Monthly Archive: August 2022
Hi everyone, So, we received about ¾ of an inch of rain a week ago. It was certainly welcome and helpful, though not nearly enough. We are coping as best we can, moving the overhead irrigation from crop to crop. I am planting lots of spinach, turnips, arugula, and other mustards right now and they all need moisture to germinate. The corn and the winter squash need water to mature their fruit and the fall brassicas need the wet stuff so they keep growing rapidly. It seems we have a 50% shot at showers tomorrow and then again on Sunday. Pray for rain! (more…)
Hello Folks! So, we received a small amount of rain today, and hopefully there is more on tap for Monday evening and Tuesday. For some crops it may be too little too late – particularly for our winter squash and pumpkin crop. Many of the vines have died and the rest are already maturing very small fruits. I am hoping that if it starts raining with more regularity, they may begin to grow and flower again, but there is not much time left. (more…)
This recipe, courtesy of food blogger minimalistbaker.com, is a vegan and gluten and dairy free twist on stuffed peppers. These protein packed stuffed peppers are fantastic by themselves, but try them topped with salsa, avocado slices, or hot sauce for even more flavor. Serves 4. (more…)
Hi Folks, So the heat has broken, but still no rain. It seems we will have to wait another week for a 40% chance of precipitation. The drought is rally starting to hurt us, despite our best efforts to keep everything sprouting and growing. For now, the shares still look great. (more…)
If you’re feeling like you have more squash than you know what to do with, here’s a great way to put them to use! Serves 4. (more…)
Bhindi (okra) is a staple in Indian cuisine. This recipe for Bhindi Masala comes from Slate Magazine. If you were scarred by stewed okra as a child, you might be wary of overcooking your okra here. Don’t be. Counterintuitively, you want to cook it so long it’s just shy of burning. A long frying session will give the okra time to dry out as its liquid evaporates, and that dried out texture is what you want if you’re trying to avoid slime. Your okra’s not done until it looks wilted and deeply browned. (more…)
Hi Everyone, I wish I had better news for you, but after various chances for rain over the last week, we are still very dry here on the farm. About two hours ago it became dark, and the wind picked up, then I watched the radar as a small storm cell moved to the north of us. We have another shot at some precipitation tonight and tomorrow, after that we will have to wait until next week. We are doing the best we can to keep everything growing or at least keep new transplants and newly sprouted seeds from burning up, but there is just not enough water to go around. (more…)
With eggplants still in abundance, I can’t wait to make another batch of this Sicilian deliciousness. The recipe makes about 4-5 cups and keeps well for about a week in the fridge. (more…)
At some point this summer, you will look in your crisper and realize you have all the ingredients for the perfect summer meal: Gazpacho. This recipe from the Joy of Cooking is easy to make and can be adapted depending on what vegetables you have available. Serve for lunch or add a side of thick crusty bread to make a light dinner. (more…)
Hi All! “Hot” and “dry” continue to be the best words to describe conditions on the farm. The few rain events that were forecast turned out to be duds, delivering only a few scattered drops. We are doing our best to keep water on the most important crops and keep newly sown seeds moist so that they will sprout. Just as they say about elections, drought has consequences. Our string bean crop has been languishing in the heat and producing small misshapen pods. Fortunately, we have some pole beans which have drip irrigation on them. These are an heirloom variety called the Rattlesnake bean (down south they call them Preacher beans). They are a flat pod type with some purple streaking and are generally quite sweet and tender. (more…)
