• Home Page
  • Store & Login
  • About Us
  • Eating Seasonally
  • Contact Info
    • The Farm Crew
First Light Farm CSA
  • Home Page
  • Store & Login
  • About Us
  • Eating Seasonally
  • Contact Info
    • The Farm Crew

First Light Farm, CSA

CSA Week 7, July23-27 Pickle Week

7/25/2012

5 Comments

 
 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.
Picture
aggresive cucumber vines!
Picture
floating row covers adding heat and excluding bugs from our cucumbers back in may
Picture
its so dry we need to water the fields even Before we plant
Picture
CSA pickup site at Salem Farmers Market
Picture
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!

Reply
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!

Reply
Anna
7/25/2012 03:36:16 am

what a great idea!!

Reply
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

Reply
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!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    March 2020
    November 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    January 2011
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    October 2009
    September 2009
    August 2009
    July 2009
    June 2009
    May 2009
    April 2009
    March 2009
    February 2009

First Light Farm, CSA
466 Highland Avenue, Hamilton, MA 
  • Home Page
  • Store & Login
  • About Us
  • Eating Seasonally
  • Contact Info
    • The Farm Crew