Support Local this Holiday Season ~ Give the gift that keeps giving

When you shop local Mom & Pop places for your holiday gifts, your support is felt around!  You not only help support the local folks you just purchased from, but the tax revenue collected and paid also goes back into the community where your items were purchased.  If the items you purchased locally were hand made, even better!  This means you're supporting U.S.A. and local state made goods!  Profits made from your purchases then stay in your community.  You can feel proud that you did the right thing by supporting small and independent businesses.  You helped the community as a whole.  You've made a difference!

We've compiled some local businesses & ideas for the holiday season.  Whether you are gift giving, hosting a dinner or attending a party, you'll find something for everyone at the places listed below.

Looking for soy candles in all sorts of festive scents or natural and wonderful hand soaps?  Look no further than CCF Naturals.  CCF Naturals offers a variety of scented and unscented soy candles in all sorts of shapes and sizes.  Prices are very reasonable and candles can make the perfect stocking stuffer!  CCF Naturals also has some amazing handmade soaps!  Try their oatmeal soap for ultra sensitive skin.  If your hands are extra dirty then try the pumice & tea tree soap!  CCF Naturals is a home based business and offers an online shop.  Delivery arrangements can be made for local folks and anyone else can pick up their order.  Please visit CCF Naturals online at:  http://www.CcfNaturals.com

If you know of a gal or special someone that loves to bake, make candies and cakes and spend time in the kitchen, then look no further!  Hiller's Country Market is the place to be.  This little and independently owned market is perfect.  Hiller's Country Market offers a nice variety of bulk sugars, flours, candies, chocolates and other goodies.  You'll find a freezer full of fresh meat that is free of antibiotics and growth hormones.  What ever spice it is you are seeking, there is a chance that you'll find it here.  You'll also discover a wide variety of chocolate & candy molds, coatings and flavors!  If you need something to decorate a cake, they have that too!  Please visit Hiller's Country Market online at: http://www.HillersCountryMarket.com

You can never go wrong with kids & teenagers by giving them the gift of Pizza!  Dor-Lo Pizza in Ashland has some of the best bread sticks and thin crust pizza! They've been around for over 30 years!  Try a gift certificate for that hard to buy for teenager!  This allows them to get pizza for all their friends next time they have a gathering or want to go out after a game.  You can visit Dor-Lo Pizza online at:  http://www.DorloPizza.com

Gift baskets full of stone baked artisan breads, old fashioned fudge and other sweet treats make the perfect gift for anyone!  From Scratch ~ Old World Baked Goods offers a variety of artisan breads, cookies, muffins, biscuits, fudge and more!  They even offer entirely free delivery to Ashland city residents!  Be the host with the most this holiday season!  Bring decadent delights to the dinner table or view their mini loaves and other small treats for stocking stuffers.  Gift baskets can be delivered anywhere in Ashland & Wayne county.  Visit From Scratch online at the Giving Earth:  http://www.GivingEarth.com

Know someone that needs a few repairs done on their vehicle?  How about a special paint job from Custom Ohio Auto Body!  This place offers extreme professionalism!  Over 25 years experience in body restoration, custom paint, fabrication, welding and perfectionism.  Custom Ohio Auto Body offers a personal experience.  They are willing to work with those who are having financial hardship. Never an unsatisfied client in all the years they have been repairing and customizing vehicles! Visit Custom Ohio Auto Body online at:  http://www.CustomOhio.com

Old Fashioned, Friendly Service Delivered to your Doorstep!

Remember the days when you enjoyed the comforts of being home?  Things were simpler way back in the day.  The necessities of life were delivered to your doorstep.  Alongside the morning news paper were glass quarts full of fresh milk from the local dairy farm.  Another delivery truck brought you a large chunk of ice for your freezer or perhaps he unloaded a supply of water to drink.  Suburbia and city living brought with it the benefits of spending time with family instead of rushing around and wasting the day.  Modern conveniences were brought to your doorstep on a daily basis.  A new mom sent the cloth diapers off to be cleaned while the local bakery pulls up and delivers the daily bread or some sweet treats for hubby when he gets home.  Where has all of this gone?  All we see now are pizza delivery vehicles and brown trucks with packages. 

