Crop List: Cosmic Mix, Sugar Snap Peas, Radish, Turnips, Swiss Chard, Bok Choy, Head Lettuce, Mint and Maybe Tomatoes

Holy hotness. We don't usually get too many days over 90 in the summer, but it's happening. The plants are loving it, and the warm nights. Enjoy the mint this week! As an herb it has cooling properties that are so perfect in this heat. The absolute easiest thing you can do with it is to put a sprig in your water bottle. You can refill it multiple times and get a hint of mint with each bottle you drink!

One of the questions we get asked the most is: How did Cosmic Apple Gardens get it's name? Good question. Honestly, our name doesn't really make much sense, but it does have an origin.
It's a classic business naming story. Waaaaayyyyyy back in 1996, Jed had harvested and was ready to do his first roadside stand in Victor. The City told Jed he need to call the state to get a business license before he started selling. As he was on the phone with the State Tax Commission, they asked him for his business name. He didn't know!!! His buddy said "DUDE! You should call it Cosmic Apple Gardens because you grow at the 'Painted Apple Ranch' and you're all Biodynamic and cosmic and stuff!"
Jed replied "that's the dumbest name ever". But he couldn't come up with anything else before he had to hand the paperwork into the City of Victor. Time was ticking and he figured he'd just change it later when he came up with something better.
30 years later...here we are! Still, Cosmic Apple Gardens.
The "farm" started in a greenhouse in Driggs.  Jed added the greenhouse to a little rental house on 5th St. He only grew basil at the time. The farm became a real farm when it moved to the Painted Apple Ranch and started growing in real soil under the sun in 1996.
In 2002 the farm moved to our current location. A 30 acre alfalfa field with no infrastructure. We put in a well, moved a greenhouse from the Painted Apple and began building "shed village", AKA...buildings we can build in 1 day.
The 3 sheds by the parking area were originally donations from the Dornan family. They purchased canvas wall tents for their employee housing, but the employees didn't like them so they gifted them to us. We eventually had to remove the canvas as it was destroyed by the Idaho wind. We built plywood sides and put metal roofs on them. If you look at them, you can see the original wood on the bottom quarter of the structures. My first summer working at the farm (2002) I lived in the shed closest to the road and parking area by the lilacs.
Every year in the fall we get what we think are funny-sweet phone calls about people looking for "Cosmic Apples". "Cosmic apple" is an apple variety that has recently been developed and is growing in popularity. Folks are wondering if they can come to the farm and pick apples. Wondering if they can bring the family to see a real orchard. Our favorite was an angry call from someone in Georgia who "bought our apples at Walmart" and was furious with us because they said organic but her and her friend (who also bought a bag) assured us they tasted like chemicals anyway. I'm glad that we don't grow apples and ship them to Georgia Wal-marts.
We have a few apple trees. Jed gets me fruit trees for my birthday to grow our collection. The trees are just starting to get big enough to really have some harvests from them. This year they sadly froze and we lost the blossoms. Apples around here yield every 2 years. So maybe in 2028 we'll have enough to share. Fingers are crossed for a great apple crop! Someday we'll have apples from Cosmic Apple Gardens. Until then...we'll just keep confusing folks with our name. The Teton locals are in the know about who we are and what we really grow. I guess we'll be keeping the name for the time being!

Recipe Ideas: Dale’s Classic Mint Tea; Mint Vinaigrette; Mint Glazed Turnips; Dale’s Mint Quinoa with Veggies; Snap Pea & Turnip Salad

Crop List: Cosmic Mix, Arugula, Collards, Basil, Radish, Garlic Curls, Bok Choy, Lettuce, maybe Radish and/or Sugar Snap Peas

