Produce

Heavens Harvest Farm

Newsletter

 

July 13, 2009

Volume 5

To Our CSA Shareholders

We finally have some gorgeous sun and just maybe some heat!!!

Produce everywhere is hard to come by…our western Ma partners have struggled more this year with cold nights (temperatures under 50 degrees) as summer season plants will not grow with below 50 degree night temps.

We ask that everyone stay patient…Lord willing the weather will begin to be an  ally and not a gigantic hindrance.

New this week, baby carrots – just wash and eat! No need to peel.  Also, basil from Full Bloom Farm and blueberries which are IPM managed by Howe’s Farm right here in New Braintree. Single and Half share members…if you do not receive blueberries this week you will be first to get them next week!  Enjoy them!

Make sure you check out the recipes that our daughter Sarah works hard to find and post for you.  Also, feel free to send your recipe choices to heavensharvestfarm@yahoo.com.  They need to be submitted by 10 am Monday mornings to get on the current newsletter to be posted by 1pm on Monday.

Coming soon…tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, celery, corn, squashes of several varieties and….!!!

Even though I am 21 days late…HAPPY SUMMER!!! (did not think I would ever get to say that his year)

We also still have egg shares available…over 75 happy customers so far. 

If anyone has horses or goats or….and would like certified organic hay please call the farm to inquire.  We have 250 available fresh cut bales. We need to deliver a minimum of 75-100 to be cost-efficient.

We are also offering firewood for sale this year to help defray the extra cost of providing for 3 families.  Our cut and split cordwood will be offered in ½ cord, full cord and multiple cord deliveries.  Prices will reflect the volume of the order.  Please call or email us at heavensharvestfarm@yahoo.com to discuss your cordwood needs. 

A blessed week for all,

Ashley & Ethel

Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum) is a sun-loving annual with highly aromatic leaves that has a pleasant spicy odor and taste somewhat like anise or cloves.  Both the leaves and their essential oils are used as flavoring agents. There are many different types of sweet basil – large and dwarf forms, with green, purple, or variegated leaves. Many of these widely grown plants are ornamental, as well as edible.

The genus Ocimum is native to Asia, Africa and Central and Southern America. Basil was probably first cultivated in India, and was introduced in ancient times to Africa and the Mediterranean through the spice routes. Basils belong to the mint family, and have the square stems, opposite leaves, flower spikes, and oil glands typical of many members of this plant family. The ancient Greeks called basil "The Herb of Kings." (The name for sweet basil comes from the Greek okimon, basil, and basilikos, royal.)  It was believed that only the king himself should harvest this herb, and only using a golden sickle. In Romania, basil had a different meaning: when a man accepted a sprig of basil from a woman, he was officially engaged. The meaning in Greece was less romantic – there it was a symbol of death and hatred!

Like many herbs, basil has many reputed medicinal properties, such as the ability to draw out poison from insect bites, as a sedative, for treating digestive disorders, soothing pain, promoting perspiration, and promoting production of breast milk in nursing mothers.