Howdy folks, we did it! Summer has officially arrived at Tumbleweed Farm! This week’s boxes are packed with fresh sweet corn, sweet ripe melons, and ALL the tomatoes and peppers. It feels like we’ve finally made it to the good stuff!

I know some of you have been wondering when more of those classic summer crops would start showing up in your shares, so I wanted to give a little behind-the-scenes explanation. We farm up here at elevation in Mount Hood Parkdale, which means we’re usually a few weeks behind our friends growing down in the valley. But here we are—and we’re just getting started! So buckle up, because there’s plenty more summer goodness coming your way in the weeks ahead.

The melon harvest was a bit of an adventure this week. We needed to come up with exactly 150 melons to make sure every box got one, and as it turns out, the damn gophers love melons just as much as we do. A good chunk of our planting was completely demolished by those little jerks. 😂 But somehow, we pulled it off! We have enough melons for everyone this week, and our family is happily eating all the half-eaten gopher melons. 😉 Farm life, folks.

The recipes this week are also not to be missed! The Mexican Street Corn Beef Bowls are a family favorite around here—and they’re healthy to boot. I added my own twist to the classic street corn topping by lightening it up without sacrificing any of that creamy, delicious flavor. And these Greek Chicken Meatball Dinner Bowls are so stinking fresh and flavorful, they’re basically summer in a bowl. Give them a try!

Happy cooking and eating, everyone! We hope you enjoy the summer haul.
Your farmers,
Andrea, Taylor, Pepper, Maize & our awesome crew

Harvest 14

Rainbow Chard—this dark leafy green is high in antioxidants and important vitamins and minerals including vitamin C, K and A and a healthy dose of magnesium (which many people are deficient in).
Salad Mix—These leafy greens are a rich source of vitamins A, K and folate. Also a good anti- inflammatory leafy green.
Parsley—This herb is an all-purpose pathogen-fighter; it keeps bacteria, parasites, and fungus at bay. It helps alkalize all systems in the body and includes important vitamins and minerals such as vitamins B, A, C, and K. It’s also a highly remineralizing food, especially for those low in trace minerals; parsley provides magnesium, sulfur, iron, zinc, manganese, molybdenum, chromium, selenium, iodine, and calcium.
Carrots—Rich in beta-carotene which your body converts into Vitamin A. This vitamin is important for vision, bone and immune function. Carrots are also high in antioxidants and important minerals for overall body health. Remove the greens on the carrots before storing them so they don’t go soft.
Radishes—a rich source of magnesium, potassium and vitamin C. They have been studied and results confirm that they likely alter the way cancer cells reproduce so they may reduce cancer risk. They are full of fiber and for their tiny size contain a lot of health benefits. Remove the greens from these to help keep the roots crisp for storing.
Corn—Fresh sweet corn is chock full of a variety of vitamins, minerals and fiber (both soluble and insoluble fiber)
Full Size Tomatoes—Tomatoes are the major dietary source of the antioxidant lycopene, which has been linked to many health benefits, including reduced risk of heart disease and cancer.
Cherry Tomatoes— See above
Cucumber— If you are feeling dehydrated eat a cucumber! Cucumbers are hydrating and contain more than 50 trace minerals. They contain chlorophyll in their skins that’s bonded to B vitamins and vitamins A and C. And cucumbers support digestion and hydration.
Bell Peppers—Bell peppers are very high in vitamin C, with a single one providing up to 169% of the recommended daily value. Other vitamins and minerals in bell peppers include vitamin K1, vitamin E, vitamin A, folate, and potassium.
Jalapeño Peppers—jalapeños are rich in vitamins A and C and potassium. They also have carotene -- an antioxidant that helps protect your cells from disease– as well as folate, vitamin K, and B vitamins.
Cantaloupe—Cantaloupe is an amazing fruit that has over 19 vitamins and minerals that help to boost the immune system, detoxify the organs, and deeply hydrate and alkalinize the body.