Turtle Times

_____________________________________________________________________

Vol. 12 No. 10, July 10, ‘07     7260 NW 58th  St., Johnston 50131  278-4522 (577-9208)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rain:  7/2/07, 0.05” (more like a hard spit)

In the Box . . .

Cucumbers ’Marketmore’ (green, spiny), ‘Diva’ (green, smooth), ‘Poona Kheera’ (light green turning brown)

Potatoes ‘Chieftain’ (maybe)

Cabbage ‘Early Jersey Wakefield’ (cone shaped), ‘Hermes’, or ‘Farao’ (round)

Broccoli ‘Arcadia’, ‘Packman’, ‘Gypsy’

Summer Squash ‘Sunburst’ (yellow patty pan), ‘Costata Romanesca’ (green striped), and ‘Dark Green’ (green zucchini)

Scallions ‘Evergreen Hardy’

Basil

Herbs available by request by anyone:  sage

Herb share availability:  mint (regular and chocolate),  marjoram, thyme, sage, rosemary, summer savory, oregano, lavender, lemon or lime basil (makes a great tea)

Farm Update

Garlic Harvest is this Saturday July 14 from 9-12 am.  Come watch the barn rafters fill with garlic.  A definite aromatic event! You can come just to inhale, or if you would like to participate, dress for the weather and the plants—long pants, gloves (?), no sandals.  If you have a spading fork and want to bring it, that could be helpful as well.

This week we start the cucumbers.  One new variety we are growing is ‘Poona Kheera’ originating from India.  It starts out light green and then turns brown, so don’t think that something is wrong or rotten if you get a brown cucumber.  We are also starting small buckets of basil this week—on the side at the drop sites for anyone.  These will continue off and on for the rest of the season as in the past.  And if the workers and weather cooperate, there may be potatoes as well.  The boxes are getting hefty!  The farm crew starts out the season carrying four boxes at a time to load cars.  We have now moved into two boxes at a time.

I missed the West Des Moines site for black raspberries, and the berry production has dropped dramatically.  They will be first in line for any remaining blacks and new red raspberries (just starting to trickle in).

Calendar Dates to note:

July 21 (Saturday) Practical Farmers of Iowa field day at the farm 9-12

July 21 (Saturday) Cohousing group potluck at the farm 1 pm

Recipes

            An easy supper dish that I started using with cabbage and ground pork and some recipe (that I have since lost) has evolved into the following no-brainer main dish.

Browned Cabbage with Pork

One small head cabbage, coarsely chopped

1 c. chopped onion

4 T. cooking oil of your choice, divided

1 lb. ground pork

¼ c. soy sauce

¼ c. water

1 T. cornstarch

            Heat 2 T. oil in a large skillet.  Brown onion and cabbage in oil with skillet partially covered over medium high heat, reducing to medium heat as moisture cooks off.  Remove to large bowl and reserve.  Add remaining 2 T. oil to skillet, add ground pork, and brown meat.  Remove any oil that remains once meat is browned.  Combine soy sauce and water and cornstarch in a small bowl.  Add to skillet with meat, and stir quickly as it thickens.  Return cabbage and onions to skillet and stir well. Serves 4.