Abbe Hills Farm CSA

Greetings shareholders,

This week, we'll have kohlrabi, small white onions, garlic scapes, more (hot!) radishes, lettuce from the field, kale, and some assortment of bok choi, small turnips, broccoli raab, and arugula in a stir fry kit.  Not sure yet what the kit will contain - it depends on what we have that holds up to the heat this week.  All I know is that it will mostly be leaves, and they will taste good stir fried together. 

This was a perfect, classic Iowa early summer afternoon.  Eighty five degrees, dew point at seventy degrees, calm and muggy, with big clouds piling up in the sky.  Hopefully, they won't result in any rain on us.  We've now had four consecutive rain-free days.  For the first time since June 8, I was able to do field work today.  I don't like working in the field on Sundays, but I had to take advantage of the chance since we haven't been able to get any fields prepared or cultivated or planted in nearly two weeks.  We've still not got any winter squash, watermelons, or summer squash in the ground, and it's seriously TIME!!!  So, hopefully this will be the week for all that, plus the last 150 tomato plants, more beets, and maybe even okra for you okra maniacs.  It's not that I want the rain to stay away forever, but four more days to get caught up sure would be fine.

I planted Sweet Corn 3.0 this afternoon. Crops 1.1 (replant of 1.0) and 2.0 are coming along nicely.  I feel 85% confident that there will be sweet corn this year, even with some extra for the freezers, unlike last year's sweet corn nightmare.  YIPPEE.

I made nearly one of the best things I've ever cooked yesterday.  Pizza covered with blanched garlic scapes.  Blanching makes them even more mild.  You'll get lots of scapes this week, fewer next week, then they'll be gone - so celebrate the scape now while you can!!!

The onion volunteers did a fantastic job this weekend.  A HUGE thank you to the Doug and Kelly Schoen family, Cindy Strong and Marty St. Clair, Shannon Reed, and my brother, Aaron.  They weeded nine long onion rows and seemed to enjoy it to a certain degree.  Many of them report a certain amount of Zen that happens when weeding.  So, if you want some Zen, or some sun, or some exercise, let me know and I'll find something else for you to weed.  Any time, any way - I can make it work.

More baby chicks are coming in the mail on Tuesday.   Look in the pen inside the open-front shed if you want to see them.  You can go inside, just make sure you close the door tightly when you leave.  Lucky is just dyyyyying to get inside that room to see what is so interesting.

Remember that there are two 11-week-old male kittens who are ready to go live with their forever families.  (It sure isn't going to be me!)  Cute and free.

See you this week,

Laura