This week’s harvest: beans, cabbage, broccoli, hot peppers, basil, eggplant, beets, carrots, chard, kale, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, garlic, summer squash, sunflower

We spent some time this week turning under the beds we used this spring so the farm will look more open to you if you’d like to take a look. Though we like to keep the soil covered with vegetation so it doesn’t erode in the wind, it feels good to turn the weeds under before they go to seed.

There are lots of beautiful flowers that attract pollinators and predators at the front of the farm. They are very important for keeping the balance between good and bad bugs and preventing the need for insecticides. Brassicas are among the most heavily sprayed conventional crops because the caterpillars and aphids adore them (they know good nutrition when they see it!). Since this is the first week for cabbage, you should start to get used to the idea that you might find a cabbage moth caterpillar. This is simply part of eating organic food fresh from the farm and the tenderness of the cabbage leaves are well worth it! We never cook our cabbage, simply chop it up fine and eat it raw. (Peter’s letter last year about worms is entertaining if you’re interested: http://www.adobehousefarm.com/csa-letter-week-14/

This week the first round of sunflowers have opened! We like to stick them in a skinny glass bottle to brighten a room (give the bottoms a fresh cut when you get home). Basil loves this August heat so we’ve got enough for you to make pesto.

It seems like we’ve transitioned from weeding all day to harvesting all day and I think you’ll notice when you see the size of your share! If you have the time take a stroll through the farm, pick some extra kale, and see if you can spot the bald eagles and let’s enjoy that last summer barbeque before school starts next week!
Linley, Peter, Reid, Charlie, Tim, John