Flowin' & Growin' on the Central Coast

SEPTEMBER HAS COME AND GONE LIKE A FLASH IN A PAN!  IT IS ALL ABOUT TOMATOES THIS MONTH..THE DRY-FARMS ARE SOOOOO DARN TASTY RIGHT NOW…THE HOT DAYS THE COOL NIGHTS…..LOVERS DELIGHT! THE LIGHTING IS NOTICEABLY DIFFERENT ,LEAVES ARE FALLING AWAY FROM THEIR POSTS, AND THE WINTER SQUASH IS ALMOST READY TO BE PULLED AND CURED….WE LIVE IN A BEAUTIFUL PLACE ..WHEN I READ OF THE WATER OVERLOAD IN THE SOUTHEAST..I SENSE THUNDERHEADS PARKED AROUND THE CORNER, OUT IN THE PACIFIC  ..GETTING READY FOR OUR WINTER DELUGE…I SUPPOSE THIS IS WISHFUL THINKING.   BUT BACK AT THE RANCH..WE ARE PULLING STRAWBERRIES OUT AND PREPARING FOR NEXT SEASON…WE PULLED STAKES ON THE FIRST WAVE OF TOMATOES AND I AM CANNING TOMS ON TUESDAY FOR THE WINTER…AND TO SELL!  IT IS TRULY THE GLORY DAYS OF FALL….

       THIS WEEKS PICK.

 RED PEPPERS,LETTUCES ,RASPBERRIES,STRAWBERRIES,DRY-FARMED TOMS,WIERD ONIONS,CARROTS ,GOLDEN BEETS…EAT THE GREENS, BASIL PARSLEY,FLOWERS,CHARD,DANDYLION,CHERVIL,WINTERSQUASH  THAT YOU SHOULD HOLD FOR A WEEK OR TWO!MAYBE RADICCHIO..I NEED TO CHECK IT IN THE FIELD.

..ANYHOOTIE   BE WELL!  EAT YOUR VEGGIES….LOVE JANE

WOW !  MR TOADS WILD RIDE….WHEN IT STOPS NO BODY KNOWS..BUT BEFORE IT DOES WE HOPE ALL THE TOMATOES ARE OFF THE VINE AND LIVING IN SOMEONES PANTRY!  SO FAR SO GOOD…SO THE FIRES ARE POOPED OUT AFTER MUCH BRAIN AND BRAUN ,LOVE TO ALL THE ANIMALS AND  THE FOLKS WHO GOT SCARED AND MESSED UP BY THE FIRES…AS I LIVED IN BONNYDOON FOR 14 YEARS I LOVE THE WILDNESS AND THE FOLKS TREMENDOUSLY….BLESSINGS TO ALL!

 MY LIFE IS REDUCED TO A DRIVE THROUGH COFFEE PLACE.. I DO NOT USUALLY DRINK COFFEE BUT WAS SO TIRED AND IN A HURRY ONE DAY LAST WEEK THAT I PULLED UP, TURNED THE ENGINE OFF ,LEFT THE CAT POWER CD PLAYING AND TOLD THE WOMAN I HAD NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE ..WHAT DO YOU HAVE TODAY? AND WHAT IS IT LIKE DOING WHAT YOU DO? WHO COMES  TO YOUR DRIVE THROUGH COFFEE CART? I ENDED UP WITH AN ICED FRESH DRIP CUP OF JOE TO GO WITH CREAM! AND AN EAR FULL ABOUT THE MOMS WITH KIDS, ,THE LATE PERSON TO WORK , THE EARLY MORNING COMMUTERS WHO ROLL OUT OF BED AND DRIVE OVER BEFORE HITTING UP 17…..HMMM… .ALL THE SUDDEN I WAS SO PERKY AND STOKED TO BE WHO I WAS, AS TIRED AND BURNT AS I WAS AT THAT MOMENT!  I COULD GO BACK TO THE FARM AND FROLIC WITH THE ZINNIAS AND SUNFLOWERS.,SEE IF THE BROCCOLI IS READY TO PLANT,.BE OUTSIDE ….MAYBE THIS  WAS ALL THE JOE..BUT I DO NOT THINK SO!

  THIS WEEKS PICK:   DRY FARMS, TURNIPS BABY, EASTER EGG RADISH…ROMANO BEANS ,SQUASHES,BEETS,BASIL DILL CHERVIL,CARROTS,ROMAINE,BUTTERHEAD,CHARD RAINBOW,FRISEE,FLOWERS,FENNEL….STRAWBERRIES!

