What’s in the box?

Shishitos peppers, basil, tomatoes, eggplant, zucchini, fresh garlic, beets, kohlrabi, salad greens.

fruit share – peaches

• Shishito peppers are one of our favourite vegetables. They are a small, thin, bright green pepper, with a sweet, fruity flavour and thin, tender, wrinkled skin. What makes a shishito exciting is that 1 in 10 peppers could be slightly hot! They are simple to prepare and delicious to eat! While you can use them as you would any other sweet pepper, they are best eaten charred in olive oil in a cast-iron skillet or other heavy pan over medium-high heat. Cook the peppers whole, turning occasionally, until they begin to blister on all sides. This only takes a few minutes! Sprinkle with salt & pepper and a splash of lime juice and some parmesan cheese, and serve immediately. Eat the whole pepper – except the stem. Charring shishitos on the BBQ works well or try them in the air fryer too. (We are hoping there will be enough shishitos for CSA all week. But if we are short, Thursday pick up might have to wait until next week – it’s all weather dependent. A good rain is much needed for all the crops.)
• Basil and hot weather are a great match – and this week we have plenty of both!
• Our tomato harvest continues to increase as more varieties begin to ripen.

• We are at the height of eggplant season. Please give this often ignored vegetable a chance! I’m thinking maybe in ratatouille? The main ingredients are all in the box this week – eggplant, zucchini, tomatoes … Or try our new favourite recipe – https://10mzone.com/crispy-baked-eggplant/ It is easy & delicious!

• The garlic is freshly picked and not yet dry. So keep it at room temperature, and in a place with good air circulation. You can leave it there and it will slowly cure & dry. Or enjoy it right away in your cooking – but know that once the bulb is broken open, it should be used within a few days.
• Beets, kohlrabi, & a salad green finish the box this week.

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Around the farm this week …

Let’s answer the most asked question first – When will blackberries be ready?

Blackberries are still a few weeks away. They are just beginning to show some colour. We are hoping for some rain soon so they can get big & juicy!

We are covering most crops with the white cover now, especially when they are smaller – as much for protection from the intense sun and heat as for insect protection.

50 big round bales of straw were delivered last week, for mulching crops – next year.

Sunflower harvest has begun.

The killdeer eggs hatched sometime Sunday afternoon (3 out of 4 eggs hatched), and the baby killdeer were already running around Monday morning. Amazing how fast they can move on those little, spindly legs!

Also amazing – how little these guys move in the heat!