Dumbo / Vinegar Hill / CSA

Message from our farmers

leslie — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 04:01:45 +0000

Greetings,

This week’s harvest is a biggie for both the partial and full CSA members.

If you haven’t watched the weather channel on the web or TV lately, it’s okay, I’ll give you the short version of Hurricane Earl. Good news is, it’s not here yet, and may not affect us here on the eastern seaboard of the US other than a bit of wind and rain. And that’s about it, in a nut shell. If……the storm comes inland or closer to the eastern shore than what is currently projected, then the news is not quite as good.

I personally have a HUGE problem with tropical storms. They give me ‘Hissy Fits’ among other things. One of the reasons why this week’s harvest is more than you would normally expect to see in your shares is that the weather has been great, and everything has been coming into maturity rapidly. Another reason is that we would like you to have what ever we can harvest out of the field in light of what might come toward the weekend. Our greens and leafy items can not tolerate the wind and rain associated with a major storm. We’ll keep our fingers crossed as we can do little else if the good weather fairies are not with us this weekend.

Outside of the weather, this really is the best time of the year for me because……….. the watermelons are ready! Our crop of watermelons is perhaps the most favorite thing on the whole farm for me, (possibly the whole world). It pretty much makes the whole season’s work worthwhile just to munch those guys every chance that I can. Hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Be well,

Fred & Karen

9-01-10

leslie — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 04:01:43 +0000

Partial

2 pcs. Red Beets

1 bu of Basil

8oz Bag of Asian Mix Greens

1 Head Bok Choy

1 bu Radishes

1 bu Arugula

1 lb. Yellow Grape Tomatoes

1 lb. Red Plum Tomatoes

1/4 portion Watermelon

1 Fresh Summer Garlic bulb

Full

1 bu mixed Carrots

1 bu Cilantro

1 bu of Basil

1 Head Red Boston Lettuce

2 Heads Baby Bok Choy

2 Heads Red Romaine Lettuce

1 bu U-Choy Greens

1/2 lb. Snap Beans

1 Leek

1 bulb Kohlrabi

1 lb. Yellow Grape Tomatoes

1 lb. Mixed Heirloom Tomatoes

1 lb. Red Plum Tomatoes

1/4 portion Watermelon

2 Sweet Bell Peppers

Message from our farmers

leslie — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 16:01:36 +0000

Greetings,

It is in a way surprising to me that we are now at the half way point in the CSA crop season. As I walk through the fields doing my numerous periodic checks, there are times I feel like we’ve just only begun our field work, seeing and thinking how much remains to be done out there. Then…. on the other hand, I can’t believe we’ve only come ‘half way’ giving the same thought to how much work we’ve put into the crops and only come this far to date.

Yes, there are days that I wonder, what day of the week it is, (yet alone if I’m still on the planet earth). It sort of reminds me of my high school days when I ran track as an inter mural sport. Those of us on the team that were not blessed with long legs, or could not sprint fast enough to run the short distance events like the 100 yard dash or the 220, were put onto the longer distance events. My event was the (2) mile. There were no other longer distances to run at that time. Little did I know then, how that would help prepare me for having the right perspective on things now. I can’t help smiling when I think that the best part is yet to come as its all ‘down hill’ from this point. One mile down……., and counting……….

Be well,

Fred & Karen

8-25-10

leslie — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 16:01:19 +0000

Partial

1 bu mixed Carrots

1 bu of Basil

1 Head green Boston Lettuce

1 Head Red Oak Leaf Lettuce

1/2 lb. Snap Beans

1 lb. mixed Cherry Tomatoes

1 lb. Mixed Heirloom Tomatoes

1 Sweet Bell Pepper (various colors)

Full

3 pcs. Red Beets

1 bu Italian Parsley

1 bu of Basil

2 Heads green Romaine

1 Head Bok Choy

1 Head Green Iceberg Lettuce

1 bulb Onion

1 lb. Snap Beans

1 lb. mixed Cherry Tomatoes

2 lbs. Mixed Heirloom Tomatoes

1 Head Bulb Fennel

1 Fresh Summer Garlic bulb

8 oz. of Greenhouse Ong Choy, (Chinese Water Spinach)

8-18-10

leslie — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 01:57:24 +0000

Partial

1 bu mixed Carrots

1 bu of Cilantro

1 Head Red Boston

1/2 lb. Snap Beans

1 lb. mixed Cherry Tomatoes

2 lbs. Mixed Heirloom Tomatoes

1 Head Bulb Fennel

1/2 Cantalope Melon

Full

1 bu mixed Carrots

1 bu green Scallions

1 bu of Basil

1 Head green Boston Lettuce

2 lbs Yukon Gold Potatoes

1 Head Red Boston Lettuce

1 bu mini Cippolini Onions

1 lb. Snap Beans

1 lb. mixed Cherry Tomatoes

4 lbs. Mixed Heirloom Tomatoes

1 Eggplant

1 Sweet Bell Pepper

Fruit

1 bag of peaches

Message from our farmers

leslie — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 01:55:24 +0000

Greetings:

Listed below is the expected harvest items for the delivery tomorrow, Wednesday, August 18th, your CSA week # 11.

