"Fava's bursting in air..."

Happy 4th of July weekend everyone! 
And as I say every year about this time of year..."What the heck happened to June?  How did it get to be July?  Did I miss June?" 
(Actually, on REALLY crazy years I get to about July 25th and realize that no, it's JULY 25th not JUNE 5th.  So if I've just missed June, not June and most of July too, I'm doing pretty good considering).
Yes that's right, its that time of year where there are not enough hours in the day and night to get everything done that needs to be.  So what's a farmer to do?  Just keep going...
Why is it so busy?  Well, we start reaping the rewards of our hardwork in the spring with OODLES of things to harvest.  Meanwhile, there are still lots of things planted that need our tender loving care as far as watering, fertilizing and beating back the ever-encroaching weeds.  Not to mention we are busy replanting things for fall and winter harvest.  And, to top all that off, we harvest 30,000+ heads of garlic which must be pulled from the ground, cleaned, hung to cure, cut down from their stalks, sorted and cured. 
Yes, that's right, have I mentioned there aren't enough hours in the day and night to get it all done?  And so it goes...
But this is the saga of a farmer.  And as the saying goes, you gotta make hay when the sun shines if you want to reap the rewards of the harvest!  (Or at least, that's how my saying goes).
And we definitely reaped the rewards of the harvest this week.  We are picking more and more food every week for the Coupeville and Bayview farmer's markets.  The bounty is, well, rather astonishing and our walk-in cooler is bursting at the seams Friday night with crates and crates full of produce.  So here goes...
Coming to the Bayview and Coupeville Farmer's markets FRESH from the fields of Ebey's Prairie....
From Willowood Farm:
* Bulb Fennel
* Walla Walla Salad Onions
* New Potatoes
* Head Lettuce - Multiple different kinds!
* Mesclun (aka spring mix) bags
* Arugula bags
* Pea Vine bags
* Fava Leaf Bags (Bayview only)
* Broccoli (Coupeville only)
* Romanesco Cauliflower (Bayview only)
* Japanese Turnip bunches
* Baby Pac Choi
* Rhubarb
* Kohlrabi
* Braising Greens bunches
* Garlic Scapes
* Dry Beans
From Prairie Bottom Farm:
* Carrot bunches
* Beet bunches
* Lettuce Mix
* Red Spinach
* Kale Bunches
* Chard bunches
* Cabbage
* Scallions
* Head Lettuce
And...Emmer from Ebey Road Farm and, Bayview only, Mikey from Whidbey Green Goods is bringing broccoli, snow peas and kale bunches.
To take advantage of this great harvest today...here is a fabulous recipe using much of what we have!
Hope to see you at market and a safe and happy 4th of July or everyone!
Farmer Georgie
Willowood Farm

Market Ragout of Turnips, Kohlrabi, and Peas

 1 tablespoon unsalted butter/ olive oil

6 spring onions or shallots, halved

6 or more small turnips, scrubbed and quartered

2 or 3 small kohlrabi, about golf ball size, peeled and quartered

1 thyme or lemon thyme sprig

Sea salt and freshly ground pepper

1 pound snow peas

A few handfuls baby spinach

Dollop crème fraiche

4 large basil leaves, slivered

Heat the butter/ oil in a skillet and add the onions, turnips, kohlrabi, and thyme.  Add water to cover halfway and a teaspoon of salt.  Simmer while you trim the ends of peas.

 As soon as the vegetables are tender, after 12 to 15 minutes, add the peas and spinach and cook until the spinach has wilted down, a few minutes more.  Stir in the crème fraiche and add the basil.  Taste for salt and season with pepper.  Serve this as a side dish or a course by itself.  With a starch (puff pastry, ravioli, even buttered toast) it can be offered as a vegetarian main dish.