“For last year’s words belong to last year’s language. And next year’s words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning.” —T.S. Eliot

I went to buy some garden supplies a few years ago.  The store owner and I started a conversation and he asked me what I was doing with all the tools etc I was purchasing.  I told him that I ran a small farm and CSA.  He asked me “how long have you been doing that?”  and I replied – “gosh – I started in 2004”.  He said – “wow you are a pioneer.  I didn’t know CSA’s had been around that long.”

In some ways it is hard to believe it has been that long.  In other ways, it seems longer.  It sort of made me feel old when he said that….PIONEER.

Every season is a beginning, and every year is so different.  And the soil awaits another seed.  Which brings me to my purpose.  My CSA 2019 sign-up is updated online.  This year will be short and sweet, with lots of new surprises (I hope).

Thank you for allowing me to grow healthy food for your family!

Letty

“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.”
― L. M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

Farm News:  Well, we are finally here.  The last week of CSA for 2018.  Our cows start calving this week, so it’s just a shift of attention from garden to animals.  Curtis is baling the last of our hay as I write.  We are hoping for 70 calves this year.  It will be a busy fall:)

I want to thank all of you for your participation in our CSA this year.  Every year I am amazed at how graciously you all accept the successes and failures of the season.  It is a wonderful experience to have such a lovely and loyal group of people supporting our farm!

What’s in the bucket:  candy roaster squash, kale, daikon radish, broccoli or cabbage, white sweet potatoes, green roma tomatoes, jalapeno, parsley.

As most of you know, I love spicy food.  The sauce to these green tomatoes adds some kick – but well worth it.  For a milder sauce, seed the jalapeno.

“Although my body was useless, out of what felt like desperation, I acted out a hateful, scathing punishment. There were days when each time I lowered the hoe, I would groan, “Die! Just die and end it! Die! Die and end it all!” I planted 600 sweet potato vines.”
― Osamu Dazai
This is how I feel at the end of the season.  Instead of wishing the garden to die, I can’t wait to let the cows in the garden.  It is so much fun to watch them eat broccoli and kale and dig the leftover turnips and sweet potatoes up and eat them.  When they are finished,  it looks like it’s ready to be planted again.  And then I will seed rye grass for them to eat in spring.

Farm News:  Digging sweet potatoes this week!  They have not loved all the rain early in the year – and I was not able to get them all out before the 11 inches of rain that fell last week.  Some of them are starting to rot.  Hopefully they will dry and cure.    Only two weeks of CSA left!

What’s in the bucket:  Broccoli florets, cabbage, head lettuce, collard, butternut, sweet potato, easter egg radish, daikon or kohlrabi.

What’s at market:  Daikon, easter egg radish, sweet potato, kale, collard, cabbage, broccoli florets, butternut, candy roaster squash, cheese pumpkins.

“No man needs a vacation so much as the man who has just had one.”
― Elbert Hubbard

Curtis and I had a great time in Tryon, NC at the World Equestrian Games.  It was so good to get away, and be joined by family and friends for the event.  Very exciting because the US team won their first team title in the jumping, which we watched.  And of course, the horses were beautiful…all at the top of their game.

Back to work…..

Farm News:  Jennifer and Josh cared for our dogs, horses, cows, chickens, chicks, farm, garden etc.  They did such an amazing job, we are ready to go on vacation again (after we rest up of course).  All the animals were so happy and well cared for when we got home:)

We have three more weeks of CSA and I’m hoping for rain and cooler weather to finish the season.

What’s in the Bucket:  Kale, red and green okra, broccoli, heirloom sweet potato, cranberry beans (pictured above….yes you must shell them). green beans, daikon radish.

Following a recipe from Genius Recipes that I love for kale salad.  You can use one of your winter squash you have set aside – or use sweet potatoes instead.   They may even roast faster….All good!

