31 Jul Fri 2009
Boulder Belt Farm Share Initiative, Week 17
It's week 17 of the farm share initiative and things are going along pretty well here. So far (knock wood) we have had a great growing season. Despite being way down on rain for this year things are growing, likely because the cool temps and many cloudy days have prevented a lot of evaporation of water from the soil. this has meant great crops for a lot of things. I am a bit worried about the tomatoes and eggplant. Both are showing signs of blight. Some tomato plants have succumbed to it already and other likely will. But not all the plants have it and I believe we will get a decent tomato crop despite blight being around. I don't believe it is the type that has been going around the Eastern US thanks to blighted box store maters being sold this spring. I believe it is the blight we usually get which uglifies the plants, does reduce yields (but not enough to keep us all from getting sick of tomatoes by October) and eventually kills the plants. And, for insurance, we have planted a fall crop of maters-about 100 plants that should be ready to harvest the beginning of October.
The eggplant I know we will get some fruits because I see growing fruits. But I can also see that the plants that give us the big black bell type aubergines are hit hard with blight and likely will not produce well and probably will have to be ripped out of the ground in the next couple of weeks. That said, we grow several different kinds of eggplant and the other types seem to be in great condition
We are beginning to get watermelons. You will not see any this week but should next week. Cantaloupes may also be ready next week. Because of the cool dry weather we have not had the insect population of past years so the melons and squashes are doing quite well. Though, because of the cool weather the flavor in the melons may not be the best (or it could be the best ever, you really never know with melons). Generally the best flavor comes from hot dry conditions. We have had the dry but not the heat.
It has been a terrific bean year. We have not had such good yields in a long time (as well as high quality-man the beans are yummy). Yesterday I harvested 2 bushels of blue lake green beans. If you want extra beans to can/freeze we have them for $20 for a 10 pound sack of them. Let me know this morning (before 1pm ) and I will fix you up a bag with your name on it, just leave the money on the counter. I freeze beans and this is easy to do. trim the ends, than blanch for 1 minute in boiling water. Cool ASAP, spin dry in a salad spinner (or blot with a clean towel) and load into a freezer bag and freeze and than in january you can have locally grown beans for dinner and a bit of food security.
It is the end of the month and I need payment from some of you. Leave cash or check on the counter when you pick up your share this week, or send a check to PO Box 593, Eaton, OH 45320
Next week (not this week) we are doing one of our big events-The 127 Yard Sale, The World's Longest Yard Sale. This happens Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Aug 6, 7, 8 and 9. If you pick up on Thursday or Friday you will encounter hundreds of people on the farm shopping at our several vendor's stands, as well as our store. You may want to give yourselves extra time to check out all the vendors and see if there is anything you like. Your shares will be harvested and packed on Wednesday because I will have no time to do this Thursday ( I will barely have time on Wed either but at least I won't have to deal with customers, just set up and dealing with vendors coming in and setting up). The other change will be that your shares will not be in the front fridge. I don't know where they will be but I will definitely be around and will know by the 6th where I have put them.
If you have things to sell we have spaces for $10 a day. We get literally thousands of people stopping over the course of the is event and this year should be bigger than past years as more and more Yard Salers are coming into Ohio and I have gotten the word out about the Boulder Belt Sale on the official 127 Yard Sale websites
Recipe
From member Jim Latham
1/2 cup sour cream or plain yogurt
2 tablespoons Hellman's mayonnaise
3-4 cloves of the fresh garlic ( more or less to taste as it can be really hot on the tongue)
2 tablespoons homemade chive blossom, white, balsamic, or red wine vinegar
1/4 teaspoon sea salt - regular works fine
sprig of any of the fresh herbs in the share
Peel the garlic cloves and coarse chop
Place garlic, sour cream, mayo, salt, and herbs in blender or food processor - we use a hand blender and measuring cup
Puree the ingredients together adding the vinegar a little at a time until you get a smooth, slightly fluffy cream dressing
Keeps for 4-5 days in covered jar in fridge
Use over cucumber slices, fresh tomatoes, raw baby squash, fresh salad greens. It is also quite tasty on baked potatoes or a in place of mayo on grilled burgers.
What's in the shares this week
Shallots-3 to 4 shallots
Haricot Verts- true French Filet beans and because of great yields you get a full pound this week
Blue Lake Green Beans-the classic green bean, 1.75 pounds this week. And if you need more for putting up let me know ASAP.
Tomatoes-a mix of mainly reds- Matina (small) and Glick's Pride (bigger). Around 2 pounds or so.
