final csa of the year

this is it. we are hoping to go out with a bang. pumpkins. these are cooking pumpkins and dont forget to bake the seeds. small cabbages tomorrow and sweet potatoes - white variety, they are a little dirty as i had to dig them in the mud. sidenote - these sweet potatoes were grown in a third year hugelkultur bed and were NEVER watered. it was incredible. they looked shiny and green even through the five week dry spell in august. hugelkultur is the stuff. augo is making a documentary about it. now its time for the five disappointments of the season. coincidentally they all start with C.

carrots - supposedly they are great companions to tomatoes.  tomatoes overgrew them.

cantaloupes - virus

cukes - virus

collards  -  chowed by the looper. thought i had beat the cycle.

corn  -  raccoons

thanks to everyone for participating in CSA.  we will have broccolli and green tomatoes and other things but you have to come to the STICKY WICKET - October 26th, saturday all day to get those. it is a croquet tournament - potuluck. hope to see everyone there but see you tomorrow.

CSA 10.10

I first got interested in farming my senior year of college after reading Wendell Berry's "The decline of american culture and agriculture". i have read many other things from wendell over the years but hadn't heard much from him for a while until yesterday i read "wendell berry, poet and prophet calls for revolution". he is calling for an immediate end to industrial farming and a return to the sustainable farming methods of the past.  I'm taking him for his word here. tomorrow - the sweet potato rebellion.
(more sweet potatoes next week if we don't pull it off)

csa thurs

due to the gummint shutdown we will not be cutting the chard tomorrow. we are going to be bringing in more watermelons which have had mixed reviews. the last one i cut wasnt ripe.  some said theirs was good. if yours wasnt  - tell barb and get another one.  maybe let it sit around for a few days. there will be more next week for the bad melon hat trick. i have had some good ones. me and augo ate one last week that was the best ever.  csa was going to end next week but we are going in to "postseason" so at least 2 more after tomorrow. great brocs and cabbages forming slowly. good recipe for zucchini - fry in garlic and olive oil, slightly brown it, throw zuke away and eat the pan.    

CSA 9.26

i did not get to meet russel brand. daniel pinchbeck filmed all nine episodes of his new show "mindshift" - he was the first filmed i was the last. coincidence or conspiracy? perhaps one day we'll find out.
honey tomorrow.  tomatoes not as juicy or sweet due to nighttime temps dropping. i would sauce them. love collard greens. melons will be starting tomorrow. cantaloupes went buggy but there are some. watermelons
look great and everyone should get one tomorrow or more likely next week. remember the viagra properties of the superfood watermelon are found in the rind. brockley farmaceuticals is not responsible for erections lasting more that
14 hours.

CSA 9.19

Just 4 more CSAs left kids but so much fun stuff coming. Broccoli, Cabbage, Melons, Pumpkins, Sweet Potatoes and Winter Squash will finish out the next three weeks...I took some photos to show you their progress.
Tomorrow collards debut. I am not going to cut any kale but if you want any, I will when you arrive. You will get the last of the potatoes this week and the zucchini will more than likely be very large. It is still delicious and perfect to stuff when this size. (See recipe on right).

Ross is in NYC filming some talk show...panel includes Russell Brand. If not an international incident, a TMZ feature likely to result. Come keep me company!
See you tomorrow!
B.

CSA 9.12

Hello CSA'ers. I hope you are enjoying this beautiful rain this afternoon.
Ross made a movie a few years back called Stuck Truck. Life is imitating art (I use the term loosely) as he cannot get his truck out of the mud at the farm. 
He called and wants me to tell you to grill the peppers and squash for the game and take the points with UCLA.  See you tomorrow. Beets are coming back!
Barb

CSA 9.5

I have good news and I have great news. The good news is potatoes are back. The great news is swiss chard still isn't. Great way to store extra tomatoes is to roast whole in oven then freeze. Roasting gives good flavor.
Ron Paul is calling the chemical attack in Syria a false flag. Russia is sending a delegation to Congress to discuss same. Obama says he may open up another war anyway.  Oh well...eat more kale.
See you tomorrow.

csa

barb is requesting boxes back if you can. she is also saying that if you are a fan of okra to tell her and she will get you some in the next few weeks.  the tomatoes are so good tomorrow that it may take your mind off these l00 degree days.  if you cook the squash in a tomato sauce with herbs there is a chance you can momentarily forget the miley cyrus performance at the video award thing.  make up some cucumbers with dill and onions and leave behind your worries of the middle east escalations and world war III scenarios.

csa thurs

squash has finally arrived. i have been eating yellow squash for the last three days with no end in sight. really like them prepared any way.  there might even be cukes -  i saw lots of little ones the other day.  the delayed planting seems to have foiled the squash bugs.....either that or they are going the way of the honeybees.  i think we beat them because the farms bees are doing great.  more beets tomorrow.  must visit farm for squash blossoms. theyre incredible lightly stuffed battered and fried but too delicate to transport for csa.

