Meet this week’s vegetables:
- Sweet peppers — Over time, I think that we have learned to love sweet peppers just as much (or possibly more) than tomatoes. We eat them raw in salads, sautéed in pasta dishes, roasted in soups, and more. And just in case any one is confused: these are sweet peppers and contain no heat!
- Eggplant — We grow a so-called ‘Asian’ variety of eggplant that features a longer shape. The nice thing for us farmers is that this variety matures quicker than the globe Italian version. The nice thing for all of us eaters is that you don’t necessarily need to peel or soak this eggplant in salt water before cooking: these eggplants are tasty when just chopped and added to any number of curry or stir fry dishes. (Have you ever had the ‘Spicy Thai Eggplant” at Thai Country? It’s a similar eggplant!). I do usually peel the eggplant, however, because I like to add it to stewed dishes, and it falls apart better when peeled. My favorite is to add it to our quick and easy summer curries. This week, try slow cooking eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, summer squash, chard, onions, coconut milk, and curry power for a tasty stewed summer dish. Serve over rice or quinoa with yogurt or goat cheese.
- Tomatoes — More and more all the time! Between the heat and tomatoes, there’s no denying that we’re at the peak of summer!
- Summer squash — Summer squash make a great addition to so many dishes: curry (see above), pastas, salads, BBQ skewered vegetables …
- Romano beans — Hope you liked these tasty golden beans last week!
- Head lettuce — Your choice between three different kinds of our summer lettuces: two variations of ‘crisp’ heads and a leaf lettuce. All three are sweet and watery — perfect for dinner at the end of a sweltering day.
- Chard
- Carrots
- Fresh sweet onions
Normally, mid-July through mid-August represents a relative lull for us out here on the farm. The big spring plantings are done and we haven’t started the big fall harvests yet. We harvest, weed, irrigate, swim in the river, sweat, eat, repeat.
I usually think of this as an ‘easy’ time, but I think my memory tricks me a little here. Because in spite of the lull in farm work, something always happens to make our mid-summer a little more interesting than it might otherwise be. Our first year farming (2006), we spent much of our mid-summer researching all the different aspects of the land we were buying (our current farm). In 2007, we were still getting settled on our new land and working out all the initial details, buying lots of things, building lots of stuff. In 2008, in mid-summer we realized that our newly drilled irrigation well wasn’t working and tried to fix it — which resulted in it breaking irrevocably, which then required us to drill a brand-new well ($$$$$$$$$$$). Last year, we were busy this time of year preparing for our baby’s arrival — there were baby showers to attend, the house to reorganize, etc.
This year, our mid-summer distraction has been the quarry fight. We first got wind of this possible quarry way back in 2007, but it wasn’t until this spring that the application was officially put in and we started organizing to save Grand Island from becoming “the gravel spot of Oregon.”
In the subsequent months, we’ve been amazed at how much traction we’ve gained: local residents and farmers have organized to brainstorm ideas and inspire each other; the media has covered our story; we won at the level of the Yamhill County Planning Commission … Obviously it’s still yet to be seen what the final outcome will be, but no matter what, we will have tried our hardest: letters to the editor, written testimony to the county, outreach and advocacy of all kinds …
But getting all this done takes time and energy. The cynic/realist in me seriously wonders whether the application timing was intentionally during farmers’ busiest period of the year. There are definitely island farmers who care strongly about this issue but who simply haven’t had the time to do much in the active effort. Casey and I have somehow managed to fit our quarry tasks in here and there around the urgent farm work (and taking care of Rusty!). So far, it’s working ok, but there are definitely days when we hardly ever stop moving.
This week in particular is going to be a busy one as we try to balance our quarry work with the farm. Monday morning Katie met with some folks to finalize details of our island tour. On Wednesday afternoon, we’re hosting an official Grand Island tour for anyone who’d like to see the site firsthand and learn more about the issues (if you’re interested in attending, check out the details at www.SaveGrandIsland.com and then RSVP ASAP!). We’re also hosting folks for a light dinner after the tour. Thursday morning we have our annual organic inspection (we still have to get all our papers in order!). Saturday evening we’re hosting our annual CSA farm potluck!
All of these are very good things, and I’m definitely excited about each one. But the cumulative effect is … “WOAH! Busy week!!!!!!”
As I said, you too are invited to join us for some of these events: either the tour on Wednesday afternoon or our CSA potluck on Saturday evening. We love sharing our island home with people who are intimately involved with it! This is where your food comes from, and I hope you will take some level of pride and interest in its preservation! And, I also hope that you will take the opportunity to enjoy its agricultural beautiful by visiting, walking in the fields, breaking bread with your fellow community members.
Finally, on Sunday, we farmers are going to REST! We’ll be at the river, I’m sure, enjoying the tranquility of a good soak and rest on the shore.
Enjoy this week’s vegetables!
Your farmers, Katie & Casey Kulla
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CSA Potluck, ~ 5 pm, Sat Aug 21
We hope you can join us for our annual CSA potluck this Saturday, August 21! Gather on the farm around 5 pm. Please bring a dish to share and plates and utensils for everyone in your party to use (we’ll have some here in case you forget). This is one of our favorite events every year: good food and conversation!
Directions to the farm: Take the Dayton exit from Hwy-18 and head straight through town on Wallace Rd/Hwy-221. Stay on Wallace Rd for about six or seven miles, until you see blue signs for “Heiser Pumpkin Patch.” Turn LEFT onto Grand Island Rd. After Grand Island Rd cross the bridge, turn RIGHT at the first 4-way intersection onto SE Upper Island Rd. Our driveway is immediately on your LEFT! Questions? Email (farm@oakhillorganics.org) or call us (503-474-7661).
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Want to see what we’ve been up to with the quarry fight? Visit: www.SaveGrandIsland.com. Also, interested in learning more about the proposed quarry and the fight? Join us for a tour of the island the quarry site 3pm, TOMORROW, Wednesday, August 18.More details can be found on the website. If you’re interested in attending, please RSVP immediately.
