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CSA Week 2: Rainy Days

6/29/2015

 
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This week has been a typical week with lots of weeding, seeding, and harvesting. The heavy and never-ending rains this weekend delayed any outside tasks but gave us a reprieve and allowed us to tackle all the indoor tasks that pile up when we are outside. Sometimes farmers are grateful for a rainy day simply because it means a bit of rest! With the sun out today, we are excited to be back in the fields, even if our boots feel like lead weights because of all the mud stuck to them!

Several share members have asked if the Guelph CSA drop off is still on this Wednesday, July 1st because of the holiday. The answer is yes. Neither the vegetables nor us take stat holidays so we will be there with fresh produce! If you wish to use this Wednesday as a vacation day, you must let me know by Monday evening. We start harvesting Tuesday early AM so I need to calculate numbers prior to harvest. 

This year, we are SO excited to be using our new walk-in cooler that Rob built with a covered wash station beside. For the previous two years, I have made do with several refrigerators for the harvested vegetables and we had definitely outgrown that method! Now, we simply pack the freshly washed vegetables, stack the bins in the cooler, and then pack in the truck right before leaving. Whereas I was packing, unpacking, and repacking things what felt like a million times last year. We still have to modify the insulation slightly and spread pea gravel on the floor, but otherwise it is up and running. Once it's fully complete, I will share some pictures. 

Another new 'building' on the farm this year are our caterpillar tunnels. It is the ropes strung across the plastic that gives these tunnels their caterpillar appearance (and name). These movable tunnels replace our permanent hoop house and are where we grow most of the tomatoes and all the eggplants and peppers. After the tomato blight disaster of last year, we keep our fingers crossed that everything produces well this year. So far, we have many flowering tomato plants that are nearly 3 - 4 feet tall! And the eggplant and peppers are not far behind. We also managed to squeeze in 160' of basil which is doing really well and will be ready for the first harvest in a week or two :) Since these tunnels are movable, it allows us to rotate the location of crops to reduce pest and disease, while allowing the salts that accumulate in the soil when only irrigated to be washed away.  


Weekly Share Contents:

Head or Leaf Lettuce
Arugula
Hakurei Turnips
Kohlrabi
Kale
Garlic Scapes
Pea Shoots

Bonus: Mixed Herbs

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Recipe Ideas:

Hakurei turnips are an early spring vegetable that are fresh and delicious for about 3 weeks in the spring and then gone for the rest of the year. So enjoy them while they are here! Turnip greens are one of the most nutritious greens on the planet and the roots aren't bad either. High in vitamin C and folate but very low in calories, these turnips are great alternatives to starchier vegetables. We love them raw or lightly cooked (no mushy boiled turnip,please!). For some ideas, see the recipe links below:

http://ottawafood.blogspot.ca/2011/10/petit-hakurei-turnip-latkes-darling.html

http://www.threelilyfarm.com/blog/braised-hakurei-turnips

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  • Our Farm
    • Meet the Farmers
  • Certified Organic Produce
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