We usually end the harvest on Saturday with relief and excitement, but in the heat today we sort of limped over the finish line! We had quite a week, and it really was successful though everyone on the farm is drained. We harvested somewhere between 8-9,000 heads of garlic on Tuesday and Wednesday. It wasn’t as big a harvest crew as years past, but we still got over 6,000 bulbs pulled, graded, bunched, and hung up on the third floor of the barn by lunchtime on Wednesday. The remaining couple thousand bulbs didn’t size up as usual and so once they got sorted, the tiny bulbs just went onto pallets to dry. We’re not sure if it was the field this year’s garlic was planted in, the dry weather in the crucial growing month of May, or something else that impacted their growth. But the plus side is that those couple thousand tiny bulbs are now free for the taking. They’re currently in the pick-up barn and you’re welcome to come get an armful any time. We’ll also try to bring them to the Rockland and Rockport pick-ups whenever possible.
There was a really wonderful response to the request for support for Sisterhome in Nepal, the women’s rights organization founded and run by Hatchet Cove Farm’s apprentice, Sayni Chaudhury. If you missed the email that went out, you can find it here. Thank you to all who have donated and expressed support for this remarkable organization!
This week is the first of two honey shares. Karen’s first honey extraction didn’t work out entirely as planned. In her words: Unfortunately, it has been a difficult [summer] for my bees. The cold spring and heavy rains did not allow for any spring honey at all. Not even one frame!!! They are back on track now, though. I have enough fall and spring honey from last season to provide for the CSA shares. We’re so glad that all honey members will still receive delicious honey from Stone Road Farm, even if the season didn’t go exactly as she planned. Your first delivery may not be the light summer honey that she had intended, but it will still be rich and delicious and we’re grateful she made it work.
The lettuce mix this week includes purslane, one of my favorite summer treats. It has a lemony flavor and an almost springy texture and I think it’s a delicious. Let us know what you think!
If you signed up for Monday or Thursday (August 3rd and 6th) blueberries, please be at the farm between 5-6pm. You can pay with check ($38 per box made out to HCF) or cash. Let me know at 712-7382 if there is any reason you won’t be able to make it.
Enjoy your tomatoes, the first of the cukes, and all this week’s summer goodness!
Reba and the HCF crew
Summer CSA Week 8 of 16: New Potatoes, Zucchini and/or Zephyr Squash, Carrots, Cherry and/or Slicing Tomatoes, Lettuce Mix with Purslane, Garlic, Cucumber, [Eggplant, Basil]
Summer Week Eight Add-ons: Honey, Flowers, Mushrooms, Cheese, Milk, Oil & Vinegar, Blueberries (Mon & Thurs)
This week’s recipe: Summer Bread Salad with Tomatoes and Feta Cheese
Click here to see a picture of the official farm greeter, Mica.
HATCHET COVE FARM 