The big news out here on the farm this week is some personnel changes. Ben had to leave due to severe allergies. So we wish him well. But, Maggee has just arrived, a recent graduate from Cornell and Asheville native. She started Monday and fits in wonderfully. You’ll see her at market tomorrow.
We harvested the first varieties of onions, which are now in the barn loft, drying. With the rains last week came a burst of growth from all the vegetables as well as all the weeds. We spent some portion of Monday, hoeing and cultivating with our 1948 Allis Chalmers G tractor. Half of the winter squash was sown at the end of last week, some of it has already germinated. We sowed the rest of the winter squash on Thursday and planted sweet potatoes and melons, more sunflowers and sweet corn, lettuce, and lettuce mix. We sowed more beans and two beds of sorghum! So with some luck and hard work we’ll be making molasses this fall. It’s been a huge week on the farm. We’ve now planted or sown everything that stays in the ground through the summer. From mid-May until now that has been our goal and our focus. It feels great to have accomplished those goals.
Some of you have been asking us about our traditional farm party held around the Summer Soltice. Well, this year we’re going to have to postpone that event. We’re thinking of having a Harvest party in the fall, in early September. Of course everyone is welcome to come out to the farm at any time (we will probably put you to work), but we encourage everyone to see where and how their food is being grown. We’ll will relay more details as the season progresses.
Please return your CSA box next week. These boxes are waxed and are not recyclable, but we reuse them. So PLEASE remember to bring them back next week.
Ideas for Cooking
Half of the boxes this week have Broccoli Raab in them. This is the plant that broccoli was originally bred from. It’s one of our favorites. It’s wonderful chopped and sauteed with garlic and onions. You can add it to pasta or simply have as a side dish.
And Garlic Scapes! Use them in place of garlic. A great pizza topping, addition to stir fry.
Pictures:
I wish, I wish I had my camera on the farm Wednesday morning. We had three different crews working which include both of our children. One was laying biodegradable “plastic”, one planted a bed of sunflowers and two beds of sweet corn, and the other hilled the potatoes. We were a well oiled machine!