This list may change, but here's our best guess of what you'll be getting in your share this week. l

August 15, PA Young Birders Meet at Rushton Woods Preserve. More info

September 8, PA Young Birders Meet at Rushton Woods Preserve.

 

 

 

DIGGING RUSHTON FARM

 

We've got a blog!  More recipe ideas, musings about the farm and more...join the conversation at Digging Rushton Farm.

 

 

 

WCT BIRD BLOG 

 

Keep up with what's happening at our banding station at Rushton Woods Preserve as well as other activities in our Bird Conservation Program.  Inspiring photos and words from our staff and supporters.

 

  

What a fine summer it has been so far!  

 

It took a rainy Friday harvest with thunder, lightning and "sideways" rain to make the Rushton Farm Staff fully appreciate how fortunate we have been with the weather this season. We have certainly seen some extreme heat and some dry spells but that kind of weather actually benefits the fields of Rushton.

 

Each row of crops is irrigated with drip tape (which resembles a soaker hose) and provides water directly to the root system of the plants. Heavy rains and wind can be damaging to crops while heat and dry weather can promote fruit production on the plants as long as they are irrigated regularly.  

 

With the good weather we have seen record production in our summer crops and so far everything is looking good for the fall. This is one of the most important times of the season with the late season crops becoming established over the next few weeks. The leeks, broccoli, Brussels sprouts and other fall crops have been planted and are thriving. The winter squash is already bearing fruit while the sweet potatoes are just a few weeks from being harvested. We are currently seeding the fall beets, carrots and parsnips as well as the late season greens.

 

I am reminded that it was late August of last year that we faced hurricane weather and an earthquake before a late October snow effectively ended our season. It is Mother Nature's way and as farmers we have to respect that. No season is the same and the challenges are always changing. Of course I think all of us would enjoy seeing the good weather continue with the crops providing a bountiful harvest for the late summer and fall. Let's hope Mother Nature obliges.

   

-Fred

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

 

 

What to do with Edamame

Edamame is the Japanese name for soybeans. To prepare edamame, all you have to do is boil the entire bunch from your share, using salty water, pods and all. To tell if they are done, pull one bean out of the water and make sure that the pod is soft and easy to open.  

 

You can simply pop the beans out of the pod directly into your mouth! Or put the whole pod in your mouth and pull by the tip, scraping the pod from the bean as you pull.

 

If you want to spend a little more time you can shell them all in advance and add them to a salad.

 

Edamame is a wonderful snack and a source of complete protein. Soybeans contain all of the essential amino acids. They have been a crucial crop in eastern Asia since long before written records and they are still a major crop in China, Korea and Japan today.

 

Soybeans are one of the "biotech food" crops that are being genetically modified in increasing numbers.  Most of the soy on the market (89% in the U.S.) contains genes that make every cell of the soybean plant resistant to being sprayed by "Roundup", a herbicide produced by Monsanto.  This facilitates industrial-scale production of soybeans, with weed-free conditions, using millions of gallons of Roundup.

 

Of course as proponents of sustainable agriculture, we don't use Roundup at Rushton Farm - our seeds were grown and bred by Johnny's Selected Seeds and are certified to be not genetically modified - "non-GMO".

 

-Adapted from Fullbelly Farm