City life has changed into a dog eat dog world.  Everyone talking on their cell phones, texting a message to their bff or heading to the store to get supplies for the evening dinner.  Some will even stuff their face with processed fast food and provide their family with little to no nutrition.  It's sad to see how little family time is valued compared to times past.  Even our food has changed with genetic modification, processed ingredients and lower standards from names that once were trusted.

Maybe if we allowed ourselves to get back to the basics life would be a bit more enjoyable.  If we placed value on sitting at the dinner table together as a family without cell phones and television, we might open a doorway of communication with our children or spouse.  Place the importance of spending time together and making new memories over playing video games and watching sporting events on cable.  I'm not saying rid your life of these things, simply set aside a small amount of time each day or less so you can focus on what is really important in life.

Some mom & pop business are striving to bring back the importance of time together as a family.  By bringing back some of the old ways of the past with today's new technology, they can provide city folks with the benefits of old & new. 

When was the last time you had a loaf of fresh bread delivered to your door?  How about a giant 12" cookie with a personal message in frosting or a dozen honey rolls?  Or better yet, how about 100% Natural stone baked goodies made with mostly certified organic & local ingredients?  From Scratch ~ Old World Baked Goods offers just that to Ashland city residents!  Those residing within the city limits of Ashland County, OH receive FREE delivery on Monday & Wednesday evenings from 6pm-7pm.  You get the old fashioned delivery & friendly service, with the modern technology of online ordering and viewing!

We encourage you to ask your local grocer, farm, co-op, restaurant, hardware or other business to consider delivering the items you order to your doorstep.  Let them know that you appreciate time with your family and how this will allow you the valued time to create more memories and lead a simpler, more enjoyable life. 

Know of a business that offers free home delivery to local residents?  Tell us about it and we'll do a feature post on our blog!

Discover Ashland by taking Flight!

This weekend I had the most unique and exciting opportunity.  I was invited to join a flight with friends to view the Ashland County area and the beauty of Autumn from the sky.  We literally enjoyed a birds eye view as we flew low to enjoy the intense scenery.

Ashland Municipal Airport along with a couple of pilots, offer 'Discovery' flights of the county.  You basically rent a small Cessna plane and the pilots service.  The plane seats 4 people, including the pilot and rental time is for an hour or so.  Our pilot was named Steve and he was very friendly, courteous and well experienced with flying.  Steve was kind enough to take requests as to where and what we would like to view from the air. 

Upon our arrival at the small airport, we were greeted by several furry friends.  There was an over affectionate grayish-blue kitty who adored my lap and company.  I also enjoyed the two well behaved and well mannered pooches.  The airport was their home and none of the noises or people seemed to phase them.   The other pilots and people that gather are friendly too.  There was a smile on everyone's face that we met.  There certainly wasn't a lack of hello's or thank you's from anyone! 

I was fortunate enough to get to sit in the front seat with my trusty camera in hand.  This was planned out ahead so I could get beter shots of our the property that we currently rent and use for homesteading.  The pilot was nice enough to get in close and bank to the side so I could get a few good shots.  They don't do them selves any justice here.  Viewing them in high def on a larger scale is amazing!

These flights are quite reasonable on the pocket, all things considered.  I had anticipated a larger total for the time, fuel and pilot.  We scheduled two flights so all four of us could go up.  Our first flight was near 50 minutes and then the second was about a half hour or so.  The total bill for both flights, fuel, plane, pilot, etc. was $150.  I know $150 sounds like a lot, and it is to me too!  But, I have to say this was the most fun I've ever had for $150.  If you were to split that between three or four people, then it really doesn't seem expensive at all!  Cost is usually $100/hour for the plane and $30 for the pilot.  Very reasonable for the priceless memories we created!  I do recommend asking for Steve as your pilot if you decide to take a Discovery Flight over Ashland County.  We'll be sure to request his service again when we get another change to go back in the air.

