When we noticed rabbits working their way down the rows of pea plants, Cosmo took matters into his own hands and went after them with the air rifle. Don’t worry—clean shots. And no more peas are disappearing!
THIS WEEK’S SUBSCRIBER MENU:
• Green Garlic
• Pea Shoots
• French Breakfast Radishes
• Arugula
• Mizuna
• Sorrel
Click on the links above for information and recipes about these crops.
COMING SOON:
Carrots
Spinach
Green Onions
Finally, the rapini and other brassicas have finished, in a glorious explosion of yellow. The bees enjoyed the flowers, but now they are in the process of being disced and plowed into the soil. We will be getting that spot ready to plant the cucumbers and summer and winter squashes next week.
That brings us to “Slump Week”, that awkward stage of spring when the overwintered crops have come to an end, but the spring-planted crops are not quite plentiful to harvest in great abundance. So, the shares are light this week, but we’re doing the best we can. We checked on the spinach and carrots and they are coming along, just not quite big enough—probably just another week or two.
The first potatoes are popping up, reaching for the warm sun!
There is some exciting news though! Thanks to amazing weather, we were able to get the potatoes planted on time and they are poking up—I can’t wait to have new potatoes! I took a chance and planted a few rows of green beans along with the second planting of peas, and they also popped right up. The u-pick area is started, and with the early flowers, peas, beans, and cilantro and dill are up and growing. The season is off to a great start. Beauty is due to calve in the next week, and we are so anticipating the first of the calves, as well as the delicious milk that comes with the calf. Juniper is due in June, and Dulce is due in July with her first, so we will have bouncing calves to enjoy all summer.
The first planting of beans is up! I don’t know when I have ever successfully planted beans in the first week of May. 50 days to green beans!
We had the pleasure of hearing Michael Pollan speak on Monday night at Benaroya Hall. I had never been there before, but I’m going to have to go again to hear the amazing pipe organ. At any rate, he had a lot to say about food, and about cooking. One perfect quote was “The microwave is the Ayn Rand of kitchen appliances. It’s every man or woman for themselves.” In his new book, “Cooked” he is emphasizing food preparation and eating together. I can’t wait to listen to the whole book! But when he was emphasizing eating together as a family, and pointing out that the dinner table is where children learn the art of conversation, I laughed out loud. How does that happen, I wonder. At our table, the “conversation” is usually focused on Guinea Pigs, shooting rabbits, or planting, and it is NOT usually civilized.
We still have many spaces available for the summer, so if you know anyone who might be interested in joining our Summer CSA, forward them to us!
Have a great week!
Whistling Train Farm 