Hot in the City…and everywhere else for that matter…

I am so not ready for school to start, but I do find myself thinking longingly about fall, and the ski/snowboard trip we have planned for Christmas. I guess after a long period of really hot, dry days, time just kind of runs together into one hot, humid memory. Kind of like the “dog days” of summer, except these doggy days have lasted all summer long.

One great thing though, have been the beautiful boxes that Doe Run Farm has put together all summer long. We are truly blessed to have such variety. I just want to say a heartfelt thank you to all our local farmers who have been putting in long hours in this heat. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO JOHN AND JUDY!


Farm News
Hot, hot, and dry on the farm,

The CSA deliveries are running smoothly with only slight delays here and there due to traffic on delivery days.

The CSA shares are really beautiful at this time of the year. Everything in it's prime right now and that's how Doe Run decides when to have their CSA going on, when everything is in its prime in the garden.

Southern Peas are coming in now, and okra will soon appear in our shares. Peaches have been beautiful, but if you refrigerate them, they can become mealy and the fruit is not as tasty. It is best to use them while you have them--or freeze or can them!

Right now on the farm John and Judy are just "maintaining" everything, as they are really busy now. When CSA is going on, their hands are full, just harvesting, cleaning vegetables, packing the CSA shares and getting them all delivered to the 13 delivery sites. In addition to John and Judy, they have one full time employee, one part time employee, and occasionally their young Grandson

Crop failures this year were carrots and tomatillos. Carrots were planted more than once, but it was poor germination on both occasions. Some type of insect invaded the tomatillos before John and Judy could get them under control using organic methods. They are history unfortunately. Judy had planned to have them for salsa verde this summer, but her plans have now come and gone. Farmers can't expect to win all the insect battles on the farm, but they still try!

The Delicata squash is beautiful this season and so delicious. Just bake, butter and enjoy! Can't be simpler than that! They are good enough that with a dab of honey or maple syrup, you can eat them as dessert!

Recipes
Baba Ganoush
2 medium sized eggplants
1/4 cup plain yogurt
2 to 3 garlic cloves
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons olive oil
Salt to taste
Place eggplant on cookie sheet. Bake in 400-degree oven until skin is crinkly. Cool and peel. Place in blender. Add yogurt, garlic, lemon juice, and olive oil. Blend until smooth. Season with salt. Serve with corn chips, bagel crisp, pita chips, or toasted rounds.

Peach and Summer Berry Crisp
2 peaches, thinly sliced
1 cup blackberries
1 cup blueberries
2 tablespoons lemon juice
Topping

Put fruit into bowl. Toss with lemon juice. Divide fruit between four ramekin containers. Sprinkle with topping. Press topping lightly down into cup. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes or until fruit is bubbling and topping is golden. Serve with scoop of favorite ice cream.

Topping
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
Pinch of salt
1/4 cup coarsely chopped pecans
1/3 cup rolled oats
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
In a bowl, stir together the flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt. Add the pecans, rolled oats, sugar, brown sugar, and butter. Rub together all the ingredients between your fingertips until they are evenly distributed and the mixture is crumbly and resembles coarse breadcrumbs. Set aside.

The most wonderful time of the year…

Blueberry, blackberry and peach season is in full swing! The fruit is ripe, beautiful, delicious and can be used in so many ways! So easy to just pop into your mouth. Enjoy the bounty while it lasts!




Farm News
John and Judy are in the process of cleaning out the high tunnels, pulling up all the old plants, raking out debris from the plants so as not to harbor insects over winter. Once they are totally clean, the ground will be fertilized using organic fertilizer, the beds reshaped, irrigation tape laid down, and then they can begin to plant the winter crops. The same process goes on in the fields once the last planting is completed there. They are still planting a few more crops outside in the fields, so it will be awhile before they are gleaned and cleaned up.

The farm had an irrigation pipe break this week, but John hopped to it and got it repaired quickly. No damage done thankfully.

