Rising River Farm CSA Newsletter
Box 13 ***September 13th, 2006
13208 201st AVE SW -Rochester, WA 98579
(360) 273-5368
www.risingriverfarm.com risingriverfarm@yahoo.com

Hello,
It is 12:30 in the morning and I am in the midst of canning tomatoes. I got 28 quarts done so far and have 7 more to go. I may just get to bed before 2:00! You too can enjoy this canning bliss for we seem to have an abundance of tomatoes and green beans. You should see ample amounts in your box today, but if you desire more do call us. We are selling the funny looking (but good condition) tomatoes for $1.50/lb if you get over 10 lbs. The nice looking ones go for $2.00/lb. You can get some at market this Thursday or Friday. Be sure to call us so we can set them aside for you. There may or may not be tons on the weekend as well. Fall is not tomatoes’ best friend in the Pacific Northwest. If the blight doesn’t get them, frost will. It sounds like rain is on the horizon, so don’t delay. Canning tomatoes alone does not require a pressure canner. A hot water bath or steam canner is fine as long as you add the proper amount of lemon juice to acidify the tomatoes. After I blend and cook down my toms, I add 1 tsp salt and 2 tsp. lemon juice to each jar before I add the tomatoes. Leave a ½ inch head space and process for 15 minutes at a rolling boil or solid steam (depending on canner). I have used this method for years, but it is always good to cross check with other recipes and/or call the county extension’s canning hotline if you are unsure. Again, if you add any other veggies, herbs, or garlic research whether or not a pressure canner is required. I only do plain tomatoes.
We have also started picking the new patch of green beans and boy are they prolific! Now would be a GREAT time to can or freeze beans. Again, call us and we can bring some to market this Thursday, Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. (Ideally Thursday and Friday!) These windows of abundance are fleeting and unpredictable.
There may be only one more week left for pickling cukes as well. (One can never really tell!) Call if interested.

Last week I mentioned the Port of Olympia’s intent to build a multi-level parking garage in the current parking lot of the farmer’s market in Olympia. Well, enough people mobilized and bombarded the port and the county commissioners with phone calls, that the port has dropped it’s plans to build the garage in that location and apologized for the way it went about planning and proposing the idea. It is very empowering to see such clear and immediate results of public comment and complaint. We should feel good about this little victory and continue to make our voices heard in other areas of government on both a local and national level about whatever issues that concern us.

Politics aside….The watermelon harvest has just begun. We grow a very delicious yellow-fleshed watermelon called “Yellow Doll”. There is not enough for all this week, so keep an eye out for one within the next two weeks. We will have to rotate them around.

Enjoy all of the summer goodies in your box. The weather sure is changing and many crops are looking tired and expired. Luckily, some fall/winter crops are stepping up to fill their shoes. Ahhhh, seasonal eating!

Jennifer