August 27, 2010 This week on the Farm….. 

   The season is starting to wind down.  Peaches, blueberries and cucumbers are nearly finished.-         Fresh cider production has begun with our new crop apples.  You will find this cider has a different flavour and texture.  The cider is very fresh tart and well a little bit puckery.-         The cool nights provide the right weather for rosy cheeks on our apples.-         The incredible heat units and sunshine are providing the right conditions to add brix or sugar to our apple crop.-         Apples are sizing well, the apples really size during the last two weeks of their maturity and they are looking great.  We have a big apple crop.-         The pickling cucumbers are basically finished.  We will have some cucumbers for eating until frost or it becomes too costly to harvest them.  -         Now is the time to can tomatoes.  Local always tastes better. Tomatoes can be canned in jars or frozen.  Local tomatoes are best for salsa, chili sauce and spaghetti sauce.-         .  Ever-bearing Strawberries have started; we should have strawberries until frost.  It is a great time to put some strawberries in the freezer so you can have local strawberries all winter.  You can also start jamming or freeze the strawberries now and make jam in the cooler weather.-         Preserving Corn- Yes it is easy and it tastes so much better. Just blanch your cobs for 2 minutes in boiling water, remove chill slightly so you can handle them.  Get out your angel food cake dish and electric knife.  Secure the cob in the hole in the cake pan.  Slice off the kernels with the knife, the kernels will fall into the cake pan.  Place kernels in freezer bags and enjoy fresh delicious corn all winter. Yum.-         Have you tried the New Limited Edition Saskatoon Cider?  Please give us your feedback.-         Enjoy our wonderful new apple cider vinegar made with empire apples.  The aroma and flavour are wonderful.  Use this in your favourite recipe or salad dressing.-         Enjoy the wonderful weather as we wind down to Labour Day.  Don’t forget we are open right up until December 24.