THIS WEEK'S HARVEST: Heirloom and New Girl Tomatoes, Chippollini Onions, Easter-egg and Rover Radishes, Hakurei Turnips, Arugula, Mustard Salad Greens, Bok Choi, Spinach, Dino Kale, Siberian Kale, Collards, Chard, Cauliflower, Lettuces (Butter heads, Little Gems, Oakleaf, and Heart of Romaine)
IN THE GARDEN: Sugar Snap Peas, Basil, Cilantro, Chamomile flowers, Savory, Chives, Parsley, Sage, Oregano, Thyme, Peppermint, Sorrel and assorted flowers (Cosmos, Nasturtium, Bachelor's Buttons, Zinnias, Calendula and Snapdragons)
FARMER'S LOG:
This heat spell really has marked the beginning of summer loud and clear hasn't it? The plant life on the farm heard it loud and clear. It's really interesting watching how different crops, and different plant families have responded. Those that relished the rain and fog the week before last seem to hunker down and show their grumpy side in this heat. The brassicas, who glow oh-so serenely on a foggy day, seem subdued and toughened on days like today, turning a beautiful purple hue in their stress. The broccoli and cauliflower seem to bolt to the finish line, unfurling their flowering heads quickly, to life's end Meanwhile, the summer crew is partying. Between Saturday and today the basil in the u-pick garden and our newly germinated Painted Mountain corn in the main-field have doubled in size, as have the youngest successions of field tomatoes, cucumbers and summer squash who've seem to have grown into teenagers over-night. They are verdant and wild and stretching their vining arms with a unruly vigor. It's kind of scary. And we are really behind on trellising.
2017 will surely be remembered for being a quick spring, bookended by a soggy winter that didn't know when to leave and a hot-headed summer that arrived too early. The good thing about a highly diverse farm, is that we can take what comes and savor the ever-changing "terroir" of weather captured in the food. Make sure to enjoy a hefty helping of those sugar snap peas next time you're out. They've bottled the recent sun into some sweet oblong candies, and we're not sure how long they'll last. Onward into summer, my friends.
See you on the farm.
David