As we all can attest to, it’s been hot this summer. It's been dreadfully hot working on the farm the past few weeks and we all really need rain. All farmers do right about now.

Doe Run lost one of their helpers that began work with them this summer, due to babysitter problems. Too bad too, since she worked hard and followed directions very well, which is extremely important on an organic farm.

A precious little kitten found its way to the farm this week, just weaned from its mother, Judy thinks. The kitten is really pretty, and has the biggest beautiful eyes! She is a little tabby kitten. John and Judy have been keeping her in a large animal carrier on their screened porch and when they let her out, she has the best time playing, especially with two wiffle balls they put out for her to enjoy. She is so gentle and would make a wonderful indoor pet for someone that would like the companionship of a cat. She is quite affectionate. Doe Run already has 3 cats, so they are willing to give her to someone providing they will take good care of her.

The farm's CSA is going full speed ahead, with the boxes being quite full at this time of year. John and Judy feel so fortunate and blessed to have had such a good year for growing vegetables, and having access to outstanding fruit and berries for their CSA families. Everyone seems to be enjoying the fruits of their labor and that's the goal at Doe Run Farm.

Next month Judy will be posting information on the website about the upcoming winter CSA season. It’s strange to think about that in this heat, but before you know it the seasons will change again. Doe Run is already getting inquiries about the winter season from some folks that didn't get a CSA summer. The information should show up at www.doerunfarm.com in mid August. Judy encourages early registration to reserve your share of the winter harvest.

Recipe

Tomato and Cucumber Salad
2 ripe tomatoes – medium dice
2 cucumbers – peeled and medium dice
10 basil leaves - minced
4 fresh mozzarella mini-balls - sliced
Salt and pepper to taste
Balsamic vinegar

Place tomatoes, cucumbers, basil, and cheese in medium salad bowl. Add salt and pepper. Drizzle balsamic vinegar over the ingredients. Toss and serve immediately.

Serves 4

Merry 4th of July

The weather is wonderful today. Just in time for the 4th of July weekend. Kinda makes me feel giddy. Maybe because it reminds me of the summers of childhood. Summer still feels like a much-needed vacation for me. And a holiday in the middle of summer must make it the best holiday of all. Everyone enjoy and be safe!




Farm Happenings
Berry and peach season are here, just in time for the 4th of July! The CSA shares will have one or the other, showing up in your boxes!

It’s been very dry on the farm, we all need some rain! Judy talked with a neighbor that lives less than a quarter mile from them and they have had rain every day for the past week, Doe Run Farm had none as of Sunday.

All the crops, despite a lack of rain are looking good. There is an abundance of summer squash, cucumbers, beets, tomatoes, onions and cabbage so far this summer. Bell peppers this year are gigantic and great for stuffing! The heat sure agrees with those peppers! The jalapenos have been extra hot this season! Doe Run is planting more tomatoes for a late crop this year so we can enjoy them for as long as possible.

The flowerbeds and the area surrounding the greenhouse finally got weeded, and things look a lot better around the farm. Weeds have a way of taking over an organic farm in a hurry.

The fig bushes are really growing. Judy was worried they wouldn’t make it through last winter, being newly planted and all, but they look wonderful. Barry mulched them heavily last winter after the first light freeze. Judy is most anxious to see some figs on them. There’s nothing like a fresh fig in her opinion. Last year when they had the chance to visit their son Michael that lives in Virginia, they took a side trip to Monticello. They had magnificent gardens there and a beautiful fruit orchard. Judy sampled a couple figs and fell in love with this fruit. She had to have some fig bushes of her own. After a few tries, and failures, these have done very well. The pear trees are looking good too, loaded with pears this summer.

John and Judy are planting some rhubarb crowns this week. Hopefully this time of year, planting will not be too detrimental to them. Judy loves rhubarb, especially strawberry-rhubarb jelly on hot toast or biscuits in the wintertime!

