August 31, 2023 by kharner

Time Flies

It feels like just last week when it was the last day of school. Yet, here we are with all the preparations and activities that school will be starting next week.

The kids have wrapped up the state fair where Keith showed a pig and Sam, market turkeys. This like other years was filled with 4-H learning experiences, and we are reminded of the wonderful group of mentors, supporters and friends that support our family.

Sam on Minnesota Live from the Minnesota State Fair sharing his 4-H market turkey project.

With our dry weather, the pumpkins and gourds are ahead of schedule, and we have started harvesting them. So be on the look out for information of this fall joy that is sure to bring not only color to your life but smiles as well.

As we close out the closing days of summer, soak in the sun and the joys around you.

“The moments of happiness we enjoy take us by surprise. It is not that we seize them, but that they seize us.” – Ashley Montagu

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, and 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.

Dark Red Beets – Some of our shareholders like to cut these up and eat these raw in their salads. Try them raw, peeled and dip them in peanut butter. `Learn more about their nutrition here.

Cantaloupe – These ripen so quickly. Have you ever wondered what was the difference between muskmelon and cantaloupe. According to Oklahoma State University Extension, all varieties and types of muskmelon belong to the same genus and species; however, cantaloupe belongs to a different botanical variety (subgroup) than winter type muskmelons.

Cucumbers – The cucumbers are having a wacky growing cycle with our drought. They loved the rain, and we have a flush of new cucumbers. Plenty for canning. Here’s an interesting link on their nutritional value.

Kohlrabi – I simply eat these peeled and cut up like an apple with some peanut butter. Here are some recipe ideas and additional information on this vegetable from Taste of Home.

Red Kuri Squash

Red Kuri Squash – Red Kuri squash has a smooth and tender texture with a sweet, nutty flavor reminiscent of chestnuts. Learn more here. I cook it like I do Butternut. Cutting it in half, laying cut side down in a cake pan with about an inch of water, cover with aluminum foil and bake at 350 degrees F for one hour.

Peppers – Holy Sweet Peppers. We have many! Let us know if you need more next week for making stuffed peppers or other dishes. Here are some pepper recipe ideas from Martha Stewart or if you want to know more about freezing peppers, this is a helpful link.

Potatoes – Yukon Golds, Red Norlands and puuple potatoes are in your box this week. Watch potato harvest here on America’s Heartland.

Radishes – The last crop of radishes are in your box: French Breakfast and Cherry Belle. Cut them up and put in your stir fry or hot dishes for additional nutrition.

Spaghetti Squash

Spaghetti Squash – We love eating this squash in conjunction with or instead of using noodles. Learn different ways to cook this squash from the Food Network.

Summer Squash – I bet your trying to figure out how to use this squash. Here are some ideas from Pioneer Woman. Also check out the hotdish recipe below.

Super Sugar Snap Peas – Yum! Eat these raw in the pods, dip in Ranch dressing or use in stir fry. One of our favorite summer vegetables is in your boxes this week. The first crop received renewed energy from the rain, and the new crop is producing.

Sweet Corn – A big shout out to our neighbors FarGaze Farms for the delicious sweet corn in our boxes.

Sun Gold Hybrid tomatoes

Tomatoes –In your boxes this week are Napa Valley cherry tomatoes, Sun Gold cherry tomatoes, 4^th of July tomatoes, Better Boy and more. Watch for a flush of them for canning and freezing.

Zucchini –So many wonderful ways to use Zucchini. Try this zucchini mock apple pie square recipe.

Fresh cut arrangement – Hydrangeas

Recipe of the Week

A favorite in our house. We hope you enjoy it as well!

Lasagna Stuffed Spaghetti Squash

1 small spaghetti squash

½ cup low-fat cottage cheese

2 tablespoons parmesan cheese

⅓ cup marinara sauce

½ cup mozzarella cheese, divided

½ cup favorite vegetables (peppers, broccoli, etc.)

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Using a large, serrated knife, carefully cut spaghetti squash in half lengthwise. Use a spoon to scrape out and discard seeds. Place squash halves cut side down on parchment lined baking sheet. Cook squash for 35-45 minutes or until tender. Place rack in middle of oven and heat to broil.

In a medium bowl, combine cottage cheese, parmesan, ¼ cup mozzarella, marinara. Use fork to scrape and separate the squash strands. Divide filling mixture among the 2 squash halves. Top with your favorite vegetable and sprinkle with mozzarella. Broil until cheese is golden-brown. Approximately 2-3 minutes.

