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.

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

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!

THIS WEEK'S DELIVERY - JULY 4, 2008

YOUR SHARE

3-4 heads of lettuce - Crisp Mint, Reine d'Glaces, Forellenschluss, Four Seasons
snowpeas
shelling peas
tarragon and rosemary
Swiss chard
Turnip greens
Red Milan turnips (You can eat the tops as cooked greens too.)
radishes

bouquet - mostly Sweet Peas with some Dianthus, Shapdragons, and a few Salvia 'Lipstick', Salvia 'May Night', and Bachelor's Buttons


Since there were so many head lettuces that needed picking and they will be gone for awhile after this week, I just gave you lettuce and will bring mesclun next time.

Have a fun holiday!

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