Summer CSA Week 5 | Today, tomorrow, next week, next month, next season

Week 5: July 17 - July 20

Another week, another weather rollercoaster! 90+ degree days at the start of the week paired with low 50s overnights means we’re toggling between summer behaviors (watering constantly) and fall chores (closing up tunnels in the late afternoon to trap heat). Thus far, the plants seem to be dealing with the swings well. We’ve been trialing the use of a protective shade cloth over some lettuce plantings to lessen the impact of scorching weather, and have been pleased with the early returns. 

The mixture of summer and fall weather in mid-July is oddly appropriate, since we are turning a portion of our attention to the end of the season. In our effort to stay ahead of weeds, we’ve done our final weeding of winter squash and sweet potatoes. Soon, those plants will close in on each other, making it borderline impossible to get into the beds to pull intruders. We’re watching the growth in our long-season crops to monitor for pests and disease. And we’re getting ready for our first storage crop harvest: we’ll be bringing garlic in within the next few weeks, so keep an eye out for an email about our volunteer garlic harvest event!

Our fall planning also starts to make an impact on what and where we’re planting. We’ve started holding beds for fall spinach in the fields where our moveable tunnels will move in early October. And just this week we pulled back the front field tarps and seeded the first eight beds of our winter storage carrots. It always feels early to be putting late-fall crops in the ground, especially when it’s sweltering. But time flies when you’re harvesting veggies!

Speaking of which, the harvest is fast and furious these days, taking up the bulk of our time. Every spare moment we have is then focused on weeding, flipping beds, and giving our veggies the best conditions possible. Our incredible crew has been showing up early to beat the heat, staying late on cooler days to beat the weeds, and generally working hard to help manage the present while we prepare for the future. Farming is always a balance of today, tomorrow, next week, next month, and next season, and we are incredibly grateful to have an amazing team of invested folks working to make it all possible!

Have a future-ready week,

Chris, Ashley, Hallie, and the 10th Street Farm Crew

Please return your CSA bag in the market each week - we reuse them throughout the season to keep costs down and minimize environmental impact!

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In Your Bag This Week

Farm Mix Salad Mix: A mix of red and green lettuce with just a splash of mustard greens. Delicious with just olive oil and salt, or dress it up! Store in an airtight bag or container in your fridge.

Cucumbers: Crunchy and refreshing, chop up for a salad, add to sandwiches or just eat raw! Store in an airtight bag or container in your fridge.

Carrots: These carrots are sweet, crunchy, and oh so addicting! Store in an airtight bag or container in your fridge.

Flavor Mix microgreens: Mild and tasty, these make an easy salad on their own or can add some color to any other salad. Try them on eggs or sandwiches – or anything, really! Store in an airtight bag or container in your fridge.

Kale: Hearty yet still tender, the kale is tasting great this summer. Maybe time for some kale chips? Store in an airtight bag or container in your fridge.

Cipollini Onions: These fresh white onions are perfect in any recipe that calls for an onion! Store in an airtight bag or container in your fridge.

Herbs: Your choice of an herb bunch - mint, parsley, rosemary, or basil.

Tomatoes (slicer or cherry): Tomatoes are starting to ripen in full force! Don’t forget to grab these from the CSA-only table! Store on the counter - never in the fridge.

Bell Pepper (full shares): A crisp and fresh addition to tons of dishes - use in slaws, salads, salsas, and more. Store in an airtight bag or container in your fridge.

Cabbage (full shares): A staple across cultures, cabbage is equally tasty in a fresh cole slaw and roasted in the oven. Versatile, storable, and beautiful. Store in an airtight bag or container in your fridge.

Green Beans (full shares): The classic taste of summer - these green beans are flavorful and ready to rock. Store in an airtight bag or container in your fridge.

What should I make with what’s in the bag?

Everyone has cippolini onions this week - we’ve been loving these unique alliums and their slightly sweeter taste. Try them fresh in a cippolini, chickpea, and cucumber salad, or go with a heavier take and make some balsamic glazed cippolini onions. 

This is the time of year when we get tired of cooking in the kitchen and just want to eat some fresh veggies. Maybe it’s time to get out of the typical lane and make something like an Asian carrot salad? Or a heartier meal-worthy salad like this kale & quinoa salad, which sounds positively wholesome. Or, maybe it’s time to snag a loaf of bread and put those veggies into an updated classic. We’re thinking tomato, cucumber, and goat cheese sandwiches might have to be on the menu. 

If you've found a recipe you're loving, please send it our way. We're always looking for new things to cook and share with other members!

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We wash everything in your bag but we wash them in bulk so some things may need an extra rinse at home. Thanks!