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| SAT August 7th | |
Wed. 11:00 to 1:00
Sat. 7:15 to 12:00
Fresh Produce
ON-FARM CLASSES
August 10th
Header Photo: Colorful peppers at Windcrest Farm |
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| Greetings! | |
During these final hot weeks of summer, we are keeping our "cool" by looking forward to the crisp days of autumn. It is a mere 10 weeks until the average first frost date in this area - Oct. 12th. This means it is time to plan for most of your fall and winter garden now.
We are busy growing fall seedlings in the cool mist of our propagation house - broccoli, cauliflower, collards, kales lettuces, leeks, Swiss chard and more. With the exception of garlic, shallots, fava beans and radishes, which are sown in October, most cool season crops need this season's sunlight and warmth to sprout and time to establish roots before the temperature drops. Our Fall Transplant Trays (see below) as well as individual plants will be available at the market in late August, which is a perfect time for you to establish your fall and winter garden.
If you and your garden are looking forward to a rest this autumn and winter, now is the time to think about planting a cover crop over all or part of the garden. Cover crops suppress weeds, break up hard soil, build fertility, feed your soil's micro-organisms and protect the soil from wind and water erosion. Cover crop seed is planted after summer's plantings are removed, then tilled under in the spring as a "green manure" to boost your soil's fertility and humus. An added benefit is a lush green color in the garden at a time when the surrounding landscape is still brown.
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| Good eating! |
Aji Dulce peppers stuffed with goat chess and bacon |
This year we have grown some colorful, tasty and unusual varieties of veggies in the field and hoop houses. Many of you joined us by trying these varieties in your own garden and it has been fun to hear how you have enjoyed them. Among our most popular have been Aji Dulce peppers, Malabar Spinach, and Lemon Cucumbers.
The Aji Dulce (ah-hay dool-say) has the flavor of a Habanero pepper without the heat. Last week, our friend Marie stuffed these peppers with goat cheese and bacon and we cooked them on the grill. This week, I put a cube of cheddar cheese in each pepper after removing the seeds, wrapped them in bacon, and roasted them in the oven. We will have these peppers at market on Saturday and you can find goat cheese at Bosky Acres and pastured pork products at Grateful Growers.
Malabar Spinach and Blossoms |
The Malabar Spinach has been happily loving the heat and growing up the trellises in the hoophouse. This is our first year growing this summer spinach substitute and it is in high demand. The secret to the best flavor is picking the leaves when they are no bigger than 2 to 3" in size. My favorite part is the blossoms, which really give our salads a nice crunch. We are mixing the leaves in our lettuce mix this week and offering the blossoms as an add-in.
Lemon Cucumbers |
The most attention-getting item in our market booth this season has been the Lemon Cucumber. This heirloom variety gets it's name from it's unique color and shape. The flavor is sweet and never bitter. Customers tell us their children, who will not eat a green cucumber, love these round, crunchy cucumbers. They are a perfect size to slice for a salad and terrific for pickling. Once you try them, it's hard to go back to green cucumbers again! Come get them at the market early - they go fast! |
| LEARN & GROW Series - NEW DATES ADDED! | |
"Seed Starting & Propagation"
Tuesday evening, August 10th, 6:30 to 8:30 pm
Join us in the greenhouse and learn how to take cuttings and start seedlings during this evening class. Cost: $35 includes cuttings and seeds for fall crops.
"Soil Fertility for Home Gardeners and Market Farmers"
Thursday evening, August 19, 6:30 to 8:30 pm
Whether you garden in containers, raised beds or in the field, this class covers the information you need to feed the soil that feeds the plants that feed us.
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Soil fertility and quality in organic and sustainable farming systems
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The relationship between soil fertility, plant health, and the resistance and resilience of crop plants to pests and pathogens
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Goals of a sustainable fertility/soil management program
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Components of a soil fertility management program
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The role of cover crops in the organic management of soil fertility
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The use of composts, manures, and other organic amendments
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Nutrient management
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Crop rotation design
- Cost: $35
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| Fall Gardening |
Extend your summer garden into fall with Fall Transplant TraysBroccoli, Cauliflower, Collards, Kale, Lettuce, Swiss Chard** Available in 38 & 50 plant trays Fall is a great time of year for planting veggies! The soil is warm and the summer pests and weeds are beginning to slow their pace. Many vegetables actually taste better when harvested in the fall's cooler weather.
38 plant tray - $28.50 ($38 value)
50 plant tray - $37.50 ($50 value)
(**Varieties may vary. All varieties suited for fall planting)
Feed the soil that feeds the plant that feeds you!
Worm Castings - $6.00
Mary's Mineral Mix - $5.00
Sea Kelp for Plants & Soil - $15.00
Add all three to your Fall Transplant Tray for $23.40 (10% discount)
Pre-order now for August delivery
info@WindcrestOrganics.com |
| Do you know...(click to find out) | | There are more than 1,000 "active" ingredients currently being used in insecticides, herbicides, fungicides and other "cides" - all are products designed to kill some type of living thing. There are also about 4,000 additional chemicals in those products that manufacturers claim are "inert" ingredients. [more info...]
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From our farm to your fork,
Mary Roberts
Windcrest Farm
Life is the art of drawing without an eraser.
John W. Gardner
All photos in this newsletter are taken at Windcrest Farm unless otherwise noted. |
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