July 17, 2013

In Your Share

·         Jade (green beans) Royal Burgundy (Purple) and Carson (yellow beans)

·         Ailsa Craig Sweet Onions

·         Kale

·         Carrots

·         Kohlrabi

·         Broccoli

·         Savoy Cabbage

·         Green and Yellow Zucchini

·         Cucumbers

·         Basil – you can use the broccoli recipe from last week, or this goes really well with zucchini

Recipe

I like to cook cabbage on the grill – slice it and wrap it with tinfoil, butter/olive oil, sweet onion and whatever seasoning you like. 

Fried Cabbage –

6 c finely shredded cabbage                                                    ¼ tsp dry mustard

5 T lard, bacon drippings or olive oil                                   ½ tsp paprika

½ tsp salt                                                                                           ½ c cream

1 ½ Tbsp. sugar                                                                            2-3 Tbsp. vinegar

Melt the fat and add cabbage.  Fry slowly for 15 minutes, stirring every few minutes.  Mix other ingredients and add to cabbage.  Heat to boiling point and serve.

What’s Happening on the Farm

I know it wasn’t too long ago when we had hoped it would stop raining.  But now we are on the other end of the spectrum and the ground, vegetables and field crops could really use some rain.  And of course I would really prefer some cooler weather!  I have been picking beans under a huge umbrella.  Whatever works, right?  We have started watering some of the outdoor plants like the tomatoes.  The heirloom red and Romas are loaded with green tomatoes, but now the wait begins for them to ripen, and it seems like it always takes forever!!

The beans are in full production which is good for you, but there is no easy way to pick beans, than just to pick beans by hand.  Someone has to do it, and it always seems like it is the hottest part of the summer when the beans are in full production.  On the other hand, besides needing some rain, the sweet corn loves the heat and humidity.  We are hoping to have some ready by next week, but a little rain will help that along as well.

The peas are finished and have been mowed off.  The ground is ready to be tilled and plant some fall carrots and some spinach.  The onions are beginning to dry up.  Those are usually pulled from the ground before the beginning of August and put on screens to finish curing/drying to keep.  The Sweet Onions will not keep very long so you will see many in your boxes for awhile.  The garlic will be dug in the next few weeks and also cured for a bit.  Another job coming up is digging potatoes.  I don’t think it will be a bountiful harvest, but we’ll see.  I think I will wait until it cools off a bit.

Stay cool, do a little rain dance and Enjoy!