CSA Week 4: Welcome July

Hello All,

And just like that, July! Things are chugging along here at the farm as we have entered the harvest and maintenance phase of the summer. This is when most of our crops are planted and have begun producing and we must keep up with weeding, trellising, pruning and harvesting. We have begun planting some of our fall crops such as broccoli, kale and chard and mowing the spring cover crops to make room for the next generation of vegetables. Everything is growing well, with the rows of cucumbers truly growing a foot in 3 days, holy moly! We are racing to keep up with the weeding, especially the onions as they are beginning to bulb up and do not like to be crowded. This afternoon Jasen hilled the potatoes which we planted across the street from Nubi and are looking healthy and strong. 

This morning I walked around the farm to get a sense for what was ready for CSA. I was reminded yet again, to let go of my perfectionism and embrace the chaos. Focusing on all we have accomplished instead of what is yet to be done. The tomatoes and cucumbers are happily trellised, while the beets and celeriac are lost amidst the weeds (they will be found sometime). The row of early potatoes we planted in a hoop house are being totally decimated by potato beetles, the flower garden is blooming beautifully. A friend and farm helper weeded many rows of lettuce, eggplant and ginger over the weekend for us, the leaf lettuce isn't producing quite as prolifically as I was hoping for. The dualities are what bring the joy and nuance and I am here for it. Nonetheless another week of CSA is here, and we are rich in vegetables to share with you all. We are excited about celery and napa cabbage this week, see below for some yummy recipe ideas. Enjoy!

If you are an 8 week member and know you won't be picking up tomorrow, please let us know! It helps us with harvest numbers. Also, please return glass granola jars to me so I can reuse them. Thank you.

What's in my share this week?

This week may include:

Kale - chop leaves and stems and sauté with oil, salt and pepper.

Swiss Chard - rainbow bunches, great sauted with oil, soy sauce and sesame seeds. Pro Tip - saute the stems first to give them a chance to soften.

Collard Greens - saute as you would kale, but with tons of oil or butter. 

Head Lettuce - this week we have romaine and a new variety called Marciano which is a smooth leaf red head. 

Leaf Lettuce - a mix of red and green flat and curly. Washed, bagged and ready to salad!

Napa Cabbage - a new one for us this year and a joy to grow. The plants are vigorous and healthy. Hope you try one!

Celery - if you have never had fresh celery, it is a MUST try. The flavor is out of this world. Eat raw or in a salad or use in stir fries or soups. We bunch our celery so we can keep picking from the same plants all season long.

Scallions - the scallions have gotten even bigger since the first week. They go great in almost any meal as a base.

Arugula - we have struggled with growing arugula this year due to some fertility issues so I am glad to finally have a bed ready. Enjoy in salad or sandwiches to add a bit of spice.

Cucumbers/Zucchini - hopefully the cucumbers and summer squash just keep coming. There aren't quite enough of both to go around so we are grouping this item. Please only 1 item's worth of cucumbers/zucchini this week, there aren't enough for doubles or triples.

Garlic Scapes - it is scape season! Grab some basil from the herb garden and make scape pesto. Or saute them before you add leafy greens to the pan for added flavor.

Plant Seedling - we have leftover seedlings from our Plant Sales this year. If you are still planting your garden, grab a seedling or two! We have peppers, oregano, sage, basil and thyme. This will be the last week for plant seedlings.

Available for Pick your Own

Peas - there might be some peas left if you are up for some gleaning, but peak pea season has passed

Cilantro

Parsley

Basil

Oregano

Lemon Balm

Sage

Thyme

Mint

FLOWERS! They are just starting but the calendula is really popping and more bloom everyday.Pick your own herbs, flowers and peas are open any time. If you don't have time on Tuesdays, come back another day, we would love to see you.

CSA Pickup Important Reminders

Pickup is from 2pm-5:30pm at Nubanusit Neighborhood and Farm, Peterborough, NH, 03458.

Once you arrive, follow the driveway past all of the garages until you see a barn (follow the green arrows!) Please park in front of the parking signs and/or along the guardrail. Walk straight ahead toward first barn, look for the open flag. This is the new Farm Store and CSA pickup location.

Please bring a few reusable bags to pack your share into.

Remember! 8 Week Shares can pickup any 8 weeks over the 16 week season. You are in charge of making sure you pickup 8 times throughout the season. If you already know which dates you will be picking up, please let me know by responding to this email.

If you can't make pick up one week, please let me know as soon as possible. We have options!

Remember to wash your produce once you get home and store properly. Our veggies can last weeks if stored properly! Click the document below for tips on storing your produce. Leafy greens will last 2+ weeks if stored in a sealed plastic bag.

Vegetable_Storage_Tips.pdf

Recipe ideas below!

Recipes Ideas:

I am excited about the napa cabbage this week and made cabbage wraps last night. I looked briefly at a recipe but just used what I had on hand.Ingredients:1 head napa cabbage1 bunch scallionsHadful of garlic scapes5 carrots4 stalks celery1 cup rice1 package ground beefSoy SauceSesame OilSiracha GingerCut and saute the scallions, garlic scapes, grated ginger, carrots, celery and inside part of the cabbage (reserving the outer big leaves for the wraps. Add the ground beef and cook through. Add soy sauce, sesame oil and siracha to taste. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Blanch the cabbage leaves for 1 minute and run under cold water to cool. Lay the leaves on a cutting board and spoon rice and the stir fry mixture onto the leaf. Fold up and place in the oven to keep warm. Enjoy!You can also make a really yummy Thai Crunch Salad or something similar, using napa with other cabbages or lettuce.A few people have been telling me about cabbage scallion pancakes but I have yet to try them. Sounds delicious though, and I hope to make some soon.Have fun! Send us recipes if you tried something and loved it.THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT! We are excited to be growing for you. See you on Tuesday.