SM23 (W4): Summer Solstice
Dear CSA Members + Farm Community,
We’re staring down the summer solstice- the longest day of the year. Looking at the fields right now, full of flowers, food, and a healthy dose of weeds, we can really tangibly feel the effects of the long, warm days. Tomatoes are coming in strong, squash and cucumbers are still putting out hundreds of pounds of food every harvest, and the summer flowers are in full swing.
At the same time, spring crops are starting to fizzle. After a long and productive run, our strawberries are approaching the end of their harvest time. Some of the lettuces are getting bitter and bolting, brassicas planted in early March are feeling the heat stress, fennel is yellowing. It’s a good lesson in humility. No matter how hard we work in the spring to harvest everything right on time, to keep fields weeded, and to stay on top of field prep and planting for our later summer crops, there comes a point in early summer where we have to take a deep breath and recognize that the work will never all get done. That’s just the nature of the job!
This week, you’ll be seeing more of our cherry tomatoes, AND CSA will be getting slicing tomatoes (and get used to it because they’ll be here a while!), cucumbers, squash, and basil. Your share will also contain carrots and baby lettuce mix- because spring ain’t over just yet! You’ll also receive wax beans- these creamy yellow-colored beauties are super similar in flavor to green beans and can be used in all the same ways. Try them with garlic and basil, grilled and tossed with a garlicky tamari sauce, or toss them with cherry tomatoes and a warm bacon vinaigrette. For something with a bit more substance, try this new potato and green bean salad. It’s great served warm, but I think it’s even better straight outta the fridge as leftovers.
Happy eating!
Diamond Hill Farmers
This week’s farm share:
$25 Share: Wax Beans, Slicer Tomatoes, Cucumber or Summer Squash, Basil, Baby Lettuce Mix, Carrots
$35 Share: Wax Beans, Slicer Tomatoes, Cucumber, Summer Squash, Basil, Baby Lettuce Mix, Carrots, Garlic, Kale