FW: Summer CSA Week 5

[Lisa Salkovitz Kohn]

Vicki’s email this week, in case you didn’t get it.

Lisa

 

 

From: Vicki [mailto:genesis...@comcast.net]
Sent: Tuesday, July 05, 2011 5:37 PM
Subject: Summer CSA Week 5

 

Happy 4th of July!   Here on the farm it ended up being a rather tense day as we rushed to get the crops picked so the guys could go have some semblance of a holiday.  In the end, they worked longer than I wanted them to and then Jon and I finished up.  Then today seemed even goofier trying to play catch up.  Now that I am alone, it is time to write to you, although I must admit this well feels a bit dry.   

Good news:  the crops are beginning to look awesome.  Many of the pepper plants are 15 inches tall.  The tomatoes are flowering and I have even seen fruit on some.  The cukes and zukes are growing exponentially, overcoming their sadness at having had wet feet for so long.  I see all their bright yellow flowers and it makes me feel like they are smiling.  On the other side of that happy coin, the weeds have taken off as well and we are working hard trying to get them in control.  The cultivating tractor can roll again tomorrow and come Wednesday the guys should be able to get out and hoe some more rows.  Last night after it cooled down some I went out and weeded carrots and peppers.  When I weed, I do it entirely different from my guys who start at one end of the row and work all the way to the other end 500 feet away.  When I weed, I do one of two things: 1) I weed 25 feet up a row and the jump to the next row and weed 25 feet down and then just keep repeating that, so 25 feet of numerous rows are weeded; 2) Hop, skip and jump around the rows weeding where I have a fancy to weed.  Now, my logic in this is that when the guys are out doing serious hoeing, they will hit a clear spot and feel like they were given a little gift of free hoeing.   If you have ever hoed a 500 foot row, you will know what a delight it is to come across a 25 foot section that is already completed.  It is truly a gift.   When I do this, I jump all over the place so every man gets my "gift" at some point in his row.   Silly? Maybe.  But, I still do it and trust they will enjoy their little reprieve.  

 

Because I am tired, I will get down to business. 

 

Your box

Leaf lettuce - a variety this week

Purple top turnips - try grilling or roasting them

Blue berries - (No cherries in quantity yet)

Basil - a variety of types were picked

Kale - try sauteing it in olive oil with a little garlic until just tender.  When tender add some fruit - berries, dried cranberries, pine nuts.  It really is delicious and very nutritious. 

Onions - Pumba is the variety.  Now these Pumba have a story.  They are supposed to grow very large and are very sweet.  One day two weeks ago the tops fell over in a storm.  I really pondered what the deal was because all the onions next to them are standing tall and green.  Then, over the days that passed, they looked worse and worse.  They looked like they were ready to dry out for the end of the season, which made no sense to me at all.  Finally, I went to my seed catalog to read up on Pumbas.  Lo and behold, Pumbas area short day onion that is to be grown in the winter.  Needless to say, I planted them in the wrong season.  I bought the seed to start in August, plant in a hoop in December and harvest in April (as they are intended).  But . . .  I forgot and started them in January . . . and now we have these little tiny onions.  But, not wanting to waste, we picked them and are going to have little Pumbas this week.  

 

Next week - I am doing a rotten job of forecasting right now, so all I can say for fairly certain is that we will have golden beets, blueberries and cherries (hoepfully).  I also hope the zucchini flowers produce more fruits and the same with the cucumbers.  

 

Vicki
Genesis Growers
8373 E 3000 S Rd
St Anne, Il  60964
815 953 1512
www.genesis-growers.com