CSA Week 2

This past week was a busy one with all CSA pickups starting plus we were vendors at the Local Food Fest in Guelph on Sunday. We had a great day and enjoyed eating local, seasonal food. A favourite of everyone's, especially on a hot day, was Mapleton's Organic ice cream!

While we have a brief thunderstorm last night, this summer has been very dry so far. Even with starting our irrigation bright and early every morning and running it until evening, we are seeing some lack-of-water stress on plants. Primarily, I'm noticing a few things aren't growing as quickly or the bottom leaves are browning. Last year we consistently had an all-day rain on nearly every harvest day but this year I think I've only worn my rain gear once or twice for a few hours. That said, it's always easier to add water when we aren't getting any rather than take it away when we get too much. But if you feel like doing a little rain dance for us it would be appreciated!

Yes, you have peas in your shares this week! Since this is the first picking of the season it is a little light but by next week we should have even more peas for everyone. I bet the lucky person who picks up the share will have these peas gobbled up before they even get home!

For a second week, you will be receiving garlic scapes in your shares. Garlic scapes are the flower stalk of the garlic plant and we pull them off to encourage the plant to put its energy into growing a big bulb rather than growing a big flower. A happy benefit of this pruning is that garlic scapes are yummy in their own right. With a mild garlic flavour, scapes are perfect to use anywhere you would normally use garlic or green onions. They also store very well; in a sealed bag or container in the fridge they will last for 2 - 3 weeks. I often toss them into stir-frys, soups, salads, and more. They also make a delicious pesto perfect for topping pasta, pizza, roasted veggies, chicken or fish. For more ideas, check out the recipes at the link below: 

7 Things to Do With Garlic Scapes