Today was a day for …

… Weeding is of course, an ongoing task. We’re doing better at keeping up this year, but with all the rains and now the hot, humid weather, it’s a constant war with the weeds!

Hot peppers & cucumbers are nicely cleaned but the eggplants are still looking for some attention. Bales are standing by to mulch this area before it explodes with weeds again!

While weeding this crop, I found a surprise. Perhaps this will help you identify these mystery plants?

… Seeding is also an onging process. Today we seeded a bed of collards & kale, for late summer/fall harvest.

… Thinning is the big orchard job right now. We have completed the pears and have begun to thin peaches. It will take several weeks to complete. Never look at the ground during thinning time – always look up! What’s important is how many peaches are on the tree, not how many are on the ground.

… Suckering & tying tomatoes always vies for our time against the peach thinning. The tomatoes are growing like weeds. We are suckering & tying the plants for the 3rd time already.

The plants are loaded with fruit.

Both the cherry tomatoes & the full size ones.

… Picking was also on the agenda today. Among all those green tomatoes we’re beginning to find …

What’s in the box?

Zucchini, lettuce, arugula, Asian greens, garlic scapes, snowpeas, and maybe broccoli, & salad turnips.

• The zucchini is just starting and there should be at least 1 in your share this week.
• The arugula was grown under row covers to keep the chewing insects at bay – they managed to get in anyways & so your arugula has a bit of a lacy look to it. Still tastes like arugula though! Add it to your lettuce salad for a spicy kick. Same goes for the Asian greens – the leaves may have some damage.
• The snowpeas are still going strong. Remember that they freeze well if you want to save some for later. Simply blanch in boiling water for 2 minutes, then plunge into ice water for another 2 minutes, dry & then freeze in bags. They are great in stir fries later in the summer or next winter.
• There will be lots of garlics scapes yet, but salad turnips are almost done.
• Broccoli is beginning to head – some boxes may have it, some will have to wait until next week.

Those shareholders who pick up on Friday are probably beginning to realize that things ripen between Monday and Friday, and sometimes the produce in your box can be a bit different then what we list here. We try to accurately predict what will be ready, but sometimes we are all surprised.

Not everyone on the farm was busy today.

Some recognized that it was a long weekend  & enjoyed it in other ways.

Happy Canada Day!