Week 7

We got our last planting of carrots seeded about a week ago.  It is the largest planting of the year and has fresh eating carrots of all colors as well as our winter storage carrots that we sell bulk bags of in the fall.  Kelly flamed most of the beds this morning and I did the last two as my meager contribution when I came back from delivery.  We try to flame weed all our carrot and beet beds.  Ideally the bed is made several days before we seed the carrots so that the weeds have a jump start.  Sometimes we have to seed into freshly formed beds and it is still a worthwhile use of time and propane to flame the beds before the carrots emerge.  We use the beets as an indicator.  When we notice the first beets starting to germinate we flame the carrots the next day.  Typically the carrots pop up a day or two later.  The beds still get hand weeded but it gives the carrots a head start and decreases the weeds considerably.

Our fall carrot beds and the flame weeder.  

Currently we have the propane tank attached to an old metal backpack frame and we wave the wand back and forth over the bed as we walk down the path.  A newer, better system is in our near future but this one has worked great for us the past several years.

Carrots

Lettuce 

Garlic

Basil

Tomato -  As Kelly predicted you all had tomatoes last week but they were stretched a little thin.   I know that those of you that had cherry tomatoes probably finished them before you got home!  

Japanese Cucumber

Potatoes

Parsley   

Red Cabbage - little guys

Arugula - Large Only

I am including a recipe for cucumber agua fresca because it is easy, refreshing, a beautiful color and super tasty.  If green beverages scare you (the water softens the color and makes it more opaque, I think it looks refreshing) you could peel the cucumber but I don't bother.  Below the agua fresca recipe is a link to a recipe for a white pizza topped with arugula.  Both Ian and Kelli who help harvest your veggies on Monday are nuts about arugula on pizza and this is one of Kelli's favorite recipes.  

Cucumber Agua Fresca

In a blender (I have to hold out a half cup water in my blender so it doesn't overflow) combine the following:

1 Japanese cucumber broken into a few pieces

1/4 lime juice

1/4 cup to 1/2 cup sugar (I use a 1/4 cup and find it plenty sweet but there are those who disagree)

3 cups water

Blend until mixture is smooth.  Strain into a jar or pitcher, chill and serve over ice.   

White Pizza with Arugula