2023 CSA Newsletter #9
Okay, raise your hand if you had possible tornado on your 2023 "Weather" Bingo card! I can't even begin to think of what could happen next.
It's hard to believe that we are approaching the midpoint of August. Just when it seems like everyone is in a groove, change is coming with the start of the Fall semester a mere few weeks away. I have been lucky enough to have a great crew of student workers and an intern this summer. I really appreciate their hard work and dedication throughout the ups and downs of the season so far and look forward to working with them for the remainder of the season.
We continue to get plantings done for the fall. More lettuce, kale and collards got in the ground. A quick cultivation of scallions and lettuce happened, fertilization of the hoophouse and greenhouse crops and of course, trellising of the tomatoes also happened last week. The tomatoes in the greenhouse are really starting to get in their happy place, especially the cherry tomatoes. They have definitely reached ladder height to start wrapping around their trellis. The bumblebees have been busy and both the tomato and hot pepper plant are loaded with fruit. This will be the first week where all 18 varieties of cherry tomatoes are ripe. Let the eating of rainbows commence!
Since we're talking tomatoes, let's talk about the rest of this week's CSA share. As mentioned, there will be cherry tomatoes, but this week they will be sorted into "all red", "all orange" and "rainbow" pints. You may not know this, but tomatoes are easily preserved by freezing, no pre-processing needed. The heirloom tomatoes stepped up their ripening and multiple varieties will be well represented this week. It will mostly be German Johnson, a Brandywine-type, but there will be some other fun varieties to choose from. The beefsteak and paste tomatoes are a little behind and grouped together this week. There will be another week of green tomatoes too! Additionally, there will be rainbow chard, potatoes, bell peppers, hot peppers (with 2 additional cayenne varieties joining the mix), hot pepper salt, cucumbers and the return of basil. There will also be a new addition to the choice this week. There will be a grouping of eggplant and Havasu peppers.
Have a great week!
-Farmer Todd