IN THIS WEEK’S BOX:
Bean Mix: Empress (green) & Carson (yellow)Cucumbers: Corinto, Generally, Lemon, Marketmore, Nokya or Sashimi Eggplant: Orient Express, Asian Delight and/or ListadaFennelGarlic: Northern WhiteHead Lettuce: asst var.KaleOyster Mushrooms: Golden or PearlShallots: Ambition (tan) and/or Prisma (purple)Summer Squash: 8 Ball, Golden Glory, Patty Pan, Safari, Slik Pik, or ZephyrTurnips: Hakurei
and perhaps one of the following:
Cantaloupe: Minnesota MidgetJubilee Cherry Tomato Mix or Slicing TomatoOkra: Bowling Red & Candle FireSnow Peas: final offering
Herb It! option: Sweet Basil, Pink Celery, Dill
Bean Mix: Empress (green) & Carson (yellow)
Cucumbers: Corinto, Generally, Lemon, Marketmore, Nokya or Sashimi
Eggplant: Orient Express, Asian Delight and/or ListadaFennel
Garlic: Northern White
Head Lettuce: asst var.
Kale
Oyster Mushrooms: Golden or Pearl
Shallots: Ambition (tan) and/or Prisma (purple)
Summer Squash: 8 Ball, Golden Glory, Patty Pan, Safari, Slik Pik, or Zephyr
Turnips: Hakurei
and perhaps one of the following:
Cantaloupe: Minnesota Midget
Jubilee Cherry Tomato Mix or Slicing Tomato
Okra: Bowling Red & Candle Fire
Snow Peas: final offering
Herb It! option: Sweet Basil, Pink Celery, Dill
Bread Share: Tomato Basil
Featured Recipes:Chinese Eggplant Salad (thanks for the link, Sara T!)
WHAT’S UP ON THE FARM?
Precipitation in the past week: Trace
Well, this week was better than last, but we certainly are missing the rain again. Cue the irrigation system!
We spent quite a bit of our crew time continuing to clear spent and hail-damaged crops but hopefully we are getting to the bottom of that task. Yesterday we finally took buckets out to the tomato field and cleared all the damaged fruits we could find. It was more than a little demoralizing, but at least now we don't have to look at them anymore. While we were out there, we did our first tomato "training," introducing the crew to the new varieties and talking through the tomato harvest, and then we harvested tomatoes!! Not a lot, not yet, but we should have enough for everyone to get a "taste" of either cherry tomatoes or a slicer this week. We'll do a "meet the tomatoes" post in next week's newsletter.
We were also pleased to find the first of the cantaloupe ripening...actually the deer told us, as they can smell a ripe melon all the way across the field, and then they paw it off the vine and eat it, even in the high tunnel! Grrrrr! They're like giant, long-legged racoons in their attraction to tasty crops. Ah well, they didn't get them all (yet) so we are sending out the first few "Minnesota Midgets" in your boxes this week. 
And I almost forgot the other big news, due to the rains a couple of weeks ago, the oyster mushrooms have exploded this week! We're excited because it means we found enough for the whole CSA to get some. It's just a small amount, but we love to share them when the opportunity presents itself. We hope you enjoy this little "extra".
As I mentioned earlier, we are back to desperate need of rain and with the forecast of 90's - 100° it's only getting worse. This kind of heat is really hard on the crew, the animals and the crops and just as we are ready to start planting cool-weather fall crops too. Somehow it seems like that's the way it always goes.
Weather like this makes it hard to get much done as we need to stop for extra shade and water breaks. The alpacas love getting sprayed down with the hose in this weather. I'm thinking of trying it with the crew!
Featured Recipes:
Chinese Eggplant Salad (thanks for the link, Sara T!)
WHAT’S UP ON THE FARM?
Precipitation in the past week: Trace
Well, this week was better than last, but we certainly are missing the rain again. Cue the irrigation system!
We were also pleased to find the first of the cantaloupe ripening...actually the deer told us, as they can smell a ripe melon all the way across the field, and then they paw it off the vine and eat it, even in the high tunnel! Grrrrr! They're like giant, long-legged racoons in their attraction to tasty crops. Ah well, they didn't get them all (yet) so we are sending out the first few "Minnesota Midgets" in your boxes this week.
And I almost forgot the other big news, due to the rains a couple of weeks ago, the oyster mushrooms have exploded this week! We're excited because it means we found enough for the whole CSA to get some. It's just a small amount, but we love to share them when the opportunity presents itself. We hope you enjoy this little "extra".
