VEGGIE COOP FARM NOTES: WEEK 10 : August 26, 2009: Larger Bag
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Packing Slip: Larger Bag

Basil – 25g regular 2.00
Beets Golden - bunch 2.25
400 g. greenhouse tomatoes or Latah tomatoes pint 3.20
Garlic – 150g 2.10
Micro-Mix 8.00
Radishes – two bunches 2.50
Salad Mix - 250g 7.00
Shallots - 250g 3.50
Snow or Sugar Snap Peas - 100g . 2.00
Summer squash 750g 2.25
Gooseberries pt or a 1/2 pt of raspberries 4.25
Total: $41.30
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For information, questions or comments, we are only an e-mail or phone call away. Contact; Mike Rabinowitz, Co-Owner and Coordinator, Veggie Coop. House Phone: 895-2884. If you are running late for the pick up, call Mike on the Farm Cell at 689-7693.

Bags not picked up go back to farm chill room! Don’t forget to mark off your name on the chill room door. If your name is not there, leave an original note somewhere on the door or on the near-by cork board. IT’S IN THE BAG and Special Orders. Even though we may not have enough of the things you especially enjoy each week to make up the forty member bags, keep in mind that these may be things you will want to special order. E-mail Mike with your order. He will bring special orders to drop-off or you can pick them up at the Farm Store on the week-end.

GOOSEBERRIES AND RASPBERRIES. All berries were picked on Wednesday and spread on trays in the chill room, according to Mike’s raspberry management procedures. I have just finished packing them; they went into three categories. (1) Raspberries that help their shape while being picked up off of the tray and transferred to the l/2 pints. Eat them ASAP. (2) Raspberries that did not keep their shape; these went into plastic containers Eat the, ASAP. Sprinkle a little sugar on them so they will keep in frig. Use generously over ice cream, cereal or yogurt. Or mix with bananas and yogurt. We have been serving the house berries this way for weeks, with great delight. (3) Berries that are mushy and have to be transferred from place to place with a spoon. I pitch these into the pot with vinegar on the back of the kitchen stove; so far, we have a dozen bottles, ready for labels. Possibly farmer’s market or tail gate sales!

IT’S IN THE BAG! Summer Squash, peas, garlic, onions, etc. We have just posted a new recipe from a Veggie Coop member. See Website/ Recipes for Summer Veggie Salad sent in by Andrea Gardner. Thanks so much for sharing. Andrea.

WHAT IS HAPPENING ON THE FARM!
Hurrah! Vince is back after being off for more than a week because his 8 year old son, Cody was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes and has been in the Janeway. Vince has another son, who has prosthesis for his hand. He and his mother were in Halifax for a new refit and didn’t get back until late Tuesday Monday due to the storm.

Sheldon, the worker who is off due to a back injury caused by picking up an empty plastic crate, brought a doctor’s note saying he has two discs that may be ruptured; that he needs a SCAN, physio and possibly surgery. A sad, sad story for a young man of twenty.

Jake works on the farm 4 days a week. Jake has been riding his bike all season, usually arriving at his appointed time which is 8:30. He has another part-time job on MUN Campus where he repairs bikes and holds bike workshops to help maintain the bikes rented out to students for a few dollars a semester. He called Tuesday morning to say that he was hit by a car. He quickly reassured us that he is o.k. but that his ankle is injured and he is unable to ride his bike to work. He asked for a ride since it was his last day before going on a week’s holidays. So, the red Toyota taxi headed to St. John’s to get Jake after picking up Diane at the ferry at 8:10.

COPING WITH THE IMPENDING STORM.
At some times over the week-end, we wondered if we would be able to have a delivery to Veggie Coop at all. And, yes, we did pick everything we could on Sunday and try to tie down the rest in hopes that the pea arbors which are in a new place on the hill overlooking conception bay and Bell Island would stand, that the summer squash that have been so robust this season would be low enough to hide from the high winds, the Latah tomatoes and outdoor cucumbers Mike has been watching over, the edible flowers being saved for a wedding and all of the other goodies we have seen unfold from tiny seeds into their own incredible offerings to the universe - would survive and thrive. I am glad to report that although we did experience wind and rain through out the night, that the storm was not as bad as we expected and things seem o.k. I did wake up in the night, though, thinking, what will we do if Diane can’t get in because the waves are too high for the ferry crossing. I resolve that with a decision that we would send the lettuce out not washed, with a little sign that said, “Please wash me.”

“I’M IN THE COVE.”
As I wandered by the phone about 7:45 a.m. on my way to the coffee pot, I noticed the message manager flashing. My heart always sinks when I see a message that time of day; it only means two things, either that a family member is ill or that a worker is calling in. I picked up the phone, expecting to hear Diane say, “I can’t come into day. The ferry is tied up.” Instead I heard, “I’m in the Cove!” I couldn’t get my shoes on fast enough to go pick her up. She said, she got up at 6 to find out that there was only one ferry and it was on a load and go basis. She started getting ready and the taxi driver called at 7:30 to say, she’s leaving, do you want me to pick you up?”

Marian White published a book at few years back providing profiles of women and their achievement and contributions. It is time we had a book about women like Diane, who go about doing their work in such an honourable way. And, there are others, many others. Do you remember the story about Nicole, the stone slinger, who works for City Sand and Gravel that was in Farm Notes a few weeks ago?

WHO IS COMING AND GOING!
Rachel and Emily, the WOOFERS from Nova Scotia, Ashleigh from Winnipeg left on Friday. Emily and Ashleigh have helped with raspberries while Rachel has been Diane’s right hand woman to help with salad mix. Nathaniel, the young man from B.C., is still here, harvesting garlic and onions. Nita Whitfield, a college friend from Tennessee is here for a couple of weeks. She was raised on a farm and is enjoying all the hands on – helping Mike pick peas, cukes and tomatoes and Louis pick the squash.

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Do let us know what’s on your mind! Meanwhile, I have to go check on the zucchini- pineapple loaf in the oven!

Melba/ August 19, 2009