Sundog Farms

Sundog CSA June 29th, 2026

Tomorrow is the June full moon – a “strawberry moon” and tonight was a preview with the clouds giving the moon a rather gauzy effect – mysterious and beautiful. It was the gift from the sky that held a sun intent upon heating the world up today. Sweat cleansed every pore as we pulled weeds and hunted down produce. The added .91 last week was not a welcomed water drop as it came again with wind that broke tree branches and flattened the garden in places. The forecast for the coming week looks like an endurance test for people and animals both.

The squash is producing finally and as I picked today, I saw a full-grown squash bug waltzing up the fat stem of a nearby summer squash plant. I wish that the smell of “squashed” squash beetles would be a deterrent but it does not seem to bother the relatives of the deceased as they either climb over his carcass or detour to the back of the stem and make their way up to the leaf. Since we choose not to use products that would dispatch these critters, our options are to “finger pinch” them or drop them in a bowl of soap water. There are so many “beings” in the garden and most of the time, I find a way to live with them but I have not found the positives in having a squash bug population. We continue to dig in the potato patch and although the harvest is smaller than in years past, we are not complaining. We have dug a lot less on dry years. The green bean patch that we picked last week did not yield a lot this week but the second and third plantings are beginning to bloom so we are hopeful. For the first time, we decided to plant green beans in the top high tunnel. Curious to see how that works out with pollination and the heat in the tunnel when it gets this warm. The bindweed in the bottom tunnel is growing well unfortunately. We were down there today, trying to keep it under control by pulling it along with our healthy sedge grass crop. Water drains down the hill into the back end of the high tunnel and sedge grass loves to grow in muck!

Katy and I did a crazy thing today. We actually planted a few more tomatoes – ones that did not make it into the ground earlier this spring. They have been sitting under an old apple tree waiting to be composted and although we had no plans to dig holes today, in they went! We are moving some dirt around and seeding a few greens this week – either for us or for the chickens, depending on bug pressure. The chickens appreciate fresh weed deliveries since they spend the summer incarcerated due to garden trespasses. Our other planned planting is squash/zucchini. We like to plant multiple beds in the hopes that the bugs can’t find them all!

YOUR BAG THIS WEEK

  • Potatoes
  • Kohlrobi and Turnips
  • Squash
  • Green Beans
  • Onions
  • Chives with a sprig of Sage

RECIPE SHARE

From “Simply in Season, a World Community Cookbook”

Curried Beans and Potatoes - Serves 4-6

3 tablespoons mustard oil or vegetable oil

1 teaspoon mustard seeds ( black if available)

4 cloves garlic

Heat oil in medium frypan over medium high heat. When hot, add mustard seeds. As soon as mustard seeds begin to pop, add garlic. Stir for a minutes until garlic turns golden.

½ teaspoon ground turmeric

1/8 to ¼ teaspoon ground red pepper

¼ teaspoon pepper

1 medium potato (quartered and thinly sliced)

Add and stir for one minute

4 cups green beans (whole or cut)

Add and stir until mixed. Salt to taste. Add small amounts of water to keep from sticking and to allow it to steam. Cook until potatoes are tender, stirring occasionally. When done, increase heat to evaporate remaining liquid.

Shared by Ruth Massey, Columbus, Ohio

Thai Green Beans

2 ½ cups green beans

Steam 8 – 10 minutes until bright green and lightly crunchy

¼ onion (chopped)

1 tablespoon ginger root (peeled and minced)

1 ½ cloves garlic (minced)

In frypan or wok, sauté in 1 teaspoon sesame oil over medium heat until onion is tender, 5 minutes or less.

1 ½ tablespoons soy sauce

1 tablespoon Thai sweet chili sauce

Add to taste

½ cup extra firm tofu (crumbled; optional)

Add and cook 5 minutes. Add steamed beans and stir to coat with sauce. Simmer over medium low heat for 5 minutes. Serve over rice. Garnish with lightly toasted cashews, sesame seeds or slivered almonds (optional).

Shared by Kendra Loewen, British Columbia

Rosti

3-4 tablespoons butter

4 cups potatoes (shredded)

½ teaspoon salt or more to taste

Melt butter in large frypan. Sauté until potatoes are cooked and slightly browned, stirring occasionally. Press potatoes into pan and allow to cook another minute, then flip and fry the other side.

1 ½ cups Colby or cheddar cheese (shredded).

While bottom gets crisp, top with cheese. When melted, cut into wedges and serve.

Shared by Marie Harnish, Indianapolis, Indiana

BELOW is what we did with our green beans and potatoes this week – it was delicious!!

Above is a “ground beetle”. This small beetle can dig backwards faster than I can dig frontwards. He disappears as though by magic. I kept digging him out just to watch him do his trick. The second picture is of one of the brightest green worms I found today and his spiked look resembles me in the mornings! The third picture was taken when Katy interrupted this spider who was having trouble carrying his supper home. Below is a strange little critter who will grow up to be a “garden chafer” and Izzy spotted a brand new, wings still wet cicada while she and her mom were goat milking tonight. Thunder heads, an American germander blooming and the moon tonight.

The best picture tonight was taken by Izzy. If you look closely, you will see that Seth is out blowing bubbles for the yearlings. I certainly hope that they appreciated his efforts!

There has always been something magical about a bubble that seems to be made out of nothing, that floats and reflects colors like a rainbow and then is gone as though it never was. It is like a falling star - a picture you hold in your mind for the days when you need a little magic!!

Happy FOURTH of JULY!!

Blessings from the farm – Seth, Izzy, Dan, Katy, Jen, Zach and Teresa