Here we are, nearing mid-August, and we’re just at the halfway point in the summer CSA!  Part of the magic of running a vegetable farm is really, truly never knowing how things will turn out from one season to the next.  This year feels like a pretty good one to us, and it’s gratifying that the shares have so many items in them only halfway through the season.  We hope you’re making it through all your veggies, or even finding time to put some by for the winter.  We’re now looking forward to some of the more unusual crops to come in (I can’t wait for the ground cherries!).

Free pick-your-own basil is still available at the farm.  To reach the basil,  come all the way down our driveway.  The basil is in the small garden just in front and to the left of the end of the driveway.  The garden is about 2/3 cucumbers, and 1/3 basil — pick the basil to your heart’s content!

Also, this week we are starting to offer bulk tomato seconds.  The cost is $30 for a 20 lb box, and for the most part these are tomatoes with blemishes or are quite ripe.  But it’s a great price for a lot of delicious tomatoes.  We never have time to can our tomatoes, so we roast them, pop off the skins, and put them in bags into the freezer.  Send me an email if you would like to order any.  I may not be able to get them to you immediately, but will get your name on a list and I hope to eventually get everyone a box who wants one.

The apprentice update, for all of you who have been worried for us:  a WWOOF volunteer (Mike) will be joining us for two weeks starting Tuesday, a local woman (Emily) will be volunteering with us two days a week starting Wednesday, and we have a number of promising long-term apprentice applications in the works.  So we hope to avoid another 10pm basil bagging like last Thursday night (but we do have great apprentices — Tiff and Faith saved my sanity and joined me!). We’re excited to have these new folks join our farm world.

And finally, in not-your-usual-farm-news… next Saturday, August 18th, is the Rock Coast Rollers season finale double header at the MRC on Route 90.  Doors open at 5pm, first roller derby bout at 6pm, and the farm will be well represented! (Currently in residence at the farm:  one skater, one announcer, one Non-Skating Official, one Volunterror, and two enthusiastic fans masquerading as our young children).  Tickets ($5 in advance, 12 and under free)  are available at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/263185    Maybe we’ll get to see you there, and we hope that you have a week full of wonderful meals!

Reba and the HCF crew

Faith picking CSA chard in the Saturday morning mist.

Veggies Week 9 of 18:  Potatoes, Mesclun Mix, Fresh Onion, Cucumber, Zucchini and/or Zephyr Summer Squash, Garlic, Swiss Chard, Green Beans, Cherry Tomatoes and/or Slicing Tomatoes, Basil, Carrots

This week’s recipes:  Sweet Basil Pesto Tapenade, How to Freeze Greens, Roasted New Potato Salad