Well, there you have it!  The new 'thing' I was telling you about last week.  This is now sitting in the front yard, by the Stand.  It was an old oil drum that Colin's Dad & Grandpa used for their machinery here on the farm, way back in the 50's.  It was just begging to be used again, in another capacity! Yayy - something to put our Family's Legacy on!!  Hope you like it!

This has been the most interesting past few days.  I have been picking pumpkins for a large order going to Devan Greenhouses.  It's been so fun checking out the different shapes and sizes of these pumpkins.  So far, the biggest one I've pulled is 42 pounds!  Picking all the pumpkins and cleaning them is a really hard and long job, but it is so much fun at the same time.

The squashes are ready for sale!  I have Buttercup, Kabocha Green, and Kabocha Orange!  They made their debut today in the stand.  Only $1.50 per squash.  Cabbage is back in the stand as well.

If you are wanting to do some pickled beets, I still have lots left after I've done all my pickling, so give me a call if you need more than just a couple - I can pick it ahead for you, so you don't have to wait when you get here!

Liberty Apples are also ready - sold my first batch today - this apple is so crunchy and tart, but makes the best apple sauce and apple pie ever!!  Gotta try them.  I will be grafting more for my own orchard next Spring! :)  And Tomatoes are making their way slowly - they are delicious this year!

It's hard to believe that Summer is almost over already - where did the time go??
Come by and check out what I've got soon!  Would love to meet you!

Mandy
Yakashiro Farm & Gardens
28875 Haverman Road,
in Beautiful Bradner, BC!
Cell# 604-556-1330
myakashiro@shaw.ca

Oh my!
I've been so busy that I completely forgot to publish a new blog yesterday!

A day late, but better late, than never!

So I have a few updates for you all.
Sold Out : Blueberries, Raspberries, Cucumbers, Sunflowers

Coming by Labour Day Weekend!:
Buttercup Squash, Japanese Kabocha Green Squash, Japanese Kabocha Orange Squash, Japanese Daikon Radish, Tomatoes, Bronco Cabbage, Japanese Cabbage and many, many, many Pumpkins of all sizes and shapes!   I'm ready for Fall Decorating already, so you may as well be too! :)

In the past week I have done some more canning and pickling:  Pickled Beets, Hot Spicy Relish, and Pickled Hot Peppers! Yikes!

Tonight, I am spending the evening, peeling Garlic - it smells awesome in my house right now!  I will pickling garlic hopefully by Thursday, so it will be ready for sale next week!

I want to thank those of you that are telling people about my little stand - it's getting busier all the time, and it's very exciting for me!  

My father-in-law and I are still working on renovating the barn, when we have a little spare time, and it's really starting to come together.  There's stuff in that barn that is over 50 years old, and we're still discovering things every week - it's fun to find implements that Colin's grandfather used on this farm - Yes, we're the third generation to farm here!  The farm was purchased by Colin's Grandfather in 1952.  It's an amazing legacy, and I'm proud to be farming it along with my father-in-law!  Look for a new 'item' coming soon to the farm - you'll notice it when you drive into the driveway by the Stand - soon!

I need to get back to my peeling garlic, so talk to you soon!

Mandy
Yakashiro Farm & Gardens
28875 Haverman Road,
Abbotsford, BC  in Beautiful Bradner!
604-556-1330
myakashiro@shaw.ca

Well, I just had to share this photo with everyone.  I picked all of these yesterday, Saturday, August 9th - as you can see - I'm ready for Fall! Hahahahaha  I've left these in the Stand with a posted sign for prices.  If you think you'd like to order ahead, please let me know.  I am also providing a few companies in Abbotsford and Langley with my pumpkins this year too, so I'm excited for Fall Sales!  The Big Orange Pumpkin is 42 lbs, the Medium Orange Pumpkin is 18 lbs, and the Medium White Pumpkin is 9 lbs.  I have three varieties of Mini Pumpkins.....orange, white, and orange/white striped.  The Green Gourd in the front is called a Birdhouse Gourd - when it is fully ripe, it will be a light brown/tan colour.  You can cut a hole in the bigger part, hollow out the gourd, let dry and hang to use as a birdhouse - so all you crafty people - stock up!  I will be doing some folkart painting on some of them over the Winter, and will have them ready for sale in the Spring next year!

