With more snow in the forecast, I think it is a great time to share some winter weather farm fashion tips for kids. 

We are firm believers in the Danish "no bad weather only bad clothes" philosophy. I will admit that I sometimes (ok ... often) curse my way through the dressing process in the winter but it's always worth it in the end. If we DON'T make it outdoors for some reason, NP can always tell shortly after walking in the door at the end of the day just by the kids' behavior. They NEED, as Olivia would say, to 'blow the stink off' daily.

As you may have noticed in my previous farm fashion posts, farm *fashion* is really more about function than class. You won't find any of us on the cover of Vogue. Ha.

And with that, I present ....The Components of a Toddler's Outdoor Winter Wardrobe:

1. The Expensive Part

BOOTS! Warm ones. And waterproof. Yes, they are expensive. Yes, they can be cumbersome. But warm waterproof boots are ESSENTIAL to any kind of success with outdoor play in the winter. And boots can usually be passed from child to child so that helps bring the cost down. You can also occasionally find good used boots on swap. If you do find a pair in your kiddos size, snatch them up fast as they don't usually stay on swap for long!

Wool Socks are another worth while investment.  For $15-30 you can get a half dozen pairs of toddler size wool socks and they are worth every penny. Again they can be passed down from sibling to sibling and I can tell you from my own years of wool sock wearing experience that they are transformational. I highly recommend them both indoors and out during the cold winter months.

On a side note: I encourage you to consider gifting the more expensive and durable pieces of children's winter gear once your crew has outgrown it. Good quality coats, coveralls and boots can provide several winters worth of warm outdoor play but most kids grow so fast they will only get to wear it for one season. 

2. The Nit Picky Part

Neckies. Neckies are the best thing since sliced bread. Seriously. Waaaaay easier to slip over a toddler's head than any scarf and stays in place too! My personal opinion is that a neckie increases the warmth factor of an outdoor ensemble by at least 60%. Neck stays warm and neither cold breezes nor snow find their way down kiddos neck and into their coat.

Leather "chore" mittens. Yes, leather. And yes, MITTENS. NO GLOVES ALLOWED. Initially we purchased these mittens because O wanted chores gloves 'just like daddy.' Although these are mittens and not gloves, they were reminiscient enough of daddy's chores gloves that O accepted them and they have been the warmest and most waterproof mittens we have found. They also stay on well and hold up to mud and all of the chore time wear and tear. And again they can be passed from one child to the next. 

3. The Upcycling Part

Glove holder on-ers......I am accepting nominations for a better name :P These wonderful creations are the last item to go on. They are simply old knee high socks of mine which we have cut the toe off and cut a slit for the thumb. By pulling them on over the gloves and coat sleeves it makes it harder for kids to take their gloves off and even more importantly, it keeps the snow and cold from sneaking in between gloves and the ends of coat sleeves. I wish I could take credit for this brilliant idea but honesty compels me to admit that I saw this tip in some 'life hacks' video somewhere on the internet. I can however, wholeheartedly confirm the efficacy. 

Ok guys, this HAS to be my current all time favorite lamb recipe! The little dug right into this dish and asked for more ... so it must be a winner, right?! And I have to thank my friend Amber for introducing me to  her Lamb Broccolini Oreccheitte recipe that I adapted this from! ​

For some more fun with lam, also check out my Lamb & Rosemary Koftas recipe and my Greek Roasted Lamb Shoulder recipe! 

Lamb & Broccoli Pasta
​
Ingredients

• 1 pound pasta shells
• 1 head of broccoli, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 pound ground lamb
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon dried red pepper flakes
• 3/4 cups grated Parmesan cheese
• salt to taste

Directions

Bring pasta to a boil and cook until almost tender. You want the pasta to be a little underdone at this point because you are going to add the broccoli for the last little bit of cooking time and save a dirty pan ;) Alternatively, you can fully cook the pasta while cooking the broccoli separately. If you cook the broccoli separately, simply steam or boil the broccoli to your taste and then add to the drained pasta when done cooking.

