The Lake Divide Dream Team working together in the heat to get vegetables to you. I can't express how wonderful these folks are. I regularly feel lucky to have them around.
The blueberries flew off the table last week. We brought more so everyone can enjoy them. I sure have been! And the cucumbers are crunchy and fabulous. I have been eating them with lime juice and salt just about every chance I get. I bet they'd go great with blueberries...
While they aren't in proper, the shishito peppers are just around the bend. I freaking love these things. I love peppers in general, but these may be my favorite. Cooking up a huge batch and enjoying them on a whim through the week is my main joy.
I was caught off guard by this sucker when heading out before the rain to do some cultivation. Luckily, it takes air so I put the true repair off for another day. We've got a few flats to fix around here. Why not save em up?
I know, we had a squash picture last week, but look!! Look at that wild pattern on the striped zucchini?!?!?! Nature is magical.
The beautiful weed Queen Anne's Lace! Although it isn't native, I have known this plant my whole life. It was one of the first ones that I learned. You can see the Queen herself, seated in the center of all that lace.
Ahoy!
I saw my first tornado this week. Yes. It's true. And luckily, it seems to have caused little damage to our community and farm with only downed trees in its wake. Clare and I were working in wash station when our phones emergency alerts went off. "Tornado Warning!" I wondered "is it a warning when there is a tornado or is that when there is a watch?" (It's a warning.) I read the description of the event and where it was happening. It was allegedly right in our area! Huh? We thought we would look at the horizon to see what we could see. I commented on how still it felt, and it was! Is that something I had heard about right before a storm? There was no rain or wind but we could see the dark clouds filling the entire western horizon. I saw what looked like a small downward peak in the otherwise smooth cloud line, glanced at Clare to discuss, looked back and that little peak had grown extensively. We didn't keep discussing. I didn't stick around to take a picture, which I can't decide if I regret now. It seemed much more important to get the dogs and humans into the basement in the moment.
We waited it out down there, wondering what was going on outside, reading about native plants and noting leaks in the house's foundation. When we went back out, trees were knocked down, grass flattened, our handwashing sink was knocked on its side, but luckily no other damage. All the structures still stand with no large debris upon them. I feel lucky. It seemed so mild, I doubted what I saw until later I saw a video of the funnel that made the location clear.
Anyway, I feel almost disrespectful talking about witnessing a tornado and getting out unscathed when I know these forces of nature have wrecked lives. Let it be a once in a lifetime incident. Unless, of course, I become a storm chaser.
We have lots of good food for you, with beans and red cabbage new this week, so come out and see us.
Please watch out for little joys and eat well.
Cheers,
Helen
she/her/hers
In this email:
Fresh From the Field-
Greens:
Kale- Lacinato, curly green and curly red!
Microgreens: Basil, Broccoli (back next week), Cilantro, Cress, Mustard, Radish Mix,
Pea Shoots
Sunflower Shoots
All Manner of Deliciousness
Basil bunches and porch pots!
BeansL Frrom Yoder Farm
Blueberries: From Better Way Farm
Broccoli: From Titus Farms
Cabbage
Carrots!
Cucumbers: From Yoder Farms
Eggs: From HillTop Farms (at Eastern Market only)
Garlic- It is so juicy this time of year!
Kohlrabi
Parsley
Radish: From Jacob's Fresh Farm
Summer squash
Coming Soon
Fennel
Lettuce
New Potatoes
Farms we are collaborating with:
Not all the farms we are working with are certified organic. If they aren't, you better bet we know them well enough to trust their growing practices. This is both because we have asked them about how they care for their land and what materials they use, but also because we are friends. We have asked each other questions and shared information and resources over the years. We know most of them well enough to have had dinner together and to call to share family news. This collection of family farms are our community and our colleagues. We are proud to know them and to work with them.
Better Way Farms, South Haven, Certified Organic
HillTop Greenhouse and Farms, Ann Arbor. They supply the eggs from free range, happy chickens.
Jacob's Fresh Farm, Dexter
Stutzman Family Farm, Northern Michigan, Certified Organic
Titus Farms, Leslie
Yoder Farms, Leslie
Recipe: Blueberry-Cucumber Salad
From: Farm Flavor
Go light, healthy and fresh with this simple salad featuring blueberries and cucumbers.
INGREDIENTS
Note from Helen: Now, I haven't made this exact recipe but I wouldn't scrape out the cucumber seeds, I probably wouldn't add scallions, I may add microgreens (radish anyone?), may add raw sunflower seeds, and would definitely use the cilantro microgreens.
Market Details: We are at market this week
The Ann Arbor Farmers Market- Sporadic attendance noted on our social media. We love you.
