In this week’s box:
ArugulaGarlic Scapes, curly green bundleHead Lettuce, assorted varietiesLemon ThymeNapa CabbageSpinruts (baby Hakurei turnips)
and perhaps one of the following: (please see **NOTE after "A Little Detail..." below)Broccoli:(Gypsy) small, early headsSnow PeasSugar Snap Peas
For those with the Herb option: Herb share will begin in a couple of weeks (waiting for basil)
Featured Recipes:
Stir-fried Napa Cabbage Spicy Garlic Dressing (use scapes for garlic)
Arugula
Garlic Scapes, curly green bundle
Head Lettuce, assorted varieties
Lemon Thyme
Napa Cabbage
Spinruts (baby Hakurei turnips)
and perhaps one of the following: (please see **NOTE after "A Little Detail..." below)
Broccoli:(Gypsy) small, early heads
Snow Peas
Sugar Snap Peas
Featured Recipes:
Stir-fried Napa Cabbage Spicy Garlic Dressing (use scapes for garlic)
Stir-fried Napa Cabbage Spicy Garlic Dressing (use scapes for garlic)
What’s up on the farm?
Precipitation in the past week: 0.00"
The theme for this week (again) was Hot and Dry! We were really hopeful that we would catch some of the rain in the state this past Friday, but all we got was wind and a bit of a temperature drop (which was appreciated). Our early season crops are really struggling to survive the conditions and we are starting to lose some of them. We thought about trying to market pre-cooked greens for this week's VegEmail sales but decided snarky farmer humor might be lost on some. The CSA boxes today are really greens-heavy. We would have liked to give the arugula and napa cabbage in this week's delivery another week or so to grow a bit more, but they were starting to protest the weather so it was a "now or never" harvest decision. We probably won't have these crops available again until fall, so now is the time to enjoy them!
The weather conditions have pushed us to do something we've never had to do before, we ran irrigation lines on our popcorn and winter squash, just to try and get the seeds to germinate. The squash is responding better than the popcorn at this point. Here's hoping it's successful. One positive thing about the dry conditions is that we have ample opportunity to cultivate and try to stay ahead of the weeds.
While most of the past week was focused on irrigation and cultivating, we did get some new crops in the ground because farmers, by nature, are optimists (we just hide it well)! We transplanted okra, basil and several varieties of flowers into the field and high tunnel, as well as replacing holes in some earlier crops, including the tomatoes that we lost a few weeks ago to some bold, furry pest.
So what's looking good in the field? Lots of things! We are harvesting peas and garlic scapes several times a week. The early broccoli is heading up nicely and are seeing blooms on squashes, cucumbers and tomatoes and fruit set on peppers and zucchini. Heavier CSA boxes are on the way!
Finally, we always want to make it perfectly clear that it takes many hands to bring your produce to you every week. We are SO very lucky to have an incredible team of hardworking young women on the farm five days a week. 
Today's lettuce harvest
They are fierce weed warriors, gentle care-takers of all things living and occasionally, clever practical jokers. I can't imagine the farm without them. I'd like to introduce you to them so we're starting a new section of the newsletter so you can get to know them a bit.
Crew Corner: Danielle, Crew Chief
To all of our veteran CSA
members: thank you for joining us for yet another growing season. To those of you who have just
started this journey, I bid you a warm WELCOME!In the six years I have worked at BGF, there have
been many improvements and updates in the tools we use and our harvest
processes. That is one of the things I love most about this job,
Jill is always learning what is best for the land and the vegetables we grow
and we are constantly trying new methods or tweaking our old ones. In
fact, each year before the growing season begins, we discuss what new
efficiencies we can employ and what new varieties of plants we should grow for
all of you. As this job is very demanding physically, it can be very
disconcerting to see plants and produce lost to drought or little furry eaters
after all of the effort we put forth to bring you vegetables that are
nutritious and chemical-free. Last year was the beginning of our flower trials, which went
quite well, and I am thrilled to say we have expanded this year! One of
my favorite things to do is harvest an array of flowers each week and use my
creativity to build bouquets for our customers who place their orders through
Veg-Email.
A little detail on your produce this week:
Precipitation in the past week: 0.00"
The weather conditions have pushed us to do something we've never had to do before, we ran irrigation lines on our popcorn and winter squash, just to try and get the seeds to germinate. The squash is responding better than the popcorn at this point. Here's hoping it's successful. One positive thing about the dry conditions is that we have ample opportunity to cultivate and try to stay ahead of the weeds.
So what's looking good in the field? Lots of things! We are harvesting peas and garlic scapes several times a week. The early broccoli is heading up nicely and are seeing blooms on squashes, cucumbers and tomatoes and fruit set on peppers and zucchini. Heavier CSA boxes are on the way!
To all of our veteran CSA
members: thank you for joining us for yet another growing season. To those of you who have just
started this journey, I bid you a warm WELCOME!
The theme for this week (again) was Hot and Dry! We were really hopeful that we would catch some of the rain in the state this past Friday, but all we got was wind and a bit of a temperature drop (which was appreciated). Our early season crops are really struggling to survive the conditions and we are starting to lose some of them. We thought about trying to market pre-cooked greens for this week's VegEmail sales but decided snarky farmer humor might be lost on some. The CSA boxes today are really greens-heavy. We would have liked to give the arugula and napa cabbage in this week's delivery another week or so to grow a bit more, but they were starting to protest the weather so it was a "now or never" harvest decision. We probably won't have these crops available again until fall, so now is the time to enjoy them!