If you are using the 'one pot method', at this point add the broccoli and cook 3 minutes more, until the pasta is al dente and the broccoli is bright green and crisp-tender. Drain, reserving about ½ cup of the cooking water.

Heat the olive oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Add the lamb and break it up into small chunks. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the lamb is deeply browned and a little crispy, about 10 minutes. Stir in the garlic and the pepper flakes, and salt to taste, and cook about 1 minute longer.
Reduce the heat to medium-low and stir the pasta and broccoli into the pot with the lamb. Add the reserved cooking water and continue cooking about 1 to 2 minutes more, to allow the pasta to absorb the flavors. Sprinkle in about ½ cup of the cheese and stir to combine well. Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top when you serve the dish!

Enjoy!
Emily

I've gotten several questions lately along the lines of "how do you cook lamb?" To be honest it's not super different from cooking beef. The main thing is just to not overcook it & cook it low and slow. Don't rush it! And don't leave it sitting in it's own juices once it's done cooking.

​When it comes to cooking something new, I prefer to have a recipe that I know is tried and true. SO I am going to share a couple of lamb recipes that I personally have had good success with! Make sure to check out the Lamb & Rosemary Koftas recipe that I've posted previously and be watching for Lamb & Broccoli pasta recipe that I adapted from my from friend Amber's lamb broccolini orecchiette! I will work on getting a grilled lamb chop recipe up as well!

For today, please enjoy a favorite of mine: Greek Roasted Lamb Shoulder Roast. I adapted this recipe from https://www.recipetineats.com/slow-roasted-rosemary-garlic-lamb-shoulder/. If you want a more in depth description of the steps, please visit her original recipe. And then get lost in all of the other great lamb recipes she has too! <3
​

​Greek Roasted Lamb Shoulder Roast (~3lbs) (adapted from: recipetineats)

Ingredients

• 3lb lamb shoulder roast
• 3 cloves of garlic, peeled
• Salt and pepper
• 2 tsp paprika powder
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 large onions, quartered (any color is fine, I used red)
• 5 sprigs of thyme
• 1 Tbsp dried rosemary
• 2 tsp dried oregano
• 1 dried bay leaf
• 1/4 cup lemon juice (1-2 lemons), plus more to taste
• 2 cups chicken broth (I like to use chicken bouillon)

 
 
Directions

1. Preheat oven to 465F
2. Rub the lamb with the olive oil, paprika, garlic powder, salt and pepper.
3. Use a thin, sharp knife to make 12 incisions in the lamb
4. Stuff garlic slivers into the holes
5. Place the onion, halved garlic bulb and rosemary in the base of a roasting pan. Place the lamb on top. Pour water around.
6. Cover with lid or tightly with a double layer of foil. Place in the oven, and TURN DOWN to 350F
7. Roast, covered, for 3 hours. Remove foil, turn up the oven to 425F and roast for a further 20 to 30 minutes, until the skin is browned and crisp. By now, you should be able to part the meat with two forks.
8. Remove lamb from the roasting pan and transfer to a plate. Cover loosely with foil then a couple of tea towels and let it rest for at least 20 minutes, up to a couple of hours (after this, you may want to reheat). Serve with sauce.
9. Strain liquid into a clear jug. The fat will rise to the top. Scoop/pour most of it off. Adjust the remaining sauce with salt, pepper and lemon to taste.

 
 
Serve lamb with the Sauce on the side

**NOTE: if you have a larger roast, add about 30 minutes of cooking time for every additional 2lbs of lamb

Enjoy!
Emily

​Farmers Market season is almost here! Like, less than a week away!! Without farmers markets, NP & I wouldn’t have much of a future in agriculture. Farmers markets allow us to sell out meats and vegetables directly to you our number one customer.  

