Wednesday, May 25
CSA Spring Harvest Week Six
This is the final week for spring share harvest. We hope you've enjoyed all the fresh local and regional food. We thank you for your support. Although spring shares are wrapping up, many of you will continue on with a summer share. And we hope others will keep visiting us at our farm stand. Please note that there is a week break between the seasons: no distribution next week 6/2.
This has been a wet spring. And many area farms have struggled to get their crops in the ground and growing. Why haven't we? Mostly because we are not mechanized. Larger farms do their fieldwork with tractors, which will damage wet soils. Let the ground dry and the sun shine for a while.
Summer's almost here! And on that note....drumroll....
In this week's share:
1) TOMATOES!: no, not grown by us, but grown in Connecticut. March Farms in Bethlehem has an amazing greenhouse operation. We've been bringing in their early tomatoes for several years now. The taste, while not as breathtaking as later field/home grown tomatoes, is exceptional. They are not certified organic, but we find their practices to be sustainable. Share is one large and one small tomato - approx. 1-1/4 lbs
2) one bunch asparagus: certifed organic from Pedersen Farms. Gotta enjoy it during the short season. Here are some recipes.
3) one bag springalicious salad mix
4) one bag bourdeaux spinach: this beautiful spinach has lance-shaped leaves with burgundy stems. A lovely spring treat, very challenging to grow as heat hits.
5) one bag pea shoots: Want to eat seasonally? Peas = spring. We think the pea shoots are possibly better than peas. so fresh, so elegant looking, good raw of cooked.
6) one box arugula microgreens: another crop that doesn't perform wonderfully as the temperature heats up. These microgreens make a great stand-alone salad with a bit of olive oil and lemon. Or they can be added to your salad mix or sandwich!
See you tomorrow!
This has been a wet spring. And many area farms have struggled to get their crops in the ground and growing. Why haven't we? Mostly because we are not mechanized. Larger farms do their fieldwork with tractors, which will damage wet soils. Let the ground dry and the sun shine for a while.
Summer's almost here! And on that note....drumroll....
In this week's share:
1) TOMATOES!: no, not grown by us, but grown in Connecticut. March Farms in Bethlehem has an amazing greenhouse operation. We've been bringing in their early tomatoes for several years now. The taste, while not as breathtaking as later field/home grown tomatoes, is exceptional. They are not certified organic, but we find their practices to be sustainable. Share is one large and one small tomato - approx. 1-1/4 lbs
2) one bunch asparagus: certifed organic from Pedersen Farms. Gotta enjoy it during the short season. Here are some recipes.
3) one bag springalicious salad mix
4) one bag bourdeaux spinach: this beautiful spinach has lance-shaped leaves with burgundy stems. A lovely spring treat, very challenging to grow as heat hits.
5) one bag pea shoots: Want to eat seasonally? Peas = spring. We think the pea shoots are possibly better than peas. so fresh, so elegant looking, good raw of cooked.
6) one box arugula microgreens: another crop that doesn't perform wonderfully as the temperature heats up. These microgreens make a great stand-alone salad with a bit of olive oil and lemon. Or they can be added to your salad mix or sandwich!
See you tomorrow!
Wednesday, May 18
CSA Spring Harvest Week Five
The world is lush with green. I feel like I'm living in the rainforest. Bird babies and tadpoles and baby carrots in a sea of raindrops. Take a walk when you stop by to admire the lilacs or look for a snapping turtle.
In this week's share:
1) one head green romaine lettuce: a variety called Green Towers. Can't beat a good romaine lettuce.
2) CHOICE: one bag spinach OR one bag bok choy. The spinach is great - more Corvair. The bok choy is Prize Choy. Great and simple to stir fry. Recipes here.
3) one bag springalicious salad mix
4) three leeks: how about this soup?
5) one bag cilantro: cilantro pairs well with carrots. Just a thought. Or pesto?
6) one bag pea shoots
7) one bunch baby golden carrots
See you tomorrow!
In this week's share:
1) one head green romaine lettuce: a variety called Green Towers. Can't beat a good romaine lettuce.
2) CHOICE: one bag spinach OR one bag bok choy. The spinach is great - more Corvair. The bok choy is Prize Choy. Great and simple to stir fry. Recipes here.
3) one bag springalicious salad mix
4) three leeks: how about this soup?
5) one bag cilantro: cilantro pairs well with carrots. Just a thought. Or pesto?
6) one bag pea shoots
7) one bunch baby golden carrots
See you tomorrow!
Tuesday, May 17
CSA Spring Harvest Week Four
We're moving into late spring, thinking about frost free dates and tomato planting. May's full moon (this year on the 17th) often marks a cold snap; that's the date we have in mind as we evaluate the ten day forecast and consider when to begin planting warm-weather loving crops like cucumbers and squash and beans. Good thoughts on these beautiful days.
Spring is a lot about leafy greens - things that can withstand cool temperatures and produce a crop quickly. And a little about items that have held well in storage - like some apples.
This week's share is a good one:
1) one bag baby spinach: The variety is Corvair, a smooth-leaved variety with excellent taste.
2) one bunch purple haze pencil carrots with tops: Savor these babies. Possibly steamed whole with a little butter? For best, storage, remove tops promptly and keep in plastic bag.
3) one bottle Joe's Summer Blend juice: from Red Jacket Orchards. A very refreshing lemony apple blend.
4) one bunch cherrybelle radishes: spring 'tis the season for radishes! Remove tops and store in plastic bag to retain freshness.
