Category Archives: high tunnel

In the Share – Week 6

June 18, 2014buckwheat, cover crops, high tunnel, zucchiniFarmer Rebecca

ZUCCHINI F/P A perfect accompaniment to the first day of summer on Saturday. We are trialing several types in various shapes and striations – let us know if you have a favorite.

LETTUCE F Romaine hearts and a few others, but the lettuce season is winding down for the summer.

CABBAGE P It has been a good cabbage harvest this Spring. We should have some more for the next few weeks.

KOHLRABI F/P One for everyone this week and then it is goodbye, sweet ‘rabi, until fall.

SWEET ONIONS F/P The first of the bulbous onions, our sweet Walla Walla

HERB CHOICE F/P Parsley and/or mint

GREENS CHOICE F Swiss chard or kale

CARROTS F The first of the Spring carrots are a mix of orange and yellows. Partial shares will get them next week.

STRAWBERRIES P The last from the patch allows us to “settle up” with the partial shares

SUGARSNAP OR SNOW PEAS F The last from the pea patch.

HAKUREI TURNIPS F These are topped and should keep for a while in your crisper. As with most crops this time of year they keep best in moist, cold conditions. Plastic bags work well to hold in moisture. Roots keep better with their tops removed.

NEXT WEEK: More cabbage, greens, zucchini and carrots. Beets return.

FARM REPORT:
The topic of conversation this week is what can and cannot be done, what is too wet and what needs to be done by hand. The tractor was brought out once or twice in the hopes of mowing or cultivating only to be turned around and returned to the barnyard. It is too wet to do most anything but pull weeds by hand which the farm crew has been doing plenty. Today we finally managed to find a spot that could take a hoe – Hoe-ray!

Our main concern is the 1300 sweet potato slips that are waiting to be planted. The beds they are destined for remain too wet and we are nervously watching the rainy forecast for Thursday. Another day or two of dry weather would give us a chance. Overall, it is nice to have adequate moisture for a change and the crops that are planted are growing well. The white in the photo is the buckwheat cover crop that is blooming which is good for the bees and other pollinators.

On Friday we caught a calm day and removed the plastic off of the top of the high tunnel. The job went smoothly (the harder part is putting it back on!). With some rain on Sunday, the seeded cover crop should be up soon.

In the Share Extended Season – Week 1

April 23, 2014carrots, greenhouse, high tunnel, potatoes, swiss chardFarmer Rebecca

LETTUCE (2) We will be picking the lettuce heads in the morning, but it looks like everyone will get one butterhead and one red frilly leaf lettuce.

ASPARAGUS The asparagus kicked back into gear after last week’s frost just in time for us all to enjoy.

SPINACH This is from the over-wintered patch and includes some massive leaves, so be prepared.

CARROTS These are juicy carrots freshly dug.

SWISS CHARD The plants are very large and quite delicious.

GREEN ONIONS We have some over-wintered bunching onions that are nice out in the fields.

HERB CHOICE Cilantro, dill or garlic chives.

EGGS (1 dozen) Our flock is now 8 months old and cranking out the eggs. See Tom’s post for a one of our favorite fast foods, frittata.

NEXT WEEK: Lettuce, asparagus, green garlic, Spring turnips, bok choy, herb choice.

The first week of the 2014 Fair Share Farm CSA season is here! For the next 31 weeks we endeavor to feed you well. Our work takes place in the out of doors and crazy weather is known to happen in our region, but we work hard every day to minimize the risks and take care of the trust that has been given.

Every Tuesday night, I (Rebecca ) list what is in the share for that week and give a farm report with some photos. Tom posts at around the same time with helpful thoughts on unusual vegetables and recipes using items from the share.

The week started with the harvest of the high tunnel carrots. This is our second Spring harvesting out of the HT and we don’t feel like we have it all figured out yet. The carrots are juicy and good-tasting, but we graded out a fair amount of split ones. Still, we have enough nice ones that we plan to put them in the extended season shares again in two weeks.

The farm crew spent the better part of the past two days cleaning and preparing the wash and pack area for the harvest. Washing the hundreds of crates that we use takes a huge effort. Inside the packing room, the coolers are clean and running smoothly with the CSA crates already starting to fill them.

While the farmers were washing everything in sight, the crops kept working without us. Converting solar energy into good things to eat is what they do, but it is easy to worry about their success. After some nervous anticipation, the seed potatoes have finally popped their first shoots up above the soil. A big hurdle passed for the potatoes and a good omen for the season ahead.

