What delicious organic veggies are available this week at Valley Dream Farm?
In Your CSA Bag
Tomatoes 1 large/1 small
Zucchini - 2
Broccoli Raab - 1 bunch
Broccoli - 1 bunch
Cucumber - 2
Red Russian Kale - 1 bunch
Snow peas - 1 quart
Swiss Chard - 1 bunch

Also at the Farm Standproduced locally...*
Boyden Farm ~ beef
Green Top Farm ~ lamb & pork
Maple Shade Farm ~ Maple syrup
* These items are brought into our farm stand to give you a larger selection.

Recipes of the Week

Zucchini Tomato Supreme
Broccoli Raab, Bok Choy, Scapes, Zukes and Pasta

News from the Field
Well it seems like we all made it through last week's heat wave. The vegetables really seem to have taken off with a big growth spurt. We tried to keep the staff cooled off with river swim breaks and popsicles. I am sure glad for the return of cooler summer evenings for sleeping. We were happy to access our irrigation system (which was hardly used during the last two cool and wet summers). Thanks to an observant staff member, we did find an underground leak when he noticed the ground bubbling at the end of the strawberry patch. Farmer Joe rented an excavator and immediately began the dig. Jon helped Joe had dig out the rest of the pipe and so the repairs began. And now the Broken "T" with multiple breaks is fixed. We are up and running again. Even though the forecast is for rain, the vegetables require large amounts of water daily. It helps with growth and reduces stress to the plant. A stronger plant is healthier. A healthier plant is more able to defend itself from diseases, insect and weed pressures during its growth. We are trying to keep ahead of the weeds in the potatoes. Any member wanting to get a little dirty is welcome to pick weeds anytime.

The Zucchini Story
Zucchini is a type of squash. It is in the cucurbit family. Other members of the curcubit family are: all other squashes, pumpkins, gourds, melons, and cucumbers. It does really well with our irrigation because it contains a lot of water. It is also a favorite of several common pests. the stripe cucumber beetle (it looks like a referee with black and yellow striped wings, the size of a lady bug) and the spotted squash bug (has markings like a soccer ball). They can damage blossoms and very young fruits. We plant an earlier trap crop away from the main crop. this helps us to respond with a much smaller amount of organic treatments while still reducing the population.

Please enjoy our fresh organic vegetables!- Anne Tisbert