August 29, 2022
Herb of the Week: Sage
By Gia Yaccarino

Sage was always in my mom’s spice cabinet and is in mine too – for when a recipe included it. But how to use it otherwise - I admit, I was clueless! But looking at the benefits of adding a little sage- Wow! I am definitely motivated to incorporate it more into my cooking!

Safe for cats: Yes

Safe for dogs: Yes

August 27, 2022
Incoming Fall Flavors
by Farmer Derek

Harvest #15 (Week A) should include potatoes, pie pumpkins, leeks, cantaloupe, beets, garlic, sweet peppers, tomatoes, arugula, swiss chard, kale, lettuce, herbs, eggplant, italian dandelion, zucchini, cucumbers, hot peppers, okra, shishito peppers, and scallions. Some items will be a choice. U-pick should include a handful of herbs, husk cherries, cherry tomatoes, tomatillos, edamame, and flowers. As you've probably noticed, the flower patch hasn't fared well during this extended period of dry weather. Our sincere apologies, we could not find the time to add water when it was most needed.

August 27, 2022
Workshifts for Week of 8/29/22
by Farmer Derek

This week we'll continue retrieving winter squash (butternut) as well as pull some weeds and do general field clean up.

This week's workshift schedule:

Bring gloves, water, a hat, sturdy shoes, and a pad for kneeling (if necessary for you)! We meet under the large red maple at the end of the barn by the pick up room.

Workshift Guidelines - Workshift Sign Up Instructions

August 27, 2022
Month, Season, Task Transition
by Farmer Derek

August exits and September enters this week. According to some, summer also transitions to fall. Cooler (and shorter) days couldn't come soon enough. This time of year is marked by the continued harvest of long season, one-time planted crops. It begins with garlic, followed by onions, potatoes, winter squash, leeks. Some traditional summer crops continue to wane, like zucchini, cucumbers, melons, tomatoes, and eggplant. Sweet peppers are still peaking but will eventually slow down.

Removal of all these crops means space is now opening up for cover crops. After a large contiguous plot of field space is empty, we'll mow, spread compost and amendments, chisel plow to loosen the soil, broadcast oats and buckwheat, mix it all together with the disc harrow, and voila, field space is put to bed for the winter. That is, as long as we receive some decent rainfall for the cover crop seeds to germinate. If time and weather don't allow for spreading compost and amendments now we'll postpone that step until later in the season after the cover crop is already established. We have another few weeks of sowing oats and buckwheat, then it'll be just oats or oats and crimson clover, then winter rye for any ground that opens up in October. By November it's too late to disturb the soil and we'll just leave crop residue on the surface as a winter blanket.

August 21, 2022
Beginning of Fall Food Introductions
by Farmer Derek

Harvest #14 (Week B) should include potatoes, cantaloupe, beets, cucumbers, garlic, zucchini, sweet peppers, hot peppers, okra, shishito peppers, lettuce, herbs, eggplant, italian dandelion, tomatoes, onions, and scallions. Some items will be a choice. U-pick should include a handful of herbs, husk cherries, cherry tomatoes, tomatillos, edamame, and flowers. As you've probably noticed, the flower patch hasn't fared well during this extended period of dry weather. Our sincere apologies, we could not find the time to add water when it was most needed.

August 21, 2022
Workshifts for Week of 8/22/22
by Farmer Derek

This week we'll probably begin retrieving winter squash and pumpkins as well as pull some weeds and do general field clean up.

This week's workshift schedule:

Bring gloves, water, a hat, sturdy shoes, and a pad for kneeling (if necessary for you)!

We meet under the large red maple at the end of the barn by the pick up room.

Workshift Guidelines - Workshift Sign Up InstructionsI

August 21, 2022
Getting There
by Farmer Derek

Last week we enjoyed a taste of the consistent cooler weather that is sure to come. Unfortunately that too-brief respite was followed by a return to the heat of summer. No matter, we still crushed it. We spent a lot of time harvesting, cleaning up, and transplanting. Harvesting takes up a lot more of our schedule this time of year. Cucumbers, zucchini, and melons need to be harvested three times a week, eating up a couple of hours each time. Ripening peppers are peaking, which is wonderful, and take a couple of hours on harvest days to collect. Potatoes have all been harvested, probably about 5,000 pounds worth. A big thanks to members for helping with that! With the conclusion of potatoes, it's now time to turn our attention to the thousands of pounds of pie pumpkins, butternuts, and other winter squashes that beckon our call. We'll probably begin harvesting the early varieties this week.