Green Peppers-2 to 3 peppers this week
Scallions-a bunch of scallions
Basil-1/4 pound
Garlic-1 clove of each type we sell for a total of 3 garlics
Chard-a 1/2 pound or better of bright lights chard
There may well be other items in your shares such as lemon cukes or even a melon but I have not been out yet today to see if we have enough ready to cover all the shares.
Lucy Goodman
Boulder Belt Eco-Farm
Eaton, OH
http://boulderbelt.blogspot.com
The eggplant I know we will get some fruits because I see growing fruits. But I can also see that the plants that give us the big black bell type aubergines are hit hard with blight and likely will not produce well and probably will have to be ripped out of the ground in the next couple of weeks. That said, we grow several different kinds of eggplant and the other types seem to be in great condition
We are beginning to get watermelons. You will not see any this week but should next week. Cantaloupes may also be ready next week. Because of the cool dry weather we have not had the insect population of past years so the melons and squashes are doing quite well. Though, because of the cool weather the flavor in the melons may not be the best (or it could be the best ever, you really never know with melons). Generally the best flavor comes from hot dry conditions. We have had the dry but not the heat.
It has been a terrific bean year. We have not had such good yields in a long time (as well as high quality-man the beans are yummy). Yesterday I harvested 2 bushels of blue lake green beans. If you want extra beans to can/freeze we have them for $20 for a 10 pound sack of them. Let me know this morning (before 1pm ) and I will fix you up a bag with your name on it, just leave the money on the counter. I freeze beans and this is easy to do. trim the ends, than blanch for 1 minute in boiling water. Cool ASAP, spin dry in a salad spinner (or blot with a clean towel) and load into a freezer bag and freeze and than in january you can have locally grown beans for dinner and a bit of food security.
It is the end of the month and I need payment from some of you. Leave cash or check on the counter when you pick up your share this week, or send a check to PO Box 593, Eaton, OH 45320
Next week (not this week) we are doing one of our big events-The 127 Yard Sale, The World's Longest Yard Sale. This happens Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Aug 6, 7, 8 and 9. If you pick up on Thursday or Friday you will encounter hundreds of people on the farm shopping at our several vendor's stands, as well as our store. You may want to give yourselves extra time to check out all the vendors and see if there is anything you like. Your shares will be harvested and packed on Wednesday because I will have no time to do this Thursday ( I will barely have time on Wed either but at least I won't have to deal with customers, just set up and dealing with vendors coming in and setting up). The other change will be that your shares will not be in the front fridge. I don't know where they will be but I will definitely be around and will know by the 6th where I have put them.
If you have things to sell we have spaces for $10 a day. We get literally thousands of people stopping over the course of the is event and this year should be bigger than past years as more and more Yard Salers are coming into Ohio and I have gotten the word out about the Boulder Belt Sale on the official 127 Yard Sale websites
Recipe
From member Jim Latham
1/2 cup sour cream or plain yogurt
2 tablespoons Hellman's mayonnaise
3-4 cloves of the fresh garlic ( more or less to taste as it can be really hot on the tongue)
2 tablespoons homemade chive blossom, white, balsamic, or red wine vinegar
1/4 teaspoon sea salt - regular works fine
sprig of any of the fresh herbs in the share
Peel the garlic cloves and coarse chop
Place garlic, sour cream, mayo, salt, and herbs in blender or food processor - we use a hand blender and measuring cup
Puree the ingredients together adding the vinegar a little at a time until you get a smooth, slightly fluffy cream dressing
Keeps for 4-5 days in covered jar in fridge
Use over cucumber slices, fresh tomatoes, raw baby squash, fresh salad greens. It is also quite tasty on baked potatoes or a in place of mayo on grilled burgers.
What's in the shares this week
Shallots-3 to 4 shallots
Haricot Verts- true French Filet beans and because of great yields you get a full pound this week
Blue Lake Green Beans-the classic green bean, 1.75 pounds this week. And if you need more for putting up let me know ASAP.
Tomatoes-a mix of mainly reds- Matina (small) and Glick's Pride (bigger). Around 2 pounds or so.
Green Peppers-2 to 3 peppers this week
Scallions-a bunch of scallions
Basil-1/4 pound
Garlic-1 clove of each type we sell for a total of 3 garlics
Chard-a 1/2 pound or better of bright lights chard
There may well be other items in your shares such as lemon cukes or even a melon but I have not been out yet today to see if we have enough ready to cover all the shares.
Lucy Goodman
Boulder Belt Eco-Farm
Eaton, OH
http://boulderbelt.blogspot.com
Lucy
05:47 AM EDT
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