Sore backs, sunburned skin, and a workload that is almost unbearable. June is historically a pretty stressful month on our farm. With CSA, farmers markets and restaurant deliveries in full swing and weeds growing faster than crops, we are finding it hard to keep on top of it all. Even with hired help we still fall behind. And as the daylight creeps well into the night we’re able to work our longest hours of the year. It can be hard to call it quits in the evening when there is still so much to get done but we really cherish the quiet evenings and delicious meals. One of our nightly rituals is to eat dinner outside and just kick back with a few beers (or my beverage of choice- Rose` in a can!) and feel the days aches and pains melt away. It’s amazing what good food and a few beers can do for a couple of farmers. We’ve also really been enjoying the emails and text messages from our CSA members sharing photos of meals that they’ve made with our produce. That is one of the best perks of being a farmer! Seriously, seeing a photo of the food we’ve grown made into a beautiful meal on someone else’s table. It’s the most incredible feeling and it’s honestly why we continue to do what we do.
This spring we’ve been talking big picture stuff as well. In the fall we’re building the greenhouse of our dreams (pinch me!) which will allow us to grow more early and late season crops. Raising a few pigs has been a topic of conversation for quite some time and overall, it’s been really exciting to chat about what the future holds. I laugh every time we talk about “next season” because the truth is— it’s usually the second week of every March that we’re already talking about how “next season we’re going to nail it!” As if the current season (only two weeks in) is already a wash. I guess that’s one of the most addicting parts about farming–you’ll never “nail it” but it’s pretty darn fun to strive for a perfect year and conquer all that Mother Nature has in store. Every year is different which is exciting and terrifying all at the same time!
This week we’ve eaten the same lunch for 5 days straight–Bok Choy Salad with Miso Tahini Sauce over avocado toast. If you haven’t made the bok choy salad yet you should! It’s quickly becoming a favorite among our CSA members and we can’t stop whipping it up or topping our avocado toast with it. I’m pretty sure it’s the best salad I’ve made to date and I’m happy it’s in our daily rotation!
You probably noticed I’m starting to refer to these posts as “The Farm Diaries” instead of “Fridays at the Farm.” I thought a name change was in order because I’ve found that I don’t always want to post these updates on a Friday and that some weeks there just isn’t as much to share so these wont be a weekly update. Maybe a few times a month? I’m playing with it so we’ll see how it goes!
Anyhow, I hope this weekend you all get to relax a bit and enjoy some good food and equally good company. We”ll be at the Hood River Farmers market (Saturday 9-1pm) so if you live in the area swing in and say hi! We’ll have a bountiful booth this week so come hungry!
Cheers from Tumbleweed!
Love what you do and so thankful for your hard work! I bet it’s hard to call it quits at the end of a summer day, but keeping yourself fueled with good food and as rested as you can is important too!
Have a great weekend.
Thank you for your kind words Lisa!
I love your posts and usually make one of your recipes each week! They ate delicious and we are eating more healthy vegetables and grains as a consequence, so thank you for all that you do, it’s very inspiring!
Thank you SO much! I’m so happy you are enjoying the recipes and trying more veggies. Comments like this keep me inspired to continue sharing our farm to table meals–So THANK YOU!!
Happy cooking!
Thank you for the beautiful work you do providing delicious, fresh veggies and amazing recipes. The bok choy salad (sesame cashew crunchies…..WHAAAT???) and kohlrabi pizza were big hits in my house.
Yay!!! Leanne I’m so happy you tried the bok choy salad and the pizza. Thank you for being a CSA member and supporting our farm! You rule! xoxo
So far away and so inspiring, wonderful diary’s, grateful greetings Frank Westerlo Belgium:)))
Thanks for reading along Frank!
Andrea the pictures are gorgeous and the food looks wonderful I can hardly wait to get out there to visit take care of sweetie you and Taylor and Henry are awesome love you
Thank you Aunt Mary! Love you and cant’ wait to get you back out to the farm. Henry really misses you!! xoxo
I love it when you think finally I am caught, yeah…then in the middle of the night you remember you forgot to……crap! I am never caught up. Love your blog!!
Haha!! Totally! Thanks for the good laugh and for reading along. Cheers!
LOVE your blog, your recipes, you and hubby and your farm!! thank you for your amazing inspiration with food; I’ve made your carrot-turmeric-ginger soup with the spiced chickpeas and cashew cream. can i say omg? and just got hooked on your zucchini-corn salad. i have NEVER had zucchini that good, and trust me, I’ve been around a lot of amazing cooks and chefs! i was in the food scene in boulder and telluride the last twelve years, and now back in CA, still loving on farmers and clean and healthy food. thank you. keep doing what you do oh so well! hugs and more beers after a long day!!
I read about you and your husband in the featured article in Eating Well magazine. Truly inspiring! I wanted to ask though because it has been a dream of mine to buy some land and grow some veg and support our local community, do you and your husband take vacations? Silly question? ..but a farmers work is never done and it seems difficult to take a break. I have read so many different answers but all are opinions and not coming from an actual farmer and now modern farming practices seem to have more flexibility but that could just be how outsiders see it. Thanks so much for all you do!
Hi Megan! So happy you saw the feature in Eating Well! That’s awesome that you are interested in purchasing land someday. As far as vacations…our farm doesn’t grant them. It’s 7 days a week for 9 months out of the year and for the other 3 there are animals and greenhouse seeds to tend too. We break free for 1 week every December and have someone come and watch over our chickens and make sure our pipes don’t freeze but other than that….we;re tied down to this place. We don’t mind but it’s definitely not for everyone! I hope that answered your question! Thanks for reading along!
Cheers!
I’ve always loved seeing your beautiful photos, whenever you post them and whatever you call the post 🙂 Going to check out that magazine article too! Congratulations on all your success and an exciting future. I’ll happily keep reading along!