Full Share: Salad mix, Basil, Cucumbers, Zucchini, Garlic Scapes, Broccoli, small Cauliflower, and Green Cabbage

Partial Share: Salad mix, Cucumbers, Zucchini, Cauliflower, Garlic Scapes, and Green Cabbage

Hello CSA members!

To a person with an untrained eye, if they could get from the parking lot to the field without running back to their car to hide from the mosquitos, they might think the farm is looking pretty good at the moment. We are definitely recovering from the flooding, and the new crops are looking good. The cucumbers and tomato plants in the high tunnels are over head high, as is the corn. The zucchini, which suffered in all the rain, has finally bounced back, so we have summer squash this week, although the first ones of the season always look a little funny until the plants get up to speed. The cucumbers are going strong, and we’re picking them every day. The first spring green cabbage (yeah, the ones that are supposed to be ready for 4th of July) have finally arrived. The tomatoes are on schedule, but the carrots are taking their sweet time…to the chagrin of many people.

There is more work to be done on the farm these days than is possible to complete, but that’s usually the case this time of year. The weed pressure is high, especially after falling behind with all the June rain, but it’s ok…the field will still grow nutritious food, with or without weeds. And with the mosquito swarms we’re dealing with all day, every day, it’s a huge effort just to get through a full day, so the thought of putting in extra time in to weed is a non-starter. Given what we’ve been through so far this season, I’ll take where we’re at as a hard fought victory.

Given the recent hot weather hasn’t slowed the mosquitoes, I’m beginning to wonder if the only thing that will stop them is the first frost. Let’s hope not, as a going through a full season with them would be hard. I will say the wind today provided a pleasant reprieve, if only for a few hours. As did finally getting out on the North Fork yesterday, for my first time all year. If there is one silver lining to the skeeters, it’s that we’ve been getting off the farm more after work, and enjoying the Whitefish River in the evenings, rather than sitting at home swatting at bugs.

It’s hard to believe we’re past the mid-point of July already. We hope you are enjoying your summer, and we’ll see you at CSA pickup!

Todd