Hello from the Farm,
The summer crops are starting to come in heavy! We are harvesting cucumbers and zucchini three times a week. There will still be some Green Garlic, Swiss Chard, and Scallions this week. It is truly exciting to see the fruit of our labor. We started seeding summer crops in the greenhouse around the end of April and now we are harvesting vegetables from those plants!
At my families farm we grow around 60 acres of cucumbers. Once the cucumbers are harvested they are sent to the barn to be washed and sorted. They are sorted by going through a Sizer, which is a machine that can separate the large cucumbers form the small cucumbers. When they are sorted into the right size, then they are dropped onto the appropriate belt. My Dad, Uncles, cousins, sisters, hired help, and me are lined up along the belts ready to sort the cucumbers. I was in control of the Large Line, which is the belt that had larger cucumbers. This was my favorite thing to do on the farm, sort cucumbers!!! We would sort the curved cucumbers into one box (called selects), then the perfectly straight cucumbers into another (called supers), and so on. Then the boxes would be sent off to grocery stores and restaurants. This is different from Goodwill at Homefields farm because we are on a lot smaller scale of farming. There is no need for us to sort in such categories because all cucumbers are supers in our eyes! Just a little taste of what happens on a Family Owned Farm and why I am excited to harvest my first crop of cucumbers here. :)
There will be a photo posted on Goodwill at Homefields Farm Facebook page of us sorting cucumbers at my families farm.
Facebook Page Link: https://www.facebook.com/GoodwillatHomefieldsFarm/
PYO Field is Open!
At my families farm we grow around 60 acres of cucumbers. Once the cucumbers are harvested they are sent to the barn to be washed and sorted. They are sorted by going through a Sizer, which is a machine that can separate the large cucumbers form the small cucumbers. When they are sorted into the right size, then they are dropped onto the appropriate belt. My Dad, Uncles, cousins, sisters, hired help, and me are lined up along the belts ready to sort the cucumbers. I was in control of the Large Line, which is the belt that had larger cucumbers. This was my favorite thing to do on the farm, sort cucumbers!!! We would sort the curved cucumbers into one box (called selects), then the perfectly straight cucumbers into another (called supers), and so on. Then the boxes would be sent off to grocery stores and restaurants. This is different from Goodwill at Homefields farm because we are on a lot smaller scale of farming. There is no need for us to sort in such categories because all cucumbers are supers in our eyes! Just a little taste of what happens on a Family Owned Farm and why I am excited to harvest my first crop of cucumbers here. :)
There will be a photo posted on Goodwill at Homefields Farm Facebook page of us sorting cucumbers at my families farm.
Facebook Page Link: https://www.facebook.com/GoodwillatHomefieldsFarm/
PYO Field is Open!
PYO field is open for shareholders to pick certain flowers, herbs, and peppers. The ones that are available for picking will have a white wooden sign that has the name of the plant on it. If you are new to the farm the PYO Field is on the other side of our two greenhouses. There is also a sign that indicates you are in the PYO Field.
Ever wonder how to properly cut flowers? It is similar to Basil except you do not want to remove as much from the flowering plants. When cutting your stem make sure you are not removing buds that have not already bloomed. You want to cut your stem where it meets the main stem or to where there is a stem branching off. Once you take your stems home make sure you cut the bottom of the stems at a 45 degree angle. This makes it easier for the stems to drink water and makes them last longer.
Talks in the Field - Intro to Yoga with Farmer Elizabeth
Want to share your Recipes?
Ever excited about how your vegetables turned out with a recipe you tried? From vegetable shakes, to salads, or creative combinations. We want to see how you are preparing our vegetables! Post a picture of your creation on our Facebook page and a short description on how it was prepared. This will be a great way to share recipes with other shareholders. If you have not liked our Facebook Page please click on the link below.
Facebook Page Link: https://www.facebook.com/GoodwillatHomefieldsFarm/
Ever wonder how to properly cut flowers? It is similar to Basil except you do not want to remove as much from the flowering plants. When cutting your stem make sure you are not removing buds that have not already bloomed. You want to cut your stem where it meets the main stem or to where there is a stem branching off. Once you take your stems home make sure you cut the bottom of the stems at a 45 degree angle. This makes it easier for the stems to drink water and makes them last longer.
Talks in the Field - Intro to Yoga with Farmer Elizabeth
This Saturday - 7/16 - 10am till 11am
Beginners are welcome to this gentle yoga class, and it will give a taste of what's to come in the Field Good Yoga Series starting July 29 & 30.
This is a Homefields event. Class will be held rain or shine, and class may be modified in the event of rain. Bring a yoga mat, block, strap, and water bottle. If you do not have yoga gear improvise with a beach towel or blanket and belt, necktie or bathrobe tie. To reserve your spot or for any questions, please email Talks@Homefields.org
Ever excited about how your vegetables turned out with a recipe you tried? From vegetable shakes, to salads, or creative combinations. We want to see how you are preparing our vegetables! Post a picture of your creation on our Facebook page and a short description on how it was prepared. This will be a great way to share recipes with other shareholders. If you have not liked our Facebook Page please click on the link below.
Facebook Page Link: https://www.facebook.com/GoodwillatHomefieldsFarm/
Abendesson Bread
Pretzel Rolls week! Will be sold at $4 per half dozen.
Farm Shares - Sign up Now at Prorated Rate!
2016 Shares are still available! For current shareholders and new shareholders please follow this link: http://goodwillathomefieldsfarm.csasignup.com/members/types
Harvest List
Beans - eat raw, cooked, casserole, and throw them in many different recipes!
Zucchini - bake with pastries, saute, or grill
Cucumbers - eat raw, put in salad, make cucumber and mint water
Eggplant - can be pan fried, grilled, or microwaved till tender
Kohlrabi - Once you peel off the tough outer shell of the bulb (with a vegetable peeler) you can add it to a soup, steam it, roast it, or eat it raw
Turnips - can be used the same way you use a potato. Eat raw, cooked, put in sandwich, or a salad
Radishes - eat raw, put in salad, cook them, sauteed, chop the greens up nicely for a salad
Green Garlic - have an onion flavor, good fresh or cooked, doesn't have to be peeled
Scallions - add for an onion flavoring
Swiss Chard - used as a side dish by being sauteed, made into a soup, or a pasta
Zucchini - bake with pastries, saute, or grill
Cucumbers - eat raw, put in salad, make cucumber and mint water
Eggplant - can be pan fried, grilled, or microwaved till tender
Kohlrabi - Once you peel off the tough outer shell of the bulb (with a vegetable peeler) you can add it to a soup, steam it, roast it, or eat it raw
Turnips - can be used the same way you use a potato. Eat raw, cooked, put in sandwich, or a salad
Radishes - eat raw, put in salad, cook them, sauteed, chop the greens up nicely for a salad
Green Garlic - have an onion flavor, good fresh or cooked, doesn't have to be peeled
Scallions - add for an onion flavoring
Swiss Chard - used as a side dish by being sauteed, made into a soup, or a pasta
Eat your Veggies,
Your Farmers
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