Are you ready for the “Dog Days” of Summer? The term “Dog Days” traditionally refers to a period of particularly hot and humid weather occurring during the summer months of July and August in the Northern Hemisphere. In ancient Greece and Rome, the Dog Days were believed to be a time of drought, bad luck, and unrest, when dogs and men alike would be driven mad by the extreme heat! Today, the phrase doesn’t conjure up such bad imagery. Instead, the Dog Days are associated purely with the time of summer’s peak temperatures and humidity. The exact dates of the Dog Days can vary from source to source, with most sources agreeing that the Dog Days occur in mid- to late summer. Whatever days lie ahead, we hope you all enjoy this month and have a chance to stop by the 2022 OC Fair, where you’ll get to “Feel the Sunshine!”
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Centennial Farm Updated Hours |
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As we head into our busiest and most exciting time of year with the OC Fair around the corner, Centennial Farm will observe the following updated hours:
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Through July 14: Centennial Farm closed due to OC Fair set-up.
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July 15-August 14: Centennial Farm open during OC Fair hours. Entry is included with OC Fair admission. No free public access.
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August 15-21: Centennial Farm closed due to OC Fair tear-down.
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August 22-31: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free admission & parking.
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CA Dept. of Food and Agriculture |
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Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease
SACRAMENTO, June 27, 2022 – RHDV2 was confirmed in domestic rabbits in Riverside County on June 23, 2022. Other recent detections in domestic rabbits were in San Luis Obispo and Mendocino Counties on June 3, 2022. RHDV2 detections also were made in wild rabbits from Riverside, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, and Stanislaus counties during June 2022.
Medgene Labs (Brookings, SD) received Emergency Use authorization from the United States Department of Agriculture’s Center for Veterinary Biologics (CVB) for their experimental vaccine for prevention of Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus serotype 2 (RHDV2). The new vaccine is a killed recombinant vaccine which is authorized as a two-dose series, with the second dose given 21 days after the first. Medgene Labs has distributed their vaccine to California licensed veterinarians since October 2021. Rabbit owners should contact their private veterinarian if they are interested in vaccination for RHD. Veterinarians may contact CDFA at AHBFeedback@cdfa.ca.gov for more information about obtaining RHD vaccine.
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Get Excited for the OC Fair! |
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It's almost time! The OC Fair is excited to welcome you to the 2022 season to "Feel The Sunshine," July 15-Aug. 14.
Things to know before you go:
· The Fair will be open Wednesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekdays (Wednesday, Thursday) and 11 a.m. to midnight weekends (Friday, Saturday and Sunday).
· General admission is $12 on weekdays (Wednesday, Thursday) and $14 general admission on weekends (Friday, Saturday and Sunday). Tickets for seniors 60+ and kids 6-12 are $7 all days.
· Parking is $10 for cars and motorcycles and $20 for buses and limos.
· Tickets are on sale now and must be purchased in advance with no fees on ocfair.com. Fairgoers should make sure to get tickets for special days and group adventures now, with limited capacity days could sell out (in 2021 17 out of 23 days sold out).
· Performances in Pacific Amphitheatre, The Hangar and Action Sports Arena during fair-time include same-day Fair admission. Tickets are on sale now. For more information visit ocfair.com.
· Unlimited ride carnival wristbands are back this year for $44 presale online through July 14 and $49 during the Fair. The one-day wristbands can be used Wednesdays and Thursdays, must be redeemed by 5 p.m. and include unlimited rides and two free games; guests can ride and play from 11 a.m. till 8 p.m.
· Carnival ride and game tickets can also be bought online now and are $1.25 each. Tickets required for each ride range from two to 14 tickets and games require between two and eight tickets each. For more information on this year's rides and games, visit our website.
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Volunteer at Centennial Farm |
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Help us recruit for the OC Fair!
Didn't get a chance to volunteer for us during our tour season? Not to worry, we have another volunteer opportunity for you! Join our team at Centennial Farm and volunteer during our annual OC Fair this summer!
If you love agriculture and educating the public about its importance, this may be THE perfect position for you! Volunteers are placed in key stations throughout Centennial Farm to monitor the crops and animals while providing education to the patrons visiting the fair. If this sounds like something up your alley, email us at GardenFloral@ocfair.com with your name and contact information so we can follow up with you.
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Bananas are a very interesting fruit originating from South East Asia. They are known for being a powerhouse of potassium and a good source of fiber. They also make a delicious addition or smoothies! There is a very specific name given to the cluster of bananas you can buy at the grocery store, can you guess what a bunch of bananas is called?
A) Fingers
B) Toes
C) Hand
Check the next issue of the Farmhouse Fodder for the answer!
Last Month's Farm Smarts
La Mancha dairy goats originated here on the West Coast in California and Oregon. Being a relatively new breed, they are now recognized by the American Dairy Goat Association. This breed of goats are most notably known for their very tiny ears which naturally look this way. As part of the American Dairy Goat Association, animals are required to have an ear tattoo to be able to exhibit their animal at a fair. Since La Manchas have such small ears, can you guess where their tattoos are placed?
