are busily preparing to transition to our indoor market.  We have an abundance of preserves, lotions, essential oils, soaps and sprays, as well as a large selection of produce.  We are looking forward to our honey pull within the next two weeks. 
Fall is my favorite season.  The warm days encourage the last of our summer harvest to produce delicious fruits and vegetables for our tables.  As the  difference in nighttime and daytime temperatures becomes larger, and as the light wanes,   the plants understand that their lives are over and  produce fruits that contain seeds that will guarantee the survival of the species. These seeds are contained in the delicious fruits we have come to expect.  At the same time the cooler temperatures encourage our leafy plants to grow and flourish. 
Unfortunately, as we transition to indoor activities bacteria and viruses are also flourishing.  Please visit our stand to purchase our homemade elderberry syrup, made with our own raw, local honey.  Often people ask, “Can I purchase this in (fill in your favorite chain store)”.  The answer is yes, they probably sell it,  but it may contain preservatives, additives, sugars, etc.  The source of the elderberries is questionable.  All these additives and sugars defeat the purpose of the elderberries.  When you purchase elderberry syrup from Mid-Valley Organics you are guaranteed that the elderberries, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves are certified organic.  Visit our website if you wish to review the research supporting the anti-viral properties of elderberry syrup.  http://midvalleyorganics.com/our-journey
Remember that you can always find us at the South Side Farmers’ Market in Scranton every Saturday from 10-2. 
We have been posting recipes for our featured vegetables on our recipe page at http://midvalleyorganics.com/recipes.  Please visit our CSA page for more information about our CSA shares or our featured vegetables http://www.midvalleyorganics.com/csa-shares.

Enjoy.

Diana and Larry

    
   
Hello Friends,
This month the Tommy Toe tomatoes are abundant, our Kale extremely happy, the cabbage is ready to harvest, and the eggplants are growing with ambition!  We are busily planting our fall crops.  Expect to see lettuce, broccoli, broccoli rabe, swiss chard, kale, spinach, onions, potatoes, and yams.
We continue to monitor our crops for insect and disease pressure.  Our organic system of attracting beneficial insects to keep our plants free of damaging insects is still in full swing. However, we did have a minor setback when the helpful black jackets nested behind the wall of our barn.  We had to remove the wall and kill the nest.  Unfortunately, thousands of beneficial insects were lost in this process.  As a result, we did have a huge increase in the caterpillar population.  Please remember to inspect and wash all produce as our produce comes directly to you from our field. 
Remember that you can always find us at the South Side Farmers’ Market in Scranton every Saturday from 10-2.
We have been posting recipes for our featured vegetables on our recipe page at http://midvalleyorganics.com/recipes.  Please visit our CSA page for more information about our CSA shares or our featured vegetables http://www.midvalleyorganics.com/csa-shares.
Enjoy.
Diana and Larry
    
   
Hello Friends,
We are half way through our season.  Time is flying.  It is 8:00 and it is dark outside.  The tomatoes are just starting to blush.  The eggplants and peppers are beginning to flower.  Our zucchini and cucumbers are plentiful.  Our broccoli made a late appearance this year.  Our bush beans are done, but our pole beans are actively climbing on our corn stalks.  Our flowers are in full bloom.  We have seeded our fall crops.
We have been busy monitoring our crops for insect and disease pressure.  Our organic system of attracting beneficial insects to keep our plants free of damaging insects is in full swing.  I have seen a wasp eating a green worm! There is a praying mantis family living in our cabbage patch.  The bird house has attracted a family of insect eating birds that clear up insects in the market garden.  Our chickens free range keeping our property free of Japanese Beetles, mosquitoes and other annoying insects.   Our screens are holding strong and protecting our broccoli, young, tender squash, Swiss chard, Kale, and cabbage.
We have been posting recipes for our featured vegetables on our recipe page at http://midvalleyorganics.com/recipes.  Please visit our CSA page for more information about our CSA shares or our featured vegetables http://www.midvalleyorganics.com/csa-shares.
For those of you who are struggling with the abundance of cucumbers (and zucchini) this season, please remember that you can pickle both zucchini and cucumbers (see our recipe page).
Enjoy.
Diana and Larry
    

July  2018 Newsletter 

   
Hello Friends,
The past 4 weeks have been a blur.  We are currently moving out of the spring crops and into the summer crops.  The spring crops got a late start due to the cold weather we had in March and April, so the summer crops are slow to be put into the ground.  Last night the forecast called for low temperatures of 45 degrees.  Boy were we glad that our summer vegetables were in the tunnel!
If it is green, it is in season.  We had a bumper crop of baby spinach, spring mix, carrots, beets, and radishes.  Escarole, Mustard and Collards abound, while our Red Russian Kale is just starting to grow.  Our Swiss Chard is just starting to show itself.  Our zucchini and summer squash are beginning to bud.  The peppers and eggplants are developing strong root systems.
We have been posting recipes for our featured vegetables on our recipe page  Click Here !  
Please visit our CSA page for more information about our CSA shares or our featured vegetables,  CSA Shares. 
For those of you who are struggling with the abundance of greens this season please remember that you can blanch the greens and store in the freezer in a Ziploc bag for another time.
Lastly, we have opened new beds.  Just look at that black gold in the picture above.  This is the home of our winter squash.
Enjoy.
Diana and Larry
    
