Farm Update 6/24/08

Hi Folks,

These are times that try men’s souls! This is the time of the season that is perhaps the most difficult for me and my workers.  We have begun harvesting substantial amounts of produce and yet still a great deal of planting to be done. We are battling the first batch of summer weeds, which grow so quickly that they rapidly overtake many slower growing crops. There are irrigation lines to be run, sprinklers to move around, and trellis to be put up for the peas, cukes, and tomatoes.

I have hundreds of melon plants ready to be transplanted as well as herbs and flowers. It is time to plant the pumpkins and winter squash and the edamame soy beans, and in the greenhouse we must begin planting all of the fall crops, such as broccoli, cauliflower and radicchio.   If I can just make it through these next few weeks it will all be downhill from there! Not really, but that’s what I like to pretend.  

The first planting of summer squash is growing nicely and beginning to flower, so we should have zucchini in another 2 weeks.  My first planting of string beans has germinated well, and I expect to begin harvesting them in about a month.  One bit of bad news is that I did not receive the sweet potato plants that I ordered.  The company I ordered them from advised me that due to an extended drought last year and a very cool spring this season, their production was substantially reduced and they could not fill my order.  I am very disappointed because I enjoy growing them almost as much as eating them, and I had planned to double my plantings from last year and try several new varieties.   I will try to source some locally grown sweet potatoes to purchase and include in the shares this fall. 

The share for this week will be:  Red Boston lettuce, radishes, peas, kale, bok choy, and choice of escarole or endive (frissee). Those who did not receive broccoli last week will get broccoli instead of kale.  

Enjoy!  Farmer John

Farm Update 6/19/08

Hi Everyone,

We have finally arrived at the week you have all been waiting for- the first delivery. It will be a small one as the first delivery usually is, but there’s lots of good stuff on the horizon. Due to the cool spring weather many crops grew very slowly and that is the reason for beginning the deliveries later than planned.  We have begun picking peas, both English (shell) and sugar snaps.  The broccoli has begun to head up, but unfortunately the plants are still rather small and hence will produce small heads.  The quality looks good though, and it just means that we will need to put 4 or 5 in a bunch instead of 2 or 3.  This was caused by 2 very cold nights (25 degrees) in early May that burned the outer leaves of the plant and set back it’s growth. Extreme cold stresses plants and stress induces flowering. I am having a similar problem with the escarole and the red spinach.

I was delayed in writing this update because I wanted to address the issue  of the current salmonella out break in tomatoes, and have been doing some reading on the subject to be better informed on the mechanism of the contamination. Unfortunately the FDA and the CDC don’t seem to have a very good handle on this subject at this point, even though these outbreaks have been occurring since the early 90’s and there was a serious outbreak in 2004. I just received a letter from the NJ Dept. of Ag. stating that NJ has been added to the list of “safe” states. However since they have not been able to pinpoint the source of the contamination the concept of determining safe states or regions seems rather dubious and contrary to the norms of epidemiological investigation. From what I have learned so far it seems probable that the source of the contamination is in the post harvest end of the industrial food chain. Large wash tanks that are used in the packing houses may be implicated in cross contamination of the tomatoes. I don’t expect to begin delivering tomatoes for another 6 or 7 weeks, so hopefully there will be better information available by then. I will plan to write more on this subject when we begin the tomato harvest.

The share for this week will be Red lettuce, choice of Sugar snap peas or English peas, broccoli, broccoli leaf, red spinach, garlic scapes, and choice of oregano or cilantro.  The broccoli leaf can be used the same as Kale, steamed or sauted ,and also makes a great base for cream of broccoli soup. (Saute the leaf with onion adding some water at the end to finish cooking, then put into a blender with milk or cream) The garlic scapes can be grilled or chopped finely and sauted to add garlic flavor to a dish, such as the spinach or broccoli. They keep a very long time in the fridge, so don’t feel like you need to use them up quickly.

Enjoy!  Farmer John

2008 Newsletters

Please follow the links below to view our newsletters from the 2008 season.

