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This Week’s Availability:

• Heirloom Tomatoes (Cherokee Purple, Brandywine)

• Sungold Cherry Tomatoes

• Genovese Basil

• Dill Pickles

• Sweet Pickles

• Pickled Onions

• Pineapple Jam

• Carrot Cake Jam

  

Tomato Troubles

I recently ran into a massive problem, The seed company gave me the wrong tomatoes. I ordered some golden jubilee tomatoes.

Now this is what they are supposed to look like. I ended up with something completely different. They are splotchy red, oval-shaped, with no seed tomatoes. Just based on what I can tell. I believe I got some sort of Roma hybrid tomato mix. While this is a huge disappointment because I planted 37 of this variety and now it’s all sauce tomatoes, you just got to roll with the punches.

Kind of a short newsletter but, thank you for reading.

Where to Find Us

Hot Springs Farmers Market 7 am - 12 pm

121 Orange St Hot Springs, AR 71901

You can find us on Instagram Facebook or YouTube

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This week’s availability:

• Sweet Pickles (new!)

• Raspberry Jam (new!)

• Pineapple Jam (back!)

• Pickled Onions

• Dill Pickles

• Carrot Cake Jam

• Blackberry Jam

Switching it up

I am trying out some new jams, jellies, and preserves. This week I’m trying out raspberry and bringing back pineapple jam. If any of you have some other ideas let me know!

Tuesday Market?

we have a new Tuesday market and I thought about going this week. It’s really up to you guys. If you are interested in me doing the Tuesday market from 4 pm - 7 pm let me know.

Anyway, I know there wasn’t a lot this week but thank you for reading.

Where to Find Us

Hot Springs Farmers Market 7 am - 12 pm ( and maybe Tuesdays 4 pm - 7 pm)

121 Orange St Hot Springs, AR 71901

You can find us on Instagram or Facebook

Subscribe now

This week’s availability:

• Sweet Pickles (new!)

• Pickled Onions

• Dill Pickles

• Carrot Cake Jam

• Blackberry Jam

The Bees Knees

My bees are doing well! I started with one deep brood box and they have been filling it out quickly it’s now two deep and I have plans to add a honey super in about two weeks. I’m unsure how much honey I will get this year because it’s the first year. I’m just giving away free honey to friends and family. Also, check out my hive inspection video it’s on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and Facebook if you're interested.

Check out the video here

Buddy the Dove from Bismark Bees

Microgreens

Microgreens are very similar sprouts but quite a bit older. They are smaller and extremely healthy. I love to eat them in salads but my favorite way is sandwiches. I brought microgreens to the market a couple of weeks ago and they seemed to be a big hit. I have been brainstorming and figuring out different ways to grow them and decided to grow herb varieties. This includes things like basil, cilantro, and dill. Let me know if you have any other ideas or suggestions for microgreens you would like to see!

Thank you for reading. I plan to keep posting the newsletter every Monday at 4 am. This will allow everyone to have time throughout the whole week to read it before the market. Thank you for your time and for reading all of the newsletter.

Where to Find Us

Hot Springs Farmers Market 7am - 12 pm

121 Orange St Hot Springs, AR 71901

You can find us on Instagram or Facebook

Where have I been?

The past three weeks have been some very busy weeks. The first week I was out with the flu. I wasn’t even able to get up that Sunday. Right after that, I had a trip planned to take with my friends to float the Buffalo River. It was an amazing experience and helped me deal with and understand burnout and the importance of trips. Finally, last week as a lot of you saw, I was at the farmers market with my helper, my cousin Asher. It was such a busy week getting caught up that I prioritized just making and selling products.

Farm Updates

It’s finally time to plant! I am truly very very behind on my garden but we are working on it. This week will be spent on prioritizing the garden and getting everything planted.

