Eaters' Guild

Hello from the farm....
We've just completed our 14th week of delivery.  We've made certain entry into the second half of the CSA season (we go 25 weeks), and where have we come...?  Our first glimpse of tomatoes, the cherry type, this past week.  The orange, sweet ones are a hybrid variety going by the name of 'Sungold'.  These are always a favorite.  You will find these most often in fresh markets--as opposed to stores.  Due to their thin skins and relatively high sugars they're not good shippers as they're prone to splitting.  We found this to be the case especially after the rains the end of the week last, so you may have experienced this is your box.  The other tomatoes delivered were red grape, and a plum tomato called 'juliet'.  Juliet makes a great paste/sauce and is a variety we often offer as u-pick once the tomato season is well under way, so stay tuned for this. 

We have a new farm intern.   Emma joined us this week, and you can meet her at the Wednesday South Haven Farmers' Market.  Emma is from Grand Rapids and spent the first part of the season on a start-up vegetable farm in Tennessee.  We are quite happy she's here, and as the weeks pass we hope she can still say the same.  Another place to meet Emma and the other interns, Shaun and Zach, is here at the farm for our next CSA potluck.  Date and time is Sunday, August 30 at 1 pm.  We ask that you bring food to share, your table settings--plate, tableware and beverage vessel--and if it is easy enough, bring a lawn chair.  We have water and tea available.  We will commune around the meal, and take a walk through the farm.

Field notes:  Peppers and eggplant have started fruiting.  As these become abundant, you will receive them for your share.  Cucumbers--a big disappointment this season.  THe plants aren't real healthy and fruits are sparse--adding up to crop failure more or less.  Potatoes are bountiful, and onions are due to be harvested and brought in to dry down.  This is a lovely sight, especially when we let out thoughts creep a few months ahead to cooler, non-growing months...Bulb fennel, a favorite of many, a stumper of many--hasn't shown up yet.  We had poor germination the first round, and seedling death the second try; but, the plants are in the field on the third round, and will be a later season (late September) showing, given all things go well here to then.

For now, enjoy the week.  Happy eating!
Laurie, Lee, and Iris