The Farm at Millican Reserve

03/07/2024

I've got a great workshop planned for THIS SUNDAY, July 7! 🏵️ I hope you'll join me as we walk through Gardening 101: Integrated Pest Management. What's that, you ask? This is a way for you to take control of your garden's health, organically, and produce some of the most delicious produce and beautiful flowers possible here in the Brazos Valley.

This workshop lasts from 9am until 12pm and costs $20. Conservancy Members (including Millican Reserve homeowners) get half off that price. Don't forget to register here: https://millicanreserve.com/product/gardening-101-organic-pest-management/

😃 Can't wait to see you! Email me at [email protected] if you have any questions.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1641157316427658

20/06/2024

Howdy from the Farm! 🌱
Summer's here, and we have a full calendar planned for all you gardeners and foodies! 😎 First, I hope you'll join me for a fun series I call Gardening 101, where we'll learn about w**ds, seed starting, and more. I really want to help you level up your gardening game here in the Brazos Valley. Learn more and register here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1128027404920445 and here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1641157316427658 and here: https://www.facebook.com/events/3239892756143076 and here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1122814498795339 !! 😉

And if you're just curious about the Farm at Millican Reserve, I'll be doing farm tours every Saturday morning during Day at Play. This is a great way to get outside with the family. You can register here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1241605290550755/1241605300550754

And if you just want to cool off and have some fun in the evenings, I hope you'll join us for Wednesday night Trivia Nights at the Boathouse this summer!! Check it out here: https://www.facebook.com/events/390263996798919/390264006798918/?event_time_id=390264006798918

Whew! It's going to be a great summer! Can't wait to see you!

03/04/2024

Farmer Kenny is BACK! 😎 Come celebrate with us at Farm Day, this Saturday April 6 at 9 am. 🌱 We'll be talking all about SEEDS!

Register here: https://millicanreserve.com/product/farm-day-4-6-24/

This will be a family-friendly workshop on seeds. Explore how seeds grow and learn about the different ways to start seeds. Get your hands dirty and master the art of soil blocking. Kids will be able to take home a set of seeds they have sown.

https://mailchi.mp/eecf35b92efe/april-at-millican

A tour of the Farm at Millican Reserve. Ideal for food lovers, budding gardeners, a family outing, or anyone interested in how we grow our produce!

11/08/2023

The act of farming embodies the full spectrum of life and at certain times a temporary pause is needed in order to reset and renew the holistic systems of our space. The Millican farm will be going on a hiatus in a couple of weeks and Saturday, August 19th will be the final CSA share and Farmers Market appearance for this current season.

Our Farm Manager Alexander has recently accepted a new career opportunity and his departure coupled with the extreme heat of the summer makes this a necessary action to best support the overall long-term health of the farm. While we do not yet know when our hiatus will end, we do know that this will be a beneficial opportunity for us to reflect, renew, and to reemerge with a stronger, more resilient farm that will continue to grow beautiful and delicious food for our community.

We wish Alexander a fond farewell and all the best with the next phase of his journey, and we look forward to sharing more with you over the next several weeks.

04/08/2023

Can you guess which leafy green summer crop this is?

It’s Malabar spinach! Malabar spinach isn’t a true spinach though the succulent leaves do have a similar mild flavor. Since it’s heat tolerant, it’s a great leafy green option to grow in our climate during the summer season. The leaves can be enjoyed raw or cooked and are popular in various Asian and African cuisines. Since we just planted this Malabar spinach in the field, it will be a couple of weeks before we’re able to harvest it for you.

28/07/2023

Curious which crop has been Farmer Alexander’s favorite this month? Tomatoes! According to him, “there is nothing better than some fresh pico and tortilla chips at the end of the day.” If you’d like to make some pico of your own this weekend, you can get tomatoes, onions, and hot peppers from us at the Brazos Valley Farmers Market on Saturday! We’ll be there from 8am-noon with a delicious selection of farm fresh summer produce.

