Week 1 Squash Blossom CSA

Whoo Hoo! We've been enjoying much of what you'll be eating this week. So check the previous posts for creative recipe ideas. This grow season has been really warm early and has given the garden some volume this time of year. The nights are suppose to start warming up so it may be safe to start moving more of the warm crops outside this week-with some night time covers just in case. So the share this week

3 Asian Bundles

~Mizuna, Bok Choy, Southern Frill~

2 Bags Micro Salad Mix

~Pablo lettuce, Micro Greens, Kan Tsai, Oak Leaf lettuce, Baby Spinach

3 Herbs

~Anise Hyssop, Marjoram, Basil~

Bag of Olympia Spinach

CSA members can pick up their share Wednesday between 5 and 6pm. Let us know if you can make it. 

We're diving back into the Earth building this week too. Did I mention how much I Love Building with Clay?The Earth Oven is coming along and the core of it should be done within a couple weeks. The potter in me is dreaming up all sorts of creative design features to work into the oven....bird sitting on a nest and wrap around seating has been brewing about. See you in the garden.

Morechella

 Finally a fortunate stroke of luck in one of last years burns thanks to the uncanny abilities of our mountain morel guru friends. The burn was in an old growth cedar forest with punctuated stands of douglas fir and larch interspersed with birch and aspen groves. We reached near frolicking levels if it wasn't for the vertical slope and rocky cliffs.

The birds of the burn included mountain bluebirds, townsend's warblers, three toed woodpeckers, varied thrush, juncos and american dippers-the little penguins of the river.
It is a mystery why Townsend's song vary subtly from the regions of the Kootenai and throughout the Flathead National Forest but several pairs were establishing territories flanking the creek.

The neighborhood bear, snow capped peaks and two merging mountain creeks sheltered by an old growth cedar stand dripping with Alectoria made for a wonderful afternoon.

Marinated Artichoke and Morel Pasta

Heirloom Sun Dried Tomatoes

Asian Green of Choice: Pak Choy

Marinated Artichokes

Garlic

Fresh Chives

Brown Rice Ribbon Pasta

Cook down a handful of morels in marinated artichokes, salmon, Pak Choy and sundried tomatoes. Add garlic for the last 3 minutes and serve with fresh chives over a bed of noodles. 

Farm Stand

Depending on volume we'll likely have a weekly farm stand. The days changing as the crops fill out so come grab a bag we're overflowing!

Moving with the Sun

 The greenhouse plants took a spin in the warm sunshine yesterday to prepare them for the move outside. While moving them back in during the setting sun a pair of sandhill cranes arrived to feed in the wetland, their ebullient calls halting our movements. I think the plants grew taller to catch a peak of these fleeting migrants.

Another hot day in the garden followed by a trip to the lake

Other summer resident birds are making their return too as the days are getting noticeably longer here. The yellow rumped warblers rode this unusual warm current in and the evening grosbeaks are back along with a pair of american goldfinches making use of the last stalk of sunflower in the garden. We've been intentionally luring the Calliope in with red garments to get a better look at him.

  Tonight's dinner fresh from the garden really hit the spot and makes it all worth while. 

Sweet and Spicy Greens with Carrots and Sesame Seeds

Raw Spinach Artichoke Dip

Zip Ties and Zippers in 10 minutes or Less

Ever wonder how to fix a 7 foot zipper on your high tunnel after the brutal winds rip your hand stitched-3 hour sewing project to bits.

Soap on my Barefeet

Something I read today from the Dandelion Campaign :

"Dandelion has a strong will and feisty spirit and will grow in the toughest conditions from a city sidewalk crack to a chemical-laden yard.  That strong will to survive is telling of the role it plays in its environment. Dandelion does a spectacular job of cleaning up toxicity in both the environment it dwells in and the human body.  Not to mention the joy it gives to children when they blow the white globe of seeds into the wind.  How smart of the plant to make it fun for people to spread its seeds!"


Okay- agreed bitters have a very important place in the digestive world. Dandelion being clearly one of them working very effectively. However, as I appreciate and whole heartily support the need to completely eliminate the use of herbicides for the sake of our drinking water, aquatic fauna and general cancer free health in all age groups- I disagree with the cavalier suggestion that "smart" people spread an aggressive and invasive plant by sending seeds airborne and it's "fun" to teach this to the youth. Is this campaign really reaching the people heavily addicted to herbicides and unlikely consumers of medicinal herbs? 


Instead, let's continue to teach all ages that the value in dandelion is in it's Root. That controlled management of the species, by removing flowers and buds, has more practical purposes in protecting our health. Let's limit it's existence and connection to herbicide usage and plant native seeds instead. 


Teach people to dig dandelion root up and bottle and cover it in vinegar or brandy to extract it's magical properties. Follow this by teaching them the abundance of flowers that remain should be collected for wine, and the roots sprayed with straight vinegar or boiling water verse toxic herbicides. Help them understand hydrology and run off principles. Educate them on the cancer causing agents found in Round Up and Defoliant Sprays and take them to a VA hospital where the Veterans that served in Vietnam have aggressive-metastatic cancers exclusively correlated with 2,4 D type herbicides (defoliant sprays). Stop using toxins that will bio-accumulate in the food chain. 

After this fully engaging, eye opening and educational experience teach them what oregon grape looks like or your respective native bitter herb. Have them discover how it propagates through it's fruit and sucker shoots and then plant some in your yard under trees replacing the grass. This will hopefully help children recognize the determined, mindless masses spraying toxic chemicals over their favorite garden nemesis is careless.


Granted it's possible this campaign will reach the rank of herbicide crazy people-but is most likely doubtful. But maybe just maybe it will reach a few previously irresponsible adults and affect a growing mass of young people who can make ecological connections. 

I admit I've made mistakes letting the dandelion go to seed but I'm learning to keep up with the mowing and digging, still making bitter tonics of Dandelion and teaching our son how to return our corner of the world to native habitat and vegetable gardens. Will we win the battle on invasive weeds? Maybe. But know it's okay to ask others if they'd rather drink vinegar or herbicide, suggest more exciting ways to damage weeds with flame throwers and campaign for walking barefoot on toxin free ground. The health of all organisms depend upon it. 

Squash Blossom Farm Food Share Form

You'll find Squash Blossom Farms Food Share Form here. Fill out submit or pass on to a friend. There is an array of choices from Full Shares to Heirloom Tomato Shares. We hope this variety of choices offers everyone a way to experience locally grown food in the Flathead Valley.
Food Share pick ups will likely be in the garden on Wednesdays 12-4pm throughout the season.
Contact us with any questions you have.