July 3, 2016
Dear CSA Member
Our garden is flourishing in the wonderful summer conditions we have had recently. The lack of moisture and warm dry conditions favor the up and coming heat loving summer produce. We are able to irrigate the crops which require more water while leaving others dry. Keeping the foliage of plants like tomatoes, potatoes, squash, cucumbers and sweet peppers dry is essential in preventing many diseases which can greatly reduce crop yields. We are certainly grateful for the stretch of seasonable weather we have had.
Walking through the fields and planning the coming weeks is always a weekly project Pete Jr. looks forward to. This morning the bees were hard at work throughout the fields pollinating the plentiful blossoms. Thousands of immature cucumbers, eggplant and peppers are appearing quickly. The greens are holding on strong and we still have a large variety of lettuce for the coming weeks. Herbs like parsley, dill and cilantro are quickly growing from seedlings into mature plants.
What a weekly harvest of Summer Squash. The conditions have been perfect and the picking abundant. This week you will be getting mixed varieties of summer squash and zucchini. The farm website Recipes & Produce ID have great recipes and pictures for identification of the produce. www.stoneledge.farm/csa-program/recipes
This week is the first Fruit Share delivery. Please take fruit only if you have ordered this optional Fruit Share. If you do not remember you can check your order by logging into your CSA Member Account. Your CSA coordinators will have Fruit Share members on the sign in roster as well. This week there are local Sweet Cherries and Blueberries. The cherry crop this year is very sparse due to the late frost. Fix Brothers (the local cherry orchard) picked these delicious cherries just for our CSA.
This is also a Coffee Share delivery week and if you have a Coffee Share you will receive a reminder e-mail. Mushroom Shares are delivered every week and are Portobello Mushrooms this week.
The Online Marketplace will have bulk vegetables starting today. The bulk vegetables are great for freezing for the winter or, if you are having a party.
Please note: The order deadline for delivery of your Marketplace Order is by 1PM the day before your CSA delivery except for Mushroom and Sweet Corn Orders. Mushroom and Sweet Corn orders must be received by the farm by Friday noon for delivery. Orders received after the deadline will be delivered the following CSA delivery week. You will receive an e-mail confirmation and reminder of your Marketplace order.
Enjoy the harvest.
Stoneledge Farm