NOTHING LIKE A FEW DAYS AWAY TO SET YOU SCRAMBLING TO GET ALL RIPE FRUIT OFF THE VINE AND SOLD!  SORRY MY POST IS LATE FOR THE WEEKLY PICK!  I AM HOLDING ON TIGHT TO A FABULOUS TRIP TO THE HIGH COUNTRY WITH DEAR FRIENDS AND OUR FAMILY.THE DAY WE WERE LEAVING TOWN..AS WE WERE HARVESTING  TO TAKE A RUN UP TO THE EAST BAY AND HARVEST FOR LOCAL FOLKS…AND PACK AND GET OUT OF TOWN BEFORE DARK I BEGAN WONDERING WHERE JP HAD DISAPPEARED TO!?  I TRIED HIS CELLTEL BUT NO ANSWER..COULD HE HAD GONE TO TAKE A SURF..NO WAY!  NEXT THING I HEAR IS THE SOUND OF KILLER BEES COMING DOWN THE FARM DRIVEWAY…IT IS JP ON A CUTE ORANGE KABOTA TRACTOR..THAT BELLA HAS NAMED PUMPKIN, HE SAID HE COULD NOT RESIST THE DEAL…! WE DID NEED A SMALL CULTIVATING TRACTOR FOR THE BERRIES AND SUCH..BUT TODAY??  CRAZY TOWN!  

      THE WEEKLY PICK:  TOMATOES! MIXED SQUASH VARIETIES,CARROTS, RED BEETS WITH BEAUTIFUL GREENS,BLANCO ONIONS,CUCUMBER,STRAWBERRIES,TURNIPS,FRENCH BREAKFAST RADISH,DILL,CILANTRO,BASIL,BUTTERHEAD LETTUCE, AMAZING GREEN LITTLE GEM LETTUCE,SIERRA CRISP,FRISEE, AND PERHAPS SOME RIGHTEOUS ARUGULA..ITS HOLY! WE MISSED THE BEST MOMENT TO COVER IT …..AND MIXED BOUGUET OF FLOWERS!  THANKS

I HAVE ALOVE AND DISLIKE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CENTRAL COASTS …COASTAL FOG!  I AM ALL FOR THE COOL SENSATION IT BRINGS TO OUR SUMMER DAYS..OR IS THAT DAZE!  FOR WITHOUT THE FOGS MOISTURE AND COOLING TEMP  WE COULD NOT DRY-FARM OUR TOMATOES..IF THERE WAS NO FOG IT WOULD BE FRY-FARM TOMATOES…AND THIS MEAN WE WOULD HAVE TO MOVE TO QUARTZITE ARIZONA AND START ALL OVER…NO REALLY..ALL DRAMA ASIDE..THREE HIPHIP HOORAYS TO THE FOG…BUT WHEN I HAVE TO TURN ON THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON THE WAY TO THE FARM AT 6.00AM….I WORRY FOR THE PLANTS..NOT THE TOMATOES BUT THE PLANTS ON WHICH THEY GROW.  MILDEW,BLIGHT,BLOSSOM END ROT, ON AND ON..I PRAY ON MY WAY TO THE FARM…I PRAY HARD THAT THE SUN WILL SHINE JUST ENOUGH TO DRY THE PLANTS OUT BEFORE THE EVENING FOG CREEPS BACK IN LIKE LITTLE CATS FEET ……..THIS WEEKS PICK…….

         DRY-FARMED FOGGY TOMATOES,POTATOES,MIXED LETTUCES,BASIL,CILANTRO,CHERVIL FOR YOUR CARROTS,BLANCO DI MAGIO ONIONS…SOUNDS LIKE AN ITALIAN DESIGNER ONION….MIXED ZUCCINI,JAPANESE CUCUMBERS,BEETS,AND   DRUM ROLL…SHELLING BEANS…..JUST TAKETHEM OUT OF THE POD…PLACE IN SALTED WATER AND BOIL….YOU CAN MAKE A SOUP..MINESTRONE WOULD BE GREAT…YOU CAN MAKE A TOMATOE RAGU AND SERVE WITH PASTA…YOU COULD MAKE A HYBRID TACO…THEY ARE DIVINE AND A SEASONAL FAVORITE OF MINE…A FRESH PROTEIN SOURCE….I HOPE TO HAVE ARUGULA THIS WEEK..AND A FEW RADISH…TO HELP YOUR DIGESTION…SALT OLIVE OIL SLICED RADISH…YUM…..FLOWERS!

      WE ARE OFF TO TUOLEME MEADOWS…NO BOXES ON THURSDAY!  SEE YA NEXT MONDAY AUG 10!