5) one bag springalicious salad mix: a mixed lettuces blend
6) one bunch asparagus: grown by Pedersen Farms in New York state. certified organic. Amazing!
7) three Crispin apples: It seems you folks can't get enough of these. From Red Jacket Orchards in Geneva, NY.
Enjoy! See you tomorrow!
Spring is a lot about leafy greens - things that can withstand cool temperatures and produce a crop quickly. And a little about items that have held well in storage - like some apples.
This week's share is a good one:
1) one bag baby spinach: The variety is Corvair, a smooth-leaved variety with excellent taste.
2) one bunch purple haze pencil carrots with tops: Savor these babies. Possibly steamed whole with a little butter? For best, storage, remove tops promptly and keep in plastic bag.
3) one bottle Joe's Summer Blend juice: from Red Jacket Orchards. A very refreshing lemony apple blend.
4) one bunch cherrybelle radishes: spring 'tis the season for radishes! Remove tops and store in plastic bag to retain freshness.
5) one bag springalicious salad mix: a mixed lettuces blend
6) one bunch asparagus: grown by Pedersen Farms in New York state. certified organic. Amazing!
7) three Crispin apples: It seems you folks can't get enough of these. From Red Jacket Orchards in Geneva, NY.
Enjoy! See you tomorrow!
Saturday, May 14
CSA shares sold out for 2011
Shares for all three seasons are sold out for this year. This has been the case for over a month. Thanks to our shareholders and sorry to those we've turned away. We love you all!
We've determined that spring is the most popular season. It's also the most difficult from a grower's standpoint. Fear won over greed and we stopped at 55 shares for spring. For summer, we've got approximately 85 shareholders, and for autumn around 60. Share inquiries continue, which is great as we think to the future.
We're feeling fairly confident that we will be able to increase numbers in 2012 based upon a new land lease and continuing skill acquisition.
Current shareholders will be given first option for next year's CSA slots. Signups for 2011 members will begin in late fall and continue until December 31st, 2011. Remaining slots will be made available to waitlisted folks through January 31, 2012. The general public will be offered shares until we are fully subscribed - target closing date is March 1, 2012.
We've determined that spring is the most popular season. It's also the most difficult from a grower's standpoint. Fear won over greed and we stopped at 55 shares for spring. For summer, we've got approximately 85 shareholders, and for autumn around 60. Share inquiries continue, which is great as we think to the future.
We're feeling fairly confident that we will be able to increase numbers in 2012 based upon a new land lease and continuing skill acquisition.
Current shareholders will be given first option for next year's CSA slots. Signups for 2011 members will begin in late fall and continue until December 31st, 2011. Remaining slots will be made available to waitlisted folks through January 31, 2012. The general public will be offered shares until we are fully subscribed - target closing date is March 1, 2012.
Wednesday, May 4
CSA Spring Harvest Week Three
We finished sowing one of our outdoor fields late yesterday, just in time for the rain. We're a bit late getting seed in the ground outside due to the cold spring.
Thank goodness for the magic of a sheet of plastic over some metal hoops! From these unheated houses come your spring harvest.
For one perspective on the harvest, check out this blog written by one of our new CSAers: http://veggiemommact.blogspot.com/
In this week's share:
1) one bag arugula: spring and fall tend to be the best season's for arugula. It's divine with a bit of olive oil, lemon juice and shaved or grated pecorino cheese.
2) one bunch cherrybelle radishes with greens: Here's a link to Martha Stewart. A little butter and salt are tried and true accompaniments. Greens can be used for soup or cooking.
3) one bag spring green salad mix: pure buttery lettuces-black seeded simpson, baby parris island romaine, and green butterhead
4) one container baby cress greens: our latest micro green miracle. It has a bite similar to arugula with a mustardy sharpness. Cress gives a great, tangy contrast to creamy egg salad or potato soup. We will experiment with these this week and report back. There is a watercress/grapefruit salad recipe in Martha link under radishes.
5) one jar quince jam: from Red Jacket Orchard's sustainable harvest. Great with cheese and crackers or alongside grilled meats.
6) two crispin apples: back by popular demand. from Red Jacket Orchards.
7) two big beets (choose red or gold): from Satur Farms in Long Island. Here's a recipe for beet haters.
Bon appetit!
Thank goodness for the magic of a sheet of plastic over some metal hoops! From these unheated houses come your spring harvest.
For one perspective on the harvest, check out this blog written by one of our new CSAers: http://veggiemommact.blogspot.com/
In this week's share:
1) one bag arugula: spring and fall tend to be the best season's for arugula. It's divine with a bit of olive oil, lemon juice and shaved or grated pecorino cheese.
2) one bunch cherrybelle radishes with greens: Here's a link to Martha Stewart. A little butter and salt are tried and true accompaniments. Greens can be used for soup or cooking.
3) one bag spring green salad mix: pure buttery lettuces-black seeded simpson, baby parris island romaine, and green butterhead
4) one container baby cress greens: our latest micro green miracle. It has a bite similar to arugula with a mustardy sharpness. Cress gives a great, tangy contrast to creamy egg salad or potato soup. We will experiment with these this week and report back. There is a watercress/grapefruit salad recipe in Martha link under radishes.
5) one jar quince jam: from Red Jacket Orchard's sustainable harvest. Great with cheese and crackers or alongside grilled meats.
6) two crispin apples: back by popular demand. from Red Jacket Orchards.
7) two big beets (choose red or gold): from Satur Farms in Long Island. Here's a recipe for beet haters.
Bon appetit!
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