Eggs & Extras - May 9, 2012

Note:  Full and Half Share folks, come by for your free bag of spinach!  Yummy.

May 9, 2012
Hello people,

Picking took a very long time today.  Mostly I was just slow, but the vegetables needed extra washing because of soil that splashed up on the leaves during the rain.  I decided to thin the next batch of mesclun, so it can get nice and big and because thinning during a gentle rain is the absolute best time for the plants.  

The result?  Micro mesclun!

This is a delicious mix of the next batch of greens, including mizuna, arugula, turnips, 4 kinds of mustard, cress, shungiku, kale, and tiny lettuce leaves.  A treat that is only available this week.  And really tasty.

The Giant Winter spinach continues to crank out lots of big, tasty leaves.  I did notice a few plants starting to bolt so this batch will be going by relatively soon.  For today, we have LOTS!  

*******In fact, there is so much that I would like to offer all the official Full and Half Share farm members a half pound bag, as a treat and a warm up for next week's first official shares.*******

I "field washed" most of the greens to get the garden off them but they need to be washed again before they are ready for eating.

Available this week:

Eggs only 1/2 dozen at the moment - $4.00/dozen - The hens are laying about 18 per day.

Radishes - 1 bunch - $1.25

Spinach - 6 bags - $3.00 each (This is in addition to the giveaway bags.)

Kale - 2 bunches - 2 bunches - $3.00 each

Chicory - 1 bunch - $2.50

Buttercrunch lettuce - 4 bags - $2.50 each

Micro mesclun - 7 bags - $3.00 each

Salad mix - 2 bags - $3.00 each - mostly lettuce this week, mild

Nettles! - 3 bags - $3.00 each - a special spring treat, great with butter

Pictures of the food here.

Since next week is the start of the official farm shares, I am not sure how that will affect the extras list.  I am sure there will be extra items, but priority will be given to the shares.  Also, I think I will not be sending out an email about the extras until later in the day on Wednesday, possibly early evening.  Having both the extras list and the farm shares is new this year so it will take a few weeks to work out the best way to coordinate the picking, pick up and communications.  Please be patient and please let me know if you have ideas for improvement.

As usual, let me know if you want me to save something for you.  If you Half and Full Share people don't want spinach, let me know that and I will either sell it or freeze it.  Or eat it.  Spanikopita sounds pretty good to me!

I am still hoping for a larger refrigerator.  Sadly, the one someone gave us recently doesn't seem to work.  Sure looks good on the porch, though.

And, biggest farm news:  Baby ducks are arriving May 22!  We are getting Cayugas and Welsh Harlequins.

Peace,

Laura

Sweet Morning Farm

On Facebook:

413-773-8325

  

Eggs and Extras - April 25, 2012

Kind of cold here this morning.

Pictures of the harvest:

Eggs - only 1 dozen small/medium eggs available at the moment - $3.50

More being laid as I type, to judge by the clucking from the coop.

Mesclun - 9 bags - $3.00 each (about 1/4 #)

Spinach - 5 bags - $3.00 each (about 1/2 #)

Radishes - 4 bunches - $1.25 each (about 5.5 oz. including the edible tops)

Kale - 3 bunches - $3.00 each (about 3/4 #)

Red Garnet Mustard greens - 1 big bunch - $3.50 (about 1 #) 

Turnip greens - 1 bunch of giant-sized leaves - $3.50 (about 3/4 #)

Joi Choi pak choy - 3 bunches - $3.00 a bunch (about 1#)

I picked some turnips and their tops but I will be eating them myself as a taste test.  With the recent hot weather, the Hakarei turnips in the hoophouse bolted.  (went to flower)  I have learned that the buds and flowers are edible and sometimes used as a substitute for broccoli raab, but until I taste them myself, I don't want to recommend them.

The pak choy is full sized and delicious!

The turnip greens I picked are from special, rare seeds that were given to me last year by a dear friend who lives on the Cape.  The turnips are called Eastham turnips and these greens are from a root I set in the ground in the hoophouse as an experiment.  They were irresistible so I picked them.

I'll be home all day on this rainy, sunny, frosty day.  I am happy to show you the chicks, the hoophouse, the big chickens, etc.

Oh, and if you know someone who might like to buy a farm share, send them my way, please!  Or if you know someone who might like to know about this email list, please tell them about it.  Thanks.

Cheers,

Laura

laurat-at-crocker.com

Sweet Morning Farm

413-773-8325

Harvest - April 18, 2012

It is so amazing and wonderful to have so much ready to pick this early in the season.  Thank you, people for experimenting with me while I create this new method of sharing food.  Let me know if you have suggestions to make the system work better.  Also let me know if you know of a working refrigerator that the farm could have.  I think that would help us all.

Hi Gang,

I am a very slow picker and there was a surprising amount ready to pick.  Hurray!

Here's the list:

Mesclun - 4 bags - $3.00 each

Swiss chard - 1 bunch - $3.00 - the first of the season

Chicory - 1 bunch - $3.00 - like dandelion greens but milder

Spinach - 4 bags - $3.00 each

French sorrel - 1 bunch - $1.00 - lemony

Radishes - 4 bunches - $1.25 each

Pea shoots - 1 bags - $2.00 each

Eggs - 2 dozen large - $4.00 each

Pictures of the vegetables here:

I am heading out this afternoon (Wed) but I will leave some mesclun, spinach, eggs and radishes in the little frig.  I'll be back by supper time and will reserve items after that.

Thanks for your interest and support.  I am so glad people are enjoying the vegetables.  

Coming soon (next week?): full sized pak choy and more kale.  So neat.

Have a great day,

Laura

Saturday, April 7

Still available:
2 half pound bags of really tasty spinach - $3.00 each
1 bunch of tender radishes - $1.25
1 bunch sorrel - $1.00
(See this post or this one for some sorrel cooking ideas.)

I have lots of pea shoots that need picking but I am into planting at this morning.  If you want some, I am happy to pick them, or hand you the harvest scissors for Pick Your Own.

What a great day!

Eggs and Extras - April 4, 2012

It's so much fun to be picking vegetables so early in the season.  I've been eating spinach for several weeks and I recommend keeping some washed and ready in the frig for spinach salads and spinach/garlic omelets.  Yum.

Speaking of washing, it's up to you to wash your greens.  Sometimes I rinse them just to get the soil off or to chill the greens but all the produce you get from my farm needs proper washing at your house.

Early next week we'll be getting a new batch of chicks!  They'll be staying in the kitchen for a week or so but if you want to see some cuteness, I am happy to show them to you.

Not ready yet but coming along in the hoophouse: white salad turnips and pak choy.

Available Today:

Eggs - 2 1/2 dozen (yes, it's fine to just get 1/2 dozen!) $4.00/dozen

Radishes - 2 bunches - $1.25 each

Mesclun - 6 bags - $3.00/bag

Pea shoots - 1 bag - $2.00

Sorrel - 1 bunch - $1.00

Arugula - 1 bunch - $2.00

Spinach - 5 bags - $3.00/bag (This was overwinter in a low tunnel, planted late last summer.)

Kale - 1 bunch (I just couldn't resist picking this.  A preview of what will be in the May farm shares.)

Enjoy your vegies!

Laura

If you want to receive a weekly email about Eggs and Extras, let me know at laurat-at-crocker.com