CSA delivery 7/28/2008
In the "box" this week:
beets ("flat top Egyptian")
kale (dwarf curly or "dinosaur")
beans! (yellow and green roma or yellow wax and royal burgundy)
mint
garlic
Yeah, I know, the purple beans cook up green. They are tasty and will still make a pretty plate served with the tender yellow wax. Since I'm not labeling boxes I hope you get to try each variety over the next few weeks.
I'm still fighting pests and weather in the garden. Most of the kohlrabe has been damaged by the groundhogs/woodchucks. They're even starting to take a look at the beans!
The tomatoes and peppers are still developing slowly, but the okra is starting to blossom! I even have some interesting looking cardoon. That's an heirloom veggie that we'll have to share recipes to figure out. It's similar to artichokes but you cook the huge, spikey stems (can grow up to 6 feet?!), blanched then breaded and cooked with cheese for an interesting casserole. I'm hoping there are "lighter" summer recipes that aren't as heavy, as I prefer my summer meals light and easy.
I'll try to update my Google farm page with more recipes and photos. . . but I'm still busy trying to get more fall crops planted (beets, radishes, multi-colored carrots, purple cauliflower, and cabbage). And there's the weeding. . . the constant weeding . . . it's the best defense I have against bugs but they're still trying to munch on the dinosaur kale, "red arrow" broccoli raab, and eggplants. I will try using "bt" on the plants this week to minimize the damage. "Bt" is an Organic-approved bacteria, not a pesticide.
I was also extra-careful while harvesting today. Some of you noticed I have a summer cold. I washed my hands often and used anti-bacterial wipes as an extra precaution. I don't like the anti-bacterial products but it's an extra precaution for your safety.
I still haven't made a decision about the Monday vs. Thursday delivery date. I'll send an e-mail blast when I do. Some of you know I'm a vendor at the Logan Square Farmers' Market on Sundays, drive back to the farm, harvest some, go to sleep, get up, harvest more, then drive in on Monday afternoons before teaching a Monday night class. Normally I can handle it, but if there are rain storms I may not have enough time to get into the field to harvest. The past few years were drought years and I forgot what it's like to have normal rains every week! If I can stay in town on Sunday nights I may be able to de-compress and psych up for the peak harvests coming up!
beets ("flat top Egyptian")
kale (dwarf curly or "dinosaur")
beans! (yellow and green roma or yellow wax and royal burgundy)
mint
garlic
Yeah, I know, the purple beans cook up green. They are tasty and will still make a pretty plate served with the tender yellow wax. Since I'm not labeling boxes I hope you get to try each variety over the next few weeks.
I'm still fighting pests and weather in the garden. Most of the kohlrabe has been damaged by the groundhogs/woodchucks. They're even starting to take a look at the beans!
The tomatoes and peppers are still developing slowly, but the okra is starting to blossom! I even have some interesting looking cardoon. That's an heirloom veggie that we'll have to share recipes to figure out. It's similar to artichokes but you cook the huge, spikey stems (can grow up to 6 feet?!), blanched then breaded and cooked with cheese for an interesting casserole. I'm hoping there are "lighter" summer recipes that aren't as heavy, as I prefer my summer meals light and easy.
I'll try to update my Google farm page with more recipes and photos. . . but I'm still busy trying to get more fall crops planted (beets, radishes, multi-colored carrots, purple cauliflower, and cabbage). And there's the weeding. . . the constant weeding . . . it's the best defense I have against bugs but they're still trying to munch on the dinosaur kale, "red arrow" broccoli raab, and eggplants. I will try using "bt" on the plants this week to minimize the damage. "Bt" is an Organic-approved bacteria, not a pesticide.
I was also extra-careful while harvesting today. Some of you noticed I have a summer cold. I washed my hands often and used anti-bacterial wipes as an extra precaution. I don't like the anti-bacterial products but it's an extra precaution for your safety.
I still haven't made a decision about the Monday vs. Thursday delivery date. I'll send an e-mail blast when I do. Some of you know I'm a vendor at the Logan Square Farmers' Market on Sundays, drive back to the farm, harvest some, go to sleep, get up, harvest more, then drive in on Monday afternoons before teaching a Monday night class. Normally I can handle it, but if there are rain storms I may not have enough time to get into the field to harvest. The past few years were drought years and I forgot what it's like to have normal rains every week! If I can stay in town on Sunday nights I may be able to de-compress and psych up for the peak harvests coming up!