WILD HARE WEEKLY, SUMMER #4

Blueberries are turning blue, Zucchini and Favas are fattening up, and even the smallest handful of our very earliest tomatoes are showing a little color out there in the field. When I'm building the share for any given week, I try to strike a really delicate balance between things that are almost always sure to please (this year's amazing crop of Sugar Snap Peas falls square in that category, for instance) and types of things that I think of as "rut-busters," the kinds of crops that inspire us to try something new. These specialty crops are often something we grow because they're a great fit for our maritime climate, because they're good for our soils and crop rotations, because a chef asked us to, and/or most importantly, because one of the best things about a CSA is getting to enjoy produce that you aren't likely to find at the grocery store--at its peak no less!

WILD HARE WEEKLY, SUMMER #3

The sweet red Cherries, Sugar Snap Peas and the small handful of our delicious Strawberries we hope to pick will probably grab the attention of most of the taste buds out there this week; however, I have to admit that my heart lit up when I stood at the center of the field you see pictured above today.  Get ready to eat your greens--the bunching fields have sized up for harvest, and we're going to take our first picks of multiple types of Kale, Collard Greens, and Swiss Chard.  We're testing out a few variations on broad themes this year, paying attention to how different varieties and sub-varieties of seed taste and perform throughout the year.  It is hard to believe, but these are plantings that we will be harvesting from over the next 14 months.  They're the unsung heroes of our year-round farming operations in that way, so as trite as it may seem for an organic farmer to get worked up about something like Kale, there's serious peace of mind in having a good stand of it out there.   We've undersown the plantings with a low-growing white clover that will act as a living mulch of sorts, smothering out a few weeds and helping lock in plenty of moisture at the base of each plant.  This is a practice that has proven very helpful with Summers that seem to be hotter and drier with every year.  

Remember, this week we'll host Family Yoga at the Farm on Wednesday June 19th from 12:00-12:45, generously led by Julia of Blooming Lotus.  People of all ages (even the kiddos and young at heart types!) are welcome to gather at the farm for an exploration of yoga based movement, mindfulness, meditation, heart centered sharing and more.  This is a free event--just bring yourself, your little ones, a mat/towel or blanket.  Please arrive 10 minutes early to get settled.  We are so thankful for Julia and cannot wait to share a bit of movement and mindfulness with you!

Here's to the longest week of the year,
Katie

WILD HARE WEEKLY, SUMMER #2

Warm and sunny days call for crisp salads, and we're lucky enough to have a bed of beautiful Butter Lettuce ready for harvest this week.  Sometimes called Boston or Bibb, I think Butterheads really live up to their name.  When grown in the open field this time of year, the leaves are dense yet sweet, and their smooth texture seems to melt away with every bite.  Like Buttah!  Whether red or green, Butterheads make superb salads, simply dressed with a bit of olive oil, salt, pepper and vinegar or lemon juice; however, the wide and open leaf structure of these lettuces makes for a beautifully crisp layer on a sandwich or can even replace the bread or bun altogether for a for a satisfying lettuce wrap or cup.  You're gonna love them, along with our tasty little scallions, sugar snap peas and the first stone fruits of the year--cherries!

Now that we're really settling into summer, I wanted to encourage you all to mark your calendars for a couple of exciting events coming up this summer, the first of which is Family Yoga at the Farm on Wednesday June 19th from 12:00-12:45, generously led by Julia of Blooming Lotus.  People of all ages (even the kiddos and young at heart types!) are welcome to gather at the farm for an exploration of yoga based movement, mindfulness, meditation, heart centered sharing and more.  This is a free event--just bring yourself, your little ones, a mat/towel or blanket.  Please arrive 10 minutes early to get settled.  We are so thankful for Julia and cannot wait to share a bit of movement and mindfulness with you!

Looking ahead to July, I'm so honored to announce that PCC Farmland Trust and Tahoma Audubon Society will co-host Birding on the Farm at Wild Hare, a family-friendly farm walk where you’ll learn about the importance of protecting local farmland not just for people, but for birds too! Join us for a morning of learning and refreshments as we discuss pollinator habitat and organic farming while searching for native birds onSunday, July 21st from 9am-11am.  If you'd like to participate, please click here to register for the event.   

See you this week.  Many thanks!
Katie