Grandpa Howard

A lot of people ask why is it called Grandpa Howard’s Pantry Preserve if my name is Caden. Well, that’s because my grandpa’s name is Howard. Grandpa passed away from cancer on September 3rd, 2023. My grandpa was really like no other. He was that guy that was able to become friends with everyone he met. He was also the hardest worker I ever knew. He never stopped working no matter what was stopping him. Not only that but I would define him as a trailblazer, someone who creates their own path, someone who does what they want and not because someone tells them to. Despite having three cancers and being told he only had a 20% chance of living at 33, he still made it to 69 and became an expert gardener, fisherman, and hunter. He even did some rock climbing. As someone who grew up without a father, we had an extremely close relationship. He taught me how to cook, how to garden, how to can foods, and got me into almost all of my hobbies in some way or another. If it wasn’t for him Pantry Preserve wouldn’t exist. He always told me the last frost or first week of planting is on Good Friday, and that was his birthday this year ( March 29th ). Is it a sign, I don’t know. To me, my grandpa will always be in many ways, my hero, my inspiration, my motivation, and my father. He really was a cool guy and I’m really glad that I can share what he shared with me with all of you. Happy belated birthday Grandpa.

Eclipse Week Menu

Pickles: Pickled Onions and Dill Pickles

Jellies, Jams, And Soft Spreads: Apple Butter and Carrot Cake Jam.

Where to Find Us

Hot Springs Farmers Market 9am - 12pm

121 Orange St Hot Springs, AR 71901

For more of Grandpa Howard’s Pantry Preserve: You can find us on Instagram or Facebook

Have a safe eclipse week, wear your glasses,

Caden Fason

Farm Updates

The peaches and pears are blooming. It’s about time to fertilize them and they have a lot of flowers so hopefully they will produce lot of fruit. Im behind on rows but that’s okay. We have been busy at school, but I promise I will get the carrots planted soon.

It’s a lot taller it looks

Beekeeping Updates

Beehive stand build. I built an 8’ X 25” X 2’ bee hive stand. I am pretty happy about it as it allows me a lot of room for expansion not only that but it’s just wide enough hold the hive and disassemble the hive. While it works nice it ain’t the prettiest thing but I am happy I got it built and proud of myself for making it out of wood I found laying around. Might paint it later.

Canning Updates

Working hard this week on dill pickles and pickled carrots so expect those soon!

What’s at the Market this week?

• Pickles: Pickled Onions

• Jellies, Jams, And Soft Spreads: Carrot Cake Jam and Apple Butter.

Where to Find Us

Hot Springs Farmers Market 9am - 12pm

121 Orange St Hot Springs, AR 71901

For more of Grandpa Howard’s Pantry Preserve: You can find us on Instagram or on Facebook

Lots of produce on its way!

Caden Fason

What’s at the Market this week?

• Pickles: Pickled Onions

• Jellies, Jams, And Soft Spreads: Carrot Cake Jam and Apple Butter.

Farm Updates

The seeds are growing! All of the first batch of pepper seeds have sprouted except for the ghost peppers, but I am hoping that’s because the hotter the pepper the longer germination. The most surprising thing to me is the fact that the habaneros had a 100% germination rate, so I may try to separate them we will see. Another interesting thing is that only one seed from the thai hot varieties germinated. I think this is because I didn’t have enough trays to bottom water not 100% sure though.

Trying Soil Blocks. I started my golden tomatoes varieties and tomatillos in soil blocks. While I think soil blocks where a lot of fun once I figured it out. I do have three major concerns. One, how will the block hold. Even after only bottom watering the blocks almost seem to come together and combine, they also don’t seem like they will hold up well for 6 more weeks. Two, watering. The water collects the dirt and becomes thick. This makes me concerned on how well it will flow. Not only that but the blocks are so close I feel like one side is going to get more water. Three transplanting. I am worried that as soon as I transplate the block will fall apart and I will have exposed roots. Despite all this I still like the soil blocks and I hope that they will work.

A lot of long nights. Early spring and midsummer are know for there long hours of work for farmers, but being a highschool senior adds a lot to this. Not only do I have to keep canning to support April 8th and keep the farm running, but the weather won’t wait. Something you have to understand is that some plants need to be sowed then and there. That means if you are a highschool senior who has a full schedule and has to pick up his little sisters, you only have 3:30 till sundown. Luckily for me, my grandpa who taught me how to garden, had a solution for this when he was around. He made his own homemade street lamp. Out of a light, bucket, pineknot, and cement he made his own street lamp. This allows me to do a lot more at night. This allows me to continue work garden beds way past sundown.

Where to Find Us

Hot Springs Farmers Market 9am - 12pm

121 Orange St Hot Springs, AR 71901

For more of Grandpa Howard’s Pantry Preserve: You can find us on Instagram or on Facebook

Lots of produce on its way!

Caden Fason

Sorry for the delayed email!

The reason for the email coming out almost twelve hours later is due to the fact that I had the opportunity to visit Oaklawn and NPC. First we got to visit Eve Victory, a teacher at NPC, who teaches hospitality and tourism management. It was really interesting to see their commercial kitchen. It honestly made me give some thought on taking their one year program. In that program they teach things like knife skills, recipe crafting, and menu making. The most important thing to me though, is the business side. On this side of the class they teach you, customer service skills, financial skills to run a restaurant, and psychological skills to improve your business.

After that we got to meet Chef Ken, the executive chef at Oaklawn. Not only was it really cool seeing Oaklawn for the first time, but I got to see the inner workings of Oaklawn. We saw everything from, where the trucks deliver the food, to all of the large and amazing commercial kitchens, we even got to see the horses. It was amazing to see all that and to think that most people will never see the inside of big places like that.

Overall it was an amazing experience and i’m really glad I had the opportunity.

Farm Updates

All 5,304 square feet of the garden are tilled! I am ready for spring planting!

I have started the hot pepper seeds and I’m waiting to get more seed trays to start my seeds in. At the same time I am experimenting with soil blocks. Soil blocks are molded soil to make a single seed tray. Instead of having to buy the plastic seed trays, you can use soil blocks. It also has some benefits such as preventing seeds from becoming root bound and being less prone to transplant shock. For me as a market gardener the best benefits are the cost saving. I only have to buy a bottom watering tray which can also be used for microgreens.

Trying microgreens! I am going to start growing microgreens at home. I have known about microgreens for a long time but never really had any use for them in meals but, recently I had some from Fat Rabbit Farms. I figured out you can use them in a lot of recipes, sandwiches, and as a healthy supplement to any leafy green. I have a lot of bulk seeds and figured I would give it a try. The other main reasoning is how quick microgreens grow. I am trying to fight for my spot under the canopy at the farmers market. The problem is that the canopy is reserved for farmers during the main season. While I will be considered a farmer during the main season I am hoping that if I show our market manager that I can sell produce now she will let me stay under the canopy. For now varieties to expect are sunflower, sugar snap peas, turnip, basil, dill, and cilantro. While these varieties are harder to grow and not very common microgreens, I choose these varieties to 1, out of respect for the other farmers and stay in my line of produce. 2, it’s a seed I already have in bulk. 3, the herb varieties. While the herb varieties are notorious for being hard to grow, they are also the best kind. They contain their herb flavor with them making it 1000 times better in my opinion. Be on the lookout for those anytime soon.

I got a plum and apple tree! Recently I bought a Pink Lady Apple Tree and a Santa Rosa Plum Tree. While they won’t make any fruit until 1-2 years in the future they will greatly benefit my bees. I also pruned our 30 year old peach and pear tree. These trees are extremely large almost impossible to prune even with a ladder. The pear tree is around 30 ft tall. They haven’t been pruned in such a long time that it wasn’t even possible to fully prune without hurting the tree. Not only that but the pear tree had a fungal infection on the southeast side of the tree, this only allowed me to cut off the limbs infected and not prune the news branches of the tree. Despite all of this I believe that both the trees will make plenty of fruit this year.

Planted some tulips! While I don’t have much experience planting flowers what I do know is that having a good looking garden is incredibly important. If you want to stay motivated through the year you must have a good looking garden. You should be able to relax when you are near your garden. If you don’t enjoy your garden and don’t think your garden looks great, I can assure you, you will want to quit. So when I saw the tulips at the nursery I knew I had to pick some up.

What’s at the Market this week?

What’s New: Limited Time Pear Butter

Pickles: Pickled Onions

Jellies, Jams, And Soft Spreads: Pear Butter, Carrot Cake Jam.

Where to Find Us

Hot Springs Farmers Market 9am - 12pm

121 Orange St Hot Springs, AR 71901

For more of Grandpa Howard’s Pantry Preserve: You can find us on Instagram or on Facebook

Sorry for the late newsletter, don’t worry the next one will be on time,

Caden Fason

We Can Finally Accept Card!

While I am not a master at using the squarespace checkout I finally have a reader! Bring your cards and I can now accept them!

Pineapple Jam & A New Recipe of Strawberry

Pineapple Jam is Back! Pineapple Jam is one of those flavors that hits very well to people who are willing to try it, that’s why I waited all these weeks to bring it out. It’s a great fruity jam that is acidic enough that it works well on toast but also crackers.

New Strawberry Jam, I’m not really wanting to make strawberry jam until summer, but this strawberry jam is going to be a new recipe. The one I have made before contains lemon juice in it which is usually a great ingredient, but I felt it takes away from the strawberry flavor. This strawberry recipe is going to focus on the sweeter and fruity aspects of strawberry jam. Look for those this week as the strawberry will be limited time for now!

What’s Coming Soon?

Apple Butter Is Leaving and Carrot Cake is Staying. The last batch of apple butter is in the work’s and will be the last on made for a while. As the Apple Butter leaves it will be replaced with Carrot Cake Jam. Dill Pickles, will be back soon! I have been waiting for the pickles to sit for 3 weeks so that they can absorb the flavor of the mustard seed, blackpepper, and dill. The website is on the way, things have just been extremely busy with school and sales. Please be patient as we get that set up.

Farm and Beekeeping Updates

Not much to report. I have just been busy starting seed and all the requirements that come with that. I am currently getting ready to till the garden for spring just having some tiller issues.

Bread from ouachita mountain baking company and microgreens from fat rabbit farms

What’s at the Market this week?

What’s New: Limited Time New Recipe Strawberry

Last of the Season: Apple Butter

Pickles: Pickled Onions

Jellies, Jams, And Soft Spreads: Apple Butter, Carrot Cake Jam, Pineapple Jam, and Limited Time New Recipe Strawberry Jam ( different flavors than past strawberry jam )

Where to Find Us

Hot Springs Farmers Market 9am - 12pm

121 Orange St Hot Springs, AR 71901

For more of Grandpa Howard’s Pantry Preserve: You can find us on Instagram or on Facebook

If you made it this far, thank you for supporting the Pantry Preserve and this newsletter,

Caden Fason

Bread from ouachita mountain baking company and microgreens from fat rabbit farms

Thank you everyone!

I first want to start off by saying thank you to everyone who came and supported me at the farmers market this weekend. I made the most sales since I started, the newsletter has skyrocketed in growth, and I only have apple butter left from last week.

Limited Availability

This week, due to a lot of unexpected sales (thank you!), there will only be five items at the farmers market. Apple Butter, White Grape Jelly, Pickled Onions, Pickled Sweet Peppers, and Pickled Watermelon Radish. Don’t worry, there will be lots and lots more pickles and jams in the upcoming weeks.

What’s Coming Soon?

Card Payments are on the way! I have officially set up my squarespace account and the card reader is on the way. You can expect to be able to use card around 2/17/24. Apple Butter is leaving and Carrot Cake Jam is staying. The last batch of apple butter will be made this week but, in it’s spot carrot cake jam will stay. If you want to try some apple butter make sure to get in the upcoming weeks.

Farm Updates

Not much to report about the farm expect for about to start tillage. While most farms are either conventional till or no till farms we are a one till farm. Conventional tillage will till about every 1-2 weeks between the rows and a large amount of tilling before the season starts. Conventional tilling can destroy the microbiology of the soil and creates a need from synthetic fertilizers. No tillage is in its name. They don’t till. While no till promotes microbiology it also creates a hard, rocky, and stiff environment for plants to grow in. This is where one till farms come in. One till farms, till once right before spring when starting a bed. Then if the bed is maintained with cover crops and rotational farming, it won’t be necessary to re-till for next 3-5 years. Imagine trying to grow out your hair. Conventional tilling would be like cutting your hair every day. No till would be like growing your hair and never cutting your hair. One till would be like going to the barber and cutting your dead ends. While both would get you long hair, going to the barber every once in a while will leave you with healthier and smoother hair. In the same way one till will prosper stronger, healthier and better producing plants. This also creates beneficial microbiology. Tilling the soil creates an aerobic environment which is perfect for microbiology growth but tilling to much can kill the microbiology and can cause soil erosion. This is why one till farming is so great it takes the good and bad from both sides of tilling. While both no till and conventional tilling have pros and cons my personal belief is in one till.

Beekeeping Updates

Not much to report except that I will be getting the bees sometime in late April - early May. I will be getting the bees in a 5 frame nuc along with another deep brood box and a medium honey super. I am getting the bees from bismarck bees. You can find them on their website or at the Hot Springs Farmers Market under the name Crystal Sunshine Farm & Apiary.

What’s at the Market this week?

What’s New: Pickled Sweet Peppers

Last of the Season: Apple Butter and White Grape Jelly

Pickles: Pickled Onions and Pickled Sweet Peppers

Asian Style Pickles: Pickled Watermelon Radish

Jellies, Jams, And Soft Spreads: White Grape Jelly and Apple Butter

Where to Find Us

Hot Springs Farmers Market 9am - 12pm

121 Orange St Hot Springs, AR 71901

For more of Grandpa Howard’s Pantry Preserve: You can find us on Instagram or on Facebook

If you made it this far, thank you for supporting the Pantry Preserve and this newsletter,

Caden Fason

Spring is around the corner!

I know we are all tired of the cold and harsh winter but don’t worry spring is on the way! It’s time to buy your seeds, prep your beds, and start your early transplants. Now is a great time to start a compost pile or start your indoor pepper seeds.

Farm Updates

Seeds, seeds, and more seeds. While it isn’t quite time to start all of the transplants it is time for peppers. This year we plan on growing all types of peppers. Anything from simple peppers like bell, habanero, and jalapeno to complex peppers like Pasilla Bajio peppers. Along with this we have New and Interesting Seeds, the first and most interesting seed variety is Tonda di Parigi, a small sweet and round carrot! This type of carrot is perfect snack size and grows good in our arkansas hard clay soil. Next is Colorful Beets and Carrots. These beets and carrots can range anywhere from golden yellow to deep purple. The great thing about these is that the colors provide a wide range of antioxidants. Keeping up with the colors is Flint Glass Gem Corn, while not great for eating off the cob, there color makes fun cornflour and colorful popcorn. Pineapple Slicer Tomatoes are a bright orange, indeterminate, fruity, tomatoes. This variety of tomato is known for its fruity flavor and renowned for its taste. Finally, we have many types of cucumbers, Pickling Cucumbers, Tasty Green Japanese burpless cucumbers, Spacemaster 80 perfect small area cucumbers, Armenian technically a melon but still a cucumber, and the one i’m most excited about Gherkin Hokus those small crunchy cucumbers.

Beekeeping Updates

While the bees are on there way there’s lots to do. The brood box ( the main area where bees live) is here but, after talking to some seasoned beekeepers, I learned I will need another brood box and a honey super ( where honey is stored ). I am also in the process of building the hive stand, so be on lookout for more beekeeping content.

- Cousin Asher, trying out the beekeeping tools.

What’s Coming Soon?

Be on the lookout for a Pantry Preserve Website. The plan is too have a website along with Online Orders, for all of you who can’t make it to the market. With the creation of online order this means that Card Payment will come with it!

Soon to come products: while not guaranteed to make it to the market here are some possible items. Pickled garlic and pickled green onions. New flavors of classic pickles like bread and butter, sweet, and spicy dill. Jams and jellies are mostly out of season but, mom’s apple pie in a Jar and mango jam may be on the way.

What’s at the Market this week?

What’s New: Carrot Cake Jam and Pickled Onions

Last of Season: Strawberry Jam

Pickles: Dill pickles and Pickled Onions.

Asian Style Pickles: Danmuji ( Korean Yellow Pickled Radish ), Pickled Watermelon Radish.

Jellies, Jams and Soft Spreads: Apple Butter, Pineapple Jam, Strawberry Jam, White Grape Jelly, Carrot Cake Jam.

Where to Find us

Hot Springs Farmers Market 9am - 12pm

121 Orange St Hot Springs, AR 71901

For more of Grandpa Howard’s Pantry Preserve: You can find us on Instagram or Facebook.

Thank you so much for being the first people to read and support this newsletter,

Caden Fason

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