We've had some lovely, warm days over this past week and the vegetables are growing well. The snap peas were growing slowly but are now fully flowering and I see some tiny peas forming. Hopefully we will have some to share soon. The beets are sizing up and the zucchini plants have some tiny fruits on them. Before you know it, we will be swimming in summer vegetables!

I have been noticing higher than normal pest pressure this year. This seems to come in waves: we will have a few years with minimal insect and other pest pressure and then a bad year and then back to normal again. It's been 3 years since our last bad pest year so that seems about right! The curcubits (squash, melons, cucumbers, zucchini) are being plagued by cucumber beetles but so far the plants are winning. This can occasionally mean some scarring on fruit but we will wait to see as the fruit grow. 

We have also had a year of high rodent pressure around the farm. The rodents have been eating some of the new transplants right at the base and just generally being destructive. Hopefully we don't lose too many more plants: I tell them that there is lots of other vegetation around to eat but they apparently prefer the tender vegetable plants.

Thank-you to all the share members for accommodating my  decision to not provide plastic bags. I know it's a bit more awkward to fill other containers but everyone is adapting well. Over the next couple weeks there will fewer items that will need individual bags, which will make the process easier. 

Every year I like to try at least one or two new vegetables and this year endive is it! Many people will have eaten endive without knowing it. The variety that I have grown is a Frisee type endive. Frisee (or curly) endive is a common ingredient in mesclun and salad mixes. It is the crunchy, frizzy green you see in those mixes. So, if in doubt, simply chop the endive and add to your lettuce salads. But endive is also known for being a green that handles heat well. Which means that there are lots of great ways to prepare this vegetable. 

Warm Frisee Lardon Salad
​Dutch Potato Puree with Curly Endive & Bacon
​Endive Salad with Crispy Chickpeas

The theme for this week is green leaves! I think it must be impossible to be unhealthy when you eat all these green vegetables! The kohlrabi in particular this year has grown the most giant, lush leaves. Be sure to make use of these mild leaves that can be used just like kale but are more tender and sweeter. And the spring turnips look beautiful and are great both sauteed or raw. If you can't decide how to use up all these greens, try making a big soup. Add some good quality chicken or vegetable stock, all the greens you want, and some onions and garlic to make a flavourful and simple soup. Light green soups like this are great for after a day of indulging or during an illness. Simply freeze in individual portions and thaw as needed throughout the year. 

All the crops are planted, except some further successions of lettuce and other quick crops and now I am turning my attention to towards weeding. Although I've done a bit of necessary weeding here and there, now is the time to get all the beds beautifully clean. I also need to tackle tasks like pruning of the tomatoes and adding more strings to the pea trellis. The peas have started flowering and should be heavy with pods in a week or two.

I will be bringing transplants again this week to pickup: I have one tomato left and the basil is sold out but I still have a variety of perennial and annual flowers, herbs, and vegetables. 

Spring turnips are juicy, crisp signs that the bounty of summer is just beginning. Mild in flavour, these turnips can be used in a multitude of ways. And they also store very well. Simple remove the greens (which can  be eaten but don't have a long shelf life) and place the roots in an airtight container in the fridge. You should easily be able to store these for 2 - 3 weeks. For some ideas on what to do with turnips, check out these recipes below.

Roasted Hakurei Turnips and Radishes
​Miso Roasted Japanese Turnips
Hakurei Turnip Salad

Welcome to week one of our seventh CSA season! I'm excited to be back in the regular swing of things and we have lots of beautiful green leafy things for you this week. I'm sure I don't need to tell you that it has been a wet, cool spring. This has made finding dry moments to work the beds and plant the crops a bit tricky, but overall we are on schedule. The only crop still waiting to be planted is the melons and that should be done by the end of the week. 

The spinach looks and tastes stellar this week - everyone will be getting lots in their shares because it doesn't last long once the days warm up. We are also trying a new crop this year: Pak Choy. Perfect for stirfries and grilling, this Asian green is a great alternative to the kale and chard that we will see lots of in the coming weeks. For more ideas on how to prepare it, check out the recipes suggestions below. 

A couple of important housekeeping notes: 

1. Bring your bags! As you will know from previous posts and the welcome email, I am eliminating single use plastic from our farm. This means that in addition to bags/bins for the larger bunched items, you will also need some bag/bin/container for loose items such as spinach, arugula, etc. Our Mount Forest and workplace pre-packed shares will be using up the last of the plastic bags and then transitioning to biodegradable bags. 

2. Vegetable and Flower Transplants for Sale! At the first two to three Guelph pickups I will be bringing some vegetable, herb, and flower transplants to sell to anyone who has an empty spot in their garden. For vegetables and herbs I will have: basil, holy basil, sage, thyme, tomatoes, peppers, and kale. For flowers I will have calendula, lupine, echinacea, marigolds, borage, anise hyssop, and more. Most transplants are in 3" pots and are $4 ea or 3 for $10. The tomatoes are in 1 gallon pots and are $8 ea. The marigolds are in 6-cell packs for $4. For our Mount Forest and workplace pre-packed shares, email me if you are interested and I will pack them with your first share.

Anyone who reserved their share by January 13 will receive a 500g honey at the first share pickup. I will have a list of names so that you can check to see if you qualify.

​Dust off your delicious salad recipes in preparation for this week!

Pak Choy (sometimes called Bok Choy) is a thick ribbed green that is mild and sweet. Classically used in stirfries, it is also great grilled or finely chopped in a salad. Check out these recipes for more ideas.

​Grilled Bok Choy with Lime Dressing
10 Minute Garlic Bok Choy
Ginger Bok Choy Soup with Ramen Noodles