CSA 8.15

Lots and Lots of tomatoes tomorrow.  Hopefully squash will have its coming out party as well.  If not this week, then next week for sure. I will have a list of horses for the big race this weekend (Arlington Million) if anyone would like to send a wager with me.  A few gems from the Daily Racing Form to let you know that know what we are dealing with:
Grandeur:  " He’s one of those horses that the ground can’t be fast enough for him"
Rahystrada:   "Rahystrada is not coming just to run in the race, but to try and win it."
Little Mike:  "Physically there's no excuse going into this race. He's doing as good as he could possibly do," 
Should be a breeze to handicap.  See you all tomorrow!
Barb

Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2013/08/14/2766857/trainer-romans-hoping-to-restore.html#storylink=cpy

CSA 8.8

Ross is calling this one a can't miss CSA .  More delicious potatoes and the tomatoes and eggplants have finally blown up.  I am off to enjoy the sunset and pick beans.  For those of you that are worried, you have not missed the bean picking party.  Tentatively scheduled over Labor Day weekend when all 12 patches should be at Def-Con 5. And seriously, who wants the kitten?  (see photo). She is very sweet and may end up in one of your boxes. See you tomorrow.  Barb

8.1 CSA

Hey Guys.  Barb here.  I have to go to Omaha tomorrow so will not be able
to see your smiling faces.  Ross will be in charge of distribution as they say.
It is a salsa/spaghetti CSA with tons of tomatoes, peppers and basil...also eggplants and, of course, greens and eggs.  We were going to pick potatoes this week but that beautiful rain prevented us from doing that so you will get them next week.

The fall cucumbers, broccoli and squash are looking great...as are the melons and pumpkins. The purslane article/video posted here is a must-read. Augo did an awesome job on it.  Ross will bring some in tomorrow for anyone that wants it. I know that some of you are juicing it.... which is spectacular. 

See you next week!

B.

CSA 7.25

Tomatoes finally. Leave on counter to ripen fully-do not refrigerate.  Mostly boring varieties today-exotics like brandywines coming soon in droves. Kinchee-Korean style except we don't use the fish sauce. Kimchee pancakes are incredible-google search. Rumors of a junk show tonight-so bring your musical instruments, but in the case of Phil, just bring your voice. Last week we cut off the beet greens and then learned that most people eat them (as you should) or feed them to their pet reptiles. So...that won't happen again.

First round of potatoes tomorrow. Potatoes keep a lot longer if not cleaned so that is the way we give them.  Tomatoes are taking their sweet time.  I wish the redness of my skin correlated with theirs. Beautiful onions and beets also on the way.  Ross just called and told me to tell you:  "Go Big, Eat Fresh!" Better get out there....potential heat stroke. See you guys tomorrow!
Barb

CSA July 11th

tried to delay the basil planting so that it would be ready with the first tomatoes.  but missed - not by much - the tomatoes are getting close - just not turning red yet. so basil tomorrow - tomatoes hopefully next week.
onions - these have not been cured. if you dont eat them right away then leave them on the counter in the open so they dont rot.   eat fresh  (like  a subway sandwich)  my friend greg made me some thai kimchee and it was so good
we made a big batch - its not fermented like korean kimchee. so stick in fridge. kind of spicy. korean kimchee in a few weeks.  delayed plantings of squash and cukes and the broccoli family are planted and popping. thank you for your patience thru the first half of csa which was kind of limited to beat bug cycles. think we did. second half should be loaded. update pics on hugelkultur developments next week.

CSA Wed July 3rd

Hi Guys-
Barb here.  Ross is resuming the largest hugelkultur project in the country so he ask me to fill in for him.
Tomorrow you will receive more Chinese cabbage, beet greens, chard, kale, eggs and NEW THIS WEEK....Garlic!  It will be fresh so if you are unable to use it in a timely manner, you will want to cure it.  Methods of curing can be found on your wizard box. Hoping you will also get onions but that will be a game-time decision. 

A Chinese Cabbage Salad would be perfect at your patriotic celebrations this weekend. There are many variations, but here is one.
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/million-dollar-chinese-cabbage-salad/detail.aspx?prop24=RD_RelatedRecipes.

See you tomorrow my little firecrackers!

Barb

CSA Tomorrow (wednesday)

chinese cabbage - making kimchee with the large outer leaves. you guys get the heads. also called napa cabbage. makes good cole slaw.  beets and peas and purslane.........REMEMBER - this pick up is tomorrow - wednesday.  barb and tims b day is thursday and there is a party at the zoo bar where the wondermonz are going to be performing their world premiere concert. 5 - 7 30 thurs. come on down!
looking for some guys to come out to the farm on saturday afternoon for about twenty minutes of heavy lifting.  it would only be a about 20 minutes worth and if we had six guys and it would be not even that heavy.  if we had eight guys it would be like that light as a feather stiff as a board trick. need some strong backs. yes im talking to you james. and augo. and any other young bucks out there. 

csa thurs

 im not sure what is exactly is in csa tomorrow. chard and beet greens for sure. beets and chard are close relatives. be sure to eat the beet greens they taste like apples.   more lettuce - i know it hurts but one more week on the purslane. its a heat lover. ill bring in some because augo is writing an article on purslane - its big money on the west coast and so ill bring some in to sample and will be counting on someone for a good quote becasue if we can get purslane to take off i am rich, bitch.  last thursday csa for a few weeks as we move to wednesdays for the next two weeks. the plot to starve the cabbage moth seems to be working.  i have seen only a few and they look very frustrated and bummed. all the broccollis and cabbage........in the fall.  same with squash/cukes. not that anyone is wandering where the spring squash/cukes are.  i havent seen the squash vine borer but im sure its sitting on a brick somewhere picking its face.

