Last week's share

Oops, I guess the heat wave really got to me.  I forgot to post what was in share # 6.  Probably you all figured it out by now.  Perhaps you've eaten it up as well.  In any case, here's the list:

Half Share:
garlic scapes 4 oz.
fava beans 1 #
mesclun 6 oz.
head lettuce (Mayan Jaguar and Mantilla) - 2 heads
chard 3/4 #
salad turnips 1 bunch
scallions 6 oz

Full Share:
Twice as much except for scapes and chard but they also got
snap peas 12 oz
kale 1 #

It REALLY was hot!  I am glad that is over.  I did not take a picture of the shares but I did take a picture of a belated birthday share that I sent down to my son Dan.

Share # 5 - June 14, 2015

What was in today's share:

I was in a super rush this morning so I didn't weigh anything.  Or take pictures of the flowers.  If you farm share folks reading this care to send a picture of your bouquet or mini share, that would be awesome.  Or post pictures of your flowers, share or prepared food using your share at Sweet Morning Farm's facebook page.  More pictures here.

Half Share:

(pictures, except for the cauliflower & kale, are from a full share)

Kale - 1 bunch

Escarole - 2 heads

Head lettuce - 2-3 heads

Mayan Jaguar and Forellenschluss lettuce

Scallions - nice sized bunch

Fava beans - a sample (more next week)

Dill

Cilantro

Kohlrabi - 2

White turnips - largish bunch (these are slightly eaten, this may be the end until cool weather)

Radishes - a big bunch, more in the extras bin

Cauliflower - medium head for some shares

Rhubarb - about 7 stalks

Mesclun - 1/4 pound

Flowers - Sweet William, peonies, snapdragons, etc.

Full Share:

Twice as much except on the rhubarb

Full Share

Mini Share:

Two items, as chosen by the farm member.

What is in Share #4 - June 7, 2012

More Sweet Morning Farm pictures

Half Share:

Radishes 1 lb
Mesclun 1/4 lb
Head lettuce 2
Kohlrabi 1

Kale 15 oz
Chard 1 lb
Baby spinach 10 oz
Mint and Lemon Balm 1 small bunch
Cauliflower 1 small (Only some Half Shares got these.  The other shares will get some another time.)

The Full Share got twice as much of everything.

The Mini Shares got 2 items as requested - kale, mesclun, head lettuce, eggs or chard.

Flowers for everyone!

FARM WEEK # 4 - June 7, 2012 MINI SHARES START THIS WEEK!

Two week old Welsh Harlequin duckling

Good morning, good people!

Everything is growing: ducks, chard and kale, chicks, spinach, snapdragons, you name it.

MINI SHARES

This week will be the first of the Mini Shares.  Thanks for waiting, you folks.  Remember to come get your share between 1:00 and 7:00 this Thursday.  Bring a bag for your share and a jar for your flowers.  I'll be around, (probably in the garden planting more vegetables), but come say hello and ask for help, if you wish.

Mini choices week #1 - Pick two or I will choose for you.

mesclun

head lettuce

kale

chard

1/2 dozen eggs

Farmer's Choice (I give you 2 items from the garden, from this list or not, based on general preferences you have shared with me and based on the harvest.)

As a GIFT TO ALL FARM MEMBERS, I grew some Pistou basil plants.  These plants have small leaves with a big flavor.  They can be grown inside or outside, in the ground or in a container.  If you haven't gotten yours yet, please take one home to enjoy.

FARM NEWS

It was a big week at home for me, mostly setting out plants (tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, okra, brussel sprouts and more!) and weeding.  Lots of rain!  Which was kind of good because I needed to catch up on paperwork and it was great weather for transplanting.  I got a lot planted but there is a bunch more for this week.

Welsummer rooster

We have hen setting on 9 eggs that should hatch around the solstice.  The eggs are from out own Welsummer and Araucauna hens, crossed with our Welsummer rooster.  We noticed that the ducklings have a regular routine down, first they run around in circles, then eat, then preen under their heat lamp, then take a nap.  Repeat.

Germinating Royal Burgundy bean 

The corn is growing well, some is already almost knee-high!  The beans are up after only a few days.  I guess they like the warm weather and rain.  The fava beans in the hoophouse are getting big and some are filling out.  Same thing on the kohlrabi and escarole.  The eggplant, hot peppers and snap peas are starting to bloom.

Mayan Jaguar lettuce

I'll be planting the rest of the transplants, and seeds for squash, cukes, shell beans, more salad and greens this week.  Next after that: more carrots and beets.

