Eighth CSA - Week of July 28th

Hello community agriculture supporters!

What are some things to be thankful for this week? Here’s a few ideas: calling Gallatin Valley home, clear skies free of wildfire smoke, friends when family is far, the outdoors and the summer warmth that will soon be missed.

Boxes this week include -

Full Share: lettuce mix, tokyo bekana, baby carrots, celery, fennel, onion (red torpedo), peas, cherry tomatoes, broccoli, summer squash

Half Share: lettuce mix, baby carrots, celery, fennel, onion (red torpedo), cherry tomatoes

Things are in full swing on the farm this week. The carrots and tomatoes are steadily coming in and there seems to be a never ending supply of peas. Today, we are drying garlic and keeping on top of irrigating on these hot, dry days. Our Farmstand has been getting busier and, with health in mind, please wear a mask when picking up your box. For those berry pickers, come early and you’ll have the best luck! Aronia and Raspberries will ripen in the next few weeks.

A note from Annie, one of our great farmhands:

“My love of farming started at Warren Wilson College where, for three years, I grew food with the changing of the seasons in Southern Appalachia--strip grazing cattle on hillside fescue in the winter, calving and lambing in early spring, planting corn and farrowing in early summer, then harvesting barley and making hay for winter. I loved this work, but was always curious about those weird vegetable people. After graduating, I spent a summer working in Glacier National Park and fell in love with Montana! Learning to grow vegetables at Gallatin Valley Botanical has been a rewarding and tasty experience. With vegetable farming, I see the results of my work quickly and that has been very satisfying. Farming here brings so many challenges--hail in July and flea beetles on arugula. But with lots of joys every day--watching the carrots you weeded last week now flourishing, popping the first cherry tomato of summer in your mouth, and jumping in Rocky Creek at the end of a long, hot day.”

If you’re looking for ways to utilize your fennel and you’ve got some radishes lying around, try out this fennel and radish pistou (similar to pesto) http://www.mereleighfood.com/fennel-radish-pistou

You can try throwing the pistou on top of some summer squash or zucchini noodles. Tis’ the season for zoodles! http://www.mereleighfood.com/summer-squash-noodles

Love and Peas,

Alley & Annie

she, her, hers