As we anticipated, we were able to continue the harvest on the sweet cantaloupes this week so that all the partial share members will be able to have a portion.

Thankfully, our tomatoes are doing fine so far with the dry warm weather we’ve been experiencing this season. (This time period last year, I think I was looking up names in a book, similar to an expectant parent, to designate one of the lakes that had formed in one of our fields from all the rainfall we had received up to that date.) This week we anticipate good harvests of both cherry and slicing types tomatoes. Our wonderful bounty in the field simply means more going to both groups of CSA members. There will be a mix of different varieties and colors for both groups.

A point worth knowing is that many of our Heirloom tomatoes may look a bit ‘funky’ or ‘irregular’. Some of these Heirloom tomatoes may have prominent bulges, odd shapes, and some cracks on the surface. As Yoda might say, ” Let not these superficial imperfections lead you to believe these tomatoes are from the dark side”. On the contrary, some of the best tasting tomatoes may be the ones that were truly the least appealing in appearances. When these Heirloom tomatoes are fully ripe, they are so sensitive, you will be able to bruise them just with a disparaging glance, (well, almost). They will be quite soft, such that they will ‘dent’ and give slightly in their surface shape as you pick them up to decide if you’re going to eat them right then or later when you get them home.

As you might guess, there is a fine line between a fully ripe Heirloom tomato and one ‘that has crossed over to the dark side’. Unlike wine, not many of our veggies get better with age, so enjoy them as soon as you can.

Be Well,

Fred & Karen

Message from our farmers

leslie — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 02:00:10 +0000

Greetings,

We have just started our summer sweet melon harvest, (along with the deer that come into the field every night during the early morning hours). I am hoping that we will have enough for everyone, that is for both partial and full shares, to have a sample portion during the next few weeks. While I can’t be certain that the deer will leave us any, I figured we would start with what we have. This week we have some juicy cantaloupes that will be shared among the full CSA members. I am hoping next week to be able to harvest enough for the partial CSA members to split some too. Since we do not have enough for every member to have one melon each at this time, they must be sliced into quarters. We will try to send in some poly bags to help you with the distribution.

The dry warm weather has been good for disease control and general plant growth, but has presented some challenges for us with the crop requirements for irrigation. We are running our irrigation pumps long hours everyday, seven days a week now. I know we are in the heat of the summer, and it doesn’t seem to matter how many times I get cooled off with a water spray from the field sprinklers, because right around now, I start thinking how I’d just prefer to just have some cooler fall temperatures with a nice evening rain.

Who could ever get tired of summer weather like this, (except me)?

Be well,

Fred & Karen

8-11-10

leslie — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 01:59:12 +0000

Partial

1 bu mixed Beets

2 stems of Basil

1 Head green Romaine

1 lb Norland Red Potatoes

1/2 lb. Snap Beans

1/2 lb.Red & Yellow Cherry Tomatoes

1 lb. Red & Yellow Beef type Tomatoes

Full

1 bu mixed Beets

1 Head Green Boston Lettuce

1 bu of Cilantro

1 Head green Romaine

2 lbs Red Thumb Fingerlings

1 bulb Onion

1 lb. Snap Beans

1 pint Cherry Tomatoes

2 lbs Red, Orange & Yellow Beef type Tomatoes

2 Eggplants

1 Head Bulb Fennel

1/4 Cantaloupe Melon

Message from our farmers

leslie — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 03:36:13 +0000

The shares this week include an Asian water spinach called ong choy. It grows under tropical conditions in the greenhouse during July and August. With the extra high temperatures we’ve had this year, this crop is doing very well. Use it as you would a spinach, either raw or sauteed, and be sure to include the stems. They are hollow and as a result are lightly crunchy, adding a delicious finish to your salad.

You will also find some tomatoes in your box this week. They are another crop enjoying the warmer temperatures. We are about two weeks ahead of schedule in their harvest, so hopefully you can enjoy them longer this year.

Be well,

Fred and Karen

8-5-10

leslie — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 03:35:14 +0000

Partial
1 bu. Mixed colors of Carrots
1 Bulb Onion
1 bu. Cilantro
1 head of Red Boston
2 pcs Fairy Tale Eggplant
1/2 pint cherry tomatoes
1 pc Yellow Tomato
1/2 lb. Ong Choy

Full
1 bu. Mixed colors of Carrots
1 bu red Scallions
1 bu baby Cippolini Onions
1 bu. Basil
1 head of Green Iceberg
1 head of Green Boston
2 lbs Norland Red Potatoes
2pc Asian Eggplant
1 pint Cherry Tomatoes
2 pc Yellow Tomato
1/2 lb. Ong Choy

Cheese Share
Harpersfield Tilsit flavored with dill

Fruit Share
1 bag of peaches
1 bag of UFO peaches