The crop list is shifting to early summer. For me, the shift is noticeable by the addition of crunchy things, we are moving beyond just leafy greens. Radish, Bok Choy, Garlic Curls and of course...Sugar Snap Peas!!
The end of this week is looking like a hot one. As long as we can keep everything watered, the plants will be loving it! Warm nights, long days and irrigation are the magic trio for rapid growth. The sugar snaps are on the "maybe list" because we are tentative to promise them before we actually pick them. Writing a farm newsletter can be tricky, because it's really hard to look at a row of peas and guess how many pounds are out there! Once they start coming in, everyone will get them!
The sugar snap peas are going to come on fast. The plants are loaded, and still have so many beautiful flowers waiting to turn into more peas. Our crew will spend a lot of time diligently picking the peas in the next few weeks.
Pea picking sounds like an easy job...but if you've never done it, it's not for the faint of heart.
While it is fun to be in the field with a group of people chattering away, solving the world's problems, telling jokes or recounting last night's events, it is a "minds on job". Paying attention is imperative. Peas like to hide, they are the exact same shade of green as the plant. Every pea one sees involves a decision. Is it under ripe? Over-ripe? Or perfect? Perfect peas go in the bucket. Filling a bucket with peas is one of the most satisfying jobs on the farm. When you start with an empty bucket each pea added makes a pleasant "thonk" sound! If a pea is under ripe, it gets left on the vine. The most challenging thing to learn is the difference between a pea that needs a tiny bit more time to ripen because it is kind of ripe..., and one that will be over-ripe before the next picking. A fine line to walk!
Everyone gets bummed when picking, a row and it's is laden with over-ripe peas. It's a waste of time, and so sad to see the missed peas. Picking peas involves paying attention and moving efficiently so the row gets picked properly!
We know we'll never be able to pick enough peas to satisfy the CSA. The labor involved is just too much. And the peas come in at a time that is our "weed it or loose it" time of the year! We need to get the peas picked and get back to slaying the weeds to save the future crops!
You'll notice our peas are sooooo much sweeter then anything you can buy in the store. Because we pick by hand, the whole plant is not just stripped by a machine and every pea added to a conveyor belt. Like I said earlier, we are looking for perfectly ripe peas! You'll definitely taste the difference! And, ummm, if you have kids, make sure you put a secret stash of peas somewhere, or your kids will eat them all before you make it home from your veggie pick up!

Cosmic Apple History note...
Jed had a dog named Harpooha. That dog LOVED sugar snap peas. He was happy if you tossed him one when harvesting.  We gave him the ones that a bug nibbled on.  Sometimes he'd get a pea before dinner while his human was cooking. He eventually got sick of waiting and figured out how to pick his own. He would find the ripe ones and eat them right off the vine! We'd find him lingering in the pea patch when we moved irrigation pipe. Moral of the story...don't let your dog learn how to graze in the garden!

Recipe Ideas: Thai Bok Choy with Garlic Curl; Spicy Collards; Blistered Radishes with Parsley; ​Honey Basil Dressing

Recipe Ideas: Roasted Garlic Curl Hummus; Grilled Garlic Curls (2 ways!); Garlicky Greens (use garlic curls instead of cloves) or ​Kale Turnip & Turkey Sausage Soup

Crop List: Cosmic Mix, Red Butterhead Lettuce, Bok Choy, Swiss Chard, Arugula, Green Onions and Basil

It is starting to really feel like summer on the farm. I'm done obsessively checking the weather for frosts. They seem to be behind us for the near future. Which is a big relief! The garden is really taking off! Everything is growing quickly. Which of course means the weeds are growing fast too.
Our crew is working really hard at staying on top of cultivating. Harvesting happens first thing every morning before the day gets hot and the greens wilt. Once the harvest is in, we turn our attention to weeding. 
We have some great tools for weed removal, but our favorite is the stirrup or hula hoe. It can be used standing up straight, with good posture, so it prevents back pain! It is shaped just like a stirrup on a horse saddle. The bottom part is a blade that we drag through the soil. It undercuts weeds and gets the job done, while standing instead of kneeling.
Weeding is the number one time consuming job on the farm. Luckily the payoff is big. The more we get weeded, the more we get to harvest. We are very grateful for our crew and volunteers that put the time in to take care of our garden! Besides the amazing work they do...they are just cool people and we get to hang out with them!