Issue 22

Issue 21

Issue 20

Issue 19

Issue 18

Issue 17

Issue 16

Issue 15

Issue 14

Issue 13

Issue 12

Issue 11

Issue 10

Issue 9

Issue 8

Issue 7

Issue 6

Issue 5

Issue 4

Issue 3

Issue 2

Issue 1

Weekly Share 2008

Westfield Area CSA

2008 Weekly Shares

 

Pick-up #1       June 19th

1 head red leaf lettuce, 1 lb English peas, 1 bunch broccoli, 1 bunch spinach, Choice of 1 bunch oregano or cilantro, 20 garlic scapes, EXTRA: broccoli leaves

 

Pick-up #2       June 26th

1 bunch radishes, 1 head Boston lettuce, 1 bunch kale, Choice of 1 escarole or 1 endive (frissee), Choice: 1 bok choy or 1 broccoli or I bunch mustard greens, EXTRAS: broccoli leaves and split radishes

 

Pick-up #3       July 3^rd 

1 bunch scallions, 1 head Forellenschluss Romaine, 1 bunch red leaf lettuce, 1 bunch Mustard greens, 2 summer squash, choice: 2 kohlrabi or 1 bunch broccoli, 1 bunch broccoli leaf, choice: ¾ lb snow or sugar snap peas

 

Pick up #4  July 10

1 head Romaine lettuce, 1 head Boston lettuce, 1 head cauliflower, choice of 1 head broccoli or 2 kohlrabi, choice of 1 bunch swiss chard or spinach, 4 summer squash, choice of 1 bunch radishes or turnips, choice of 1 pound English peas or Fava beans, 1 bunch parsley

 

Pick up #5 July 17

1 head lettuce, 4 summer squash, 2 sweet onions, choice: 1 bunch swiss chard or kale, red or white turnips, 1 bunch dill, choice: 1 head broccoli or cauliflower, choice: ½ lb snow or sugar snap peas

Fruit: 1 lb cherries, 1 ¾ lbs peaches, 1 pint blueberries

 

Pick up #6 July 24, 2008

1 head lettuce, 1 head savoy or napa cabbage, 2 summer squash, 1 bulb garlic, 1 bunch sweet onions, 1 bunch basil, 1 bunch cilantro or parsley, 1 bunch beets, 1 bunch swiss chard

Fruit: peaches and shiro plums (yellow)

 

Pick up #7 July 31, 2008

1 head lettuce, 1 bunch carrots, 2 summer squash, 2 cucumbers, 3 sweet onions, 1 lb string beans, 1 head radicchio, Choice: 1 bunch parsley, dill or cilantro, 1 bunch basil, choice: 2 kohlrabi, 1 bunch kale or swiss chard

Fruit: yellow plums, nectarines

 

Pick up#8 Aug 7, 2008

1 head lettuce, 2 lb potatoes, 2 bulbs garlic, 2 peppers, 2 cucumbers, 1 bunch swiss chard, 1 bunch beets, 1 lb green/heirloom beans, 1 head red cabbage, 1 eggplant, 1 bunch dill, cilantro or parsley.  EXTRAS: snow peas, large squash

Fruit: peaches and nectarines

Pick up #9, Aug 14, 2008

4 peppers, 1 tomato, 4 ears corn, 3 yellow onions, 1 lb green beans, 2 summer squash, 2 cucumbers, 1 bunch carrots, Choice 1 fennel or celery, choice 1 bunch basil or parsley

Fruit: red plums and peaches

 

Pick up #10, Aug 21, 2008

4 tomatoes, 3 white onions, 1 bunch carrots, 3 lb potatoes, 3 peppers, 1 eggplant, 1 lb rattlesnake beans, 1 lb green or purple beans, 1 bunch parsley, 2 bulbs garlic

Fruit: nectarines and Santa Rosa plums

 

Pick up #11, Aug 28, 2008

1 head lettuce, 2 summer squash, 3 red onions, 1 eggplant, 2 bell peppers, 1 red pepper, 5 tomatoes, 1 heirloom tomato, 1 lb rattlesnake beans, ½ lb green beans, choice: 1 bunch carrots or 3 beets, choice: 1 pint ground cherries or cherry tomatoes, choice: 1 cantaloupe, watermelon or Korean melon. EXTRA: large zucchini

 

Pick up #12 Sept 4, 2008

1 head Boston Lettuce, 2 eggplant, 3 peppers, 1 bunch carrots, 2 garlic, 2 lb potatoes, 3 white onions, 1 melon, choice: 1 box ground cherries or cherry tomatoes, 6 tomatoes, 1 lb rattlesnake beans

Fruit: Paula red apples, peaches

 

Pick up #13, Sept 11, 2008

1 head red lettuce, 1 green cabbage, 1 bunch carrots, 3 red onions, 2 lb potatoes, 2 eggplant, 4 peppers, 1 lb rattlesnake beans, 6 large tomatoes, 5 plum tomatoes, 1 heirloom tomato, 1 summer squash, 1 melon, choice: 1 box ground cherries or cherry tomatoes, 1 herb (cilantro, parsley, basil)

Fruit: red plums and nectarines

 

Pick Up #14, Sept 18, 2008

1 head lettuce, 1 bag ground cherries, 10 tomatoes, 6 plum tomatoes, 4 peppers, 2 summer squash, ¾ lb wax beans, 3 white onions, 2 garlic, 4 ears corn (non organic) 1 head celery, 1 melon, 4 beets, 2 herbs (basil, dill, cilantro, parsley) extra carrots

Fruit: gala apples, Bartlett pears

 

Pick up #15 Sept 25, 2008

1 head Romaine, 1 bunch carrots, 3 peppers, 2 slicing tomatoes, 4 plum tomatoes, 2 eggplant, 4 yellow onions, 2 lb potatoes, 1 pint ground cherries, choice: 1 bunch kale or chard, 1 melon, 1 spaghetti squash, 2 summer squash, choice of herb.

