CANNING FARM UPDATE

Update on Canning Farm's hormone and antibiotic-free USDA certified, grain fed beef: they are currently working on a brochure that will be delivered in your shares in the near future. We will post the brochure on the website too.

This Week’s News from the Farm

The soothing, frequent rainfall---reminiscent of the tropics and the British Isles--- 

is Mother Nature’s perfect remedy for parched soil and any farmer’s dream come true, if this spate of soggy weather doesn’t last too long or torrential downpours don’t wash young plants out of the ground.   So far, so good.

Another Turkey Tale: A Hitch-Hiking Turkey?

In making his rounds the last two weeks traveling on Route 17, along a particular wooded stretch our Farmer John passed apparently the very same turkey standing at the same spot both times.  It occurred to him that this lone gobbler is perhaps a distant cousin of the infamous turkey tribe residing and thriving at Olin-Fox Farms hoping to hitch a ride back to the farm to meet up with his scattered family members in time for a Fourth of July reunion.  Could well be!   Hard to hitch-hike without thumbs, though.  (Editor’s Note:  Did you know that Benjamin Franklin wanted the bountiful turkey to become our national symbol; but the ‘hawkish’ elements prevailed, and we got the predatory eagle instead?)

The saga continues:  Our wild turkey flock at the farm is presently increasing its ranks, trotting out young ones to join in the feathery mayhem.  In an attempt to keep them away from the mulched areas, sections of soaker hose were laid out in sinuous curves on top of the mulch, hoping the turkeys would think they were snakes.  Unfortunately, this little subterfuge only fooled those wily birds for a very short period of time.  (And who said turkeys are dumb birds?  Surely, they must be referring to those gullible, dumbed-down, inbred, captive albinos cooped up by the thousands in poultry prison camps.) Now we need to come up with a new stratagem, possibly shorter pieces of hose lying around or coiled up on the trellises.  Maybe some of those inflatable snakes and a noisy array of flashy aluminum pie pans flapping on strings?  Actually, these Plymouth Pilgrims’ mascots are only a minor nuisance at this point---more amusing than bothersome---making ongoing repair and refurbishment of the mulched areas a regular necessity, since turkeys do not normally damage the crops.

Our hearts go out to Emmett Snead and his family for the loss of some newly-ordered chicks that didn’t survive last week's heat wave.  Be advised, during really hot, hot weather, egg production is generally down.  Eggs will be included with shares when they are available.

Your feedback is very important to us.  For instance, a member brought to our attention that a past Arugula delivery arrived in poor condition.  We found out that one of the growers, due to the extreme

Weekly Weeder, June 28, 2006 Page 2

heat, had iced down the Arugula.  This practice has been discontinued.  Arugula, as well as lettuce, will only be harvested and delivered in prime conditions.

It also came to our attention that squash was received which was slightly brown in color at its center.  This, too, was a heat-related problem:  squash typically begin to deteriorate from the outside in.  As we strive to bring you top-quality, fresh produce, we always welcome comments and feedback from you, our members.

With this being the last week of the Spring Program, we thank each of you for your participation and your belief in Community Supported Agriculture.

Crop Report:  With the high temperatures and thankfully substantial rains, we are now moving forward to our transition from spring crops to summer.  Bell peppers, red grape tomatoes, enormous amounts of cucumbers, Red Pontiac potatoes, and Yukon Gold Potatoes are producing well.  The corn is starting to tassel and hopefully will be ready sometime in early July.  Watermelons are coming along as well.  By mid-July we should be into the many varieties of tomatoes.

 In Your Produce Basket This Week

Asparagus, giant spring onion, Black Beauty eggplant, bell pepper, cucumber, garlic, red grape tomatoes, yellow squash & zucchini, beets, and Red Pontiac & Yukon Gold potatoes