There is much to do in Ashland, and this is only one of the many fun ways to view the entire county.  Flying over the Mohican area was amazing and seeing some of the local ponds, lakes and other natural summits was quite intriguing.  I hope those of you looking for something memorable to do, will keep the Ashland Municipal Airport in mind.  Our journey was delightful and the memories we made and shared with friends will last a lifetime. 

Thomas & Kandice Thompson

Fundraiser Ideas for your Local School, Community Event or Organization

We've been giving a lot of thought lately to ways that we could help out the local schools, organizations and community events.  Recently I asked around about doughnut sales.  You see, when I lived here (in Ashland county) as a kid, one of the local schools would hold an annual doughnut sale.  Much of the proceeds went directly to the school.  We were saddened to hear that our local school district no longer offered their homemade doughnuts, but on occasion they sell Krispy Kreams.  Of course the doughnuts just aren't the same!

We've decided to offer the fundraiser opportunities with some of our goodies.  To keep it simple and affordable for everyone, we've compiled a list of items & prices that would be offered for fundraiser opportunities.

We will provide order forms, collection envelopes and brochures. Students/parents will be responsible for collecting the amount due and turning it in with their order.  A specific delivery date will be agreed upon with the school or event prior to the sale.

This is a great way to raise funds for your school, community activities or organization!  Plus, you get the benefits of eating food that is wholesome, free of artificial ingredients, 100% all natural and you're supporting a small business within your community.

To ensure proper freshness and a reasonable delivery date, we can only allow up to two grades to participate in the fundraiser at a time (example: 7th & 8th graders or 2nd & 3rd graders).

Cinnamon Roll Sales:
School/Event gets 25% of the gross sales.  Cinnamon rolls will be priced at $2.50/naked & $2.75/Frosted for individually wrapped rolls or container of 6 Naked for $14.00 or 6 frosted for $15.00.  Frosting choices will be Vanilla or Maple.

Cookie Sales:
School/Event gets 25% of the gross sales.  Our ample sized and delicious cookies will be sold individually at $1.00 each or a bag of 1/2 a dozen for $5.50.  Cookies come in your choice of Peanut Butter, Chocolate Chip or Buckeye.  

Holiday Bread Sales:
School/Event gets 20% of the gross sales. Students are given a brochure the features some of our best selling artisan breads.  Folks will be able to choose from items such as; our Pinwheel dessert bread, our giant 2 pound loaf of Pizza Bread, the always in demand Old World Italian, French and Foccacia breads.

Interested in using our baked goods for your next fundraiser?  Contact Kandice Thompson via phone or email.  Phone: 419.908.9533  Email:  kandice@givingearth.com   Visit us online at anytime!  http://www.GivingEarth.com/

Sunny Autumn Days & Crisp Fall Nights

image by Kandice Thompson

The seasons are changing and Autumn is upon us.  There is much to do in Ashland and the neighboring villages.  The two middle weeks of October usually offer us the best views of the changing leaves and landscape.  It's a time of harvest, gathering and abundance.  We are thankful for the farmers that work the fields and the homesteaders that provide us with knowledge on storage and preserving.

Some local families and farms are setting up and preparing their pumpkin patch for the community to enjoy.  Many of these places offer a variety of family fun for a small amount of monetary funds.  You'll often find hayrides and corn mazes for all ages, straw bales and gourds in every shape and size and always some over friendly farm animals that want your undivided attention.  The smell of hot apple cider and cinnamon fill the air and some of the local ladies or bakeries have made pumpkin cookies and cake.  

This is the season that we don't usually rush and give so much fuss.  We spend time around fires and gathering with friends.  We find ourselves giving thanks for the good times and memories we are creating.  Fall brings a profound respect for nature.  We gaze in awe at the colors changing, the pumpkins galore, the final harvest of our gardens.  We say goodbye to summer and know the cold days of winter will soon be upon us.  And so we reflect on the year that has gone by so quick.

