Sundog Farms

Sundog CSA July 6th, 2026

One and a half inches of water and a cool down temperature wise was how the clouds on top of us celebrated the 4^th of July and for a final finish, a pounding of hail to seal the deal!Today, the temperature was fairly mild but all that moisture made for a very humid summer day. The gardens are growing lots of tall weeds that we share with goats, calves and chickens as well as the compost pile and during the muddy times, we pull and line our garden paths, making weed carpets.Garden crops are adjusting to the heat and hopefully putting down some root systems since most of our crops have had frequent rains and have not had to put out feelers for moisture.Yesterday’s strong wind and hail was difficult for the big squash plants and the green beans, laying some of them on their sides. Tomatoes outside of the tunnels are in cages and anchored down so they weathered the storm of the 4^th fairly well.We are going to have to put up a net fence in order to have tomatoes without “pecking holes” as we have a few renegade chickens as well as frequent visits from neighboring guineas.The netting has worked well in the past.I read once in a farming magazine article that chickens and guineas do not bother garden produce – I have not found that to be a true statement.I would not mind if they ate a tomato but they peck holes in every one they can reach and no matter how many times we communicate threats to them, they cluck among themselves, probably about the absurdity of my rules, and continue pecking even as I am chasing.

Our cows are struggling with the flies and so are we.I intensely dislike flies of every size and color and I am pretty sure that we have samples of every one living in our part of North America.Biting flies, horse flies, horn flies, house flies, fruit flies – sometimes it seems that there is a fly for every occasion.The cows kick upward in a very awkward attempt to move the pest and encounter either the milk bucket, an arm or a leg and with no apology, go back to eating.You have to be on alert, ready to move your bucket at any sign of leg movement and at the same time, try hitting the bucket with milk.I am one of those milkers who has to have this correct rhythm – it is like milk music.Sometimes I have to wait a couple of “beats” before I can come in with the second hand to get it just right so it is a real problem for me when I am interrupted.I am not sure who is more relieved when the task is over - me or the cows!They get to kick with real abandon and I have finished my “song” and have an intact bucket usually!

For us, it is a celebration when our family is able to spend time together.So, we celebrated on Saturday night when the rains cleared out and the chores were done by trying out some new recipes, talking about music, news, jobs and then shooting off some fireworks and ending the evening with the best hugs in the world.We hope you were able to do the same on this beautiful summer night.

YOUR BAG THIS WEEK

Remember this produce is grown in an organic manner but it does need washed!The weather has given it a mud coating and we did not want to add to the moisture content.

  • Potatoes
  • Green Beans- lots and lots of these beautiful beans
  • Squash and Zucchini
  • Onions
  • Beets
  • Basil Bundle

RECIPE SHARE

from “Simply in Season – A World Community Cookbook”*

Red Taters and Green GranniesShared by Audrey Metz, Washington D.C. 5-6 small red potatoes, unpeeled, julienned Season with salt and pepper.Sauté in large frypan in 1-2 tablespoons olive oil.

1-2 Granny Smith apples(unpeeled, cored and thinly sliced) ¼ cup green onions(sliced, include some green stem) 1/8 cup celery(diagonally sliced; optional) Add and stir to coat with oil.Cover and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until tender (20 minutes or less)

½ cup cheddar cheese(shredded) Sprinkle on top, cover and cook another minute to melt.Serve immediately.

*Vegetable VindalooShared by Richard Sarker, Ephrata, Pennsylvania * A tangy accompaniment for any curry.

6 medium potatoes(diced) 3 medium carrots(diced) ¼ cup vinegar

Combine, cover and marinate at room temperature for 2 hours.

1 cup onion(sliced) Sauté in frypan in 2 tablespoons oil until brown.

2 teaspoons salt 1 teaspoon chili powder 1 teaspoon ground turmeric 1 teaspoon ground cumin 2 whole cardamon pods 1 cinnamon stick ½ teaspoon pepper

Combine in a small bowl.Add to onion and sauté for a few minutes.Add a little water to prevent spices from burning. Drain potatoes and carrots (discard vinegar), add to frypan and cook for 20 – 25 minutes.

1 ½ cups peas

Add and cook 5 minutes on low heat. Remove cinnamon stick.Serve hot with rice.

Oven FriesShared by Margaret High

4 medium baking potatoes 2 tablespoons oil Scrub and dry potatoes (peeling is optional).Cut into thin sticks or wedges and place in large container with a tight lid.Pour oil on potatoes, cover and shake to thoroughly coat fries with oil. ½ teaspoon salt

Sprinkle on fries and mix, along with any seasoning option if desired.Spread fries in a single layer on baking sheets.Bake in preheated oven at 425 degrees until golden brown and fork tender, 30 – 45 minutes, stirring and flipping fries every 5-10 minutes.Serve immediately.

On the previous page, Izzy found a real four-leaf clover and decided that she did believe in the magic of those four leaves! The next picture is one of some of the milk goats who are currently filling jars for Katy. Underneath is a picture of some “bottle babies” – starting from left to right are Pumpkin, Opal Bingus and Ronnie Walleye. And next to that picture is one of Seth who is intent on bubble blowing these days and we all stop and appreciate those delicate flyers. Next row is a White-lined Sphinx Moth we found in the calf pen this morning. A colorful little jumping spider is sitting beside a Green Stink Bug Nymph who was found on bean foliage today. The last row starts off with a Widow Skimmer Dragonfly. The name comes from the female being left alone or widowed as the male leaves her to lay her eggs. They are a common dragonfly and yet is there anything common about dragonflies? Next is the gift of a bouquet from Connie and Chuck, left in the milkhouse as a surprise and last on that page is a picture of garden phlox, also a long ago gift from my Aunt Gini as she shared from her flower garden. Below is Seth’s hailstone from Saturday and last of all is the sky looking out from the barn door as this day came to an end.

I got some new glasses the other day. They are not working like my old ones. I can see more than one moon or I can see a moon with a split moon behind it. I can tilt this way and that way and see whole new things that have never existed for me before and then if I hold very still, there is a refocusing and my old world is back. I think that I will keep these glasses as I kind of like seeing things in a different way!

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