Full Share: Salad mix, Spinach, radishes, green onions, mustard greens, bok choi, kale, and cilantro
Half Share: Everything in smaller portions, minus kale
Hello CSA Members!
Well, it’s official. We weren’t just whining about it being a dry spring. The National Weather Service just announced that this May was the driest May in Kalispell since 1899. A whopping .21 inches of rain fell during the entire month, the least amount in the past 116 years. And the period of April and May combined ranks as the second driest on record for that two month period. In addition to being dry, it’s been really warm. What does that mean for the farm? Well, first off, we’ve been watering a lot. Second, many of the succession plantings that should be growing slowly in cool cloudy conditions are growing really fast, which messes with our timing. And unfortunately, we can’t take advantage of the warmth by planting crops like tomatoes earlier, because the space they need to go is still occupied by spring crops like spinach. But, hey, given all the other whacky seasons we’ve faced, this one seems rather benign so far, so I hope I don’t sound like I’m complaining. The big question is will we really get 1″ to 2″ of rain tonight as forecasted?
Mustard greens are making a rare appearance in the shares this week. For those who like their salad mix a bit spicy, you can chop these up and add them to the mix. Perhaps you can braise them with some pork, or even make a pesto out of them and add them to sandwiches. I bet they would go great on roast beef. Same with the kale. It makes a great early-season substitute for basil when used in pestos and spreads. And the cilantro…well, it makes for great toppings for noodles and thai cuisine. Here is a link with 22 cilantro recipes, some simple and some more complex, although I can’t bring myself to advocate for option #5.
Week #3
We hope you’ve been enjoying the share so far, and seeing what food can be grown in your local community!
