Hello CSA members!
We are all the way to week seventeen this week. This is the last week for bi-weekly members! Full season Basic and Standard Members will have one more week of shares, and market CSA members will be able to use their balance up until the last market we attend which is different for each market. E side go until the end of October, while Dane County goes until November 13th. This week we will start clean up pulling some spent tomatoes out of the greenhouses to make room for drying our hemp crop which we will be working hard to harvest and dry soon. This goes into making our certified organic hemp oil, and gummies which are available for sale all season on the website. Next week the old barns i started dismantling this spring are coming down along with an old wind tower and shed and all the delapidated buildings will be removed and we will be ready to move forward with upgrading the farms processing, water, and electrical capabilities… this is very expensive work hiring out several contractors but important to the future of the farm operationally. Increased water flow is needed for the crops so in challenging years like this one where we are facing working through climate change and suffering droughts and excessive heat we can keep up with watering and have enough pressure to handle washing crops and watering them simultaneously. I’ve taken a lot of old trees down on this farm also even though its small its 140 years old so the trees are big and 3-6 more dead ones will be coming down this fall also to make room for a future micro green greenhouse to expand and improve the micro green production and a few small tunnels to improve our ability to grow more things like sweet bell peppers and eggplant and get them earlier in the year. I’m worn from the long season but also very excited to have some help coming in to get these things done as i’ve been able to find a local who will take the barns down in exchange for the lumber and metal. There will be cement and stone to remove after that from the ground and then excavation and installation of electrical upgrades (ours is maxed out and overloaded) and installing a new pump and lines to the building site for plumbing. Only then can we move forward with a barn to protect us and the equipment i’ve worked hard to acquire over the last 5 years. That is the plan for now at least and some parts may have to wait like the actual build but at least it will be prepped and ready and i’m a firm believer in doing what I can when I can as these things take time. We started this season strong as usual and finished pretty well too I feel considering how dry and hot it was all year. We’ve literally had almost every single rain miss us here in Milton this year and even when it rains up in Madison the storms have not touched us here. Thank you to all the bi-weekly share members for being a part of the farm this year. I hope you enjoyed all the veggies and to see you back again next year. Members will be able to sign up for the next season anytime after I update the site and this one ends which will be very soon but most people sign up between January and April although I always encourage early sign ups. I will be in touch by email to let everyone know when the site is ready to take sign ups for next season. We’ve got some good food for you for the week including lots of late summer peppers so here is this weeks crop list.
Cherry tomatoes: These tasty little fruits are great on avocado toast with smashed avocado salt and pepper. They make a healthy snack too but are better for cooking then the large tomatoes too if you use them whole they hold well on kabobs too so take advantage of the grilling season while its still here!
Garlic: Our garlic is richly flavored and well cured making it smooth and savory. Garlic is great for your cholesterol and a natural antibiotic of sorts helping your body fight off nasty colds. Possibly the best pandemic veggie?
Sweet peppers: Sweet peppers are great for homemade pasta which I made this week a few times with the sweet red frying peppers, jalapeño, and some eggplant and garlic. I really enjoy stuffed peppers also which can be done many ways. Another great way to cook peppers is to grill them whole on low heat and they roast up without losing all their moisture.
Jalapeno pepper: Great with the tomatoes for pico de giallo or even in Italian cooking to spice up you pasta which I did with these this week.
Pablano pepper: These mild green chilies are great for stuffing and roasting on the grill and then making some chicken chile cheese soup or maybe making some chile relanos.
Curly Kale: Protein packed greens for smoothies, kale chips, stir fry, and more.
Summer squash or Zucchini: should be enough left for at least one squash each this week.
Green Beans: These beans made a lot for a first pick and we should have enough for a small bag for everyone to get some more beans! I love these steamed with some butter and herbs or hot sauce on them.
Thats everything for this week folks, if we have enough we may add some other types of chile peppers or extra garlic for the last week of bi-weekly shares. Thank you again to all bi-weekly CSA Members. I hope you enjoy the season and the crops and have some healthy dinners at home with your families! Thanks all.
-Kyle
