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I love hearing from CSA Members about how you are preparing your veggies and how happy you are with them! And how you are learning to love some veggie that you always thought you hated ie: eggplant! (Try the Smoky Eggplant Dip.)

I always say, “If you love our veggies, tell everyone. If you have a problem, tell me!” I do my best to make sure only good quality vegetables are put into the boxes, however, a great many cukes, squash, etc. have passed through my hands–and we are just getting started with the tomatoes. Please, if ever you receive something of poor quality on Day One, let me know immediately!

We snapped a photo of at least one of our neighborhood bears the other night. It is difficult to tell how big he is. I say “he” because of the paw prints left on my front door and the windows on either side. The turkeys will “fight” their reflection in these windows and I assume the bear will react the same way–either that or he is checking out what’s for dinner!

We have no shortage of wildlife on our property. The deer are quite fond of the heirloom apple trees this time of the year.

The turkeys are always around, too. Their babies are gangling poults now. Several seem to have survived the chick stage of early summer. This is a feat alone as there is a pack of coyotes nearby. We can hear them howl whenever a siren goes by. Welcome to our Wildlife Sanctuary!

Just when we think we cannot take one more day of the blazing heat and humidity, the temps cool off into the 70’s and we can breathe easy again. The potatoes and late plantings of cucumbers are impressive. 🙂 The melons and winter squash less so. 😦 It is impossible to analyze all of the variables to determine why the various crops turn out the way they do. We just do our best with what Mother Nature sends our way in any given season!

In the box look for another round of Kennebec potatoes–they are white. Also, cabbage–the heads are small, but it seems many people like them that way! Cukes and patty pan squash–either small or “stuffing” size. Try the stuffing method if you have not yet done so! We are not getting many zucchini now, but the peppers are turning vibrant colors and they are all as sweet as can be. And a variety of eggplant and tomatoes are to be found. The tomatoes are small this year. The oblong ones are an heirloom variety. They will look orange on the outside, but be more red on the inside. And they are “meaty” vs. “juicy.”

 

 

 

We started the season with over three, labeled CSA Boxes for each member. Today our supply is running quite low. I know some members never even take the box, but rather grab the bag and go. However, if you are one who has extra boxes in your garage or panty, please return them on your next veggie pickup. If you have destroyed a box, as an alternative, you may return a clean milk box for us to use for delivering your vegetables.

Like all days, Saturday was busy for us. What was different was that we accidentally ripped our garage door off of its tracks. It has some age on it and I prepared myself to have to replace it. I placed a call to Precision Garage Door Service and to my amazement they came to the house and had repaired it within 3.5 hours. It is actually better than ever! We are so thankful for the timely, efficient service. The neighborhood bear who frequents our property was hoping for a free night in the garage not doubt. We dodged a bullet on this event.

Looking for a new way to prepare the patty pan squash? Try stuffing them. First hallow our the insides, then chop what you removed and add onions, pepper, tomato, eggplant, garlic–whatever veggie you want along with some sea salt, pepper and Italian seasoning. Fill and bake in a 350 degree oven until just tender. Delicious served either hot or cold!

One word of caution. Use proper technique when cutting out the summer squash. This photo represents a safe cutting technique.

And this photo represents a dangerous cutting technique. They can be slippery to handle and the tendency is to spread out the hand to hold; but no one needs a slice to the hand!

In our farm’s micro climate it has been raining every day for over a week. This coming week looks much the same. Moisture on such a constant basis with no sunshine is hard on our plants and any vegetables which are produced. If some veggie does not last as long as it did earlier in the season, it is safe to blame the excessive rain!

Meanwhile, your CSA Box this week will have white (golden) specialty potatoes, cabbages–red and/or green, cucumbers, patty pan squash, green and yellow zucchini, tender green beans, sweet bell peppers and eggplant–traditional and/or Japanese, depending on the day’s harvest. Our tomatoes are a late variety (and like sunshine). Perhaps next week they will make an appearance.

 

It sounds as if we are in for measurable rainfall this week. Butterflies do not like rain! They disappear when the rains begin. I wonder when they go? When it is not raining they cover the flowers and butterfly bushes outside our windows. I LOVE seeing them! It makes all of the effort of growing the flowers worthwhile.

I think I am better off growing flowers than strawberries. That project was plenty of work and so far I have only gotten three berries–four if you count the one my Grandson harvested. The chipmunks, on the other hand, have full bellies!

Last week I indicated there were specialty potatoes in the boxes. That was incorrect as last week we had the second week of Kennebec potatoes. They are a white white potato. This week and next week the CSA Boxes will have the white specialty potatoes. They look a bit like the Yukon Gold potato except the outer skin is not as nice. And when you cut into the potato you will see they are golden inside which is their special trait. Of course, I run two weeks at a time when possible so everyone gets a taste!

The CSA Box this week will have white (golden) specialty potatoes, cabbages–red and green,  cucumbers, patty pan squash, green and yellow zucchini, the first tender green beans, sweet bell peppers and eggplant–either traditional or Japanese, depending on the day’s harvest.

The garden is weedy now. We don’t use herbicides and have not had time to pull all the weeds. Many hours worth have been pulled, but there are plenty left behind (as habitat for the insects)!

Robert had an opportunity between raindrops to mow the front field in recent days.  Check out the vivid blues of an impending storm in contrast to the vivid greens of the treeline!