   

June 2018 Newsletter 

Hello Friends,
We have been very busy at the farm preparing for a strong growing season.  Brilliant sun and rain has kicked the farm into high gear as we head into the month of June. We are still waiting on our strawberries to ripen out there. White flowers and green berries are showing their faces.  Lots of transplanting and seeding is happening all around the farm after a slight delay in game from the rain earlier this month. Our peas are looking good and just-now beginning to flower. Crispy radishes are ready to harvest.  After a slow start the Broccoli Rabe is ready to harvest. It's packed with potassium, iron and calcium, dietary fiber and as well as vitamins A, C and K. Broccoli rabe also contains lutein, which is an antioxidant that protects the retinas of your eyes from damage caused by free radicals. Broccoli rabe is one of the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet.  Our lettuce is ready to harvest, as well as our spinach.  Kale and Chard are not far behind.  Arugula is another veggie that packs a nutritional punch in the spring!
We have purchased two 100’ high tunnels, one of which is built and ready to go.  The weather put it through its first test of endurance with tornado like winds and it stood like a champ!  Thank you, farmer Larry, for your dedication and persistence in making this happen.
We have received our USDA Certified Organic grower status.  It was a long and grueling process and a very sharp learning curve, but we felt that it was worth it to ensure our customers get the very best. 
When you purchase our produce, you can be sure that there are no harmful chemicals used anywhere in the process and that nothing is genetically modified.  It has been shown that many of the common ailments seen today, including certain cancers and intestinal disruptions, are correlated to the excessive intake of substances our body does not recognize as food.
This week we are featuring radishes.  Don’t throw away those radish greens!  Radish greens are super rich in calcium with 200mg (20% RDA) of calcium in just a 3 ounce, 44 calorie serving. You'll also get 2 grams of protein, no fat and 13% of your RDA of iron as well as vitamins A (280% RDA) and C (173% RDA). 
Please click here for recipes that include radish greens.
Enjoy;)

Diana and Larry
   

Evidence Based Proof: Elderberry Syrup is more Efective than the Flu Shot

What are Elderberies?

Black elderberry extract (Sambucus species) has been reported to have been used for years by Native Americans, mostly against rheumatism and fever.  Sambucol is a natural remedy with antiviral properties, especially against the human influenza virus. Elderberry is used for its antioxidant activity, to lower cholesterol, to improve vision, to boost the immune system, to improve heart health and for coughs, colds, flu, bacterial and viral infections and tonsillitis. Bioflavonoids and other proteins in the juice destroy the ability of cold and flu viruses to infect a cell.

Elderberry Evidence


At the Bundesforschungsanstalt Research Center for Food in Karlsruhe, Germany, scientists conducting studies on Elderberry showed that elderberry anthocyanins enhance immune function by boosting the production of cytokines. These unique proteins act as messengers in the immune system to help regulate immune response, thus helping to defend the body against disease.

 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1139951

Conclusion: The Flu Vaccine Just Doesn’t Measure Up
                                The evidence speaks for itself.
1. The elderberry has no known harmful side effects, but the flu shot does
2. The elderberry syrup works with your natural immune response system, the flu shot does not
3. Elderberries have been proven to be effective against 10 strains of the flu
4. Elderberries have been proven to shorten the duration of colds and flu
5. Elderberry syrup is safe for pregnant women and children over 1 year of age (due to the honey content) (Check with your doc before starting/stopping any health regimen)
6. The flu shot is even less effective in senior citizens and children under 2 years of age (Those who need it the most! Read more here)
7. The flu shot has never been tested in pregnant women.

                                                   RECIPE

    Ingredients
2/3 cup dried black elderberries (about 3 ounces)
3 1/2 cups of water
2 Tablespoons fresh or dried ginger root
1 teaspoon cinnamon powder
1/2 teaspoon cloves or clove powder
1 cup raw honey

     Instructions

1. Pour water into medium saucepan and add elderberries, ginger, cinnamon and cloves (do not add honey!)

2. Bring to a boil and then cover and reduce to a simmer for about 45 minutes to an hour until the liquid has reduced by almost half. At that point, remove from heat and let cool enough to be handled. Mash the berries carefully using a spoon or other flat utensil. Pour through a strainer into a glass jar or bowl.
3. Discard the elderberries (or compost them!) and let the liquid cool to lukewarm. When it is no longer hot, add 1 cup of honey and stir well.
4. When honey is well mixed into the elderberry mixture, pour the syrup into a quart sized mason jar or 16 ounce glass bottle of some kind.

 Store in the fridge and take daily for its immune boosting properties. 

Standard dose is ½ tsp to 1 tsp for kids and ½ Tbsp to 1 Tbsp for adults.

If the flu does strike, take the normal dose every 2-3 hours instead of once a day until symptoms disappear.