Today's Delivery - August 29, 2008

THIS WEEK'S SHARE

soy beans (edemame)
baby corn
mesclun - (I am so glad this is back.)
crabapples
Red Astrachan apple drops (great for sauce)
mixed kale - Red Russian, Dwarf Siberian, Winterbor
Rapa turnip greens
carrots
beets
squash
cucumbers and some dill
beans
red onions
BOUQUET!

Now to weed the garden...
Laura

Delivery #14 - August 29, 2008

GARDEN NEWS

This is my September 'farm week' and the sun is shining so I get to play in the garden a bunch. Today I will be weeding from start to finish and making applesauce in the evening. My hope is to get the fall winter planting and seed/bulb order in hand. And get a start on prepping the ground for 2009. Already kale and spinach is coming up for the winter. This is my first experience planting with the idea of harvesting in January - May. It's a big experiment and I figure I'll just try a lot of things and see how it goes.

I went out to tour the garden and it's cold out there! AND buggy! I don't quite see how both of those could be true but they are. Lots to do though so I bette get crackin'!

If you are unfamiliar with edename, the thing to do is cook the beans in their shells. Then just squeeze the beans onto your plate or straight into your mouth. They are wicked hard to shell when raw but just pop open after cooking. I understand that in some Asian countries they are served in their shells so each person pops opens their own. Sounds sensible to me.


COMING THIS WEEK

soy beans (edename)
baby corn
mesclun - (I am so glad this is back.)
crabapples or apple drops for sauce
Swiss chard
turnip greens
carrots
beets
squash
cucumbers
beans
red onions
BOUQUET!

Now to weed the garden...
Laura

Last week's delivery - August 22, 2008

baby corn
radishes
mesclun
crabapples
Swiss chard
carrots
beets
squash
cucumbers
beans
Asian onions
red onions
BOUQUET!


The delivery seemed extra big. I hope you don't feel overwhelmed by vegetables. Maybe I am just projecting, because my kitchen is so full of produce!

Delivery #13 - August 22, 2008

COMING THIS WEEK/GARDEN NEWS

Everything is producing like mad! It's almost scary to go out to check the squashes and beans and cucumbers. Not a job for the faint hearted but a job that must be done at least every other day. This morning, (Wednesday), I picked alot of items for my own freezer but there is plenty of extra and more coming in for Friday. Feel free to come by here next week on Tuesday or Wednesday next week for more cukes or squash or beans if you find yourself running short or want to freeze some. Give a call first if possible. 773-8325

MORE NEWS

The baby chicks are officially chickens, fully feathered, they know how to roost at night, they know what do to with a giant zucchini and they even know how to escape their pen. They have not learned how to get back inside though. Plans are afoot for building their next enclosure with Rob's help. Also thanks to Robin, we now have a riding lawn mower which helps with the general sense, false or not, of being in control of the vegetation around here. However, every time I walk by the jack o'lantern pumpkins I get a little bit nervous. The vines remind me of that old horror movie, The Blob. They are spreading rapidly and look like they will soon be taking over the planet. Plus I KNOW there are pumpkins lurking in there!

One thing I like to grow is shell beans. I have 7 25 foot rows of shelling beans in the garden plus 1 teepee of Vermont Cranberry shelling beans. I noticed that the white Cannelinni beans (sort of a white kidney bean, for minestrone soup, for example) are forming up, as well as one kind of soy bean for edaname, Black Pearl. This is a new type for me. I fell for the catalog description: "One taste and you'll forever find space in your garden for this beautiful black soybean." Sounds good to me.

This seems to be a banner year for fruit. My trees are loaded. Most of them won't be ripe for awhile yet but I have been picking up drops from one apple that makes great sauce. I think it is a Red Astrachan but don't know for sure. If you would like some drops that are small and less than perfect but really tasty, let me know and I will add some to your share.

COMING THIS WEEK
baby corn
radishes
mesclun - some for sure!
crabapples - There are lots available. Email or call by Thursday evening if you want 3-4 quarts for making sauce or jelly. Otherwise the your share will have 1-2 quarts.
Swiss chard
carrots
beets
squash
cucumbers
beans
Asian onions
red onions
BOUQUET!

RECIPES
I don't have any actual recipes but here are a few tasty tips from Karen and Marie.
Dress cooked beans with mint and basil. (yum)
Roast your summer squashes for a tasty change from steaming or stir-frying.

Eat your vegetables!
Laura

Today's Delivery - August 15, 2008

carrots
kale
chard
cukes - some pickling and 1 small slicer
beans - one kind (labeled) plus some Northeaster pole beans
squash
red onions
1 qt. of crabapples

bouquet - includes lots of eustoma, flox, dahlias, zinnias, coreopsis, Queen Anne's Lace, calendula, cosmos, and more!

