Kretschmann Farm Aug. 5, 2008

257 Zeigler Rd., Rochester, PA 15074 (724)452-7189

don@kretschmannfarm.com www.kretschmannfarm.com

Greetings from the Kretschmanns,

It’s been a hot and dry week, though nearly every day we seem to have been teased into thinking the clouds would yield some moisture. Hopefully, today the promise of rain will yield to the reality.

While visiting our daughter, Maria, in Philadelphia, we ate at one of the new wave of restaurants in the historic district. It was great to see the local foods featured on the menu—sounded a lot like what we’ve been all been picking and eating here, even—“Beet salad with fresh greens and fennel-orange dressing.” And to see so many young people having adopted a much more pedestrian urban lifestyle was both gratifying and shocking. It’s all part of the same picture. There’s a lot to enjoy with the old-fashioned notion that it’s the little things, close to home which bring the greatest pleasure. One connects as one walks from home to work or play with one’s companions, but also with one’s neighbors. One derives an appreciation and gratefulness from knowing a bit more intimately the circumstances of one’s existence and especially from where and how one’s food gets to the table. Life is good…

…mostly… We’ve been inundated with Japanese beetles. At this time of the year, we normally have oodles of basil. We have watched as now the second field planting of basil is riddled with damage from these bugs. We have traps filling with beetles so numerous, we need to empty them twice a day! We get shopping bags full of beetles. Luckily we’ve had a great basil planting in the greenhouse, but it’s about to run out, so we’re hoping the later two field plantings escape the wrath. We’ll keep you posted.

Tomatoes! Peppers! August is here. We only wish the raccoons would cease and desist from their nightly practice of creating water fountains in the irrigation lines.

On the front lines, biting and scratching for your food, we are

---- Don, Becky, & The Kretschmann Crew

P.S. Please slow down in driveways while picking up your veggies. Children and pets can be at play.

Old Fashioned Cucumber Onion Salad: Mix 1 c. water, 1 c. sugar, 1 c. vinegar until sugar dissolves. Add 3 large thinly sliced cucumbers, 1 large sweet onion thinly sliced, salt and papper to taste. Refrigerate about 3 hrs and serve. Save the juice and just add more cucs and onions. Thanks Carol.

Fresh Salsa: 4 tomatoes, 1 bunch cilantro, about 1 green onion (or 1 medium sized dry onion or a small bunch of chives)--chop all these very finely. Add salt, 4T lemon or lime juice, dash of garlic powder and if you like, about 1 tsp. of finely chopped hot pepper—go easy because they are hotter fresh. Mix and enjoy with chips or other Mexican fare. You can also add chopped cucumber, bell pepper, or corn.

Bean Curd with Carrots: Saute 1/2 lb. diced firm tofu in 2 tbs. olive oil until crisp and golden on all sides. Add 1 tsp. grated fresh ginger, a generous 1 1/2 c. grated carrots, 1 tbs soy sauce and 1/2 tsp sugar and continue to saute for about 2 more minutes.

Lubia: Saute garlic and onions in vegetable oil. Add fresh green beans and sliced zucchini. Simmer until vegetables are slightly tender adding a few diced ripe tomatoes toward the end. (about 15 min.) Serve with rice, falafil, hummus etc. Adding a little fresh chopped basil or cilantro adds an interesting touch.

Bavarian Potato Salad: Boil 2 lbs new potatoes until just tender. Saute 4 chopped green onions and 1 clove crushed garlic in 3tbs olive oil for 2-3 minutes, until soft. Add 2tbs fresh dill or 1 tbs dried-cook another minute. Add 2 tbs wine vinegar, 1/2 tsp sugar, salt&pepper. Drain and dice potatoes. Pour dressing over hot potatoes. Allow to cool and sprinkle w/ 2 tbs chopped fresh parsley. Prepare this salad a few hours in advance to allow potatoes to absorb flavors

Note: Subscribers often ask about recycling bags and containers. We don’t reuse plastic bags or rubber bands. Please return blueberry containers because we can use them later for cherry tomatoes. The strawberry containers we save and recycle back to the berry grower. Cardboard boxes are usually reusable if in good shape.

Special Orders: Organic Blueberries—12 pt. flat $45