Week 8 - July 25 - 31, 2011

In your CSA bag

Regular membership takes all, Singles 6 items, Seniors 5 items

~ Carrots – 1 bunch bagged in crisper
~ Cucumber – 1 in crisper
~ Summer Squash – 2 or 3 refrigerate
~ Green Beans – 1 quart bag & refrigerate do not wash until ready to eat.
~ Radishes –1 bunch bagged in crisper
~ Kale – 1 bunch - refrigerate - very cold
~ Lettuce – 1 head – bagged in crisper
~ Scallions/Green Tails – bagged in crisper
~ Blueberries – 1 pint - refrigerate
~ Our Tomato – do NOT refrigerate

Also at the Farm Stand Grown locally...
~ Maple Syrup, all sizes available - Maple Shade Farm
~ Tomatoes - Valley Dream Farm
~ Eggs - Pratt’s of N. Hyde Park
~ Peaches – Georgia, USA
~ Raspberries – P Mazza’s Farm, Essex VT
Recipe of the Week
Summer Squash Casserole

News from the Field

We sure had the full range of temperatures in this past week, from a roasting 94 degrees on Friday (while picking blueberries) to the return of cooler nights on Sunday, followed by the midnight showers. Joe does like the rain, every couple days or so. It helps to keep up with the ongoing job of irrigation. Vegetables are more complicated than a crop of Hay, but we need both for our rotations.

Making Hay
If a dairy farmer wants hay for his herd, then he usually prefers a higher protein legume (like alfalfa) mix for the milkers (females that gave birth within a year to be lactating) than a grassier hay mix for the heifers (younger female cows). When the alfalfa blossom is in the booting stage (just before opening into a blossom) it has a large quantity and yet a high quality and is time to be harvested. It is always nice to get three days of hot sun in a row. The farmer first cuts the crop with a “Mower”. The next day the hay is tossed around with a “Tedder” to help it fluff up and dry out. Sometimes it is tedded again in the afternoon. On the third day, the tedding process is repeated and when it is very dry and turns a paler dried out green color, then the hay is put into rows with a machine called a “Rake”. Raked hay must be baled when dry or it must be tedded and raked again to dry again on the fourth day. The bales are then stacked or kicked into a wagon and brought to the barn for stacking for winter storage feed. If it rains on the already drying hay during the process the hay loses its quality and is considered “Mulch” hay. Mulch has a much lower feed value and can be dusty and browner in color too. Before baling the hay into bales for storage in the barn, you must make sure the hay or grasses are dry. When the grass or hay is too green (not dried out enough), the bales will heat up and can even combust and start a barn fire. Think of it, when you rake up a pile of grass clippings, and leave it for a day. When you go back to pick up the pile, it is very hot. If the pile of grass clippings is turned frequently it can be made into compost.

Best Wishes: Two of our current employees, and close friends, Jackie Baressi and Tommy O’Connor, were married on July 24, 2011. The Celebration of their marriage was a beautiful, joyous, and fun filled day. Jay was in the wedding party and enjoyed seeing Anne put our garlic scapes into their floral arrangements. We consider them our extended family. We wish them a lifetime filled with continued happiness and many more memorable celebrations.


Thanks!
Anne Tisbert