Amy from Solace Farm sent this interesting information:

The cold weather has brought our fresh garlic to an end, but we’ve been processing the remainder so that we – and you – can enjoy it the rest of the year. Over the last 3 weeks, the boys (4 & 7, with surprising help from the 1.5 yo) have peeled their way through countless pounds of garlic, while I chop it, dry it on cookie sheets in the oven, and grind and sift it – or roast pans of the peeled cloves, and freeze them for hopefully making roasted garlic jam later this spring “when I have time”. This year, we had lots of extra Elephant garlic, and I processed it separately – it turns out very mild and sweet, so much so that I’m calling it “onion” powder rather than garlic powder. We’ve ended up with about 1.5 gallons each of garlic powder and “onion” powder, and another gallon of dried chopped garlic (and we’re not quite done!). These are all listed separately on the market, as well as a new listing for Cajun seasoning, using our garlic and “onion” powders, a blend of our own hot pepper powder, and our own basil, oregano, and thyme.

If you’re wondering why our garlic is finished for the year, but it’s still available in the grocery stores, there are multiple answers. The simplest is that most (at least 60%) of America’s garlic is imported from China. That doesn’t explain, though, why mine starts sprouting and dehydrating itself after 4-8 months, and the Chinese garlic doesn’t. Being a garlic grower, I know that it is a very seasonal crop, dependent on day length, so it really can’t be grown out-of-season. From what I can find out, large scale producers in China often irradiate or chemically treat garlic to prevent sprouting. This means that, rather than the grocery-store garlic being grown in-season elsewhere, it’s just as old as mine, but has been chemically made shelf-stable. That’s also why store garlic is lighter-feeling than local, farm-grown garlic – it has lost much of it’s natural moisture to time, and is slowly drying out.

From the health side of things, I found this reference in an article in the Washington Post – “The AWF’s [Americans for Wholesome Food] report, based on independent lab tests, found “high levels of lead, arsenic and added sulfites in two supermarket-brand imported garlic powders from store shelves.”

Lastly, I found references to garlic importers, particularly from China, circumventing customs restrictions and taxes/tariffs and “dumping” millions of pounds of cheap product (60 million in 2013 alone), and in the process severely damaging the California – and US in general – garlic growers that can’t compete with the artificially low prices of imported garlic.

All in all, there are several reasons to buy local garlic, from health to ethical to political, and that includes garlic powder :)

(Clockwise from upper left)
Garlic Cloves, Dried, Ground, and Assorted Varieties of Garlic.


( Ed. note: Here is another interesting link that I found: 11 Proven Health Benefits of Garlic )

Triple T Cattle Farms continues their special of $4.20 per pound for ground beef and $4.20 per pound for shoulder roast.

Valentine’s Day falls before market day next week, and Dogwood Valley Greenhouse has some special things for your special someone. Beautiful and nonfattening too! Check out our Valentine’s Day Rex Begonia Planter and Valentine’s Wrap. We can also wrap our the other houseplants currently available – aloe vera, pink Christmas cacti (still blooming), mistletoe cacti, and zebra haworthia – for an additional $3. Just message me when you order one of these. We have some beautiful hanging baskets of wandering Jew and flame violet which would also make great gifts, with a nice bow on the hanger at no extra charge. We can also wrap any of our perennial plants for an additional $3, if you message me. Lastly, we have gift certificates available in any denomination for your special someone.

To get your pick of our limited supply of holiday gifts, place your order this week and specify delivery on the 13th.

(Clockwise fromo upper left) Rex Begonia Planter, Valentine’s Wrap, Aloe vera large, Light Pink Christmas Cactus large, Mistletoe Cactus large, Zebra haworthia large, Wandering Jew, Flame Violet large, Gift Certificate.


Flying S Farms has added some new items:

Blueberry Orange Cake Bars and Oatmeal Cake Bars with Broiled Pecan Topping.


Cheryl’s Neighborhood Garden has added these two items:

Cosmetic Bag and Set of 4 Dried Herbs