Deven (assistant manager) here! While I love all the greens of early spring vegetables, what a treat it is to be in full swing on summer colors - from varied hues of purple eggplant to the first blush of color on red, orange, and yellow tomatoes to the magical pink insides of potatoes and watermelons, the farm has never felt more like a rainbow! And I suppose that'll have to be enough for now as we cross our fingers each time the forecast has a chance of rain.
Farming is so dependent on so many factors out of our control that past farm manager, Sara, used to say it was a Goldilocks situation; one moment we're lamenting too much rain and the next second we're praying for it. But I must say that with peppers, tomatoes, melons, corn, carrots, and more filling up my fridge, it does feel -- as Goldilocks herself would say -- just right.
Best,
Deven
A tomato with a beautiful nose gets eyes to match
Bountiful Shishito Peppers
The tractor carrying a load of watermelons
Fruit Share
1 pint Blueberries (MA)
+
1 pint Strawberries (Quebec)
Recipe of the week:
Cucumber, Watermelon and Feta Salad
Watermelon and feta are so delicious together; the salty feta complements the sweet watermelon!
Makes 4 side dish servings
2 cups of diced watermelon (or a mix of melons)
1 cup of diced cucumber (no need to peel)
1 tsp lemon zest
2 TB lemon juice
¼ tsp Aleppo pepper (no Aleppo pepper? You can use just a pinch of crushed red pepper or leave it out entirely)
2 TB extra virgin olive oil
3 TB torn mint
¼ cup feta, crumbled
Toss together watermelon and cucumber.
In a small bowl, mix zest, juice, pepper and oil. Toss with watermelon mixture. Then mint and feta.
Serve immediately! The watermelon and cucumber will exude their juices. If this happens, just drain some of the liquid off before plating.
Storage and Usage Tips:
Tomatoes
Farm-fresh tomatoes are one of the best parts of summer eating and you do want to take care of them. Generally speaking, tomatoes should always be stored at room temperature. You really don't want to refrigerate tomatoes; they contain an enzyme that reacts to cold temperatures. It causes the cell membranes to break down, and results in a mushy, mealy tomato.
But, if your tomatoes are at risk for becoming over-ripe and rotting, then go ahead and put them in the refrigerator. Just try to bring them down to room temperature before serving and use them as soon as possible.
Thank you Rockland Trust!
We are so excited to announce we have received a $2,500 donation from the Rockland Trust Charitable Foundation for 10 CSA shares that are going to the True Alliance Center. That means we have 32% of the share cost covered!
Brookwood Community Farm (BCF) is asking for additional donations to cover the remaining cost of the 10 CSA shares. True Alliance Center is a nonprofit organization established in response to the earthquake that devastated Haiti in 2010. This faith-based charitable organization seeks to promote advocacy in the Haitian community related to education, housing, immigration, health and economic development.
Any amount helps, please write “For the True Alliance Center” in the notes section of your donation!
Veggies: We can accomodate three day switch requests for the whole season this year. That means that you can change your pick-up day in the same week you signed up for. For instance: You are an odd week Saturday pick up but will be away for your typical day. You may request to change your Saturday odd week pick up to a Tuesday or Thursday odd week pick up for one particular week (up to three times). You may only switch days of your pick-up week, you may not switch pick-up weeks (odd/even). You’ll need to request this change the week before you want to use it. To make a day switch request: Up to the week before you want to switch pick-up days by 5 PM on Friday the week before the pickup you would like to change. Email csa@brookwoodcommunityfarm.org and include your name, your usual pick-up day, and your requested pick-up day. For example, Jane Smith, Tuesday, July 2nd is my pick-up day, and I would like to pick up on Saturday, July 6th instead.
Eggs: You may pick up your egg share up to three weeks after your missed pick-up day without notice. This means you may double up on previously missed pick-ups of up to three weeks.
Fruit: You may pick up your fruit share up to 7 days after your missed pick-up day without notice. This means you may double up on previously missed pick-ups of up to one week.
Mushrooms: You may pick up your mushroom share up to 7 days after your missed pick-up day without notice. This means you may double up on previously missed pick-ups of up to one week.
Flowers: Once the flower share starts you may pick your flowers in any increment you would like. But please keep an eye on the weekly newsletter as that will have advice on the abundance of blooms and other good information! You can pick one bouquet per visit or multiples of your share amount per visit.
