Frog Holler CSA: July 9, 2016

WHAT'S IN THE SHARE:

Not Cinder! Farm doggie Cinder keeps cool with regular dips in the "green pond" - our algae-filled irrigation pond that gives Cinder a green tint, and rich aroma, every time she emerges - but she's so happy!

HERE'S THE SHARE:

RED LETTUCE

GREEN LETTUCE

RAINBOW CHARD

CURLY KALE

SUMMER SQUASH(NEW)

ARUGULA

BASIL

SCALLIONS

CARROTS(NEW)

GARLIC

NOTES FROM THE SHARE BOX: Really no surprises - everything should be identifiable by shape or smell. As mentioned last week, we are sharing the arugula with little flea beetles, but that doesn't affect the flavor, just the appearance. This is the first digging of carrots - enjoy! And our faithful veggie friends zucchini and summer squash make their return - they haven't worn out their welcome yet!

NOTES FROM THE RECIPE BOX: Have you ever roasted carrots? As with roasting any vegetable, the flavor intensifies and even caramelizes a bit. You can roast them straight up with olive oil and salt, or try Garlic Butter Roasted Carrots for rich deliciousness. All good, but with these new fresh from the ground carrots, you might just want to munch them Bugs Bunny style!

And it's a good time to remember Massaged Kale. This is a delicious and nutritious way to plow through your kale share! And this is one of the recipes in the upcoming Frog Holler Farm/Holler Fest Recipe Book - coming soon to a farm festival near you!

Mason, Mary Kate, Marc and Nhin in the garlic patch

NOTES FROM AROUND THE FARM:

Garlic harvest is in full swing! The garlic looks pretty good and the harvest will take several sessions. Mary Kate Mathy, a high school student from Downer's Grove, Illinois, is visiting her big brother Marc this week and has been a big help at the farm!

Mary Kate loading garlic onto the "Gator"

Mason, Marc and Nhin tying the garlic bundles

Digging the garlic is just the first step of the process. Every fall the remaining interns plant the garlic cloves for harvest the next summer. Most interns are not back the next year to see the garlicky fruits of their labors. This year's crew is harvesting last year's planting, and then will plant in the fall for next year's crew. And so it goes.

However, Nhin Luu returns to his third year of wrangling garlic out of the ground, wrapping the bunches and hanging them from the barn's rafters!

First garlic bunches

NOTES FROM AROUND THE FARM:

Mason starting his presentation on Climate Change

Intern Mason Sharp is a member of Citizen's Climate Lobby , an activist group that
"...exists to create the political will for climate solutions by enabling individual breakthroughs in the exercise of personal and political power." Through participation in the group and his own study, Mason has amassed a wealth of (rather depressing) information about where in the world we are relative to climate change. Mason shared some of that information with the farm crew this week - explaining the science behind climate change; the political response (or lack thereof) and what we can do. As Mason pointed out, the situation is bleak, but at the same time that's no reason to give up. He suggested that one way to address the challenge of hopelessness is to join groups, spend time with and learn from like-minded people, and take small actions that can build.

To that end, there is a meeting of the local chapter of Citizens Climate Lobby this Saturday, July 9, 12:45 - 2:45pm, 1425 Cambridge Rd, Ann Arbor. All are welcome and you can contact Ginny Rogers at ginny.rogers@gmail.com for more information. For further learning Mason suggests these books: Earth, by Bill McKibben; Storms of My Grandchildren, by Dr. James Hansen; and This Changes Everything, by Naomi Klein.

We appreciate Mason's dedication and commitment to making our world a better place. There isn't much good news, but with informed and compassionate young people, there is hope!