Fruit crop season is here!

Fruit crop season is here!
Eggplant and tomatoes
Farm Update
 
After the long wait, were happy to report that our outdoor fruit crops are starting to produce well.  Zucchini, being the quickest to go from seed to fruiting plant, has been producing in the field for a few weeks now.  We are certainly enjoying the abundance of such a versatile and quick-cooking veggie for summer meals after a day in the field.  As with anything, it is up to personal preference, but we generally use small or medium sized zucchini for cooking and our XL size for baking. 
 
The counterbalance to producing fruit so quickly and in volumes is that the plants dont have a great tolerance for disease, including in moderately wet summers like this one where moisture helps disease spread.  Zucchini is notorious for being very prolific and then suffering an abrupt end, so this year we planted more successions to spread out the harvest volumes and season. 
 
Tomatoes in the field are ripening which expands the variety and volumes we have. Eggplant is taking off.  Watermelons are ready soon. Tomatillos are starting to fill up their papers and hot peppers have just started taking on some colour. 
 
We have been enjoying early peppers for a few weeks as green peppers.  We eventually want to have the fruit ripen, but we have been harvesting some green to help lighten up the plants which were falling over from the weight of their growing fruit.  The first real harvest of ripe sweet peppers will be this week!
 
Flower garden:  We have a cut flower garden on the farm!  You are welcome to take some home with you when you visit to pick up your order.  It has moved for this year, so follow signs from the barn.
 
WE ARE HIRING:
We are hiring a delivery driver for 2-3 days a week.  Resumes should be sent to chris@commongroundfarm.ca
We are also looking for a full-time crew member!  Follow the link below.
 
 
JOIN OUR TEAM
 
MIDDLE RIVER MUSIC FESTIVAL
 
The date is fast approaching!  The wonderful sights and sounds of our music festival is happening again, this time on August 24.
 
We are super excited to be hosting our festival again, complete with a very exciting line-up guaranteed to get you out of your seats and dancing! And while you are welcome to bring your snacks and beverages, we will also have our fan favourite, New Leaf Planet-Based Foods on site slinging some delish food!
 
As usual, the doors open at 2pm and the festival goes til 11pm. Kids under 12 are free.
 
You can purchase tickets here:
 
FARM STORE NOTES
 
THINGS TO NOTE FROM US: Peppers are ripening!  We have more sweet peppers and hot peppers available now.  A few of our watermelons also in store.
 
Broccoli and orange cauliflower from our next planting is available.
 
White beets!  If you haven't tried these you should.  Less earthy (and less staining!) than red, but great flavour.  Both beet lovers and new-to-beets folks would enjoy these.
 
Mixed herb bunches are back.  Great way to get a variety of herbs, but not too much of any one kind.
 
More yellow onions and new yellow potatoes available this week!  
 
From the field we have garlic, a variety of onions, carrots, beets, kohlrabi, cabbage, broccoli, fennel, greens, head lettuces, zucchini, radish, kale, chard eggplant, tomatoes, sweet or hot peppers, celery and herbs. 
From the greenhouse/hoophouses are tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplant, jalapenos and sweet peppers.
 
 
FROM OUR SUPPLIERS:
 
Peaches: Great Lakes Farms (Port Stanley)
 
HOPE Eco-Farms (Aylmer): Corn, delicata squash, watermelons and eggs.
 
Through Pfenning's: Ontario mushrooms.  Travelling from further away; citrus, ginger, turmeric.
 
Bakery: La Houlette de vie (St. Thomas) is back with his house-milled sourdough breads!.  Artisan Bakery (London) is available until it closes out on Tuesday morning.  
 
Dairy: Milk, yogurt, and curds are from Mistyglen Creamery (Belmont).  Please note: bottles and jars need to be rinsed well before being returned.
 
Pantry:Fire cider from Booch (London) and cold-pressed hemp oil from Mat's Fine Oils (Staffordville) we are restocking the sunflower soon.
 
 
Under a canopy of vines and leaves our watermelons are finishing their ripening

Weekly pickup / delivery schedule:

Farm pickup will be Thursday from 4 to 8 pm. 

Deliveries will be Thursday or  Friday in London / St.Thomas.  We will send out the schedule Wednesday night.

Refer-a-friend:  If you refer a friend and they sign up for our 2024 main season please send me a note and I'll give you a $25 credit as a thank-you on your account!
link:
Note that if you you will no longer get reminders about your subscription!

Common Ground Farm 6986 Middle River Road St. Thomas, Ontario N5P 3S9
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