What’s in the Bag — Week 7

Vegetables – Full Share
Summer spinach – 1 bunch
Summer squash – 2 pieces
Heirloom cucumbers (Boothby and Poona Kheera) – 6 This is the bountiful harvest time for cucumbers.
Marketmore cucumbers (green slicing) – 3
White Clara eggplant – 1 Be careful picking up the eggplant.  The stem end can have very sharp spines.
Scallions – 1 bunch
Fennel – 1 The bulbs are small but still tender.
Amethyst basil – 1 bunch This makes a beautiful flavored vinegar.  Immerse basil in a light vinegar.  The light purple color and basil flavoring are perfect for this type of vinegar.  Use to make salad dressing. Also can be used as you would use green basil.
Leeks – 1 bunch
Oriental eggplant – 2 pieces

Mushroom Share
Shiitake

Fruit Share
1 bag of white peaches
1 bag of white nectarines

You can tell the difference by the skin. The peaches are fuzzy, and the nectarines are smooth.

Farmer’s Note — Week 7

Dear CSA Member,

This has been a brutal week to be a farmer.  It is the same for anyone who has to work outside no matter the weather.  Each day it has gotten hotter and more humid.  It must easily be near 100 degrees in the field.  Plenty of water to drink, but the work is hard and we can not stop.

The vegetables are still soaking it all up and producing very well. I thought that last week would be the cucumber week, but the cucumbers have rallied again and the harvest is even greater than last week. A benefit of being a CSA member is sharing in the bounty of a harvest. Each year it varies crop to crop.  This year the cucumbers are outstanding. Cucumber soup, cold cucumber salads, refrigerator pickles. Cucumber and yogurt are a natural combination during the heat of the summer. There are recipes on the farm website Recipe section.

During this extreme heat make sure you get your share home, rinsed and in the refrigerator as soon as possible.  All of the vegetables are fresh, but cannot withstand the heat.

All being said, it is summer.  I guess we should expect a good dose of hot weather.

Enjoy the vegetables.
Deborah
for everyone at Stoneledge Farm