Harvest Party Fun with Cobblestone Farm

***FTC Disclosure*** This is a sponsored post, which means I’ve received some compensation, but the views and opinions are my own. Please read on, because Cobblestone Farm is an amazing organization.

Cobblestone Farm – Fayetteville, Arkansas

Nearly two years ago, my husband and I made one of those big, life changing decisions. We moved to a small 50 acre farm so he could pursue his dream of raising animals and healing and sustaining the land.

Although I grew up in Oklahoma and dreamed of having a horse, I wasn’t a farm girl in any other way. I grew up in the suburbs of Tulsa, played soccer through college and then pursued international travel before settling down to teach and write in Northwest Arkansas. Farming was outside my field of vision.

But that’s what spouses are for. They stretch you, challenge you, and you learn to take on their dreams as they take on yours.

So here we are on the farm. And in two years, I’ve learned A LOT about how most food is grown in the U.S. and how most of our meat is raised, and it’s been a shock to the system. I won’t write about it here, but suddenly, local farming and knowing your food sources became much more important to me.

That’s where this week and Cobblestone Farm comes in. Cobblestone is a local, non-profit farm committed to hunger relief. They donate over half of the produce they raise to local food banks, shelters and projects. How amazing is that?

In Northwest Arkansas alone, 130,000 people are “hunger challenged” every day. They go without meals because they don’t have the resources to secure them, and if they do, those meals are often nutritionally deficient. Food banks are amazing places, but they rely on foods with long shelf lives. Cobblestone brings fresh, locally grown food into the lives of the people who need it the most. That’s a project I can get behind.

You can, too? Great! Here’s more information and ways to help.

Cobblestone Harvest Party

THIS FRIDAY, September 15th, 2017, Cobblestone is holding its 4th annual harvest party. This is a food to table fundraiser that promises to be awesome. The party is being held at Morter Farm (8412 Morter Drive,Rogers, AR 72756) from 6 pm-11 pm. Enjoy cocktails and a great farm to table meal provided by chef Luke Wetzel of Oven and Tap. Good food, live music, open bar and country casual attire all promise a great evening of food and fun. Plus, I’ve always wanted to go to a farm to table dinner, haven’t you? So please, check out harvestpartynwa.org and put that in your plans for Friday night.

CSA Subscriptions – Cobblestone has Harvest Shares, community supported agriculture subscriptions that allow people to purchase their produce for an entire season. When you buy a harvest share, you’ll receive a box of fresh, in season produce, eggs and flowers each week from May through October. How fun to see what arrives in your box each week!

Volunteer or Donate – Cobblestone is a non-profit organization and accepts donations to help support its work in hunger relief throughout Northwest Arkansas. You can also volunteer at the farm! Take some time to dig in the dirt and give back to the community in a tangible way.

So join us this Friday night and meet some local farmers raising fresh, naturally grown food in Northwest Arkansas, and consider ways to support Cobblestone and other local food producers. Knowing where your food comes from and how it’s grown is rewarding and a more healthful approach to eating. You will love the difference!

Happy, healthy fall and see you at the harvest party!

 

Photos courtesy of Cobblestone Farm.

 

Thoughtful, Thankful November

thoughtful-thankful-novemberNext to October, November is a great month to celebrate. In Northwest Arkansas, fall seems to be arriving late, so I’m looking forward to cooler weather and the leaves continuing to change.

November is that transition month between fall festivities and Christmas. It gets a little awkward mid-month, when the Christmas decorations go up and you still want to enjoy what fall has to offer before thinking about winter rolling in. Still, I look forward to the Christmas season and November gets to kick off that magical time of year. It’s also my birthday month (I have the honor of sharing a birthday with Madeleine L’Engle! Oh yes, and my twin).

Here’s a few things I’m thankful for this November.

Family and friends who have loved and supported me all year. This has been a year of HUGE transitions for us. A new house, a new vocation (farm much?), a new baby, a publishing contract. Yeah, it’s been a little busy around here. I was so lucky to have great friends and family (you know who you are) who checked in on me all through pregnancy (and commuting), our big move, and life as a family of three.

Which brings me to point number two. I’m thankful to have a daughter after a long and frustrating battle with infertility. It’s cliche to say, but it changes life completely, turns your previous priorities upside down, and makes life incredibly hectic but so worth it. We’re enjoying this baby girl!

Finally, I’m thankful for finding a publishing house that believes in my work and wants to publish my young adult dystopian series! There’s nothing more exciting for a writer than finding a means to bring your stories into the world. I can’t wait to see my books in print from Glass House Press.

What are you thankful for this November?


 

October’s Here! A Few Awesome Things for Everyone.

If you know me, you know I love October. I can’t imagine a more perfect month. Chilly mornings, warm afternoons, clear blue skies, red and gold leaves, and a hint of spookiness thrown in as we head into Halloween. Such fun.

