There is no such thing as Independence Day for vegetables, so plan on picking up your produce at your usual place and time on Wednesday.
I came across an article on the internet the other day. It was a typical internet article. The goal wasn’t so much to inform the reader but to get the reader to open the article so that they can sell more advertising. And as is typical of these articles it was a list. You know the type. “Seven warning signs of a heart attack”. “100 best rock and roll songs ever”. “Four things you shouldn’t stick up your nose.” This particular article was titled “20 things you shouldn’t buy used.” I immediately figured I know what would top my list of things not to buy used. Let’s see where it falls on their list.
Their list included things like shoes, cribs, swimsuits. Seemed like a good list. But no where on this list would be my number one thing not to buy used: vegetables! I’m not sure how they could miss this one. Who wants used food? Leftovers are one thing; they aren’t really used. But once vegetables have been used I think it is best not to try to reuse it. And if you won’t reuse your own food why would you ever buy someone else’s used food? I lost a lot of faith in that article. By missing such an important item I’m not sure I could trust any of their other suggestions. And of course I could think of a bunch more things not to buy used (underwear for example!)
Anyway, I have to say this at least once per season: Some days you get to work outside. Some days you have to work outside. This is a “have to” week, though I took a break this morning and worked inside – the hoop house. I’m not sure that was the best place to be. It is pretty warm in there. But the tomatoes were calling and I had to answer their call. So I crawled around on the black landscape fabric pruning and trellising the tomatoes. I made an important discovery while doing this. As one gets older most things get harder. This of course is not the important discovery. I discovered one thing that gets easier as one gets older: creating sore joints and muscles. I can’t wait until the tomatoes are stand-up height. Could be as early as next week!
What is on tap this week? Glad you asked. We will have snap peas, broccoli, squash, zucchini, onions, green garlic, garlic scapes, cabbage, basil, eggplants, beets, Swiss chard, and kale. Some of these items are ramping up. Some are ramping down. So we may have limited quantities of some of them. There may be lettuce if it survives the hot weather – no guarantee.
FlowerShare. The flowers are getting taller and more numerous. One bit of advice: Put a drop of bleach in the water in your flower vase. The bouquet we made last Wednesday is still looking good a week later.
EggShare. The chickens are slowing down. Must be the heat. Hopefully they will keep up with the demand. If not we will figure out a way to make sure everyone gets their eggs by the end of the season.
FruitShare. The next week brings us a mixed box of fruit. You can also order blueberries a la carte for delivery next week; price is $63 for 12 pints. Plus we have an opportunity for Rainier cherries next week! The price is $64 for an eight pound box. And if that isn’t enough in three weeks we will have lapin cherries. A la carte price for the lapins is $63 for an eight pound box. July is a great month for fruit! I have one other person looking to split a FruitShare. If you would like to share with her please let me know. The price for the remaining fruit is $350 (of course if you split it you would pay $175).
MeatShare is this Friday. Plan to pick it up at the farm on Friday or during the usual farm pick-up hours (M, W and F 3:30 to 6:30 or Th 9:30 to 11:30 am).
CheeseShare is available this week. Plus we have garlic scape cream cheese made from Fresh Earth Farms garlic scapes. This is a Fresh Earth Farms exclusive and is available for only a limited time. Price is $5 for an eight oz tub. CheeseShare customers will get one with this week’s CheeseShare.
I think that is all. Let me know if you have any questions, comments, suggestions, jokes, etc.