Week 5!
July is a funny time here on the farm for me. Like so many aspects of this work, it is a time of patience - the summer crops are right on the verge and I am expecting them to be ready but we are still harvesting and eating a lot of spring planted and thought-of veggies. This week is no different but I have been glad to hear that the diversity of offerings have been appreciated this year. The tomatoes are turning, the squash is starting to come on, the peppers are sizing up and yet the early season crops, kale, cabbage, beets, carrots, etc. are going strong as well. Cut greens have been gone these last couple weeks because I have taken a portion of the greens plot out of production to mitigate weed pressure issues. But they will be back online in a couple weeks. The work is still considerable this time of year as we march to the self-created, August 1 benchmark date of mid season where the labor and the mindset shifts. For me It is important to have benchmarks, or hurdles to jump and move on to the next phase of the ever-changing season.
In other news - the opening of Sweet Bird Farm’s new farmstead (Dana and Steve’s place in Waterbury Center) was a hit!! It was quite the social event for the center and I look forward to seeing their place develop and being a part of all the great things they have going on there!
On to the share - with all the moving pieces yesterday, I actually was not able to grab a picture of the share so you will have to use your imagination, or just lay it all out on the counter yourselves and take a picture!
Purple Kale - in lieu of salad greens this week here is a recipe for a raw purple kale salad. Here is a simpler one. Or cook too!
a couple sweet onions for all your onion needs
a bunch of scallions
a bunch of carrots - I hope folks aren’t getting sick of carrots. We are reaching the end of the greenhouse carrots planted in march so we will see a break from carrots until the field carrots size up. They will keep for months in the fridge in a bag if you don’t get to them right away.
a pint of snap peas - that will be the end of snap peas for this season. The end of this “spring” ephemeral crop signifies and shift in the season for me. I hope you enjoyed them!
a summer squash and a zucchini - ok, so I thought there were more bigger ones out there but when I got to harvesting I realized some of you were going to get some baby ones. More on the way!!
a green cabbage - like the Napa, these have not seen a ton of water but have done incredibly well. A testament to our beautiful soil I think.
a bunch of turnips - purple top white globe. They smell and taste floral to me. The outside may not be the prettiest but they are so tender and soft tasting. You can shave them onto the kale salad from above, slice them and eat them raw, cook them in a asian-y stir fry with scallions, or try a roasting recipe (with carrots and onions??). Even though its not roasting season.
a couple cukes! Salt, oil, quick pickle. That recipe calls for scallions too!
Big Share got double cukes, double onions, double squash and zukes, and an extra bunch of chard. Yum!
Here are a few shots from the week!!
CSA haul yesterday from across the road. Turnips. kale, cabbage, chard, Augustin. Not sure why there are plates still on that truck. It would probably explode if it got on to the road.
The first tomato! I ate it. When Genica was out of town. It was delicious.
Cherry tomato house staying mostly tame this year!!
Cherry tomato truss!
Cool clouds and mostly weeded lettuce crop!
Coming soon!!!
One of the tomato houses - keeping up with pruning thanks to Augustin