Author Notes: This salad is ideal for making ahead for company (or tomorrow’s lunch) and has been a mainstay on the menu at Northern Spy Food Co. in Manhattan’s East Villag (…more) —Genius Recipes

Serves: 2
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 40 min

“Men and melons are hard to know.”  -Benjamin Franklin

I have the hardest time growing and knowing melons.  Every year I try – if I succeed the raccoons and coyotes eat them.  No one eating my melons this year – so prospects are grim.  I have cut a few of them – and it’s 50/50 chance you will get an edible one.  Good news is – if you have a healthy bunch of crows around – they will love to eat a cut melon.

FYI I had some good comments about the sweet potato green recipe from last week, so, if you haven’t tried it….be brave:)

What’s in the  Bucket:?  MELONS!!, sweet potato greens, turnip greens, red and green tomatoes, cilantro, winter squash, hot peppers, braising arugula.

What’s at Market:  sweet potato greens, turnip greens, basil, cilantro, arugula.  Circle S Beef:  SOLD OUT FOR 2018.

I often have a hard time deciding what to do with arugula once it grows from baby to mature.  It’s too big and a little too tough to use in a salad.  But it’s spicy flavor is just right for a pasta sauce or in pesto.  In fact – I like arugula pesto better than basil pesto.

Following is a recipe for an arugula cream sauce. Here, it is served with pasta.   But it also works well served over chicken or fish.  If you can’t find fresh corn – add another vegetable, or some shrimp to the dish.

This is Isabelle.  Every Wednesday, Jennifer and Isa show up for work together.  Isa is always excited about her work and her exuberant behavior is contagious.  She bustles about in the garden with us and greets all the animals with a grin (especially the cats).  So, I am giving Isa (and Jennifer) Employee of the month.  (Doesn’t matter that they are my only employees, they would get it anyway!)

However – The hot humid days find Isa laying like she is here – in the shade by mid-day.  I have to say, I feel like lounging in the shade too.  I guess that’s why they call it the dog days of summer.  And I feel exceptionally lazy this year.

What’s in the Bucket?   Lots of either/or this week as I have a little bit of this and a little bit of that in the garden.  Arugula or lettuce mix, okra or summer squash, tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, daikon radish greens, spaghetti or butternut squash, basil, sweet potato greens.

What’s at market?  arugula, lettuce mix, basil, tomato, daikon radish greens, winter squash, sweet potato greens.  Here is a recipe for Sweet potato greens from Coon Rock Farm.  I think it might go wonderfully with roasted winter squash (or that North Georgia Candy Roaster if you are still hanging on to it)

Sweet and savory sweet potato leaves

“August rain: the best of the summer gone, and the new fall not yet born. The odd uneven time.”
― Sylvia PlathHard to believe it is end of August.   Fall is a lovely time of year for a farmer.  The season’s harvest coming to an end.  Because we worry, we worry.  The cows will get in the garden.  The deer will get in the garden.  The hail will ruin the garden.  The rain will ruin the garden.  All that hard work…..

Last night I was out harvesting some fall squash.  Curtis wasn’t feeling well – so I was trying to stay out of the house.  Quit rummaging around while he was trying to rest.  So it was late – duskish, and I was piddling around.  Putting candy roasters in my wheelbarrow and daydreaming.

There are loads of fall geese in our fields.  I heard a commotion and large splash as all of them crashed into the water.  When I looked up to watch…a deer was headed right for me.  She was spooked and panting as she came up the hill.  She did not see me.  She stumbled through two of our hot wires and all of a sudden she was in the garden with me – maybe 10 feet away.  She had this look on her face like –WOW, I’ve stumbled into Eden.  And still,  she did not see me.

We had a moment of fellowship together.  And then I moved before she got comfortable in my Eden.  I thought she would go back the way she came,  she chose the 6 strand high tensile wire. She almost made it but snagged the top wire with her feet…because she was weary.   It somersaulted her and she landed with a thud on her back and was still for a minute.  I held my breath.

Then she sprung up and headed off towards the turtle pond and I yelled “and don’t come back”.  But what I really meant was, just wait until my season is over.  Or, come and eat just a little.

