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Megan's Fantastic Beetroot Brownie

Tairoa Lodge's Chef Megan did the unthinkable.Megan changed the tried and true, world famous in Hāwera, Chocolate Brownie locals know and love.Not gonna lie, I was nervous!It's a testament to her skill in the kitchen that the Beetroot Brownie was amazing.It was one of the top dishes enjoyed by guests at our recent Feastival event.Guests got to see where the beetroot was grown here at Goldbush Micro Farm, then enjoyed the Modified Chocolate Brownie as one of three (3!) desserts on the degustatio...

Mushroom Paté Recipe with vegan and gluten free options

The very first course for Feastival at Tairoa Lodge was Mushroom Paté. Linda was generous enough to share her recipes with us. There's a download link below if you want to print this....

How to stop feeling stuffed, bloated and full of regret at Christmas

I want to introduce you to a word I love, ‘replete’.You may not have heard it before, but my grandfather used to use it often.Anytime there was a big celebration meal Grandad Eccleshall would lean back in his chair when he was done eating and say:“I am replete”.It’s the perfect word to describe that feeling of pleasantly full, after a delicious meal.Do you feel replete after a family gathering?Or do you feel stuffed, bloated and full of regret?I know what it’s like, this used to be m...

Sorrel Info Sheet

We love the tangy, apple, lemon flavour of sorrel here at Goldbush, also known as common sorrel, garden sorrel or the Latin Rumex Acetosa.Sorrel is a flavorful ingredient known for its sour, acidic taste reminiscent of lemon zest, the distinct flavor of sorrel is owed to a naturally occurring compound called oxalic acid, also found in spinach, chard and beetroot.It has long, arrow-shaped leaves with a bright, emerald-hued color and is considered a herb and a leafy green vegetable.For the full So...

Stir-Fry Formula: How To Make Dinner Quick and Easy

I know you want to eat more vegetables.Sometimes it's been a week since you loaded them into your fridge and they're still sitting there.You feel bummed you're going to waste good food and your hard-earned money.Finding inspiration is so difficult.I can help with my Tasty Tangle Stir-Fry Formula.This simple formula can be used with whatever veges you have in your fridge or garden to create a delicious, nutritious meal the whole family will love....

Green Cubes

I know it can feel like a lot when you're not used to eating an abundance of leafy greens like kale and sorrel.There's a lot of leafy green vegetables in our vege bags at this time of the year, they grow well (and quickly) and a lot of them I can't grow in Summer as it's too hot for them.I hear from my customers that there's so many greens and they're not used to eating them, but we all know how good they are for us and we should be eating more of them.I can help, with a simple way to use those ...

Tired of gross veges? Get freshness now with a Vege Bag Subscription

When you head out for your usual trip to the supermarket, you might relate to the same disheartening experience we once had.When you walk through the aisles all you find are sad, droopy veges that lack the oomph and flavor you're craving. It's nothing like the veges of your childhood that used to explode with taste, leaving your taste buds doing a happy dance.But what if I told you there's another way? Imagine a journey where the reality of fresh produce in your kitchen fills you with excitement...

Delicious Creamy Peanut Dressing

This creamy peanut dressing couldn't be more simple, who doesn't love a throw it all in a jar and shake recipe!?!I hope you enjoy it as much as I do, it goes well with a variety of salads, or leave out the olive oil and use it as a dipping sauce.Ingredients:¼ cup smooth peanut butter¼ cup orange juice1 clove garlic minced or grated1 Tbsp tamari or soy sauce2 tsp rice vinegar or white vinegar2 tsp maple syrup1 tsp grated fresh ginger1/2 cup olive oilDirections:Put all ingredients in a jar and s...

A Chance Meeting With a Saffron Farmer

It was hot and dusty, as we climbed the dimly lit stairs to the roof of the five-storey building.Under a wooden lean-to, built on the flat roof of the mud coloured building, was a collection of goats and sheep, I couldn't help but think about how all their food would need to be carried up the stairs.There's limited farming land in the city of Luxor though, and the animals were safe on top of the building, while crocuses grew in the dusty earth next to the apartments.It was a fascinating insight ...

Luscious chocolate cake recipe your family will love

Are you after a wonderful chocolate cake your whole family will love?If you’re looking for a decadent chocolate cake and love the idea of making it with vegetables, have I got the recipe for you.This cake has the most amazing texture, it is crumbly and oh so delicious and so long as you grate the pumpkin finely you can’t even tell it’s there.If you prefer something sweeter, use a sweeter frosting, it is very rich so you don’t need much, I recommend a spoon to eat it with.Everyone is alwa...

A love letter

Michelle with her mother Bronwen Eccleshall and new employee Heather Murray celebrated 6 years of providing tasty fresh vegetables to Hawera locals with cake from Eulene's Cottage Baking....

Clearing Out Your Fridge of Tasty Goodness Every Week

You might think that because I have a market garden, I eat loads of fabulous vegetable meals, my kids enjoy a wide variety, and I never waste anything.Well, let me tell you, you'd be wrong, I still have days when I make dishes no one wants to eat!Experimenting in the kitchen will mean occasional failures and that's okay because we all start somewhere!Today I want to share with you 5 ways to ensure you're getting the most of your Goldbush Vege Bag Subscription, so you use the veges, enjoy th...

Rainbow Chard Info Sheet

Hey there, fellow food enthusiasts! Get ready to embark on a vibrant culinary adventure as we dive into the wonderful world of Rainbow Chard.Now, I know what you might be thinking: "Another leafy green? What's so special about this one?" Well, let me assure you that Rainbow Chard is anything but ordinary!In this information booklet, we've compiled everything you need to know to make the most of this versatile and nutritious veggie.From handy tips on storing, preparing, and freezing, to creative ...