21/07/2023

Is there anything more refreshing in the summertime than an icy cold wedge of melon?! We should be harvesting these cantaloupes for you very soon. They’re one of our favorite summer crops and we can’t wait to share them with you. For a preview of this year’s cantaloupe harvest, don’t forget to come to our Farm Tour today (Friday, July 21st) from 4-5pm. Our tours are open to the public and free of charge! You can find all of the details here: https://millicanreserve.com/product/farm-tour-7-21-23/

14/07/2023

Curious what’s growing on the farm in the summer heat? Come see it for yourself at our next Farm Tour on Friday, July 21st from 4-5pm! Tour (and sample!) some of our current crops along with upcoming varieties like long beans, roselle, and Japanese cucumbers. Our tours are great for aspiring gardeners, farmers, chefs, and anyone with an interest in how we grow our produce. Plus, they’re free of charge and open to the public! For more details, head here: https://millicanreserve.com/product/farm-tour-7-21-23/

07/07/2023

Have you had a chance to try any of our bell peppers yet? Unlike hot peppers, bell peppers have a mild and often sweet flavor due to the fact that they don't produce capsaicin (the chemical that gives hot peppers their spicy kick).These versatile veggies can be sauteed, stir-fried, roasted, stuffed, or eaten raw. We highly recommend picking up some bell peppers, onions, and potatoes from us at the Brazos Valley Farmers Market on Saturday so you can whip up a delicious breakfast hash! The market is open from 8am-noon.

30/06/2023

We never get tired of seeing the lovely lavender colored blooms on our eggplants! Did you know that eggplants are members of the Solanaceae (nightshade) family along with tomatoes and potatoes? Like tomatoes, eggplants produce self-pollinating flowers. This means that each flower contains both male and female parts. Pollination occurs when the flowers are lightly agitated, either by wind or insects. This contrasts our squashes and cucumbers which produce both male and female blooms on the same plant.

23/06/2023

Have you had a chance to try any of our patty pan squash? Patty pan is a summer squash varietal that has a flattened round shape with scalloped edges. Their flesh is tender and mildly sweet. The shape of patty pan squashes makes them perfect for stuffing and baking but you can also use them in any recipe calling for summer squash. Make sure to pop by the Brazos Valley Farmers Market this Saturday between 8am and noon so you can pick up some to try!

21/06/2023

QUESTION: How's your summer garden looking? 😉

Farmer Alexander has you covered! Join him THIS Saturday for Gardening 101: Summertime Edition at Millican Reserve.

Beginning and veteran gardeners alike will benefit from this two-hour workshop focusing on small scale farming in the unique conditions of summertime in the Brazos Valley. 🌞June 24 from 9 am until 11 am.

✔️Learn more and register here: https://millicanreserve.com/product/gardening-101-summer/

16/06/2023

Did you know that bulb onions must go through a curing process after they’re harvested to prepare them for storage? Curing involves spreading the onions out in a single layer with plenty of air circulation so that their papery skins dry and tighten around the bulbs. After the curing process, the onions become a storage crop that can last up to a few months if kept in a cool, dry spot!

If you’d like to see some of our cured bulb onions and all of the other crops we’re harvesting, make sure to come to our next Farm Tour today (June 16th) from 4-5 pm! Our tours are open to the public and free of charge. For more info, head here: https://millicanreserve.com/product/farm-tour-6-16-23/

09/06/2023

Tomatoes are making their way back into season! We’re currently harvesting limited amounts of cherry, spoon, and slicing tomatoes. Farmer Alexander’s favorite is the cherry tomato. He loves to roast them in a 400-degree oven with olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic. After about 14 minutes, he takes the pan out, sprinkles over some fresh basil, and serves it over pasta. How delicious does that sound?!

If you’d like to see all of our tomato varieties, and maybe even sample some, make sure to come to our next Farm Tour on Friday, June 16th from 4-5 pm! Our tours are open to the public and free of charge. For more info, head here: https://millicanreserve.com/product/farm-tour-6-16-23/

02/06/2023

The month of June brings the official arrival of the summer season! This month we’ll be planting heat-loving crops like roselle, eggplant, long beans, okra, and Armenian cucumbers. And, we’ll be harvesting summer favorites like tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers. Here’s what Farmer Alexander has to say about the summer season on the farm:

“I am happy about the summer season as we have gotten really good at timing our sessions in the past couple months. It is nice to see all of the planning and hard work come together!”

