August 23rd, 2011: Change and Growth

This Week’s Share: "Cipollini" Onions cleaned up for your share Sweet Corn: “Earlivee” Tomatoes: “Stupice” Carrots Potatoes: “Kathadin” Onions: “Cipollini” Garlic Chard: “Rainbow” Basil Figs Asian Plums: “Shiro” Bob’s Red Mill Oat Groats
Farm Share Announcements: Basil for Sale! Bulk Basil is available for sale – $10/pound. Pesto for the freezer? This is an optional add-on for those of you interested in preserving the harvest. Please place your order with Sara, sara@zengerfarm.org, by Monday, August 29th. Bulk basil orders will be ready for pick up with your share next week, Tuesday. Please bring cash or check to pay for your basil.
Field Notes from Farmer Justin, Farm Apprentice: Winter Squash getting its color I feel like change and growth is a constant topic on this blog and is one of my favorite parts about farming, but seeing the farm after a two-week vacation was a real shock. The corn in front of the farmhouse looks 4 feet taller. The pumpkins growing under the corn are orange and getting basketball (well maybe small bowling ball) size. The turkeys are getting BIG (and less cute but not any smarter). And we are harvesting tomatoes that are red not green! Speaking of tomatoes we have been spending a lot of time with these delicious fruits. Everything from pruning to training to harvesting. If you ever have the pleasure to spend hours with hundreds of feet of tomatoes you will find yourself with hands stained black, sometimes called “tomato tar” because it is really hard to get off. I wondered what tomato tar was so I decided to look it up and share. After many searches in google trying to get the wording just right (no I don’t want a rotten tomatoes movie review and no I don’t smoke). I finally found it!  http://www.growingformarket.com/articles/green-powder-on-tomato-plants It is caused by the little hairs that cover the tomato leaves. They produce essential oils that give tomato plants distinctive tomato smell and are thought to help protect them against insects, diseases, and the extremes of summer. When these oils get on your skin it stains your skin black. One thing that wasn’t in the article and that I can’t explain is the remedy to tomato tar. If you crush a culled (what us farmers call the not so sellable) tomato on  your stained hands and rub, the stain will come off like magic. After being away, it is great to be back and I feel lucky to be working on this wonderful farm with such wonderful people.
In the Kitchen with Aria: Fresh Summer Vegetable SaladServes: 6-8 1 pound baby red potatoes, scrubbed 5 medium ears of corn (about 3 pounds) 5 med tomatoes, chopped 1 small red onion, peeled and sliced thinly (about 1/2 to 3/4 cup) 1 large bunch fresh basil, rinsed, dried, and leaves picked 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil 2 large lemons, juiced 1 teaspoon kosher salt About 15 grinds freshly ground pepper 1.      Place the potatoes in a large pot of salted water and bring to boil. Cook until just tender, about 15 minutes. 2.      Fish out the potatoes with a slotted spoon and place them in a bowl of ice cold water to stop them from cooking. 3.      Shuck the corn and break each ear in half. Cook in the same boiling water for 5 to 7 minutes until tender but not soft. 4.      Remove the cooled potatoes to a colander to drain. 5.      Immerse corn in the same ice bath until cool. 6.      Cut each potato into quarters and place in a large bowl. 7.      Remove corn from water and also let drain. 8.      Use a chef’s knife to cut the kernels off each ear. 9.      Add kernels to bowl. Add chopped tomatoes, onion, and roughly torn basil leaves. Add olive oil and lemon juice and toss gently to combine. 10.  Season, to taste, with salt and pepper and serve immediately. From foodnetwork.com

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