PICK UP NOTES

Leaving a cooler or insulated bag here is a good idea, if you have one to spare.  Make sure it is bigger than you might think.  Even for a mini share it would need to hold a large bunch of greens.  I will be home to answer questions.  Bring a tote bag or box for your vegetables.  Some things will be packed in bags but as much as possible I am trying to leave that to you.  Please return clean, dry bags, esp. the big freezer bags.  Thanks!

THIS WEEK'S SHARE

radishes

mesclun

head lettuce

cauliflower (if not enough, some shares will get them this week and some a different week)

kohlrabi?  nearly ready

kale/chard

baby spinach

lemon balm

mint

snow peas? - a hand full

flowers: peonies, snapdragons, sweet william and more.

See you Thursday!
Laura

Laura Timmerman
910 Greenfield Rd
Leyden, MA 01337
413-773-8325
laurat-at-crocker.com

Lots more farm news and pictures on facebook

What was in Share # 3, May 31, 2012

Half Share:
8z mesclun
1 big bunch of kale
1 # radishes
1 small head lettuce
1 3/4 # pak choy
4z scallions
small bunch of sorrel
taste of sweet cicely pods
2 1/2 z snow peas

Sweet Cicely - the seed pods taste like licorice

Full Share:
Twice as much on everything except a medium head of cauliflower instead of snow peas

Everyone got flowers, including sunflowers from the hoophouse, the first of the annual centaurea, snapdragons and Sweet William.

Here's a bouquet I made with the leftover flowers:

Click HERE for more pictures of the share.

Share # 2 - May 24, 2012

Half Share

Today's Share:

Half Share -
Kale - 1 bunch (1 #)
Radishes - 1 bunch
Pak choy - 3 (1 1/4 #)
Mesclun - 1/2 #
Rhubarb - 1 #
Garlic chives - 1 bunch
Wild peppermint - 1 oz.
Head lettuce - 1
Arugula - 1 bunch

Full Share -
Twice as much except the same amount of peppermint and the addition of some snow peas.

Flowers: Doronicum, wormwood and amsonia

For pictures go here.

(All amounts are approximate.)

Share # 1 - May 17, 2012

The shares were ready by 1:30, which is not bad considering the amount of porch clean up I needed to do to be ready.  Next week that will be easier.

The picture shows a Half Share (without their flowers)
The Full Share got twice the amount except the same on herbs.

Half Share #1 (amounts are approximate)

kale 3/4 lb
spinach 3/4 lb
salad turnips 4-5
radishes 1 small bunch
mesclun 6 oz
romaine lettuce 1 head
herbs 1 mixed bundle - sorrel, dill and cilantro
flowers: tree peonies, doronicum, centaurea and lilacs

We did it! Today's Delivery - May 22, 2009

We did it! Heather and I picked and prepped the first shares today. Everything went smoothly and it was nice to get started with a smaller picking, just to get warmed up. From the amount we picked and the amount that was left in the garden for another day, I feel confident that we can start the Half Shares next Friday. I'll be in touch with the Half Share folks to clarify your schedules.

Today's delivery includes:
1 bunch of garlic chives
some apple mint and some cilantro
1 bunch of radishes
1 1/2 # Jerusalem Artichokes
a small bunch of young greens, either kale or turnip
9 oz. spinach
13 oz mesclun
1 1/2 # rhubarb
Bouquet: Solomon's Seal-Primrose Lilac-Tree Peony-Centaurea-Lady's Rocket-(Parrot tulips)




Enjoy your fresh food and flowers!
Check the recipe blog for cooking ideas.
See you soon,
Laura

Today's Delivery - September 19, 2008

DELIVERY THIS WEEK
Temperature dips into the low 30's, but no frost here! It's probably because Laura covered all tender plants last night. I guess you'll just have to freeze your own veggies. Some things are winding down while others are just getting going. It still seems strange to be planting seeds this late but exciting too. Welcome to the wonderful world of adventure gardening!

The endive this week is best enjoyed braised or sauteed in olive oil with a little onion or garlic. If you are looking for things to do with cucumbers, a quick and easy chilled cucumber soup with yogurt and dill is nice. Apple crisp is another way to use apples, or try drying them for winter use in hot cereal or oatmeal or chop and add to pancakes.

