GARDEN UPDATE: A violent storm ripped through the Lehigh Valley on Tuesday evening and made no concession to Terra Fauna Farm. The rainstorm rolled in with wind gusts that toppled over the delicate pea stalks and tomato plants. Thankfully, the peas and tomatoes appear to have survived the torment with the aid of some additional TLC. The peas were given some more support with additional trellising and the tomatoes were re-erected with some soil to help create a sturdy base.
With garden space maxed out… and peppers and okra waiting to be planted, a kind neighbor came down to give us hand plowing up a new section for these veggies. Thanks Mr. Smith. Once the dirt has dried out after all the rains, we will be working the ground this weekend and hope to be finished. With this chore slated for the weekend—we have been feverishly pulling weeds that have gotten away from us. If any volunteers would like to break a sweat getting down and dirty this weekend or anytime—holler at us.
The weeds are gaining on us!!! This is the Yellow and Green bean patches. You can barely see the plants with all the weeds. Greg feverishly weeding. He’s an intense weeder- careful not to pull the beans out too!!
CSA BOX: We hope you enjoyed your first full box of the season!!!
What to expect this week: Strawberries, Rhubarb, Radish, Lettuce Mix, Spinach, Kale, Snow peas, Turnip greens, and garlic scapes. In the following weeks expect to see in your box Kohlrabi and Napa Cabbage. (There are not enough ready to pick at the same time for everyone to get them—so they will be distributed out over the next few weeks)
Some creative uses for your box this week:
Strawberries- I don’t think I need to share the hundreds of ways to enjoy them. Whole and in their raw form is the best.
Rhubarb- Did you know you can chop and freeze this for later use!! Or try your hand at a Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp—check out our recipe and other recipes on our recipe page!!!!
Spinach- Did you notice the spinach last week had a red stem? When I saw them growing in the garden I was quickly fooled to think they were red beets- which look very similar. This week you will see the more traditional green stem spinach. Enjoy!
Kale- two words KALE CHIPS. Love them!
Snow peas- eat them raw or toss in a quick stir fry!!
Garlic Scapes- Don’t be intimidated by this unique find. Scapes are the shoots that grow out of the ground from hard-neck varieties of garlic. When they’re young and tender, they look like curly green stalks with tightly closed buds on top. We harvest them at this time of year so that they won’t drain nutrients from the garlic bulbs that will be dug up in a couple of months, plump and glorious and ready for drying. But scapes offer more than a slightly rowdy alternative to garlic. Because of their substantial heft as opposed to garlic cloves, they are vegetable, aromatic, and even herb all in one. Three common ways to use the scapes are: Scape Pesto, Grilled Scape, and Scape Hummus. Look at these and other recipe ideas in our recipe section.
Kohlrabi and Napa cabbage- recipes added—gather the other ingredients so that you can enjoy these when you receive them in your box.