26/05/2023

We should have the first tomatoes for you very soon! If you’ve attended one of our Farm Tours recently, you might have noticed our tomato trellising system. While it’s common and convenient to use tomato “cages” in a home garden as a support system, it’s not as practical when growing on a larger scale. We prefer to implement the less cumbersome “Florida weave” method that utilizes t-posts and twine! As the tomatoes grow, we add a new length of twine every six inches. This helps keep the tomato vines off the ground which protects their fruits, reduces disease, and improves air flow.

19/05/2023

Green beans are in season! Did you know that green beans are a type of bush bean? As you can see here, they have a bushy growing habit that does not need the support of a trellis like our pole bean varieties do. Our green beans have a delicious flavor and crunchy texture that makes them ideal for canning and preserving. They’re also great roasted, sauteed, or steamed.

If you’d like to learn more about green beans and all of the other crops we’re currently growing and harvesting, make sure to come to our Farm Tour today (May 19th) from 4-5pm! Our family-friendly Farm Tours are open to the public and free of charge. More details can be found here: https://millicanreserve.com/product/farm-tour-5-19-2023/

12/05/2023

We love the versatility of summer squashes! They can be enjoyed raw or cooked in both sweet and savory recipes. Farmer Alexander’s go-to is to roast them in the oven, but if he has the time, he’ll grate them and bake them into bread or brownies. He also loves to fry summer squash and pair it with marinara sauce.

Curious which summer squash varieties we’re growing this season? Come see them on our next Farm Tour on Friday, May 19th from 4-5pm! Our family-friendly Farm Tours are open to the public and free of charge. Head here for more details: https://millicanreserve.com/product/farm-tour-5-19-2023/

05/05/2023

It’s about time to start making the summer transition on the farm! This month we’ll be planting a mix of summer crops like okra, eggplant, long beans, watermelons, and roselle. We expect to see the first of these warm weather crops trickling into season in June and July. Curious which one we’re most excited to see return? Here’s what Farmer Alexander has to say:

“I am excited for the eggplant to start producing because I have waited way too long for an eggplant parm sandwich…honestly I’m pumped for this!”

28/04/2023

Beets are back in season! Both the leafy green tops and roots of beets are edible. The leaves are reminiscent of Swiss chard in appearance and have a similar flavor. The roots have an earthy, sweet flavor that varies slightly depending on the particular variety. Beets pair well with anything that is tangy or acidic in flavor such as lemon, vinegar, or goat cheese.

Make sure to pick up a bunch or two from us at the Brazos Valley Farmers Market on Saturday from 8am-noon. Or, you can come see them in person on our farm tour today (April 28th) from 4-5pm! The tour is open to the public and free of charge. You can sign up at the link below:
https://millicanreserve.com/product/farm-tour-4-28-2023/

21/04/2023

Our tomatoes are beginning to flower and fruit! This year we have nine rows of tomatoes growing that will produce a mix of cherry, slicing, and paste varieties. If you want to see some of the first baby tomatoes in person, make sure you attend our next farm tour on Friday, April 28th, from 4-5pm! These tours are a great way to experience the farm throughout each season. Plus, they’re open to the public and free of charge! To learn more and sign up for our next tour, head to the link below:
https://millicanreserve.com/product/farm-tour-4-28-2023/

14/04/2023

Curious what we’ve been harvesting lately on the farm? So far this month, we’ve harvested carrots, radishes, fennel, bunching onions, broccoli, lettuce, and a variety of leafy greens like kale and Swiss chard. Farmer Alexander’s favorite this month has been the kale because he says he’s obsessed with kale and eggs for lunch! To get your hands on our delicious kale and other produce, make sure to come see us at the Brazos Valley Farmers Market in Bryan this Saturday from 8am-noon.

