Sundog CSA September 1, 2020
Rain dances this morning as .87 fell on the hill, coming with thunder and a few flashes of lightning. The wind was fairly fierce for a little bit – blowing the landscape clean before it washed it! And there was a definite difference in temperatures as the sky lightened towards noon and the sun appeared. Everything and everybody breathed a sigh of relief and we are pretty sure that some of our plants grew as we were watching them. Some crops are not going to recover but we could see new life in the peppers and okra as blooms opened out of nowhere on the almost denuded okra stalks and tiny white blossoms were also opening on the sweet peppers. We are hoping that this changes the texture of the vegetables as we have been “eating the drought” as we chewed through tough tomato skins and bendable green beans. We keep forgetting to tell everyone to “string those beans”! They are a multicolored pole bean mix that requires stringing but we wanted to try them again as in the past we remembered them as being very flavorful and also drought tolerant. We will try the long beans again but were not overly thrilled with the flavor or the texture. If you have feedback on some of the crop varieties, please let us know!
We have been moving some chickens around as we received a shipment of baby chicks a couple of weeks ago and they took over the “chickmobile”. Izzy’s incubator hatch moved to the pullet pen and the pullets moved to the “comet” house – kind of a chick version of musical chairs only it was pens. Everyone survived the move and although the baby pullets are taking advantage of being able to escape their pen, so far the vegetable damage has been minimal. Another section of our garden became a moving pen for Harry and Glory to mow. We tried three times to get some squash going there and when the resident bugs took it out for the third time, we put up some electric barriers and opened it to the calves who trimmed it up quite nicely. The pigs have been doing some dirt work for Dan or maybe he did some for them. Mr. Grady Bean repaired our retaining wall at the house and in doing so, dug out a huge pile of clay and rocks. Dan has been moving it down to the garden as we have this idea of terraces changing how the hill drains water? Not sure that it is going to work? Anyway, the last few loads went to the cow lot where the pigs have spent a few afternoons having clay face and body packs! They have re-arranged Dan’s carefully placed loads to suit their purposes of “wallowing”.
Our “bug of the week” is a true bug. Since I live with a K-State graduate with a biology degree, I have learned a lot about who inhabits the hill. I thought all bugs were bugs but there is a category called true bugs and we have some of course.
Tomatoes and Stinkbugs
https://www.ksuhortnewsletter.org/newsletters/category/stink-bugs
This site gives a lot of information about stinkbugs – a pest that causes cosmetic damage and smells bad!
YOUR BAG THIS WEEK -
- Large Tomatoes
- Cucumbers
- Sweet Peppers
- Hot Peppers
- Roots – an assortment of root crops
- Beans OR Okra
- Potatoes
- Chives – Remember to eat the flowers!!
If you are struggling to use your peppers, try this recipe :
AND TO USE UP THOSE CUCUMBERS: https://ripleyorganicfarm.com/recipes/Cucumbers
Cucumber Infused Water
cucumbers, sliced (can peel and seed, but don't have to, your choice)
water (can also use sparkling water here)
fresh mint leaves (or other fresh herbs), optional
lemon slices, optional
chunks of fruit like strawberries, pineapple, other berries, etc., optional
Put cucumber slices and other optional ingredients in a pitcher or jar of water. Let sit in the refrigerator for at least one hour up to several hours before drinking.
Oven Roasted Tomatoes https://www.spendwithpennies.com/roasted-tomatoes/
RAIN UPDATE: With loud thunder and lots of lightning, the clouds squeezed out another .27 early this morning!!
The moonflowers are blooming in two places this year – intertwined with the morning glories at the gate to the orchard and almost at the top of our feed bin as the vine climbs up the side of the metal container. Moonflowers are plain white flowers and their magic lies in the scent that they hold deep within the blossom. As you breathe it in, you can barely wait to release breath so that you can do it again and again. I like growing them as it takes me back to my grandma’s vine covered pole light where the water was scarce and hard to haul and yet she found it worth the care in dry years to nurture the plant and herself. There is wisdom in continuing that tradition . . . .
Blessings of health from the farm – Jen, Zach, Dan, Katy, Seth, Izzy, Teresa