Answer: B) Tail
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Visit smile.amazon.com and set Centennial Farm Foundation as your charity. A percentage of your Amazon purchases will benefit the foundation! |
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We would like to wish the following docents and staff a very happy birthday, and thank them for all they do here at Centennial Farm! |
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July
Sandy K. 7/6
Kat K. 7/10
John L. 7/12
Monique H. 7/13
Joanne K. 7/21
Jan S. 7/26
Jan R. 7/26
Nik K. 7/27
Kim N. 7/27
Maritza N. 7/31
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August
Tom G. 8/13
Roberta H. 8/14
Cheryl P. 8/27
Evy Y. 8/28
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The Culinary Corner
with Chef Vina
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Happy July everyone! I’m celebrating twice this month, as this is my one-year anniversary with the Culinary Corner. It is such a joy writing it each month and I thank you for allowing me to share my passion for all things culinary, and truly hope you enjoy reading it.
You know summer is here when social media, old school media, and billboards start popping up all over Orange County announcing the return of the OC Fair. Everyone here is so excited to see old friends and meet new ones.
It’s such a wonderful tradition for families and friends to come enjoy all the OC Fair has to offer and this year is no exception!
During the summer months, I love preparing dishes that incorporate fresh seasonal produce and more importantly require very little cooking time. We all want to cherish the long summer days – and enjoy the company of friends and family. I promise you this recipe will be a sure hit. I added a “swap ingredient” in case you don’t enjoy arugula, so feel free to add a cup of fresh English peas. They are amazing and will add a nice texture, color pop and fresh taste to this dish as well as protein. Yes, peas are high in protein!
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Lemon Garlic Pasta with Arugula & Burrata
Ingredients:
- 1 (16-ounce) package of Bucatini Pasta
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- Juice of 2 lemons
- 1 cup low sodium chicken stock
- ½ cup reduced fat heavy cream
- ½ cup mozzarella cheese shredded
- 3 cups baby arugula (if you prefer spinach feel free to make the swap)
- 4 (2-ounce) ball burrata cheese
- Salt/pepper to taste
- Optional: lemon slices for garnish
- Optional: 1 cup of fresh spring peas (available at your local stores)
Directions:
- Cook Bucatini Pasta per package directions. (Make sure to add plenty of salt to your boiling water.) Drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, on medium-high heat, add butter and garlic to skillet and cook until fragrant. (Add fresh peas here if using them.)
- Reduce heat to medium. Add chicken stock, lemon juice, heavy cream and mozzarella cheese. Stir until cheese is completely melted and all ingredients are combined.
- Add pasta and arugula to skillet and toss until evenly coated with sauce.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste. Top with burrata. Garnish with lemon slices, if desired. Enjoy!
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And now for the libation portion of my Culinary Corner (drum roll please): Presenting my latest obsession born out of a need for helping my body function better and thrive. Fruit Shrub. If you’re not familiar, this a drinking vinegar, and it is not a beverage most think about. In fact, many gag at the thought of a drinking vinegar. But this fermented beverage is above and beyond a shot of raw apple cider vinegar. And in truth, shrubs make excellent cocktails and even better mocktails.
WHAT IS A SHRUB?
Drinking vinegars have been around for centuries, dating back far as the 17th century. Today, in the modern world, shrubs are not a popular drink to serve. As far as fermented drinks are concerned, kombucha is still at the top of the list. However, shrubs are slowly making the climb to the top. Shrubs consist of three ingredients: fruit, sugar and raw apple cider vinegar. The combination of the three ingredients creates a fruity, vinegary simple syrup which contains natural probiotics. I’m sharing one of my favorites. I just made a batch and added a few fresh sprigs of lavender from my garden. It was delightful! Added a nice herbaceous note and soothing benefits.
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Peach Shrub
Have fun with making shrubs, and be creative in selecting the combination of ingredients!
Ingredients
- 3 cups peaches, washed, pitted and chopped
- 1 ½ cups organic granulated sugar
- 1 ½ cups raw apple cider vinegar
Equipment
Instructions
- Add chopped peaches and organic sugar to the gallon glass jar.
- Smash peaches with the muddler to release the juices. Mix peaches and sugar.
- Add jar lid and store in the refrigerator for 2 days. During this time swirl jar to continue mixing the peach juice and sugar.
- Once the sugar has dissolved add the vinegar. Mix well and return to refrigerator for an additional 5 days. During this time continue to swirl the jar, mixing the sweet juice and raw apple cider vinegar.
- Strain out fruit using a fine mesh sieve. Pour strained liquid into clean Mason jars.
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As always, a reminder that Melissa’s Produce has amazing fresh and seasonal produce that can be shipped direct to your home – save time and enjoy more time preparing your amazing meals. They have dozens of recipes on their site as well as wonderful opportunities to enter seasonal contests and win their incredible produce!
Have an amazing, fun and safe summer everyone! Look forward to seeing you all at the OC Fair and don’t forget to stop by the OC Promenade building, where the Culinary Crew will have stage demos, all the fabulous culinary entries on display, great entertainment, and food competitions each night.
~Thank you for reading the Culinary Corner~
Stay well friends and Sweet Dishes!
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July Produce Guide
Hope you are having some fun in the sun! Check out this month's seasonal produce option to add some flavor to your favorite summer dishes or to have a quick and healthy snack on the go. Hit your favorite farmers market or store for some in-season goodies!
Fruits: Blackberries, Blueberries, Figs, Grapes, Mango, Melons, Nectarines, Peaches, Raspberries, Watermelon
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Vegetables: Beets, Corn, Cucumber, Eggplant, Fennel, Green Beans, Kohlrabi, Okra, Summer Squash, Zucchini
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"It's okay to play with your food."
- Emeril Lagasse
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