I apologize for not getting those zucchini & squash recipes posted last week as I said I would. Hopefully you found a way to use up all your squash goodies. If all else fails, remember they freeze quite well (shredded and put in a freezer safe bag or box) to use later in soups and breads. Now that they are mostly gone for the year, I'm starting to miss them already, well, almost. That is what "eating in season" is all about.
The newsletter is coming out late to you this week because I was out last evening picking the last of your share. It looked something like this...
Yes, the tomatoes are finally ripening! It's only the last week of August and one full month later than they turned on last year. Must have been that cold stretch we had earlier this spring. But once they come on, they are REALLY ON. You'll be enjoying the tomatoes for many weeks to come. We are even installing a heater in the tomato greenhouse to pull them through those cold nights that are just around the corner.
Speaking of cold nights, we've had our first frost already at the farm. So far it has only nipped the tops of some plants. If the freezing temps can just hold out long enough for more green beans.
This week your share will include:
Red and Sweet Yellow Onions
Dill - the last of the season
Basil
Cucumbers
Salad
Tomatoes
German Extra Hardy Garlic - 1 pound bag
We have extra garlic for sale this year. There are 3 varieties we are selling: German Extra Hardy, Polish Jen, and Papa Doc Soft Neck. The price is $7 per pound when bought directly from the farm. Or $8 per pound when we are at the Jackson Farmers Market. If you are interested, email me. Any shipping costs will be extra.
Today I stopped by the Kinslow Ranch in Thayne to buy my year's supply of honey. I had a nice visit with Mrs. Kinslow about the health of their honey bees, our mutual aphid infestations, how to keep honey and how NOT to heat it in the microwave. Then as I was leaving, I thanked her for their hard work in making this product available in our community. I was a saddened to learn that my source of wonderful Star Valley honey won't be around forever, and will probably be gone after the next 10 years. Earl (Mr. Kinslow) is 67 years old now and hoping to be able to keep his operation going until he's 75. He has no family who are interested in or able learn his trade. Another family farm gone by....or so it looks like it will be once Earl is retired. Another source of local product turned over to the big guys. I drove away feeling helpless. (For a moment I thought "We can do honey." Yeah right. Like I need another project. Maybe one of my kids.... Stop thinking.) Isn't there anything we can do to keep folks interested in family farming? For now, I'm glad I bought that extra case of honey to give away as presents. And I'll buy more next year. What can you do? Use your dollar wisely. Think about who you are supporting with your spending power. Support local producers with your spending choices. Give praise and thanks to those who make the effort to provide our communities with fresh, high quality, locally made products.
Enough preaching. :) Tara