Farm News – June 18, 2018
Hi Everyone! So, it was another reasonably good week weather-wise here on the farm. Temperatures have been mild (at least until today), and we had a midnight deluge on Wednesday night. A slow steady rain is always better than a downpour, and this one only gave us about a quarter of an inch, but it was helpful for getting some seeds up and for watering the brassicas and the root crops. As we head into late June and July the rain often starts to diminish and we start worrying about a drought. Many of the summer crops are watered with drip irrigation. For other crops we have overhead sprinklers, but it is a lot of extra work for us. We just seeded some okra and lima beans and I am in the process of planting the winter squash and pumpkins so a little rain will be much appreciated.
The zucchini and summer squash have begun to produce so we will have a few for everyone this week. The garlic scapes are finally ready to be cut — 2 weeks later than normal. These are the flower tops of the garlic and can be used somewhat like scallions – grilled or chopped finely and sautéed. Some folks put them in a blender with olive oil, nuts, and parmesan to make a kind of pesto. Kohlrabi is the brassica for this week. It is quite sweet with a cabbage like flavor and can be grated to add to salads or to make a slaw (peel first) or cooked if you must…
We will have broccoli and Napa cabbage soon. Spinach is still abundant and beautiful; there will be two bunches for everyone! Peas are still in scant supply but if you did not receive them last week you likely will this week. The root vegetable of the week will be beets for some (early week) and salad turnips for others (late week). Both have edible and nutritious tops which I encourage you to use. Next week you will receive the one that you did not this week.
I hope to see many of you at the farm visit this weekend. Remember to use “141 Brighton Rd. Andover” for navigation and not the farm name!
The share for this week will be: Lettuce, spinach, kohlrabi, beets or turnips, garlic scapes, summer squash, parsley and possibly peas. Premium share members will receive endive (frissee), choice of broccoli raab or kale and choice of a second herb (cilantro, chervil, summer savory or marjoram).
Enjoy! Farmer John