Source: Modified from NDSU Extension

August 23, 2023 by kharner

Hang On

This watermelon puts a smile on my face every time I pass by it. Part of me wants to put a can or something under it to support it, and the other part of me wants to see if it makes it until the end of the season…can it hold on all by itself.

Watermelon growing in the garden. The vine grew up the fence which is at an angle, and the melon began to grow. It is now hanging there on its own and growing.

The watermelon reminds me of so many life situations. Isn’t it interesting that when you take time to observe nature, God presents us with so many life lessons.

So many times, we think, boy we just can’t hang on. Why are we hanging out here all by ourselves? Why isn’t anyone helping us?

Yet, when it comes right down to it…We have been outfitted with enough strength. We are capable of figuring it out. We are strong enough. We are enough.

So for those items in your life, where you are wondering if you have enough strength. Remember God gives us the strength if we believe. Praying for you and those areas in your life where you need strength.

“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” – 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Boxes of Produce

Green Beans – Like the lettuce, this crop really took a jump in reaching maturity after a drink of water from Mother Nature. We have more if you are interested in freezing or canning some. Let us know if you need some dill to make green bean pickles.

Dragon Tongue Beans

Dragon Tongue Beans – This beautiful and unique crop ads variety to any dish whether you eat them raw or cooked. Learn more here.

Dark Red Beets – Some of our shareholders like to cut these up and eat these raw in their salads. Try them raw, peeled and dip them in peanut butter. `Learn more about their nutrition here.

Black Seeded Simpson Mix – The rain we had really helped give this crop a boost.

Broccoli – Enjoy some broccoli in this week’s vegetable array.

Kohlrabi – I simply eat these peeled and cut up like an apple with some peanut butter. Here are some recipe ideas and additional information on this vegetable from Taste of Home.

Yukon Gold potatoes

Potatoes – Yukon Golds or Red Norlands are in your box this week. Watch potato harvest here on America’s Heartland.

Summer Squash – This Summer Rise and Shine hybrid squash has a rich buttery flavor. The other is the miniature Peter Pan scalloped squash with a sweet flavor. Use either of these in place of zucchini. Here are some ideas to use it from Pioneer Woman.

Super Sugar Snap Peas – Yum! Eat these raw in the pods, dip in Ranch dressing or use in stir fry. One of our favorite summer vegetables is in your boxes this week. A new crop is nearly ready.

Sweet Corn

Sweet Corn – A big shout out to our neighbors FarGaze Farms for the delicious sweet corn in our boxes.

Tomatoes –In your boxes this week are Napa Valley cherry tomatoes, Sun Gold cherry tomatoes and 4^th of July tomatoes. Watch for a flush of them for canning and freezing.

Zucchini –So many wonderful ways to use Zucchini. Try this zucchini mock apple pie square recipe.

Fresh cut arrangement – Hydrangeas

Hydrangeas

Recipe of the Week

To be honest, in this heat, all I can think about is cook it on the grill or eat the items raw in a salad. There are many times where my salad doesn’t include lettuce. I just simply cut up a number of the raw vegetables add some type of nuts or other salad like items such as cheese or dressing.

August 16, 2023 by kharner

Searching for Treasures

Each growing season presents its unique challenges. This year is no different. The primarily dry last few months have created some interesting growth outcomes by the different crops. See the link to the drought monitor for an update. This also creates an interesting treasure hunt every time we are in the garden.

The cucumber production stalled out and then after each subsequent shot of moisture produced a substantial amount of cucumber growth. The peas have followed a similar pattern to cucumbers. Potato production is low. Seed germination has been challenging. Yet, boy have the turnips loved this weather, and likewise the watermelon and cantaloupe appear to be on the verge of greatness. The pumpkins are acting like the end of the growing season is here and are really close to harvest which is always a wonderful time of year!

This unpredictability reminds me a lot of life. As much as we plan and prepare for consistent or manageable outcomes, there are so many factors that impact our lives. Sometimes we just need to keep searching, looking for the treasures that do appear. Sometimes those treasures are right in front of us. Yet, many times it takes some work, persistence or steadfastness to find the treasures.

I encourage you to keep the faith. Keep searching for the treasures. God does remind us of the goodness that is right in front of us. It just might not be the way we are used to finding it.

Garden Science

U.S. Drought Monitor

Here is a look at Minnesota on the U.S. Drought Monitor. While the occasional, spotty showers have helped. You can see by the looks of the map that Minnesota is still quite dry.