We have started the potato harvest and some of them are huge. Harvesting potatoes is like a treasure hunt in the soil.
We were blessed earlier this week with moisture. The storms came heavy and fast, and surrounding communities received several more inches and storm damage. We drove through some of the heavier parts of the storm on Sunday and were close to stopping because it was difficult to drive in.
We were fortunate to receive 2 1/2 inches of rain on Sunday. It did come down quickly and cause some crop damage but minimal damage compared to what could have been. We were also fortunate to receive 4/10th of an inch on Monday. The moisture was needed! The storms have been very sporadic and many farmers throughout Minnesota and our nation are still in need of moisture.
On another note, the Minnesota State Fair has also been occupying some of our time. If you make it to the Great Minnesota Get Together, stop by the many agriculture exhibits including our Minnesota Farm Bureau exhibit behind the giant yellow slide on Underwood Street or stop by the CHS Miracle of Birth Center and take a ride in our Ag Cab Lab – Tractor. Learn more about our exhibits and other great farm exhibits on Lara’s blog.
Some of our broom corn was either blown down or because of the hard quick rain was washed down by the heavy flow of water. The storms also affected some of our strawberry popcorn. It is yet to be determined how badly it was damaged.
Boxes of Produce
This list is prepared before we harvest your share. Some guesswork is involved! We do our best to predict which crops will be ready to harvest, but sometimes crops are on the list that are not in the share. Sometimes crops will be in the share even though they’re not on the list.
Remember food safety in your kitchen when preparing, always wash your hands before working with your produce and always wash your produce before eating.
The boys are still learning how to pick sweet corn so we apologize if some of the ears are a little smaller. By the end of the season, we should have some professional harvesters.
Sweet Corn – Yeah for sweet corn! Thank you to FarGaze Farms, our neighbors, for providing the sweet corn for your boxes this week. We hope you all enjoy it. We appreciate this partnership!
Black Seeded Simpson Lettuce – Wash your vegetables before eating – a new crop should hopefully be growing after this rain. I planted over 4 weeks ago but due to the lack of rain did not grow. I did irrigate it but it’s not quite the same as Mother Nature.
Prizeleaf Lettuce – A beautiful colored lettuce to add to the salads. Try adding some fresh berries or dried fruit to your salads.
Red Oak Leaf Lettuce – Wonderful color to your salads.
Beets – The whole plant is edible.
Green Beans – We are at the end of this crop and should have a small crop towards the end of the season.
Broccoli – Great to enjoy in your salads or cooked with some cheese sprinkled over it.
Kohlrabi – Check out this link for more information on what to do with this vegetable.
Cucumbers – Nearing the end of this season as well.
Peppers – Jalepeno peppers
We were harvesting tomatoes this week and had to make a dash for cover as a thunderstorm approached and lightning chased us out of the garden. Sam completely forgot about the lightning thought as he discovered a toad in our rock wall. The world seemed to come to a stand still as he searched for the toad.
Tomatoes – Baby Boomer cherry tomatoes, Big mamma, Sunny Boy (yellow), Honey Delight (small yellow) and Fourth of July (medium red) – A delicious salsa recipe from a farm wife in southwestern Minnesota, Ruth Lanoue.
Onions – Walla Walla, Snow White, yellow Candy and Giant Red Hamburger (purple)
Keith snapped this picture of Sam with a huge Kennebec potato.
Potatoes – Kennebec potatoes – great for baking. Here is a yummy potato recipe to try from one of my friends Lara Durben.
Fresh Arrangement – Zinnia or Sunflowers – Here are a few tips to try to keep your fresh-cut flowers fresh longer. I have tried the bleach trick, and it has worked for me.
Garden Science
Well, the Big Moon pumpkins have grown. The largest one is now measuring from one side to the other at 3 feet. Growing several inches this past week. The other two also grew. What is interesting is the other two seem to be on the same plant and are growing at the same and equal rate.
Did you know that we gather the rain water from our shop roof into this water tank to irrigate the mulched areas in our garden? We use gravity to flow the water into the irrigation lines. The rains filled the tank up!
Recipe of the Week
Grilled Sweet Corn
Place on grill at the same time you are cooking your meat. I leave mine on for about 1/2 hour and throughout that time frame turn it so all sides are cooked. Once the 1/2 hour is done, husk it, rinse under luke warm water and serve. Enjoy!
Husk your grilled sweet corn by cutting off the end with a butcher knife.
Grab the top of the corn and squeeze.
Your ear of corn should slide out clean of silk etc.