When NP and I decided to start farming, we knew we wanted to do pretty much anything besides row crops and feedlot/confinement style operations. For one we couldn’t possibly afford to enter into that type of operation. Taking out hundreds of thousands of dollars of debt, just wasn’t our style. Second, we wanted to spend our time working directly with the plants and animals, not cooped up in a tractor*. We wanted a farm that was diverse and flexible and as such, could weather a changing world and a changing climate. And most importantly, we wanted to grow FOOD that our friends, our family, our neighbors could actually EAT. Food that WE could feel good about eating. I’m talking about fresh fruits and veggies and reasonable servings of wholesome proteins.

That’s where farmers markets come into the picture. Farmers markets have allowed us to sell vegetables and pasture raised meats directly to the people who will then eat them. This is not only satisfying to NP & I but also has allowed us to enter the market without taking out a loan for equipment and has allowed us to grow as we are able.

With that in mind, I thought I’d share a little bit about the markets where NP & I sell our meats and vegetables.

The first market that we ever attended as a vendor was Produce in the Park in Atlantic, Iowa. We were first drawn in by all of the posters around town and quickly fell in love with the atmosphere and the variety of vendors and products that we found at the market. It was clear that this was a place where a community was being fostered and built. Food has a way of doing that.

This will be the 6th year of operation for Produce in the Park and will be Brun Ko Farm’s 5th year vending at this particular market. PIP is on Thursday evenings from June through September. At PIP, you will find wide variety of vegetables in addition to locally raised meats, eggs, baked goods, handmade soaps and crafts. Another neat aspect of PIP is all of the activities going on too!

The other market that we will be attending this year is The Elk Horn Farmers Market. This market is smaller but still features a variety of vegetables, meats, and handmade soaps. This year the market has also added a Service Organization category. We are looking forward to see what different products that category will bring to market!

We are so looking forward to seeing you at market this year!
​
Your Farmers,
Emily& Nathan
Brun Ko Farm

*Don’t get me wrong, we couldn’t do what we do without good ‘ol Ollie tractor but we are grateful to have a good variety of tasks each day/week/year

I started to do some research into such clinics last fall but got cold feet about spending even the greatly reduced amount of money (think $65-75 for a spay vs $200ish). BUT as of this Spring, Fluffy has survived a full year at the farm and so I feel that perhaps she is not too prone to playing chicken with cars or cows either one. Or, she is really good at winning. *shrug*

I have to admit, we weren’t the best prepared, and we had some adventures just getting Fluffy into her broken, destined for the dump, duct taped together, cat carrier

If it was not for a clinic such as this, Fluffy most definitely would not have gotten spayed and I am grateful that these clinics exist. I highly encourage you to take the cat(s) hanging out around your farm or in your neighborhood in to participate in the program and help keep Iowa’s kitty population under control.






Following is a list of vet clinics/organizations that have held feral cat spay/neuter in the past:
​
​The Anita Vet Clinic
Atlantic Animal Health Center
Harlan Veterinary Services
AMVC
Western Iowa's Feral and Homeless Cat Program
​
Thanks for reading!
Emily
Brun Ko Farm

These girls are looking Sassy again! They spent Thanksgiving through New Year’s molting. Molting is kind of like hitting the reset button for chickens. After a while, a chicken’s feathers become worn out and lose their insulation abilities as well as their aerodynamic properties. When chickens molt, they shed their feathers and regrow new ones. Chickens usually molt when the days become short which seems like bad time of year to me. I mean, brrr! But who am I to question mother nature??

The regrowing of feathers requires a lot of protein, so the chickens also stop laying eggs during this time so all of their protein intake can go towards feather production!

Just this past week, our hens have begun to lay eggs for us again. I collected 2 yesterday! Slowly but surely!