If you haven’t become a fan of the farm on Facebook yet, do it today!

P.S. On Monday afternoon, John and Judy’s prayers were answered. A wonderful storm rolled through late Monday, no damage, just much appreciated rain, at last. Beautiful lightshow as well. Judy understands that sky to ground lightening is wonderful for the soil; she’s just not sure how this works though.

Recipes
I am adding two recipes today. One is my all time summer favorite…Peach Cobbler, and the other is because I’ve had so many requests for cabbage recipes.

Easy Peach Cobbler
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar, divided
3 teaspoons baking powder
Pinch salt
1 cup milk
4 cups peeled, thinly sliced fresh peaches (5 to 6 medium peaches)
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Several dashes cinnamon and nutmeg

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Melt butter in a 13 x 9 x 2 inch-baking dish.

In a medium bowl, combine the flour, 1/2 cup sugar, the baking powder, and the salt. Mix well. Stir in the milk, mixing until just combined. Do not over mix. Pour this batter over the melted butter, but do not stir them together.

In a small saucepan, combine the peaches, lemon juice, and remaining 1/2 cup of sugar. Bring to boil over high heat, stirring constantly. Pour the peaches over the batter, but do not stir them together. Sprinkle with cinnamon and nutmeg.

Bake in the preheated oven for 40 to 45 minutes, or until the top is golden brown. Serve warm or cold with vanilla ice cream.

Crunchy Cabbage Salad
1 large head of cabbage, thinly shredded
1/2 bunch green onions, chopped
2 packages Ramen noodles crushed into small pieces. Only use the noodles.
1 small package toasted slivered almonds
1 small package toasted sunflower seeds

Dressing
4 tablespoons sugar
6 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 cup salad oil

Prepare dressing ahead of time. Mix all ingredients in a jar and chill.

Mix cabbage and onions in a large bowl. Only when ready to serve, add the crunchy noodles, nuts, and seeds. Then add the mixed dressing, toss and serve immediately.

Nocturnal Surprise

Yesterday was pretty average insofar as most CSA delivery days go, at least until we got home last night after our last delivery. We got out of the truck, and started across the porch to the front door. John was a few steps in front of me and suddenly he turned around and said to me, don't go any further there's a snake up there. Well I thought it was just a small snake of some kind and when I looked closely, stretched clear across the porch floor, just under the step up right into the house was a five foot (at least) King snake. How's that for a welcome home! Thank goodness he wasn't the poisonous kind and I know they will keep those away, but it's not the kind of welcome you want after a long day's work!

Yesterday our CSA boxes were so beautiful and we were pleased to give everyone a dozen free range eggs straight off the egg farm. We had a nice visit with the farmer at his farm, that provided the eggs to us. They have a wonderful pasture for the hens to roam and scratch around on all day, every day. Turns out the farmer is from the next county over from where John and I grew up in Kentucky, talk about a small world!

Strawberry season has ended for us for the season, which makes me sad, but now we can look forward to the other berries and fruits of summer! I love all the wonderful food that our Creator provides for us in the summer months. It comes from our work in the soil, but God gives us the strength,the resources and the help of a CSA Community to bring it all to fruition! Next up, blueberries and blackberries. I have included a recipe for an easy home made Blueberry Ice Cream that I think you will enjoy! Till next time, don't forget to count your blessings!

Immediate Gratification Blueberry Ice Cream (from the Grist)
2 pints Blueberries,
1 and 1/2 C. Sugar
2 T. fresh Lime Juice
1/4 tsp. Salt
3 and 1/2 C. heavy Cream
3/4 C. Buttermilk
Fresh Mint leaves for garnish if you like (I like)
Puree the Blueberries with the sugar in your food processor or blender until "chunky", reserving a few for garnish. Mix in the rest of the ingredients and churn according to your ice cream maker manufacturer's instructions. Garnish with the fresh mint leaves to serve. Enjoy!