Farmer’s Note — Week 8

Dear CSA Member

Intense heat to intense rain to some really nice weather. The unexpected rainfall was over 6 inches. It has been so hot and dry that most just soaked into the soil. Since then the skies were clear and the temperatures were very pleasant. More rain as we were starting to pick your shares. It seems at times we are in the tropics rather than upstate New York.

The vegetables are moving into their summer stride. Tomatoes are just starting to ripen. What a treat to slice into the first of the season tomato. Eggplant, basil, onions, scallions, parsley. It is a delicious week for the summertime favorites.

The first of Red Ace Beets with their Greens. Take the greens from the beet root and use as a cooking green. A member forwarded a recipe for Chickpea and Greens Patties which can be found on the farm website, Recipe Section, Swiss Chard all the way at the end. Beet Greens would be a great substitute for Swiss Chard in this recipe. The beet root should be cooked separately because of the size and time it will take to cook through. Please send your recipe favorites. The Recipe section of the farm website is filling up with great recipes sent by CSA members.

Marketplace orders will be delivered with your CSA share if you would like Coffee, Honey or Maple Syrup. Mushrooms are also available through the Marketplace.

This week Cremini Mushrooms for the Mushroom Share and Peaches, Nectarines and Sugar Plums for the Fruit Share.

Make a note that the Fall Farm Festival will be September 7. It is a great day to come and visit the farm, meet all of us at Stoneledge Farm, meet other CSA members, walk the fields and see where your vegetables are grown. Heather Ridge Farm www.Heather-ridge-farm.com and Gary Wiltbank Farm with his Shiitake and Oyster Mushrooms will have displays and products available. We will have a barbecue and ask members to bring a dish to share and their own place setting. More to come. We hope you will be able to attend.

Enjoy the vegetables.
Deborah for everyone at Stoneledge Farm