It's the summer that goes on and on... This warm weather has kept our peppers and tomatoes producing later than expected, in some cases leading plants to exceed the demands of our markets! We have another (final?) week with a good amount of tomatoes, but we are trying not to overload shares with these summer fruits so as to make some space for the many cool season fall crops that we have available. And with just two more summer share boxes remaining - this one, plus one more - there aren't many more opportunities! We are actually hoping for temperatures to drop a bit and slow down growth of a couple greens plantings we had hoped would be ready for the first winter share box in November, but might be ready earlier.
Another quirky farm happening came last weekend in the form of a white dove visiting us. Rather, after a bit of research, we learned it was probably a pigeon. But it was completely white, very striking and rare in nature because they are so visible to predators. It seemed quite tame, sitting on the branch of a large burr oak in our yard. I took pictures and videos and soaked up its strangeness and beauty. Later, it flew over and landed on the hood of our white pickup. We walked over and got closer and closer. It didn't move. At a few feet away, eventually Karin just picked it up, and it was calm. It was then we realized that this almost certainly wasn't a wild bird, but a domesticated bird that happened upon our farmstead. We left the farm and came back a few hours later, and it was still around. It stayed into the evening, when we went to bed. We expected to see it the next morning, but did not and have not since. Either it flew back to its home, or became someone's dinner. Let's hope the former.
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Notes on select items in this week's shares:
- Sweet Dumpling squash: These petite fruits are among the sweetest out there. Can't go wrong just baking and eating plain, in my opinion.
- Gold Potatoes: As we did not grow potatoes this year, we are again sourcing organic potatoes from our friends at Driftless Organics. Gold potatoes are very versatile and are great roasted or boiled.
- Purple Top Turnip: These pungent roots make a nice addition to fall and winter soups. We also enjoy them roasted, or if desiring to tame their distinct flavor, boiled and mashed along with potatoes.
- Broccoli: Another flush of season's best broccoli! We love keeping it simple with broccoli by steaming it or sautéing with a bit of garlic. And you can bet it will show up on pizzas this Saturday.
- Red Bell Peppers: We are nearing the end of the season, but still see lots of beautiful, deep red, small-medium sized fruits out there. This week's will be doled out as individual peppers rather than the larger bags. I snack on them anytime I walk near, and they are without question the sweetest of the season.
- Red butterhead lettuce: This is our favorite head lettuce, tender and a bit sweet. Modest amounts available this week, likely more next week in the final box.
- Tomatoes: We keep getting surprised when we go out to harvest, thinking it might be the last. Nice amounts of heirloom and beefsteak slicing tomatoes for this next box!
- Braising Kale Mix: This is the same blend that we harvested this past week as "baby" kale. It'll be more of an adolescent next week. Still quite edible raw, but larger leaf size and nice for a quick sauté. These bags will be packed a bit heavier than last week.
- Spinach: This dark green, full-bodied spinach is great for cooking or chopping for a raw salad.
What to expect in the final box? Hopefully sweet potatoes, if we get them harvested and cured next week, along with watermelon radishes, red butterhead lettuce, butternut squash, parsley, and carrots. Maybe some kale... ?
Have a great week!
Dana