How to make a vibrant Sorrel and Kale Rice Bowl with Lemon and Radish

If you're anything like me the "what's for dinner" question is the last thing I want to think about at the end of the day.I like to think of my future self with fondness when I do meal plan, knowing how thankful she will be to her past self!When you cook this Tangy Sorrel and Kale Rice Bowl with Zingy Lemon and Radish you'll appreciate the vibrant kick.Put this one in your meal plan for next week, not only is it quick and simple you'll be thanking yourself for the intense nutrient hit you'll be ...

Jerusalem Artichokes aka 'Fartichokes'!

Hey there Goldbush Farm-ily! If you haven't tried Jerusalem Artichokes yet, you're missing out! Contrary to what you might think, these delicious tubers aren't actually from Jerusalem or an artichoke - they're the root of a plant in the sunflower family. We harvest them when the tops die down in Autumn, and they go by many names such as sunroot, sunchoke, wild sunflower, topinambur, or earth apple. But what really matters is the nutty, sweet, and crunchy taste of their white flesh, whi...

Delicious Recipes for 10th May

You are going to love the variety of this Autumn harvest recipe selection!I love the Butternut Satay Soup recipe below, but of course you can do anything with the butternut squash you would do with any pumpkin. These simple vegetable recipes using our Goldbush vegetables, or what you've grown at home or got from a shop can be the basis for an easy dinner or quick lunch....

Delicious Autumn Recipes

You have four yummy recipes here using what is in the Vege Bag for 3rd May.Of course, you can use these any time and with vegetables you've grown yourself or from supermarket vegetables.Here are the recipes you'll find below:Carrot and Sweet Pepper CurrySpinach and Rainbow Chard QuicheGreen Bean Salad with Mustard DressingSpinach and Sorrel Pesto PastaAll four of these recipes are simple and easy, they rely on the delicious flavour of the vegetables themselves, you are welcome to add extra herbs...

Beetroot and Carrot Salad Recipe

Roasted Beet and Carrot Salad with GreensServes 5This salad is stunning.Ingredients:400g beetroot, peeled and cut into ½ inch thick wedges400g carrots, peeled and cut on bias into ¼ inch thick slices3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oilSalt and ground pepper¼ tsp sugar2 Tbsp white wine vinegar1 tsp honey1 medium spring onion,Leafy greens (e.g. sorrel, chard or spinach) washed and sliced finely (3 cups)Directions: Adjust oven rack to lowest position, place large rimmed baking sheet on rack, and heat o...

Vegetable Rescue Strategies

Vegetables and herbs from Goldbush Micro Farm, or from the shop, will all last longer and get the most use using the five tips here in this eBook: 5 tips to make your vegetables last longer, taste better and save them from the compost (or landfill!)Make the most of your vegetables by downloading the Rescue Strategies e-book below for a convenient summary and links to the videos for more details. ...

Delicious Ways To Dress A Salad

Here there! Welcome to my final blog post for the year! I wanted to share some salad dressing recipes with you, for you to use over the holiday period (and all year round really!).  My goal is to use vegetables for fresh flavour that’s easy and delicious for your holiday meals. That way we can spend more time enjoying the meal and each other’s company, than we do preparing complicated dishes. We have a wide range of delicious leafy green vegetables available at Goldbush and a simple, qu...

What do I do with Fennel Fronds (fennel leaves)?

Fennel has a unique flavour, whether you're eating the fennel bulb or fennel leaves (also called fronds) they taste distinctly like licorice, except people that don't like licorice often like fennel, so don't be afraid to try it!Here's a quick and easy Fennel Frond recipe, if you try it let me know what you think!...

DIY Vegetable Stock

With basic ingredients of onions, carrots and celery with salt pepper and water, you can add any of Parsley, Peppercorns, Sea Salt, Bay leaf, Garlic cloves, Leek tops, Vege skins, Kitchen scraps, Carrot tops. Don't use brassicas like broccoli, cabbage or turnips though as their flavour is very strong.This broth can be used in any soup or to make sauces or gravies....

Cabbage 101

So much more than coleslaw. Here at Goldbush we grow a green and a purple cabbage, we also grow what we call wong bok cabbage which is also known as Napa or Chinese cabbage.Wong Bok: oblong shape, think stems, very juicy and great for coleslaw, salad and kimchi.Green Cabbage: wide fan-like leaves, industry standard, Goldbush Micro Farm mini cabbage, compact and less waste.Red Cabbage: dark red-purple leaves, colour bleeds, lovely braised/slow cooked....

Spring Onions 101

Spring Onions Info SheetDownload the pdf below, there's lots of info on how to prepare and store Spring Onions plus 6 recipes (that also use lots of other Goldbush Micro Farm Veges!)We grow two kinds of spring onions: white with green tops and purple with green tops, which may have a bulb formed at the base. Spring onions have a milder flavour than other onions and can be used in many ways....

Farm Update August 2022

Recently here at Goldbush Micro Farm we have moved from Winter survival mode, coping with the wind and the rain, to Spring mode. Spring mode means completing the Summer plans and seed orders and starting the daunting task of seeding "all the things". I'm pleased to have been able to supply 20 to 30 families (and even 35 this last week!), with vegetables fresh from Goldbush Micro Farm, to do this over winter, growing in my 1/8 acre patch of garden, makes me very proud! It shows that we can grow s...