Potato crop is thriving

 
Happy looking potato plants!
Farm Update​
 
Things are moving along nicely here since the warm weather has set in. Our early brassicas (cabbage family crops) are just coming up to harvest size.  The first few broccoli and spring kohlrabi are ready this week and (as long as the crows don’t get them) we’re looking forward to some little early cabbages next week.

The potatoes are filling out with healthy green growth and had their first hilling last week. Their flower heads are set, so it won’t be too long before that field is also full of flowers.  We have spotted the first potato beetles of the year on another end of the farm which means we’ll have to keep a careful eye for when they inevitably find our potatoes.  At that point, we’ll be running out to the field and squishing or shaking them off into buckets.  Cross your fingers for a light year!

Pollinator Week
Celebrate pollinator week with us! This annual celebration was initiated by Pollinator Partnership as a way to help protect, educate and implement ways we can support the health of pollinators and ecosystems in our communities.
 
Our crewmember, Blayne, has written a blog highlighting hidden gems that support pollinator habitats in St. Thomas. Through exploring these incredible places you can discover both about the world of pollinators, and how our community works to protect and expand habitats! Pollinators are responsible for one of every three bites of food we consume, so though they are small, they have a big impact on our lives. Pollinators are vital to our food supply and need our help and respect.
 
Enjoy! Feel free to share the link with friends and family and let us know your thoughts!
Discover Pollinator Pockets here!
 
TICKETS AND INFO HERE!
 
Planting sweet peppers
 

FARM STORE NOTES
 
FROM OUR FARM:
 
Kohlrabi bunches are on!  At the farm, we love eating kohlrabi raw as crudite, where it frequents the table at our crew lunches.  Just peel, cut and eat as is, though some people also like to add lemon juice and salt to it.  Lots of folks tell us they grew up eating kohlrabi cooked and mashed or used as a soup vegetables.  The flavour is somewhere between broccoli, cabbage and peas!
 
Garlic scapes are starting this week with limited quantities and looks like lots next week. 
 
Beet bunches (roots and leaves) are back again, this time, from the field!  The leaves cook up like spinach or chard, though at market we've heard some like to add them to smoothies too.
 
Field:​ Herbs, salad mix, beets, radish, arugula, garlic scapes, choi, broccoli, kohlrabi, head lettuces, kale, and chard.
Greenhouse and hoophouses: Cucumbers, basil, green onions, tomatoes, eggplant
FROM OUR SUPPLIERS:
 
PRODUCE
NEW! Field of Greens (Dutton): Strawberries!  We are very excited to bring in strawberries from Kimber and Calvin, who share our love for fresh, local, and sustainable food.
Mazak Farms (St. Thomas): Asparagus
HOPE Eco-Farms (Aylmer): Broccoli, parsley, kohlrabi bunches, and sweet potatoes.
Forest City Microgreens (London): Fresh microgreens
Pfenning's Organics (New Hamburg): Onions
Through Pfenning's: Ontario snow peas, mushrooms and rhubarb.  From further away; lemons, limes, celery, mangoes, ginger, turmeric.
 
 
DAIRY and EGGS
Mistyglen Creamery (Belmont):   ​Non-homogenized and vat pasteurized milk, yogurt, and cheese curds. Seasonal special Strawberry Milk on this week.
HOPE Eco-Farms (Aylmer): Eggs.
Through Pfenning's: L'Ancetre butter and grass-fed cheese
Gunn's Hill (Woodstock): Brie, Handeck and Five Brother's cheeses
 
 FROZEN
3Gen Organics (Wallenstein): Ground pork, sausage, bacon, ham, tenderloin, chops
YU Ranch (Tillsonburg): Pasture-raised ground beef, beef patties, stewing beef
New Leaf Foods (London): Plant-based beet burgers
 
BAKERY
Seth/La Houlette de vie (St. Thomas):  Organic sourdough bread made using local grain that Seth mills himself. 
Artisan Bakery (London). Sourdoughs and pastry made with local flour.
J&D Peters Tortillas (Aylmer): Corn, spelt, whole wheat and unbleached flour tortillas.
 
PANTRY
Aldred Maple (West Lorne): Amber, dark, or whiskey barrel-aged maple syrup.
Wildflowers Honey (St. Thomas): Unpasteurized honey from hives all over Elgin County, including our farm!
Mat's Fine Oils (Staffordville). Fresh, organic and cold-pressed, organic hemp and sunflower oil. Store in the refrigerator.

Weekly pickup / delivery schedule:

Pickup Instore: Farm pickup is Thursday 4pm-8pm. ​Western Fair is Saturday 8-3 pm, Kitchener Market 7-2 pm.

Delivery: Thursday or  Friday in London / St.Thomas.  We will send out the schedule Wednesday.  
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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