As I mentioned earlier, we are back to desperate need of rain and with the forecast of 90's - 100° it's only getting worse. This kind of heat is really hard on the crew, the animals and the crops and just as we are ready to start planting cool-weather fall crops too. Somehow it seems like that's the way it always goes.
A little detail on your produce this week:
Beans: Fresh beans are an easy "store." Just leave them in their plastic bag and keep them in the produce drawer. Can last up to 2 weeks.
Cantaloupe: If your cantaloupe seems a bit short of ripe, keep it at room temperature for a few days or until there is a sweet smell coming from the stem end. Once the melon ripens, store it in the refrigerator. It is best not to cut a cantaloupe until you are ready to eat it. If you need to return cut melon to the refrigerator, do not remove the seeds from the remaining sections as they keep the flesh from drying out. Use within 3-5 days.
Cucumber: Store unwashed cucumbers in a sealed plastic bag in the vegetable crisper bin for about a week. Keep cucumbers tucked far away from tomatoes, apples, and citrus—these give off ethylene gas that accelerates cucumber deterioration. You can do a lot of fancy things to the skin of a cucumber, but when it is young, fresh (and unwaxed), it really only needs to be thoroughly washed. However, if the skin seems tough or bitter you can remove it; if the seeds are bulky, slice the cucumber lengthwise and scoop them out.
Eggplant: Eggplant prefers to be kept at about 50° F, which is warmer than most refrigerators and cooler than most kitchen counters. Wrap unwashed eggplant in a towel (not in plastic) to absorb any moisture and keep it in the vegetable bin of your refrigerator. Used within a week, it should still be fresh and mild. Many people like to peel, salt, and drain their eggplant to draw out any bitter flavor; however, bitterness develops only in eggplant that has been stored for a while, so with farm-fresh specimens this is generally not necessary. Many recipes call for salting in order to make the vegetable less watery and more absorbent—much like draining tofu. Salting is not an essential step, but it can greatly enhance the taste and texture of your dish and is well worth the extra effort. The shape of an eggplant determines how it is best prepared. Slice a straight, narrow eggplant into rounds for grilling or broiling, and cut a rounded, bulbous eggplant into cubes for stews and stir-fries.
Cantaloupe: If your cantaloupe seems a bit short of ripe, keep it at room temperature for a few days or until there is a sweet smell coming from the stem end. Once the melon ripens, store it in the refrigerator. It is best not to cut a cantaloupe until you are ready to eat it. If you need to return cut melon to the refrigerator, do not remove the seeds from the remaining sections as they keep the flesh from drying out. Use within 3-5 days.
Cucumber: Store unwashed cucumbers in a sealed plastic bag in the vegetable crisper bin for about a week. Keep cucumbers tucked far away from tomatoes, apples, and citrus—these give off ethylene gas that accelerates cucumber deterioration. You can do a lot of fancy things to the skin of a cucumber, but when it is young, fresh (and unwaxed), it really only needs to be thoroughly washed. However, if the skin seems tough or bitter you can remove it; if the seeds are bulky, slice the cucumber lengthwise and scoop them out.
Eggplant: Eggplant prefers to be kept at about 50° F, which is warmer than most refrigerators and cooler than most kitchen counters. Wrap unwashed eggplant in a towel (not in plastic) to absorb any moisture and keep it in the vegetable bin of your refrigerator. Used within a week, it should still be fresh and mild. Many people like to peel, salt, and drain their eggplant to draw out any bitter flavor; however, bitterness develops only in eggplant that has been stored for a while, so with farm-fresh specimens this is generally not necessary. Many recipes call for salting in order to make the vegetable less watery and more absorbent—much like draining tofu. Salting is not an essential step, but it can greatly enhance the taste and texture of your dish and is well worth the extra effort. The shape of an eggplant determines how it is best prepared. Slice a straight, narrow eggplant into rounds for grilling or broiling, and cut a rounded, bulbous eggplant into cubes for stews and stir-fries.
Eggplant: Eggplant prefers to be kept at about 50° F, which is warmer than most refrigerators and cooler than most kitchen counters. Wrap unwashed eggplant in a towel (not in plastic) to absorb any moisture and keep it in the vegetable bin of your refrigerator. Used within a week, it should still be fresh and mild. Many people like to peel, salt, and drain their eggplant to draw out any bitter flavor; however, bitterness develops only in eggplant that has been stored for a while, so with farm-fresh specimens this is generally not necessary. Many recipes call for salting in order to make the vegetable less watery and more absorbent—much like draining tofu. Salting is not an essential step, but it can greatly enhance the taste and texture of your dish and is well worth the extra effort. The shape of an eggplant determines how it is best prepared. Slice a straight, narrow eggplant into rounds for grilling or broiling, and cut a rounded, bulbous eggplant into cubes for stews and stir-fries.
