Eggpalnt and Cantaloupe This Week

The Andy's and all the workers are busy on the farm.  I think it might be the busiest they have been this season with weeding, picking, canning, storing and planting.  the planting is to make sure that they have enough produce for the rest of he Summer Shares and into the Winter Shares.  I love what Andy says about the weeds...'with all the rain that we have had there is quite a bit of weed pressure'.  Seems like I might not be the only one that can't seem to stay ahead of all the weeds.

Got word that the bluegills are biting at Rocky Fork Lake.  Sounds like the weeds will get a break for a day.  A fishing and picnicking they will go.  Something I experienced last year when I got to spend the day fishing...we English mostly fish for the sport while the Amish do it to survive.  They are putting food on the table for the family as well and getting to spend a little time away the chores of the farm. Not to mention a little time of fellowship.

Things Are Getting Back To Normal

Vacations are over and little fun adventures with the grandkids so hopefully blogging on Tuesday will get back on track.  It bothers me when I don't get them up.  Feel like I am letting Andy and Lizzie down.  They work so hard at making sure everything is great for the CSA customers...I just want to do my little part to help them.

 

The weather has been dry lately, although they had some really nice rains in the last 24 hours.  Andy went ahead and set up the irrigation system, so they will be ready to pump water in case there is a drought. 

 

The onions are all now harvested and on racks to dry.  So far the new drying system is working out really well.  Hopefully the new system will keep the onions dry through the winter.  Only time will tell.  Since the onion crop did so well, we can expect to get onions from now until the end of the fall season.  Hopefully we can use them as we get them but if there is an abundance there are several ways to store them.  Either put them in mesh bags and hang them up or lay them out in layers, one by one.  If space is an issue, you can probably go two or three layers deep.  Either way you do it be sure to store them in a cool dry place where temperatures don't fluctuate too much.  Another option is freezing.  (See the Recipe Of The Week)  There are a few CSA members who store their onions like this and they use them in soups and stir fries.   Great for all those winter soups and stews.

 

Field tomatoes are picking up and the hoop house tomatoes are slowing down.  That puts us in between right now.  Most of the tomatoes that we will be getting from here on out will be field tomatoes.

Recipe Of The Week: How To Freeze Onions

How To Freeze Onions

 

Peel, wash, chop or slice onions.  Wrap in aluminum foil (or other wrap) in amounts that you use most, such as 1/2 cup or 1/4 cup amounts.  Place these small packages in another container.  Freeze.  No blanching necessary.  After 3-6 months in 0 degrees F storage, they tend to loose their flavor.

A Little Late

We were on vacation for the delivery of the first box of the Summer Share.  Looks like a great box of goodness. This one just happened to be left on the front porch.  Someone forgot to pick up.  But no worries I have been able to save everything and this box from last week will go out with the box this week.

The Andy's are so excited to be able to provide good food to all the newcomers to the Summer Shares of the CSA.  We hope that you newcomers will enjoy the food as well as the experience.

Crops are looking really good.  The sweet corn and cantaloupes are both coming soon.  Unfortunately due to the winter weather, the blackberries are not going to be near the crop that they were last year.  The extra cold weather really did a number on them.

Onions are being harvested now and they are trying a new way to store them.  Andy is always looking for the most affective way to farm.  He will be trying a new way to store them this year.  In years past the onions would be pulled up out of the ground and left in the fields to dry for a few days.  Then they were placed in mesh bags and hung in the shed.  But Andy noticed that a lot of them were going bad.  This year they are making racks to put them in so they will have no onions laying on and crowding out others.  We will have to wait and see if this is a good idea or not.

Last Week Of The Spring Shares

As Andy was writing the newsletter that goes in each box each week, the weather was a little cooler which makes it a little easier on him when he is working in the fields.  But by the time we are getting our boxes it could be storming or so hot and muggy you can hardly breathe.  They all enjoy just a bit of the cooler weather.  They have been able to transplant more cantaloupes, cucumbers and lettuce.  In the fields there is cucumbers, lettuce,cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower.

 

This is the tenth and final week for the Spring Shares.  That was a really fast ten weeks for sure.  Unfortunately no more boxes for those who were enjoying the Spring Share.  Thanks you so much for joining the CSA and we hope that you will be back next year.  For those of you what signed up for the Summer Share you will be able to keep picking up at the same location without skipping a beat.  Enjoy the veggies!

Recipe Of The WeeK: Cucumber and Tomato Salad

Cucumber and Tomato Salad

 

1/2 cup of salad dressing or mayonnaise

2 Tablespoons of vinegar or lemon juice

1/4 teaspoon of salt or garlic salt

1/4 teaspoon of leaf oregano

2 or 3 diced tomatoes

1 large diced cucumber

 

In a large bowl combine everything besides tomatoes and cucumbers.  Stir well then add the tomatoes and cucumber pieces and toss lightly.  Refrigerate until serving time.



A Full Box Of Veggies

Hope you all have been working out because the box this week is heavy.  Lots of great looking vegetables.

 

The week has been a busy one of the farm with  Farm Day and work in the fields needing attention because of all the weather we have been having.  So Andy and Lizzie didn't have time to write the newsletter or find a recipe to share.  The good thing is that I had a few people give me recipes at Farm Day.  I love a good share!