FIRST WEEK OF THE AUTUMN SHARE We continue to enjoy the summer bounty of tomatoes, capsicums, eggplant, cucumbers and sweet corn. And our long awaited first crop of Autumn broccoli is here!! It missed being in the photo...but it will be in the box! The sweet corn is best eaten on the day it was harvested...and yes those might be corn borers in the tops. They like this organic corn as much as we do! Just cut off the top of the cob - there should still be plenty left for you to enjoy. More news about what is happening on the farm below.

NOTES ON STORING THE HARVEST Please check out our Vegetable & Fruit page on the website to find tips on maximizing the life of your veggies. We envisage that many of the vegetables you are receiving this week will last for two weeks with careful attention to storing upon arrival. Although we do wash all the greens after harvest, we are washing to take the heat out of the plants and wash away some surface dirt, not to prepare them for consumption. We also spray a seaweed/herb brew about every ten days. While this will not harm you, it does have a taste. We do suggest washing your produce prior to eating.

WHAT’S IN THE BOX The following are the items harvested this week. Items and quantities in your box may vary depending on your harvest day and the total harvest of each crop. The boxes are completely governed by what is ripe and ready for harvest and how much of it there is. We endeavor to divide the harvest fairly. 1/4 share: 5-7 items 1/2 share: 8-10 items Full Share: 10-12 items

Broccoli Carrots Capsicum Chillies Coriander Sweet Corn Cucumbers Garlic Red Onions Potatoes Pumpkin Silver beet Spinach Tomatoes

Extras Cherry Tomatoes Eggplant Lettuce Pimiento de Padrons

RECIPE SUGGESTIONS Tomato Salsa - 5 minutes Thai Curry Paste and Thai Baked Tofu - 15 minute prep/45 minute cooking time Chicken and Cashew Stir-fry with Broccoli, Capsicum and Carrots - 30 minute meal Pumpkin and Spinach Curry - This recipe is an internet find. I love the homemade curry powder! - 30 minute prep and cooking

FARM NEWS

Finally...the broccoli we have been eying off for weeks is starting to be ready for harvest. This is a delicious variety with sometimes huge heads that do take longer to mature...something to note for next year. Might be better to save 'Marathon' for the second Autumn planting!

The What's in the Box picture - We randomly grab a full share box each week to photograph for the What's in the box photo. This makes the photo as authentic as we can be about what really is in the box. There are items which rotate through boxes like eggplant and pimiento de padrons and these will appear in the photos occasionally. This weeks photo is missing broccoli...we keep the broccoli on ice until the boxes are loaded in the van. This insures your broccoli arrives crisp. And we just forgot it when the photo was laid out. We have put all of these photos in an album on facebook. They offer a great visual on the diversity in the boxes from week to week.

There is sweet corn this week and still two more plantings in the field. There may be corn borers on the tops of some ears. This is organic corn and they like it as much as we do. Just cut the top of the corn off - there is still plenty for us to enjoy. We harvest the corn on the delivery day as it is so delicious the day it is picked. Try to eat it tonight!

We have a third zucchini planting which may start to flower. The second planting succumbed early to powdery mildew. This one is looking very good so we are hoping that the heat this week will make a difference. And...what is with the heat this week!!

There are many new crops to come in the Autumn share - Parsnips, leeks, sweet potatoes, turnips, different pumpkin varieties, Romanesco broccoli and then some of the cool weather crops returning - broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, snow peas and sugar snaps. Our summer plantings of silver beet, beet root and carrots will hold in the cold. We will continue to harvest the summer crops of beans, cucumbers, capsicums, chilies, eggplant, tomatoes and zucchini until they succumb to disease or get touched by the cold. And as always, we have a variety of greens to rotate.

We have two new interns starting this week and they will work and learn with us through the Autumn share. We are really enjoying the process of mentoring interns and sincerely hope they leave the farm with an understanding of sustainable growing and all the tools they need to grow food.

I apologise for the lack of newsletters. Our farming has been very demanding this season and we have tried to make time off to spend with our family. The newsletters have a lowered priority - but we do appreciate how the photos help keep you connected to your food and the process of growing it.

We will try and have another farm tour this season but it will not be in the next few weeks. I, Robin, had a knee operation five weeks ago and am still not back in the field. We will let you know. In the meantime, all members are welcome to pick a posie during farm pick up times and take a walk around to see your food growing! There are many cut flowers still blooming as well as edible flowers.

FARM PICK UP SCHEDULE To accommodate those picking up their Mountain View Farm milk, Farm Pick Up times are Friday afternoon from 2pm-5pm and Saturday mornings from 8am-11am. Please contact us if you need to arrange to pick your vegetables up outside of these times.

Please note – Photo is of a full share box.

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