Hamlet Organic Garden

July 26th 2010 Share 9

Whats Happening At the Farm
This week we will be harvesting most of our onions-they are starting to dry in the field, and will continue drying in our shaded greenhouse. Our first bean crop is coming in this week. The parasitic wasps we released last year were so effective, I haven’t seen a single bean beetle this summer. Everything has been growing beautifully. The only crop we seem to be having a problem with is lettuce…the hot, dry weather combined with the groundhog circus has made it difficult for us to keep our successions growing. Hopefully in a few weeks we will catch back up with regular weekly lettuce! Tomatoes are also coming in beautifully! The cherries have just started, and the plants look lush and healthy-the regular slicing and sauce tomatoes are just starting to turn from green…to a little less green! Hopefully soon they will be red! We grow only heirloom varieties bred and saved for taste, so they take a little longer to ripen then regular red round hybrid tomatoes. But the patient growers are rewarded with tomatoes that have a superior flavor!

In Season Now
You’ll get some combination of these items in your share this week:
Cabbage or Kale-after a failed first planting, our second planting of kale is ready to harvest! Its been strange going so long without our signature green!
Green Beans
Potatoes-this has been a banner year for potatoes for us, expect to keep getting them for a while! In a brown paper bag in a pantry they’ll keep for a while.
Onions
Corn-our second planting is our favorite variety, Luscious, a bicolor type.
Beets
Cukes and Zukes
Eggplant
Cherry Tomatoes

On The Way
Tomatillos
Okra
Hot Peppers

Pick Your Own
Pick your own items are available for you to harvest at any time, as long as it’s not raining. Look for the signs marking the beds!
Basil-try the thai basil, with purple stems. Its got a great sweet/spicy flavor thats really good in a panang curry.
Mint
Parsley
Chives
Thyme
Rosemary
Oregano
Flowers

July 19th, 2010 Share 8
Whats Happening At the Farm
A huge thank you to everyone for making our Garlic Fest such a great success! I spent the whole day in awe-it was wonderful to see our whole community of members together, celebrating our farm and enjoying each other’s company. I especially loved watching all the kids run around together, playing in the pools and, and running through the sprinkler. In addition to the tables of potluck salads and desserts, we were busy grilling up eggplants, zucchini, marinated chicken, veggie burgers, and garlic. The beer, water, and mint tea was cold and refreshing on such a hot summer day, and thankfully the mosquitoes left us alone (must have been all the roasted garlic!)
An especially large thank you to everyone who helped set up and clean up, and kept the party running smoothly.
If you didn’t get a chance to see the amazing HOG quilt for raffle, catch it on display at every pickup for the season-raffle tickets are $5 each or 5 for $20. The drawing will happen at the end of the season, and you don’t have to be present to win! Thank you to Pauline Hazard for donating her time and talent on this gorgeous quilt!

In Season Now
Escarole or Lettuce-we’ve had a hard time with lettuce this season, with the heat, dryness, and woodchuck all conspiring against us! But the escarole is doing well, its an Italian green similar to lettuce, but a bit more bitter. Great in chicken soup, or I like it raw with a warm bacon dressing!
Swiss Chard-no trouble growing this green this year!
Purslane-super high in omega-3s this green has a nice lemony flavor and is best eaten raw, in a salad.
Cukes
Zucchini and Summer Squash
Scallions
Potatoes
Garlic

On The Way
Cherry Tomatoes-I picked the first few ripe ones on Friday, so hopefully in a week or two there will be enough to give out in the share!
Green beans
Eggplant
Tomatillos
Okra
Hot Peppers

Pick Your Own
Pick your own items are available for you to harvest at any time, as long as it’s not raining. Look for the signs marking the beds!
Basil-try the thai basil, with purple stems. Its got a great sweet/spicy flavor thats really good in a panang curry.
Mint
Parsley
Chives
Flowers-lots of different flowers blooming now, including cleome, painted tongue, and celosia. Some flowers are in the front by pickup, but there’s more down in the main HOG field-including zinnias, sunflowers, and cosmos.