Happy eating!
Karen

Cannellino beans
mesclun
turnip greens
curly endive
Swiss chard
beets
squash
cucumbers
beans
a few tomatoes
red onions
BOUQUET

Delivery #15 - September 5, 2008

GARDEN NEWS
No matter what I do there is always plenty more to keep me occupied. I love it but I am already feeling the fall hussle along with the cool mornings and shorter days. Something is turning a corner, or at least approaching a corner. I find myself thinking often of what do I want to do in 2009, how many shares can I grow, where shall I extend the garden, what new perennials do I want to plant (asparagus, quince and black currants for sure!), and generally planning and dreaming. One idea I had yesterday is to offer a "MINI-SHARE". This would be for the folks who just want a little bit of fresh local vegetables in their lives but don't want a full half share. It would be just a couple of items each week, maybe mesclun or lettuce and one other item. I haven't worked out the details yet but if you have friends who are admiring your vegetables but think a share looks too big for them, pass on the word please.

Happily I have changed my work schedule so I no longer have to work 3-4 hours after delivery. Phew. So I will continue to bring your share at some point on Friday, aiming for noon but with leeway for a non stressful morning of picking and preparing with Karen. I hope this works for you all. (I feel like a small part of the 'slow food' movement.)

Speaking of Karen, she's terrific! What a boon to the farm. Thank you so much, Karen!
For a photo of Karen and last week's share see the post from August 29.

COMING THIS WEEK

soy beans (edemame)
baby corn
mesclun
apple drops for sauce or pie
Swiss chard
carrots
beets
squash
cucumbers
beans
radishes?
a few tomatoes
red onions
BOUQUET


Laura

Yesterday's Delivery - Friday, July 11, 2008

Yesterday's delivery went well despite my not prepping the kitchen the night before. First step: lots of dishes and cleaning of counter tops. Karen and I decided that doing the vegetables and flowers separately works better. That way we can use the large table for each step. (This once was known as the dining room table. I think Rob and I used to eat there...) Of course we always have kept the two items separate in certain ways, using separate tools, tubs, counters, etc. and washing our hands between flowers and vegetables. We don't want to get flowers mixed up into your vegies - except for the mesclun flowers, of course. Mesclun flowers now include Johnny Jump Ups, Borage, Nasturium, and Shungiku. Later there will be Calendula and maybe more. Mesclun also includes Purslane and Chickweed. These are both tasty and included on purpose. AND I do like adding vegetables to the bouquets, anything that looks pretty or interesting.




mesclun
kale - Red Russian, Dwarf Siberian or Winerbor
baby pak choy
beet thinnings - all edible but the stems and roots are a bit stringy so you might want to just use the leaves.
turnips and their tops - mostly Hakarai with 1 Red Milan in each bunch
snow peas - just a taste
shelling peas - Alderman - the last row to bear this year
herb bouquet - sage, cilantro, rosemary, tarragon

bouquet - Yarrow, Sweet Peas, Gypsophilia (Baby's Breath), Rubeckia, Dianthus (smells really sweet), Shapdragons, Day lilies (my own special mango-colored ones I grew from seed), Calendula, Centaurea, Hosta, Meadowsweet, Cilantro, Garlic scapes, a bit of everything!

Friday's Delivery - June 27, 2008

THIS WEEK'S DELIVERY

mesclun - Yes, you can eat the nasturium flowers. They taste peppery like the nasturium leaves.
1- 2 heads of lettuce - Crisp Mint - green romaine, Forellenschluss - speckled romaine, Four Seasons - red romaine, Buttercrunch - softer, bibb type
Snap peas - eat the shells on these, raw or cooked. Good for dips and general snacking.
snowpeas - includes some Golden Sweet snowpeas
shelling peas - Early Frosty and Canoe mix
greens: collards/kale mixture
radishes
turnips
Remember, you can eat the tops of both the radishes and turnips. Very tasty and nutritious. Plus there is a blues song about "eatin up them turnip greens".
bouquet - Yarrow, Sweet Peas, Veronica, Rubeckia, Snapdragons, Lady's Mantle, Clary Sage, Artemesia

Delivery #5 - Friday, June 27, 2008

COMING THIS WEEK

mesclun - now includes chickweed, purslane, and soon will have nasturium flowers
1- 2 heads of lettuce - Crisp Mint, Reine d'Glaces, Forellenschluss, Four Seasons
snowpeas
shelling peas?
greens: collards/kale/chard mixture
radishes
turnips
bouquet - Yarrow, Sweet Peas, Veronica, Gypsophilia (Baby's Breath), Rubeckia, Dianthus, Shapdragons, Lady's Mantle - all of these are in bud or bloom

BITS OF BUSINESS
Dang, I forgot the receipts last week. I will include them this time for sure as I am home for a farm week so in a way life is less hectic than normal. I forgot to mention in my email last week that the share price is based on an expected 20 deliveries. If things go really well and we get up to 24 or more deliveries and you feel inclined, you may pay more but I will not ask for more.