What’s in the bucket:  Candy roaster squash, arugula, tomatoes, butternut squash, okra, cucumbers, hot peppers, bell peppers, a few other things that are just beginning or just ending….perhaps, as we are in between seasons.

What’s at market:  North Georgia Candy roaster squash, butternut squash, arugula, summer squash, lettuce mix, cherry tomatoes, tomatoes, zinnia’s and basil.  Circle S Beef:  ground beef, roasts.

“Be careful about reading health books.  Some fine day you’ll die of a misprint.”  -Markus Herz

It’s funny how as human’s we don’t know what we should eat.  We constantly battle between eating what’s healthy and….what’s easy.  Because, let’s admit it, cooking is work.  Even the simplest dishes require….dishes.   And that’s just it.  Dishes need to be washed.

I often envy the cows.  They get to move to greener pastures every day or two.  They munch down on fresh grass and seem so happy.  And guess what….no dishes!  I have to admit – I’ve eaten many meals in the garden.  My favorite way to eat okra is right off the stalk – I’m spoiled that way.  But I think Curtis might protest a garden walk for dinner.  That’s how he got to be the Dish Washer!

Farm News:  We are over halfway through the CSA.  I start getting Lazy at this point in the game – the girls and I are ready to go for strolls around the farm instead of doing our garden work.  The chickens get lazy too and I have to give them a strict talking to about our egg production!  Thanks to those of you who have been shorted on eggs for your understanding.

What’s in the bucket:  mixed baby lettuces, edamame soybeans, fennel, summer squash, a grand finale of tomatoes, a mountain of basil, dregs of the garlic harvest.

What’s at market:  baby lettuce, edamame, fennel, summer squash, tomatoes, basil, purple potato.

A salad would be nice as we sweat out the dog days of summer.  Steam your soybeans with some salt and shell the leftovers to throw in the mix…..and the baby squash- the little ones that are so tender.   A few cherry tomatoes and lettuce soaked in ice water and spun dry.  Try some lemon garlic vinaigrette with that and tadaa…

And how about serving that salad with some bruschetta – made of roasted cherry tomatoes and garlic like Jennifer shared with me last week.  Delish.

Lemon Vinaigrette

Juice of one lemon mixed with equal amount of olive oil or grape seed oil.  One clove pressed garlic and salt and pepper to taste.

Roasted Cherry Tomato Bruschetta

Preheat oven to 325.

one pint cherry tomatoes

one garlic clove minced

1 T basil cut into thin ribbons

one fennel bulb minced (optional but delicious)

olive oil

salt and pepper

Toss all ingredients but basil with olive oil and salt and pepper.  Roast about 45 minutes, watching that the garlic doesn’t burn.  Remove from oven and let cool a little.  You can top your crusty bread with this mixture and then sprinkle with basil .  Serve immediately.  OR stir basil in and serve room temp. with bread or chips or pasta.  You can also serve with anchovies or salty olives on the side.

Look at our farmers markets today, bursting with heritage breeds and heirloom varieties, foods that were once abundant when we were an agricultural nation, but that we have lost touch with. Bringing all these back helps us connect to our roots, our communities and helps us feed America the proper way.

This is national Farmer’s Market week.  If you can attend, celebrate with Main Street Farmer’s Market this Wednesday from 4-6.  Music, good food and lots of activities!!

Farm News:  Fall Planting in full force this week.  Also, we weaned our last group of calves.  It was a noisy night or two and Curtis and I didn’t sleep much – but we are catching up.  It’s National Farmer’s Market Week – Hoorah!!

What’s in the bucket:  tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, purple potatoes, summer squash, spaghetti squash, edamame soybeans, parsley.

What’s at Market:  music, events, fun.  Oh – and we will have:  tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, summer squash, edamame soybeans, purple potatoes, basil, zinnia and celosia bouquets.  Circle S Beef:  roasts, ground beef, stew beef.

Blue Potato chips with blue cheese dressing

Slice blue potatoes thinly.  Coat with olive oil and salt and pepper and roast in oven at 350 degrees until tender – and a little crispy.  Top with blue cheese dressing and serve.

Blue cheese dressing