Abbe Hills Farm CSA

Greetings shareholders,

This week, we have onions, beans, tomatoes, leeks, basil, cilantro, bell peppers, chilies, the last of the garlic, kale, collards, squash, eggplant, and okra.  The okra is doing well, so a few more families (those with Southern roots) can have some this week.  As long as it doesn't stay cool, it should keep producing.  Lots of things around here could stand a little more warm weather, including the okra, winter squash, second crop of tomatoes, melons, and the fall beets and greens.  I know the humans are happy to have it be a little cooler, but the garden does better when it's a little bit warmer in September.  We had 2 inches of rain last week and every bit of it soaked into the ground.  Pretty perfect.  Not needing this rain and wind tonight so much, however.

Sorry, but no potatoes this week.  The last of my workers left me to go back to college, so digging potatoes is a bit more of a challenge.  I had a great group of students from Coe come over the weekend to help out in exchange for food.  It's a wonderful arrangement.  I'm happy for the help, and they are happy for fresh food.  Unfortunately, the potato crop just keeps getting more awful the more we get into the late season potatoes.  I sure didn't see this coming.  I thought the plants looked healthy and happy enough to make a pretty good crop, but apparently something went wrong.  There are lots of potatoes, but they are very small.  Blame it on the weather - as usual. 

The Monday people are mostly going to get Italian beans.  They are flat and long and look funny.  They have wonderful flavor, but tend to be a little more tough than the beans to which you are accustomed.  Plan to cook them a little longer and you will love them. 

The slicing tomatoes continue to taste good and look like a train wreck.  Virtually every one I picked this weekend had a crack or a ding or a seep.  They are ripening on the vines, which are still a little bit alive.  I think that's what's making the fruits taste so good.  So, plan on tomato sandwiches the evening that you pick up.  Got to use them quick or lose them.

It's going to be a great week. 

Laura