Within the next few weeks, I will have Squash ready for purchase!  This year I planted Buttercup ( my personal fave! ), Green Kabucha, and Orange Kabucha squash.  They are all delicious, and I have a bumper crop this year!  I will also have Daikon Radish - an Asian specialty - very happy with this crop this year too! Yayy!

There's lots of Red Onions, and White Onions now, Leeks and Garlic too!  The second round of Cabbage will be ready in a few weeks hopefully - I have large Bronco Green Cabbage, and large Japanese Cabbage ( makes the best cabbage rolls! ).

See you soon!
Cheers!
Mandy
Yakashiro Farm & Gardens
28875 Haverman Road
in Beautiful Bradner, BC !
604-556-1330
myakashiro@shaw.ca

Please look at this photo very carefully.  This picture was taken just a few days ago.  It is only the first week of August, and my pumpkins are already ripening!  This photo doesn't do the pumpkin justice, but it's about 25 pounds!

With all this warm, humid weather, everything in the field is ripening fast!  It's hilarious, and a little scary too.  I worry that harvest season will be over sooner than last year.  With my new walk in cooler, and the refrigerated cooler in the stand, I am able to keep the veggies a little longer, BUT I do not have a cooler big enough for the two tons of pumpkins I will have - Yes, folks, Yakashiro Farm & Gardens will have the pumpkins for sale right after Labour Day weekend to start your Fall Decorating early!

I have tons of zuchinni and cucumbers right now too - so dig out those zuchinni recipes, and start cooking and baking - if you need a new recipe, let me know - I have tons - in fact I made a big batch of Zuchinni Parmesan ( which a lot of people use eggplant for, but I use zuchinni, and it's delicious, and cheaper! )

Lots of garlic, and onions are ready!  Jalapeno & Hot Hungarian Wax Peppers, Cayenne Peppers are coming!  There will be a lot of tomatoes this year too - 3 varieties: Better Boy, Early Girl and Beefsteak!  With this heat, they will be ready in a week or two.

Raspberries are finished for this season, but I still have some blueberries!

Potatoes are more than ready - The Yukon Gold are awesome, and the Nugget ( New Potatoes ) too.  The Nugget potatoes are really big ( has to be our soil here ), but they are still sweet and delicious - The Nugget potatoes are on Sale until I sell out - 3 lb. basket for only $1.00 ( Yukon Gold - $2.00 for 3 lb. basket ).

Nugget potatoes make the most amazing potatoe salad - but if you're looking for something else - try this:  quarter the bigger potatoes and put in a pot to boil - only boil until they are just slightly tender - not cooked all the way through.  Drain water, and throw all the quartered pieces in a big buttered baking dish, like a lasagne dish 9x13.  Pour 1/4 cup melted butter over top, Sprinkle with salt and pepper, and add 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese.  Bake, uncovered, in 450 degree oven for about 20 - 25 minutes, until bubbly and slightly browned!  Quick and easy - and a great way to feed a crowd!

Hope you all had a great, relaxing long weekend!

See you soon!
Mandy
Yakashiro Farm & Gardens
28875 Haverman Road
in Beautiful Bradner!
Cell# 604-556-1330
myakashiro@shaw.ca

Good Monday Everyone!
This photo was taken by one of my customers yesterday with my beautiful white Gladiolas!  I just had to share this photo with you all!  Thanks Sumeuy!  Love that!

Yes, the first Gladiolas are here, along with many, many Dahlias now!  Blooming more every day!  It's just gorgeous out in my field right now!

Lots of vegetable are here now, and huge!  I have a new crop of cabbage, and they must be more than 5 pounds- so delicious - used one to make lazy man cabbage rolls on the weekend, and still have lots for coleslaw!  If you like to plan ahead, put a few in your freezer to make cabbage rolls in the Fall.  No boiling and scalding needed, just take out of the freezer the day before you need them, rinse off the leaves, and they are ready to use!  So much easier than boiling the leaves!

