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| New Hoophouse Gets Its Hoops |
Well, we got the rain. I awoke to a cloudy sky and a radar that showed a storm bearing down on us - fast. Instantly my mind said, “Tomatoes! We need to finish the tomatoes!” We picked a few rows on Monday but they were not finished. In the next hour I covered almost 3 rows each 250’ long picking as fast as my hands could fly. Heavy rain will split ripe tomatoes making them susceptible to rot, insects. One farm hand showed up to help around 8:30 helping to get any remaining ripe fruit.
And then around 9 a.m. a tremendous front came through with lots of wind, rain, thunder and lightning. We stayed in the garden as long as possible and by the time we made the 2 minute drive home, the rain was coming down sideways and the winds picking up. We ran to the house and sat for the next hour waiting for the rain and lightning to subside. We were able to resume work but only to be hit with another front around noon.
I haven’t heard the rain total yet – my mother keeps the official record. Our rain gauges always seem to break. But we can say we had a good soaking. And it’s always good to be well watered going in to a hot day like today.
The farm is a very busy place right now. The summer help is gone to be replaced with a skeleton part time crew. And it seems our skeleton crew is missing a few bones. The livestock, the vegetables – all of it takes so much time. And the extra projects like the new hoophouse is also on our plates. But that structure is built all but putting on the plastic and the end walls.
We can see the aftermath of the heat and dryness in the garden. Those weeks of stressful weather show up now when we want our lettuces, greens and root crops and they aren't there. It was just too darn hot to start any new seeds in the garden. But we did get some transplants in and those will benefit from this rain. Hope you enjoy your box this week.
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| Gorgeous Swiss Chard This Week |
In Your Box This Week
Tomatoes – The tomatoes will appreciate this heat and rain. Everyone should receive 2 pints of cherry type and an additional 3 lbs. of tomatoes today. Wow!
Garlic - Two gorgeous bulbs of garlic today.
Cutting Celery - A new crop for that has unfortunately struggled through the heat and dryness despite our best efforts. This is like leaf lettuce instead of head lettuce. Cutting celery doesn’t grow as a tight bunch but more open and leafy. Use just like celery for flavoring an egg or chicken salad or in soups or stocks.
Fresh Thyme – Picked just this morning – we love the aroma and flavor or thyme.
Swiss Chard – Nice big bunches of swiss chard picked late Thursday evening with the sun going down.
Green Beans – Finally the beans are coming on. Our home school family came and helped us with this harvest. The beans are quite nice, insect damage free, and so fresh and crisp. A nice way to prepare would be to sauté whole or snapped beans in olive oil until just tender then toss with fresh thyme, salt and pepper.
Farm Field Day September 18
Come Join Us!
Save the date! We're having a party! It's a Field Day here at the farm celebrating the harvest season, organic food, hard work, and good friends.
Brian and I and the girls will be opening up our farm to you, giving a farm tour, serving an awesome lunch, answering questions, and enjoying the day.
We're inviting CSA members and the public to join us for the farm tour including the garden and all the livestock - pigs, chickens, and beef calves. Children especially love the farm and there will be special kids activities to make the day a fun educational day.
One of the highlights will be the organic lunch. Using strictly local organic food, almost all of it coming from Broad Branch Farm, Chef Monika Sudakov of the Chestnut Street Inn in Sheffield, Illinois will be preparing an outstanding lunch. Chef Monika is a strong supporter and consumer of local organic food not to mention and excellent chef. She embraces our commitment to eating and growing local organic food. Her creativity and energy will be an excellent contribution to the field day.
2011 Field Day Lunch Details
The Field Day lunch will be local, organic and homemade. Ingredients we do not produce ourselves or are unable to find local and organic will be purchased certified organic. Chef Monika of the Chestnut Street Inn Bed and Breakfast in Sheffield, Illinois will be assisting us with the lunch preparation.
Lunch ticket includes choice of entrée (pulled pork, chicken breast, frittata OR kids organic hot dog) plus salads and dessert. Organic homemade lemonade and bottled water is also included.
Deadline for purchasing lunch tickets for the 2011 Field Day is Wednesday, September 14th. Tickets will be available until sold out. Lunch will be served around 1 p.m. following the garden walk.
Purchasing Tickets
Tickets can be purchased from Brian or Anita at the CSA pickup locations or by mail. No online sign up or payment is available. Checks should be made payable to Broad Branch Farm and mailed to:
Broad Branch Farm
15848 Twp Rd 500 N
Wyoming, IL 61491
If ordering by mail, please indicate choice of entrée for each ticket purchased. Tickets will be mailed once payment is received.
Lunch Ticket Prices
Adults: $20
Kids Meal $10 Ages 7-12 (organic hot dog)
Kids Ages 6 and under eat free
Lunch ticket should be presented at the Field Day as proof of purchase.
2011 Field Day Lunch Menu
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Pit Roasted Organic Pastured Pulled Pork on Apple Butter Wheat Roll
Pastured Organic Chicken Breast Marinated With Fresh Thyme, Oregano, Lemon, and Garlic
With An Herbed Egg Bun
Pastured Organic Hot Dog on Whole Wheat Roll
locally made organic hot dogs using Broad Branch Farm pastured pork and beef
(kids meal)
Vegetable and Herb Frittata
organic pastured eggs, seasonal vegetables and herbs
(vegetarian option)
Quinoa Tabouli Salad
quinoa, late summer tomatoes, multi-colored peppers, cilantro, cucumbers, mint, parsley, onions, and garlic with a lemon and olive oil dressing
Caprese Salad
layers of fresh tomatoes, homemade fresh mozzarella made with local organic milk, and basil leaves
finished with olive oil and balsamic vinegar reduction
Salad Greens
garden greens and lettuces, tomatoes, radish, cucumber, patty pan squash and sliced pastured organic hard-boiled egg with a roasted garlic and chive vinaigrette
Dessert
Custard Pie with Fresh Whipped Cream
organic pastured eggs and fresh local organic farm milk and cream
Bottled Water and Our Homemade Organic Lemonade
2011 Field Day Schedule of Events
11:00 a.m. Kids Farm Craft
Kids will be provided with a shopping bag to decorate before taking the garden tour and harvesting food from a ‘shopping list’. Harvested food can be taken home to eat and enjoy. Kids will learn about using natural vegetable dyes and how food on the farm is produced and harvested.
11:30 a.m. Farm and Garden Tour
Enjoy a stroll around the farm and visit the organic garden, pastured laying hens, grass fed beef, and pastured pigs. Brian and Anita will host the tour and answer any questions you have about their farm operation.
1:00 p.m. Organic Lunch
Lunch ticket required. Please contact the farm by phone or email to purchase tickets for lunch. Tickets available until sold out.
2:00 p.m. Kids Farm Fun
Lucy and Susannah Poeppel, both kids themselves, will host a few fun farm activities to end the day. All kids and maybe a few adults are welcome to participate.
Ongoing Activities
Tomato Tasting
Enjoy a tasting of the farm’s finest fruit.
Farm Stand
Purchase organic eggs, meat, CSA shares and more.
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