Our mantra every year is this: best year yet! Let it be so…

In the Share – Week 24

October 30, 2013frost, high tunnel, tomato plantsFarmer Rebecca

first frost

LETTUCE (F/P) Just enough out of the field to get everyone one for the last week, all butterheads or the speckled heirloom, Forellenschluss.

CARROTS (F/P) Freshly dug with their tops on, stubby Chantennay-type.

GREENS CHOICE (F/P) Kale, arugula, or tat soi. Partial shares include a choice of endive.

ENDIVE (F) The frilly French lettuce, also known as frisee.

SWEET PEPPERS OR EGGPLANT (F) It warmed up last week before the frost and a few more fruit ripened in the process. Here’s the very last of the summer fruits.

WATERMELON RADISHES (F) Spicy when fresh, they are sure sweet roasted.

BEETS OR BULB FENNEL (F/P)

HAKUREI TURNIPS (F) A gamble when we planted them, they are just now sizing up for a small tender bunch with very edible greens.

SWEET POTATOES (F/P) More orange Beauregards.

HERB CHOICE (F) Cilantro, dill, parsley or a dried herb.

GARLIC (F/P) We planted 3/4 of the field on Monday before the rain. With only a bit more to go, we are letting go of a bit more for everyone.

NEXT WEEK: (The first week of the extended season) Sweet potatoes, leeks, red cabbage, spinach, potatoes, herbs, lettuce, and bok choy.

FARM REPORT:

Whew! Your farmers are very much enjoying a beautiful Fall after a busy year. This is the last week of the regular 24-week CSA season. For almost 100 of you, this is the last week of the CSA. Thank you for spending the season with our produce. We hope you feel well-fed from our local family farm.

Looking back, we are always amazed at how much we all accomplish working together. Ten years of the Fair Share Farm CSA has breathed new life into the farm. This past Saturday was typical of the crazy wonderful support we see here. With some time left after the morning’s harvest, the CSA crew went to work removing the tomato plants and supports from the fields.

Fifty of you will continue with us for four more weeks. The high tunnel is mostly full of green goodness. We did have problems this fall with the lettuce crop, both inside and outside. We’ve had to pick good heads wherever we could save them from their bolting behavior. But we have beautiful spinach other salad greens and fresh roots in the high tunnel, more under row cover outside and crates of roots in storage to keep everyone full of good food.

And finally, we continue to pour over the 2013 survey results. Here are some of our finding so far:

1.       In general, the percentage of members responding from each distribution location matches the actual percentage of members at each site.

2.       About 1/3 of our members have been with us for over 5 years.

3.       Over 40 members responded saying they buy bulk.

4.       112 out of 113 respondents say the pick-up process is clear and effective (nice job distribution teams)

5.       97% say the produce quantity is adequate and is a good value for the price.

6.       96% of respondents say they will sign up again next year.

7.       96% say they use the blog.

8.       It appears our least favorite vegetables are radishes, turnips, eggplant, okra and kohlrabi. Eggplant and okra are also favorites of many.

9.       The membership is not overly interested in communicating internally (87% do not presently use the blog comment capability or Facebook.) It appears that some people are not aware that we presently have a Facebook page where recipes and other information can be shared. It also appears that folks can “like” and “comment” but cannot post to the wall.

10.   It appears that there is adequate interest in purchasing processed items (78% said yes, or they would probably buy processed food.) Also 29 of 30 members that sampled fermented pickles at the 10^thanniversary party said they would buy them if offered.

11.   In responding to what they liked most about the CSA work days the word work was used 23 times, learning 14 times and seeing 13 times. What was liked least was nothing (12), heat/hot (16), and drive (5).

12.   In responding to what members liked most about the CSA the word blog was used 21 times, love (19), and produce (15).

13.   What folks liked least appear to be related to personal inconvenience of pickup times and/or location, the fact that choices dwindle as distribution progresses, wanting more in the swap box, timing of bulk list and blog posting, and wondering why there is a bulk list instead of us sending everything in that we harvest.

14.   Folks want more opportunities to buy eggs.

In the Share – Week 20

October 2, 2013broccoli, high tunnelFarmer Rebecca

BROCCOLI (F/P) The broccoli packs a flavor punch this week. We are blaming those hot days in our recent past. Steamed with some butter and lemon is all the help it needs.

TOMATOES (F/P) The harvest is about over, so enjoy them while they last.

CABBAGE (F/P) Choice of Chinese (Napa) or standard cabbage. See Tom’s post for some helpful hints for making slaw.

SWEET PEPPERS (F) Ripening is slowing down considerably. Expect green ones soon.

SWEET POTATOES (F/P) O’Henry are creamy yellow sweet potatoes. These are the first of many yellow and orange sweet potatoes out in the field waiting to be dug. If you still need to punch in your hours, come out on a harvest day and more likely than not we will be digging the sweets!

