Farmhouse Gourmet Garlic

07/28/2020

Harvesting Dark Opal Basil at the farmhouse today. The hybrid variety has a slightly stronger anise flavor than common sweet basil, with mild ginger undertones and a potent aroma. Flavor is considered savory. This deep purple colored basil is a powerhouse for anti-inflammatory properties and makes purple aromatic infused vinegars and oils. Try blended with pine nuts for a savory purple basil pesto. Can be harvested, fresh, frozen or dried. Enjoy!

07/28/2020

Harvesting the Red Estonian Garlic was a challenge with the grasshoppers eating the scapes which made the stalks hard to find in weeds taller than me, but challenge accomplished! The skidsteer bucket was full and I had a productive morning on the farm. Ready to be cleaned and cured.

06/26/2020

Almost harvest time for the 🧄 Garlic, but in the meantime we have been busy at the Farmers Markets. We are hearing such wonderful comments that our plants are so big and healthy. Garlic hurry up and scape please!!

04/27/2020

The Organic Elephant 🧄 finally makes it’s appearance here at Farmhouse Gourmet Garlic and I couldn’t be more excited!!

04/02/2020

The garlic is sprouting up from under the snow right through the thick bed of straw now. The sprouting started in early March with the earliest maturing variety being the Estonian Red, then soon after, the Metechi and then the Siberian. Later maturing seems to be our Organic Elephant 🐘 which is still asleep.

02/19/2020

Garlic 🧄 Hill at the farm, there is a lot going on under that blanket of snow! We have had a lot of wind, and a fresh new snowfall but don’t let that deceive you....the garlic 🧄 actually needs the cold to aid with the process of forming the large bulb and the individual cloves, called “ Vernalization” and the snow helps with moisture.

01/07/2020

Joel Formosa from Australia wrote us with a garlic growing question. Sad to say but I’ve never visited there yet but here is a website regarding growing Elephant garlic there. I myself only buy seed suited for my growing zone, using the USDA zone chart for planting and if I try something new, I still buy seed from a growing zone similar to mine, but in limited quantities until I test it out. My Elephant is Organic and we are very excited about it! Hope this site helps you. Key is to know your zone, plant before the ground freezes so the roots have time to take ahold, and elevation also does matter. Good Luck!
Greenharvest.com.au/ ...Elephant Garlic

01/04/2020

The organic cattle manure that we compost gives a great environment for the microbes to provide rich nutrients to the growing garlic plants. Notice the dark rich color of the compost we provide, it is the perfect PH and the straw mulch keeps the garlic protected throughout the winter.

01/02/2020

01/02/2020

The garlic is all nestled in their beds for a long winters nap....

01/02/2020

Our Organic Elephant Garlic: Elephant Garlic is a perennial plant belonging to the onion genus, it is not a true garlic but actually a variant of the garden leek but tastes more similar to garlic. The flavor is milder than garlic with very large garlic-like cloves. I am very excited to see how our Elephant garlic will grow in this area, Columbus can be snowy but the temperature is usually more mild than other parts of Montana. Our seed is organic and from near to the Canadian border so it has a good chance of liking this area also. Supply will be limited. Our farm will be the only farm in the area that will have Organic Elephant garlic available this year.

01/02/2020

For the 2020 harvest year we have planted these varieties: Metechi, Estonian Red, Siberian and Organic Elephant garlic. These are hard necked purple striped varieties which are gourmet garlic, each with their own flavor and qualities. We will begin harvest in the summer months and we are hoping for the 18th of July to start pulling garlic bulbs dependent on weather and growth. The garlic will need to dry and cure for 3 weeks and then can be sold online and to the markets. The Elephant garlic is actually in the leek family but is highly requested by our customers and we are very excited about this addition.

01/02/2020

Composting is the single most important factor to the rich soil we grow our garlic in. We compost cattle manure to improve soil structure and provide nutrients, 4 ingredients are needed for fast cooking a hot compost: nitrogen, carbon, air and water. Together, these items feed microorganisms which speeds up the process of decay. Our compost smells rich and earthy and the worms love it, we also have our soil PH tested. Composting green and brown organic materials is beneficial to reducing solid waste and also beneficial for the garlic.

01/02/2020

Farmhouse Garlic is grown on a small rural farm that has been a cattle ranch since 2005.The cattle produce the organic manure compost that is used for growing the garlic utilizing the raised bed, no-dig method of farming, free of chemicals and pesticides. The old 1930's farmhouse has been in this very spot since 1930 at which time there were no other houses in the area. The original water source was a hand-dug well which is still currently on the property. The farm sits in a picturesque setting amongst the rolling hills of the Beartooth Mountains near the towns of Columbus Montana and Absarokee Montana. The town of Columbus sits on the north bank of the Yellowstone River, 40 miles west of Billings and is home to a small community of approx 2000 people. The elevation of the garlic fields is nearly 4,000 feet which is beneficial to these types of hard necked garlic varieties. Farm visits of the garlic fields can be scheduled upon request.

01/02/2020

01/02/2020