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of the dirt

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an exploration of food and culture

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of the dirt

  • Home
  • Blog
  • Recipes
    • Basics + Pantry Staples
    • Breakfast
    • Entrees & One-dish Meals
    • Pies, Cakes, & Sweets
    • Preservation
    • Salads + Sides
    • Soups & Stews
    • 10 Minute Recipes
  • About
  • Say Hello
  • Portfolio
  • SHOP

Tomato Baby

June 19, 2014 Sarah Ward
image.jpg

I've been watching this little guy grow since April, and now he's almost ready for harvest! Can't wait to try my hand at canning these. 

Tomato variety: Bonnie Plants, Heinz Super Roma

← I'm back from the world of Cat Naps.10 Minute Recipes: Greek Basil Pesto →

of the dirt blog

I believe there is a necessity for us to be connected to our food.  It makes us aware of seasons and life cycles. It reminds us that vital functions on earth are unplugged.  It gives us a unique way to express creativity and build community.  The recipes and thoughts shared here are not from a culinary genius, master gardener, or a well-educated scholar, but rather an ordinary girl who happened to grow up with grape tomatoes instead of grass in her yard.

blog AUTHOR

Sarah Ward is a freelance recipe developer, food stylist and photographer living in San Diego with her husband and their polydactyl child (read: cat), Jack. 

Sarah Ward is a freelance recipe developer, food stylist and photographer living in San Diego with her husband and their polydactyl child (read: cat), Jack. 

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"A recent study by UC Davis found that every dollar spent at a local farmer’s market, or at market-direct farms, is twice as effective at influencing the strength of a local economy over buying from a supermarket. Something I find odd about our current culture is how we seek out our favorite local coffee shop, dine at that new farm-to-table restaurant and shop makers fairs for local artisan goods but still purchase our groceries from a standard grocery store. I'm not here to browbeat anyone about how ‘shopping ‘big-box’ style stores is evil’ (more on that later), but it’s a habit worth examining, and our food growers are a facet of our small business community we shouldn’t forget about." More on the blog! (Link in bio) #buylocal #hillcrestfarmersmarket #supportfarmers #farmersmarket #f52grams #oranges
It's no secret that I love shopping at farmer's markets, but they also have a rep for being expensive and confusing. I've written a new article to help demystify the farmer’s market shopping experience and provide you with ways to support your local farmers without breaking your bank (and have fun in the process!). By learning what and how to buy at a market and what items can be picked up elsewhere, you can enjoy good food and support local farms even when you don't have Lady Grantham’s household budget. I hope you'll give it a read and head out to explore your next local market. Link in bio! #farmersmarket #supportfarmers #hillcrestfarmersmarket #f52grams #buylocal
The Annual Great Tomato Dehydration of 2017. Once a summer, I go to the farmers market near the end to buy the unwanted runts of the tomato litter and dehydrate them for use throughout the year. Cut in half, spread cut side up in a lined baking sheet and dry in the oven at 170'F for 6ish hours. Once dried, you can store them in the fridge, pantry or covered in olive oil (👈🏻my favorite!). This year I was lucky enough to find these suuuuper sweet sungolds, soon be soaked in oil (and tested for a jam 😬). #tomatoes #preservedfood #f52grams #thisishowisummer #hillcrestfarmersmarket
#fbf to these lovely ladies, Brusco and an egg pasta volcano 🌋. I hope everyone has a lovely weekend and takes some time to share a meal with people you love. #goldensisterdinners
Artichokes are one of the first "weird" vegetables (things beyond carrots and corn) I ate as a kid. I remember the first time my dad steamed them and how loooong it took isto eat them, leaf by leaf down to the heart, but I couldn't get enough. As I've learned more about the life cycle of our food crops, I find there to be beauty beyond the perfect harvest stage. My introductory weird kid vegetable, artichokes, might just take the crown. (Grown by the talented @goodtastefarm) #artichokes #goodtastefarm #f52grams #flowers #dspurple #dsfloral

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© Sarah Ward and of the dirt, 2017. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of the photographs and recipes without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Sarah Ward and of the dirt with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.