Week #3 and we already have basil in the share again! The basil looks incredible this year. In 2024 we decided to mulch our greenhouses with straw in-between the rows of basil and tomatoes. We also began experimenting with cover crops. Mulching and cover crops suppress weeds and keep moisture in the soil for longer. The tomatoes did great and we didn't have to weed as much. The basil did not do so great. But like all things in the garden...we had to double check the variables because there were some other minor things we adjusted that year too. 
So we mulched again in 2025. And we decided the basil is not happy with mulch. It might keep the soil temperature to cold for it. We're not sure the exact reason...but no more mulch! The basil already looks about the same size it was in August last year, but even healthier! I don't want to jinx it...but you might want to find a favorite pesto recipe. Pesto freezes great for the winter. It's shaping up to be a great basil year...which can translate to a great basil winter if you store what you can't eat now.
A simple internet search for how to preserve basil will set you up with lots of ideas. I think the easiest are:
1. Making pesto and freezing in ice cube trays (transfer to bag after frozen), then you have portioned out cubes.
2. You can skip the whole pesto process and use a food processor with only basil and a bit of olive oil. Process until you have a paste. Freeze it with the same ice cube method mentioned above.
3. Make herbed butter. Recipe on our "basil" page, follow the link below.
4. Dry it! Herbs dry so easy in our climate. I just spread an herb out on a baking sheet and put it out of direct sunlight for a few days (you can use your oven too). When they are dry, crumble them into an airtight jar. (works for mint, oregano, sage, thyme and marjoram too!)
If any of these methods seem overwhelming, there are detailed recipes online. Just search whichever one floats your boat! Or get serious about consuming fresh basil...a great summer goal!

Recipe Ideas: Swiss Chard with Pine Nuts, Parmesan and Basil;  Basil Marinade; Bok Choy, Swiss chard With Noodles; ​Green Onion Dip

Crop List: Cosmic Mix, Bok Choy, Pea Shoots and Oregano

30 Years of Gettin' Cosmic!!

Cosmic Apple Gardens has been growing food for the People of the Tetons for 30 years!
Since 1996.
This feels big and special. We are planning a celebration for the whole community and we want you there.
30 years feels like a milestone to recognize, share and reflect upon. I'm sure I'll get nostalgic in the newsletters this year. Maybe I'll include some farm history lessons. We haven't had a party in a loooong time. We used to do them every summer.
And then there was the summer of 2009. (notice how I instantly got nostalgic and am already going straight into history?) Jed was at a Saturday market and we had our annual party happening that evening. The truck broke down on the town square of Jackson. We couldn't just leave the truck there, full of leftover veggies to be towed away, Jed couldn't get home without it and we were terrified of what a towing bill would look like for that rig.
Amazingly one of our volunteers, (Chad G!) walked by finding Jed working on the truck and drove him back and forth to NAPA until he could get operational and on the road. Jed pulled into the farm as the first guests were arriving.
I had to set up for the party, with a 4 month old and 2 year old...by myself. I might have become a bit cranky and not in a party mood. I was hot, tired, smelly, the kids needed me badly and I was supposed into shift to hostess mode. We were nowhere near ready as people were arriving. I decided in that moment I was done with parties! Those precious Saturday afternoons needed to be spent at home, doing laundry, NOT dragging the kids around the farm trying to accomplish what I could barely do holding a baby with another one clinging to my leg. We needed to work hard to carve out family time, and the parties had to go. We were sad, but knew it was the right call. The party phase of our life was taking a break!
A beautiful thing did come out of that party. As we were giving the farm tour, my son ripped off his clothes and dashed down a strawberry row. There were three year old twins on the tour with us. They looked at each other, decided they liked the idea, ripped their clothes off and took off after my son. Naked party kids in the garden! The other mom and I looked at each other and said "maybe we should get them together to play"? Those 2 boys and my 2 boys grew up together and are still best of friends. (They'll all be at the party!) The mom became one of my dearest friends, and we got to raise our kids together. Thank goodness for uninhibited toddlers.
Now our oldest is 19! We have an adult, who will be able to stay up later then us at this celebration! We have family coming in from the East Coast to join us too! Seriously, it's a big deal.
But this party is really for you, our community! All the folks who have grown with us for 30 years! Or maybe it's your first year discovering us? We want you to celebrate too!
This whole season feels special.
We did it. 30 years!!!
We are living our dream. Growing nutritious great tasting food for you and your loved ones. Taking care of our favorite spot on Earth. Improving the soil every year.
Interacting with the BEST customers in the universe.
For 30 years, we've been blessed to be your farmers. Thank you.
Save the date, and join us! Let's dance.

August 9th, 2026
​
Dinner with Jackson Hole Farmer's Market. Tickets available.
FREE community wide concert featuring The Deadlocks following dinner.

