This past Monday we did something here on the farm that was unprecedented. Something we have never done before. Something incredibly unique. Something we hope we don’t have to do very often. We harvested for Wednesday’s pick-up. Yes, we generally don’t want to harvest your produce until the day you get it (with exceptions for things like onions, garlic, etc.) but with the forecast calling for 3-4 inches of rain over the next two days – on top of all the rain we’ve had recently – we felt the fields would be so muddy by Wednesday that though we’d be able to get into them, we may not be able to get out of them – at least not with our boots on! So we made the unprecedented move to harvest two days early. The upside was that with 50% of our crew new to the farm – and one of them new to farming – we were able to spend time training them on our methods without a deadline looming over our heads. It worked out quite well for us. Now you may be wondering what is happening with my produce? Don’t worry. We have it at 35 degrees in our walk-in cooler. It will be fresh and delicious when you pick it up on Wednesday.
Expectation Setting Time: This spring has been exactly like every other spring we’ve had since starting the farm. By exactly the same what I mean is it has been challenging. With the late start, followed by the frequent rain, followed by the snow, followed by the no rain, followed by the 103 degree temps, followed by the cool temps, followed by constant rain, it is nothing less than difficult. But I must say we have been doing a pretty good job keeping things going. So what expectation needs to be set? Well, generally the first week we would have lettuce and broccoli and snap peas and bok choi and green garlic and green onions and swiss chard and kale and radishes and possibly even summer squash. Well unfortunately this year we will not be having all that this first week. The plants are just not cooperating. What will we have? We will have swiss chard, bok choi, green onions and green garlic. And they are all delicious. We had thought about harvesting the lettuce as small heads but thought it would be better to let them grow for a while. We also thought about harvesting smaller beets, but again all we would be doing is stealing from future weeks and giving inferior sized produce. So, the decision was made to leave the plants out in the field to grow up and be ready for a future week. And of course realize that even though this first week is light, over the course of the whole season you will be getting exactly what you would anyway – just a little later.
Another expectation that needs to be set: I mentioned this before but thought I would again. Snap peas have always been one of my favorite vegetables. They are tasty and easy to eat out-of-hand. That is why I am so disappointed in this year’s crop. We usually have enough for a pound or so per FamilyShare per week for at least four weeks. This year we will be lucky to get a pound per share total for the year. Why such a bad pea year for us? First the season got a late start. We didn’t get the peas in the ground until late April. This eliminated one of the plantings. Second, the peas did not germinate very well. I don’t know why. Maybe a critter ate them. Maybe they rotted in the cold soil. Whatever the case they just didn’t come up very well. Then, the final straw was the 90+ degrees day followed by 103 degrees day. Peas do not like hot weather. The plants look stressed. I’m not sure how well those plants that made it this far will produce. So, the bottom line is that if you love snap peas you should plan to find them elsewhere. We will have some, just not enough for me.
FruitShare
There will be FruitShare this week. We have flats of delicious, organic blueberries. If you purchased FruitShare or an extra box of blueberries plan to pick them up at your usual pick-up location. For drop-site members: if you ordered FruitShare or blueberries take only the box with your name on it. If you don’t find one with your name on it please contact me as soon as possible.
CheeseShare
This is also a CheeseShare week. For those who pick up at a drop site your cheese will be in your delivery box. For those who pick up at the farm please ask for your cheese when you pick up your produce.
CoffeeShare
It is also a CoffeeShare week! CoffeeShare shares the same protocol as CheeseShare – in the box or ask in the tent when you pick up.
Delivery Shares
A reminder to those who pick up at a drop site: Leave the plastic totes at the drop site. Do not take them home with you. Please remember to bring reusable bags to carry your produce home with you. Do take the FruitShare boxes with you though.
On-farm Shares
Please bring bags for your produce. We will have plastic bags available but it is more environmental to reuse those you already have.
Recipes
There are recipes on our web site for the produce you are receiving. Of course we can always use more. One I will point out in particular is Bok Choi with Green Garlic and Green Onions. It is easy and tasty and you are getting bok choi, green garlic and green onions. I noticed we don’t have any Swiss chard recipes. I would recommend stir-frying it with green garlic and green onions. Or use it as a substitute for spinach in your favorite spinach recipe. Just a suggestion.
As always, if you have any questions, comment, concerns, jokes or puzzlers please send them my way!