We are still learning what our customers want. Also what sells and does not. How much of each item we need.

 It is a lot different selling from the farm. People stay longer and build a small relationship with you. They like going and seeing how their food is grown. Also we have a lot of retired people  who just want some one to talk to. This has both pro and cons , I will say nothing more.

 We had a few people who want to know why we are so cheap! I think we have a fair price for our neighborhood. We are in an older side of town and most of our neighbors are all on fixed incomes.I think we are a help and that makes me happy. We have had a few things left over and we take that to a local shelter. I want my daughter to learn charity and not to waste good food,but share the blessing.We pick fresh every morning.

hippychick’s wildflower honey is now available at the bastrop producers market! get it while it lasts – there’s only so much to go around and you’ll be sorry if you miss it.

• extracted the old school way – by handcrank
• raw and unprocessed to keep the goodness in
• filtered to keep the waxy bits out
• made by bees who live a healthy organic & chemical free life 

• 1 pound bottle @ $7.50
• 1/2 pound bottle @ $3.85

I gardened for years before I realized why my summer squash always fizzled out in production by the end of August or beginning of September. They were tired! The hot July heat and heavy production that most summer squash produce tires the plants out and they either die, get diseases or drop drastically in production.

photo credit: steevo2005

So I did a little research and found that many people plant a second crop in late June or early July. A second crop will supply a nice crop in late September and into October depending your frost dates or if you protect them from the first light frost or two.

I find that the second crop of produce may be a little smaller but they seem to have a more delicate skin and the timing is perfect for using with tomatoes, peppers and onions, which are in full production from August through October.

I tend to use summer squash either as a soup puree or cooked with a lot of vegetables so production the entire season is preferred. Even with the second crop I plant radishes that I let bolt and flower near the base of the plants to protect them from squash bugs. (I have no squash bugs in my gardens.)

I even like to plant a second crop of the dreaded Zucchini plants. Zucchini makes a great jam, excellent mini pizzas and fun lasagna. I also tend to use my zucchini at the size of two to four inches long so a plant can produce like crazy and still not produce a large crop when you are harvesting the zucchini so small.

Small zucchini are great steamed, with the blossom still attached when they are harvested small. I also like them sliced in salads when small and tender.

If you plan to plant a second crop of summer squash you can find these plants on sale at this time of year and most people have planted their one crop. You can also start them from seeds and still get a nice sized harvest. I would suggest buying the seeds earlier in the year because by late June most garden centers have removed their seeds from the store.

Summer squash is one of my favorites vegetables. There are so many different varieties, sizes and colors to chose from, which makes serving them in salads and vegetable platters pleading to the eye. And most have a slightly different taste.

Technorati Tags: second crop of summer squash, summer squash, summer squash tips, summer vegetables, vegetables

© Denise for The Gardener’s Rake, 2010. |
Permalink |
No comment |
Add to
del.icio.us

Post tags: second crop of summer squash, summer squash, summer squash tips, summer vegetables, vegetables

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh

Hi Everyone,

Hope you are having a wonderful summer and you are staying cool!

Vegetables available today:

Rainbow assortment of cherry tomatoes  $1.50 / cup 

Ground cherries $2.50 /cup

Green bell peppers, Cubanelle peppers and Anahiem peppers $0.50 each

Very limited straight neck squash $0.50 each

Very limited pickling cucumbers 4 for a $1.00

Thanks,

Teri McCarter
Teri’s Backyard Produce
cell: 601-955-9298
email: teribmc@bellsouth.net

Strawberries

Lettuce

Radishes

Baby kale

Green onions

Baby beet greens

Basil

Maybe some surprises!

CSA Newsletter

Volume 6

Issue 2

June 24, 2010

?

____________________________________________________________

Week 2

Welcome to those of you who are starting your shares this week! We are so grateful to have strawberries from our own patch to offer you this week! We will have them for at least one more week. Yum! As you know our shares start out light. Just remember that come mid-summer, you’re going to be receiving $30-$40 worth of produce each week! Please trust me to deliver the value promised you over the season. Just be patient!

Volunteer Thank You

We are so lucky to have new and continuing volunteers on our farm! Some of you met Brandi last week at your CSA pick-up. She’s been coming out to the farm to help in any way she can. Saturday, she brought a friend and they both worked ALL day helping me plant more vegetables! We were joined in the afternoon by Eric’s sister, Sarah. We got so much done before the rain! Thank you! We planted more red cabbage, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, tomatillos (not too many!), beans, peas, carrots,and onions. We have been having an awful time getting peas going this year for the first time. This is our third try. I hope they take! (6/24 Update – Peas are coming up in the big field! Hurray!)

We are late getting interns this year and are still searching for an additional intern or two to start as soon as possible. We have one person committed to start in one week and another coming in August or September. Our friend, Justin, who interned here for two summers is also coming for two weeks this summer to volunteer on the farm.

Summer flowers and bedding plants add instant color to your lawn and landscape. They also offer the opportunity to change the look and atmosphere of your yard by adding new flower varieties. Summer flowers start appearing in garden centers in the early spring and may or may not be available during the rest of the summer season. Availability depends or your climate and growing season.

photo credit: kevindooley

When first planting flowers or bedding plants as they are often referred to, you should be careful to plant only after the danger of freezing weather has passed. A frost will either kill or severely slow down the plants ability to flower.

Another time to plant flowers is late June and into July. This gives you the opportunity to fill in any holes in your flowerbeds and to add new color to the garden areas. Plants are often on sale at this time of year so you may have the opportunity to try new plants in your landscape. This is actually my favorite time to get flowers. Buying later in season tends to make you try new plants you would overlook earlier in the growing season.

