Archive for July 2012

OUR INDIEGOGO CAMPAIGN IS LIVE

BFF is hosting an online fundraiser to gather resources for urban agriculture projects. Funding is to benefit rainwater collection, solar energy, food mushroom cultivation, and much more! By completing these projects, the BFF will expand its capacity to teach the Baltimore community about sustainability. Check out our video and make your contribution by clicking on the image below!

Master Gardener’s Award

We want to thank the Baltimore City Master Gardeners of the University of Maryland Extension for presenting us with this year’s award for “Best Community Vegetable Garden.” Thanks so much to everyone who has made our projects possible through their hard work and donations.

Also, don’t forget to come out to the Free Farm this Sunday, August 5th for a really great show. We’ll have key lime pie, iced tea, and natty boh for you to enjoy in addition to four awesome bands. Click here for more info!

p.s. Follow us on Twitter for updates about our shows, events, and garden news!

How to make delicious Baba Ghanouj

Right about now(or in the near future!) you probably have a ton of eggplants ready to go from your garden. What to do with them? Roasted eggplant can be tasty, but it’s not my favorite. The only eggplant dish that I absolutely LOVE is Baba Ghanouj.

If you’re not familiar with this dish, it’s a slightly sweet, smoky, really tasty dip made from eggplant which originates from Middle Eastern countries.

So, how to make really delicious Baba Ghanouj? Well, if you’ve never had it before, then your first step is to taste Baba Ghanouj as made by someone who knows what they’re doing. Head to your local middle eastern restaurant to get an idea for the flavor you’re going for!

Then get yourself these ingredients:

1-2 Large Eggplants or Several Small Eggplants
Juice of 1 lemon
2-3 TBSP Tahini
1-2 Garlic cloves (minced)
Salt & Pepper to taste
2-3 TBSP Olive Oil

First, pierce the skin of your eggplants a few times with a fork or knife.

Preferably, you want to cook the eggplants with fire, but if you don’t have a grill or a gas stove to work with, you can bake them in a very hot oven(350 – 400 degrees farenheit) for 30 minutes to an hour. You won’t get that smoky flavor that fire instills in the eggplants, but it will still taste fine.

If possible, use a grill and cook your eggplants directly over the flame, turning occasionally, until the outside is completely blackened and the inside is very soft. This should take between 30 minutes and one hour. If you’re using a gas stove, roast the eggplants directly over the burner.

Allow the eggplants to cool slightly. When you are able to handle them, remove the skins and place eggplants in a blender. Blend the eggplants until smooth. Alternatively, if you are lacking a blender you can mash them by hand with a fork or other mashing utensil.

I don’t generally measure the ingredients for dishes like this. The above measurements are suggestions and are intended to be experimented with. Use them as a guideline but don’t be afraid to add more or less of any ingredient until the flavor is satisfactory to you.

Add lemon juice, garlic, tahini, and salt & pepper and mix well. If the flavor does not taste quite right to you, add more of any ingredient you think is lacking in small increments.

Pour in olive oil and stir. Serve with pita bread or fresh veggies for dipping, or use as a spread on sandwiches.

All Natural Methods & Practices of Honeybee Stewardship Workshops this Fall

Baltimore Honey and BFF will be hosting another series of “All Natural Methods & Practices of Honeybee Stewardship” workshops this Fall!

Online Registration NOW OPEN!

First workshop starts September 16 at 11am!

Dates of each of the 5 workshop sessions: September 16 & 30, October14 & 28, and November 11. Sunday Hours 11am to 2:30pm except first session ends at 4:30pm

Workshop Cost is $100.00

Student Discount available with Valid and Current Student ID – receive a 50% off the workshop cost! (minimal age 14)

Baltimore Honey inspires and teaches how to steward honeybees naturally in urban environments.
We are not BEE-Keepers…because Honeybees keep us.

For more information, visit the Facebook Event Page or contact Baltimore Honey
Phone: 443.857.8748
Email: queenbee@baltimorehoney.org
www.baltimorehoney.org

YARD SALE 7/14 & 7/15 AT BALTIMORE FREE FARM

Join us at 3600 Ash Street from 8AM to 2PM this Saturday and Sunday for our first big yard sale!!!

Kitchen Items
Furniture
Gardening Supplies
Tools
Housewares
Clothes
Seedlings
And much much more!

Proceeds from the sale will benefit Baltimore Free Farm projects, your support is needed, come find some deals!!!