This week's Recipe ideas: Oregano Greek Dressing, Veggies and Peanut sauce over Rice (Bok Choy page); ​Bok Choy & Pea Shoots Sesame Noodles

Crop List: Cosmic Mix, Spicy Mix, Arugula, Basil and Chives

Yay!!! We are back! With veggies for the People of the Tetons! Welcome. We are glad you are here and ready to wake up your taste buds. Remember what fresh things taste like? I think I forget every year. It might be phycological so I am not so sad all winter. Fresh tender greens sure do make me feel alive, grateful and excited to eat again. The first taste of them every spring is celebration inducing!
This spring weather has been a wild ride. Temps in the 60's in March had us all prematurely excited and then May returned for a normal run with  A LOT of nights below freezing. We did not loose any plants, but the things we had in the garden paused their growth. We've been waiting and watching...with a bit of coaxing. Making the call to start the CSA was trickier then usual this year, the cool wet weather in the middle of this week will slow everything down again. 
We wanted to start because if we waited the Spicy Mix would have been overripe and wasted. Right now it's perfect and was our motivating factor. The shares always start light and green. Many more things are coming and the shares will get progressively bigger as the season goes on!
We hope as the season progresses your kitchen creativity is sparked and you savor eating food with real flavor and nutrition.
​Each week I'll share a couple ideas of how I like to use what's in season. Please explore our recipe page if you need inspiration! Also, when at the pick ups, if you are not sure how to use something, ask the site host or the person next to you in line. Our CSA members LOVE to share cooking tips and ideas. I have learned so much from you all!

Recipe ideas: Lemony Chive Basil Vinaigrette; Italian Arugula Salad; I love the spicy mix on top of a burger. My other favorite is to put my morning eggs on top of a plate of spicy mix with a little bit of olive oil and balsamic vinegar drizzle.
Chives-use the whole green stem and the purple flower!

Help Wanted! Volunteer site host in Wilson on Thursdays. Hang out with some of the coolest people at Owen Bircher Park and help them get veggies! We will trade 1 Full Share of the Harvest. This is a great gig for someone seeking lots of organic produce, willing to work trade to help the farm out, and no pass driving included! PLEASE spread the word!

We have lots of extra goodies available at your pick up. Dinner just got easier!
The coolers at your site are stocked with a selection of Lifeline Cheese, Cosmic Apple Eggs, Pork and Beef (availability listed below).  If you want something specific, please email me and I will make sure it is in the cooler, reserved just for you. I don't send every cut every week, they simply won't all fit, but I love putting together special orders!

​Pork Available: Tenderloin, Grandpa’s Sausage, Breakfast Sausage, Bacon, Boneless Chops, Shoulder Roast, Spare Ribs, Boneless Pork Loin, Neck Bones, Back Fat, Leaf Fat, Hock, Liver, Heart and Kidney

Beef Available: Tenderloin, New York Steak, Rib Eye Steak, Sirloin Steak, Eye of the Round Steak, Skirt Steak, Tri-tip, Patties, Stew Meat, Heart, Ground Beef, Short Ribs, Brisket, Round Roast, Sirloin Tip Roast, Liver, Kidney, Marrow Bones, Knuckle Bones, Fat and Tongue


WASH YOUR VEGGIES!!
​
Bring Bags to pick-ups!

If you can't make it to pick up your veggies, send a friend!
Missed shares are forfeited for the week. 
​
Members get 10% off at the Farmer's Markets!
The People's Market: Wednesdays, 4-7 Center for the Arts
The Driggs Market: Fridays 9-1
Jackson Hole Farmer's Market: (Starts 6/20) Saturdays 8-12

Questions? Comments? Recipes to share? [email protected]

Crop List: Carrots, Rainbow Carrots, Fingerling Potatoes, Huckleberry Gold Potatoes, German Butterball Potatoes, Beets, Turnips, Radishes, Parsley, Dill, Basil, Cilantro, Onions, Winter Squash, Garlic, Leeks, Kale, Shallots, Maybe Broccoli, Cauliflower, Daikon Radish, Watermelon Radish, Tomato, Cabbage, Cosmic Mix and/or Summer Squash 