Since we have done this for a month now, I want to check in with you all to see how things are going. Is there anything that needs to be different for the delivery to run more smoothly? Are your vegetables and flowers arriving in good condition? How do you like the bags? Are there foods you especially like? Are there foods that you don't want in your delivery? How about quantities? Anything else? Since I am new at farming, there is so much that I want and need to learn. Your feedback is really important to me. Since the farm is so small, it's easy to adapt your share to suit your needs. Thanks again, for being part of my tiny fledging farm.

I been having some technical difficulties at the blog so haven't been able to post recently. In general though, you can see what is actually in your delivery and sometimes find some recipe ideas at: lastingimpressionscsa.blogspot.com/ I try to post by Saturday.

GARDEN NEWS
Each Monday before I write this email, I like to wander about the garden taking note of what looks ready or nearly ready or gone by and noting the progress of various plants. Equally important, I like to soak in the general atmosphere of the farm. Today things are very moist and weedy. There is a certain sense of burgeoning lushness that could develop into being wildly out of control but I hope to steer towards an abundance of good eating and fine bouquets. The shell peas are loaded with young pods that are starting to fill out. The Red Milan turnips are finally forming and the white Hakurei turnips look just right for picking on Friday. The head lettuces are lovely and enjoying the cool moist weather. Happily, the carrots are thinned, so I hope they will swell up soon. Inside the greenhouse it's a whole different world, sort of hot and humid and dry. I've got tomatoes, sweet peppers, black eyed peas, basil and okra in there.

Of course the weeds are loving all the rain too and there are woodchucks nearby. Mostly the woodchucks are eating grass and I keep putting up barriers and deterrents around OUR plants. Keep your fingers crossed. I will be dog sitting for a month starting mid July and that may send them on their way, I hope.

Some of the Red Russian Kale from last year came through the winter and is now in full bloom. I plan to harvest and store the seeds. I also noticed that the Seckel pear tree seems to have a good crop this year so if the CSA is going into October, there should be pears for all. Perhaps eggs too as I am expecting a delivery of chicks in a couple of weeks. Busy, fun times here. I am grateful.

Laura

Today's Delivery

The harvest: 3 containers of mesclun, head lettuce, escarole, radishes




Delivery - Friday, June 13, 2008

Radishes
Mesclun
Garlic chives
Head lettuce - Forellenshuss (speckled romaine) or Webb's Wonderful (green romaine) or Buttercrunch (bibb)
Escarole
Spearmint
Apple Mint
Cilantro and marjoram
Bouquet

Each order also included a cloth bag made by Karen. These can be used to store your washed mesclun in the refrigerator. We plant on making more bags so you will always have one available. Still working on good ways to avoid using plastic. Let us know what you think of the bags.

Violet Jelly - I noticed that the violet jelly goes moldy fairly quickly after it is opened so when you open yours, keep it in the frig and eat it up promptly. It goes well with meat, like basil or mint jelly.





Today's bouquet: Iris - blue, white, yellow, tan, etc., Deronicum - like a yellow daisy, Peonies - light and dark pink and white, Lady's Mantle - lime green, Kousa dogwood - 4 whitish green petals, Dictamus (tall purple and white streaks), Hosta leaves - white and green

Yesterday's Delivery - Friday, June 6, 2008

Delivery was smoother and faster the second time. We picked some of the flowers on Thursday evening and that helped and it was exciting to pick five whole pounds of mesclun! It was raining off and on while we picked so the leaves were spattered with soil. We felt like 'real farmers' as we picked despite the rain.

I field washed the mesclun, mustard greens and radishes but...you need to wash the vegetables yourself.

Delivery #2

THIS WEEK'S DELIVERY
Radishes - small, a taste of things to come.
Mesclun
Mixed greens - a small taste of Red Russian Kale, Winterbor Kale, Siberian Dwarf Kale.
Green Wave Mustard volunteers. (I know that some folks do not like spicy greens. Be unafraid. These young mustard greens are spicy when raw but when cooked they are very mild.)
Wild peppermint
Apple Mint
Rhubarb - full share members only
Bouquets - Each bouquet is a mixture of some of the following blooms:
Iris (mostly purples), Dianthus (pinks), Deronicum (yellow, daisy-like), Garden Peonies (coral with yellow center), Lady's Mantle leaves (big, round and fuzzy), Dame's Rocket (white), Amsonia (pale blue), Valerian (green buds), Ragged Robin (rose pink)