CSA 6.13.13

More Lettuce.  More Kale.  Eat a lot more kale.
New items next week-including purslane!!!!!
Impossible to over-do dill in a salad dressing.
Does anyone understand the sign at the KFC on South Street
"Did you eat the bones?"  I don't. I don't even  get "soft and yummy gizzards."

csa thurs

 i see maybe too much lettuce tomorrow. it comes in all colors and shapes and sizes. there are some weird looking ones.  i think i am going to make a big caesar salad.  people have been asking about the purslane. i think i may be able to pick some next week.  purslane is now all the rage on the west coast. ive been eating a lot of lambs quarters. i should have weeded the spinach and left the lambs quarters. spinach went sideways. i think spinach is only good to grow in the winter/very early spring.
turkey eggs crackin at the farm. hilarious to watch babies trail their mom all over.  about five minutes after i let them out mabel came up to them and was "taken to the woodshed" by the mother. and doesnt even look her way anymore.

csa

transmitting from sw 70 th and sogtillo.
"gentleman start your salad dressings!"
i came home today to dry off and take a nap and when i woke up we had received another two inches of rain. farm has dodged all hail so far - a grower friend of mine to the south got golfballed last night. one of the best salad dressings i ever had was just a grapefruit squeezed on spinach.  chickens dont lay as many eggs on cloudy days. amy brt died this week and we remember amy as community gardening advocate and all around swell gal.  maybe there should be an amy brt memorial community garden somewhere. she was really in to food forests and wondered why there werent fruit trees growing everywhere? a good question.  i heard some guy is working on a new "johnny appleseed" project for US.

CSA 3

Ross asked me to convey the following to you:

today big spinach.  cilantro is representing the superfoods this week. it makes a great salad dressing. garlic a little sugar.......google it. it chelates - pulls heavy metals out of your body.
keeling hates it. keeling -  eat it anyway its medicine.  love this weather and a rainy weekend? sounds incredible. i read kei$ha drinks her own urine. might need to pick up one of her cds. see you later!

csa

barb and i had no idea when we made the nettle pesto last week that it would have this kind of response. we knew it was good. wow...though. so its coming again tomorrow. this time with almonds and lemons.  they say nettles are so good and nutritious that they would have been eaten off the face of the earth if not for their stinging hairs. goats will still eat them. also vegetables tomorrow. welcome home james and chloe! cant wait to hear about the honeymoon. might not see you tomorrow as i am stuck in major farmer shit. ill be lucky to make it home for the american idol coronation. barb is on day 7 of some microbiotic - nettle diet and will probably have so much energy she will be bouncing off the garage.

csa 1!

couldnt wait any longer. too excited. barb and i are making nettle pesto for you all tomorrow. we had it over some noodles for dinner. parmesan cheese maybe not necessary. its tasty.  eat it on crackers even.  nettles have just been added to the superfood list. has been dubbed "the new kale". article on nettles to the right. also some ideas on eating wild mustard greens also coming tomorrow. gardening strategy for 2013 is to beat the bug cycles in the spring. therefore im not planting any brassicas - cabbage or broccoli until july 4. so those will be coming in the fall. we'll be good on kale -  i planted the front yard here in kale. we are going to foil the cabbage looper. same with squash and melons and cukes (the cucurbit family) planting them july 4. last year all the spring squash yielded around ten zucchinis. gardens are looking much better with warmer nights and some sunshine. its the year of the potato again. and sweet potato. in must see videos to the right is this great ten minute speech by this guy from south los angeles. one cool customer. the other is the trailer for the film i was in in africa two summers ago. it just premiered at the hot docs festival in toronto. i play a drug addict/ conspiracy theorist.  (punchline here)

CSA 2013

Looks like spring has finally arrived and its time to start talking CSA!

The dates have been set.  We plan on starting April 25th.  This is tentative depending on weather.  We may start a week earlier or a week later.  Regardless, it will run 22 weeks.  Spinach, radishes, kale and lettuce have already been started and we look forward to seeing your smiling faces soon. 

The shares are $450. 


So...what do you need to do now?  Send me an e-mail (BBrockley@gmail.com) to let me know you are interested.  We ask for $100 deposit to reserve your share but we will certainly take full payment.   If you need a payment plan, no worries...we are flexible. 

Please spread the word to anyone that might be interested.