Holy large crop list. This may be our largest share ever. I'm not even sure how it is going to fit on the tables so please have some patience with your site hosts as they navigate the sheer volume of this delivery and help you get your 2026 share purchase complete.
We have had 3 amazing growing seasons in a row. But this one was unbelievable. We still haven't had a killing frost. There were no light frosts all summer, which can and usually do occur a couple times during the summer. The plants didn't have any stress from cold or smoky skies. The garden thrived. Our crew was amazing and stayed on top of the weeds. Honestly...great weather, enough water, a weeded garden, an amazing crew and the best customers, Jed and I can't really ask for much more in the farming realm! We feel blessed.
This wraps up our 29th season of growing for The People of The Tetons. That sounds like a big number. I think Cosmic Apple has aged well. Many things have gotten easier and more organized. I think our shares have gotten more diverse, veggie wise and the quality has gotten much better then in our early years. We still truly strive to grow you the best food we possibly can. One thing remains the same for 29 years...we constantly work to improve the soil to grow the best food for you.  As the soil has improved so has the nutrient density in your produce. We seriously think the veggies are getting better with the farm's age!

I don't know why...but I am feeling incredibly nostalgic writing this newsletter. Sometimes the flow of the seasons gets me. Spring is all full of hope...summer  is fiery and fast...fall is about letting go, looking back and celebrating.
Jed and I are so moved by the sheer number of incredible people we've met through this job. The thing is...99.999% of the people over the years have been beyond awesome. (The .001%?...I wish them the best!) The farm has created an incredible community. I even remember my parents coming to visit in the early 2000's. They came to a veggie pick up with me. My dad said..."everyone is just so nice". He had to explain to me it wasn't that way in his line of business. Him saying that has stuck with me. It's YOU! Our Cosmic Apple CSA members. You are just the best. Many of you have supported us for years! Some of you are new...we love growing for each of you. We care deeply about your health. You keep us going, we hope your relationship with the farm feels as mutually beneficial to you as it does to us.
Thanks for being willing to pick up each week, your actions speak to your commitment to your health, local farms and our world. Thanks for coming along on this journey with us. We hope you noticed a difference in the flavor of our veggies to those in the supermarket.
We hope you felt deeply nourished.

"Round the table
Peace and joy prevail.
May all who share
this season's delight
enjoy countless more."
-Chinese blessing

Be well until we meet again!

Sign Up NOW for 2026 and get a Free Cosmic T-shirt or Hat!
We have started our 2026 CSA membership drive! If you sign up for 2026's CSA at a pickup location before the 2025 CSA ends, you will receive a free organic cotton t-shirt or hat! Your site host will have sign-up sheets, or you can get one here: 2026 Sign up Link. 
Signing up early to gets you the best prices and guarantees the pickup location/day you really want...and did I mention the free swag?! Shirts available in Men's, Women's, Kid's, Toddler and Baby Onesies! We have some sizes in our classic purple tee, but the sizes we sold out of were replaced with black shirts with our logo in bright yellow. It was just time to mix it up a bit!  We don't have too many hats left...so sign up early if that's your style.
​The farm benefits from you signing up now...remember CSA's are mutually beneficial to you and your farmers! We get money to do winter projects and have money to purchase seeds before the growing season starts. You guarantee yourself a season of fresh, nutritious veggies that you don't have to go to the grocery store for...Cosmic veggies taste better too. Also, the price goes up as winter goes on...so save yourself some money!
If you purchase a share online, you must show your receipt to the site host to get some swag. To pay at the pickup please print out this form, follow the link below or fill out a form the site host will have for you and bring a check or cash.
​Paying online (Link Here) will incur a 4% card fee. Cash or check saves you money!
We have a payment plan available too! See the form for more info.
NO VENMO FOR SHARE PURCHASES.

Also, please consider a donation to help purchase shares for the Teton Valley Food Pantry. In 2025 The Cosmic Apple Community purchased 13 shares for the Pantry. Let's do it again. Any amount helps! You can just add it to your payment. Also, you can donate directly to the TVFP and tell them the money is for Cosmic Apple Shares. And THANK YOU!!
"All living beings are struggling for life, May they all have enough food today." Thich Nhat Hanh

​Do you want to stock up on some meat or cheese before we stop seeing you every week? Just send me an email with what you would like, and I am happy to put an order together for you to make sure you get what you want. Even if it is only a couple items...or more! I am happy to do it.

