Johnson’s Backyard Garden got started in east Austin in 2004 by Brent and Beth Johnson who are husband and wife. The farm grew with a great demand from the community, so in 2006 they were forced to purchase more than 20 acres five miles outside of town. Four years later they expanded even further and this time closer to the Dallas area. They now supply many families in our community with fresh vegetables and produce via farmers market sales, local grocers, and a CSA program.
One of my favorites from their selection is the miniature spaghetti squash. Aside from being cute, it is much easier to prepare than a regular sized spaghetti squash. I have always had trouble cutting the larger ones in half but the smaller sizes make it easier to handle, they cut more smoothly. They also take less time to bake. Normal preparation is 45 minutes to an hour in the oven but the miniature squash bakes to perfection in around 30 minutes. They are also less messy. The sheer lack of volume in the squash leads to less seeds and less clean up.
I purchased my miniature spaghetti squash at Green Grocer on Lower Greenville. JBG stocks Green Grocer every Friday, so try to get there towards the end of the week. To find out more about Johnson’s Backyard Garden, their CSA program and where to find their products visit their website.
Bonus: they also have a great volunteer program that pays in some pretty awesome organic vegetables.
