Prince Charles and Louisiana Rice Family in Documentary Film on NBC

A couple of weeks ago, I was in the French Market in New Orleans celebrating "Gulf Alive," while I was there I purchased some brown jasmine rice from Kurt and Karen Unkel owners of Cajun Grain. The rice was wonderful, it had a nutty flavor. They sell the rice directly off the farm or on  Amazon.

I also learned that Kurt was filmed for a documentary for NBC's Green Week last fall and that footage also featured Prince Charles of Wales. The documentary is about how individuals are living in harmony with nature. Some of the film's footage is on their farm.

Check out their website for more information.

Dewberries are Ready for Picking

I had the best holdiay weekend! My husband and I found some dewberries along the roadside off the main highway in a rural area, stopped and picked them and later made a mouth watering dewberry cobbler. The experience I just described was one people will pay money to have; it's a great idea to add to your agritourism venture portfolio.

That same weekend we picked mayhaws from one of our four small trees; only one will bear this year, but next year, we will have plenty of mayhaws to make our own jelly; yet another great agritourism experience.

Berry picking time is a perfect time to invite guests to your farm to experience the joy of taking food from the farm to the table.

More on the Mayhaw Conference on April 16th in Dry Prong

The site of the 16th Annual Mayhaw Conference is the Woodmen of the World Lodge in Dry Prong.  The lodge is located at 3232 Dyson Creek Rd., Dry Prong, LA 71423. The lodge is located on the north side of Dyson Creek Rd. on the east edge of Dry Prong.

The agenda is as follows:

8:15- 9:00 a.m. Registration
Moderator John Pyzner
9:00 – 9:10 a.m. Welcome & Announcements
Paul McLaughlin

9:10 – 9:45 a.m. Marketing and New Market Maker Program
Dora Ann Hatch

9:45 – 10:15 a.m. Mayhaw Health Benefits (Antioxidants)
Charlie Graham

10:15 – 10:30 a.m. Savvy Mayhaw Irrigation
Jackie Robbins

10:30 – 10:45 a.m. Mayhaw Cooking Contest Results
Jackie Harville

10:45– 11:15 a.m. Break

11:15 – 11:30 a.m. Rare Fruits Q and A
Ron Couch

11:30 – 12:15 p.m. Mayhaw Grower Panel
Moderator – John Pyzner

Participants – Billy Craft, Bubba Hoggatt, Spec Sherril, Bill Jackson

12:15 – 12:30 p.m. Louisiana Mayhaw Association, Inc. Business Meeting
Paul McLaughlin

12:30 – 1:15 p.m. Lunch

Mayhaw Conference and Field Day April 16

Dry Prong's Woodmen of the World building will be the site of the mayhaw conference and field day this year.
Conference registration begins at 8:30 a.m. For details, e-mail: mailto:office@mayhaw.org  or  visit the mayhaw website.

Talks and demonstrations will provide helpful information for growing and maintaining the mayhaw. The mayhaw  is a fruit about 1/2" to 1" in diameter and it's harvested mid-April through early May.  Its fruit color varies from bright red to reddish yellow and makes tasty jelly. Mayhaw jelly is the official state jelly of Louisiana.

Community Day at Starr Home Place in Oak Ridge

Step back in time and visit Starr Home Place. On April 9th join them for Blacksmithing Hammer-In. It's a chance to see people use their creative skills and enjoy the vistas at Starr Home Place. Their museum has tools they allow you to use and have an experience.

For more details, click here then go to "events."

Farmers Markets On Increase Since 1994

With concerns over where food comes from and how it is grown, more Americans are seeking farmers market for locally grown produce.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Directory of Farmers Markets, a 16% increase in markets occurred from 2009 to 2010. USDA has tracked farmers markets statistics since 1994 and each year there is an increase in the number of farmers markets.