BROCCOLI OR CAULIFLOWER (F) Full shares get a choice of either more broccoli, or a cauliflower.

ARUGULA (F/P) Our second planting is coming on well and the lettuce isn’t quite ready, so enjoy an arugula salad this week.

RADISHES (F/P) If the heat of the radish is too much for you, try lightly steaming or dressing with a honey vinaigrette.

HERB CHOICE (F/P) Sage, cilantro and basil

GARLIC (F/P)

NEXT WEEK: More peppers, broccoli and cauliflower. Leeks, carrots, beets and lettuce return.

FARM REPORT:

What a whirlwind of a week it has been. Thursday we replaced the plastic on our 30 x 96 ft. high tunnel. It was quite the job for six of us and luckily we didn’t rip it in two, but we sure tried! It went better than our first attempt a year ago and we have new ideas for improvements in 2014. Today we put the ends and doors back on so she’s ready to be buttoned up when frost threatens.

This week we also began to break new ground in the far field below the grapes. In 2012, sheep on loan from the Parkers grazed. This summer the chickens ran through. Now it is our turn. Tom took out Grandpa, the family’s 1962 International 504 bought used by John Graff, Sr. in late sixties. The discs are of a similar vintage. After several passes the ground is chopped up a bit and ready for spading.

Add in the regular harvest routine and then, by some miracle, Tom and I escaped the farm for a full 48 hours. Between the Saturday rain (very nice!) and Monday afternoon we lounged at a B & B in St. Joseph, Missouri. It was a welcome rest after the normal rollercoaster of a season we get here on the edge of the prairie. Besides napping and eating too much pizza, we also managed a walk along the river, 3 antique malls, and several museums.

In the Share – Week 11

July 31, 2013cover crops, csa, high tunnel, tomatillos, wash areaFarmer Rebecca

Tomatillos

SALSA PACK (F/P) The lovely tomatillo shines this time of year. Just add a tomato and chop it all up. Or roast it and it’s even better.

TOMATOES (F/P) More reds and pinks this week with a smattering of other colors.

CARROTS (F/P) Big, orange carrots out of cold storage.

GARLIC (F/P) The first garlic of the season: Musik, a hardneck type with big, juicy cloves.

SWEET PEPPERS (F/P) More sweet yellows and purples. Ripe red peppers are coming soon.

EGGPLANT (F/P) Lots more of these beauties. Check Tom’s posts for the past few weeks for recipes.

CHERRY TOMATOES (F) We will get some to the partial shares next week.

BEETS OR CUCUMBERS (F) The last of both for a while.

THAI BASIL, ITALIAN BASIL, SUMMER SAVORY OR HOT PEPPERS (F)

NEXT WEEK: more tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and salsa packs. Potatoes and onions.

FARM REPORT: Rain at last. It had been about two months since the farm had any, so the 1.3 inches that fell on Monday was much appreciated. We got a lot of seeds and transplants in before it came so things are off to a good start for the fall.

flail-mowed sorghum Sudan grass

Tom mowed down the high tunnel’s cover crop of sorghum sudan grass and will soon incorporate it with the spader. The soil will get a month to digest its green dinner before we start planting in September.

During the summer harvest season we spend many hours in the wash and pack area. All of the remodeling we did this past winter is paying off with plenty of cold storage, tables for sorting and sinks for washing. It’s a pleasant place to be during the heat of the day or during a rain storm.

Rebecca and Lauren. Luke with Shawn and Monica. The Rouyers: David, Amelia and Frido.

In the Share – Week Three

June 5, 2013high tunnel, lettuce, spader, strawberriesFarmer Rebecca

STRAWBERRIES (F2/P1) Oh boy! We spent over 20 “man hours” in the berry patch just today! Luckily there were 5 of us picking. When the berries come on, it is an everyday task that has it’s rewards. If you have some extra time this week or you haven’t yet signed up for your work shifts now is a tasty time to do so.

LETTUCE (F3/P2) The lettuce patch is also pumping out the poundage. Several succession plantings are ripening at once, so everyone gets an additional head this week. There are still a few butterheads and lots of romaine this week.

BROCCOLI (F) Can’t say the same for the dismal broccoli harvest. Broccoli’s time to shine is in autumn.

HAKUREI TURNIPS (F/P) Eat ‘em like an apple!

BOK CHOY (F/P) bunches of baby bok choy this week – tender and juicy for your next stir fry.

HERB CHOICE (F/P) cilantro, oregano, dill or a dried herb

NEXT WEEK: More lettuce, strawberries, green onions, turnips and herbs. Sugarsnap peas!