While most of the past week was focused on irrigation and cultivating, we did get some new crops in the ground because farmers, by nature, are optimists (we just hide it well)! We transplanted okra, basil and several varieties of flowers into the field and high tunnel, as well as replacing holes in some earlier crops, including the tomatoes that we lost a few weeks ago to some bold, furry pest.
So what's looking good in the field? Lots of things! We are harvesting peas and garlic scapes several times a week. The early broccoli is heading up nicely and are seeing blooms on squashes, cucumbers and tomatoes and fruit set on peppers and zucchini. Heavier CSA boxes are on the way!Finally, we always want to make it perfectly clear that it takes many hands to bring your produce to you every week. We are SO very lucky to have an incredible team of hardworking young women on the farm five days a week.
They are fierce weed warriors, gentle care-takers of all things living and occasionally, clever practical jokers. I can't imagine the farm without them. I'd like to introduce you to them so we're starting a new section of the newsletter so you can get to know them a bit.
|
| Today's lettuce harvest |
Crew Corner: Danielle, Crew Chief
To all of our veteran CSA
members: thank you for joining us for yet another growing season. To those of you who have just
started this journey, I bid you a warm WELCOME!In the six years I have worked at BGF, there have
been many improvements and updates in the tools we use and our harvest
processes. That is one of the things I love most about this job,
Jill is always learning what is best for the land and the vegetables we grow
and we are constantly trying new methods or tweaking our old ones. In
fact, each year before the growing season begins, we discuss what new
efficiencies we can employ and what new varieties of plants we should grow for
all of you. As this job is very demanding physically, it can be very
disconcerting to see plants and produce lost to drought or little furry eaters
after all of the effort we put forth to bring you vegetables that are
nutritious and chemical-free. Last year was the beginning of our flower trials, which went
quite well, and I am thrilled to say we have expanded this year! One of
my favorite things to do is harvest an array of flowers each week and use my
creativity to build bouquets for our customers who place their orders through
Veg-Email.
A little detail on your produce this week:
Broccoli: Wrap broccoli loosely in a plastic bag and keep it in the vegetable bin of your refrigerator for up to a week. Immediately before cooking, soak broccoli, head down, in cold, salted water (1 teaspoon salt to a 8 cups of water) for 5 minutes. Any [organic] critters will float to the top where you can rescue them or allow them to suffer a salty death. (Note: If you soak broccoli in salt water before storing, it will become too rubbery and wilted to enjoy.) Slice the juicy, edible stems and use them wherever florets are called for. Peel particularly thick skin before using.
Broccoli: Wrap broccoli loosely in a plastic bag and keep it in the vegetable bin of your refrigerator for up to a week. Immediately before cooking, soak broccoli, head down, in cold, salted water (1 teaspoon salt to a 8 cups of water) for 5 minutes. Any [organic] critters will float to the top where you can rescue them or allow them to suffer a salty death. (Note: If you soak broccoli in salt water before storing, it will become too rubbery and wilted to enjoy.) Slice the juicy, edible stems and use them wherever florets are called for. Peel particularly thick skin before using.
Herbs:
Napa Cabbage: Store Napa cabbage whole in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. To prepare the entire head at once, cut it in half lengthwise, remove the core, and chop as desired. Or, separate and wash individual leaves as needed.
** NOTE: You will notice over the course of the season that some box contents listed above say "Perhaps one of the following..." These are items that we can’t harvest in sufficient quantities for the whole CSA to receive at one time. We do track who gets what and we will do our best to ensure that everyone eventually receives each item. On some items this may take several weeks, so please be patient.
Peas:
We grow snow peas (flat pod with little bumps showing immature peas inside) and sugar snap peas (rounded pods with mature peas inside). Both have edible pods and can be used interchangeably in recipes. They are particularly good in stir-fries and salads, though we tend to eat them fresh as a snack. Peas keep best in their plastic container in the produce drawer of your refrigerator.All of your GREENS will keep best if stored in a plastic bag, with the top folded over and placed in the produce drawer of your refrigerator. Large leaf greens can benefit by being wrapped in a linen or cotton towel inside the bag if excess moisture is a concern.
** NOTE: You will notice over the course of the season that some box contents listed above say "Perhaps one of the following..." These are items that we can’t harvest in sufficient quantities for the whole CSA to receive at one time. We do track who gets what and we will do our best to ensure that everyone eventually receives each item. On some items this may take several weeks, so please be patient.
Is a weekly newsletter not enough for you? Do you want to read more about our life on the farm and see more pictures? Follow us on Facebook at Blue Gate Farm or on Instagram at bluegatefarmfresh. CSA members can also connect with other BGF members to share recipes or ask questions on our FB community page at Blue Gate Farm Community.
That's about it for now. If you have any questions or comments, be sure to let us know.
Best from the farm,
Jill & Sean (and the whole BGF crew)
 |
| Indigo, Luci & Sky |
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