THESE DAYS I CANNOT DECIDE WHAT TO EAT FIRST…..SO MUCH GLORIOUS FOOD ….IS THIS PEAK WEEK OR NEXT?   I SUPPOSE WHEN THE SQUASH ZONE COMES ON LATER THIS WEEK IT WILL BE OFFICIAL….THE STRAWBERRIES KEEP BEARING FRUIT…THE TOMATOES ARE RIPENING AT A STEADY PACE…..AND THE GREENHOUSE IS FULL OF FALLS’ FINEST!…IT IS A CONSTANT STEADY RHYTHMIC WORK PARTY AROUND HERE! THERE ARE MOMENTS WHEN WE STOP AND LAUGH TILL IT HURTS AT HOW CRAZY IT CAN BE…..SPAZZ ACRES,FREAKOUT FARM, ON AND ON….BUT YEAR AFTER YEAR WE RETURN TO THE INSANITY AND REALIZE HOW HAPPY WE ARE…AMOUNGST THE BEAUTY AND THE BOUNTY!

     THIS WEEKS PICK……YELLOW FRENCH FILET BEANS,LEMON CUCUMBERS,MORE EIGHTBALL SQUASH,BABY CARROTS  ,CHIPPOLINI ONIONS,DANDYLIONS,DRY-FARMS,STRAWBERIES,CHARD,3KINDS OF UNUSUAL LETTUCE,,DEERTONGUE,RED ROMAINE GEM, SIERRA CRISP,OAKLEAF GREEN…MAKE THAT 4 KINDS,EASTER EGG RADISH..BASIL,CHIVE,CHERVILAND POTATOES!!!!  OH AND SNAP DRAGONS..BON APPETITTO!!!!!!!JANE 

I HAVE A CONFESSION …I MARRIED FOR TOMATO!  I FELL MADLY INLOVE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ONE OF JEAN-PAULS’ DRY FARMED TOMATOES. AT THE TIME, I THINK MY FRENCH FILET BEANS WORKED FOR HIM! WHAT CAN WE SAY FARMING CAN BE LONELY  AND IT CONSUMES ONES TIME AND TAKES OVER YOUR LIFE..SO WHEN THE RIGHT FARMER MEETS THE RIGHT FARMER….WOW..WHAT A STIR FRY! WHAT I AM TRYING TO SAY IS …JP BROUGHT ME HOME THE FIRST 4 TOMATOES THIS PAST WEEK…IT IS OUR LOVERS RITUAL…OUR WEDDING ANNIVERSARY IS APPROACHING NEXT MONTH AND HE KNOWS HOW TO WOW ME FOR ANOTHER YEAR OF FAMILY FARMING AND LOTS OF DREAMING !

       THIS WEEKS PICK…ITALIAN BUTTERBEANS,JAPANESE CUCUMBERS,CIPPOLINI ONIONS,BASIL,NEW VARIETIES OF LETTUCE..LOVE IS A MYSTERY,RADISH,BERRIES,POTATOES,FLOWERS-MIXED BUNCHES,CARROTS ,RED BEETS WITH GORGEOUS GREENS…EAT THEM UP!      .

                    LOVE AND GRATITUDE TO MY EROS,  THE GREAT TOMATO GROWER!

HOPEFULLY THIE GLORIOUS HEAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING THIS WEEK WILL RIPEN THE TOMATOES BEFORE CLEA LEAVES FOR NOVE SCOTIA AT THE END OF THIS MONTH! OUR USUAL PICK IS AUG 1ish!   WE ARE RUNNING AROUND KEEPING  EVERYTHING  DAMP AND COOL! MY FAVORITE TIME AT THE FARM IS 6.30 AM WHEN I ARRIVE TO PICK ORDERS AND VEGGIE BOXES..ALL THE FIELDS ARE RADIANT  WITH THE MAKINGS OF THE NIGHT DEW…CRYSTALINE LOOKING…ALL THE COLORS STARRING AT ME IN THE FACE ..I AM DRAWN TO PICK WITH A SMILE FilIED WITH GRATITUDE…. 

   THE PICK FOR THE WEEK INCLUDES;

        NEW ITEMS; CUCUMBERS! JAPANESE AND OR PICKLING, ROMANO OR FRENCH FILET BEANS,DANDYLION GREENS…I CALL THEM TEENAGE DANDYLIONS PERFECT FOR A RAW CHOPPED SALAD WITH A FRESH HARDBOILED EGG ,TOASTED WALNUTS , FETA OR SHAVINGS OF MANCHEGO CHEESE,PERHAPS A FEW DATES CHOPPED OR OLIVES AND A SWEET VINEGARETTE…MADE WITH A BERRY VINEGAR..AND GOOD FOR  YOUR LIVER,TOO…  MIXED LETTUCE HEADS,TREVISO RADICCHIO….TRY THIS GRILLED!,  RED NORLAND POTATOES,CHIVE AND DILL AND PARSLEY BUNCHES..RAINBOW CHARD, STRAWBERRIES,CARROTS AND STRIPPED CHIOGGIA BEETS.   THANKS AND STAY COOL!  JANE 

