We have 4 remaining CSA pickups including this week's share before the end of the winter season. There is an end in sight. Still cool weather but that's fine with us for spring. We're weighing our options about outdoor plantings of broccolini, kale, chard, lettuce, beets, cool season herbs, etc. These can survive light frosts but not extra cold ones. We've planted another round of tomatoes in the heated tunnels (those won't be ready until the summer CSA) but additionally we side planted with lots of lettuce and radishes and turnips that should be ready before the end of the winter season.
This week we have lots of spinach because we're clearing out several beds of spinach in one of the high tunnels to make room for sweet Italian peppers. So keep stocking up on that spinach. Green smoothies anyone?
A word on aphids: Have you seen some super tiny green bugs? Those are aphids. And even with multiple washes, they don't all wash off before we bag up the greens for you. This is a result of organic growing practices. Aphids can populate really quickly once the temps warm up and they always infest our greenhouses this time of year (and outside too under the fabric covers). They thrive in cool humid conditions and since we don't spray with chemical pesticides, they're difficult to control. We release beneficial insects into the houses to try to control the populations but they take longer to populate than the aphids do, and they tend to like a little warmer temperatures, so there is a time (like right now) when we feel like we are losing the battle with the little green sap-suckers. I don't know how you feel about it. I'm so used to seeing them crawling on my salad plate that I hardly think of it, but maybe you don't feel the same way. Just know that these critters are evidence that your salad doesn't have chemical residues on it. You can do your best to wash them off, or consider them microscopic protein boosts. We do our best to wash them off but in larger bulk wash quantities, we can't get them 100% removed. As the weather warms and the aphid predators increase, the populations will wane and eventually disappear. But now is peak aphid season, and we see them on just about everything now.
With only 4 pickups remaining, if you were hoping to continue getting CSA shares and aren't sure if you are signed up for summer, just click on your "deliveries" tab and see if your deliveries keep going into May and beyond. The last winter CSA pickup is April 21st. Signups are still open for the summer CSA, though we are getting very close to closing down registration, so if you or a friend needs/wants to join, you'd best do that soon. Or if your summer plans changed and you realize you DON'T want to continue in summer, then please let us know so we can cancel your summer share. It's better to cancel now before we close down registrations so we can fill your spot with someone else.
Bread and Cheese:
Farm to Market Rosemary Olive Oil Artisan Loaf
Hemme Brothers Original Curds
I got to thinking the other day. Do you know how strange we all are? I mean, how many people actually know where their food comes from? Who goes to random neighbor's porches to pick up their groceries each week? You are a little weird and we love you for it! Thanks for going the extra mile to support your local farmers! We've always known we were a bit weird and we're glad to have so many weirdos as part of our community!
Thanks from your weird farmers,
Dave and Sheri