Delivery #12 - August 15, 2008

Hello farm members,

I feel amazed that we are on to delivery #12. Some how it's been 3 months and the growing, picking and delivery feel like a routine part of my life. I guess when the winter comes I'll have to adjust to not turning the kitchen into a barn every Friday. I am studying and planting as much as I can these days, trying to start plants for the fall and winter greenhouse. I am hoping to have enough vegetables for my little family this winter and to learn about extending the season in both directions for future CSA shares. I like the idea of picking kale and other things throughout the winter and having really early greens for next year. I really like doing this!

COMING THIS WEEK

mesclun
carrots
kale
chard
cukes?
beans
squash
red onions
bouquet

This sure reads like an August list. Soon there will be tomatoes, crabapples and baby corn.
The mesclun continues to not include lettuce in the mixture but there are some tender leaves of arugula, chickweed, purslane and chard to balance the more intensely flavored endive, mustard and whatever else Karen and I can find for the mix. The new mesclun and leaf lettuce beds are up and growing. Also the radicchio, Chinese cabbage, daikon radishes, winter beets (Lutz Green Leaf) and rutabagas (Marian, Laurentian, Gilfeather). That's fun to see.

This Saturday, August 16, from 9-12, there will be a nature walk here in the woods at the farm. See the Leyden Life newsletter for details.

Enjoy the cooler nights, the sound of crickets, the occasional sunshine, and the bounty of late summer,
Laura

THIS WEEK'S DELIVERY - August 8, 2008

mesclun
Rapa turnip greens
chard - a mix of Fordhook, Five Color Silverbeet and Perpetual
summer squashes - mostly zucchini
a few radishes
baby carrots
beets - Ace, Chioggia, Touchstone Gold
beans - Slenderette
red onions - Red Burgermaster
Asian onions
New Zealand spinach - cook like spinach
bouquet

I hope you enjoy your fresh vegetables and flowers!

The baby corn is growing fast and the pickling cukes look like they might be ready for next week. Today I saw my first jack o'lantern pumpkin. Hurray for sunshine!
Laura

PS Next Saturday, August 16, there will be a nature hike in the woods here at the farm, led by naturalist John Foster. Come on over for a fun hike through the woods, 9:00 to about 12:00.
The program is supported in part by a grant from the Leyden Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

Delivery #11 - August 8, 2008

Hello farm members,

GARDEN NEWS

Well I just got back from walking the dog and visiting the garden. The plants are doing very well, with just a few minor exceptions. We lost some chard leaves to hail but the chickens thought they were tasty. Most of the beans are either producing beans like mad or blooming. The shell bean soybeans are still in bloom and look really happy, except for one variety called Black Coco. I don't know what's up with them but the leaves are small and yellowish. The actual beans look fine though. The new mesclun and leaf lettuce is up and I planted more Chinese cabbage and radicchio yesterday. Isn't amazing how even the names of plants evoke tastiness?

At the back of the garden there is a pumpkin patch that seems to want to take over the planet. The baby corn plants are doing fine, green, lush and healthy. I guess in general we have been really lucky in regard to pests and disease in the garden this year. So far even the deer and woodchucks have done only minor damage. Keep your fingers crossed.

In the weeks to come there will be crab apples, cucumbers and sweet peppers and some tomatoes. Unfortunately, I didn't get as many tomatoes and peppers planted this year as I had planned (and no eggplant) so although there will be some for salads, there will not be enough for putting up for winter. Right now the tomatoes and peppers are full sized and ripening... There may very well be cukes for pickles though, if you are interested in that. At some point there should be some fall brassicas - broccoli, cauliflower, kolrabi and cabbage. An shell beans and soy beans.

Right now my main focus in the garden (besides planting and planting) is to prepare more ground for 2009. I am extending both vegetable gardens and making 3 new spaces. Lots of work but I am really looking forward to having more planting room.

Remember to check the blog for details about what's in your share each week and perhaps, recipes.
Please do send me your favorite vegetable recipes and I will post them at the blog. Thanks!
http://lastingimpressionscsa.blogspot.com/

THIS WEEK'S DELIVERY

mesclun (for sure this week)
Rapa turnip greens
chard
summer squashes - mostly zucchini
baby carrots and/or beets
beans
red onions
bouquet

Laura

Today's Delivery - August 1, 2008

chard - a mix of Perpetual, Fordhook Giant, and Five Color Silverbeet
summer squashes - Yellow Crookneck, Rampacante, Magda Cousa, Flying Saucer
mixed kale - Winterbor, Siberian Dwarf, Red Russian
baby carrots
Blue Lake bush beans
Red Burgermaster onions
scallions
1 Watermelon radish
bouquet - a mix of crocosmia, zinnia, cosmos, scabiosa, rubeckia, eustoma, calendula, centaurea, yarrow, dahlia, snapdragons - I think that's all...

Not enough raspberries for the shares this week. There will be more next year.
We are experiencing a gap in the mesclun harvest. There should be some next week.


Some migrant workers from New York City a.k.a. Dan and our friend Courtney

Enjoy!