August 24 Stearns Farm CSA News

After the rain comes the sun...and weekly news from the farm:

• See below for a list of what to expect in your share this week.

• Ember gives us an update on what's growing well during the last weeks of summer.

• Ready to delve into herb harvesting? Penelope's Garden is the perfect place to start.

• August days bring us nightshade plants so we've got double the recipes to keep up.

And welcome Back to School Sharers to your first week of pickup! Don't forget to bring your own bags, containers, scissors and jars. See you next Monday and in the meantime, stay healthy, happy and cool!

In Your Share This Week

Classic Harvest take 12, Farmer’s Choice take 9: Lettuce, corn, carrots, yellow onions/red onions choice, shallots, kale/chard choice, scallions/cilantro choice, squash/cucumbers choice, eggplant, peppers, hot peppers, tomatoes/paste tomatoes choice, cherry tomatoes, tomatillos, potatoes.

PYO: 16 flower stems, 1 pint raspberries, herbs and edible flowers (check for gold stars).

Although the crops listed on this page represent what the farmer anticipates will be available this week, the vegetables you receive may be different due to weather conditions and other factors that affect production. For an overview of the ebb and flow of the harvest throughout the season, check out the Harvest Chart.

Field Favorites

Change is in the air. A shift in the weather is making our work days more manageable and is reminding me why I love working outside. Our daily task list is getting shorter and the feeling of urgency that we feel in July is fading. This is my favorite time of year since there are still so many wonderful things coming out of the fields and also so much to look forward to! Here is an update on some of our favorite crops that are doing well:

Bronze Fennel in Penelope's Garden

In addition to all of the wonderful herbs ready in Penelope's Garden (find complete list here), the bronze fennel is set to harvest. The following information on its many benefits and harvesting the plant is taken from GrowVeg.com:

Eat Your Share

We look forward to discovering your own favorite recipes - so share them here to be included in our upcoming Stearns Farm cookbook.

Heeding Ember's advice from this week's From the Field, we are featuring three different ways to enjoy eggplant - Baba Ganoush, Grilled Eggplant with Lentils and Eggplant Fritters -so any way you slice it, a delicious dish awaits!

And for a tangy take on a mini pizza, the Heirloom Tomato Galette with Pecorino is an ideal way to enjoy all those cherry tomatoes baked to perfection.