Happy Summer Solstice!!
So, shelling peas...we planted them this year, but I didn't pick them because of the labor factor. We typically offer them as a u-pick crop for members but there weren't quite enough to make it worth it. When I was at market last weekend in Dillsburg a woman came up asking if we had any shelling peas. No, I told her, as (so I thought) they aren't in high demand as people don't often want to spend time shelling them, for such a little yield. She told me that she had been looking for them for quite awhile but couldn't find them anywhere. "They're very nostalgic for me," she said. "They remind me of sitting on the front porch in the summertime with grandma, breaking the peas open and hearing them bounce off the ceramic bowl." Hearing that made me remember doing the same with my great aunt as a child (and snapping green beans in half!). It's certainly a comforting memory for me, as I imagine it is for many people.
So what do you think - should we bring back the shelling pea for next year? It's a bit late in the game to plant them this year, unless we try for fall. On the u-pick front, we have a few beds planted that are slated for member picking. There's several beds of perennial herbs, along with flowers and hot peppers. As we get further into the season and things start filling in and blooming, we'll offer these for u-pick.
For this week, we're still heavy on the greens until the summer crops come in full swing. As the summer solstice passes, plants begin to focus their energy into their fruits! So we hope for an abundant harvest through the summer and fall seasons.
Please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions. We're so grateful to be your farmers!