Emily

​

NP and I have always enjoyed lamb, at least in the few rare opportunities that we've had it. However, when we bought our first butcher lamb last year, I had never cooked lamb before. I started out with lamb chops and seasoned them with garlic and rosemary. It was good and I stuck with these same seasonings (which are favorites of mine anyway) as I experimented with other cuts of lamb. Now that I've tried a few things, I am starting to branch out and experiment more. So, last weekend, I tried this braised lamb shank recipe and it was a hit! Even with the one year old 'food critic'!! So I thought I'd share it with you :)

Your finished lamb shanks will be fall apart tender! I served these with steamed carrots and purple waffle fries but serving over mashed potatoes would be amazing! My family just isn't really into purple mashed potatoes and purple taters are the only thing I had on hand at the time so I opted for waffle fries. Will plan better and serve with mashed potatoes next time!

Enjoy!
​Emily

Ingredients

• 4lbs lamb shanks
• Salt and pepper
• 2 tbsp olive oil , separated
• 2 garlic cloves , minced
• 1 onion, chopped (white, brown, yellow)
• 1 carrot , finely chopped (optional, but recommended)
• 1/4 cup flour
• 3.5 cups beef broth (I used 4 beef bouillon cubes + 3.5 cups water)
• 3 cups merlot (Note 2)
• 5 sprigs fresh thyme or 2 tsp dried thyme
• 3 dried bay leaves
• 4 stalks fresh parsley 

Instructions

1. Season shanks with salt and pepper.
2. Heat 1 tbsp oil in a skillet over high heat. Add 2 lamb shanks and cook, turning, until browned. Place browned shank in the crockpot then repeat with remaining lamb.
3. Turn heat down to medium. Add remaining 1 tbsp oil, garlic, onion, and carrot. Sauté for 5 minutes until onion is softened.
4. Add flour. Mix into onion mixture.
5. Add remaining ingredients. Mix together - don't worry about the lumps, they will dissolve while cooking.
6. Pour over the lamb in the crock pot. The meat should be mostly submerged. Turn crock pot on low and cook for 8 hours. If you don't have room for all of the liquid in your skillet, don't worry. Just add what you can and add the rest to the crockpot.
7. Remove lamb into a bowl.
8. Optional: Strain sauce into a bowl. Use spoon to press into onion etc to squeeze out all the flavourful liquid. Pour sauce into a sauce pan
9. Increase heat to medium high and reduce liquid by half or until it thickens to a syrup consistency - this step is optional but totally worth it! There will be quite a bit of juices left over, so you can make just a portion of them into sauce if you want. *Your juices will reduce down by about half so spoon out however much you think you might want as a finished product and then double it.*
10. Return lamb shanks and juices pooled in the bowl into sauce to reheat, then serve with creamy mashed potato, garnished with parsley.

I prepared and Nathan served samples of this recipe at Produce in the Park this past week! This was super easy to prepare and delicious to eat. Stew meat is one of my most favorite cuts because it is versatile and easy to prepare! Special thanks to Rolling Acres Farm for providing the parsley for this recipe!
​
Roasted herbed Beef Tips
Serves:6
INGREDIENTS

• 2 pounds stew meat
• 1 cup fresh parsley, chopped
• ¼ cup olive oil
• ¼ cup water
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• Non-stick cooking spray

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Add all ingredients, except the beef, to a mixing bowl and whisk together.
2. Pour the mixture into a large Ziploc bag.
3. Add the beef and massage the bag to ensure all of the beef is covered by the marinade mixture.
4. Refrigerate for 1 hour.
5. Remove the beef from the refrigerator and allow to sit at room temperature. In the meantime, preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
6. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper to catch the grease, and position a wire cooking rack on top. Lightly spray the cooling rack with non-stick cooking spray.
7. Position the cubes of beef onto the wire cooking rack, leaving a little space.
8. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and serve immediately.

*Beef & oregano provided by Brun Ko Farm ~ Parsley & Garlic provided by Rolling Acres Farm*

Enjoy!
Emily
Brun Ko Farm