FARM SHARE # 4 - June 23, 2016

Forgot to post this last week.  Here's what the shares looked like:

A portion of zucchini (a choice for the minis or a choosing item for the big shares)

Flowers - not very many this week but very pretty.

Bigfoot in her "Aren't I adorable?" pose.

Sample Mini Share - zucchini and chard

Big Share: Garlic scapes, zucchini, cucumber, radishes, Chinese cabbage, head lettuce, greens (kale or chard), herbs (basil, parsley, or mint), salad mix, rhubarb (if requested), 1 choosing item (in this share = squash blossoms)

FARM SHARE # 3 - June 16, 2016

Flowers for the shares: Icelandic Poppies, Pyrethrum, Daisies, Peonies, Ladies' Mantle, Sweet Peas, Astrantia, Lupines

Big Share #3: Mesclun, Head Lettuce, Bok Choy, Radishes, Greens (kale, chard, or turnip greens), Herbs (parsley, catnip, apple mint, or wild peppermint), 1 choosing item, (in this case, Rhubarb), and flowers.

Farm Week # 3 - June 13, 2016

Peonies are beautiful.

June 13, 2016

FARM NEWS:
Tomatoes  in the "cat" tunnels look great, poultry has been safe, new chicks hatched last night!, we are really close to being done with the main planting (for real), we planted more kinds of greens - Red Garnet mustard, turnip greens, and collards, we are researching Sweet Cicely and rhubarb recipes, we planted some watermelons (cross your fingers for late August melons), tiny carrots are forming, we planted rutabagas and more beets and more kohlrabi and more fennel.  We are still setting out and transplanting flowers, planting late season brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, etc.), setting out winter squash, and lots of odds and ends!  Future new projects will include building the new high tunnel and creating and planting the new herb garden.  The list continues.  

Our system of making more garden space using cardboard and mulch is working well.  Thanks for all the cardboard contributions and tips on where to get more.  We need a lot!  More information here: https://seedsofsolidarity.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/3seasons-of-no-till.pdf

Last week was the first week we had a “choosing shelf” for part of the shares and it went just fine.  We will most likely have that every week.  More flowers coming this week but will not be as plentiful as they will be later in the summer.

FARM SHARE # 3
THIS WEEK'S HARVEST:
Mesclun
Head lettuce - several types if mini romaine lettuces
Cooking greens - kale, baby chard
Bok choy
Broccoli
Rhubarb
Turnips/turnip greens
Radishes
Broccoli - some
Cucumbers - a few
Kohlrabi - a few
Herbs - fennel, parsley, wild peppermint, catnip
Flowers: pyrethrum, peonies, iris, etc.
Plus whatever else we find while we're harvesting for you.

No scallions or scapes yet, probably no alliums this week
Coming soon: carnations, napa cabbage, cabbage, zukes, coriander for green seeds

COOKING IDEAS
Rhubarb Buttermilk Cake: http://mmmisformommy.com/2011/06/rhubarb-buttermilk-cake.html
Roasted Bok Choy: http://lastingimpressionsrecipes.blogspot.com
(I am currently researching ways to use Sweet Cicely and Rhubarb.  There are lots of interesting recipes, including some that use both.  I’ll share more when I know more. - Laura)
Wild peppermint is very strong.  We especially like it in tabouli or dried for herbal tea.

WILDLIFE SITINGS AROUND THE FARM:
Snapping turtle laying eggs, Indigo Buntings, a woodcock digging in the mud, Pileated Woodpecker swooping overhead, a very red bird (Scarlet Tanager?), deer, bunnies in the road, yellow jackets (?) buzzing in a pear tree.  No foxes seen this week.

Robin and Laura
Sweet Morning Farm
910 Greenfield Rd
Leyden, MA 01337
413-773-8325
sweetmorningfarm@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SweetMorningFarm
CSA info: http://sweet-morning-farm-csa.blogspot.com
Blog: http://sweet-morning-farm.blogspot.com/
Recipe blog:  http://lastingimpressionsrecipes.blogspot.com

FARM SHARE # 2 - June 9, 2016

Farm Share # 1 - Mesclun, head lettuce, spinach, rhubarb, radishes, "scallion garlic", sunflower shoots, greens (kale), herbs (dill), plus two choices, in this case salad turnips and broccoli.  Plus sweet cicely.  Plus flowers.

Flowers this week!

Sample Mini Share - rhubarb and mesclun

Sample Mini Share - sunnies and broccoli

It was really fun to have broccoli ready this early.  Soon we will have cucumbers and zucchini as well.  We are really trying to have some of the "fruits" ready early in the season.  So far, so good.

One of our farm members was on a trip this week and offered their share to whomever might be interested.  We contacted a friend who likes fresh veggies but isn't able to get a whole share, who was very happy to fill in.  A win-win plan!

Farm Week # 2 - June 6, 2016

Pyrethrum - (in bloom now)

June 6, 2016

Hi Folks!

The first farm share went very well and it was great to see friends and meet our new farm members.  Let's do it again!  

FARM NEWS

This week we have continued to set out many seedlings and care for all the little growing things around here.  Robin has mulched more than half the garden and that is terrific for the plants and the soil and the people who do the weeding at the farm.  Next to be planted are beets and fall brassicas.  (cabbage, cauliflower, storage kohlrabi, etc.)   Peas are blooming, there are tiny kohlrabis and a few tiny green tomatoes...

There are small cucumbers on the vines; it's possible that a few will be ready this week!  There will be some broccoli!  Also some bok choy!  Initially we thought the bok choy might be a bust because of flea beetles and a really hot spell in May that made some of it bolt.  I almost pulled it out but Rob had faith and convinced me to leave it.  He was right.  It's a bit small and does have some flea beetle damage but I know it will be yummy.

On a sadder note, a fox discovered our poultry and killed 2 full grown ducks, 2 ducklings, 1 chick, and 1 hen.  Ugh.  For the time being we are keeping the birds in close confinement while we think of something to do and while the fox finds another food source.  Most likely the fox just wants to feed its family but it's hard on us and the flock.  Both mother ducks were too large for the fox to carry off or eat on site so it was a waste.  (Except for the fact that their babies got away.)

On a brighter note, we a had a great visit from some friends from Louisiana.  It was fun to see them and share our lives with them.

Flowers are starting to bloom!

THIS WEEK'S SHARE:

Mesclun

Head lettuce

Cooking greens: kale, chard, spinach

Bok choy

Broccoli

Rhubarb

Turnips and radishes

Scallion garlic (young garlic plants that look like scallions and taste like garlic)

Cucumbers?

Sunflower shoots

Herbs: Sweet cicely pods, dill, peppermint

Flowers: pyrethrum, lupine, peonies?, iris, etc.

Plus whatever else we find while we're harvesting for you.

Robin and Laura

Sweet Morning Farm
910 Greenfield Rd
Leyden, MA 01337
413-773-8325
sweetmorningfarm@gmail.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SweetMorningFarm

CSA info: http://sweet-morning-farm-csa.blogspot.com
Blog: http://sweet-morning-farm.blogspot.com/

Recipe blog:  http://lastingimpressionsrecipes.blogspot.com

FARM SHARE # 1 - JUNE 2, 2016

Big Share - mesclun, head lettuce, arugula, radishes, greens (kale or chard or escarole or collards), baby leeks, rhubarb, herbs (fennel or apple mint or sage)

Sample Mini Share - rhubarb and mesclun

Sample Mini Share - head lettuce and mesclun

WELCOME!