The bad news is that it sucks “living outdoors in the fresh air” when the fresh air is like it was on Wednesday:

The good news is that it’s not that bad. Well … ok it kind was. for a few days I felt much like that one guy in Robocop right before he got exploded by the car …. turns out that air quality thing is no joke, damn.

Also on the Bad Newscast is that we have accrued only 0.02″ of “rain” this week, going into a week of humid ninety degree broiler.

But now I am not only feeling better, but I have that whole “OMG I feel so awesome now in contrast to how I was just feeling” thing going for me.

And the field … it really looks pretty damn good …. because the drip irrigation is being run for hours each day, which does a good job where we have crops but shares almost none at all with the lurking weed seeds that are a major ingredient in our soil mix.

And! Baby chicken season! I don’t care how depressive you feel or how much existential dread is gathered upon your brow, baby chicks are a ray of sunshine. (and the nice happy kind not the burn you to a crisp and give your WWOOFer heatstroke kind) – they just inspire such optimism. Gargoyle again hid a nest up by our house, and hatched out 13 babies again!

Inside the Box

• Salad Mix (arugula, lettuce, Tat soi, bekana, pea tips, a few leaves of lambs quarters)
• Green Onions
• Green Garlic
• Garlic Scapes
• Sunflower Shoots
• Radishes
• Turnips
• Bok Choi

Now that we have kids I am going to accept cyborg augmentation for these newsletters; the robot says, “Here are some recipe ideas that feature two or more of the items from your CSA box:

1. Stir-Fried Bok Choy with Green Garlic and Green Onions: Sauté sliced green garlic and green onions in a pan, then add chopped bok choy. Stir-fry until the bok choy is tender-crisp. Season with soy sauce or your preferred stir-fry sauce.

2. Roasted Turnips and Radishes: Toss sliced turnips and radishes in olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and roast in the oven until tender and slightly caramelized. Serve as a side dish or add them to a salad.

3. Radish and Turnip Slaw: Thinly slice radishes, turnips, and green onions. Toss them together with a simple dressing made from lemon juice, olive oil, honey, and salt. Add some chopped radish greens for extra freshness.

4. Bok Choy and Turnip Stir-Fry: Heat oil in a wok or large skillet, then add sliced turnips and stir-fry until slightly tender. Add bok choy and cook until wilted. Season with a mixture of soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and a touch of honey.

5. Radish and Greens Pesto: Blend radishes (including the greens), sunflower micro greens, green garlic, and a handful of nuts (such as almonds or walnuts) with olive oil, lemon juice, and salt. Use this vibrant pesto as a spread or sauce for pasta.

6. Turnip, Radish, and Green Onion Salad: Thinly slice turnips, radishes, and green onions. Toss them together with a dressing made from olive oil, vinegar (such as apple cider or rice vinegar), Dijon mustard, and a pinch of sugar. Add some torn radish greens for extra flavor.

Remember, these are just a few ideas to get you started. Feel free to get creative and modify the recipes based on your taste preferences and the ingredients you have available. Enjoy exploring the flavors of your CSA box!”

Good job, robot? Not sure about the microgreens in the pesto idea though? Maybe.