Our first soft shell crabs from the Chesapeake Bay came in two days ago. We never know how long the season will last, but we do know we’ll have them on the menu this weekend.

Also…
Martin Bournhonesque, our source for impeccable arugula among other leafy greens, recently sent us a movie he made last September. It features his prized, antique, Planet Junior push seeder; a device that was developed in the 19th century and perfected in the 1930s. He thinks his model is 50-80 years old, and he also believes, “the older they are, the better they work.”

Martin’s farm is in Salinas (# 13 on our Farmers map) and he’s pretty sure it was spinach he was planting last September with his trusty Planet Junior.

This weekend: sautéed soft shell crab with Martin’s spinach in brown butter and capers. While they last.

And just off the wire: minutes ago, our mushroom hunter Anthony showed up with a boat-load of morels foraged from the Burney area, above the Pit River. They’ll be on the menu this weekend as well. And everyone knows nothing says “I love you, Mom” quite like morels. And soft shell crabs. And spinach.