“Opportunities”

That is what we are encouraged to call them, rather than “problems” – at least according to motivational speakers, self-help experts and positive thinkers. And they are not wrong!

But sometimes problem is the more accurate word, and so it shall remain a part of my vocabulary (along with struggle, challenge, and the big ones – mistake and failure).

Of course I much prefer words like success, completion, victory and even triumph!

We are entering July and week 6 of our CSA and farmers’ market. Now is a good time to take stock and review the opportunities etc … of this season so far, and how we are handling them.

Here is a list, in no particular order.

• We seed green beans every week, (8 times so far) but only the last few seedings have amounted to anything. So there will be green beans – but not for awhile.
• Broccoli can be tricky to grow – at least for us. We were not prepared to admit defeat, but decided on just 1 planting this year, to minimize the failure. But it turned out amazing! It was a surprise in the CSA box last Thursday & Friday and there will be plenty for Tuesday’s share this week. Why didn’t we plant more!!

• Carrots, cucumbers & cauliflower have always been challenges for us (https://thiessenfarms.com/2021/08/30/csa-2021-week-14). However, I am happy to report that the carrots are doing very well. Cucumbers could still go either way. And check out this cauliflower! The good news is that it is a success – at least the orange variety is. The bad news is that we only grew a few plants to see if our improved growing methods could produce results. Next year we will grow enough for CSA.

• Early cabbages were doing great until we got all this rain. Same with kohlrabi. Both of these vegetables tend to split.

• Artichokes require a few extra steps to trick them into producing a crop in our climate. With varied results previously, we decided to make another attempt this season. I’m smiling!

• Everybody missed the blackberries last year. But this year we anticipate an abundance! We will be harvesting the new rows (planted in 2021) for the 1st time. We removed the 2 old rows last fall. It will be an opportunity to find additional help for picking in August.

• Weeds are always an opportunity problem! What more can we say. Lots of rain these last couple weeks have caused tremendous growth in both vegetables and weeds. We have some work ahead of us.

What’s in the box?

Chinese (napa) cabbage, kohlrabi, zucchini, salad greens, green onions, beets, garlic scapes, fresh herbs, broccoli (Tuesday pick-up).

• Chinese cabbage is one of my favourite vegetables. Crisp, tender, and mild – it is delicious used fresh in a salad instead of lettuce. Or use the large leaves as wraps, make it into coleslaw, kimchi or stir-fry it. While the outer leaves are a lovely green colour, the inside is often creamy white. It prefers cooler weather and does best in fall, but we like to try it in spring & summer as well. This year it turned out great!
• Kohlrabi is a strange-looking vegetable – sort of like a cross between a little cabbage and a turnip. It is considered a root vegetable, though the edible round globe grows above ground. Kohlrabi is most often eaten raw – just peeled & sliced. The taste & texture resembles fresh, crunchy broccoli stems, with a bit of radish thrown in. Use on raw vegetable platters and serve with a creamy dip. Grated kohlrabi can be added to slaws. We like to spiralize our kohlrabi and use it instead of pasta. Kohlrabi can also be steamed or boiled – when the bulbs are tender, peel skin, and season with butter, salt, and pepper, a cheese sauce, or just enjoy plain. They are good for mashing with other vegetables – parsnips, carrots or potatoes. Kohlrabi absorbs the flavour of other ingredients making it ideal to add to soup, stew and stir-fries. The bulbs should be stored, unwashed, in a plastic bag in the fridge. They will hold for a week. Our favourite way to cook kohlrabi is to sautée it in butter & garlicscapes for just a few minutes. Then add just a dash of nutmeg. Delicious!
• The rest of the box is familiar – zucchini, a salad green, green onions, beets, garlic scapes, and a choice of fresh herbs (cilantro, dill or parsley).
• Tuesday’s box will include broccoli. Perhaps there will be enough for the rest of the week too.

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Around the farm this week …

Once the rain stops there will be lots of weeding to do …

… and plenty of transplanting as well.

Ready for CSA pick-up last Tuesday.

Our market stall on Saturday.

Rosemary saw opportunity in the barn swallow nest high in the rafters of the barn. (It turned out to be a failed mission.)

Searching for those 1st ripe cherry tomatoes.