WE REVELED IN THE YUBA RIVER OVER THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND TO ARRIVE HOME TO A BEAN BONANZA!  GREEN ROMANO,YELLOW ROMANAO AND FRENCH FILET BEANS ALL READY TO GO! AFTER PICKING A FEW TENDER FRENCH FILETS I FORKED A FEW YELLOW FIN POTATOES AND SOME BASIL FOR A PASTA SUNDAY SUPPER….I MADE SOME PESTO..HERE IS MY RECIPE…IN A PROCESSOR OR MORTAR GRIND A CLOVE OF GARLIC WITH 1/8TH TEA OF SALT…I THEN PLACE 2/3 CUPS OF FRESH BASIL LEAVES AND 2 TABLESPOONS PINE NUTS , IN THE PROCESSOR AND BLEND UNTIL THE MIX IS CHOPPED FINE…SOMETIMES I ADD PECORINO GRATED CHEESE OR REGGIANO PARMESEAN ABOUT 1/3RD CUP AT THIS TIME WITH 6-8 TABLESPOONS OLIVE OIL..THE CONSISTANCY SHOULD BE OF HEAVY CREME…AFTER THE WATER BOILS FOR PASTA I PLACE A POTATO IN THE WATER FOR 4-5 MINUTES AND THEN ADD PASTA….WHEN THE PASTA IS ALMOST COMPLETE I ADD THE FRENCH FILET BEANS,ENDS TRIMMED IF NEED BE…AND AFTER A MINUTE I DRAIN THE PASTA WATER RESERVING A 1/4 CUP FOR THE PESTO..PLACE PESTO IN A LARGE BOWL,,ADD A BIT O’PASTA WATER TO THIN JUST A BIT! ADD PASTA WITH POTATO./BEANS..YOU CAN HAVE MORE THEN ONE SPUD!  TOSS WITH PEPPER /LEMON JUICE PERHAPS AND MORE CHEESE…SO YUMMY     ANY STRING BEAN WILL DO FOR THIS DISH…THIS WEEKS PICKS INCLUDE…

      FRENCH FILET HARICOT VERTE BEANS,POTATOES,BASIL,ROMAINE,ZUCCINI,CARROTS

      TURNIPS,TREVISO RADICCHIO,SPINACH LARGE LEAVED COOKING,CHERVIL,,    

      STRAWBERRIES,DILL,BUTTERHEADLETTUCE,FENNEL….PURPLE BUNCHING ONIONS

      FLOWERS….LOVE TO ALLAND HAPPY SUMMER SUPPERS!

  We picked the first potatoes this week!   They are soooo creamy and flavorful. I steamed the red norlands with the yellow finns together and smashed them with the back of a fork, just a bit..so they remain chunky and rustic..a drizzle of grassy olive oil, Malden salt and pepper!   Divine! ! The contents of this weeks box includes;

                POTATOES,BABY TURNIPS,FRESH NEW CARROTS, GOLDEN BEETS,PURPLE ONIONS,FRENCH BREAKFAST RADISH,  ALSO NEW THIS WEEK- STRIPPED ZUCCINI, NEW THIS WEEK- BASIL GREEN,CHIVE,DILL,ROMAINE LETTUCE ,BUTTER LETTUCE,SIERRA RED LEAF LETTUCE, TWO BASKETS BERRIES,FENNEL, AND RADICCHIO,ESCAROLE! FINAALY…A BOUQUET OF SUNFLOWERS!    Eat up!!

       PLACE AN ORDER FOR A VEGGIE BOX GIFT ,A TRUE GIFT OF THE HEART.SHOW YOUR LOVED ONE ,PARENT OR FRIEND HOW MUCH YOU LOVE THEM WITH THE GIFT OF HEALTHY VIBRANT CCOF CERTIFIED VEGGIES…YOU COULD ADD FRESH GOAT CHEESE FROM CHOCFARM OR RIVER SOUR-RYE BREAD,OR JAM FROM THE RIVER CAFE INTO THE BOX  FOR EXTRA LOVE!!!   EMAIL US AT BELLASBESTT@YAHOO.COM  OR CALL 566-2604…..THE FLAT COST IS 25 DOLLARS  PLUS 5 FOR DELIVERY ,IF YOU WANT.  PLUS THE CHEESE AND BREAD..8$ FOR BREAD AND CHEVRE  COST DEPENDS ON YOUR AMOUNT ORDERED….BE WELL JANE ,JP AND MS. BELLA!!!!!!!