Crop List: Cosmic Mix, Radishes, Turnips, Carrots, Fingerling Potatoes, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Bok Choy, Head Lettuce, Summer Squash, Slicing Cucumbers, Pickling Cucumbers, Winter Squash, Garlic, Yellow Onions, Shallots, Maybe Tomatoes, Broccoli and/or Cauliflower

Get ready for a haul. This week's share is going to be big. (PLEASE BRING BAGS...or boxes. We have been cleaned out. Ask your neighbors, dig in your pantry, look in the breakroom drawers! We'll take any extra, clean useable bags you can find!) But back to the veggies...LOTS! We are working at "full steam ahead" speed to harvest all the goodness out of the garden. Our beautiful little spot on Earth has yielded so much nutrition. It truly is a wonder how much food can be grown in a small space.
Remember back to June when the shares were so light and fluffy? Spring in the Tetons was asking us to eat light, quick and clean our systems out. The seasons have changed. We are now being asked to stock up for winter...put the pounds on, fill the larder, slow down and cook meals that take more time.
We realize you are getting many pounds of veggies this share. The good news is you don't have to eat it all this week. Most will keep well in your fridge. Focus on the treats that won't keep for a long time. Next week will likely be big too!
Here's some storage tips for the items that will keep longer then a week:
Turnips and Carrots- Break tops off. Store in a bag in your fridge. Taking the tops off keeps the sugars in the root and won't leave you with moldy tops in your bag.
Potatoes- Keep really well in a plastic bag in the fridge. 
Winter Squash and Garlic- Keep at room temperature, out of direct sunlight. You can put them on your counter, or in a cabinet. They will do fine in a box in your basement too! A paper bag works if you want to keep them dust free somewhere. Keep them out of air tight plastic, squash and garlic need to "breath".
Onions- Our onions are not "cured" so they need refrigeration. Break the tops off and store in a bag.

Other then winter squash and garlic...most of the roots will do well in a bag in a cool environment. A bag keeps them from drying out. 35-40 degrees is perfect. Keep them above freezing!  Also keep them dark. If you are out of fridge space, a cooler in your garage or crawl space will work. Just watch the temps and make sure to protect the cooler from getting to cold or too hot!

Sign Up NOW for 2026 and get a Free Cosmic T-shirt or Hat!
We have started our 2026 CSA membership drive! If you sign up for 2026's CSA at a pickup location before the 2025 CSA ends, you will receive a free organic cotton t-shirt or hat! Your site host will have sign-up sheets, or you can get one here: 2026 Sign up Link. Signing up early to gets you the best prices and guarantees the pickup location/day you really want...and did I mention the free swag?! Shirts available in Men's, Women's, Kid's, Toddler and Baby Onesies! We have some sizes in our classic purple tee, but the sizes we sold out of were replaced with black shirts with our logo in bright yellow. It was just time to mix it up a bit!  We don't have too many hats left...so sign up early if that's your style.
​The farm benefits from you signing up now...remember CSA's are mutually beneficial to you and your farmers! We get money to do winter projects and have money to purchase seeds before the growing season starts. You guarantee yourself a season of fresh, nutritious veggies that you don't have to go to the grocery store for...Cosmic veggies taste better too. Also, the price goes up as winter goes on...so save yourself some money!
If you purchase a share online, you must show your receipt to the site host to get some swag. To pay at the pickup please print out this form, follow the link below or fill out a form the site host will have for you and bring a check or cash.
​Paying online (Link Here) will incur a 4% card fee. Cash or check saves you money.
We have a payment plan available too! See the form for more info.
NO VENMO FOR SHARE PURCHASES.
​
We will go until week 18! If anything changes, we will let you know, but right now our goal is still to get the garden completely harvested by the end of next week. It feels daunting right now...but a goal is a goal!

Also, please consider a donation to help purchase shares for the Teton Valley Food Pantry. In 2025 The Cosmic Apple Community purchased 13 shares for the Pantry. Let's do it again. Any amount helps! You can just add it to your payment. Also, you can donate directly to the TVFP and tell them the money is for Cosmic Apple Shares. And THANK YOU!!

​Do you want to stock up on some meat or cheese before we stop seeing you every week? Just send me an email with what you would like, and I am happy to put an order together for you to make sure you get what you want. Even if it is only a couple items...or more! I am happy to do it.