FARM REPORT: In between picking strawberries and trying to get the last of the summer crops in the ground, the farm crew gave the high tunnel a makeover this week. What was left of the spring extended season crops were mowed and spaded in.

It is a bit tricky maneuvering “Grandpa” the tractor in and out of the high tunnel, but Farmer Tom has the knack and made short work of preparing a nice seedbed for the cover crops.

Next we sowed sorghum sudan grass and cowpeas with our little broadcast seeder that swings over the shoulder. A little raking and we are ready to take the roof off and for the rain to water it in. Removing the high tunnel roof is a bit un-heard of, but we feel very strongly that the soil needs the benefit of rain and pure sunshine. We plan to re-install the plastic roof before we plant for the fall extended season. In the meantime, we hope for a lush cover crop to feed the soil.

In the Share – Week 1

April 24, 2013asparagus, frost, high tunnel, row cover, wash areaFarmer Rebecca

LETTUCE (2) a butterhead and a red leaf

BOK CHOY some are green-stemmed, some are white – either way they make the best stir fry.

SPINACH we are still picking off the fall planting and the leaves are still sweet and getting quite large.

SWISS CHARD see tom’s post for his yummy Cacciatore recipe

GREEN ONIONS AND GARLIC use the green garlic as you would green onions.

PARSLEY AND DILL both appear to be thriving

ARUGULA we do not grow baby greens here at Fair Share, so be prepared for big bunches of big-leafed and full-flavored arugula

HAKUREI TURNIPS some say they taste like they have ice cream in the center, you be the judge.

CARROTS this was our first winter with the high tunnel and we hope you all are ready for the experiment! The carrots taste great but are a bit misshapen due to uneven watering, we believe. We just have enough for everyone to get a 1/2 pound.

NEXT WEEK: lettuce, leeks, spinach, herbs, endive, radish, turnips, maybe (hopefully!) asparagus

FARM REPORT

What a way to kick off the first week of our new extended season – a brutal cold snap that had us racing across our fields today doubling-up on row cover! We put a second layer on 3800 feet worth of beds doing squats every 20 feet to pin it down. Perhaps we are running on adrenaline, but it went quickly and no frostbite was reported.

This was after a very pleasant day on Saturday with the first crew of CSA member workers. With lots of extra hands we cleaned-up the asparagus patch, dug dandelions, painted the picnic tables and filled in the trench for the new drain line from the wash area.

The washing and packing area of the barn got a big retrofit this winter and is ready for business.

And here’s a sneak peak at the crops going in the shares tomorrow before we covered them up too.

We were hoping to have asparagus in the shares this week, but the stalks are barely poking out of the ground and for good reason, they’ll most likely be frozen in the morning.

Forecasts range from mid-20s to 21 degrees in the morning. We have cancelled the work shifts for tomorrow. Our farm crew of four will be able to handle the harvest once the crops thaw. CSA distribution should continue as planned. We were able to cover our most sensitive crops, but the fruit trees and the direct-seeded crops are uncovered. We’ll let you know how it turns out.

2012—Our Ninth CSA Season

March 24, 2013csa, fair share farm, farm apprentice, high tunnel, kansas city, Parker Farms, sugar snap peas, sweet potatoes, tomatoesFarmer Rebecca

And so we reach 2012 … and the reminiscing is about to end. It has been instructional and cathartic for Rebecca and me to review what the farm has been through over the last ten years. Every year has been a new set of challenges and unpredicable weather. As an example, the contrast between Spring 2012 and our present weather conditions is striking.

Red bud blooming March 24, 2012

2012 broke all sorts of records, including the hottest January-June on record and third driest year on record. The drought and mind-numbing heat of Summer (the average daily high in July was 98.2 deg F) made work difficult and came close to drying up our irrigation pond.

It was a very strange, if not somewhat bizarre year for the crops, with the early Spring and hot, dry Summer causing many plants to mature up to a month early. Strawberries were ripening on May 1 instead on Jule 1. Garlic was ready by June 5, a month ahead as well. And most of the potatoes quite literally cooked (and rotted) in the ground as the soil temperatures topped 90 degrees.

There were some major successes though. In the Spring the sugar snap peas were dripping off the vines with a new record of 550+ lbs. As mentioned, the tomatoes thrived…9,397 pounds of virtually blemish-free beauties thanks to the dry weather. The sweet potatoes were the most beautiful specimens we had ever grown. We also had good success with carrots, the Fall crops and many other vegetables.