07/04/2023

If you’ve been looking for other ways to enjoy our produce outside of the Farmers Market, you can now find it in some of the menu items at Clementine's Kitchen in Bryan! The menu at Clementine’s is driven by seasonal produce with a rotating collection of small shareable plates, mains, and sides. Here’s what Farmer Alexander has to say about it:

“The most exciting thing for me in the month of April is working with Clementine’s Kitchen. Working with Clementine’s is a great way for the farm to strengthen its relationship with the Bryan community.”

31/03/2023

We planted all of our tomatoes this month! Tomatoes thrive when outside temperatures are between 55 and 85 degrees. In order to give them plenty of time to yield fruit before our high temperatures are regularly above 85 degrees, we plant them in the field during the month of March. Here are some of the varieties we’ll be growing this year: Sungold (orange cherry), Galahad (red beefsteak), Marmalade (orange slicer), and Purple Bumble Bee (green and red striped cherry). Which one are you most excited to taste?!

24/03/2023

There’s just something about the color of these Easter Egg radishes that puts us in the spring mood! As you can see in the photo, these radishes come in a mix of red, pink, purple, and white. They have a lovely crunch that is perfect in salads or as a garnish for tacos. You can pick up a bunch of these beautifully hued radishes from us at the Brazos Valley Farmers Market on Saturday from 8am-noon.

p.s. Don’t forget about our farm tour today (March 24th) from 4-5pm! You can sign up here: https://millicanreserve.com/product/farm-tour-3-24-2023/

17/03/2023

Scallions are back in season on the farm! Scallions, sometimes referred to as “bunching onions” or “green onions” have a mellow onion flavor that lends a nice contrast to our leafy greens and sweet root veggies. If you’re curious what these members of the Allium genus look like while they’re growing, you should join us for our next Farm Tour on Friday, March 24th from 4-5pm! Our family-friendly Farm Tours are a great way to learn the seasonality of crops in our area. And, they’re free of charge and open to the public! You can sign up for the next tour here: https://millicanreserve.com/product/farm-tour-3-24-2023/

10/03/2023

It wouldn’t be spring without sugar snap peas! Sugar snap peas grow in a vining habit which requires the use of a trellis. As they grow, they produce tendrils that are able to reach out and attach to objects in order to help support the vines. As you can see in the photo below, our vines are as tall as Farmer Alexander!

Sugar snap peas can be enjoyed raw or cooked. We recommend pinching or cutting off the stem end if it is still attached. Try adding thinly sliced sugar snaps to a salad for a sweet and crunchy element. Or, add them to a stir-fry along with some of our carrots and tatsoi!

03/03/2023

The arrival of March is always a fun time on the farm because it signifies the spring transition. We’ll be planting and harvesting a lot of delicious things (like tomatoes!) that we can’t wait to share with you. In the meantime, here’s what Farmer Alexander is most excited about this month:

“The most exciting thing for me in the month of March is installing drip irrigation. One of the hardest parts of farming is w**d pressure in the summer. By having drip irrigation compounded with our no till practice, we hope to reduce the w**d pressure.”

24/02/2023

Meet the newest member of our farm team, Val! She is an Air Force Veteran and native Texan that spent 16 years living in Hawai’i. Val recently earned a degree in Sustainable Agriculture and loves being on The Farm at Millican Reserve because the land is a welcome and calming respite from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Val doesn’t play favorites when it comes to picking a favorite veggie to grow. Instead, she absolutely loves the process of planting something with her own hands and watching it emerge from the soil. Make sure to say hello to Val if you see her on the farm!

17/02/2023

This is one of Farmer Alexander’s favorite veggies this season: Carlton! It’s an Asian leafy green that is traditionally used in Japanese cooking. It can be sauteed, stir-fried, or added to soups much like you would with bok choy. Farmer Alexander loves to finely chop Carlton and add it to salads along with spinach and Romaine lettuce. If you’d like to see Carlton in person and perhaps get a taste of a leaf, join us for our monthly farm tour today (Friday, February 17th) from 4-5pm on the farm! The tour is open to the public and free of charge. More details can be found here: https://millicanreserve.com/product/farm-tour-2-17-23/