Weather Whiplash!
HANGING BASKET SALE!
TWO baskets for $45 or THREE baskets for $60!
It rained! I would have loved to see everyones dance moves that made it happen. The storms on Friday afternoon were a welcome sight after a few days of blistering heat. We took it easy for the first few really hot days of the season. The crew always moves a little slower as the summer heat kicks in before we're acclimated to it. On Thusday afternoon we even took a long lunch to go for a dip in Gilmore Pond through the hot part of the day. Saturday was a bit of a shock after two days in the 90's to not even break 60. I didn't even take my sweatshirt off at the farmers market that day. I would like to start putting my winter clothes away for the summer, but it's been so unpredictable that my dresser drawers are just stuffed full of both until we get some stable temps.
Even with the heat and accompanied sluggishness, we got plenty done on the farm last week. We started flipping our greenhouses and putting in tomatoes and cucumbers for the summer. Right now we have 4 of 14 beds replanted, with another few steamed and prepped for planting. We go bed by bed in the greenhouses as we finish harvesting from spring. There is still plenty growing in there, so we can't turn em all over at once. One of our greenhouses is getting insect netting around the sides to exclude cucumber beetles from entering the tunnel. Over the past few years the yellow striped beetle population has grown exponentially on the farm to the point that basically our entire cucumber crop last year was compromised. Exclusion netting is part of our Integrated Pest Management plan for dealing with pests on the farm. A lot of other local farmers are using it with great success, so I'm excited to see how our cukes in the tunnel do this year.
We pretty much took a week off from planting last week. Too hot and dry and I didn't want to put crops in the ground for them to just sit in the soil without any moisture. We're gonna be back at it again this week. Tomorrow we'll put in all of the nightshades--tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant. They like it hot, so hopefully some more summer weather shows up again. Our onions are all in the ground at this point save for a few shallots, and flowers will be next on the docket. The spring so far has had some pretty crazy highs and lows. We had a couple 90 degree days in April followed by that late, hard freeze in May. All in all though things are looking pretty good for the start of our Summer CSA next week.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR FALL CSA!
SUMMER SHARES START WEDNESDAY 6/14!
Woohoo! Summer shares start in just over a week and we can't wait to start picking for you!
I'll be spending the later half of the week working on membership lists, delivery routes, and information emails for members. Keep an eye out for emails from me. I hope to have everything together and out to members by Monday evening 6/12.
We take a week off of CSA shares between spring and summer, but we'll still stock the store on Wednesday afternoon!
Still Plenty to Choose From in the Plant Stand!
There's still a good selection of Heirloom Tomatoes in the stand this week, and the flowers are looking gorgeous, particularly the Dahlias.
In the stand this week:
Hanging Baskets
2 for $45, 3 for $60
TOMATOES
▪Mt Fresh (Hybrid, determinate, large red, good for containers)
▪Big Beef (Hybrid, Indeterminate, Classic )
▪Granadero (Hybrid, plum)
CHERRIES
▪Sunpeach
▪Black Cherry
▪Indigo cherry drops (brilliant red blaze on bottom with deep purple top)
▪Sunrise Bumble Bee (show stopper with red and yellow flecked fruit)
HEIRLOOM
▪Brandywine (classic heirloom, pinkish hue)
▪Green Zebra
▪Black Krim (smaller plant, popular heirloom)
▪Valencia (orange heirloom tomato, Low acidity
▪Moskvich (extra early, red heirloom)
▪Striped German (beautiful ripening from green to yellow to red from the bottom, delicious large tom
▪Garden Peach (Victorian heirloom, sweet little treat in the garden)
▪Yellow Brandywine (lil twist on a classic)
Veggies
Broccoli
Eggplant
Green Curly Kale
Red Leaf Lettuce
Peppers
Summer Squash
Tomatoes
Zucchini
Flowers
Begonia
Cosmos
Dahlia
Geranium
Pansy
Petunia
Snapdragon
Sunflower
Yarrow
Zinnia
Herbs:
Lavender
Parsley
Oregano
The Farm Store is OPEN!
Stocked Wednesday Afternoons
Open to the Public.
Dawn - Dusk
Honor System
In the store this week:
Carrots
Lettuce Heads
Microgreens
Salad Mix
Kale
Radishes
Beets
Snap Peas
Kielbasa
Maple Breakfast Sausage
Hot Dogs
Pesto
Ice Cream
& Eggs!
RECIPE LINK:Maple Balsamic Soy Sauce Vinaigrette
I had a maple balsamic dressing with soy sauce in it at the Montague Book Mill the other week and it is now my favorite salad dressing! The soy sauce adds an umami flavor that introduces a whole new element to a classic dressing.
Ingredients
▪1 tbsp Balsamic vinegar
▪1 tbsp Apple cider vinegar
▪2 tbsp pure maple syrup
▪2 tbsp Soy sauce
▪1 tsp Minced shallot
▪1/2 garlic Minced garlic
▪1 tsp Dijon mustard
▪1 cup Extra-virgin olive oil
▪1 tsp Salt & pepper
Instructions
Combine in jar and mix thoroughly
Pickup Location for Archway Farm Meat CSA
I heard back from a few of you interested in an Archway Farm meat CSA share, so Mark has added the farm as an additional pickup location. Now if you want to sign up, you can pick up your meat share from the same place you get your veggies! It makes choosing what to make for dinner a breeze!
Visit www.Archway.farm to explore options and order a share delivered to the farm!
Support the Fitzwilliam District Nursing Association!
Each year our farm provides CSA shares to the Fitzwilliam District Nursing Association for their food delivery program. The FDNA has been providing food for members of our community for decades, and Tracie's Farm, and now Dog Days Farm, has been providing CSA shares as a part of their programming for over 10 years. Last year we packed 8 baskets per week for their food delivery program. The FDNA is run by a group of volunteers that are passionate about not letting members of the Fitzwilliam Community go hungry. We are lucky to have them as our neighbors.
I am putting out a call for members or friends of the farm that would like to pitch in to help purchase CSA shares for the FDNA this season. I match shares purchased for the FDNA, so if we are able to get four shares paid for, we will be able to offer another 8 baskets per week for our community members in need. Shares can be purchased directly from the farm and receipts for your donation from the FDNA are provided upon request. Donations are tax deductible.
If you would like to help purchase a CSA share for the FDNA, please send me an email at jack@dogdaysnh.com. Additionally, if you are in need of food assistance and would like to be on the delivery list through the summer, please send me an email and I will put you in touch with a member of the FDNA.
Workshare with Us!
We are looking for workshares to come help out on the farm one day a week for the summer season in exchange for a CSA share. Workshares are one of my favorite parts of the farm. We often get returning workshares year after year, and they almost always become longtime friends of the farm. It's a great way for me to get to know our CSA members and for members to get to know their farm.
Physical labor is a given for workshares, but we are often able to find tasks that suit the abilities of those that are able to help out. We have seen workshares of all ages on the farm over the years. It is a full day commitment, and we ask that members pick one day out of the week and come in that day for the duration of the season. Workshares are allowed to miss up to three days during the summer to accommodate vacations. In exchange, you receive a full summer share plus bread and eggs, as well as lunch on the farm on the days you work and access to deals on bulk veggies.
If you are interested in worksharing, please email me at jack@dogdaysnh.com