Autumn offers us many opportunities to keep us entertained.  With the cool nights usually comes clear skies, with clear skies comes a better view of the stars and moon.   There are many celestial events that take place in fall.  One big event being the Leonid Meteor Showers in mid November.  The Leonid showers are some of the best shooting stars to see.  Gathering your blankets and hot chocolate and make a special night with your family.  Try some moon viewing as well.  October offers a beautiful full moon, the harvest moon.  Locate as many planets as you can with your naked eye, then try it again with binoculars or a telescope.

Below is a list I have compiled of things that I would recommend doing this fall.  Some events are free, while others can be costly, depending on size, time or style of event.

~ Local Hay Rides, Pumpkin Patches & Family Fun ~

Badger's Great Pumpkin Patch - 9122 North Elyria Rd., West Salem - 419 846-3818; open through October; daily from 8am to dusk; offers hayrides, pumpkins, a petting zoo, a straw maze and much more. Local and seasonal vendors on weekends.  Good good & fun!  **You can find From Scratch ~ Old World Baked Goods there on the weekends, starting in October.

Ramseyer Farms - 3488 Akron Rd., Wooster; 330 264-0264; offers tractor-driven hayrides, a pumpkin patch, straw and corn mazes, a child-size hay bale maze, pre-picked produce, and a refreshment stand; Open September and October; Tuesday - Friday: 4pm - 7pm, Saturdays: 11am - 7pm, Sundays (in October only): 1pm - 5pm

Honey Haven Farm - pumpkins, pumpkin patch-pick in the field, corn maze, haunted corn maze, child-sized haybale maze, corn cannon, horse-drawn hay rides, gift shop, snacks and refreshment stand, picnic area, face painting, petting zoo, farm animals, birthday parties, school tours 1327 County Road 1475, Ashland, OH 44805. Phone: 419-289-3384 Crops are usually available in September, October. Open: Haunted Maze, Fridays and Saturdays, 7:30 pm - 11:30 pm, October 5-27; All other fall events, Saturdays and Sundays, Noon - 6pm, September 29 - October 28 Open weekends, September 29 - October 28

Scenic Ridge Fruit Farm - Apples, corn (sweet), grapes, peaches, pumpkins, tomatoes, pumpkin patch-pick in the field, pumpkin patch- already gathered from the field, straw or hay bale maze, prepicked produce, gift shop, tractor-pulled hay rides, petting zoo  2031 State Route 89, Jeromesville, OH 44840. Phone: 419-368-3353. Open: June - October: Monday - Saturday 9 am - 5 pm

Bauman Orchards - Pick-your-own apples, child-sized haybale maze, wagon rides, Honey from hives on the farm, Maple Syrup from trees on the farm, apple cider, produce for sale, parking provide free, snacks and refreshment stand, restrooms, petting zoo  161 Rittman Avenue, Rittman, OH 44270. Phone: 330-925-6861. Open: Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm Saturday 8am to 5pm closed Sunday.

Gale J Farm - pumpkins, Pick-your-own apples, pumpkin patch-pick in the field, pumpkin patch- already gathered from the field, train rides, corn maze, tractor-pulled hay rides, restrooms, picnic area, farm animals, birthday parties, school tours  4991 Columbus Rd, Wooster, OH 44691. Phone: 330-262-0727.  Open: Monday thru Friday 4 pm to 7 pm; Saturday and Sunday 11 am to 7 pm. Flashlight nights in the corn maze October 24 and 25.

If you know of a local pumpkin patch or farm that offers pumpkins, hay rides and seasonal fun, please feel free to list it here, or send me the details and I will edit this post. :-)

~ Free Fun ~

There is much to do that is free or close to.  

Check your local newspaper for Trick or Treat times at the end of October.  Go ahead and dress up with your kids or grandkids.  It makes it more fun for everyone! 

