In the Share: Week 15

 In the Share: 

GREENS CHOICE: CHARD, BOK CHOI, TAT SOI OR KALE* CHOICE: An asterisk on the kale because what we are calling kale is actually the luscious leaves of the sprouting broccoli plants seen above growing luxuriantly in the high tunnel. For all the kale lovers out there, these leaves are just as delicious… perhaps even more tender and sweet. 

 LEEK/BULB FENNEL: We harvested all the remaining fennel and leeks from the field before the snow and will distribute what we have to the shares this week. They are a great combination to flavor any dish. Add them to a soup or stew or roast. 

BUTTERHEAD LETTUCE: Straight out of the high tunnel, these heads are full, tender and buttery. We like to mix some yogurt, mayo, olive oil, vinegar and grated cheese to dress these beauties. Blue cheese is a favorite in our home. 

RED LEAF LETTUCE: Also out of the high tunnel, the red leaf is at its peak. 

SWEET POTATOES: This year’s crop was among our least productive ever, but we do have a mix of orange and white ones for the shares this week only. The skinny ones are perfect for this spiced sweet potato recipe from our 2012 blog https://fairsharenews.blogspot.com/2012/11/what-to-do-with-your-share-week-27.html 

RADISHES: Crisp and clean, these red radishes are sweet and juicy. Slice them thin to add to a sandwich, or grate onto a salad. 

ENDIVE: A versatile green for a fresh salad, or to add to any cooked dish. 

LAST OF THE SUMMER FRUITS: We have some tomatoes, tomatillos, jalapenos and other harvest items that need a home and will be distributing them in the shares this week. Enjoy this final taste of summer. 

Farm report: 

A rollercoaster of weather it has been these past two weeks. We hit 85 degrees last Thursday before dipping into the upper 20s yesterday morning with snow falling. 

 

Thanks to the hard work of our awesome crew, we were prepared and were able to enjoy the snowy morning and doing a bit of "farming the desk". The high tunnel crops were warm and cozy with their rebuilt side wall, the last of the field crops tucked a full cooler, a big load of well-rotted hay delivered for mulching, and our first fire of the season in our woodstove. 

The field work for 2020 is far from complete.  Stakes, row cover and irrigation tape need to come in for the winter.  The garlic will be planted on Friday and hopefully mulched soon after.  Plus, just in time for election day we will be planting 20 chestnut trees.  

The high tunnel will continue to provide for the last week's shares and intermittently throughout the winter.  We should have a nice share of leafy greens and hopefully some salad turnips and celery for the final week.