Even though it's been very dry, grasses and other weeds have been growing like mad, probably robbing our crops of their irrigation water. We're still playing catch up, but we made great progress last week getting the 2023 strawberries mowed and almost fully weeded. In two weeks they went from being fairly neat and tidy to an insane jungle where they were barely noticeable. Fall broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower had towering pigweed (amaranth), bind weed, and grasses in the aisles that were trying to assert their influence over the beds of crops. After weed whacking for six hours over two days the patch now is more-or-less picturesque. Still to be mowed are peppers, eggplant, and leeks, to be easily accomplished this week.

So many crops went in the ground last week; it was the final large outdoor planting and forced us to even work late on a Friday, which we strive to avoid. Red and golden beets, dinosaur/toscano/lacinato kale, lettuce, chard, arugula, napa/chinese cabbage, kohlrabi, red and purple daikons, salad and watermelon radishes, salad turnips, cilantro, and dill all went in. Satisfyingly, we're now left with only about 3,000 feet of unplanted field space, all nestled together in one location. This space will be filled over the next four weeks, then we'll begin planting inside our tunnels. It's hard to believe we're at this stage of the season already and are thankful to have made it this far with (what we think) have been nice and steady harvests and shares. Hope you've been enjoying everything!

August 21, 2022
Herb of the Week: Oregano
By Gia Yaccarino

Oregano (Origanum vulgare)

I’m Italian (California Italian, but my parents are Jersey Italian). Growing up, oregano was a staple in our house: my mom didn’t just put out salt and pepper, she also put out basil and oregano!

Safe for cats: NO – fresh or dried, oregano is toxic to cats

Safe for dogs: Yes

FYI: 1 teaspoon of dried oregano = 1 tablespoon of fresh oregano

August 14, 2022
Summer Classics
by Farmer Derek

Harvest #13 (Week A) should include watermelon, cantaloupe, beets, cucumbers, carrots, garlic, zucchini, sweet peppers, hot peppers, okra, shishito peppers, lettuce, herbs, eggplant, italian dandelion, tomatoes, onions, and scallions. Some items will be a choice. U-pick should include a handful of herbs, husk cherries, cherry tomatoes, tomatillos, edamame, and flowers.

August 14, 2022
Workshifts for Week of 8/15/22
by Farmer Derek

This week we'll probably continue harvesting potatoes as well as pull some weeds. We're nearing the end of peak weed season but can definitely use some help with the final few rounds of clean up.

This week's workshift schedule:

Bring gloves, water, a hat, sturdy shoes, and a pad for kneeling (if necessary for you)!

We meet under the large red maple at the end of the barn by the pick up room.

Workshift Guidelines - Workshift Sign Up Instructions

August 14, 2022
Herb of the Week: Wild Dandelion
By Gia Yaccarino

Dandelion greens are amazing! In early springtime, before the first pick-up of the season, I have been known to pick dandelion greens from my yard for a salad! (Please only pick wild dandelion greens in yards which are untreated!) My mom tells stories about when she was growing up, her aunt would go to the circle at Trenton Train Station and pick dandelion greens!

Dandelion greens have more vitamins and nutrients than kale or spinach!

Try mixing in a little dandelion green into your next salad!

Cooking helps reduce the bitterness of dandelion greens. If sautéed dandelion greens are still too bitter, try quickly blanching before sautéing.

Safe for cats: Yes

Safe for dogs: Yes

August 14, 2022
Re-Energize
by Farmer Derek

A big shout out, feeling of gratitude, appreciation, super large THANK YOU to our crew for taking care of the farm this past week!

