Garden Patch Farm CSA Newsletter #8

 

 

Greetings Members!

 

Still a bit dry here on the farm. We have been irrigating as much as we can...

 

The tomatoes are coming in abundance!!

 

Did You Know?

Since the turn of the 20th century, 97% of fruit and vegetable varieties have become unavailable commercially, replaced by only a few uniform varieties. CSA farms (and truck farms) are extremely diverse, growing 30 to 50 different types of crops and hundreds of different varieties. Many CSA farms grow heirloom varieties known for their taste rather than their ability to withstand shipment across the country and the globe.

We here at Garden Patch Farm grow many heirloom varieties. They may not always be the best looking, but always taste the best! Many are very fragile, especially the heirloom tomatoes, so we have to be very careful when picking and bringing them up from the field. But even when we try our best, they still get damaged. Be assured, they are still very tasty. Enjoy!

 

This Week's Picks

-Broccoli-

-Cabbage-

    If any of you would like VERY large heads of cabbage (Late Flat Dutch variety) which are great for sauerkraut and to stuff, please let me know and I will pass your request on to Tim so he can pick it for you this weekend.

-Cherry Tomatoes-

-Collard Greens-

-Cucumbers-

-Eggplant-

      4 varieties: Rosita (long, neon pink-Robin's favorite)

                         Florida Market (standard dark purple)

                         Rosa Bianca (circular, purple with white)

                         Rotunda (circular, white with purple)

-Kale-

-Lemon Cucumbers-

-Okra-

-Potatoes-

     Red Dale variety

-Zucchini-  (some)

 

The cauliflower is done for this year.

No beans for a few weeks.

 

You-Cut Herbs

We will not have corn, dill or cilantro this year. So sorry.

 

All the available herbs are marked in the herb garden .

They are the same as last week's.

 

You-Cut Flowers

-Asters- (Some)

-Black-Eyed Susan-

-Cosmos-

-Sunflowers-

-Zinnias-

 

I thought we grew straw flowers this year, but was mistaken. Perhaps next year.

 

For those of you who purchased produce from the canning field, I will be in touch Wednesday or Thursday of this week to let you know the details.

 

Tomato Ideas and Tips

--Do not refrigerate our tomatoes. They lose some of their flavor if you do.

--Tim and I love to slice a large tomato and have it on bread with scrambled egg, sweet onion and cheese. (sandwich) Yum!

--Make a fresh sauce using 5 or 6 med to large tomatoes, basil, salt and pepper. Serve over rice and beans or pasta.

--Alternate tomato slices with thinly sliced sweet onion rings, and top with fresh herbs, salt, pepper, and olive oil.

--Slice tomatoes and top with fresh basil cut into thin strips with scissors. Drizzle with olive oil or a vinaigrette dressing. Add slices of hard-boiled egg, if desired.

--Try honey and sliced tomatoes on an English muffin

--Stuff tomatoes with tabbouleh and fresh vegetables, like zucchini, onions, cucumbers...be creative!

 

Recipe

 

For stuffing 6-8 medium to large tomato shells:

Chickpea Salad

Combine 3 cups cooked chickpeas with chopped tomato pulp, 6-8 chopped scallions, chopped red onion, and chopped parsley. Season with a vinaigrette dressing and marinated for 3 hours. Stuff in tomato shells. Eat immediately.

 

Enjoy, enjoy!

 

See you this weekend...

 

LOVE YOUR FLOWERS,

BY SOME SUBTLE SENSE

THE DEAR THINGS ALWAYS

DETECT THEIR FRIENDS,

AND FOR THEM

THEY WILL LOVE LONGER

AND BLOOM MORE FREELY

THAN THEY EVER WILL

FOR A STRANGER.

 

Julia S. Berrall

 

 

Robin Leonard
Garden Patch Farm
 

Click here for Newsletter Menu