Sundog CSA August 30, 2021
It has been another hot week here on the hill with only a few rain drops one morning as we finished chores – drops that fell in the sunshine of the beginning morning, making tiny sounds on the porch roof. We had time to look out the back door to see if it was real and then it was gone. There is a definite need for moisture for the gardens to produce and as we feel the heat and drought like conditions, it gives us pause and the smallest sliver of understanding what the heat and drought are causing so many across this country. In contrast, others are flooded with approaching storms. It seems like people are always complaining about the weather and yet, if you look at it closer, I think that what the complaints are about are the extremes. We will continue to wish for gentle soaking rains, low humidity and moderate temperatures - at least 1 out of three maybe? 😊
The hard winds damaged a lot of the tomatoes last week and we are seeing and eating the results of the supports falling over and damaging the fruits. There will also be a decrease in “keeping ability” for some of the round fruits. Solution is to eat fast! 😊 We made salsa out of the damaged fruits and others that were ruined beyond “salsa” were on the menu for the resident chickens and pigs. It was a popular choice! Alongside the fruits were plenty of hornworms and army worms as a sort of an appetizer. Most of the time we are “re-homers” for bugs but the population this week was huge so we made protein snacks out of them. On one tomato alone, we removed 7 large hornworms. Needless to say, the plant is more or less a skeleton as those worms eat foliage and fruits. The army worms seem to concentrate on our tomatoes themselves, popping in and out of the holes that they have “dug” out.
Most of the tiny greens that were planted are up and going with the exception of spinach and something removed it entirely. It was like magic – here one day and gone the next. So, we will look for bugs with capes and hats and hope to use some kind of magic trick on them!
Separating the goats this week has been a challenge as the male, Studie, resents not being able to roam with the rest of the herd. He has a penmate but misses the freedom and particularly so when they are visible to him as they come in and out of the barn to be milked. It has only been one week so far but in that time, he has managed to escape three times. One of those occasions was when we were doing chores late and so we took him through the barn and let him in the back way with Izzy narrowly missing a huge hornet nest that was hanging low. Positive part was that the hornets must have already been in bed for the night so there were no warning stings. Studie is not quiet about his displeasure but he has at least stayed in the enclosure for the last 2 days!
YOUR BAG THIS WEEK -
- Tomatoes – Big and Little
- Potatoes
- Carrots and a sample of 3 Root Grex (beets) - the deer allowed a few to survive!
- Surprise – Cucumber, Okra or Eggplant
- Sweet Peppers
- Sage, Basil and Chives
SAGE POTATO THINS – One United Harvest – Creative Recipes from America’s Community Supported Farms
Contributor: Sarah Wu-Norman, Merck Forest and Farmland Center, CSA, Rupert, Vermont
3 medium potatoes
½ cup sliced fresh sage
1-2 Tablespoons olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
¼ cup crumbled bacon, cooked
Line cookie sheet with parchment and spray or lightly brush with olive oil. Cut potatoes length-wise in 1/8 inch slices and lay half on the cookie sheet. Layer sage, salt, pepper, cheese and bacon on potato slices. Top with another potato slice and spray or brush with olive oil. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 to 30 minutes or until slightly golden brown, flipping once to brown both sides. Serve hot.
BUMP’S CARROT CASSEROLE - One United Harvest – Creative Recipes from America’s Community Supported Farms
Contributor: Patricia Carpenter, Eatwell Farm, Dixon, California
Carrots with Cheddar!
4 cups sliced carrots 2 T. mayonnaise
1 T. grated or finely chopped onion 10 salted crackers, crumbled
½ cup grated cheddar cheese pepper
Boil carrots until tender. Drain carrots well and mash with a potato masher. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Put into oiled baking dish and bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes.
LEMON GARLIC ROASTED BEETS - One United Harvest – Creative Recipes from America’s Community Supported Farms
Contributor: Kelly Saxer, Desert Roots Farm CSA, Queen Creek, Arizona
Lemon and garlic are a terrific combination!
1 lb. beets, peeled and sliced ¼ inch thick ¼ tsp. lemon zest
4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced ½ tsp. extra virgin olive oil
2 T. lemon juice ¼ tsp. sugar
1 pinch each salt and pepper
In an 8-inch square glass baking dish, toss all ingredients together. Rub a piece of parchment paper with olive oil and set oiled side down on the beets. Cover tightly with tin foil, and roast at 375 degrees for 40 minutes, shaking pan occasionally, to prevent beets from sticking to baking dish.
Earlier this month, we watched the trailing path of the Perseid meteorites as they streaked thru the dark of an August night. Tonight, while Seth was rounding up his shoes so he could walk with me to get the cows for milking, Katy spied a “sundog” in the sky, off to the side of the sun. I always think that they are special “sky gifts” and I see them as a sign of change in weather. I did not realize until I read about them that the colors are the reverse of a traditional rainbow with red closest to the sun. They are more common in winter so summer “dogs” mean we all run to open spaces and gawk and point and of course, take pictures. Hope you were looking up and if not, we are sharing pictures of the tonight’s gift!
Blessings from the farm – Teresa, Katy, Seth, Izzy, Dan, Zach and Jen
White Banded Crab Spider – peacefully sitting on the basil this evening. Katy calls him a “pumpkin spider”.
Sunday night – looking at the clouds sitting heavy above the high tunnel.
Sunday night around seven o’clock - sundog and halo.
Is an okra leaf in the middle of a Kansas garden the same as floating on a lily pad? This little guy seemed pretty content until I started snipping okra above him!
Army worms are not as innocent as they look as evidenced by all the holes in our tomatoes these days!