DOORSTEP HARVEST NEWSLETTER 05/19/2012
With all new foods, it is wise to test first by eating a small amount as every body is unique (and even peanuts are poison to some)!
News from the garden- Green beans have set and should be ready for next delivery. Potatoes are blooming (they make roots after blooming). June black berries have set fruit and should be ripe in early June. July Blackberries are blooming profusely and setting (they are being watered a lot to endure the drought). The dry weather is causing fruit drop in the peach, apricots, and pears but the ones still hanging on are getting bigger. Beets should be “baby sized” by next delivery. Tomato, peppers, and eggplants are taking off in the heat. Tomatillo is blooming. Cucumber and squash starts are about ready to transplant but the melon seeds haven’t germinated yet! L Mulberries are one month early this year! Autumn Olive berries have set a profuse crop. Black Currants planted three years ago still are not bearing but “Crandall currants” are beginning to ripen. The newly planted Medlar tree has one bloom today… Plums are ripening already (2-4 more weeks and the “Hollywood Plums” may be ripe). Grapes are filling out. Goji berry and aronia should have tasting quantities this year and the Chinese Red Date trees (Jujube) are blooming profusely both in town and on the farm. Carrots are up but will be another month before ready. Purple perennial potato is up and appears happy. Yard long beans are up but growing slow (they like lots of heat so should take off later in season). Sunchokes are three feet tall already and bearing the drought well.
JJ/JAsparagus: I love it baked drenched in olive oil and some salt in the oven at 350 until the ends are crisped.
Radish Bag-enjoy in your salads or on sandwiches
JJ Organic Heirloom French Breakfast: 1880
JJ Early Scarlet Globe
J Rat-tail Radish (edible radish seed- volunteered back in from last year’s crop) to eat, pop open outer shell and nibble fragile green seeds inside.
Alliums Bag
JJ Chives: enjoy chopped and added to salads or sprinkled on top of stew/soup, or added to muffins/biscuits.
JJ Garlic: on the young side, these are wild. Blend the white bulb into salad dressing and chop the greens into stews.
J Onion (yellow & red): for salad or stir fry…
Salad Mix Bag: Contains different mixes for you to make your own blend.
JJ Organic Encore Lettuce Mix
J Organic Nasturtium: peppery addition to salads and pastas or when used as garnish
JJ Licorice Mint: use in salad or tea
J JPeppermint: use in salad or tea (drought is getting to it… need to water it more…)
J Fennel: use in salad or tea or garnish. Also nice with pasta.
JJ Organic Sugarsnap pea: use alone or enjoy in the salad. To be eaten raw- shell and all (it’s a very sweet crunchy snack). Easy to grow in NY, it seems to be hard here to get a significant crop because the plants are so delicate the wind and heat tear them up and dry them out. This tasting quantity might be it for the year and will try again next year in a more protected place.
Green/Stir Fry Bag: Shred and cook separately or together.
JJ Organic Baby Ruby Red Chard (related to beets)
JJ Organic Baby Lacinato Kale: Organic Italian Heirloom that dates back to the eighteenth century.
JJ Organic Baby Spinach
JJ Beet tops
JJ Lambsquarters
Berry Bag:
JJ/J Mulberry
J Gooseberry
JJCulinary Herb Bag: Basil, Thyme, Oregano, Sage
JJHerbal Tea Bag: Place one herb into quart jar, fill jar to top with boiling water, add honey/maple syrup/agave or stevia, steep until cool. Drink one cup serving (one quart serves 4). Enjoy one herb per day.
Shisho: can also be used as garnish or in salad.
Bee Balm
Comfrey leaf: Comfrey is not good for you if used in great quantities over a long period of time, however, if used in small quantities, it is very beneficial to bones and tendons. The amounts that we’re giving are in not even ¼ of the recommended required medicinal dosage and therefore well below the max dose. As with all foods, sample first to see how your body responds.
Yarrow
Lemon balm: sooths the nerves and calms stomach disturbances.
Warning: herbs are not washed in order to preserve flavor. Wash before immediate use (although some sources discourage washing herbs ever.
Flower bouquet: Salvia, Smokebush, Plum, Pink Spirea, Onion
JJ Organically grown in my urban forest garden
J Grown in my gardens in the country at Grandma’s house. Most of the time it is organic and sometimes it is wild crafted.