Community Supported Agriculture
Farm Notes: Early Corn
         

This week we will be picking the first of our corn. Our corn does have a reputation for being some of the tastiest and so we usually try to get an early harvest as possible. However, corn does not like to grow when the soil is too cold. To try to outwit Mother Nature, in years past we have started our first corn in the greenhouse and then transplanted it out into the fields. We have also put down sheets of clear plastic in the field to warm the soil and speed up the corn growth. After so many years of fighting with Mother Nature for early corn, and never having enough acres for everything we want to grow, this year we decided to give in and grow corn the traditional way. We waited until the soil had warmed sufficiently, which this year was not until May, and then put the seed directly into the soil. The effect is that our first corn is ready this year about two weeks later than past years. The first ears of the earliest corn always ripen irregularly and the earliest ears are always a little smaller. But the flavor is priceless. The small amount of corn this week should grow to much more later in the season.

Though we have cut back on the early corn, we now have more greenhouses for early tomatoes. Without these greenhouses we would not have tomatoes until August. The greenhouse tomatoes are not as much as a "space hog" as the corn is and seemed to make a lot more sense for a small farm like us. Next week we should be picking tomatoes from the field as well as the greenhouses and then will come time for making tomato sauce.

Enjoy the corn and tomatoes.
Farmer Dave
Wilmington Work Trade Needed! 

We are looking for an enthusiastic, veggie loving volunteer to staff the Wilmington CSA pick up.

Each week volunteered you receive a fruit and veggie share or credit toward the equivalent for future shares.

Any interest members can email farm@farmerdaves.net with your contact info we will schedule an interview.
 
Dilly Beans
What's In My Share

This week summer is starting to kick into high gear. We can expect more and more variety as the summer continues. Enjoy a great mix of nutritious greens, wax and green beans, delicious tomatoes, and the first corn, sweet peppers, and melons!

Don't forget to use the swap box! It's not just for trading for your favorite vegetables. If you won't use something in the share, have a busy week and won't be able to cook everything, or just feel overwhelmed leave your extras in the swap box and they'll be donated to one of our many hunger relief partners.

Vegetable Shares
  • Green, Wax, or Purple beans
  • Swiss chard or Arugula
  • Kale
  • Slicing Cucumber
  • Pickling Cucumber
  • Cherry tomato
  • Slicing tomato
  • Zucchini, Summer squash, Kousa or Patty pan
  • Romaine, Green or Red leaf Lettuce
  • Onions
  • Scallions
  • Herbs
  • and more!
Fruit Share
  • Blueberries
  • Shiro and/or Methley Plums
  • Cantaloupe or Honeydew
  • And more depending on harvest conditions.
This is what we are planning and hoping to harvest this week.  Ultimately Mother Nature has the last word so the actual contents of your share will vary.
 
Vegisode of the Week!   
Gazpacho? You bet your life! 

In this VEGISODEā„¢, Stacey and Denise introduce you to a cold vegetable soup called Gazpacho.

Georgian Salad
Try These Recipes From Our Blog
Check out all our Vegisodes and subscribe to be notified when timely new videos are added.
These videos are designed to help you make the most of your CSA share with tips on storing, preparing and preserving your veggies.  

Pick-Your-Own Blueberries at Farmer Dave's

437 Parker Road in Dracut.
Friday and Saturday 11am to 5pm and Sunday 9am to 1pm

PYO Blueberries $5.00 per pound.  Customer must check in at the barn and receive picking container(s).

CSA Member benefits:  One pint and no field entry charge per CSA membership.  This is limited to once during the 2018 Blueberry PYO season.  A $5.00 value.

Picking will be weather permitting.

Make the Harvest Last and Stock up on Your Favorites!

Bulk up your share with bulk quantities of your favorite vegetables and fruits.

Cucumbers for pickling, basil for frozen pesto, blueberries for smoothies long after the season has ended.

Check every week for new offerings!
Groundwork Share-a-Share
Thanks to generous donations by you (our CSA Members) to the Groundwork Share-a-Share fund, we were able to subsidize the cost of shares in 2017 for over 30 individuals and families, as well as shares for local food pantries.  
Please consider helping us in our efforts to make the CSA accessible to more families by donating to Groundwork Share-a-Share.