Stillness Overcomes Heat

Hey There !

Dave from McElhoes Family Farm/Belmont here.

The elderberries are ripening, and I have been try to get a share before the birds clean them out. We had voles last winter that really damaged some of the bearing plants, though the cuttings we planted seem to be taking well.

We never seem to have enough elderberries. My mom hated them, though she would make jelly from them for us. I don't know if there was a connection, but we were rarely sick growing up, and now elderberries are touted as an immune system panacea. I dunno, but they sure taste good. They can be used to make tea, either fresh or dried - though dried work better for me, just be sure to boil them since raw berries can bother some folks' stomachs. They can also be cooked down and the juice strained out, then either make it into jelly, or let it cool down and mix with local raw honey and keep in the 'fridge for a cough and cold syrup. We do this most years, and it really does seem to help. Doesn't hurt anyway.

By far my personal favorite though, is to make elderberry wine. While fruit wines are usually thought of as sweet, I prefer to make ours dry or just off dry. The slight bitterness reminds you of a decent pinot or something, and matches well with red meats, but the berry, fruitiness, and lighter body matches well with lamb, pork or chicken. In fact, it has become kind of our go to wine for almost any special supper. I suppose that could just be the Hillbilly Philosopher in me showing through...

The bumper crop of summer squash, patty pans and zukes continues. I'm happy to report that I have served it in some form at almost every meal! Kelly and Kate are starting to be less enthusiastic, but I continue to be thrilled. One of my favorite parts of summer.

Still have lot of various sizes, shapes and colors of squash in the Farm Stand. Lots of garlic (5 types!), snack tomatoes, green beans (both stringbeans and stringless), eggs, snack peppers, and whatever else comes ready! I haven't added these to the website, but if I am delivering your order, I can bring some along.

I did finally update the inventory on the our website so you'll be able to order directly from there again. After you order, I'll email you, and we can arrange to either meet, or if I can, I'll deliver it to you.

Well, gotta run. I'll try to get back to regular newsletter stuff after the summer rush.

Thanks for listening,

Dave

(*Lao Tsu)