CSA Week 7, July23-27 Pickle Week

7/25/2012

This week's share consists of arugula, beets, kale, onions, zucchini, summer squash, potatoes, fresh dill, and Lots of Cucumbers.

It seems to happen every year--- we wait and wait for a certain crop, then it finally comes in, and there is suddenly way too much of it.

We had a lot insect and disease pressure on our first cucumber planting back in May, so we planted a whole bunch more just in case. But obviously, they all bounced back and we are  rolling in them right now.  Growing veggies is fairly manic; supply can swing from famine, to feast, to famine, to.....

It is definitely a pain to have to pick all these cucumbers, when there are so many other things to do. But we think it is worth it. By sharing, bartering,and/or preserving the harvest, these random surpluses give everyone in the CSA a chance to get more involved in our local food system. Spread the food, spread the word, spread the love.

On that note, email me if you know of a shelter or food pantry which could use cucumbers and/or if you want to buy some in bulk, $1/lb. You could even buy them from me and then donate them yourself!

Make Pickles or relish!  What i like to do is to give the cucumbers to a friend.  They turn them into pickles and give some back to me....

We hope you are enjoying this season's harvest so far.

aggresive cucumber vines!

floating row covers adding heat and excluding bugs from our cucumbers back in may

its so dry we need to water the fields even Before we plant

CSA pickup site at Salem Farmers Market

5 Comments

Amy

7/25/2012 01:22:09 am

Bring on the cucumbers! We absolutely LOVE everything from your farm and are always eager to see what our weekly box will bring - even if it is 20 pounds of cucumbers!

Linda W.

7/25/2012 02:12:58 am

For the overload of cucumbers - raita and tzatziki sauce are both a good way to use them up, as well as a cucumber salad with sour cream and dill!

Anna

7/25/2012 03:36:16 am

what a great idea!!

Kate Goldlust

7/25/2012 05:31:54 am

Could I get 2 extra pounds of cucumbers at my pick up in lynnfield today? Thx

Stephanie D.

7/26/2012 03:40:03 am

Here is a great recipe for sweet and spicy pickles (no dill required!) I make these every year, and everyone loves them. This week, I pickled my cucumbers, onions, beets, and some red peppers and carrots I had in the veggie drawer. I've canned these properly in the past, but this time I just stuck everything in some glass jars I had saved and put 'em in the fridge. They don't last long around here.

1. Soak veggies in enough water to cover plus 1/2 c. pickling salt for a couple of hours. Rinse very well. (I did my beets separately so everything didn't turn red.)

2. In a large saucepan on med-high, combine:
3 c. white vinegar
1/5 c. cider vinegar
3 c. sugar
a handful of dried chili peppers
5 large garlic cloves
Spices to taste. I used mustard seeds, turmeric, and cloves

3. Dump all of the rinsed and drained veggies into the boiling pickle juice. Return to simmer, then divide into glass jars, and keep in the fridge. (Or preserve them properly in mason jars and keep in the cupboard.)

Happy pickling!

First Light Farm, CSA

CSA Week 7, July23-27 Pickle Week

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