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News from the farm...
Strawberries are the big news around here right now. First, we were excited to see them all turning red over the week end. Then we were worried about the surprise frost that was forecast for Monday night and then we were very relieved when they made it through the cold just fine. It is a bit of a roller coaster ride when the weather is so changeable.
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We spent a warm afternoon in the greenhouse today, sowing another round of sunflowers, stepping up flowers and pulling plants in preparation for the delivery of all your pre-ordered starts. We've had some hungry mice in the greenhouse so it's been a challenge to get the squash and cukes ready on time but I think we will succeed.
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It felt really great to be in there and get it all organized and tidied up. It is amazing how many plants move through that space in a season, not to mention over the last 25 plus years. The greenhouse was the first thing I built on the farm. My father and brother in law came and helped me put it up. I was so particular about everything that my Dad started to tease me about having everything good enough for "the Martian test." That is when the Martians come to Earth to inspect my greenhouse. We still use that phrase when some one is maybe being a little too particular. For the record though, I do not admit to being too particular. The greenhouse is still standing as sturdy as ever and the Martians have never had any complaints.
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Nona and Rob tending the plants
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What's Available This Week
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Wow! The heat brought on the snapdragons! We had just a few blooms when I wrote last week, and now they are all blooming like crazy. Strawberries enjoyed the heat as well, with lots more turning red and sweetening up each day. We have head lettuce and lettuce mix, turnips, our first bunches of green kale, spring onions and green garlic. Lots of different kinds of tomatoes starts, eggplant and pepper starts as well as herbs, and an assortment of flowers.
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John's Recipe of the Week
| John Loyd is our dear friend, neighbor, CSA worker member and a gourmet Southern cook. His delightful observations on gardening and cooking appear here each week. |
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Happy Earth Month! “The earth is what we all have in common.” Wendell Berry
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“People who love to eat are always the best people.” Julia Child
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SOME DRESSINGS FOR THE GREENS COMING TO MARKET – It’s nice to experiment with the amounts of oil and vinegar in making dressing. See which one you like best.
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NOTE – Olive oil is extra-virgin and pepper should be recently ground. Taste the dressings as you go for seasoning. Thanks to Alice Waters for these ideas.
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BALASMIC VINEGAR – This one is good for sturdy greens
Mix together -
2 Tbl. Balsamic vinegar, as good as you can afford
2 Tsp. sherry vinegar
Salt and pepper
Whisk in 3 Tbl. Olive oil
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You can dress a salad with aged balsamic alone. Romano or Parmesan can be added, also meats like prosciutto or aged ham, such as Benton’s.
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HERE IS A LITTLE FANCIER DRESSING –
Mix together -
Zest from one lemon
1 Tbl. Lemon juice
Salt and pepper
Stir to dissolve the salt and whisk in
1 Tbl. Walnut oil
1 Tbl. Olive oil
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SPRING TURNIPS – Ideas
You don’t see much info on the turnips in the South. The focus in the South is on the greens which are usually sautéed with pork products. Young ones don’t need to be peeled so they can be sliced and put in salads or eaten with a bit of salt. Raw, they can be dropped in stir fry or any sautéed dish. Cook turnips any way you want to. Steam, boil, magic pot or bake - Cook until they are tender. Cook with potatoes and butter or mash the potatoes and turnips together.
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Join us in calling on the EPA to ban organophosphates and carbamates in fruit and vegetable farming. They are linked to an increased risk of cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. These chemicals are concentrated in blueberries, green beans, potatoes, and peppers. This information is from Consumer Reports’ most comprehensive investigation ever. https://www.consumerreports.org/health/food-contaminants/produce-without-pesticides-a5260230325/
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An early tomato in flower. Somehow this one looks like a little fairy to me.
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