Lunch on the Farm this week: Potato Leek Soup; Pad Thai
Recipe Ideas: Carrots, Potatoes Roasted with Onions & Garlic; Curry Carrot Soup; Honey Roasted Potatoes; Roasted Carrot & Sweet Dumpling Squash Bisque ​

Lunch on the Farm this week: Merav's Carrot Soup with Cheese bread; Sausage Kale Soup
Recipe Ideas: Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette; Speedy Tomato-Cilantro Sauce; Dill Cucumber Salad; Butter Dill Potatoes​

Crop List: Cosmic Mix, Summer Squash, Sugar Snaps, Shallots, Fingerling Potatoes, Beets, Basil, Tomatoes, Fennel  Maybe Slicing Cucumber and/or Pickling Cucumbers

Cosmic Apple By the Numbers, Facts and Measurables!
Are you a numbers person? Here's some of the measurable things we know about Cosmic Apple. These figures will help to make the farm a more tangible place.

 The farm is 50 acres total. The garden is 8 acres. 19 acres are in pasture for the cows. 1/2 acre for the breeding pigs, 2 acres in buildings, sheds and greenhouses, and 12 acres in wildland, non-production for the natural influence. 3 1/2 acres in required buffer to protect from chemical drift from the neighbors.
The 8 acre veggie garden is divided into 2 sections. Each section has beds which are 475 feet long. A football field is 360 feet long! It is no small task to weed one bed! We have about 126 beds this year. Each bed has 1-4 rows of plants in it. Some of the the items in the garden: 18 rows of potatoes. 12 rows of sunflowers.  7 beds of summer, winter squash and cucumbers. 4 rows of onions. 18 rows of carrots.
18 rows were garlic that has been harvested. We will save 3000 garlic bulbs for our seed for next year's crop. The bulbs will be broken up to yield about 14,250 garlic cloves. Each will clove will grow into a bulb for next year.
We irrigate the garden and pastures with a hand line of irrigation pipe. We move it two times a day. It takes about 45 minutes for each move. There are 30 lengths of pipe and they put down about 2” of water every 12 hours.
We have 2 breeding pigs, and 10 "teenagers". The teenagers are about 5 months old. They will be butchered at about 8 months. We have 75 new chickens that will start laying in November! We will be getting about 75 eggs a day when the hit their stride. There are about 70 hens in the old flock...who have pretty much given up laying eggs.
For cows we have a total of 19! The most we've ever had. 
1 cat, Dumbledore, to keep the non counted mice and ground squirrels in check.
The farm is run by Jed and Dale. We have 3 children (Dagan, Axel and Roxanne) and 1 dog (Cosmo).The farm employs 13 people. (There is some crossover and a few folks have more then one position.) 1 wash station manager, 1 field crew manager, 6 field crew employees, 1 truck driver, 5 market employees, 1 tomato caretaker, 1 evening chore person who does chores M-F, 1 part time chore person for Saturday and Sunday mornings.  6 volunteer site hosts. And about 5-9 volunteers per week.
We now have 5 greenhouses. 2 are used for starting seeds and baby plants to get the garden going. 3 are for tomatoes, basil and calendula.
We do 2 CSA deliveries a week, supplying about 175 shares each week. If each full share feeds 4 people, then we are feeding 700 individuals each week. Based the 2020 populations of Teton Counties (ID and WY) we feed about 2% of the people of the Tetons, just through the CSA! We also do 3 markets a week.
When we harvest something like bok choy or head lettuce, we need 175 heads to get enough for one CSA delivery. We need about 350 total to do all the deliveries in one week.
Already in 2025 we have harvested:
1820.57 lbs. of Cosmic Mix
2136.56 lbs. of Peas (Sugar Snaps and Shell Peas)
5108.68 lbs. of Summer Squash
2852 Heads of Bok Choy
We are just starting to get into the heavy things!
We have 5 tractors; the newest one is from 1970! (Jed why do we have so many tractors?) Our favorite tractor implement is the water-wheel transplanter. It allows us to plant up to 1000 plants in 9 minutes with 5 people.
We have one amazing delivery truck, named Babe. We have been driving it for 19 years and it still runs great, feels safe and makes us smile. There are 2 pickups at the farm for hauling and projects.
We know of 4 weddings that are a result of meetings at Cosmic Apple!
Cosmic Apple started in 1996. This is our 29th season of growing the best food for the People of the Tetons!!
Whew. That was fun!

Lunch on the Farm this week: Burritos with beets, summer squash carrots and Idaho Salsa; Pad Bai
Recipe Ideas: Summer Squash Fennel Soup; Fennel and Potato Gratin; Fall Fennel and Potato Roast; Oven Roasted Beets & Potatoes;  ​Honey Roasted Potatoes