Here are some statistics which might give you pause. The US now imports over 90 percent of our seafood, 50 percent of our fresh fruit and 20 percent of our vegetables. Canada, Mexico, China and India are our top food trading partners. We imported nearly $50 billion of food from just those four countries. Imports from all countries have increased, and that is especially true for China and India.

Fortunately, you know who your farmer is! And in the CSA Box this week you will find a white specialty potato, cabbages, kohlrabi, cucumbers, patty pan squash, green and yellow zucchini, broccoli from the “last wave” we planted, and the first sweet bell peppers and eggplant–either traditional or Japanese, depending on the day’s harvest.

It has and will continue to rain nearly every day. This is hard on the plants and the veggies. You will notice that the yellow zucchini, in particular, will not be holding up well. Move them to the “eat as soon as possible” area of your refrigerator.

We are getting a few cucumbers now. In a drier year there are bushels and bushels. They have a sweet taste, but will not last for weeks in the refrigerator as in some years.

I got this message from a CSA Member:  “I was out of town for the 4th and came home to veggies that needed to be cooked. I ended up with the best patty pan squash, zucchini, red potato, cabbage soup ever!! Didn’t think the veggies would be that good together but they are an amazing combination!”

In the box this week look for white Kennebec potatoes, cabbages, kohlrabi, cucumbers, kale, patty pan squash and green and yellow zucchini—for sure.

I know, I know!  It seems as if I left the country because I have not been posting on the Blog.  But our CSA Members know I have been here all along because their veggie boxes have continued to show up at the pickup sites on time!  Truth be told, my Grandson was here for nine days and then my brother came for a short visit.  Summertime in WNC!

I trust everyone enjoyed the first red, specialty potatoes.  Those were the first potatoes in your boxes. Last week and this week the boxes have Yukon Gold potatoes. It seems to be a good year for potatoes. The sedge is not growing in this patch and spuds love the rain. When you see one that has split, you know it had a rain-induced growth spurt.  The same thing can be said for any splits you notice in either the purple or green kohlrabi.

In the box this week look for Yukon Gold potatoes, cabbage, the first cucumbers, green romaine lettuce, patty pan summer squash, green and yellow zucchini, kale, and purple or green kohlrabi.

We have reached that time of year when we have a season change in vegetables coming in from the gardens. We are moving away from the greens, but there will still be some  lettuces, romaines, and kohlrabi! To the broccoli and florets we will be adding cauliflower, onions, patty pan squash, green and yellow zucchini, and most likely new potatoes!

The soil was getting extremely hard and dry, but Tropical Storm Cindy brought us a manageable amount of rainfall–for this we are thankful. A little moisture makes is easier to pull the weeds, too. We have plenty of weeds needing to be pulled. And the ones we don’t get out of the ground will become a haven for the beneficial insects!

Yesterday I was outside putting the recyclables into the bin and enjoying the exceptional  warm breeze blowing though my hair. When I turned around, I was startled to see a very small, black bear cub waddling through my courtyard sniffing the flowers. The garage door was between the two of us and I headed directly for it being keenly aware that where there is a baby cub there is usually a very large Mama Bear! I looked out from the safety of the kitchen sun room, but all I could see was a little, black butt running into the tree line. Mama had to be nearby! Perhaps she has two or even three cubs which she is busy corralling. I will be more vigilant when I step outside in the future.

Last summer was the first time we have ever seen a black bear near our house. That one was lazily walking our curved sidewalk also among the flowers until he rested his laurels upon our front stoop. Just what I need . . . more varmints in my flower gardens!

 

We have some beautiful heads of broccoli going out. However, if you can imagine, each and every stalk of broccoli you find in your CSA Box had the potential to be as large as the “big ones.” Weather conditions prevented this from happening. Perhaps this is a good thing! Just imagine how much broccoli we would have if all of them had fully matured!

In the box this week you will find Joi Choi, Ching Chang (two varieties), kohlrabi, turnips (both red and white), lettuces, red & green romaine, escarole, endive, kale, broccoli and perhaps tatsoi, depending on the day.

Just a word about our (not certified) organic produce–the holes in the leaves that you see mean that veggie has been given ‘insect test certification.’ Or as Robert says, if the insects won’t eat it, why would you want to eat it! And, the early broccoli has some worms. If you miss them when you are washing the head, they will show up in the bottom of  your streamer. They are camouflaged, so look carefully! We have an organic input we will try to apply before the next cycle gets started. They always take us by surprise in the first wave–just too many other things demanding our attention. The situation does make one wonder how much spray has been applied to those heads you find in the grocery store!

These are turnips!  Not radishes! You can eat them raw, or boil them, or steam them, or roast them. The same cooking methods as pply to the kohlrabi. Actually, kohlrabi translates into “cabbage turnip.”

Here are some turnips ready to roast. Sweet and yummy any way they are fixed. And pretty, too!

If you are looking for the list of what veggies are in the CSA Box this week, go back one post on this Blog.

 

In the box this week you will find Joi Choi, Ching Chang (two varieties), kohlrabi, turnips (both red and white), tatsoi, lettuce, red romaine, escarole, endive, purple mustards, Toyko Bekana–the Chinese Mustard, kale and broccoli.

This is turning out to be a great year for broccoli.  We grow several varieties; so if you think some heads look different from others, this is why!

I will do my best to pack the boxes carefully so as not to damage the veggies.  Unpacking will be YOUR challenge!

It is dry again.  We could use some rain.  Meanwhile, we will irrigate!