Summer CSA #2 2013

June 14 2013
Summer CSA #2

Hello everyone

We hope you all enjoyed your first summer baskets and getting them wasn't too confusing!  I’m pretty happy with this week’s baskets considering the weather. It’s been really difficult to get to the gardens without sinking and we need things to dry up before we can get anything done at all. Lots of seeds have continued to be started in trays instead of the garden and will have to be transplanted as soon as possible. 

  Waterlogged soil is really difficult for plants; earlier planted crops had a chance to become established before the stress hit them.  Newly planted crops such as tomatoes, zucchini, squash and melons certainly have not had it so easy and it’s a waiting game now.  Hopefully not too much damage has been done to their root system and they can with a little extra time bounce back. I am grateful that everything in the greenhouse is doing well and will continue to offer sprouts until everything picks up.

Some good news is that Garlic Scapes are here! Those delicious curly garlicky asparagus like shoots which are only around for a little while.  These are amazing and there are so many recipes online, from pesto, to pizza to grilled.  They are fully edible except for the pointy little tip. When eaten raw the garlic flavor is a little more pronounced but lightly cooked and it resembles an asparagus that may have been sauteed in garlic.

A photo of a garlic scape almost ready to be harvested- it would because a large flower seed if left alone.

In this weeks basket you will find:

2 bags of Chez Nous Lettuce Mix ( I would recommend using the one labeled 1 first as it was packaged Wed and the other today( i guess this only pertains to the Saturday group!).

1 bag of Garlic Scapes

1 bag of Sunflower Shoots

1 bag of Hakurei Turnips 

1 bag of Thyme

Also, we are going to try the Swap Bin which will be labelled and is only available for on farm pick ups.In here you will find some Kale or Sunflower Shoots. You may trade any of your items ( so lettuce, sunflower shoots, turnips) except for the herbs (lower value). We'll see how it goes. 

This weeks Chez Nous Mix marks the end of "colder months added ingredients" and the transition to "summer add-ons" which will grow as we move along.  This weeks mix contains new items such as radish microgreens (on red leaf with a sprig of dill), Fava bean leaves and blossoms (above red leaf), beet thinnings.

Lettuce usually takes the longest to prepare. 

Lettuce Heads can be so beautiful!

I try to keep items that take a really long time to harvest to one per week but with this weather you do what you gotta do! Rinsing peas for shoots ( on left) and harvesting Sunflower shoots. This takes a long time...I'm picky about getting all the little seeds out! Sunflower shoots are yummy raw-in smoothies, lightly cooked with a touch of olive oil and salt and we always add them to our breakfast sandwiches!

Flowering Thyme I usually keep a little basket or bowl or herbs like thyme, rosemary and oregano on my counter. It dries out but that's ok!  Just pull all the little leaves off -flowers are edible.

Have a great week everybody!

Rick and Shirley