SM23 (W7): What a week…
Dear CSA Members + Farm Community,
We’ve had an eventful week! One malfunctioning walk-in cooler, one broken spigot, and one snake-y surprise— a gorgeous and terrifying Timber Rattlesnake decided to take up residence under one of the tractor implements. We’re feeling grateful for afternoon storms, popsicles, and our incredibly hardworking team right about now.
We’re also excited to announce that Diamond Hill will be hosting a Farm Dinner on August 6th benefitting the Athens Farmers Market! We hope you’ll join us for a tour of the farm with farmer Carter, followed by a true farm-to-table dinner, prepared on-site by a and highlighting ingredients from the farm. Tickets will be on sale to the general public on July 13th, but here’s a link to presale tickets! The password is supperclub (all one word, all lowercase).
We’ve been staying busy with huge tomato harvests, starting to wrap up potato harvest, keeping the farm sites weeded and watered during these long hot days. We’re also starting prep for fall planting in earnest! Our spring salad field (lettuce, scallions, bitter greens, and more) got mowed in this week, and will soon be tilled. Okra and peppers planted last week are settling in beautifully and adding new growth daily.
This week, we’ve also been processing through our alliums. Onions, garlic, and shallots all need time between harvest and sale to cure- a process that allows them to dry out evenly, turning the outer layers into a papery skin, protecting the bulb. After curing, they have to be trimmed and cleaned, and then they come to you. You’ll be seeing the first of the shallots in your shares and at markets this week!
Shallots have a milder, sweeter flavor than onions, making them a great candidate for salad dressing, pickling, or caramelizing. Try crisping them up and serving them with a simple tomato salad.
Happy eating!
Diamond Hill Farmers
This week’s farm share:
$25 Share: Potatoes, cherry tomatoes, heirloom tomatoes, green beans, cucumbers, shallots, basil
$35 Share: Potatoes, cherry tomatoes, heirloom tomatoes, green beans, cucumbers, shallots, basil, microgreens, onions, garlic