This week went smoother than last. While it was hot, there was no major wind event, so glass half full! Our cucumber plants really hit their stride and we're now harvesting the plants daily to keep up with their productivity.
Our zucchini plants are coming along nicely and are big, strong, and well into production - our CSA share's next week will have them. The tomatoes are growing vigorously and look especially healthy and our snap peas have formed an abundance of flowers, so we're keeping a close eye on them.
Food Bank Support
We're very happy to report that this past Monday we made our first delivery of the season to the Kawartha Lakes Food Source in Lindsay. We sent bins of Lettuce, Bok Choy, Kale, Radish, and Spinach - a total of 25 kg (55 lbs) of fresh produce.
One of our guiding objectives is to sell food to those who can afford it, so we can give it to those who can't, and we're very grateful to all our CSA members for supporting us and this effort.
This Week's Share
This week's shares include:
Oakleaf & Sweet Crisp Lettuce
Green Kale - A more typical salad kale than last week's Red Russian
Bok Choy - A larger, deeper coloured variety than last week
Sora Radish - Round, bright, and crunchy
Spicy Mix Microgreens - A medley of pea shoots and radish sprouts
Red Spinach - A unique variety of spinach with dark red veins
Cucumbers - The plants have increased their tempo, cucumbers for all!
Swiss Chard - A vibrant and deep coloured variety
Preservation Tips: Kale & Cucumbers
Kale is at it's best when its crisp. Kale stored in the refrigerator can gradually lose it's crunch over several days. Like lettuce and other greens, giving it a cold bath can often reinvigorate it. If you're not planning on using your kale within the day, try this: fill a glass with cold water, enough so the stems can dip below the waterline, and leave them in the fridge. We've had Kale nearly a week after harvest and it still feels as firm and fresh.
Did you know that Cucumbers don't store well if the temperature is too low? The optimal storage temperature for cucumbers is around 10-12C, warmer than your kitchen fridge. To avoid keeping your cucumbers too cool, either try storing them in a cool place outside of the refrigerator, or towards the top and front of your refrigerator, after all, heat rises. Refrigerators aren't just a single uniform temperature throughout, so item placement can make a difference.
Thanks again!
Continued thanks to all of our CSA members and those who have supported us in our efforts.