Boxes today are full of new and lovely summer treats.  Don't forget to take a watermelon(or half of one).  Yours may be yellow, orange or pink inside and delicious!  They are ripe and ready to eat.  Enjoy... also a little bit of sugar buns as a small and special offering(that's sweet corn).  The tomatoes are starting to ripen, even though the nights have been in the mid 40's the past two.  The sunshine during the day is warm though, and encourages the heirlooms to not be so shy and express their rainbow beauty.  We hope that you enjoy these boxes of summer's goodness:  salad mix, sweet onion, leeks, garlic, Yukon gold potatoes, carrots, green pepper, green kale, sugar buns sweet corn, zucchini, cucumbers, tomatoes, watermelon for all and rosemary. For premiums extra rainbow chard, sweet red pepper(long and skinny) and eggplant.  Fruit shares receive the first blackberries and yellow shiro plums plus some sweet purple plums.

          Here's a recipe to try:

                                                          STOPLIGHT SALAD

-2 cups chopped tomatoes(try using a combo of colors)                 -2 c. corn(try it grilled!) 

-1 medium green pepper, diced                                 -1/2 c. diced sweet onion

-1 medium sweet pepper, diced                                -1/4 c. fresh cilantro, parsley or basil

-2 c. cooked black beans   optional additions:  chopped fresh oregano, ground cumin and chili powder

Dressing:  3 TBL olive oil, 3 TBL fresh lime juice and 2 cloves freshly minced garlic

Combine veggies in a bowl and whisk dressing in separate bowl then marry the two.  Yum!  Easy and delicious and with fresh veggies, you will be in heaven.

          We are saddened by the loss of a longtime friend of the farm and shareholder, Susan Scott.  We will miss her unflagging support of our sometimes crazy schemes; she was an untiring supporter of our farm and family.  Her sweet, thoughtful and kind words in the winter time would often be the light of my day.  We will miss her quiet and thoughtful self.  Our love and sympathy goes out to her children and family.   We will be planting a weeping willow in our boggy garden in her memory. 

          Thanks for the return of the boxes and we are working on setting the date for the annual harvest party.  We promise to let you know soon, and if you are an every other week share, you can check out our website at csafarms.org, click on meadowlark and look at events.  Get your amish chicken order in for next Tuesday by calling the Keims at 231-824-9574.  Have a great week, love the meadowlarks