Share #4 June 27th & 29th

Crop List: Cosmic Mix, Spicy Mix, Radish, Swiss Chard, Roxy Head Lettuce, Lovage and Basil

We made it through the first day of summer frost and the second day of summer frost nicely! Temperatures dipped down to 31 degrees last week, it was surprisingly thick frost, but not long enough to do any damage. Spring seemed way too easy without a frost since the end of April. We knew a June frost had to be coming. Now we just need to make it through the July and August frost and we'll be all set for the September frost! We are in a special zone on USDA maps that is labeled "Frost Year Round". High altitude gardening is no joke. Gratefully, the microclimate at the farm keeps us a bit warmer then surrounding spots in the valley. Our sensitive crops are tucked in under row cover. The tomatoes and basil are lucky enough to be in hoop houses with heaters. We search out frost tolerant varieties with short growing seasons when we purchase seeds. Most years....most things make it!
 We have not had to irrigate the garden this entire month. The rains have been evenly spaced and gentle enough to water things well. The rains of June have created a green vibrant garden...and the weeds love it! We are working diligently to get the garden weeded. The moist soil makes for "hero conditions" when removing our undesired visitors. The deep taproots come all the way out. It is so incredibly satisfying to pull an entire plant, taproot and all, out of the garden! The smaller weeds come out with a gentle tug and the perfectly moist soil allows us to pull them without disturbing the roots of the plants we are cultivating.
Sadly our egg production has slowed way down. We had a fox picking off chickens. We don't count the girls every night so sadly it took us a bit to realize the flock was dropping in numbers. In all the years of doing this we have never had a fox smart enough to jump the electric netted fence. Usually they check it out once, get a shock and never come back. Dogs are our main predator. We have solved the problem and the fox seems to have been deterred...but our layers are not as numerous as before. The rooster is on edge and has become an attack rooster. He was always ornery...but now he is aggressive with everyone who attempts to collect eggs or visit. As planned, we have chicks on the way for a new flock, but they will not start to lay until mid-November. If eggs make it to your site to purchase, grab them while you can, but at this point most of them will be going to the farm family and employees.

​Please check out these available farm positions and spread the word! We are getting really close to having all our job positions full!
Market Helper- Wednesdays at the People's Market. Paid position. Ride over in the truck (1:30-8:15) or meet us at the market 2:15-7:30). Help get veggies to the people! This is a fun, social, fast paced job. Email [email protected]
Field Crew- 4 or 5 days a week. 7-4 each day. Be a farmer! Help with planting, weeding, harvesting and anything else that needs done.

Field Crew

Volunteer-If you (or someone you know!) is curious about high altitude gardening becoming a garden helper may be just right. We are only asking folks to commit to 1 morning a week for one month, that's 20-25 hours for one month! It feels really good to have volunteers back on the farm, we missed them!! Lunch and veggies are provided! Follow the link below to check it out!

Volunteer

Recipes

​Lunch this Week: Radish, Swiss Chard stir fry over rice with Basil and Ginger butter sauce (on the bok choy page)
Recipe Ideas: Honey Basil Dressing, Chard Patties, Swiss Chard with Pine Nuts, Parmesan and Basil or French Breakfast Radish, the traditional way.
The coolers at your site are stocked with a selection of the beef and pork listed below. If you know you want something, please email me and I will make sure it is in the cooler, reserved for you. I don't send every cut every week, they simply won't all fit!
Beef Available: Ground Beef
​Pork Available: Grandpa's Sausage, Breakfast Sausage, Pork Chops, Shoulder Roast, Tenderloin, Spare Ribs, Neck Bones (make the real deal Ramen!) and Fat

WASH YOUR VEGGIES!!
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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 Driggs Market: Fridays 9-1
JH Farmer's Market: Saturdays 8-12 (starts July 1st)
The People's Market: Wednesdays 4-7
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Questions? Comments? Recipes to share? [email protected]