Tuesday, May 12, 2020

In the Share: Week 3

In the Share 
KALE: First picking from the field, these bunches highlight several varieties of kale that we grow. They all are a bit different, some smooth and some frilly. Let us know what you think. 

BUTTERHEAD LETUCE: It is lettuce heaven at the farm right now. The butterheads are living up to their name. Quarter is and have it as a wedge, or break it apart for lettuce wraps.

FRISEE ENDIVE: Another frilly vegetable in the share, this mild salad green adds flavor, texture and color to a salad.

RED LEAF LETTUCE: Rounding out the trio of salad greens, our dependable New Red Fire.

SPRING ONIONS: We started these onions last August. They are a variety that can overwinter, bringing us an early crop. Welcome back onions!

CILANTRO/DILL MIX: Chop the bunch together and add some oil and crushed nuts for a fresh, spring pesto.

ASPARAGUS: The amount you get will depend on your distribution location. The harvest slowed down with the recent frosts. We are looking for a flush once the warm weather returns.

SPROUTING BROCCOLI: Our outdoor planting is kicking into gear, giving us a bounty of early growth. The shoots are edible and tender. Have them raw with some dip or dressing.

Farm Report 
While the share may look similar to recent ones, there is actually a big shift taking place, as our harvest moves to the field. The Spring fields look good which is a relief after what was a very cold and extremely windy start to the growing season. The hard work of repeatedly re-pinning wind-whipped covers is hopefully behind us now. The reward is big salads and nutritious greens for weeks to come.


 The farm feels eerily normal at times despite the pandemic. We continue to wear masks inside the buildings and the washing and packing area, but out in the field today planting the summer crops one could almost forget the troubles of our world. It is not hard to stay six feet apart when you are putting in long rows of plants on the contour.


 Today, we finally decided that the frosts are behind us and planted the majority of the summer crops: hundreds of tomatoes and peppers also eggplant, okra, basil and lots of flowers. Our new electric workhorse pulling it’s little trailer was the perfect vehicle for bringing the plants to the field.


In the midst of a flurry of harvest and planting, CSA member Andy arrived with his drone and got some great photos of the farm.


 You can see our berms and swales running about every forty feet on the contour. Also visible are the tracks of the subsoiler that we have dragged 18 inches down running parallel to the berms. Our old pattern of rectangles is giving way to the undulations of the earth itself.


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