Bugs gotta eat too! (On this farm they eat very well.)
This Week’s Share:
Potatoes
Tomatoes
Garlic
Onions
Squash
Sweet and Bell Peppers
Choice: Shishitos or Okra or Poblanos or Chilis
NO PICK-UP NEXT WEEK
Reminder that there will be no pick-up next week while we take a break for Labor Day, and get lots of end-of-summer field work done on the farm. We will return for Week 17 of the CSA season on the week of Wednesday, September 9!
Recipe:
Sweet Pepper Relish
With all the sweet and bell peppers we’ve been harvesting lately just about every meal I eat has to have a pepper in it. Roasted and pureed into pasta sauce, sauteed with onions and beef, and stuffed with cheese and beans are all good methods. Here’s a recipe for easy pepper relish, that can be used as a hot dog condiment, frittata topping, eaten with cheese and crackers, and lots more.
What’s on U-Pick?
LARGE tomatoes are now on U-pick! These are located in the field directly beside our 3 “high tunnels” inside the big fence on the left side as you are entering the farm. We recommend long pants and close- toed shoes to protect from bugs and weeds, though if you are determined to go home with a bounty of sauce tomatoes you will find them there! There are mostly large orange and red tomatoes, though the last few yellow Gin Fizz and maroon Carbon are still producing a little. Have fun.
Cherry tomatoes and tomatillos are still on U-pick! Go down below the main parking lot through the big fence, and look for the red signs. Any type or color there is available, along with all the sunflowers.
In the raised brick beds, also known as the Cleeland Garden:
Mint
Oregano
Calendula
Parsley
Greek Basil
Sorrel
Thyme, Sage, and Lemon Balm (to allow for healthy growback for these plants, pick the largest leaves from the outside, do not cut from the stem of the plant!)
In field “G” behind the pizza oven/parking lot:
Parsley
Italian Basil (the classic basil flavor)
Lemon Basil (looks like basil, smells and tastes strongly of lemon)
Thai Basil (dark purple flowers & stems, great for Asian recipes of many kinds)
Holy Basil (light purple flowers and stems, directly behind the Thai Basil, used for calming tea)
Any Flowers: Zinnias, Statice, Gomphrena, Celosia, and Strawflowers are still blooming!
Reminder that U-picking hours are Monday-Saturday, 8am-6pm. Please do not come to the farm on Sundays, as we do not have staff on site who can be available in case of an emergency. If the main gates are closed when you arrive you can follow the paved road to the right, and then follow the curve of the road back to the left. This will take you in a loop around the main deer-fenced area and up to the wash station/parking lot.
Notes from the Field:
We were really excited by last week’s windfall of peaches from our singular peach tree and couple of Asian pear trees on the farm! Though they are small and generally covered in surface blemishes, they have great flavor and juiciness. Stone fruit does generally grow well in this part of Maryland, but still requires a great deal of care and management for a host of pest and fungal diseases, particularly for Organic orchard production. We hope you managed to cut around the imperfect parts and enjoyed the unexpected fruit addition.