The Bounty of Summer: Food and Family

We've always centered our celebrations of family around food, and this year is no different as we send Nico out into the world. We start a new life together, the house feels a little empty. But the knowledge of the strength of our family and the wonderful start they had here helps. Alex, Galen, Nico each took with them a bit of each of us, of family and of the place. Love to Carol. Farmer Bill

San Francisco Fog...

Tomatoes that is! They're finally coming. Over in the corner by the bench. Those little green guys in the picture are the cherry tomatoes--also coming in a little slower. The San Francisco Fog variety is a hardy soul of a tomatoe...good taste not as sublime perhaps as the heirlooms coming in on the southside. More on that later...for now enjoy, let them sit inside on the counter (not in the refrigerator). Farmer Bill

ROMANO BEANS!

Yes, they're here--flat beans, Romanos, Italian beans--whatever you call them. They are sweet and tasty--especially when they are young. Look for the big stand on the path in from the brown house. Try them blanched with a nice vinegarette. Please, pick--then pick more! Farmer Willie

My Aunt Emily called them Wax Beans

I learned all I know about veggie gardening from hanging on the apron strings of my Aunt Emily. It was summer in Maine, long days around the garden...the fifties. Yellow beans, wax beans--whatever you call them, please come by and pick'm now. They are in the main bed as you come into the garden from the brown house side. They're bush variety, so a little unruly and falling over when they get loaded! Salad Nicoise would be a wonderful reciepe with these guys...Farmer Billy

CROOKNECKS

Summer Squash are in! Not just those pesky zukes either, tasty yellow crooknecks. They are sweet and make a great saute. Look in the bed under the apple tree and on the driveway side of the brown house. Enjoy! Farmer Bill

Rhymes with zukes...

CUKES!!! You can't buy the taste of fresh cucumbers and they're in now. We've been having one for dinner each night. There are two wonderful plants in the patch next to the corner bench. And there's a whole patch over on the walk to the brown house. Also, a whole new round is coming up--so my goal to keep us in cukes til fall! Enjoy. Farmer Bill

ZUKES

Ok, it's time for zucchini! Our goal here is for you come by and pick one or two...and ensure that we don't reach the baseball bat size phase. My favorite recipes for zukes are in Molly Katzen's Moosewood Cookbook--great fun, already two dishes this week! We do our part.

"Black Beauty Zucchini" Heirloom. More to come, planting for late summer soon! Farmer William