what’s in the box this week?(Listed from shortest shelf life to longest shelf life)
Strawberries: The strawberries are in a lull due to the windy conditions three and four weeks ago. The flowers did not set enough fruit when it was windy. The plants are recovering from the wind and producing more flowers now. Spinach Lettuce: Young lettuce cut from a bed with twelve rows in it. We cut and pack this in the field. Keep it cold in the fridge and only take out and wash what you need. I have been told it stays good for over a week. Store in a plastic bag in the fridge. Onions or Summer Squash: We have four types of squash planted so you may get the light green Mexican, dark green regular squash, yellow squash or the round ones. Store in the fridge. Arugula: I have to say that it is getting easier to grow arugula in hot weather. Yes we are getting better at sowing and irrigating it but there is also the soil. We believe the whey we use and the chicken manure is enlivening the soil life and feeding the plants. Store in a crisper. Makes a great salad with the spinach/ lettuce and carrots. Radish: This crops grows so fast it is hard to get the timing right to pick for your box. They are perfect for about four days so we hope the window fits right into the harvest this week. Store in the crisper with the tops removed. Apricots: Not the most beautiful of fruit but that is because they are not sprayed. These dry farmed delicious fruit are grown by Bill Crepps in Winters. Bill is no longer certified organic because of all the paperwork and expense. He has not changed how he farms. Chard: These plants are new this spring, grown in a greenhouse and transplanted just like the collards Store in a plastic bag in the crisper.. New Potatoes: These are small and we are only putting about a pound in every one’s box. The plants are yielding about 12 oz each so as the yield goes up you will see more in your box. These may be small but they are very special. This is one crop that you can taste that it has been organically grown. Store in a cool dark place. Tokyo Turnips: I like to eat these salad turnips raw just like radishes. Store in a plastic bag in the fridge. Wakefield Cabbage: I was very excited to be able to find the seed of these delicious cabbages here. I have grown them in England. The shape is very unusual. Store in the crisper. Lemon Verbena: This crop can go any where on this list as it is wonderful fresh or dried. Do not worry if it dries, once it crumbles in your hand store it in a jar and use for tea or in baking. The best is a fresh pot of Lemon Verbena tea with a tad of Honey. Carrots: A beautiful bunch of carrots from our fields. Normally carrots are grown in very sandy soil to aid germination and shape. Our soil is a loam so it imparts more flavor to the carrot. Please remove the leaves and store the roots in your crisper. Please return your boxes and strawberry baskets every week. We reuse these and it saves us a great deal of money. Take care unfolding the boxes as the flaps can be damaged easily. All the produce in your box every week is certified organically grown unless otherwise stated... Nigel