These summer storms have been crazy! We hope you all have been staying safe and enjoying the sunshine and thunderstorms alike. Unfortunately, some of those powerful wind gusts almost pushed a section of our corn over, but fortunately it’s still growing (just on an angle) and no tornadoes - so can’t really complain.

We’ve been experimenting with alternative ways to pack and deliver your produce. This week we switched to a new system of numbering our crates, and started bagging a lot of the heartier root veggies in one large bag to save plastic. We figure most of you are repacking these into Tupperware or containers of your own, but let us know how this system is working out and how the produce is faring in transit. Massively appreciate all of the returned jars and crates that you have been ready with at pickups/drop-offs so we can keep things moving like a well oiled machine. (Happy to take any additional glass jars off your hands in the future!)

UPICK EVENT 7/28 CANCELED

We were blessed with the opportunity to do event florals two weekends in a row and have decided to spend additional time with family and friends this Sunday celebrating.
*Instead join us on Saturday, August 17th from 4 - 6 pm!*
Smalls bites and farm infused spirits. Bring your own vase. More details to follow in our July newsletter.
Let us know if you plan to attend and pick up your CSA crate early.

Potatoes - These are the first of our potatoes and we can’t wait to keep harvesting in the future. We planted some sweet potatoes for the first time this year and hope we can keep the animals from enjoying them before we do. This week’s are ‘Peter Wilcox’ (purple potatoes) and a red variety called ‘Dark Red Norland’.
Onions - Also the first of many, as they are just getting to their full size in the fields. You will be receiving the bounty of these rows for the rest of the CSA. We will likely be pulling and curing these out very soon, but these babies are still fresh, as you can tell by the greens still being attached. Trim and use the tops up - while the getting is good.
Cucumber season is back! ‘Suyos’ are a farm favorite and they produce like crazy in our hoop house. They have some prickly outsides but are damn juicy and delicious.
Garlic - 2 kinds softneck varieties were sent out : ‘German Red’ and ‘Chesnok Red’. This is our first year growing both of these so let us know if you can notice the difference!
Beans - ‘Hericots Vert’ and a yellow wax bean - wish we planted twice as many beans but one of us said it was wayyyyy too many. Who said that!?!
Luffa sponge 🧽 - In 2023 we covered our orchard fence line with vining luffa gourd plants and they were engulfed in no time. They actually started making the fence sag with the weight due to so many elongated fruits forming. They looked a lot like cucumbers dangling there, but when sliced open, appeared kind of like a zucchini. Left to mature on the vine until the end of the year, they eventually turned brown and were left to finish drying out in our greenhouse. We peeled off the outer husks and washed these several times but you may still find a seed or two inside. These sponges are incredibly durable, and can be used for scrubbing but are still biodegradable/compostable! Say goodbye to plastic sponges for good. Great for removing dead skin and smoothing callused heels, if you choose to use yours in the shower, scrub gently as these can be a powerful exfoliator.
Cauliflower made its way into every box this time around. For as hot as its been, these beauties look quite acceptable.

Repeat offenders:

Cabbage - another round of ‘Caraflex’ went out this week. Finishing soon will be some delicious purple boys so keep calm and make some slaws.
Beets - some more golden and Chioggia for you this week
Summer squash continues with yellow and green zucchini. When you forget to harvest, they get as big as baseball bats so we’ve been trying to catch these before they get insanely large. Soon we’ll have all the fixings for ratatouille!
Turnips - our final ‘Golden Globe’ turnips went out.
Kohlrabi - this will likely be the last hurrah for these as well, as we have harvested the remainder of this crop. Something new will be taking its place in coming weeks. We seeded trays for a fall crop, so if you liked them you will have another chance to cook with them near the end of the growing season.

This box featured almost every herb in our arsenal (except dill, cilantro, and basil - which will likely make its debut alongside tomatoes next box)! Included in your bag is parsley, mint, sage, oregano, thyme, and chives…

PLUS: Marjoram - this herb is one of the best smelling ones around. We want to wear it. Still searching for the perfect culinary uses to be honest but we hope to harness its scent in products in the future.