Always look on the bright side. Rose reports that tomato crop is going downhill fast due to blight. Start googling those green tomato recipes. Potatoes are being harvested quickly because they look good right now and they are ready to come out of the ground. Cukes are available in great abundance...time to make pickles. Shell beans are a no-go this year. The eggplant are small, but delicious. Those eight-ball zucchini are more popular than we expected. I like the size, the thin skin and the fleshy, almost seed-free interior.

Wednesday on the farm: bright sunshine, a stiff cool breeze & lots of girlish laughter. This week's share was more about weight than volume: potatoes, zucchini, summer squash, cucumbers, onions...then on the delicate side...tender baby lettuce, rosemary, and sweet round carrots. Lay it all out on the counter before you put it away and enjoy the colors!

A sign of Global Weirding...you certainly can't call this warming. The onions refuse to grow uniformly this summer. They range from big globes to slim torpedos. Oh, well. They clean up well and they taste good.


Rose has signed on some serious staff this week. The 3 M's are pros at weeding, washing and harvesting. I think the plants will grow better when they hear the female voices out in the rows!

Tip of the day: Ok. You've got a fridge full of veggies, but you still grab the quick,easy processed snacks (crackers, chips, etc) when you need something on the go. Here is a little something I just invented today. I took a short, slender container (I'll work on a photo for later posting) - not too big around and I put about 1/2" of homemade salad dressing (pine nut vinaigrette) in the bottom and then I packed the container with snowpeas. I ate them at my desk while working...no mess, just one dish and good for me! Anytime you can replace a processed snack with a raw veggie, it is a good thing. -Jackie

Rosey's tribute to Michael Jackson - "just beet it"...sorry bad joke. The beets are coming in fast and furious and absolutely gorgeous.

If you aren't following Mark Bittman in the NY Times, you are missing some seriously good food info.

Health

Well: The 10-Ingredient Shopping Trip

By By Tara Parker-Pope and Mark Bittman

Published: June 24, 2009

If your pantry is stocked with staples, you can cook for a week with just 10 ingredients.

From the NY Times:

Health

Well: A Bigger Piece of Veggie Pie

By By Tara Parker-Pope

Published: June 26, 2009

A vegetable pie is a creative way to serve up your favorite produce.