Turtle Times
_____________________________________________________________________
Vol. 12 No. 4, May 29, ‘07 7260 NW 58th St., Johnston 50131 278-4522 (577-9208)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rain: 5/23-24, 2.5”; 5/26, 0.8”
In the Box . . .
Pac Choi ‘Mei Qing’
Lettuces ‘Merlot’, ‘Speckled’ (RAFT variety) or other
Edible flowers – pansies
Turnips ‘Hakurei’
Asparagus (for some who haven’t yet gotten 5 lbs)
Herb share availability: French tarragon (order day ahead), mint (regular and chocolate), lovage (celery flavor), marjoram, thyme, sage
Farm Update
Last week as the farm crew was planting the peppers and eggplant, Amanda asked if I picked the varieties of vegetables by their names. We had just been planting varieties like ‘Lipstick’, ‘Tolli’s Sweet’, ‘Franks’, ‘Conchos’, ‘Jimmy Nardello’, and a new one called ‘Hinkelhatz’ pepper . I have to admit, some of the names are pretty appealing and descriptive. But I, too, wondered how ‘Hinkelhatz’ (another free RAFT variety that I wouldn’t have ordered otherwise) got its name, so I googled it, and this is what I learned.
. . . These hot peppers are one of the very oldest varieties preserved by the Pennsylvania Dutch Germans. They have been cultivated in that area for over 150 years. Its name, meaning chicken hearts, perfectly describes the shape and size of these extremely hot peppers. They are used almost exclusively in pickled form by the PA Dutch, although they also cook and puree the peppers to make a "pepper vinegar" similar to Tabasco sauce, which is used on sauerkraut and other dishes. . . .
Needless to say these won’t be finding their way into any CSA boxes except maybe those who requested hot peppers.
By this week almost everyone will have gotten their 5th pound of asparagus per share. While it started out with a bang, it has slowed down quickly, and we will not be able to do a 6th pound.
Introducing the farm crew (part 2)
My name is Amanda Kopp, and I'm a junior at ISU studying
Environmental Science and Forestry. I'm from the small town of Ralston, Nebraska, and I previously attended Dana College in Blair, Nebraska (which is just a country mile north). I transferred to ISU because there is a lot more opportunity at a larger school, and it’s tons more fun. I'd really like to work for a park service after I graduate and incorporate everything I have already and will learn from Turtle Farm into my everyday life. I also really like camping, hiking, and going to baseball games whenever I can. I'm totally excited to see what new things I can learn this summer and who knows, maybe I will actually learn how to pronounce some of the tomato variety names =).
Hello everyone, my name is Tanya Ferguson. I am a senior at ISU in Agronomy and Horticulture emphasizing in sustainable agriculture. I was born in Ames, but spent my growing up years in Chicago. Never really fit in there, I spent some time in Colorado learning how to train Horses. I came back to Iowa because most of my family lives here, I wanted to be close to them, and I wanted my daughter to know all the generations still living (which is many). My daughter and I love biking, going to Ledges, and to community suppers with our friends. Book and movie collection is also a big pastime, a trait passed down through the generations. My future goals include a small, which may be a relative term today, sustainable farm that utilizes and brings about connections within a community. Those are fancy words for describing Turtle Farm. My working at Turtle Farm is a highlight for me, and I hope to meet many new friends at the farm. I find great pleasure in being a part of the connection between plants, animals, and people.
Recipes
Bianca Cleary has a recipe for those of you with an herb share. If you don’t know what to do with your lovage, she blends it with extra virgin olive oil and spreads it over veggies before roasting them.