Pack a picnic and visit a nice & quiet cemetery along the country side.  You'll often find that a cemetery is quiet, peaceful place that makes for a humbling experience.  Some of the old cemeteries offer unique statues and artistic stones.  

Take a country drive during the late afternoon and find a cozy spot to view the sunset.  A drive through the country to view the beautiful changing colors of the leaves can be quite romantic.  Pack a blanket, hot chocolate or tea and some sweet treats for you and your love.  Often you'll find pull off areas on back roads that are along rivers or near a nature preserve.  A nature preserve will sometimes offer a viewing deck or a small spot to pull your car over to marvel at the beauty.  These are perfect little areas to sit and cuddle with a blanket, sip your hot chocolate and enjoy the sounds and beauty of nature, while being accompanied by that special someone.  

Many counties in Ohio have their tall tales or real events that bring fourth the haunting of buildings, forests and old places.  Ohio has many areas that are considered haunted and have been written about in decades past.  There are even several local places, right here in Ashland & Mansfield that are known to be haunted and visited frequently by those not of this world.  Take a night drive by some of these spooky landmarks or make reservations or with a grounds keeper of a property to stay the night in some haunted woods. 

Many Farmers Markets are open through mid October.  Bring your kids by and let them see the colorful gourds, pumpkins and styles of corns.  You can make simple crafts out of many fall items that are safe and biodegradable. 

Local Women and their Businesses

You wont find local made goodies and sweets and your neighborhood Walmart.  That's not saying you can't find such wonderful homemade things like naturally scented soy candles, farm fresh eggs, naturally raised meat, wheat free granola, artisan breads & other sweet treats around Ashland, OH.  You may not be looking in the right places.

Many folks operate a small cottage farm industry out of their home.  This enables them to produce non-temperature controlled items that can be sold anywhere in the state of Ohio.  We've gathered a list of three local women that do such a thing.

Patty Brant of Ashland, OH spends her spare time with her animals on her farm.  Patty is a fellow homesteader and naturally raises a variety of meats, including beef and poultry.  All her meat is naturally raised and antibiotic free.  You'll never find any synthetic hormones used on her farm!  Patty will even allow you to come in and see the animals and interact with them.  When Patty isn't working her part time job or running the farm, you can often find her in the kitchen making homemade soaps and soy candles.  She offers her line of soaps and candles to the public.  Her Tea-Tree soap with pumice is great for those hard worked hands!  As someone who suffers from artificial scented items, I am delighted that Patty offers a full line of unscented soy candles in tea lights, votives and jars!  If you would like more info on naturally raised meat, please click here to visit Cozy Corners Farm on Facebook.  Patty also has a website for her soaps and soy candles.  You can visit her website at: http://www.ccfnaturals.com/

Teresa Humrichouser from the Ashland, Ohio area is creator of Crazy Monkey Baking’s Granola Cookie Crunch.  One of our personal favorite treats when we shop the local farmers market!  Before graduating from Ohio University with bachelor’s degrees in nutrition and food service management, Teresa decided that if she was going to be happy with a career, it would have to involve baking.  A pure student of baking, Teresa has taken numerous baking classes, worked in retail artisan bakeries, and spends a majority of her time perfecting her formulas in her home kitchen.  Upon arrival of her second child, Teresa challenged herself to make an enjoyable snack for the family that didn’t contain all of the sins of modern baking (partially hydrogenated fats, high fructose corn syrup, food dyes, preservatives, etc.)  Teresa started with an oatmeal chocolate chip cookie recipe, and over the next few months it evolved into what is known today as Crazy Monkey Baking Granola Cookie Crunch.  You can visit Teresa and her website at: http://www.crazymonkeybaking.com

