STRAWBERRIES: The heat has been tough on the berries and the pickers but you can’t help but enjoy these delights of May. Strawberry dressing is always good this time of year.
SUGAR SNAP PEAS: We took a break from these last year, but they are back on the roster. They are just starting, so it may be a small amount this week.
SPROUTING BROCCOLI: Good raw with some strawberry dressing for dip, or cooked any way you would prepare broccoli.
GREEN ONIONS: Our bunching onions have sized up and we are happy to be able to add this fresh allium to the share.
KALE OR SWISS CHARD: Get your green on!
GARLIC SCAPES: The tender flower stalk of the hardneck garlic plant. Chop and add to anything as you would garlic. The scapes are coming on a bit later than normal, but will have some for everyone this week.
LETTUCE (3 HEADS): While it sounds like a lot, we hope that the lettuce can grace your everyday meals for the next two weeks. The heat is not going to let them last much longer. We have four types in varying stages of maturity. The butterhead and red leaf are the perfect thing for a tender salad. The crisp head and romaine varieties are what you want to top that burger or make a Caesar salad.
IN TWO WEEKS: lettuce, greens, beets, sprouting broccoli, kohlrabi.
FARM REPORT:
It is sizzling hot out here, in case anyone hasn’t noticed. I could easily complain about the tip burn on the lettuces, the sunburn on the strawberries or the fact that the chickens are panting in whatever shade they can find. Any farmer loves to complain about the weather, but it does little good. We are seeing record-breaking heat and summer is a month away.
Despite it all, the fact is we are all still eating pretty well. Right now the farm is one big leafy quilt in various shades of green. The solar panels at the irrigation pond provide the water, the soil provides the fertility and all we humans have to do is keep up with the harvest to make sure none of it goes to waste. . . and sweat. We can’t avoid the sweating.
Joining in the sweaty work his week were two former FSF apprentices, Lucas (2011) and Semra (2015), who both happened to be back in the area for a spell. Much gratitude goes to them and all of the good people that have been pitching in this season.
The new laying flock of pullets have taken over the high tunnel. They are stripping the flowering chard and bolting spinach of their remaining leaves and in general enjoying their first experience of eating what is left behind.
Meanwhile the summer crops are growing well and will soon start producing. We put in all of the posts and the first line of string on the tomato plants. The summer squash and cucumbers are flowering and will soon start their first fruits. We keep them under cover to protect them from pests.
The cover crops of peas and oats are beginning to flower and will soon be ready to turn in.
