Turtle Times
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Vol. 11 No. 7, June 20, ‘06 7260 NW 58th St., Johnston 50131 278-4522 (577-9208)
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Rain: No rain
In the Box . . .
Strawberries ‘Jewel’, ‘Cavendish’ (extra berry shares only)
Turnips ‘Hakurei’
Garlic scapes
Kohlrabi ‘Eder’, ‘Kohlibri’ (on side)
Lettuces ‘Speckled’, ‘Red Deer Tongue’
Edible flowers – pansies
Peas ‘Sugar snap’
Cauliflower ‘Violet Queen’
Broccoli ‘Packman’, ‘Green King’
Scallions ‘Evergreen Hardy’
Herbs available: French tarragon, mint (regular and chocolate), lovage (celery flavor), lavender, marjoram, thyme, sage, chervil (small amount)
Farm Update
We are well into brassica season. (Be sure to soak your broccoli in salt water briefly to encourage hitchhikers to disembark.) Some of you received broccoli and cauliflower in your boxes last week. The only cauliflower I am growing this year is ‘Violet Queen’, which looks like a purplish broccoli (but botanically is a cauliflower), so don’t look for any white heads in your box. We’re having another go round on the turnips, and the garlic scapes (the flower stalk of the garlic) in the box make a good garlic flavoring for stir frys or soup. And if it’s garlic scape season, then you may remember that the garlic harvest is not far away once we cut the flower scapes. See dates below.
We planted sweet potatoes last Thursday under the most undesirable conditions that you could want—hot, dry, sunny, and very windy. But it was do it then or wait almost another week before we had the workers and time to do it. They are amazing plants (or slips) that are sprouts from a sweet potato. With very few roots hairs on their little stems, they jump to the challenge of survival under their preferred tropical conditions. They can look like they are on death’s door when you plant them, and the next day, they have perked up to start growing.
Dates For Your Calendar
Anyone who would like to try their hand at digging garlic is welcome to come to the farm on the morning of Saturday July 8 for garlic harvesting. And if you are not so big on the digging part, some helpers can tie the garlic for hanging. Or, if you are a real garlic head, you can just stand around and inhale the aroma.
The July 4th is on a Tuesday this year, so the Tuesday delivery that week will come on Wednesday July 5th. Please make a note of that change in your weekly schedule if you are a Tuesday delivery customer.
Recipe
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Debbie Julien found this recipe on Chef2chef network.
Vegetable Puree with Kohlrabi and Broccoli
3 c. kohlrabi, peeled, sliced
2 c. broccoli; stems and florets, sliced
1 c. watercress, packed
¼ tsp. marjoram
2 T. vegetarian bouillon
2 tsp. flour
¼ c. milk
Steam the kohlrabi 10 minutes, add broccoli stems. Steam 10 min., add broccoli florets. Steam an additional 10 minutes. Place watercress and marjoram in a small skillet with the bouillon. Cook, stirring , over low heat just till the watercress is wilted. Add the flour and continue stirring over low heat, 2 min. Place watercress in blender with milk and half the steamed veggies. Process on low to medium speed until smooth. Remove from blender and place in a serving dish.