CSA Week Twelve

News from the field:

It is hard to believe it is Labor Day already. But the nights make for good sleeping these days, and the days are cooler but sunny. The biggest difference we have noticed this week is the sunlight. We start at 6 am on harvest days around here (Peter starts at 4 am), and nowadays it isn’t getting light until 5:30-6:00. We may have to start sleeping in!

We are already looking ahead to next year and talking and dreaming about what crops to add in next year. Last week, Peter and I had pretty much ruled out kohlrabi – who eats kohlrabi, we decided. Then a customer and CSAer out of the blue requested it! Kiwis are also on the dream list as are artichokes, jerusalem and italian, asparagus, scallions, including funky huge Japanese negi. Most of those will stay as dreams, for now. The crop most likely to make the cut for next year is basil. I love basil in all forms, especially pesto, and this year we have learned a lot about how to grow it, so we will probably grow it more in earnest and more skillfully next year. Probably Genovese basil, but we’d love to hear your suggestions.

This is a long way of asking you to mull on vegetables you’d like to see in the basket next year. We’ll probably do a real written survey in a few weeks, but we welcome your suggestions and ideas any time.

In the Basket:

Corn - Sweet corn is in!!

Melon – This is probably the end of the melons, so enjoy a double dose to carry you over until next year.

Basil – Our basil patch got kind of beat up by the hail and rain and a couple of chilly nights a few weeks ago. But even though it doesn’t look too great, it tastes great, and will make some yummy pesto. Recipe on the back.

Sun golds, brandywine (heirloom) tomato, sweet white onion, cucumbers – All favorites for good reason.

Cabbage, carrots, and cayenne pepper – Asian slaw recipe on the back.