Jump in the Puddles and Eat Your Weeds

Hello Farm Friends,

Although we are once again in the middle of a heat warning, last week wrapped up with a good rain, and it sure makes all the difference. I’m not sure the last time I’ve been so happy to get my clothes soaked through!

After spending the week weeding out our hot season crops (I foolishly forgot to take before and after pictures), I was able to get some final seedings of root crops taken care of. The rain watered everything in, returning my optimism despite the quick return of the heat.

The previous two seedings of beets and carrots did not germinate, so I’m crossing my fingers that third time’s a charm. I chose different seeds, just in case the seed was the problem, but I suspect it was simply too hot and dry in the weeks after I seeded. This time round I have covered the carrots with burlap to help keep moisture in and provide a little shade and I will get some drip lines going right away so we can keep all the new seeds watered.

As a result, there will be a gap in our carrot harvests and nobody is more disappointed than the kids and I.

In happier news, the rain has coaxed the first of our beautiful heirloom tomatoes to ripen! If you are as excited about giant heirloom tomatoes as I am, you should know a few of them will be in our CSA shares this week. More will be on the way soon!

This week along with all the weeds we have been pulling, we have a great crop of purslane, the weed we love to eat. If you don’t know this weed it is an amazing plant, full of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and even Omega-3 fatty acids. It has a tart lemony flavour and loves to grow when the weather is too hot for most other greens. 

I will make sure to have some available for my CSA members and Market customers alike.

Sincerely,
— Jenny

🥬 Not-so-spicy salad mix or lovely lettuce mix
🎈 Salad Turnips
🥒 Cucumbers
🍅 Tomatoes
🎵 Beets
🍃 Greens bunch or Escarole
🌱 Basil
🌿 Purslane