Farm Note June 9, 2009

Hi Folks,

Mud and weeds are still the words of the day around here but the good news is everything in the gardens continue to look pretty darn good (considering all the standing water! -  over 6 ½ inches of rain the last three weeks...)   This has been such an unusual growing season!  I have never harvested BOTH leaf lettuce AND summer squash in the same week!  Usually if it’s hot enough for squash - it’s too hot for lettuce but the rain made this season an exception.  I have also never harvested squash just 3 weeks after a frost either!

I have three exciting things to tell you about this week…   

The first thing is:  we are already harvesting summer veggies for the Spring share members and the 2 Krankies farmers markets…  Squash is first on the list - with a yellow crookneck, a yellow scallopini, and a light green/round italian Zucchini.   The carrots are starting to come in this week too.  The abundant rain is causing them to literally burst and so we will have to pull them early.   (Just means they won’t be as big as usual)  The tomatoes in the greenhouse are about ready to ripen!  I’ll have another look at them tonight,  but I think if it stays sunny (and dry!) the rest of the week,  we should have fully ripened toms by the weekend.  I can hardly wait!  (Neither can the mockingbirds - who keep a constant watch on the toms.  They have long since gotten used to the fake snakes and plastic owl hanging around and are just waiting to beat me to the ripe fruit.)  We started picking a few okra pods this morning (earliest I’ve ever done THAT!) and the cukes are just starting to reach picking size too.  I’m hoping that by next week - we’ll have enough of both to pack for the spring members and to sell at Krankies on Tuesday and Thursday.  This week I will have an ABUNDANCE of fresh lettuce, kales, swiss chard, beets, and fennel to sell at the Krankies markets.  I will bring a tent this Thursday evening - co if it’s raining - I’ll still be able to be there and will provide “curb” service!

The second exciting thing to tell you about is the winery is now OPEN for TASTINGS! - from noon to six pm every day of the week.  The restaurant is just about ready to open. We will start taking reservations next week for Dinner service - beginning Friday June 26th! 

We will have our public grand opening on July 11^th - but will have a soft-opening/preview event for you - which is the third piece of news I have… We will host a Farm and Winery open house for our Food Guild Members and all of our Newsletter friends - on Sunday June 28^th  from 2pm to 5pm.  We’ll offer garden tours and (free) fresh farm snacking at the Organic vegetable farm on Nebo Rd, a free wine tasting at the winery,  and an optional (reservation only) farm style dinner at 5:30pm.   I’ll have all of the details out to you by the end of the week - so mark your calendars!

That’s all the news for right now.  (Time to go and walk the gardens!)  I’ve posted some new photos for you