DOORSTEP HARVEST NEWSLETTER 06/28/2012
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)! Potatoes are still blooming. June black berries are ripe and ripening. Enjoy them this weekJ. Tomatoes are growing bigger. Tomatillo is blooming and has set some fruit. Cucumber and squash starts are happily blooming (so far they are all male flowers, so no set fruit yet. Later on this summer, after fruit is set, expect squash flowers with some recipes. ) Okra is taking off. So far it’s about six inches tall. Autumn Olive berries are doing well and slowly ripening in the heat. Some “Hollywood Plums” are included in this box! WOW! It is the first time this tree has held fruit long enough for us to taste it ripe! Grapes are filling out and are ripening slower than expected. Not quite sure when they will be ripe. Goji berry might have tasting quantities this year and the Chinese Red Date trees (Jujube) did not set any fruit. Carrots are up and have recently been thinned. See the baby carrots in your box. Purple perennial potato is doing O.K. Yard long beans are still growing slow (they like lots of heat so should start taking off soon). Sunchokes are almost five feet tall and bearing the drought well. Young asparagus beds are holding their own with extra water and if we get them through the drought should make even more asparagus next year. Garlic looks good and onions are ready.
JJ Garlic: Blend the white bulb into salad dressing and chop the greens into stews.
JJ Beets
JJBaby Carrot: These come from our thinned row of carrots. They are tasty.
JJGreen Beans: Provider beans are good eaten raw or stir-fried with sesemae seeds in olive oil.
Salad Mix Bag
JJ Organic Encore Lettuce Mix and other lettuce mix
J Organic Nasturtium: peppery addition to salads and pastas or when used as garnish
J JPeppermint: use in salad or tea
J Fennel: use in salad or tea or garnish. Also nice with pasta.
JJOrganic Sugar snap 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 Ruby Red Chard (related to beets)
JJ Organic Lacinato & Red Russian Kale: Organic Italian Heirloom that dates back to the eighteenth century
JJ Lambsquarters (higher in vitamins and minerals than spinach or beet tops) tastes good chopped and added to meat loaf.
JJ Dandelion greens.
JBlackberry: Many large “Triple Crown” berries have ripened.
JJHollywood Plum: First time this tree has ever had plums to eat!
JJCulinary Herb Bag: Basil ( it is taking off! We’re including enough to make a pesto), Lemon Thyme, Oregano, Sage, Parsley
JJHerbal Tea Bag: Place one herb into quart jar, fill jar to top with boiling water, and add honey/maple syrup /agave or stevia, steep until cool. Drink one cup serving (one quart serves 4). Enjoy one herb per day.
Shisho (Perillia): Used in Japanese cooking/stir fry, it is used to color pickled ginger, eaten with sushi, and can also be used as garnish, in salad, or as tea.
Bee Balm: see last news letter for info
Comfrey leaf: Comfrey is not good for you if used in great quantities (like large dose) over a long period of time (like for years) as it harms the kidneys if you do that, however, if used in small quantities (like a handful of leaves) and drink once a week, it is to be very beneficial for 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: see last news letter for info
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: Rose of Sharon (enjoy the flowers stuffed with cream cheese mix in enclosed recipe.)
JJOrganically grown in my urban forest garden
JGrown in my gardens in the country at Grandma’s house. Most of the time it is organic and sometimes it is wild crafted.