Well that was hot last week and I'm relieved that it's cooler now! Fortunately, we were able to adapt pretty well by starting earlier and spending the hotter parts of the day in the shade, starting seeds and doing other prep work. I think summer heat may be our biggest safety challenge!
New this week in your shares -- salad turnips, kohlrabi and beets. If you've never tried the turnips and kohlrabi, be brave! They are easy to prepare; just peel and slice and eat fresh like an apple. My kids LOVE them.
We've just uncovered the broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower. When we plant these crops, we cover them with a thin fabric called "row cover". It protects them from a few insects that like to eat them. It's off now and after a round of weeding they are looking great. Watch for the first broccoli in a week or two.
We are plotting our next farm event for the first weekend in August -- pop it in your calender now. It will coincide with the 2024 Big Backyard BioBlitz organized by the Nature Conservancy of Canada.
"From August 1 to 5, take photos or audio clips of the plants, birds, insects and other cool creatures around you, wherever you happen to be. Explore solo or bring along your family and friends. The observations you share will deepen our knowledge of Canada’s biodiversity and how to protect it. "
We'll have three scavenger hunts in the garden -- one for vegetables, one for native plants and one for creatures (reptiles, amphibians, insects and birds). We hope you'll join us!
And here the intro from last week, repeated here for new biweekly members!
You'll be receiving two emails this week (and every week you receive a share). First, an email with what's in your share this week and the opportunity to swap items. And then a second email with the details for where and when to pick up your share.
What to do with all those veg?
Well, first you'll have to put them in the fridge. Here is a handy guide that you can print and pop on your fridge to help you store veg right, so they don't wilt. Even the leafy greens should keep at least 1 week in the fridge.
Next, you'll want some handy formulas (not recipes) to help you make use of different types of veg. And Cooksmarts is the place to go for this. They have great infographics for making salad dressings, salads, stir fries and more. Plus they have guides for what to have in your pantry so that you can quickly and easily put together a meal...they even have these adapted to different cuisines and diets (vegan, Thai, and many more).
And finally, here is our guide for CSA. It covers all you need to know to have a great season cooking and enjoying fresh veg.
Questions? Be in touch!
