Sundog CSA June 16, 2020
Even though the weather says otherwise, we are still in the season of the spring with summer due to being this coming Saturday, June 20 at 5:44 p.m. I looked up the word solstice and it comes from Latin words meaning the “sun stands still” which is what it must seem like on the longest day of the year if the temperatures are similar to what we experienced this weekend. Personally, I hope that the solstice brings a day of slow rain as our gardens and we need it. It doesn’t take very many days of mid 90s and brisk warm Kansas winds to dry out the land. I have been practicing “earthing” but weeding this weekend was more like “broiling” than enjoying dirt time with barefeet. I thought maybe it was just old feet but saw Izzy hopping from foot to foot and her explanation was that it was “hot”!
So this week we have worked at weeding each garden as our plan is to lay down mulches after watering and fertilizing the freshly weeded beds. We managed to get several crops mulched over the last two days due to the generosity of a neighbor who donated a large bale of hay that his cows had abandoned in favor of prairie grasses. We also have some old straw that we can haul home in the stock trailer – a large job as will have to be pitched on by hand and pitched off by hand and carried to wherever we need it. That is our backup plan if we run out and we are really hoping that we don’t need the backup plan!!! Squash bugs have been seen and squashed along with cucumber beetles and it is probably a fair statement to say that we rarely kill bugs but those are a couple we have determined to move off the hill if possible. We feel it is a fair fight for vegetable rights when added to the fact that they can fly and we can’t!
The vegetables this week show the signs of Kansas weather as they have toughened up and shrunk down or in the case of our peas – laid down and died. We harvested the last of the pods that had life to them and noted with sadness all the wilted blooms. In addition to the pests and the weather, we are still squabbling with the deer about land rights as we tracked their hoof prints through the pepper beds as they headed over to eat the green beans! My next plan is to hang wind chimes and maybe a cow bell or two on that side of the garden with the hopes that it will concern them. Katy is in favor of an electric fence across one side but there is a risk that we will be the ones who forget and come into contact with those “hot” wires. 😊
The chicks are growing feathers and have lost their cute chick fluff. They appreciate grass and weed offerings, especially those with bugs attached. It causes a lot of excitement although I have not seen a successful catch yet. Katy and I have been switching off goat milking chores so tonight I milked with Seth’s help. That means he sits beside me and offers instruction and tips on how I could do it better. Tonight he looked in Blue’s ears and I have to admit that I have never looked inside there. He didn’t find anything that needed tending to but thought I would be interested in taking a glance? Sometimes I guess we need a little push to see what is right in front of us! 😊 I am grateful that the cows are in the summer pasture with lots of grass. This hill struggles to hold any vegetation when it is hot and dry. We cut thistle heads and dug their accompanying plants Saturday out of the small fenced off area where the two older calves and two male goats are living in semi-harmony. The thistles were doing well – growing tall and thorny! The pigs are also surviving with daily water showers in the afternoons. Thank goodness for the luxury of running and abundant water supplies in the rural area!
YOUR BAG THIS WEEK –
- Asparagus
- Garlic Scapes
- Peas - drought toughened unfortunately!
- Roots bundle - turnips, beets or grex or a combination
- Onions
- Fresh oregano
- Swiss chard
GREX – the official name of this root is “ 3 root grex” and it is an interbreeding of Alan Kaplur – a mix of three heirloom beets. Those 3 beets are Yellow Intermediate, Crosby Purple Egyptian and Lutz Saladleaf. Grex is a term from orchid breeding, and means that there is a variation within this gene pool that continues to morph. The seed is available from Fedco. Our experience with this crop is that it is a large root with the sweetness of beets and it comes in beautiful colors. Hope that you like it also!
COOKING TURNIPS and BEETS – Most of the time here on the farm, we roast wedges of root vegetables that have been sprinkled with salt, pepper or other seasonings of your choice and then laid out on a pan and drizzled lightly with olive oil. The different flavors of the roots are distinct and yet, cooked together they seem a little different as though even without touching, they complement each other. Here are some instructions if you haven’t tried roasting yet – https://www.growforagecookferment.com/how-to-cook-beets-and-their-greens/
And remember to use your beet greens along with the turnip greens. According to “From Asparagus to Zucchini: A Guide to Farm-Fresh Seasonal Produce”, turnips themselves are a good source of vitamin C (especially raw) and the minerals potassium and calcium. Turnip Greens top the nutritional charts as an excellent source of vitamins A,C and B complex, and minerals potassium, magnesium and calcium. Turnips are also one of the cruciferous vegetables believed to prevent cancer. Beet greens are listed as having generous portions of vitamin C, calcium and iron. Beets themselves are high in vitamins A and C and also the carotenes. So eat your greens! 😊
Nikol tried the recipe for the turnip greens in the Sundog last week and her comments were, “That spicy greens recipe was outstanding! I added a handful of currents at the end.” Here is the picture, recipe and the site again if you want to try it.
Spicy Skillet Turnip Greens
https://www.yummly.com/recipe/Spicy-Skillet-Turnip-Greens-1111212
I don’t ever remember my grandparents using the word gratitude and yet the words were written all over their faces at times - so defined that even I as a child could read and understand. I use that word a lot and yet I have to wonder if it can be read by my actions and expressions as easily as I used to read it and so I decided that if it rains before our gardens shrink to nothing that we will practice face reading with our faces held out to the clouds!! 😊
Blessings from our dry hill – Jen, Zach, Izzy, Seth, Dan, Katy and Teresa
Meet Checkers - the world’s sort of most patient goat – at least for a few minutes.
Thistles – beautiful and not!
Anonymous offerings – reminders of unexpected beauty!
