Honey, Eggs & Other Farm Products
Wishing Stone Farm has a number of small agricultural businesses that benefit our shareholders and farmers market attendees as well.
Honey
The farm has over 30 hives that produce over 1500 lbs of Honey annually. The bees also help pollinate our crops from Zucchini to our Peach and Plum trees. It is quite an experience working in the orchard at peak flowering stage. The sound of 100,000 bees from our 15 hives is almost deafening.
When we process our honey, we are particularly careful not to over heat the stock tank. In this way we can best assure our customers that the tiny flecks of pollen we intentionally leave in our honey gives our patrons the full benefit of a locally sourced honey. It is unsubstantiated, but many new health advisors believe eating local unpasturized honey with pollen crystals aids in eliminating certain effects of pollen based allergens. In 2010, we will open up over 600 pounds of honey held over from last fall to our CSA shareholders and our farmer’s market patrons. We do this so you can have a supply of honey from day one until the new crop comes in July 20th or so.
Eggs
The farm has over 300 layers that we get in as pullets every April. We raise these birds on pasture and a daily diet of non-medicated layer pellets. As the birds mature, they become increasingly more interested in our surplus produce such as lettuce, melons, cabbage and more. This increasing consumption of greens produces what many consider some of the finest eggs in Rhode Island. Due to the increase level of Chlorophyll in their diet their yokes are often more of a reddish/orange than the dull yellow of the average caged chicken egg. Our eggs are first available to our CSA members and the rest are sold in our open farmers markets. The overwhelming demand keeps our stock never more than and day or two in the box before they are brought to market. Compare this to the average brown egg at the super markets being an average of two weeks old when they are put on the shelf.
Babbette’s Feast
Our state certified kitchen is always buzzing with activity. We provide tasty treats under our kitchen name, Babbette's Feast. Our CSA members and faithful farmers market customers admit addiction to our "Cilantro Lovers Salsa" and fresh Basil-Walnut Pesto. Each year brings new surprises as we get creative with seasonal pickles, dips and soups. Our baked goods include scones, cookies, fruit pies and 6 different breads. Our famous large multigrain has a following we never expected.