Springtime can be a very busy season for many of us!  There are so many outside projects we want to be done. Spring planting will be in full force soon, so quick and easy meals will be our go-to very soon!

Jennifer Campbell from The Farmwife Feeds shares her experiences in the field during the busy Spring season.  The Farmwife Feeds explains 5 Reasons for Farm Planting Technology. Farmers work hard to produce high yielding crops, and the ever-evolving technology helps farmers achieve that goal.

I have compiled a round-up of easy meals that will help you get the meals out to the fields faster, easy meals that will be ready when you get home from work before you have to take the kids to the ball games.  

I have a list of 13 easy recipes for you to try this spring! These recipes will help you get the food to the table, or your farmer in the planter quickly! 

Have a safe spring! 

THIS POST IS SPONSORED BY THE GLASS BARN.  BUT ALL THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS ARE MINE.

Besides farming corn and soybeans in Jasper County, Indiana, Gregg Kanne set off to try a different crop in 1994.  Mint farming wasn't too common in the area.  His wife, Sue's family was farming mint, and Gregg saw a great opportunity for his family.  Gregg and Sue have farmed for 40 years, raised four children, and now lives on the farm that has been in his family for over 100 years. 

Photo Credit: Kanne Farms

I sat down with Gregg at his kitchen table, in the same house he grew up in, and many other family members before him grew up on the same homestead.  Much has changed with the farm, but many things have stayed the same.  

Photo Credit: Kanne Farms

Harvest has slowed down, but field work continues for mint farmers, weather cooperating. Mint can either be peppermint or spearmint.  Peppermint is grown on the Kanne ground.

Mint plant spreads through the roots not seeds. The mint plant can last four years in a field.  The first year it is considered row mint, years 2-4 are considered meadow fields because the plants spread out with runners.  After the 4th year, the field is put back into a corn/soybean rotation.  

Northern Indiana soils are good for mint production.  Mint grows well in well-drained soils such as sandy soils, loamy soils, and muck grounds.  Mint is grown for the oil in the leaves.  Oil is stored in glands on the underside of the leaves. 

Photo Credit: Kanne Farms

One acre of mint produces 5-6 Ton of mint hay, which yields 60-70 pounds of oil.  According to USDA, Indiana has 11,500 acres in Peppermint production, producing 575,000 pounds of mint oil in 2016.

Photo Credit: Kanne Farms

Photo Credit: Kanne Farms

Mint usually is contracted three years out.  The growers know how many acres they need to keep in rotation well in advance.  The buying companies pick up the mint from the farm by 55-gallon barrels.  It is very important to sample and grade all oil, especially since it is used in food-grade. 

Peppermint oil is a very strong and distinct fragrance.  The main end users are Colgate and Wrigley, farmers know their mint crop is going towards toothpaste, gum, and other flavored products.








This post was sponsored by The Glass Barn, brought to you by the Indiana Soybean Farmers. As always all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Harvest is just about over.  It has been a beautiful fall.  I woke up Sunday and the trees in the woods are turning beautiful colors.  I wish I took the time to go out and take some pictures. I definitely need to do that soon.  


Overall, crops looked really good this fall.  Yields were great, farmers seemed very pleased with them.  Yields is what the farmer gauges on the overall progress of their farm.  More yield equals more bushels, and in turns means more crop to sell.  Bins on the farm are full, and the run over bushels are brought to the elevator.  Ground piles at the elevator are full and tarped in this area.  Now farmers will wait for higher prices to sell their grain.




I would like to thank my husband for this recipe.  He was home earlier one evening before me and he had this dinner ready in 1 hour.  He is a big fan of the pressure cooker.  







Since my husband started this dinner, I only have pictures of the final product. It was delicious and so easy.  He cut the pork ribs into smaller sections so they fit into the pressure cooker.  Added a bottle of Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ and beef broth.  You can add water in place of beef broth, but he is a strong believer that broth add so much more flavor to the meal.




The kids loved this recipe.  The best part is it didn't take all day to cook, and the meat still fell off the bone! 



Pressure Cooker BBQ Pork Ribs
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I have linked up to:
Watcha Crockin Wednesday Week 15
The County Cook Weekend Potluck #247
Meal Plan Monday 51