Storm Damage

I got word from Andy and Lizzie through Rue that the big greenhouse is a total loss due to the bad storm that went through our area.  He wanted everyone to know that there was no damage to the plants inside the greenhouse and that this should not effect the veggies we will be getting in our CSA boxes.  It just looks bad.  I am sure at some point he will need to rebuild.  I will let you all know of his plans when I know them.

Green Goodness

The veggies that we got today in our box are really looking good.  And there is a head of cabbage this time.  We have had several heads of Chinese cabbage but this is the first of the 'regular' cabbage.  And the beautiful green bell pepper comes from Lizzie's sisters greenhouse.  The green beans are growing like crazy.  And Andy has already planted some new patches of beans that we will be enjoying later in the summer.  Peas are coming to a close for the season.  Maybe a week or two more of them.

Thank you to all those members that remember to return their boxes for Andy to reuse week after week.  If we can all remember to recycle the boxes and egg cartons it will help keep the prices down. It is good for us and good for the environment.

Andy is still talking about all the members that showed up last Saturday at the farm for Farm Day.  He thinks it was great that we came to the farm so we could see where the veggies come from.  He was excited to see all the little kids enjoying themselves.  He knows that there were some of the members that wished they could have come.  Plans are to have another one next year.  Andy and Lizzie are willing to let you come and visit anytime.  Just email Cedarmore and you can make arrangements to visit.  

A Box Full Of Our Favorites

The weather in Hillsboro has been very dry these last few weeks.  So Cedarmore Farm has had to use their irrigation system so the crops are still looking good.  But they are hoping for a nice rain to help level things out.  Hopefully the rains will come soon.

This week we have some green tomatoes in our boxes.  Andy wonders how many of us actually cook with green tomatoes?  He knows that I like a good fried green tomato.  Lizzie rolls them in flour and then fries them just like you would yellow squash or zucchini.

The Swiss chard is really producing.  Andy remembers this being the third week in a row that it has been included in our boxes.  Search in recipes to find recipes for Swiss chard.  Lizzie makes a stir fry with some of the Swiss chard and Andy really likes it.  Search Recipe Share for dishes from CSA members.

Report from the farm is that we will be seeing more green beans and peas in our boxes soon.  Yum!

green beans (first of the season for us), yellow squash, zucchini, onions, green and red tomatoes, broccoli and Swiss chard.

And just a special little something extra for Mark from Eli Zook.  The back story is Mark, my husband, has never met a stranger. He will talk to anyone.   And he loves to tease kids.  So Eli was the one who got most of the teasing during Farm Day last Saturday...see blog below. After all day of Mark's teasing, Eli said that Mark just better watch it because he was going to pack our box on Tuesday.  And did he ever.  A little thistle was packed in especially for Mark with a little note from Eli.  Priceless!

Lots Of News

Lots of exciting things happening on the Cedarmore Farm and in Andy and Lizzie's family.  They are getting ready for Farm Day (more information coming tonight on the blog) and Andy's twin sister (that I forgot he had) and her husband are beginning to build a house on a farm in the community.  It will take a while to get the house finished so they plan to move from Wayne County, Ohio within a year.  Andy is not only working the farm and doing all the regular chores but he is helping his sister and his brother-in-law whenever he can.  In the Amish community the whole community usually comes together and helps with the build.  The first step is to dig (with a regular shovel) out a hole that will be used as a basement.  Andy says that this is the hardest part.  About 8 to 10 horses and 6 to 8 guys can usually get this part done in five days.  That is if the digging goes well and they don't hit rock (like they did when they were digging his basement.)  After that the house needs to be built and that takes around 3 weeks.  One week for excavating, one week for the basement, and one week for the framework and the roof.  All this is done usually by the entire community.  Then there is all the finishing work on the inside.

All of that and we still get great boxes like the one we got this week.

Chinese cabbage, lettuce, zucchini, yellow squash, Swiss chard

I want to say that he things that look like green onions are leeks but I am checking in on the farm for that answer.

Got the answer...and yes I did learn something from researching 'unknown vegetables to me'...they are leeks.

Completing the box with a jar of Lizzie's dill pickles. Yum!

I would highly recommend that you try the granola bars.  I have a good critique...I sliced the giant square into four rectangles and shared one with Mark and Michael,  Michael immediately said, "Mom, I'm thinking that next time I should get a whole big square all to myself.  These are awesome!"  And there you have it from a 10 year old who knows what he likes!

My Box Overflowth...

...with Swiss chard, tomatoes, radishes, yellow squash, zucchini, lettuce, a bag of greens, scapes, and green onions.

Seems the weather on the farm is dry enough for Andy to start running the irrigation pump. And by all accounts the strawberry season has come to an end.  They needs lots of water....and there just wasn't enough this season.  But the good news is that there is something else green coming in our boxes.  Some of us got ripened hoop house tomatoes.  Next week Andy is hoping for everyone to be surprised by some ripe tomatoes in our boxes.  The early tomatoes were planted in the hoop house to protect them from the frost.    The field tomatoes will be harvested in late July.

Don't forget The Day At The Farm coming up on June 16th!  More information to come next week.