"And the Heat is on"...produce from Arugula's Star Farm for Wed. the 26th
“And the Heat is On”…the hot late spring weather has finally come to be here in Middle TN. So with the warm weather here and all, there is no better time to be tossing raw salads up, chopping herbs, and eating refreshing organic strawberries. As this week is looking warmer and drier, we might actually be able to get into the Windmill field to move around the shifted and flooded soils, get some cover crops out and about, and by the end of the week in the great 2nd Quarter and Scorpio sign we will hope to get out some vine crops, beans, and herbs and flowers. Because of all the alterations that the Flood brought on here for the farm’s fields and planting agendas, we will not have any new produce available till late July or early August in our best prediction. Although, for the next couple of weeks we will still be offering the lettuces, endive, chard, borage, sorrel, spinach, and strawberries that were resilient enough to survive, but after that is gone we will be waiting on the summer crops that have been even delayed more than normal. Nonetheless, we will be planning on having melons, winter squash, summer squash & zucchini, snap beans, dry beans, tomatoes, peppers, okra, cucumbers, and herbs when the time comes around. Here is a good picture of comparison of how high the banks of the Leipers Creek flooded, kind of a then and now type of picture. Also, there are the tomato plants that will still make it into the field for a good crop of tomatoes.
As far as this week goes, at the On-Line Store, you will find the Supreme Spring Green Salad Mix again, Borage, and first come first serve Strawberries at pick-up (meaning… limited amount will be posted, and then the remaining that we are able to harvest off the plants will be available on a first come first serve basis at the pick-up on Wednesday)
As this will be our third week of our strawberry harvest, the plants are still producing and looking great, so please support the production of Organic Strawberries by buying Organic/Local Strawberries. There was a wonderful article that came out in this months ACRES publication that spoke of the terrible impacting roll that Conventional Strawberries have played in positive environmental ecosystems structure and function, and human health. There is really nothing wonderful at all about enjoying fresh strawberries when they have been conventionally grown, so just remember that next time you see a beautiful display of seemingly perfect conventional strawberries, and this goes for local non-organic strawberries as well! Moreover, as not to just speak of Strawberries, but this same statement is true for any conventional produce really. That is why you as a consumer have such an important role in buying food that is having a positive effect on all living ecosystems and human health, as opposed to the counterpart of purchasing conventional foods and products that are having broad scoping negative effects on environmental ecosystems and your health and other human’s health.
Along with the wonderful supreme salad mix, the other featured item this week is Borage, and if you have never tried Borage, you really should as not only is it tasty like described at the On-Line Store, but it is one of those wonderful healing herbs that can be used and should be used in regular cooking preparations.
Borage parts used: Leaves, flowers, and seeds
Phytochemicals and Nutrient Content: Beta-carotene, romaine acid, silicic acid, tannin, calcium, choline, essential fatty acids, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, vitamins B1, B2, B3, and C.
Actions and Uses: Acts as a adrenal tonic and gland balancer. Contains valuable minerals and essential fatty acids needed for proper cardiovascular function ad healthy skin and nails.
To get ideas on how to use Borage please click on the more information option at the On-Line Store.
We hope everyone enjoys this first spurt in the hot weather and hope to be seeing you on this Wednesday the 26th at Elmington Park or On-Farm.
Thanks,
Arugula’s Star Farm