Share #7 July 30th & August 1st

Crop List: Cosmic Mix, Collards, Basil, Head Lettuce, Bok Choy, Tomatoes, maybe Summer Squash and/or Sugar Snap Peas

The ​summer flavors are in! Zucchinis, tomatoes and sugar snap peas. The eating is GOOD right now!! It's the stuff we dream of all winter. The Cosmic Mix is starting to come in again. We are past the crop that suffered through the June frost. The crew is working hard picking sugar snap peas. The shares are starting to gain some weight as we have moved beyond delicate spring greens.

Summer in the Tetons is such a special time. The temperatures are awesomely warm during the day and the nights are cool enough for deep sleeping. Being outside feels so good, and we are surrounded by beauty everywhere we look. The Tetons are vacationland for many and we who call this place home are so blessed. When I landed here, I never wanted to leave in the summers...except to go backpacking in the Winds, but is that really leaving? I've gotten to a place where I do want a vacation now and then.
For years taking a vacation during the summer was not possible, we didn't have enough help. The winter trips were short because of the animals. When our kids were little, they didn't care, a day at the lake was great...and being on the farm was really fun too. As they got older they began to care and we did too. We needed to carve out more time together doing fun things or relaxing. Collecting eggs together has lost it's luster. Convincing a teenager that cutting sunflowers is cool and a great way to spend time together is impossible.
We took our first ever summer vacation together in 2022. We met my parents, brother and sister-in-law at the beach for a week. It felt scary and big. The farm has so many moving parts to walk away from and most of the parts are alive and need care. I met an old farmer once at a conference and I asked her what is was like for her AND her husband to leave the farm for an extended period...all she said was "everything was alive when I left, I'll see when I get back". It is so true and terrifying. We pour our heart, soul, blood, sweat and my tears (Jed doesn't cry in moments of frustration!) into it all. Walking away for a week with so much happening is a big leap of faith.
The reasons to walk away are important too. Family time is precious. If parenthood had seasons, Jed and I have moved into the fall of being responsible for our eldest son. He is 17 and he has begun the conversations of what moving out on his own might be like. Daily time together is waning (more tears). Our parents are also getting up there in the years (again, the tears). We all need time together. We have had to learn how to go on vacation. What the farm needs when we leave. What our employees need without us there to succeed. How to step away. We are so incredibly grateful we have been able to learn this through vacation instead of a family tragedy that forced us to step away.
We have shifted our thought patterns around "farmers don't get a break" to "farmers do get breaks." Farmers can take vacations just like everyone else. Our own thoughts were one of the biggest hurdles around vacations.
So obviously...We are taking a vacation!!! The farm family is beach bound for a week with some of our extended family. We have left the farm in good hands and those hands have phones if something comes up. We could not do this without our incredible employees. I'll thank them properly in next week's newsletter!
The one thing I can't change my mindset about around leaving? The food. I am really sad to not be eating Cosmic veggies this week. That part is going to be hard, especially now with the summer bounty rolling in!

Recipe Ideas: Tomato, Garlic and Summer Squash; Roasted Tomato Basil Pesto; Balsamic Grilled Summer Squash​

Click the button below to access our collection of Cosmic Apple CSA inspired recipes!

Recipes

There will be no coolers or eggs at the Jackson and Wilson pick up sites on 7/30, 8/1 and 8/6.
Sorry for the inconvenience. Email me an order if you want something reserved for you after the 7th. 
We have lots of extra goodies available at your pick up. If you want something specific, please email me and I will make sure it is in the cooler, reserved just for you. Dinner just got easier!
The coolers at your site are stocked with a selection of Lifeline Cheese and Cosmic Apple Pork and Beef (listed below). I don't send every cut every week, they simply won't all fit!
​Pork Available: Grandpa's Sausage, Breakfast Sausage, Pork Chops, Shoulder Roast, Spare Ribs, Tenderloin, Bacon, Neck Bones (make the real deal Ramen!) Hock and Fat
Beef Available: Tenderloin, Sirloin, Eye of the Round, Patties, Stew Meat, Ground Beef, Sirloin Roast, Tongue and Liver
​Hunters and Huntresses: We have pork fat for your wild game sausage making. Let me know if you want to order any and I can send it to your pick up location.

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
The People's Market: Wednesdays 4-7
Questions? Comments? Recipes to share? [email protected]