We're Ending the

Pennypack Farm Is Growing Campaign!  

Our goals:

• Tractor: purchased and used daily!
• Hoop house: purchased, construction started late May, to be completed in August.
• Tractor shed: purchased, construction planned for fall.
• Irrigation system expansion: deferred, due to changing priorities.

This campaign began in August 2010 and ended May 26, 2011 with the Community Appreciation Dinner.  We raised over $52,000, thanks to 207 donors plus all who participated in the dinner.

We cannot thank you, our donors, enough!  Your support through this campaign has allowed us to expand farming operations, planting 5 more acres, and offering 50 more shares than last year.

Thank you for your support of Pennypack Farm!

If you have not yet received your PFEC thank you gifts for your contribution, please email janiceblades@gmail.com.  We apologize for the delay.

Peppers and Eggplants, Oh my! 

Walking the beds of peppers and eggplants, you see some plants doubled over in defeat.  The European corn borersare wreaking havoc on our plants.  The larvae, which look like brown inchworms, tunnel in the stem of the plant causing most of the affected plants to die.  As we all know, timing, is everything.  On an organic farm, we need to act swiftly with all pest and disease problems. 

As part of our organic approach to pest management, we released trichogramma wasps in the field of peppers and eggplants.  Don't worry; these wasps will not sting you.  They measure only 1 mm in length or less.  Female wasps inject their own eggs into the egg of the European corn borer.  Her larvae consume the embryo and other contents of the egg.  Biological pest control enables us to control the population of agricultural pests without the use of pesticides.

We will see in the coming weeks, the success of our plan against the corn borers.  The goal is always to catch a problem before it affects the yield of the harvest.  On a good note, the healthy eggplant and pepper plants are not only flowering, but also producing fruit.  So as you enjoy your peppers and eggplants this season, be sure to give thanks to the parasitic wasps that helped to defend them.

Farmer Katie 

Veggie of the Week: Swiss Chard  

Swiss chard, a relative of spinach and beets, makes frequent appearances at farmer's markets and in CSA baskets. These shiny, large leaves and colorful stems are a good source of minerals, dietary fiber, and vitamins K, A, and C. Raw leaves and stems can be chopped and added to salads. Or try this, cut the stems away from the leaves, blanch the leaves for a sweet, vibrant side dish, and pickle the stems with the recipe below.

Sweet and Spicy Fridge Pickles

(bon appétit, June 2011)

In a quart sized Mason jar add 1 C distilled white vinegar, stir in 2 C sugar, add ½ thinly sliced onion, plus 3 Tbs. Siracha, and ½ tsp. celery seed. Add 1 ½ C chopped Swiss chard stems, cover and shake. Keep in the refrigerator for a few days, and enjoy. Tips: whole Swiss chard stems can be fibrous; chop stems as you would celery. Siracha is a hot chili sauce that can be found in the International section of your supermarket.

Raina Ainslie

Farm Educator and Siracha fan