Wednesday, September 28
Sunday, September 25
CSA Summer Harvest Week Seventeen
As you might imagine, these gloomy gray muggy warmish days are not great for the fall harvest. We're certainly not growing any crops that benefit from this weather, although I have heard it's the best mushroom year in the northeast in a long time. I can believe it.
For cultivated crops regionwide, there are big challenges this autumn. Pumpkins and winter squash are in early, and suffer from reduced shelf life due to the fungal-positive weather. The high level of moisture in the air adversely affects many leaf crops including lettuce and spinach. Apples and pears deterioriate faster than in a normal year.
But the weeks are passing quickly. And the rain will end. Time to take our soil tests, add minerals, and consider our management strategies going forward. Time to plant garlic. Spring is just around the corner!
Next week is the last distribution of the summer share. The fall share commences two weeks later and our farm stand will remain open through Thanksgiving. Hope you've enjoyed the food.
In this week's share:
1) one tub goat feta cheese from Butterfield Farm in Granby, CT. Yum!
2) shallots: They look like miniature onions with dark tan skins. Even though shallots may be similar to an onion, they are definitely not the same. In other words, they are not baby onions. They tend to be sweet so one or two finely chopped shallots are usually all that is needed to flavor recipes. They tend to merry well with dishes that call for white wine, cream and butter. To cook, saute them slowly. Although shallots caramelize like onions, they overcook easily. It is important to saute them slowly over low heat or else you risk the chance that you overcook them, resulting in a bitter taste instead of sweet.
3) one acorn squash: ten recipes
4) one bag french beans: choose green haricots verts or mixed colors
5) one pound heirloom tomatoes
6) farmstand item(s) of your choice totalling around $6.00. Choices include: eggplant, ground cherries, peppers, hakurei turnips, concord grapes, collard greens, Red Jacket juices, Arethusa products, apples, pears, kale microgreens, duck eggs. Delivery customers will receive hakurei turnips and peppers unless they request otherwise by Thursday 10am.
See you tomorrow!
For cultivated crops regionwide, there are big challenges this autumn. Pumpkins and winter squash are in early, and suffer from reduced shelf life due to the fungal-positive weather. The high level of moisture in the air adversely affects many leaf crops including lettuce and spinach. Apples and pears deterioriate faster than in a normal year.
But the weeks are passing quickly. And the rain will end. Time to take our soil tests, add minerals, and consider our management strategies going forward. Time to plant garlic. Spring is just around the corner!
Next week is the last distribution of the summer share. The fall share commences two weeks later and our farm stand will remain open through Thanksgiving. Hope you've enjoyed the food.
In this week's share:
1) one tub goat feta cheese from Butterfield Farm in Granby, CT. Yum!
2) shallots: They look like miniature onions with dark tan skins. Even though shallots may be similar to an onion, they are definitely not the same. In other words, they are not baby onions. They tend to be sweet so one or two finely chopped shallots are usually all that is needed to flavor recipes. They tend to merry well with dishes that call for white wine, cream and butter. To cook, saute them slowly. Although shallots caramelize like onions, they overcook easily. It is important to saute them slowly over low heat or else you risk the chance that you overcook them, resulting in a bitter taste instead of sweet.
3) one acorn squash: ten recipes
4) one bag french beans: choose green haricots verts or mixed colors
5) one pound heirloom tomatoes
6) farmstand item(s) of your choice totalling around $6.00. Choices include: eggplant, ground cherries, peppers, hakurei turnips, concord grapes, collard greens, Red Jacket juices, Arethusa products, apples, pears, kale microgreens, duck eggs. Delivery customers will receive hakurei turnips and peppers unless they request otherwise by Thursday 10am.
See you tomorrow!
Wednesday, September 21
CSA Summer Harvest Week Sixteen
In this week's share:
1) one bunch leeks
2) one bag salad greens: choose mesclun mix OR arugula
3) one bag fresh herb: choose dill OR parsley
4) one bag haricots verts (french green beans)
5) one bell pepper
6) five ears sweet corn: delicious from JD Farms in Danbury. Not organic.
7) one of the following three choices:
collard greens OR chinese cabbage OR celeriac
8) OPTION: farmstand item(s) totalling approxmately $4. Options include: eggplant, tomatoes, hakurei turnips, Arethusa milk, Arethusa half & half, gala apples, cortland apples, bartlett pears, potatoes, onions, garlic, Red Jacket juice, Red Jacket Apricot jam, ground cherries, a second bag of salad greens, a second bag of fresh herbs (dill OR parsley). Delivery customers may make specific requests until 10am Thursday. If we don't hear from you, we'll choose something yummy.
Happy Fall Equinox!
1) one bunch leeks
2) one bag salad greens: choose mesclun mix OR arugula
3) one bag fresh herb: choose dill OR parsley
4) one bag haricots verts (french green beans)
5) one bell pepper
6) five ears sweet corn: delicious from JD Farms in Danbury. Not organic.
