Dear friends,
It has been a while. I have been overwhelmed with the work to get all the fall plantings in, the tomatoes and zucchinis mulched, the weeding, the crops getting eaten by deer and wood chucks...The deer fence is back up and the fall potatoes and carrots are starting to come up, I am watering around the clock.
It has been a while. I have been overwhelmed with the work to get all the fall plantings in, the tomatoes and zucchinis mulched, the weeding, the crops getting eaten by deer and wood chucks...The deer fence is back up and the fall potatoes and carrots are starting to come up, I am watering around the clock.
zucchini mulching
It is all done now and I slept in this morning, went swimming with Rob and Patreesha and went to the Potsdam summer fest last night. I am starting to relax a bit more. The farm crew is exceptional working hard and fun!
quarantine with covid
Also the entire farm was hit with covid for two weeks and we took turns being down and getting better so harvests were done in a save way. I was the last one to get it. It was cute to see all the workers laying in chairs on the front porch hanging out sick together.
And this coming weekend is garlic harvest fest with 10,000 garlic to pull and peel. I hope you can make it and have fun while pulling or peeling garlic. We started pulling the first bed to have some early for sale and it looks like a good year.
And this coming weekend is garlic harvest fest with 10,000 garlic to pull and peel. I hope you can make it and have fun while pulling or peeling garlic. We started pulling the first bed to have some early for sale and it looks like a good year.
The cows are doing well. Ibiza is growing fast and able to drink all 5 gallons/day if we let him. We lock him up at night so we get2 1/2gallons in the mornings. At first he jumped the gates and was back with the mamas, well fed and no milk for us. I bought a 4'tall gate and he stays put now. He has a lucky life hanging out with mom and grandma every day all day. Goldie and Carol are taking turns staying with him while the other one goes out to eat grass. Ibiza also eats grass, hay and grain and drinks water; very cute!
Ibiza and Goldie
On the crops: some are slow to come on like carrots, beets and cilantro. the cucumbers are looking gorgeous and are starting to crank out fruit. The zucchinis are beefing up and are not far behind and we know when they are on they are on for a long time. The tomatoes have big bushy plants and green fruit.
I had deer eating the mixed greens and wanted to cover them with a netting and did not get to it and covered them instead with a tunnel plastic. The next day was hot and it fried all the greens except where the plastic had blown off. They looked so sad and I was so sad. I replanted and we we are back on with lush mixed greens. Farming is a lot of replanting when a crop is not coming up, got eaten or fried. There is nothing that can be done in the moment, but do it again and fix the fence and get the net out and have it work out three weeks later. We replanted cucumbers 4 times this year and have solid rows as if it never happened. But it is very stressful in the moment.
I had deer eating the mixed greens and wanted to cover them with a netting and did not get to it and covered them instead with a tunnel plastic. The next day was hot and it fried all the greens except where the plastic had blown off. They looked so sad and I was so sad. I replanted and we we are back on with lush mixed greens. Farming is a lot of replanting when a crop is not coming up, got eaten or fried. There is nothing that can be done in the moment, but do it again and fix the fence and get the net out and have it work out three weeks later. We replanted cucumbers 4 times this year and have solid rows as if it never happened. But it is very stressful in the moment.
Here is a pea in mint yogurt sauce recipe:
Ingredients
Enjoy, Dulli
- Kosher salt
- 1 pound (450g) sugar snap peas, trimmed
- 1/4 cup (60ml) yogurt
- 2 tablespoons (30ml) extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon (15ml) mayonnaise
- 1/2 tablespoon (7ml) fresh juice from 1 lemon, plus small pinch freshly grated lemon zest
- 8 mint leaves, minced (about 1/2 tablespoon; 8ml)
- 1/2 ounce minced shallot (15g; about 1/2 small shallot)
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Bring a large saucepan of heavily salted water to a boil and prepare an ice bath. Add snap peas to boiling water and cook until crisp-tender, about 2 minutes. Using a slotted spoon or mesh strainer, transfer snap peas to ice bath to chill.
- Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whisk together yogurt, olive oil, mayonnaise, lemon juice and zest, mint, and shallot. Season with salt and pepper.
Enjoy, Dulli
