July Farm Update

Pulling down our dilapidated old chook run has been a mammoth task. We have now dismantled the old structure, keeping salvageable material and recycling the rest. Carrying the materials out by hand because the tracks are waterlogged and inaccessible by tractor means there is NO need for a gym membership for those working at the farm!

This week, Senior Farm Hand Su Meh dug up some tumeric root and we’ll be harvesting more for inclusion in veg boxes this week. Until now, my only exposure to tumeric had been the dried and powdered form. I’m told grated turmeric is fantastic with eggs, so I look forward to trying some of mine with scrambled eggs this week.

Six new piglets have recently arrived at the farm. They are in pig paradise; entertaining everyone and having fun snuffling around in the mud and straw, plus loving all the veg scraps we feed them.

We were unable to prepare or plant veg beds during the recent period of heavy rain. However, we used this time to concentrate on Lantana removal on the eastern side of the farm. Our Market Garden Coordinator Rod also took GREAT joy in pulling up lots of Paddy’s Lucerne whilst the ground was so soft and wet. This weed has such a deep tap root it is usually impossible to pull out.

Everyone is still stuck in their gumboots… and the farm irrigation system has been redundant since before I started working here (nearly eight months ago). Here’s hoping for some drier days ahead!

Emily Henderson
Fair Food and Farm Manager

In your box this week:

Note: We sometimes need to make changes to what we pack in your veg box based on the quantity or quality of produce that we can harvest and source. If you have any questions about what is in your box, don’t hesitate to contact us at [email protected].

Feature Veg: Turmeric

Turmeric is a fragrant, warm, and bitter spice that comes from the rhizome of the turmeric plant. Best known as the dry yellow spice in curry powder, it is popular in Indian and Asian cooking. Turmeric is delicious when combined with other warm spices like ginger, cardamom, and cinnamon. Add grated turmeric root to stews, soups, scrambled eggs, vinaigrette dressings, or rice before cooking. Or simmer it with ginger in water or milk for several minutes to make tea. Store your turmeric root in the fridge to keep it fresher longer.