Eastern Market, Shed 2, stalls 276 and 274 (Our regular, outside spot at the center of the shed), Saturday with Helen and Aaron! 6 am to 2:30 pm
Royal Oak, Saturday with Claudia and Lisa 7 am to 1 pm
I saw my first tornado this week. Yes. It's true. And luckily, it seems to have caused little damage to our community and farm with only downed trees in its wake. Clare and I were working in wash station when our phones emergency alerts went off. "Tornado Warning!" I wondered "is it a warning when there is a tornado or is that when there is a watch?" (It's a warning.) I read the description of the event and where it was happening. It was allegedly right in our area! Huh? We thought we would look at the horizon to see what we could see. I commented on how still it felt, and it was! Is that something I had heard about right before a storm? There was no rain or wind but we could see the dark clouds filling the entire western horizon. I saw what looked like a small downward peak in the otherwise smooth cloud line, glanced at Clare to discuss, looked back and that little peak had grown extensively. We didn't keep discussing. I didn't stick around to take a picture, which I can't decide if I regret now. It seemed much more important to get the dogs and humans into the basement in the moment.
We waited it out down there, wondering what was going on outside, reading about native plants and noting leaks in the house's foundation. When we went back out, trees were knocked down, grass flattened, our handwashing sink was knocked on its side, but luckily no other damage. All the structures still stand with no large debris upon them. I feel lucky. It seemed so mild, I doubted what I saw until later I saw a video of the funnel that made the location clear.
Anyway, I feel almost disrespectful talking about witnessing a tornado and getting out unscathed when I know these forces of nature have wrecked lives. Let it be a once in a lifetime incident. Unless, of course, I become a storm chaser.
We have lots of good food for you, with beans and red cabbage new this week, so come out and see us.
Please watch out for little joys and eat well.
Cheers,
Helen
she/her/hers
In this email:
- Generally important notes
- Ann Arbor Members: We are no longer regulars at the Ann Arbor Farmers' Market! Please look for the email with information or email me directly. I'm so sorry if this is jolting.
- Here is link to our Social Justice page on our website. It is a list of resources to keep active in effecting positive social change.
- Fresh from the Field
- Recipe: Blueberry-Cucumber Salad
- Market Details: Royal Oak and Eastern (shed 2, 276 &274)!
Fresh From the Field-
Greens:
Kale- Lacinato, curly green and curly red!
Microgreens: Basil, Broccoli (back next week), Cilantro, Cress, Mustard, Radish Mix,
Pea Shoots
Sunflower Shoots
All Manner of Deliciousness
Basil bunches and porch pots!
BeansL Frrom Yoder Farm
Blueberries: From Better Way Farm
Broccoli: From Titus Farms
Cabbage
Carrots!
Cucumbers: From Yoder Farms
Eggs: From HillTop Farms (at Eastern Market only)
Garlic- It is so juicy this time of year!
Kohlrabi
Parsley
Radish: From Jacob's Fresh Farm
Summer squash
Coming Soon
Fennel
Lettuce
New Potatoes
Farms we are collaborating with:
Not all the farms we are working with are certified organic. If they aren't, you better bet we know them well enough to trust their growing practices. This is both because we have asked them about how they care for their land and what materials they use, but also because we are friends. We have asked each other questions and shared information and resources over the years. We know most of them well enough to have had dinner together and to call to share family news. This collection of family farms are our community and our colleagues. We are proud to know them and to work with them.
Better Way Farms, South Haven, Certified Organic
HillTop Greenhouse and Farms, Ann Arbor. They supply the eggs from free range, happy chickens.
Jacob's Fresh Farm, Dexter
Stutzman Family Farm, Northern Michigan, Certified Organic
Titus Farms, Leslie
Yoder Farms, Leslie
Recipe: Blueberry-Cucumber Salad
From: Farm Flavor
Go light, healthy and fresh with this simple salad featuring blueberries and cucumbers.
INGREDIENTS
- 1 cucumber
- 2 cups (1 pint) fresh blueberries
- 2 tablespoons scallions, thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- ½ cup cilantro or parsley leaves, coarsely chopped and loosely packed
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1⁄8 teaspoon black pepper
- ½ cup crumbled feta cheese, optional
- With a sharp knife, cut the cucumber in half lengthwise and scrape out the seeds with tip of a spoon.
- Cut into thin slices.
- In a large bowl, toss cucumber, blueberries, scallions and cilantro.
- In a small bowl, whisk the olive oil, lime juice, and salt and pepper.
- Pour over the cucumber mixture and toss to combine.
- Sprinkle with feta cheese if desired.
Note from Helen: Now, I haven't made this exact recipe but I wouldn't scrape out the cucumber seeds, I probably wouldn't add scallions, I may add microgreens (radish anyone?), may add raw sunflower seeds, and would definitely use the cilantro microgreens.
Market Details: We are at market this week
The Ann Arbor Farmers Market- Sporadic attendance noted on our social media. We love you.
Eastern Market, Shed 2, stalls 276 and 274 (Our regular, outside spot at the center of the shed), Saturday with Helen and Aaron! 6 am to 2:30 pm
Royal Oak, Saturday with Claudia and Lisa 7 am to 1 pm
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