Whatcha Eatin?

Welcome to a new segment of the blog we're calling: Whatcha Eatin? (um, better names always welcome)

We have found that one of the joys of belonging to a CSA is experiencing the year through the variations of what is in the fridge and on the plate.  It can also be a bit intimidating when a wacky vegetable shows up.  We're eating the same things as CSA members, so I'll post what we did with what got harvested this week.  If you've got some fun recipes, or general ideas, let me know and I'll post them.

So,
Whatcha Eatin?


Egg Salad Sandwiches
Egg salad
-A few hard boiled eggs
-Handful of chopped Parsley
-2 chopped Green Onions
-Yogurt or Mayo (enough to provide a good consistency)
-Mustard
-Salt n Pepper
-Cayenne Pepper
-Lettuce on top

Meanwhile, here is how the farm looks now.  The tomato trellis is up.  (it's huge!) We were using the same pile of sticks from brushing this winter, and well, it's huge!

We got the first CSA delivery together on a beautiful sunny day.

Filling the boxes.

Checking the items off the list.

Turkey in my Straw

 I'm not introducing any seedlings this week, but I would like to introduce you to one of your farmers!

Here be Rob. 

D- Rob is a single male, likes long walks on the beach, and adores our cat mug...

R- Dave, um, don't write that.

D- Oh, ok. Rob is awesome.  He has been a tremendous help this season.  You've seen him in previous posts planting and weeding and digging and everything else.  He also just moved to Portland and is looking for a place to live.  So, if you've got a spare room, drop us a line!

R- Ah, that's better, you'll delete that first bit right?

D - You bet!

Meanwhile out at the farm...
We saw a turkey fly in to the area fenced off for the chickens.  Interesting....
I walked into the brush to see what was going on and snapped a picture paparazzi style.

Can't see her in there?  Here's the same picture with an outline of her head.  Amazing camo.

A few steps later and I came across eggs!  Neato.  I kept my distance for the week and...

Looked in this weekend and saw these guys!  Awwww.  It's spring.

Not quite sure what we're going to do about these freeloading turkeys inside the fence, but I figure we'll give them a little extra protection until they will be sure to fend for themselves in the wild.  Or,... bonus CSA thanksgiving turkey share!...  Naw.

Hoping to get some tomatoes transplanted soon.

First Press

It was just gorgeous weather this week. We love it and the plants love it.  The heat puts a little kick in their growth that is noticeable day to day.  So refreshing compared to the week of rain and cool weather that basically hit 'pause' on all the seedlings.

The fun thing today is that Blue Bell Farm got it's first mention in a paper!

Eat and Run: Katie Made Bakery, Portland | The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

Hot diggity. You have to try the delicious goodies they make there.  It's one thing to grow food, but to turn it into delicious morsels on a plate is another thing entirely.  Hooray Katie Made!

Out on the farm:

Above we see that the pea trellis is finally all up.  (not sure I'll use this method again...) And the peas are reaching for it with vigor!  Today we tilled next to the peas in anticipation of planting some quick growing crops in the isle space.  Then I bashed my knee on the tiller pretty bad.  Soooo, I think the seeding will wait till tomorrow.  Darn gas powered machinery.  Might have been quicker to do it by hand with a spading fork in the end because I would not be here with an ice pack on my knee.


"But gee those beds look so nice, and soil is all fluffy now, and easy to plant..."  NO!  Resist more tillage!  "Yea, but it's done now."  "And you have a sore knee!"

 (courtesy of Dave's internal monologue)

Meanwhile, how bout a few more introductions:

Lettuce mix here, we're a fun diverse range of colors and flavors!  What will you dress us with?   Or, perhaps (gasp!) nothing?  

As Michael Pollen says: 

 "There are few things humans eat which are quite so elemental - a handful of leaves"

We are cabbages.  You might know other members in the family that are already out in the field such as Brussel's Sprouts and kale!  We look pretty darn similar as seedlings, but believe us, all members of the Brassicaceae family are special in their own way.

 Yes.  Hello.  We are shallots.  Red Shallots.  Ahem yes, Dave treats us like onions, but we are ever so much classier than that.  Ahem.   Be a good chap and put us in the ground won't you?  

First CSA delivery is coming up soon!