July 12th, 2010 Share 7

Whats Happening At the Farm
Our annual Garlic festival will be here this weekend!
Saturday, July 17th around noon, the festivities will begin! For new members, the festival is the celebration of our garlic crop. Roasted garlic will be everywhere and so will other goodies. We’ll even give you the chance to taste each variety raw! We learned well from the Strawberry Festival, and we’ll have tons more food! Chicken, sausages, veggie burgers, frittatas and, of course, grilled veggies!!
Please bring a side dish or dessert to share (remember to label your bowls/serving utensils). Ingredient/recipe cards are always appreciated!
The cost is only $10 per adult, children 17 and under are free. Mint tea, water, and other refreshments provided! Children’s activities are planned as well.
There are a few changes from past festivals, so take note:
Bring utensils and cups for all members of your party. You don’t need to bring your own plates!**NEW** Your ticket price will purchase a compostable plate to eat at the event!! (Kids 17 and under are free with accompanying adults, they will also be provided with compostable plates)
Bring blankets/chairs: Provided tables and seating are limited…but space is not! More details to follow, but mark your calendars!

In Season Now
Cabbage-napa or regular green cabbage
Swiss Chard
Celery or Fennel
Eggplant or Peppers
Zucchini and Summer Squash
Cucumbers
Scallions
Corn
Carrots

On The Way
Lettuce
Cherry Tomatoes
eggplant
peppers
more garlic

Pick Your Own
Pick your own items are available for you to harvest at any time, as long as it’s not raining. Look for the signs marking the beds!
Raspberries-these are purple when ripe, and pull off the bramble easily-if they are pink, or hard pull off, they aren’t quite ripe! Limit ½ pint
Basil
Mint
Parsley
Chives
Flowers-lots of different flowers blooming now, including cleome, painted tongue, and celosia. Some flowers are in the front by pickup, but there’s more down in the main HOG field-including zinnias, sunflowers, and cosmos.

July 5th, 2010 Share 6
Working holidays since 1996.

Whats Happening At the Farm
Our annual Garlic festival will be here shortly! Saturday, July 17th around noon, the festivities will begin! For new members, the festival is the celebration of our garlic crop. Roasted garlic will be everywhere and so will other goodies. We’ll even give you the chance to taste each variety raw! We learned well from the Strawberry Festival, and we’ll have tons more food! Chicken, sausages, veggie burgers, frittatas and, of course, grilled veggies!!
Please bring a side dish or dessert to share (remember to label your bowls/serving utensils). Ingredient/recipe cards are always appreciated!
The cost is only $10 per adult, children 17 and under are free. Mint tea, water, and other refreshments provided! Children’s activities are planned as well.
There are a few changes from past festivals, so take note:
Bring utensils and cups for all members of your party. You don’t need to bring your own plates!**NEW** Your ticket price will purchase a compostable plate to eat at the event!! (Kids 17 and under are free with accompanying adults, they will also be provided with compostable plates)
Bring blankets/chairs: Provided tables and seating are limited…but space is not! More details to follow, but mark your calendars!

In Season Now
Bok Choy
Walla Walla Onions-incredibly sweet, large onions. Great sliced raw on a sandwich!
Zucchini and Summer Squash
Carrots
Beets-I slice and boil the beets, and then throw them in the fridge-then you can enjoy them all week. Also works to roast them all, and then take off the skins and refridgerate.
Fennel or Celery-fennel is a delicious, licorice-like veggies, great raw in a crudite platter or as a digestive. Celery is quite strong-its been so dry, tht celery flavor really comes through!
New Potatoes-Red Golds and Red Norland are what we’re picking this week-one has yellow, and one has white flesh. Also picking some Purple Viking, psychedlic red and purple tye-dye potatoes with a crisp white flesh.
Basil

On The Way
Cucumbers
Cabbage
Broccoli
more garlic

Pick Your Own
Pick your own items are available for you to harvest at any time, as long as it’s not raining. Look for the signs marking the beds!
Raspberries-these are purple when ripe, and pull off the bramble easily-if they are pink, or hard pull off, they aren’t quite ripe! Limit ½ pint
Peas-limit 2 quarts, snows, snaps, and shell peas abound! Pick some to freeze-just boil for 1 minute, dunk in cold water, and throw in the freezer.
Mint
Cilantro
Dill
Parsley
Chives
Flowers-lots of different flowers blooming now, including cleome, painted tongue, and celosia. Some flowers are in the front by pickup, but there’s more down in the main HOG field-including zinnias and cosmos.