Heirloom Harvest

Still to come

We’ll have bell peppers for another week; and there will still be more sweet ethnic peppers and eggplants. We still have another planting of leeks; several more of broccoli; and a lot of cauliflower that will wait until first week of October, probably. We will try to get one root crop per week in the shares – carrots or potatoes.

Other things we still have are lots of the greens, turnips this week and next week, and we will have parsley through September. We will have Swiss chard up until the first frost. And we have cabbage coming in October. Winter squash will be coming, but may be reduced due to a lot of rain and moisture this year, which can cause it to rot in the fields. The winter squash is scheduled to be given out in the last three weeks of October.

The Brussels sprouts are scheduled to be given out in the last two weeks. And there may be more onions and bush beans still to come.

End in sight

We know now when the harvest will finish out. The last Sunday pickup will be Oct. 22; the last Tuesday will be Oct. 24; the last Thursday will be Oct 26. We’ll be doing our usual large last week share that will include Brussels sprouts, parsnips, celeriac, and radishes.

Golden

See Red

Say: Those Tomatoes are Ripe?

Of course, we are looking for recipes, as always. It’s eggplant and tomato peak season, and we welcome suggestions for how best to tame the bounty. The heirloom tomatoes – which with the exception of just one variety this year, are ripe without turning tomato orangey-red – are remarkable in recipes thanks to their appearance. The varieties for this year also have higher sugar and higher acid content. Waiting for them to turn red, which some members have done in the past, is futile – instead, use the feel of their skin under your fingertip or other benchmarks as an indicator of whether you should eat them. Not all tomatoes have always been red, and these are not. This year, the farm is producing Great White, which is whitish and huge; Ananis Noir, a multicolored red/brown/green; we have an abundance of of Black Krim, with a burgundy bottom and green shoulders; and Rose, which is true to its name and reputedly comparable to a brandywine; Striped German, which is yellow and red; Green Zebra, with a tiger stripe; and the reddish one is Red Iraq – you can tell it because it looks ordinary but is binned with the heirlooms.

I continue growing most of the varieties that I do because they get good reviews from members. I look forward to hearing members’ feedback.

To come

On the near horizon are more tomatillos. Also, leeks and onions, will be coming in soon. Carrots have come a little late this year, but we have them now – we also have potatoes back there too, but will probably wait longer before we start to pull to make sure we have those in the fall. Traditional bell peppers are slowing a little, but sweet ethnic peppers are perking up. And lettuce is coming back in. Basil will start to slow down now. The beds we did for bunching have been gone through, so the remaining beds were sown for are “pinchers.” If you’re a pesto person now is the time to act and freeze.

Fruiting

Fruit shares are now for sale. The price is $65. The fruit share is one half-peck bag a week for nine weeks -- starting at the end of August and going until the end of the CSA. Most weeks the share will include new and different varieties of apples, but depending on how the season has been for the grower, there may also be peaches, pears and grapes. The fruit comes from Autumn Hills Orchard in Groton.

Autumn Hills is an IPM orchard (not organic). Buying from Autumn Hills is a great way to support a local farmer and to get the freshest fruit possible (the apples are incredibly crisp!). Shares can be purchased at the CSA pickup in Westborough, or by sending a check in the mail to Heirloom Harvest, PO Box 1031, Westborough, MA 01581. The check should be made out to Heirloom Harvest.

What to expect

August is the month when we get the heaviest harvest coming off of the fields. This year you can look for a lot of peppers, eggplants and -- yes -- tomatoes, which are just now coming on line. The Cantaloupe harvest looks good too. Soon we will probably start harvesting potatoes.

Sugar Content

Member James Donald samples his first green bean of the season, also his first with Heirloom Harvest CSA. He pronounced it sweet.

Hmm. Kale.

Member Brenda Donald collected kale on Sunday’s pickup. Kale with Bacon and Garlic looks snacky, and won't send you to the grocery store. Got a better idea? I bet you do. Send it to your blog editor at whit@pobox.com, or just comment here.