Meet more veggies

Continuing with our theme from last week:

What?  I'm on?  ... oh, HI!  I'm a snap pea.    Dave has been busy building a trellis for me.  I started in the ground in April and I can't wait to start climbing.  Check out my awesome tendrils.

We are Brussels Sprouts and just got transplanted today.  We can stretch our roots out now.  See you in the fall!  

Parsley, don't confuse me with carrots.  I'm in the foreground, the carrots are way in the back.  Same family I know, but I'm Parsley.

Hi I'm a radish and I grow really really quickly and just sprouted today and oh my gosh I can't wait to grow and get real spicy and red as long as you water me lots and lots and I'll be tasty on a salad and sliced into kimchee and and and, and I'm done.

Hi, I'm your farmer.  This is a nice day to be farming.  Like my nifty seedling transporter?

Hi, I'm also your farmer.  This is a less nice day to be farming.  At least plants love the rain.

And, I'll leave you with a video of chickens foraging in the brush.   You can't actually see the chickens per se.  But the brush twitches in a way that reminds you that these lovely critters are related to

 (dum dum dum) The Velociraptor...  

Meet your veggies

Following a conversation with one of you fine CSA members, yes, there will be vegetables!  Let's bring out the lovely contestants:

Hi, I'm a ruby red chard, I'm a month and a half old, but will really come into my own in another few weeks.  You could try me now in a salad, but I'll be delicious sauteed with some garlic and lemon early summer.

Hi, I'm a russian garlic.  I started life last october and was the first thing planted at Blue Bell Farm!  I've still got the whole summer to grow, but I might have some scapes to sample...

Yellow Storage onion here.  I started back in February on a light table at Dave's apartment.  It's been a lot of moves for me, but I finally found my home in the soil.  Feed me!

  Later in the fall I'll be a great staple of anything you cook.

I'm a Buttercrunch head lettuce. I'm about a month old and will be ready really soon!  I am a key part of any salad.

Hi, Arugula here.  I got direct seeded outside, in the cold a few weeks ago, without any of that coddling the onions got.  My pungent spiciness will be awesome in sandwiches in another month.

Hello, I am a Brussels Sprout.  Brussel Sprout?  I always forget if I'm supposed to add the "S" at the end.  I've been here a while, and you won't see me till the fall, but don't worry, I'm working hard.  I like it when it gets a little frosty out there.

Hey!  I'm a pepper!  I happen to be a sweet bell pepper, but my close relatives the cayenne, anaheim and jalapeno look about the same.  Cross you fingers for warm weather, and  I hope to see you in July!

Hi, I am dill.  Can't wait for pickle season!

 Hello, I am a chive, er chives.  We are chives?  Chive plant?  I am several chive seeds, started in February, but it's been slow growing in this hoop house.  Where's the thermostat?!  Oh,... no thermostat?

Hey, I'm a scallion.  I don't know what the chives are complaining about.  I got here at the same time and love it here.  I'll be ready really soon.

Hi there, I am a turnip and need to be thinned.  Yo dave!  Thin me!  I need to size up for the first delivery!

Hi I'm a carrot,  I've been here for a few months now and hope to be ready for your first delivery too!

Kale, you know me.  Let's go.  

Hi I am claytonia.  I've been in the hoophouse since february too!  I'm great in salads and sandwiches right now.

Hello, I'm a beet.  Check out my awesome red stems.  Give me another month and I'll be ready to be steamed and served with cheddar, or grated with salads.

Hello, I'm the new guy, potato.  Just got here.   I'll be making lots of tubers this summer.

Thanks folks!  There's plenty other veggies to come so stay tuned.

Leekin

The great leek migration!  Following the big batch of rain, things dried well enough to do some transplanting.

From the germination table at home, to the hoop house, the caterpillar tunnel and then out to their next to final home in the field, these fine alliums were well cared for.  (final home will be your bellies!)

The ever punny Rob (of earlier door construction) thoroughly explored every possible pun involving leeks while planting a tremendous number of these tasty guys.  Thanks Rob!

We also got most of the potatoes in and potted up some replacement peppers.  (I may have kicked the peppers out of the hoophouse just tad too soon, and had some unlucky timing with a frost, darnit!)

Meanwhile, there is still a chicken hungry predator out there somewhere.  Fence and coops have been rejiggered, trap set again, pep talks given to the rooster, and fingers have been crossed.  I'll be trying some unique predator deterring lights soon, and will be sure to update y'all about them.