Dear spring share folk,

            Another busy week of planting, planting and more planting we are so thankful for timely rains!  It's such a blessing we pinch ourselves to make sure we're not dreaming.  Even a night of frost slides off our collective backs as we are able to move plants into the fields with plenty of water to help them grow.  For the past many years, we've had to scramble irrigation into place to water in our spring plantings and then, with cold nights, take the irrigation back down(to protect the lines from freezing).  Yes, we've had to pull drip lines into some of the gardens, but many of the gardens have yet to be watered(except by rain).  This week saw the onions and leeks planted, another round of head lettuce, a huge planting of cut flowers, perennial flowers, more seeds and harvesting a lovely batch of asparagus.  Finally, we feel like the asparagus patch, planted 5 years ago, is coming into maturity.  We did lose some of it though, to a cold and frosty night on weds. eve.  Today's box is full of spring bounty: the last of the overwintered carrots,red onions, green garlic(use the white part in place of a clove of garlic, the thinnings of immature garlic),asparagus,rhubarb,3 heads of lettuce, a mixed large bag of Chinese cabbage fixins including loose leaves of senposai(which is actually japanese collards),a head of red pac choi,and a head of either vitamin green or komatsuna.  Also a small bag of lemon balm for making a delicious tea or a lemon balm butter for topping your asparagus.  What's the deal with all of this Chinese cabbage?  It loves the hoophouse, it's good for you, and it makes an awesome stir-fry.   We encourage you to expand your culinary horizons and give it a try.  Pac choi, bok choy, bak choy, are all the same  veggie. A great nutritional gift, with scads of calcium, vitamins A, B complex, C and minerals, bok choy is like two veggies in one.  First, the succulent and juicy white stem is like celery. The stems take a little longer to cook, so separate the stem from the leaf.

            Check out this information from Chris and Heather Bardenhagen.  We are hoping to offer you the choice this year, between their certified organic chix and we will still connect with the Amish community.  The bardenhagens have set dates for coming to the farm and the amish are hoping to set up at F&M park on delivery days. The choice is yours, but letting either farm know your orders will surely help them in their planning. Don't forget to order your Higher Grounds Coffee!  Email jody and jody@highergroundstrading.com  Have a great 2 weeks.  Next boxes will be Friday, may 30^th, the last spring share.  Summer share dates are yet to be determined....we'll let you know.  Love, the meadowlarks