Extras: purple beans and red turnips

Fruit: ginger gold apples

 

Pick up #16 Oct 2, 2008

Choice: 1 head endive or lettuce, 2 eggplant, 3 peppers, 2 garlic, 2 butternut squash, 4 ears corn (conventional) 4 red onions, ½ lb edamame, choice:1 bunch radishes or beets, choice: 1 bunch kale or chard, 1 herb (parsley, savory, marjoram) extras: ground cherries

Fruit: macoun apples, bosc pears

 

Week #17, Oct 9, 2008

3 eggplant, 4 peppers, 4 onions, bibb lettuce, arugula, ½ lb edamame, 1 lb potato, parsley, 2 delicata squash, celery, 1 heirloom tomato, 1 bunch parsnips

Fruit: kiwi berries, apples

 

Week #18, Oct 16

1 head romaine lettuce, 2 lbs potatoes, 2 peppers, 2 garlic, 2 white acorn squash, 1 bunch radishes, choice: 1 large or two small pumpkins, 1 head napa cabbage, choice of 2: escarole, endive, mustard greens, arugula or tatsoi, choice of herb

Fruit half share: kiwi berries and devoe pears

 

Week #19, Oct 23, 2008

1 head Cauliflower, choice: 1 bunch arugula or mustard greens, 1 ½ lbs yellow onions, choice of lettuce or escarole, 3 lbs white potatoes, 1 bunch salad turnips, 1 head bok choy, 2 buttercup squash, 2 ornamental gourds, choice or herb: parsley, cilantro or dill

 

Week #20, Oct 30, 2008

1 bunch broccoli, 1 bunch broccoli leaf, 1 head celeriac, 1 bunch radishes, choice: escarole or red lettuce, 3 yellow onions, 2 carnival squash, 3 lbs all blue potatoes, choice: arugula or tatsoi, choice of herb: dill, cilantro, parsley or marjoram.

 

Week #21, Nov 6, 2008

1 head lettuce, 1 bunch carrots and parsnips, 1 large or 2 small spaghetti squash, 3 lb white potatoes, 6 red onions, choice of 2 garlic or ½ lb shallots, 6 baby bok choi, choice of 2 greens: mustard greens, arugala, kale, tatsoi, escarole, choice of herb.  EXTRA: tomatillos

 

Week #22, Nov 13, 2008

1 bunch salad turnips, 1 head celery root, ¼ lb salad mix, choice: 1 bunch spinach or swiss chard, 5 yellow onions, 3 lb red potatoes, 2 acorn squash, choice: 1 bunch arugula or broccoli raab or kale, choice: 1 green or napa cabbage EXTRA: carrots

 

EXTENDED SEASON

 

Week #1 Nov, 20, 2008

1 head lettuce, 1 bulb garlic, 5 yellow onions, 1 bunch leeks, 1 bunch salad turnips, 1 bunch baby rainbow carrots, 3 lbs white potatoes, 2 spaghetti squash, 3 fuji apples, 4 baby bok choi, 2 bunches of greens from arugula, broccoli raab and kale

 

Week #2, Nov 26, 2008

Choice:1 large or 2 small pie pumpkins or 2 butternut squash, 1 bunch baby rainbow carrots, 1 bunch parsnips, 1 bunch turnips, 1 bunch arugula or broccoli raab, 6 baby bok choi, 1 bunch mustard greens, 2 red onions, 2 yellow onions, 2 lbs red potatoes, 2 lbs fingerling potatoes, 4 stayman apples

Week #3, Dec 4 (Stock up)

5 baby bok choi, 1 bunch kale or collard greens, 1 bulb garlic, 1 bunch baby carrots, 1 bunch salad turnips, 2 bunches mustard greens, 2 red or green cabbage, 1 bag parsnips/radishes/carrots/celeriac, 15 lbs mixed white and red potatoes, 1 box with 20 lbs squash, 5 lbs onions, blue and fingerling potatoes.  EXTRAS: lettuce, celeriac, ground cherries, cabbage