7) one of the following three choices:
collard greens OR chinese cabbage OR celeriac
8) OPTION: farmstand item(s) totalling approxmately $4. Options include: eggplant, tomatoes, hakurei turnips, Arethusa milk, Arethusa half & half, gala apples, cortland apples, bartlett pears, potatoes, onions, garlic, Red Jacket juice, Red Jacket Apricot jam, ground cherries, a second bag of salad greens, a second bag of fresh herbs (dill OR parsley). Delivery customers may make specific requests until 10am Thursday. If we don't hear from you, we'll choose something yummy.
Happy Fall Equinox!
Wednesday, September 14
CSA Summer Harvest Week Fifteen
Hello all:
I was in Florida for a few days this past week for my grandmother's 91st birthday. Apologize for late hour and no advance preview. See you tomorrow!
Ilsa
In this week's share:
1) CHOICE: white japanese salad turnips OR winterbor kale. The japanese turnips (aka Hakurei turnips) are a golf-ball-sized turnip with greens. They can be eaten raw, but they are great sauteed with a bit of butter and salt. Not your average turnip. Winterbor kale has ruffled edge and traditional kale flavor.
2) CHOICE: one eggplant OR one bag haricots verts (french green beans). We have several varieties of eggplants featuring different skin colors but similar flavors. The beans are simple perfection.
3) one bell pepper and one corno di toro (horn of the bull) pepper - both sweet. The Corno di Toro is an attractive elongated fruit with excellent flavor.
4) one butternut squash: And the winter squash begin rolling in. Sweet nutty flavor. Here are eight things to do with it.
5) one clamshell ground cherries: these unique small fruits are fun to try. Imagine tomato mixed with pineapple in a small package. Interesting flavor: some love it, others hate it. Peel off outer husk to eat. Add to salad, dip in chocolate....Read more.
6) two pounds heirloom tomatoes: they are winding down, so enjoy....
7) two bartlett pears: grown sustainably by Woodland Farm in Glastonbury, CT. Not organic.
I was in Florida for a few days this past week for my grandmother's 91st birthday. Apologize for late hour and no advance preview. See you tomorrow!
Ilsa
In this week's share:
1) CHOICE: white japanese salad turnips OR winterbor kale. The japanese turnips (aka Hakurei turnips) are a golf-ball-sized turnip with greens. They can be eaten raw, but they are great sauteed with a bit of butter and salt. Not your average turnip. Winterbor kale has ruffled edge and traditional kale flavor.
2) CHOICE: one eggplant OR one bag haricots verts (french green beans). We have several varieties of eggplants featuring different skin colors but similar flavors. The beans are simple perfection.
3) one bell pepper and one corno di toro (horn of the bull) pepper - both sweet. The Corno di Toro is an attractive elongated fruit with excellent flavor.
4) one butternut squash: And the winter squash begin rolling in. Sweet nutty flavor. Here are eight things to do with it.
5) one clamshell ground cherries: these unique small fruits are fun to try. Imagine tomato mixed with pineapple in a small package. Interesting flavor: some love it, others hate it. Peel off outer husk to eat. Add to salad, dip in chocolate....Read more.
6) two pounds heirloom tomatoes: they are winding down, so enjoy....
7) two bartlett pears: grown sustainably by Woodland Farm in Glastonbury, CT. Not organic.
Wednesday, September 7
Monday, September 5
CSA Summer Harvest Week Fourteen
It's September!
Thanks to all for your flexibility and enthusiasm last week as we coped with the power outage following Hurricane Irene. Late last Thursday, just as the refrigerators were nearly cleaned out, electricity was restored. We consider ourselves fortunate to have great people like you in our lives. We received offers of help with crop refrigeration, storm preparation, and storm cleanup. Thank you! Hope you were able put last week's share to good use whether you had power or not.
We are entering what is, to my mind, high cooking season. There's nothing better than being in the kitchen on a dreary cool day or taking a break from a great movie to eat a warm bowl of homemade soup. Behold pear and apple season. And plan for winter squash in the coming weeks.
Cheers!
In this week's share:
1) two pounds heirloom tomatoes: select your own larger fruits or take a boxed selection of smaller varieties. I guess it's possible you're getting sick of tomatoes, but you've gotta make hay while the sun shines.
2) four pears/apples: you choose the combination. Pears are Bartletts. Apples are Cortland, a sweet and juicy apple with a hint of tartness which is great for salads or baking. Sustainably grown by Woodland Farms in Glastonbury, CT. They are not organic; utilize the swap option if this poses a problem.
3) one green bell pepper
4) one bunch scallions
5) one eggplant: variety options are Black Beauty, Falcon, Rosa Bianca, and Listia di Ghandia. I must be honest and say that I don't notice a lot of difference in flavor or texture between these varieties. Need recipe ideas?
6) CHOICE: one bag red beets (golden also available at farm stand) OR one bag presto cress microgreens. Presto cress is similar to watercress. It's great on a sandwich or on top of eggs or added to your green salad.
7) OPTION: the item(s) of your choice from the farm stand totalling approximately $5.00. Possibilities include Arethusa milk, yogurt, Red Jacket juices, donut peaches, nectarines, arugula microgreens, asian braising greens, cucumbers, summer squash, onions, garlic, potatoes, hot peppers, sweet peppers, free range eggs, sorrel. Delivery customers: we will choose something for you unless you make a specific request by Thursday 10am.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)