In the Share - Week 6

ZUCCHINI F/P  A perfect accompaniment to the first day of summer on Saturday.  We are trialing several types in various shapes and striations - let us know if you have a favorite.

LETTUCE F  Romaine hearts and a few others, but the lettuce season is winding down for the summer.

CABBAGE P  It has been a good cabbage harvest this Spring.  We should have some more for the next few weeks. 

KOHLRABI F/P  One for everyone this week and then it is goodbye, sweet 'rabi, until fall.

SWEET ONIONS F/P  The first of the bulbous onions, our sweet Walla Walla

HERB CHOICE F/P   Parsley and/or mint

GREENS CHOICE F  Swiss chard or kale

CARROTS F  The first of the Spring carrots are a mix of orange and yellows.  Partial shares will get them next week.

STRAWBERRIES P  The last from the patch allows us to "settle up" with the partial shares

SUGARSNAP OR SNOW PEAS F  The last from the pea patch.

HAKUREI TURNIPS F  These are topped and should keep for a while in your crisper.  As with most crops this time of year they keep best in moist, cold conditions.  Plastic bags work well to hold in moisture.  Roots keep better with their tops removed. 

NEXT WEEK:  More cabbage, greens, zucchini and carrots.  Beets return.

FARM REPORT:
The topic of conversation this week is what can and cannot be done, what is too wet and what needs to be done by hand.  The tractor was brought out once or twice in the hopes of mowing or cultivating only to be turned around and returned to the barnyard.  It is too wet to do most anything but pull weeds by hand which the farm crew has been doing plenty.  Today we finally managed to find a spot that could take a hoe - Hoe-ray!

Our main concern is the 1300 sweet potato slips that are waiting to be planted.  The beds they are destined for remain too wet and we are nervously watching the rainy forecast for Thursday.  Another day or two of dry weather would give us a chance.  Overall, it is nice to have adequate moisture for a change and the crops that are planted are growing well. The white in the photo is the buckwheat cover crop that is blooming which is good for the bees and other pollinators.

On Friday we caught a calm day and removed the plastic off of the top of the high tunnel.  The job went smoothly (the harder part is putting it back on!).  With some rain on Sunday, the seeded cover crop should be up soon.