Crop Mobbing with Deep Roots Farm

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Crop Mobbing is the Moscow Food Co-op's program that lets community members get a little dirty by helping our local farmers with hands-on projects. The first one this year was brought to us by Deep Roots Farm- a small farm in the city. Marci and Greg work really hard to provide our community with beautiful and delicious, sustainably raised produce, so we thought helping them out for a bit was only fair. Six dedicated volunteers joined us out at the farm to help put 300 tomato plants in the ground in under two hours! When asked why they farm Marci and Greg said, "To create something real. We start with soil and seeds and we end up feeding people." Greg also mentioned that being outside everyday is a pretty big job perk.

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Marci and Greg grow vegetables using techniques that promote biodiversity on their farm. They practice an intensive planting rotation to allow plants to support and nurture each other utilizing cover crops that feed the soil and attract beneficial insects. They grow a variety of crops that are well suited to our climate and sell directly to loyal customers, at the Moscow Farmers Market, the Tuesday Growers Market at the Co-op and through a CSA.

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To learn about other Crop Mobbing opportunities be sure to sign up for the Co-op's e-newsletter.

Kids in the Kitchen: Frozen Yogurt Pops

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School’s out for summer! But that doesn’t mean the learning can’t continue at home in your own kitchen. Because we believe having a stronger bond with your food (kissing your carrots is optional) leads to better cooking and eating habits, starting to teach your kiddos from a young age where their food comes from and how to make delicious snacks from scratch, can only help build this foundation.  Here are two recipes that your little ones are sure to love. Bring them into the kitchen and teach them about the ingredients as you’re making them. They’re sure to feel a sense of pride, and probably hunger too!

The Frozen Yogurt Fruit Pops use local yogurt from Little Bear Dairy, local honey from Woodland Apiaries and seasonal fruit. The homemade granola bars use the same local honey and organic ingredients and can be customized to please tiny palates, with whichever dried fruit you like.

 To make the Frozen Yogurt Fruit Pops you will need:2 cups plain yogurt (we recommend using Little Bear Dairy)2-3 tablespoons of local honey2 cups of fresh berries or other fruit1 tablespoon of organic sugar (or you can use more honey)2 teaspoons of fresh lemon juiceFrozen pop mold, or paper cups8 popsicle sticks

 Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and place clean fruit on it. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon sugar or honey. Roast fruit in the oven for 12 minutes, allowing it break down. This will ensure you don’t have large frozen chunks of fruit that can be hard to bite through. Remove fruit from oven and smash lightly with a spatula. While the fruit is roasting place yogurt, honey and lemon juice in a mixing bowl and stir to combine. Stir fruit in and mix until well incorporated. Fill molds or cups with yogurt mixture and place a popsicle stick in the middle of each. Place in the freezer for several hours until frozen through.