Kandice Thompson of Polk, OH bakes and operates the 'From Scratch ~ Old World Baked Goods' website and business.  All items are made entirely from scratch and contain no artificial ingredients, no trans fat, no high fructose corn syrup, no growth hormones and no gmo's (genetically modified or engineered ingredients).  Kandice offers a variety of stone baked artisan breads, cookies and sweet treats from old world recipes.  Her Pinwheel bread with cinnamon and sugar is so popular at the Ashland farmers market, that is sells out at every show.  Kandice, a fellow homesteaders and environmental activist stays home and rarely leaves.  She suffers severely from MCS (multiple chemical sensitivities) and therefore can not be around or tolerate any chemicals, perfumes, fabric softeners or other scented items.  Because of this, she is limited to being in the public.  Thankfully her loving husband and daughter run the booth at the local farmers market for her.  Being at home and still being able to do one of her life passions is what keeps Kandice going.  When she is not in the kitchen, you can often find her in one of her organic gardens, herb beds, hiking in the woods or shooting some freelance images with her camera.  Kandice has also had the privilege of being Internationally & Nationally nominated or some of her freelance photography images.  Kandice has been operating the Giving Earth website for several years now.  She has combined all her life passions on one site that is also dedicated to bringing a community together.  To see Kandice's artwork, photography and to view or shop for her incredible breads and sweet treats, please visit her website:  http://www.givingearth.com

If you know of another gal that you feel should be featured on the Good Food & Earth Blog, feel free to contact us or leave a comment all about that special lady and her business.

Ashland's Original Farm Market

One of the biggest & best Farmer's Market in Ashland county is held every Saturday morning at the Christ United Methodist Church parking lot.  Located at 1140 Claremont Ave. Ashland, OH 44805 (across from Little Caesar's Pizza).  The official time of the Farmer's Market is from 9am-11am.  Most of the vendors are set up and already selling at 7am.  There are also several vendors that come close to or actually sell out before 9am.

You'll find a variety of vendors (including us) with everything from seasonal and fresh produce, artisan breads, Amish baked goods, local honey and hand carved wood walking sticks, to natural soaps, candles, baskets and so much more!  Make sure to mark your calendars as this market comes to the seasonal end in the middle of October.

Know a local Farm Market that you'd like to share?  Leave a comment with the dates/time/place.  Share your favorite memories and experiences about your trip to your local market. :-)

Ashland County in Ohio has Beautiful Country Scenery

Image © Kandice Thompson ~ 2010

 One of my favorite things about Ashland, Ohio is the simplicity of driving around the county to view the scenery.  Many of us take for granted the beauty of the quiet country roads and their inhabitants. I'm one of those inhabitants and this is a picture from our side yard.  Amish folk are a regular around here and we love it.  As fellow homesteaders, we have some common ground with them and enjoy sharing stories and tips from our cultures and lifestyle.

Next time your family is looking for some good old fashioned fun, pack a picnic and hit the roads.  Remember to be cautions of buggies and crossing animals.  You'll find lots of Amish homes that offer fresh produce, baked goods and canned items from dawn til dusk.  Please keep in mind that the Amish do not offer Sunday sales.  

Make a fun afternoon with your family.  Take bags with moist towels in the event you find some pick-able flowers or a bucket for berries.  You'll find many creatures throughout the fields and road side.  From pheasants and quail to white tailed dear and wild turkeys, you just never know what amazing beauty you might see.  Soon the trees will begin to change their color and the beauty will be abound.  Enjoy this simplicity and make memories with your children and grandchildren.  Make a day free from cell phones and mp3's and of car dvd's and personal game pads.  Enjoy the sounds of nature, the songs of the birds and the rustling of the leaves in the trees.  

Be respectful to nature and only take what you can and give thanks for what is offered.  While you are out in about please do no harm to the environment.  Tread lightly and respect the boundaries and privacy of others.  Take a camera and scrapbook your day.  Consider reading up on certain wild animals, flowers and bugs and then see if you can have a scavenger hunt with your family.  It's fun and best of all... it's free! 

Take our Survey & Enter the Give-A-Way!