We're now feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. Frolicking in the surf, viewing ocean and shore dwelling species, paddling to our hearts' content, ignoring the world-at-large, was just enough playtime. We're excited to buckle down and hustle through the final month of summer. Plant growth, both the wanted and unwanted kind, is at the end of peak growth. Weeds, particularly, are growing quickly and trying their best to set seed to continue their genetic line. This coming week we'll try our best using our toolkit to subdue these foes and tidy up the place. After this last gasp, germination of summer weeds like amaranth and galinsoga ends, our main competitors this time of year. Wanted summer crops like zucchini, cucumbers, tomatoes, and eggplant are slowing down somewhat, especially during this respite from hot weather, but also because diseases that plague these crops are slowly getting a foothold. Peppers this year are perplexing. We're harvesting a ton, but there are a lot of culls in the field due to blemishes on the fruit. We've never seen them suffer this much but overall yield is adequate. Every time we harvest we have to do a thorough fruit check. Ripening fruit are especially hard hit by the annoying blight. Tomatoes, on the other hand, have been awesome (and backbreakingly heavy). Moving tomato production inside was one of the best decisions (and investments) we've ever made. They've peaked but should be around for another month or so. In September we'll have to begin preparing the tunnels for fall lettuces and other greens and bid farewell to the 2022 tomato harvest. Before we know it the Fall Equinox and the glory of Autumn will be here.

August 8, 2022
Peak Produce
by Farmer Derek

Harvest #12 (Week B) should include watermelon, cantaloupe, beets, cucumbers, carrots, garlic, zucchini, sweet peppers, hot peppers, okra, shishito peppers, lettuce, herbs, eggplant, italian dandelion, tomatoes, onions, and scallions. Some items will be a choice. U-pick should include a handful of herbs, husk cherries, cherry tomatoes, tomatillos, blackberries, edamame, and flowers.

August 8, 2022
Workshifts for Week of 8/8/22
by Farmer Derek

This week's workshift schedule is very light due to farmer vacation but will pick up again next week:

Bring gloves, water, a hat, sturdy shoes, and a pad for kneeling (if necessary for you)!

We meet under the large red maple at the end of the barn by the pick up room.

Workshift Guidelines - Workshift Sign Up Instructions

August 8, 2022
Notes from Vacationville
by Farmer Dana

Our family left the farm for a much needed vacation and handed the reins over to our wholly capable and incredible crew for the week. Since the beginning of March this swath of land has asked 7 day work weeks of us and we have obliged devotedly, tending and coaxing productivity, in constant conversation with the myriad of variables that is our diversified organic farm. By the time August rolls around we are spent and, while it feels like an impossible task to extricate ourselves from this habitat, it's a respite we afford ourselves in order to restore physical and emotional reserves. We are so so grateful to Sarah, Craig, Gabby, and Meghan for allowing us this break and taking such great care of the farm and animals while we are away! Please cheer on our indispensable crew if you see them this week, they truly deserve it! We'll see you farmside next week, refreshed and ready for the remainder of the season.

August 1, 2022
Herb of the Week: Cilantro/Coriander
By Gia Yaccarino

Coriander (Coriandrum sativum)

In the US, we refer to Coriander as the seeds from the Cilantro plant. Be on the lookout: When a recipe calls for a “bunch of coriander”, it is most likely referring to the leaves AKA- Cilantro. The seeds are usually roasted or toasted and then often ground prior to use in recipes.

Coriander seeds are used in pickling, soups, stews, curry and many Indian recipes.

You can dry and save the fresh seeds by cutting off the seed heads when the plant begins to turn brown. Place the seed heads in a paper bag. Hang the bag until the plant dries and the seeds fall off. Store the seeds in a sealed container.

Try coriander seed tea – 1 teaspoon of coriander seeds in 1 cup of boiling water. Let steep for 15 minutes, then compost the seeds.

Safe for cats: Yes

Safe for dogs: Yes

U-Pick Time Saver: I taught a seasoned farmer a new trick! I was fortunate enough to do some of my u-pick this past week with Dana. She noticed that as I was picking the green beans, I was also breaking off the top of the bean before adding them to my quart container. That way all I need to do when I get home is rinse them and they are ready -whether eaten raw or cooked up. It also leaves the organic matter of the tops in the fields – something D&D love!