Early and Sweet

Dragonfly Pest Control

 
                                                                     This Week

Storage onions, Haricot Vert (French green beans), Italian romano beans, malabar spinach, carrots,sweet potato leaves, yellow squash, cucumbers, tomatoes, green bell peppers, jalapeño peppers, Serrano peppers, rosemary, mint, hibiscus leaves, and small sugar pumpkin

                                                                  Coming Soon

sweet corn, red okra, Nancy watermelon, white acre peas, butternut squash, spaghetti squash

        
                                                                Sugar Pumpkin

This came early and in  a patch of yellow summer squash-surprise!  Sweet and not just limited to holidays, sugar pumpkins are a early ripening, winter squash with a flavor described as smooth, rich, sweet and nutty. Roast and season with cinnamon and sugar or savory herbs like rosemary and thyme. The rich flavor adds fiber and rich flavor to  soups, chilli and as a pie filling. And don't forget the seeds, boil then oven roast for a nutty snack rich in Omega fatty acids and magnesium. 



The heat and humidity continues which means that the early leafy greens are resting comfortably in the compost pile. Swiss chard and bok choy thrive in cooler weather but  both the record temperatures this summer and the relentless humidity have taken its toll on humans and plants.

Luckily, the malabar spinach,  and sweet potato leaves , so far, are stand up plants that thrive in this weather. Hopefully you have been able to enjoy all of these in stir fries, soups  and maybe an evening meal of  deep dish lasagna. 

                                                                 Storage Onions

For the past 3 weeks, we have cured the white and red onions  in the barn so that you can use them now or later. We planted the onions in the spring and by July, they were ready to harvest. Keep in a cool , dark and dry location so the curing will continue. 

Recently, the USDA has issued a  massive recall of onions due to Salmonella contamination on Thompson Farm in Bakersfield, California.

This does not affect our onions which you have enjoyed as spring onions earlier in the season. 

                                                             Italian Romano Beans

Flat, green and tender, I was introduced to Romano beans by  Ms. Betty, an ER clerk  at PGHC and an avid gardener.  She shared her dinner which included Italian Romano beans which were  well seasoned, tender and cooked slowly with tomatoes.and olive oil. I am quite familiar with green beans, but this variety was new to me and one that I decided early on to grow along with tomatoes and onions. Stewed, grilled , in creole sauce or steamed, Romano Beans  are flat ,meaty and add Vit C, Vit K, silicon ( bones, hair, cartilage) and fiber to your diet. 

                                                                    Cucumbers 

More cucumbers? Yes, the Suyo Long cucumbers are still growing like gangbusters! My 19 year old son loves cucumbers with the house vinaigrette, but after a recent visit to my favorite restaurant, I quickly realized that I can  also use them in a pickle relish for hot dogs, slaw dogs, subs, or coleslaw. Add the large squash pieces, and the cucumber and squash are solid ingredients for a southern favorite, chow chow. 

                                                                       Hibiscus

Roselle, Red Roselle, Hibiscus sabdariffa,  Flor de Jamaica, Jamaica Sorrel, this plant has many names and as a native of W. Africa, the leaves and the flower are integral to a variety of recipes. The flower is well known as the basis for Agua Fresca, ,Agua  de Jamaica or Zobo. The brilliant red color is the basis for the traditional drink for  Juneteenth or a Black family reunion celebrations-red soda water. The leaves are also edible with a  slight lemony flavor in new growth and a tart and tangy in the older leaves. This week we have  some young leaves that can be used raw in a salad along with the spearmint,cucumbers and tomatoes for a simple summer salad. 

Our goal is to grow and show our members how easy it is to eat at least 5 servings of organically grown vegetables/fruit per day and help you create  your own family recipes that will become family favorites. 5 A DAY to help keep Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia and obesity away. 

   

Coming soon