Hello Members!
August is upon us and the summer crops are about to be in full swing! Tomatoes are here, you will see sweet corn in the box this week, peppers are ripening and melons are right around the corner.
The rain has really helped some of our crops perk up and there are lots of things looking great out in the fields. This week are planting some of our late summer radishes, turnips, lettuces and greens. It is one of the last planting we will do, which is why July is so crazy for a farmer. You are trying to keep up with weeding, loosing some battles and winning others, planting all the fall crops, and harvesting so much its crazy. August does seem to be a bit more sane for us and I hope that the rain keeps coming!
Don't forget that we have pastured meat for sale to add-on to in the boxes or for larger amounts we deliver packages you can find HERE.
We just opened back up our Pastured Meat Share which contains a little bit of all of our 3 proteins we raise. Check it out!
To find out more about how our Pastured Chicken, Beef and Pork is raised check out our website HERE
Our meats go great with our veggies!!! Grilled corn and pork chops, anyone?!
We also have our FALL SHARES OPEN FOR SIGN UPS!!
This is a 2 week or 4 week share (weekly or Bi Weekly) during the month of October. There will be all the fall crops you could want like beets, carrots, garlic, onions, potatoes, squash, greens, lettuces, turnips, radishes, rutabaga, herbs, cabbage, broccoli and more...
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Without further ado, here is what may be in your box this week:
Fennel (please try it!!)- Fennel is an odd duck to some, but it is used quite a lot in culinary cooking, actually. We find it a great addition to any soup, shaved into a salad, sauted with carrots onions and celery for a base for sauces, marinaras, etc... Remember to use the fronds, too! They have a mild anise flavor, but I like to add them to salads, dip for roasted veggies, soups.
Carrots- We probably do not need to give you ideas on how to use these tasty carrots! Remember to take the tops off before storing so they do not go limp. Keep in plastic bag. Wash again.
Summer Squash/Zucchini- Usually we have these until the end of the month when we transition to winter squash and pie pumpkins, but the disease has spread fast in the squash this year due to stress, I imagine, because it is definitely not because of wet, fungal conditions! Our harvests are getting lighter and lighter so we may not have them for much longer.
Zucchini Chocolate Chip Muffins
Cucumbers (a bit less this week!)- The harvests on the cucumbers are lightening up due to the very cold nights we were having. The dew is heavy and we are closing our tunnels at night to try and keep up the warmth a little for growth, as that is when plants grow, at night.
Fresh Onions - Ailsa Craig or yellow onions
Pepper, bell- 1 bell pepper this week. Although the plants are looking great, the fruit set is not as high as we would like. We are thinking maybe blossom drop due to excessive heat when they were flowering? Not sure, but we will have more in the coming weeks. Peppers shine at the end of August and into September when they turn from green to either red or orange.
Peppers, hot- Either green Jalapeno or Red Cayenne
Sweeeet Corn- We are not sure how many ears we will get this week. We plant for everyone to get a dozen but depending on tassling, pollination (thank you bees and insects!!) water, fertility and wind (they can fall down in high winds) our yields really can vary. Everyone will get some!!! Eat fresh, don't keep on the counter KEEP IN THE FRIDGE! The sugars turn to starch fairly quickly with corn so we recommend eating withini a few days for the best flavor. We like them raw! But a couple minute boil in salted water is also good.
Broccoli- The broccoli is entering a little bit of a lull as summer crops come in. Still you will get some today and maybe next week.
Parsley- I love parsley in a chimichurri sauce and also as a sub in a salsa.
Tomatoes Red Slicers and Heirloom- The ever growing amount of tomatoes! More this week than last and it will just keep coming for the next month. Do not refrigerate tomatoes. If they are a little hard and a little green, leave on counter until ripe. Most should be ripe and ready to eat.
Cherry Tomatoes- Our cherries are starting to take off, but we will do not have enough for all. Great in a fresh pasta salad.
Eggplant-
Spring Mix- We've hada hard time with lettuces this summer as it is so hot and dry and we had some pest issues as well. But we are back on track to have a nice lettuce season for the fall. Sorry to folks who did not get salad mix who wanted it.
Green Beans- Oh, boy the beans are loaded this year! We are going to try and give you all a break from them next week if we can fin a home for them as you MUST pick beans if you want them in the future.
Tomato harvest underway
Sweet corn!
Of course us farmers had to go the Polk County fair- it was such a treat to see all the animals (just kidding we most of the time on the rides!)
Have a great week!
Your farmers
