Distribution #7, week of July 10th

The News from Windflower Farm

What you’ll get this week

• Lettuce (Romaine and/or Green Oakleaf)
• Dill
• Kale
• Kohlrabi
• Fennel
• Cucumbers
• Zucchini and/or summer squash
• Tomatoes

The fruit share will be Yonder Farm’s peaches. Our blueberries are just about to start.

News from the farm

The tomatoes are beginning to ripen here. Nova (orange) and Red Pearl, two varieties of grape tomato, ‘Rebelski, a red beefsteak, and Gin Fizz, a large yellow-orange tomato, are starting us off, along with smaller quantities of Cherokee Purple. All of these were seeded in mid-March, potted on in mid-April, transplanted to high tunnels in the second week of May, and then weeded, trellised, irrigated, and trellised again between mid-May and now. It’s time to realize the fruits of our labor. Just add mozzarella, pesto, and a little slice of toast.

Rain has just begun to fall. On the weather map, the storm appears to extend from North Carolina to just north of Albany. The forecast calls for rain to last into tomorrow afternoon and to deliver 3-5” before it’s over. Nate and I have come inside. Nate was mowing blueberry pathways; I was mowing down old crop debris and weeds. I chose not to do any tillage work today because I was afraid it might result in soil erosion. Nate has dashed outside to put sandbags on the fragile road to our back fields to divert water and prevent a washout.  Salvador and company have opted to stay out in the rain to finish harvesting lettuce. I suggested tomato trellising or seeding in the greenhouse, but Salvador was determined. Their rain gear is the heavy-duty stuff from Helly Hanson, and it should keep them dry. Candelaria looked doubtful.

I’m fond of most things containing zucchini, including muffins, cookies, and sautés. I’m snacking on toasted zucchini bread as I write this. And right now, Jan is spiralizing zucchini in the kitchen. It took her a minute to get the result she wanted, but now she is making long noodles. She might serve it raw and cold on this hot day, but she’s also going to lightly sauté some of it on the stovetop with a little garlic and olive oil. She’ll eventually add spaghetti sauce, veggie meatballs and parmesan. Garlic bread and an arugula salad round out the meal. Jan, who dislikes most pasta, believes she has found her alternative, and it’s a healthy one.

An inch of rain has fallen in the first hour of the storm. A flash flood warning pops up on my phone. Salvador and his boys are bringing the tractor and wagon into the farmyard, crates of lettuce stacked high. Candelaria is walking behind them, smiling, as always, and relieved, I imagine, to be done for the day.

Have a great week, Ted