Your opinion is very important to us at From Scratch ~ Old World Baked Goods!  In fact, it's so important that we need your help!  We've created a simple and short survey, a mere 10 questions.  The questions are regarding new and seasonal items and other interesting features that we may be bringing to the kitchen table and our website! 

We are very excited and we hope that you will help us decide what new items and tastes to bring out this Fall & Winter!  All you have to do to help is visit the link below and fill out the survey.  Here is the really cool part of all of this...  Those that fill out the survey and leave a comment on our blog about an idea or item on the survey, will be entered in a Give-A-Way to receive $10. worth of FREE fresh baked goodies!  **as an Ohio Cottage Farm Industry, our items can only be sold in the state of Ohio.

Click Here:  Take the From Scratch ~ Old World Baked Goods Survey

Thank you and good luck to everyone!

Kandice

Issue #1: Quick & Easy Recipes

*Cheesy Bread*
Use our Pizza Bread and cut into slices.  Butter one side and place cheese on the bread.  Provolone works best, but you can use your own blend of all sorts of cheeses.  Once one side of the bread has been buttered and topped with cheese, place under the broiler in your oven for 3 to 5 minutes (or until edges are golden brown with a bit of a crisp).  Serve with marinara sauce or ranch dressing.  This is a perfect addition to Pizza or Spaghetti!  Works well when done over a wood grill too!

*Tim's French Toast*
My brother-in-law Tim told me about this one!  It's a favorite in their household!  Take day or two old Pinwheel Bread (if a loaf lasts that long) and slice it thick.  In a small bowl combine one egg and a approx. a tablespoon of milk.  Preheat frying pan to med, med-high.  Coat both sides of bread and cook like you would French Toast.  Serve with or without syrup.

*French Bread Pizza*
Take a loaf of our Old World Italian bread and slice down the center to open the bread.  Use your own favorite sauce recipe or try an alfredo sauce for your base.  Top with cheese and your choice of pizza toppings.  Place under the broiler for 5 to 7 minutes.  The edges should get nice and dark.  Try this with all sorts of hot subs for your family!

*Kandice's Bruchetta*
You'll need approx. 3 to 4 decent sized tomatoes.  Core and squeeze out any excess juice (save your juice for chili or tomato soup).  Dice the tomatoes into tiny chunks.  Mince approx. 3 tablespoons worth of sweet onion and mix with the tomatoes.    Add 1 teaspoon of sea salt, 1 tsp of Apple Cider Vinegar and 1 tablespoon of Extra Virgin Olive oil and a pinch of good quality black pepper.  Use only fresh Parmesan cheese and either chunk it in small pieces or use a cheese nice and have long thin pieces that curl.   Do this with a little over 1/4 cup and gently add it to the remaining mixture.  Let mixture sit in the fridge for a few hours for best results.  Top this over our Herbed Focaccia Bread for the perfect appetizer!  It's a favorite of all my family & friends!

*Herbed Croutons*
Take a loaf of our Focaccia Bread that is a couple days old.  Slice it into chunks and place on a drying/cooling rack for a few hours.  In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine 2 tablespoons of olive oil with a pinch of salt, black pepper and garlic powder.  Cook it till it begins to lightly bubble and then remove from heat.  Place dried croutons on a bakingstone or cookie sheet.  Using a baster brush, coat the croutons with the oil mixture on one side.  Place under broiler for 5-7 minutes.  Remove from the oven, baste the other side and repeat the process.  Allow to bake until you reach your own desired crispness.

Visit our website at http://www.GivingEarth.com/

You can order at anytime.  All orders require up to 24 hours from the time they are placed, until they are ready for pick up or delivery.

~ Join us every Saturday morning (through mid October) from 7am-11am at the Ashland Farmers Market.  Located in the parking lot of the Christ United Methodist Church (across from Movie Gallery).  Any orders placed online or via phone can opt to be picked up at the Saturday Market.  Don't forget to bring your Customer Appreciation Card! ~