Lettuce Dreams at a Connecticut Farm, August Vol. I

Dear Mad Hatters,

Our NBC Connecticut local weatherman Bob Maxon reported last week that July 2010 was the hottest month on record in the state of Connecticut.  Ever.  Not just the hottest July ever, the hottest month out of all the months, by average, that Connecticut has ever seen since they've been keeping records.  And We know you've all felt it too.  As my son likes to say (or sing) "It's too darn hot!"

And it has been too darn hot for the lettuces and the greens.  Before they are even big enough to harvest, they bolt.  And if they do make it to the right size, they are rotting down at the base.  But that is why most farms, including us, plant in succession.  So as soon as one row of lettuce is done, another row is almost ready.  We have head lettuce and loose leaf lettuce planted and coming along, and hopefully with some cooler summer days ahead, we will once again have beautiful greens.

In the meantime, the heat loving veggies have been growing like crazy.  Tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini and green beans seem like they are ever producing.  Peppers, carrots and eggplants are a week away.  It even looks like some of the winter squash is ready - uh oh.

This week at the Ridgefield Farmers Market, Mad Hatter Farm will have:

Gourmet Lettuce Mix

Spicy Greens Mix

Green Beans

Black Cherry Tomatoes

Golden Nugget Tomatoes

Washington Cherry Tomatoes

Heirloom Tomatoes

Cucumbers

Zucchinis

Peppers

Free-Range Eggs from Ruwet Farm

More...?

Another nice Friday is on tap for tomorrow - hope to see you there!

Alix and Jeff