A Note From OUR Team:
Dare we say it… we think it’s finally summertime! What an interesting interplay we are having between the sun and the rain this year. The garden of course needs both to thrive, and while the abundance of water means we can dial down our irrigation and water consumption, there is also a noticeable thirst among many of our plants for more sun. Some parts of our garden are vibrantly lush, while other parts are desperately in need of more balance within this interplay, and our cherry trees in particular have suffered. Within these times of drastic climate change we are slowly learning how to adapt and dance with the flux and flow we are experiencing, and will continue to experience. OUR permaculture philosophy tries to consider every perceived constraint as an opportunity for creative design and new growth. Every year the garden team is on a learning journey of how to adapt and improvise as we face new ‘challenges’ while continuing to bring OUR harvest to your Educational CSA box.
One education piece that we would like to bring awareness around this week is making conscious decisions around the purchasing of pre-bagged tea. You may or may not be aware, but many of the premium tea bags that can be purchased at the store, particularly the pyramid shaped ones, are made with plastic-infused mesh. When hot water is added on top of the tea bag, small amounts of micro and nano plastics are leached into the tea and then drank by the consumer.
Here is an article if you would like to read more:
Microplastics: Premium teabags leak billions of particles
We are hoping to support this learning by providing you with the occasional potted plant that can be used for tea as well as the weekly healing herb write up. We encourage you to explore making some of your own loose-leaf tea blends as this can be a really fun way to craft your own medicine and imbue it with your loving touch (which some believe enhances its synergy with your body). Please do your research if you are crafting your own blends though and only use what you are SURE is safe to be ingested on a regular basis. Or you may simply choose to support locally crafted quality tea that is either loose-leaf or in compost-friendly tea bags. Stainless steel tea infusers are a good option as well as stainless steel tea straws.
One last note, we are once again putting it out there that we are trying to recycle as much as possible so we would be grateful to retrieve the black garden pots, shell containers, egg cartons, clean paper bags, jars, etc., from you if you are finished with them. If you have any extras that you want to get rid of we are happy to take them! Thank you so much for your continued support in this process.
~ With love and gratitude from OUR ECOVILLAGE
This Week’s Harvest
Veggie Box
- Lettuce
- Arugula
- Edible flowers of nasturtium, borage, broccolini
- Kale & swiss chard bunch
- Fennel bulb
- Crookneck squash
- Cilantro OR chives
- Lavender flower bouquet
- Lavender & rose tea cold infusion
- Eggs
- Potted Plant: Strawberry
- Healing Herb: Lavender
Lifestyle Box Additions
- Garlic scape pesto
- Freya’s Carrot Ginger Loaf
- Village raised ground pork