Fennel: Cut off the stalks where they emerge from the bulb. To use the feathery foliage as an herb, place the dry stalks upright in a glass filled with two inches of water, cover the glass loosely with a plastic bag, and store in the refrigerator for up to five days. The unwashed bulb will keep in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for at least a week. To use, remove any damaged spots or layers. Cut the bulb in half lengthwise and check the inner core. If it’s tough, remove it with a paring knife. Fennel should be washed carefully, because dirt can lodge between the layers of the bulb. Chop or mince the leaves.
Garlic: The garlic is now mostly cured and can be stored on the counter for short term use or in a dark area with good air circulation (like a basement) for longer storage.
Okra: These lovely, dark red, horn-shaped vegetables are a warm weather treat. Extremely cold sensitive, store in their plastic bag in the warmest part of your fridge, or place the plastic bag in a small paper sack and store in the crisper drawer and use within the week. Traditional southerners will cut into rounds, bread in cornmeal and fry, but our favorite version is our dear friend Annie's method, "All I do is rinse off the pods and lay them in a saucepan with a little water in the bottom. Ten to fifteen minutes is all it takes...twenty if the pods are really big and "woody" feeling. I put salt on them and eat as finger food. It reminds me of young sweet corn."
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.
Shallots: A "high-brow" member of the onion family, shallots have a smooth, rich onion-y flavor that is perfect with egg, vegetable and salad dressing recipes. Cured shallots are stored like a cured onion or garlic (at room temp) for many months. If your shallots have green tops, please hang and store at room temperature until the greens have dried, then trim and store like onions. Once you cut into a shallot bulb, store the remainder in a sealed container in the fridge.
Summer Squash/Zucchini: Refrigerate unwashed zucchini and summer squash for up to a week and a half in a perforated plastic bag or in a sealed plastic container lined with a kitchen towel. These do not need to be peeled to use, just slice them up and go!
Tomatoes: always store whole tomatoes at room temperature, out of direct sunlight. Once cut, store in a sealed container in the refrigerator.
Okra: These lovely, dark red, horn-shaped vegetables are a warm weather treat. Extremely cold sensitive, store in their plastic bag in the warmest part of your fridge, or place the plastic bag in a small paper sack and store in the crisper drawer and use within the week. Traditional southerners will cut into rounds, bread in cornmeal and fry, but our favorite version is our dear friend Annie's method, "All I do is rinse off the pods and lay them in a saucepan with a little water in the bottom. Ten to fifteen minutes is all it takes...twenty if the pods are really big and "woody" feeling. I put salt on them and eat as finger food. It reminds me of young sweet corn."
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.
Shallots: A "high-brow" member of the onion family, shallots have a smooth, rich onion-y flavor that is perfect with egg, vegetable and salad dressing recipes. Cured shallots are stored like a cured onion or garlic (at room temp) for many months. If your shallots have green tops, please hang and store at room temperature until the greens have dried, then trim and store like onions. Once you cut into a shallot bulb, store the remainder in a sealed container in the fridge.
Summer Squash/Zucchini: Refrigerate unwashed zucchini and summer squash for up to a week and a half in a perforated plastic bag or in a sealed plastic container lined with a kitchen towel. These do not need to be peeled to use, just slice them up and go!
Summer Squash/Zucchini: Refrigerate unwashed zucchini and summer squash for up to a week and a half in a perforated plastic bag or in a sealed plastic container lined with a kitchen towel. These do not need to be peeled to use, just slice them up and go!
Tomatoes: always store whole tomatoes at room temperature, out of direct sunlight. Once cut, store in a sealed container in the refrigerator.
Turnips: keep best if separated from their greens. Greens are stored in a plastic bag and can be cooked like mustard or collard greens. Trimmed roots can go into a lidded container or zip-close bag. These aren't your grandma's turnips. These are a sweet, Japanese salad variety that is particularly tasty for fresh eating. They will still work great in cooked dishes, but we love to eat them raw, often right out of hand, like an apple. One of the farm crew's favorite mid-field snacks.
A few other details: 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.
** 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)
A few other details: 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.
** 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)
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