It’s also a great time to add window boxes, container gardens and hanging baskets. I tend to overlook hanging baskets when getting my gardens planted. Later after the garden rush is over I add more decorative accents to the yard.

You may also want to add more perennials and herbs to your landscape design too. Adding perennials later in the season usually means they will not grow as well this year. They will be putting their energy into growing roots during the hotter summer days, but the following year your new perennials will thrive.

I am fortunate to have a perennial gardening center near me that offers perennials at $2 a shovel. All you do is supply your own containers .By buying plants here I can try new varieties and add to my gardens. I also split the plants up and trade these varieties with friends for new plants or shrubs.

Just remember for beautiful garden flowers it is essential to prepare your flowerbed appropriately before planting. Till the soil thoroughly, remove any weeds and fertilize the flowerbed before planting. If you use a lasagna gardening method for planting make sure the beds have the added nutrients needed for the flowers to grow well.  For heavy flower production I make sure to add fertilizer or compost.

For heavier flower production fertilize your flowerbeds one month later in the growing season. I also use mulch in all my flower gardens to help to preserve moisture. And an added benefit is that it helps to control weeds!

© Denise for The Gardener’s Rake, 2010. |
Permalink |
No comment |
Add to
del.icio.us

Post tags:

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh

An easy way to compost and a way that will triple your compost pile is by using a straw bale or hay bale composting pile.

photo credit: Valerie Everett

It is easy to set up. You will need at least four bales. Six bales would be better and if you want a complete square you will want eight bales.

Place the bales to form a “U” shape or square with an open center. Fill the center with old leaves, grass clippings, sawdust, and any other yard residue. You can add table scraps; old vegetables, coffee and other kitchen waste as long as the materials do not include grease or meat.

I fill the straw bales up past the top of the bales and water lightly. The pile will settle and I add more clippings, leaves and other composting materials. I also add old fertilizer. If I start a pile in the spring and add to it until fall it’s basically broken down and the pile is large.

Late fall I usually break the bales apart on the side, add a lot of grass clippings, any leftover garden plants and more leaves. Then I top with the bales that I broke apart and add fertilizer on top. Water well, cover with plastic for a week to generate a lot of heat and then uncover the pile.

A compost bale pile that I break down I will let sit until spring and use it in early March on my raised beds and flower garden areas.

If I let the pile set all winter without breaking it apart I will top with another row of bales in early spring. I place bales around the edges, add fertilizer and leaves in the center and let sit for a month. Then I will plant directly in the square pile as if it were a raised bed. This bed makes a great garden for gourds and melons. The soil is rich, well aerated and will hold moisture well. It’s the perfect conditions for plants that like a rich soil and need nutrients for better production and size.

photo credit: Valerie Everett

After I use the bale compost garden for a season I will add more clippings, leaves and fertilizer and break the rest of the bales down. After two years, the compost pile is enormous and well rotted.

I have used baled composting for years. I usually have several piles going on the property at all times. This gives me my compost and soil for garden beds, container gardening and for starting perennials and shrubs in.

Bales can usually be found at the end of a season for a reduced price. Especially if they were rained on and not considered suitable for farm animals.

Technorati Tags: growing gourds, hay bale composting, organic, straw bale compost garden, straw bale composting

© Denise for The Gardener’s Rake, 2010. |
Permalink |
No comment |
Add to
del.icio.us

Post tags: growing gourds, hay bale composting, organic, straw bale compost garden, straw bale composting

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh

When the gardens are planted and crops are starting to be harvested it time to turn your attention to the “fun” aspects of gardening. Garden art falls readily into this category. How about creating a moss landscape rock or garden statue?

photo credit: Ingorrr

Moss will make certain garden elements look and feel aged and as if they have been part of the landscape for years. Moss also adds tranquility to any shade garden. The trouble with garden moss though, is that sometimes it may not even grow at all on its own. And if it does, it may take a very long time to become established.

Here is an easy way to accelerate and establish a beautiful green moss cover for your garden rocks and concrete features. This project is a favorite of children and will encourage their interest in gardening, landscaping and nature.

This method doesn’t work well on resin statues and artificial landscape rocks. I have found natural items, old item with cracks and crevices and stone or cement work the best. Wood will also work but the moss will retain moisture causing the piece to deteriorate quicker.

To create a moss garden piece or sculptures stir a fist size clump of porcelain clay into three cups of water to form a thin paste. You can harvest clay from nature but purchasing porcelain clay from a local hobby shop can be easier.

Combine the clay mixture with one cup of undiluted fish emulsion and one cup of fresh, shredded moss. Fish emulsion is a plant fertilizer made from whole fish. It’s usually available at retail nurseries and garden centers. (I also use fish emulsion as a liquid fertilizer in the gardens and on houseplants.)

Mix the clay, fish emulsion and shredded moss together in an old bowl or pan. Next paint it on your rocks, sculpture or concrete objects with an old paintbrush. Place your mossed garden art in your yard or garden and keep the piece lightly moist by misting it. Take care not to wash the mixture off while the moss mix is rooting and starting to grow.

Moss grows naturally in patches, likes the North side of objects, and takes readily to cracks and crevices. It will prefer a shady area, rock gardens or shade gardens.

If you use this moss formula in shady gardens and in moist locations you will probably have moss on your garden statues and landscape rocks in a few weeks.

Add a few annual flowers near the moss art and you will have an instant focal point in your gardens and backyard

Technorati Tags: create moss garden art, easy garden art project, fun gardening, garden art, garden crafting, moss sculptures

© Denise for The Gardener’s Rake, 2010. |
Permalink |
No comment |
Add to
del.icio.us

Post tags: create moss garden art, easy garden art project, fun gardening, garden art, garden crafting, moss sculptures

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh