Cincinnati Urban Farm = Strawberry Rhubarb Pie

Owasco Lake Farm

Cincinnati Skyline

I have been growing food since I was a little girl.  I remember our garden at our home on Owasco Lake in upstate New York.  Mom gave my sister and I each our own space.  I remember growing cucumbers and marigolds.

I have always grown some sort of food/herbs and basically lived in a city.   Urban farming is defined by Wikipedia as “the practice of cultivating food in a densely populated area."  Cincinnati definitely qualifies for that. 

http://www.etsy.com/shop/SVintageCollection?ref=ss_profile

So now I am an Urban Farmer.   I like the term better than gardener.

We grow corn, carrots, beets, beans, cucumbers, herbs, tomatoes, eggplants, watermelon, squash, garlic, onions, peas and garlic.  You probably think I have a huge space.  Not really – 10 feet by 10 feet.  We just plant everywhere.   Watermelon grow best by our AC unit.  Herbs and peppers are mixed with flowers.  Peas grow out of an old fountain that is filled with dirt.    We are creative urban farmers.

I have thought about raising chickens, but thought is all it is.  As, I don’t think my dogs would treat them very well and then of course you are committed to take care of them on a regular basis. 

This weekend I made a Strawberry Rhubarb pie, my husband’s favorite.  Topped with Graeter’s ice cream and you have quite the treat. 

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees

Crisco Pie Crust - I make the double crust.  The top crust I cut and do a lattice pattern.

http://www.crisco.com/recipes/details.aspx?RecipeID=1242

Homemade Rhubarb Pie

For the filling - 2 quarts of freshly washed strawberries and 8 to 10 stalks of Rhubarb depending on size.  Slice the Strawberries and cut the rhubarb in small chunks maybe 1/2 inch pieces.  Mix in a bowl with 1/2 cup sugar, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 2 tablespoons cornstarch and a little lemon zest.   

Put the filling in a pie plate lined with a bottom pie crust.  Cut lattice for the top.  Bake at 450 degrees for 10 minutes and then turn the oven down to 350 degrees.  Cook for 45 to 60 more minutes until the filling is bubbling and the pie crust is golden brown.

Serve with Graeters vanilla ice cream.