A Forest/Lake Getaway

I write to you this week with a very full heart- the five of us in our family went on our annual camping trip for an extra long weekend. We started this tradition when my youngest was only 3 months old and have done it each year (but one) since. I am pretty fierce about carving out this time because farming (and any family business) can be so consuming that it takes over your life. Our kids are growing up way to quickly not to pause every so often and just enjoy each other.

Though it takes tons of work preparing for tent camping, I just love it when you get there and life just gets so simple and slow, and everything is done together, even cooking over a fire! Taking hikes and bike trips through the glorious wild spaces in this province and enjoying it’s crystal clear vast lakes teaches so many life lessons and engages the body, mind and spirit. We went to MacGregor Point and found it to be fantastic for bike-friendly trails with such a gorgeous beach on lake Huron. We enjoyed seeing all of the farming going on in the area which has quite a few Mennonite communities with beautiful gardens and lots of fresh cut flowers for sale.

Back at the farm I am just so thankful for the great team we have, from our farm share harvesters/packers and farm labourers to our drivers to family members filling in for Doug and I. The hungry chickens and busy fields are not going to take a pause any time soon, so I am super grateful to these amazing workers and friends, not to mention my amazing mom that kept our furry 3-legged friend (Rascal the cat) fed and happy AND cleaned my house. So thanks!

But enough about me…on to your farm share baskets!

This week we have more sweet corn! It’s looking beautiful out there and believe it or not this is a newer crop to me, so I am learning how to select the ripe ones. I have learned that while the “blonde”-haired cobs do look pretty, it’s the dark brunette and larger ones that are the ripe and sweet ones. We also have ground cherries this week. They are truly nature’s candy- little tropical-tasting morsels individually wrapped in pretty and practical papery wrappers. Just slide the wrapper back and enjoy! If just eating them raw doesn’t do it for you, try these amazing ideas for ground cherry recipes.

Field tomatoes are here! Small ones and large, along with some gorgeous heirlooms like the Cherokee purple. The taste is amazing! The cherokee purple still have some green on them when ripe, so just give them a gentle feel and if they feel like the texture of a ripe tomato, they are ready to adorn your sandwich, burger, salad, or whatever else you have in mind for them. Enjoy!

Simply 6 Shares

• watermelon (red or yellow)
• yellow or green beans
• sweet corn
• cherry or grape tomatoes
• lettuce
• ground cherries

Half Shares

• yellow or green beans
• sweet corn
• cherry or grape tomatoes
• lettuce
• ground cherries
• field tomatoes
• zucchini
• cucumbers
• chinese cabbage
• garlic chives

Whole Shares

• yellow or green beans
• sweet corn
• cherry or grape tomatoes
• lettuce
• ground cherries
• field tomatoes
• zucchini
• cucumbers
• chinese cabbage
• garlic chives
• extra lettuce
• green peppers or extra tomato
• red beets
• sugar snap peas
• black kale

Fruit

Finally some local items in! New BC sunrise apples and peaches are in, but won’t arrive until tomorrow. Therefore on Tuesday we had to go with some Chilean galas and some kiwis….but….more local fruit on the way, and we do have our own Zephyr watermelon.

• Zephyr organics watermelon (yellow or red) or cantaloupe
• 6 Chile gala or BC sunrise apples
• 2lbs kiwis or BC peaches
• 2lbs clementines
• 1/2 pint blackberries

Hope your heart and body are full of good things this week 🙂