• Farm News - Summer is here! 
• Pac choi recipe 
• Looking for homes for our winter storage shares
• Fox Creek Farm CSA and hunger relief
• U-pick, and this week's share 

Farm News

The weather this early growing season started to drive us to the edge. It's very unusual not to irrigate at all to the end of June. The almost daily rains made it hard to get the crops in on time (but wonder above wonder, we managed to stay on top of our planting schedule - thanks to our outstanding farm crew).

But by last Friday, right at the solstice, summer weather arrived. It's been dry for a record three days in a row (forgetting about a little drizzle on Friday). The sun is shining. Photosynthesis, photosynthesis! Grow plants, grow!

A little sunshine is also better for your farmers and crew. Drier fields allow for cultivation, plowing, and planting. And it makes it a lot easier to plan the day's work. 

Welcome summer!

By the way, we still have CSA shares for sale at all of our sites. Tell a friend - and please have them contact the farm to discuss pricing.

Enjoy this week's share,

your farmers,

Raymond and Sara

Recipe: Garlic Pac Choy stir fry
A simple and very fast recipe - makes a good side dish with Nasi Goreng, for example (which is an Indonesian fried rice dish that uses lots of left-overs).

Ingredients:

• Vegetable oil, 1 Tsp
• Garlic, 1 - 2 cloves
• Onion, small
• Pac Choy, 1 head
• Sesame oil
• Crushed red pepper (optional)

Directions: Cut and wash the Pac Choy. Heat a large skillet and add the vegetable oil. Swirl to coat the entire pan. As soon as the oil is hot, add the onion and garlic and saute for 1-2 minutes.
Add the Pac Choy, soy sauce, and sesame oil. Toss until the Pac Choy is done (personal judgement - cook shorter for a more crispy dish, or a little longer for a softer dish).
Sprinkle with crushed red pepper if desired, and drizzle with additional sesame oil to taste.

P.S. doing a little literature research in our farm cookbook library, we found that most Pac Choi recipes are a variation on the stir-fry theme. Sweet and sour Pac Choy comes to mind, and other dishes. Please don't forget if looking for recipes, that the names Pac Choy and Bok Choy are used almost as synonyms.

Fox Creek Farm CSA and Hunger Relief

As you know from the last newsletter, missed shares get donated to food pantries and shelters. We're working with the Squash Hunger volunteers from Capital Roots to make the donation process reliable and easy. Basically, all produce left at the sites by closing time gets collected by the volunteers and they deliver it to pantries or shelters in the area.

But Fox Creek Farm CSA also works with the food pantry of Schenectady Inner City Ministry (SiCM). We grow modified CSA shares specifically for the pantry - making the same, high quality produce that's in everyone's share available for their pantry clients.

We've been working with the SiCM food pantry for the last 3 years. It's a great way for the farm to make a small impact on the availability of fresh produce at food pantries. And a good way for the farm to develop a small, but substantial alternative market for our produce. Classic example of a win-win situation!