What’s been going on!

A wet week with well over two inches of rain.  After the first few small rains the taller pepper plants were beginning to think about tipping over if we didn’t get some trellis on them.  I had a fitful sleep on Tuesday night as yet another storm slipped by to our north, worrying it would be the one to lay the plants down.  Wednesday morning after getting ready for market we jumped on the pepper trellis and got the first layer on the tallest eight beds, a few of which had fallen over.  None too soon as the big storms of that afternoon would have certainly flattened them with the big winds and 1.7” of rain, instead they are standing straight and tall.

It is good to see real tomatoes on our kitchen counter again.  We had to use the first ten pounds of the season for our dish at the Farm to Fork picnic so our only taste was the inaugural BLT last Friday.  Running about a week behind normal due to the cooler spring but they look really good.  Another round of BLT’s on Monday and then last night the first of the summers tomato and basil risottos, it is beginning to look a lot like tomato season!

The Farm to Fork picnic was great.  The weather was a miracle both for the rains that turned away from us at the last minute and the resulting pleasant low 80 degree temperatures.  Bret Jenning’s, of Elaine’s on Franklin, savory combination of our beets, carrots, fennel and leeks as a filling wrapped in our Summer Crip lettuce with a medium spice salsa of the tomatoes, cilantro and our smoked dried chipotles was amazing.  Think of it as a roll your own lettuce taco.  Chased by the blueberry, ginger and basil lemonade and it was a perfect combination.  Thank you Bret and all of the picnic goers for supporting local farms and the training of new farmers.

Picture of the Week

Proud and straight peppers

What’s going to be at the market?

OK, so just three kinds of tomatoes this week with Cherokee Purples, Orange Blossoms and red Ultrasweets.  Not a big supply this Saturday, probably only about 60 pounds.  A few pints of Sungolds.  Some Green tomatoes for frying.

Beautiful warm weather lettuce with dark red and lighter green and red tinged Summer Crisp, that cross between Romaine and Leaf lettuces that can take the warm weather.  The return of Little Gem Bibb and the very tender Oakleafs.

Lacinato Kale and Collards for greens.  Sugarloaf, the white and less bitter radicchio and Red Radicchio.

Green Spring Onions.  Long Red of Tropea fresh onions, great for grilling and other uses.  Beautiful Leeks.  Basil along with Chives and Italian Parsley.  Fennel and Cucumbers!  Some Beets in all three colors; Red, striped Chioggia and Golden.  Lots of Carrots.

Fragrant Oriental lilies and non-fragrant but deeply colored Asiatic Lilies.  Tall graceful blue Delphiniums.  Delicate Campanula (Canterbury Bells).  Brilliant Zinnias.  Annabelle Hydrangeas and Dianthus.  Of course beautiful Bouquets.

As a reminder if there is anything that you would like for us to hold for you at market just let us know by e-mail, by the evening before, and we will be glad to put it aside for you.

Hope to see you all at the market!

Alex, Betsy and Jennie

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