Ryan picking peas (photo by Bill McKelvey)

tons of tomatoes

A good sweet potato plant

Sweet pea very full for the CSA delivery to the Bad Seed

Despite the crazy weather, the farm crew was up to the task. Dani Hurst returned for a second season as an apprentice and even squeezed a May wedding to Derek Brown into the year. Apprentice Ryan Stubby graced us with his hard work, good nature and awesome kale chips. Harvest extras allowed Ryan to hone his skills at food dehydrating, a talent he hopes to use in future ventures.

Ryan and Dani tending to the tomatoes in June

CSA member, Mark Flynn, had some free time that Summer and was a big help during the big tomato harvest and Fall planting push. The lack of rain and extreme heat created the need to put out mulch for the cabbage, broccoli and other July plantings earlier than normal. It was a big effort to complete, as the Summer harvest was also in full swing. Thanks again Mark.

Ryan, Mark, Dani and Rebecca planting cabbages in July

In June we traveled to Richmond, MO for the KC CSA Coalition tour of Parker Farms. As vegetable farmers and meat eaters we appreciate the effort that goes into raising free-range, pasture-fed livestock. Since we started collaborating with the Parker’s in 2006, they have fed us most all of the meat we have eaten in the last 7 years. Tom, Paula and their four daughters hosted a delicious pot-luck and stroll of the farm. They are doing it right.

Pasture-fed and free-range beef ala Parker Farms

The other big task in 2012 was the construction of our new high tunnel. Grading of the site began in January. Two volunteer work days and many other hours of piecing it together were successful in getting things in order by mid-September. The high tunnel crops flourished that fall and allowed us to extend the season for 4 weeks.

Volunteers helping put up the main structure March 10th

Finished high tunnel on November 11th

Our last days of the season were out of the norm that year too. On October 20 the Outstanding in the Field crew and Justus Drugstore again set up at the farm for another fantastic dinner. It was a tough day though, as it was announced by OITF founder Jim Denavan that we were hosting the coldest event they ever held. Crazy for that to happen after the Summer heat wave.

We entered the Winter of 2012 already planning for an expansion of the CSA to 150 members in 2013. But first we are able to take a train ride to the Southwest and relax in New Mexico hot springs for a week. Such a break is always good.

The oft-photographed St. Francis Chuch near Taos, New Mexico

If you have been following this recollection all the way through we thank you, and hope you enjoyed it. We would appreciate your comments and look forward to hearing from our blog readers.

Next up…the 2013 season.

In the Share – Week 23

October 10, 2012frost, high tunnel, leeks, outstanding in the fieldFarmer Rebecca

LEEKS (F/P) I love the way the walk-in cooler smells when it is full of leeks. It smells like buttery goodness.

LETTUCE (F/P) Tender red leaf and butterhead varieties this week.

TOMATOES (F/P) A couple of green tomatoes and a few more ripe ones.

GREEN PEPPERS (F/P) The last of the green peppers

NAPA CABBAGE (P) We are harvesting the prettiest Napa cabbage crop we have ever had: dense heads of delicate leaves.

CAULIFLOWER OR BROCCOLI (F) We planned on putting out more broccoli and cauliflower transplants this summer but as insanely hot as it was we are grateful to be able to offer a choice of the two. Partial shares will get broccoli next week.

BEETS (F) The first harvest of the fall beets, mostly a long variety called “Cylindra”

TURNIPS AND WATERMELON RADISHES (F/P) A couple of each. The watermelon radishes are good keepers. To reduce the heat of radishes slice them into rounds and peel the hot outer layer off.

HERB CHOICE (F) Arugula, dill or tarragon

NEXT WEEK: The last week of the regular 24-week season. More lettuce, herbs, broccoli, cauliflower and sweet potatoes. Carrots, savoy cabbage and bulb fennel.

FARM REPORT:

The thermometer read 26 degrees F Sunday morning and with that the summer crops took their exit. The fields are now stripped with brown rows of dead plants. Everything does not die with the frost. We are gladdened by the resilient cabbages and broccolis that will keep growing until the hard freeze. Other crops fared just fine under a layer or two of row cover. We are just beginning to harvest the fall roots and look forward to many more warm days before winter. The high tunnel plants are growing rapidly within the protected environment.

Next Friday 10/19 we will be hosting our second Outstanding in the Field dinner at the farm and we invite you to join us. The talented folks at Justus Drugstore will once again be serving up their hand-crafted recipes to 100+ diners sitting at a long table in our fields. The chef will be using some of our produce along with other local meats, wines and cheeses. There are still seats at the table available. Go here to learn more and to purchase tickets. Last year the food was amazing and we met so many interesting people who traveled great distances to eat dinner in our farm field.