This morning when I stepped outside for my walk, the air was cool, the sun on the way up to a beautiful blue sky, the wind made leaves swirl from the trees and a hawk swooped through the air. At that moment, I felt tremendous joy simply for being alive.

If you know me, you know I love October. I can’t imagine a more perfect month. Chilly mornings, warm afternoons, clear blue skies, red and gold leaves, and a hint of spookiness thrown in as we head into Halloween. Such fun.

Pumpkin Head -October is Here - kimberlymitchell.us

This month I’m the Blogger of the Month for Arkansas Women Bloggers. You can check out my first post here. If you haven’t visited the Arkansas Women Bloggers blog before, stop by! It’s a fascinating read.

I was also recently featured on the Glass House Press blog. I’m still so excited to be a part of this press and can’t wait for you all to read Dreamers, but until it’s published, you can check out GHP’s other great authors!

We all know October means pumpkin everything! You’re either for Team Pumpkin or against it. If you’re for it, here’s a great pumpkin cookie recipe my mom made every year! If pumpkin isn’t your thing, check out the other great author fall favorites.

pumpkin cookies - October is here - kimberlymitchell.us

If you’re in Northwest Arkansas this October, don’t miss True Lit Fest at the Fayetteville Library with keynote speaker Louis Sachar! I loved Holes (who didn’t?) and can’t wait to hear him speak. There’s also a wide variety of classes, author talks and even author pitch sessions. Don’t miss it!

If you’re celebrating October with kids, nwamotherlode.com is your best bet on finding all the cool October activities happening in the area.

Enjoy the most beautiful month of the year!

 

Awesome October Continues: 3 Fall Fun Events Happening in NWA this Weekend

AWESOME OCTOBER - kimberlymitchell.usHere we are in our second week of #awesomeOctober. I wanted to feature three cool things happening around Northwest Arkansas this week because October only comes around once a year! Well, technically thirty-one days a year, but those days go so fast.

1) Take a Ghost Walk

Rogers Ghost Walk - Awesome October - kimberlymitchell.usIf you’re not into haunted houses (like me), but you still want to get out for a spooky tour, Rogers Historical Museum is holding Ghost Walks starting this week. The museum began the walks in 2013 to connect with local residents and entertain them with true stories from Benton County’s early history.

The Ghost Walks begin with a guide dressed in turn of the century clothing. The tour will include eight stops in downtown Rogers with a story of murder, mayhem or mischief for each stop. Walkers will also enjoy how scenic and active the downtown area is, especially decorated for fall and Halloween.

The Ghost Walks will be held October 15th and 16th this week, and October 22nd-24th. They’ll last one hour and cost $5. Tickets can be reserved at the Rogers Historical Museum.

2) Get Crafty

It’s craft fair weekend in Northwest Arkansas. If you love homemade crafts, handcrafted woodwork, hand-sewn clothing and anything else made by hand, this is your weekend. There are multiple craft fairs happening around Northwest Arkansas. Here are a few to consider.

War Eagle Craft Fair – Set on the beautiful lawn and fields of War Eagle Mill, this is the most scenic of the fairs. War Eagle will have four full days of crafts beginning Thursday, October 15th. It’s so much fun to wander through the tents and vendor booths. As a non-crafter, I’m always amazed at some of the handiwork. You can also cross the one lane bridge, watch the mill’s water wheel spin, and head inside the mill to their gift shop and eat a meal at the Bean Palace restaurant (which is rumored to be haunted).

Ozark Regional Craft Show – If you’d prefer not to travel out to War Eagle, the regional craft show offers an indoor option in three different locations. Opening Friday, you can visit the Northwest Arkansas Convention Center in Springdale, the John Q Hammons Center – Embassy Suites in Rogers and the Washington County Fairgrounds in Fayetteville. If you’re really crafty, you can hit all three.

Rodeo of the Ozarks Craft Fair – The Rodeo of the Ozarks in Springdale is holding its first craft fair this year October 15th-17th. Take the opportunity to check out the rodeo grounds and visit the booths of over forty local craftsmen and women.

War Eagle Craft Fair Weekend - Awesome October - kimberlymitchell.us

3) Dancing in the Streets

Saturday, October 17th, downtown Springdale will be transformed with live music, dancing, food vendors and more for the 3rd annual ArkanSalsa, an event organized by local non-profit OneCommunity to raise money for scholarships and bring the community together in one place for food, fun and celebrating the rich diversity of Northwest Arkansas. There is an event for everyone at ArkanSalsa, including a 5k run and one mile family walk, a car show, a parade, food booths and street dancing. On Sunday, October 18th, ArkanSalsa continues on the A&M Railroad. You can purchase tickets for a 3 hour ride from Springdale to Winslow and enjoy lunch and music on the train. (Check out the NWA Deal Piggy on the ArkanSalsa Train ride) Find out more at the ArkanSalsa Facebook page.

What are you planning for another awesome October weekend?

