“Mom, do you know why I like coming out to the garden every night. It’s because it is like a treasurer hunt. You never know what you are going to find.” – Keith

That was music to my ears.  I love agriculture, because to me I learn something new every day, and there are always treasurers and always pleasant surprises. So when I hear my kids say this as well, I know we are going down the right path of learning and exploring and helping them to share the story of agriculture with others. They to have so much to learn and so much to share about their treasurer hunt with others.

When we are scouting the garden, we are finding pumpkins, melons, cucumbers etc. growing and changing. It is absolutely so much fun!Like in life, not everything in agriculture is fun, some of it can be frustrating…We also find potato bugs, squash beetles and more. The treasurer in these challenges is what we learn about them, from them and how we deal from them.

Another treasurer is when we find foods that we like which we have grown. Like many of your families, not all of us like everything grown in the garden. But the rule is that every one of us must try the food and/or the new recipe.

So when  Sam said, “Mom, I love zucchini!” I was so surprised but yet so excited that I had found a way that these boys love this vegetable. Okay, I know it was zucchini brownies and chocolate zucchini muffins, but it is a step in the right direction!

One of our goals is to help you also achieve some of this with your families. That is why we ask the boys to share what is “growing on” in the garden with your children and to provide your kids with a weekly treasurer hunt. Hopefully, if they see how their food is grown and where it comes from, they will feel more connected to it and curious about trying it.

Garden Experiments

Boxes of Produce

Please remember to return any cups or plastic containers in your box each week. Remember food safety in your kitchen when preparing, always wash your before eating.

Black Seeded Simpson Elite Lettuce – One of my favorite garden crops. These crops have taken a hit with the lack of rain.

Red Oak Leaf Lettuce

Prizehead – is the spear like green leaf.

Tomatoes – Yellow Girls, Romas and cherry tomatoes.

Broccoli – A new addition to your boxes this year. Let us know what you think of this variety of broccoli.

Onions – A few fresh onions to put in a recipe here or there.

Green Beans – These type of green beans are Providers.

Potatoes – a few fresh Norland red potatoes for you. Learn about potato harvest in Colorado.

Cucumbers – The harvest is beginning. Varities include Fancipak, Straight Eights and Japanese. Let us know if you are interested in any for pickling.

Summer Squash Medley and Zucchini – If your kids want to measure a zucchini/summer squash and watch it grow for a week, let me know. It really is amazing how fast they grow. See recipe below.

Herbs – Golden Oregano, Red Rubin Basil, dill and lemon thyme (bags are labeled with the first initial).

Fresh cut arrangement – A variety went out in your boxes as I had enough variety but not enough of one type for each of you. So the varieties included: Sunflowers or Zinnias with Hosta leaves.

Recipe of the Week

Chocolate Zucchini Chocolate Chip Muffins

•3 cups all-purpose flour

•1 1/2 cup sugar

•2 teaspoon baking soda

•2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/3 cup cocoa

•1 teaspoon salt

•2 eggs, lightly beaten

•1 cup applesauce

•1/2 cup milk

•2 tablespoons lemon juice

•2 teaspoons vanilla extract

•2 cups shredded zucchini

•1/2 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips

•1/2 cup chopped walnuts Directions

In a bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Combine the egg, oil, milk, lemon juice and vanilla; mix well. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in zucchini, chocolate chips and walnuts. Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full. Garnish with a few miniature chocolate chips. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until muffins test done. Yield: about 2 dozen. Recipe modified from Tasteofhome.com.