The Red Russian Garlic is ready to purchase now, and tons more drying in the greenhouse and in the barn - I will definitely have lots to last all of us into the Fall this year!  I was taking some friends through the fields on the weekend, and discovered many, huge pumpkins already so big - there's even a few that are close to 30 pounds - hilarious, and it's only the last week of July.  They are definitely still green, but they're going to be huge this year - I planted 4 varieties of pumpkins ( 3 orange, and 1 white ), Plus, lots of mini decorative pumpkins too.  So don't buy yours anywhere else, come here - you can pick out the ones you want and need for decorating for Fall and Halloween!

I swear with those few days of heavy rain last week, everything has doubled in size since then!  Crazy!  But it's so fun!

Onions will be coming with in a week, so stay tuned!  

I had the wonderful opportunity today to visit Gusto Garlic Farm in Maple Ridge.  Now that's Paradise!  Beautiful Log Cabin home, and beautifully situated on the property.  I learned a lot about Garlic planting and harvesting today - I will be expanding the Garlic portion of my farm this year - look for Porcelain Garlic next year as well as Red Russian!  Thanks to Al & Donna Kozak, for their time and hospitality!  I really enjoyed my visit!

Thank you all for such great support - I really do love meeting you all here on the farm, and really appreciate your honesty!

Have an awesome week!

Mandy
Yakashiro Farm & Gardens
28875 Haverman Road
in Beautiful Bradner!
604-556-1330 Cell
myakashiro@shaw.ca

Good Day Everyone!

These past few days with a bit cooler weather has really helped, but I would still like to see a little rain!!  I know, I know, I just said the warmth of the hot spell was great, but just a little rain for the field produce! :)

I've taken advantage of this cooler weather and done some pickling!  
Now Available in the Stand:  Garlic Dill Pickles, Sweet Hot Dog Relish, and by Wednesday...... Mustard Pickles ( an old family favourite - hope you love them too! ).

The Red Russian Garlic is now available in the stand - right now in Netted Bags of 4 bulbs for $5.00 ( singles will be available by the end of the week for $1.25 per head ).
Cabbage, Beets and Carrots are now available!  Green beans have been taking their sweet time coming up, but now they're looking great - in the Stand today!

I still have a lot of Rhubarb in the field, but please call ahead to order - I want you to have fresh, not wilted rhubarb!

Dahlias are up and blooming like crazy now - so fill your home with beautiful flowers - and don't forget your Moms!  Everyone loves Dahlias!

Off to make my Mustard Pickles this morning!

And if you believe in prayer - please pray for our middle daughter Michele - she ruptured her achilles tendon last night during a soccer game - please pray for speedy and complete recovery for her!  Thank you!

See you soon!
Mandy
Yakashiro Farm & Gardens
28875 Haverman Road,
in Beautiful Bradner, BC
Cell# 604-556-1330
myakashiro@shaw.ca

Hello Everyone!
I hope you're all enjoying this unbelievably hot weather!  Hard on the plants and the farmers, but so nice to be warm! :)

With all the rain in June, and now the hot weather, everything is coming up quickly.

My New Potatoes ( Warba ), and Yukon Gold Potatoes are ready!  Oh man, they are so good!
Lots of Zuchinni available.
Also:  Raspberries, Blueberries, Cucumbers, Green Beans, and Sno Peas!

Checked on the Carrots and Beets today, and we're really close - hopefully by the end of this coming week they'll be good to go!

I've lifted all the Red Russian Garlic - I need about a week to cure them, and they'll be ready as well.

Hope to see you at the Stand soon!  It's been so warm, that I'm leaving the cut flowers in the big stand closer to the house, so make sure you don't drive by - the flowers are in the big stand for a while.  Lots of Sunflowers, Alstromaria, Astilbe and more!

Thank you all for being honest!  

Mandy
Yakashiro Farm & Gardens
28875 Haverman Road
in Beautiful Bradner!
Cell# 604-556-1330
myakashiro@shaw.ca