Happy October - Awesome October - kimberlymitchell.us

 

Awesome October

I recently created a list of things my sisters and I want to do in October to take full advantage of this month. I thought you all might like to share in that list. Note that this list doesn’t encompass all the awesome events happening in Northwest Arkansas this month but the ones I’m especially interested in.

 

AWESOME OCTOBER - kimberlymitchell.us

October is a month I look forward to all year long. With cool, sunny days and crisp, flannel perfect nights, and beautiful fall foliage, it’s a great time to be out and about. Throw in fall festivals, sports and Halloween, and October easily vies for the best month of the year.

I recently created a list of things my sisters and I want to do in October to take full advantage of this month. I thought you all might like to share in that list. Note that this list doesn’t encompass all the awesome events happening in Northwest Arkansas this month but the ones I’m especially interested in.

I hope you find something awesome to do in October and enjoy the fullness of fall as much as I do!

Fall Fun - Awesome October - kimberlymitchell.us

Corn Mazes

Farmland Adventures – through Nov. 7

Ozark Corn Maze through Nov. 1

Right Choices Corn Maze through Nov. 1

McGarrah Pumpkin Patch through Nov. 1st

Happy October - Awesome October - kimberlymitchell.us

 

Pumpkin Cookies and Project Stir

Fall Pumpkin - Pumpkin Cookies and Project Stir - KimberlyMitchell.usWe made lots of cookies in my house growing up, but the cookie that heralded the arrival of fall was pumpkin. When I walked in the door after school to that richly spiced air, I knew my favorite season was officially in full swing.

My mom snagged her pumpkin cookie recipe from another wife at an office party in the early 70s and has been making it ever since. That’s nearly 40 years of pumpkin cookies. It’s also one of the recipes I wrote home for when I lived in Yemen.

The passing of seasons was something I missed the most while living abroad. Yemen has dry and rainy seasons as opposed to our four distinct seasons in Arkansas. I wanted a way to help me feel like it was fall while the temperature was still in the 80s and the leaves still green and firmly attached to the trees.

The beautiful, terraced mountains of Yemen.
The beautiful, terraced mountains of Yemen.

My mom and sisters responded to my appeal and I soon had that coveted recipe. Now I needed pumpkin. More specifically, a pumpkin, since canned pumpkin was nowhere to be found in Yemen. Pumpkins grew in the north of the country, but they arrived by the truckload to the markets in Taiz and Aden where I lived. I purchased one and proudly carried it home.

I’d never used a real pumpkin to make pumpkin cookies. It seemed a daunting task, but when you’re away from home, you go to great lengths to reproduce something similar to home-cooking. I cut into my pumpkin, scooped out the seeds and goopy insides and sliced it up. After baking it in the oven, I peeled the skin away, chopped it again and finally pureed the pumpkin in a blender. After hours working with this pumpkin, I knew I’d never again undervalue the ease of canned pumpkin.

2KindsofPumpkin - Pumpkin Cookies and Project Stir - kimberlymitchell.us

Finally, I had pumpkin puree and I was able to turn it into pumpkin cookies and share them with an international crowd in Yemen. They were well received and I had a food to remind me of fall and my family. I savored each bite.

The recipes we carry with us through life are important, aren’t they? Keeping those recipes alive, making them year after year, bring us closer to the loved ones who passed them to us in the first place, even if they’re no longer with us.

This fall I’m an ambassador for Project Stir. Project STIR is a series of documentary films launching this fall on Kickstarter. The films will follow Abuelitas, Nans & Mamaws passing down heirloom recipes in kitchens around the globe including countries like: Panama, New Zealand, Turkey, Croatia & England.

Fellow blogger Sarah Shotts is pioneering this amazing project. I invite you to check out Project Stir and all that Sarah is cooking up. Learn more about how to get involved at http://www.sarahshotts.com/projectstir

Follow Project Stir Mixing Bowl on Facebook and share your own recipes on Instagram using #ProjectStir.

ProjectSTIR-website - Pumpkins and Project Stir - kimberlymitchell.us

I’ll never forget cooking that pumpkin half a world away from home. Preserving our family stories and recipes is a way to bring our pasts and our families with us into the future. Join Sarah as she brings family recipes to life from around the world.

Now for those who love pumpkin as much as I do, here’s that pumpkin cookie recipe made every fall in my family for so many years. I hope you enjoy them as much as we do!

 

Mourton Family Pumpkin CookiesMourtonFamilyPumpkinCookies - Pumpkin Cookies and Project Stir - kimberlymitchell.us

1 c. sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1 c. shortening/butter/or margarine
2 c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. baking powder
1 c. pumpkin

Cream sugar, shortening and egg – Blend in vanilla and
pumpkin.

Add flour/soda/salt/baking powder/cinnamon.
Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.

Frosting: (I hardly ever make the frosting. The cookies don’t last long enough.)
3 tbsp butter
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/4 c. milk
powdered sugar

Mix brown sugar/milk/butter and boil for 3 minutes Remove
from heat and add powdered sugar to thicken frosting to your preference. Spread frosting on cookies or spoon generously into mouth.