Pick up #4
Ye ol’ Farmhouse, and the gardens.
Greetings Farm Friends!
Outside our porch room window I observed different bees darting around the bee balm . These insects seem to be pleased that the rain has finally subsided, much like us. While writing this, I was listening to a video from Wild Farm Alliance and was inspired to share about the significance of habitat through their website. At our farm, we enjoy providing habitat for various critters. During Wednesday’s lunch, we were visited by a yellow warbler and hummingbirds. I always make it a point to savor these moments as these visitors are quintessential to the Summer season, which brings forth a populous array of birds and bugs.
This field is lookin’ gorgeous! Radishes, carrots and herbs are in the front and a good deal of broccoli is just behind all that.
This week's share reflects the adequate amount of rain we've been getting. We have a nice selection of things that you missed out on earlier in the season. It's the end of July, can you believe it? I guess the watermelons can, since there are tennis ball-sized fruits on the plant. Tomatoes will be in the shares soon.
Winter squash and zinnias :)
Share Contents- please remember to wash all vegetables before eating, and it is ok to swap things out at pick up!
Scape Paste-Made by Andrew, great on tacos, flat bread, pizza or anywhere you need a zesty garlic addition to your life.
3 Head Lettuce- We’ve been eating sandwiches lately with chickpea salad (like egg salad but with beans) and adding lettuce. Or skip the bread and add your sandwich items on the salad. Scape Paste would go well in a salad dressing too.
1 bunch radish- an excellent snack or salad addition
1 bunch Hakurei Turnips- an excellent snack
Summer Squash- Try an indian snack with your zucchini
Dragon’s Egg Cucumbers- white, egg shaped, and delicious. No need to peel! Another great salad addition, sandwich component or snack!
Dragon’s Egg Cuke in the field. Check out the different sizes, one has a flower attached, one is on it’s way and one is almost ready to pick.
1 Bunch Chard- Summertime spinach, great on tacos or steamed with a spritz of lemon at the end. Great in omelettes too, and some people use the stem as a celery substitute. An allaround delicious and versatile green. Try this recipe this week: link here.
1 Bunch Basil- remember to keep this out of the fridge, and use within a few days. Best storage is in a baggie with a little bit of airflow. With this bunch of basil and your scape paste, as well as your turnip and radish greens you’re in pesto city! Stuff a bell pepper with pesto and some other goodies and you can make pizza peppers!
1 bunch beets? If you find these at pick up, store the beets without tops and they will last for a very long time. The beet tops are much like chard (chard was bred from beet root…)so you can sautee up your beet greens and your chard together or consider the greens a happy bonus. If you have beets at pick up, try a beet rice recipe: linked here.
Joyful eating to you! We hope you’re enjoying Summer and the small things in life. Have a great week!
Andrew and Margaret
More winter squash, and watermelons!
6 week old chicks enjoying the grss and dust bathing!
P.S. On farm pick up folks, there are new chicks to peep this week! The chicks Margaret (me, the author!, was raising are out on pasture. We will have eggs 10 weeks from Wednesday).
They are in a chicken tractor structure and if you want to see them, they should be nearby the pick up area-but not too close for food safety reasons. They are a fun bunch and we’re excited to have more chickens on the farm again. Once Fall arrives they will be back in the coop with our 3 current chickens, getting ready for winter.
