AT
THE
FARM

Copyright © 2000-2011
Donna Frantz
 At the Farm
Waconia
Minnesota

At the Farm Newsletter

Sent August 26, 2009

My passion lies within my farming,
My pleasures lies within the plants!
Whenever I think of connecting
To all who come ready to dance!
(Sing to tune of My Bonnie Lies over the Ocean)                                                   

Hello,

I'm Picking Organic . . .
Tomatoes
Heirloom Tomatoes
Slicing Cucumbers
Green Beans
Kohlrabi
Yellow Onions Red Onions
Cippolini Onions
Green Onions
Shallots
Red Potatoes
Yellow Potatoes
Russet Potatoes
Carrots
Beets
Zucchini
Patty Pan Summer Squash

Donna leads ladies from Trinity Lutheran on a tour of the gardens At the Farm before hosting their dinner meeting in her "park out back" on August 17, 2009.

Sweet Peppers - Green, Ivory, Red, Carmen, Yellow Banana, Jimmy Nordello, Krimzon Lee, Red Lipstick
Hot Peppers - Jalepeno, Hot Spot, Georgia Flame, Pardon, Pablano
Egg Plant - Hansel, Ichiban, Dancer, Night Shadow
Parsley - Basil - Cilantro

Pickling Cucumbers - Call Ahead to Order Pickling Cukes! 952-442-4816

To Fill Your Willow Basket . . .
Sweet Corn - Home Grown
Muskmelon - Home Grown
Peaches - Michigan
Romaine Lettuce - Michigan
Leaf Lettuce - Michigan
Plums (red or black) - California
Grapes (green or red) - California
Champagne Grapes - California
Blueberries - Michigan
Watermelon (green striped) - Indiana
Garlic - Gilroy California

When you care enough to Eat the Very Best, ask Donna!

Also available - Beautiful Fresh Garden Flowers in Hand-Tied Bouquets
2009 Honey from At the Farm - Local Maple Syrup from just across Lake Waconia

Thanks for shopping At the Farm!

Enjoy Summer!
Donna

August - Even More Gardening Tips!

Let not your heart be troubled, next year will be better!

So, you're harvesting your tomatoes and can't wait for the rich tomato flavor, right? Well, it may not be there! In all the fifty plus years I've planted, I can't remember a season like this one.

Tomatoes need heat to ripen and produce good flavor. We just do not have enough heat this year. We need 70 to 75 degree nights and its been 58 degrees. So the tomato flavor does not pop!

I have talked to alot of growers and all are saying the same, no home grown pop! And the skin may be tough. The problem is not with the variety you planted. Its the nature of the beast this growing season.

The beauty of the tomatoes is great, no cracks, cat faces, scars, etc. Even my heirlooms are almost perfect in appearance. (See photo below) But they too lack the pop this year!

I don't know how the flavor will be in your canned salsa, whole tomatoes, sauces this year. Its important to learn the impact of growing temperatures and how the flavor is effected by the lack of heat this summer. Did someone say Global Warming? Not this summer!

When you care enough to Grow the Very Best, ask Donna!