09' CSA Basket Journal #12; Volume 2
Posted 8/5/2009 7:53pm by Matthew and Allison Mills Neal.
CSA Basket Journal #12; Volume 2
August 5th
What Genus Species your basket contains:
1.)Bulk Cucumbers: English Green Finger, Marketmore 76, Poona Khera, and Crystal Apple
2.)Royal Burgundy Specialty Bush Snap Beans (turns green upon cooking, sadly enough)
3.)Gladstone Yellow Bulk Carrots
4.)French Breakfast Radish Bunch
5.)Zefo Fino, Perfection, Florence Fennel Bulbs and Fronds
6.)Pearl Onions of Velincia and Rosa di Milano
7.)Lime Basil
Matthew and I continue to be amazed at how much rain we have had totally for this whole year thus far and in some ways it has been great and in others not so much. The time is drawing near for fall crop planting and for continual summer crop cultivation and this is the first time I can remember in a while that we have even had trouble finding the dry times to plant fall crops and to cultivate summer crops. The summer time is generally a lot easier to plant than in the early spring, but not so much for this year. Most of all, we are hoping that the continual wetness does not alter the taste of all our wonderful melon crops that are coming along thus far really well. In fact, we are thinking next week, if they ripen enough, you will see your first harvest of the orange fleshed french sweet melons! I know you are also thinking of the good summer tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, and summer squash and do not fear they will be here, late as normal which is normal for our farm's harvest cycles. Speaking of the weather conditions, we have heard a lot of friends saying that it has been difficult finding good tomatoes this year do to the weather, so we are hopng our's will fair to be better. Also, Matthew has called this the year of the field mice, so if you notice some nibbles on your radishes or cucumbers they are the culprit, but as the radishes and greens were so nice I had to still include them as it would have been very wasteful to let a whole row of radishes not be distrubuted becasue of the marks. Just slice/trim your radishes right under the bite and then it is if it was never there.
I know that Matthew told everyone of the great cucumber and fennel cold soup that I have been making in different alterations lately, as it is great to make a large batch and chill and have when you ever so desire. Cold soups in the summer are so very refreshing, so I will be posting that recipe on the Arugula's Star Farm Recipies section.
The cold soup was great with a chopped salad that consisted of the lime basil, radishes, pearl onion, carrots, and sunflower seeds and then all tossed with a mixture consisting of olive oil, cream cheese, pear juice, and salt and pepper.
We will be seeing you next week.
Allison and Matthew
August 5th
What Genus Species your basket contains:
1.)Bulk Cucumbers: English Green Finger, Marketmore 76, Poona Khera, and Crystal Apple
2.)Royal Burgundy Specialty Bush Snap Beans (turns green upon cooking, sadly enough)
3.)Gladstone Yellow Bulk Carrots
4.)French Breakfast Radish Bunch
5.)Zefo Fino, Perfection, Florence Fennel Bulbs and Fronds
6.)Pearl Onions of Velincia and Rosa di Milano
7.)Lime Basil
Matthew and I continue to be amazed at how much rain we have had totally for this whole year thus far and in some ways it has been great and in others not so much. The time is drawing near for fall crop planting and for continual summer crop cultivation and this is the first time I can remember in a while that we have even had trouble finding the dry times to plant fall crops and to cultivate summer crops. The summer time is generally a lot easier to plant than in the early spring, but not so much for this year. Most of all, we are hoping that the continual wetness does not alter the taste of all our wonderful melon crops that are coming along thus far really well. In fact, we are thinking next week, if they ripen enough, you will see your first harvest of the orange fleshed french sweet melons! I know you are also thinking of the good summer tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, and summer squash and do not fear they will be here, late as normal which is normal for our farm's harvest cycles. Speaking of the weather conditions, we have heard a lot of friends saying that it has been difficult finding good tomatoes this year do to the weather, so we are hopng our's will fair to be better. Also, Matthew has called this the year of the field mice, so if you notice some nibbles on your radishes or cucumbers they are the culprit, but as the radishes and greens were so nice I had to still include them as it would have been very wasteful to let a whole row of radishes not be distrubuted becasue of the marks. Just slice/trim your radishes right under the bite and then it is if it was never there.
I know that Matthew told everyone of the great cucumber and fennel cold soup that I have been making in different alterations lately, as it is great to make a large batch and chill and have when you ever so desire. Cold soups in the summer are so very refreshing, so I will be posting that recipe on the Arugula's Star Farm Recipies section.
The cold soup was great with a chopped salad that consisted of the lime basil, radishes, pearl onion, carrots, and sunflower seeds and then all tossed with a mixture consisting of olive oil, cream cheese, pear juice, and salt and pepper.
We will be seeing you next week.
Allison and Matthew