Wednesday, September 30

Fall CSA Week 2 and a half!!!!!!!


Pay close attention vegetable lovers!!!!!!!

In anticipation of potential flooding in the fields into early next week, we harvested very heavily the last couple of days.  As a result, this week will be a week and a half's share.  We will shorten the CSA to five weeks, and make the fifth week a week and a half share as well.

If the weekend weather were promising, I'm sure I could sell all of this produce at the stand, but traffic will likely be light because of the weather.  So you get lots of food this week!!!

In this week's (and a half!) share:

Head of lettuce

Chinese Mustard--a mix of black and yellow chinese mustards, very potent yet tender...http://allrecipes.com/recipe/218501/asian-inspired-mustard-greens/

Italian Leaf Broccoli!!!!! Love it!!! This will be a CSA staple going forward...keep it simple: http://dinersjournal.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/08/the-temporary-vegetarian-vegan-broccoli-spigarello/?_r=0

Baby kale or Arugula

Lacinato Kale or Broccoli Rabe (blanch first if you like to cut down on the bitterness): http://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/white-beans-with-broccoli-rabe-and-lemon

Baby beets

Potatoes

Ripening or Green Tomatoes (you know what to do!): http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/patrick-and-gina-neely/fried-green-tomatoes-recipe.html

Sweet potatoes or kohlrabi

onions

Delicata squash: my favorite, not sure why I grow any others!  http://summertomato.com/better-than-butternut-roasted-delicata-squash-recipe/

Apple or pears

That's a lot of food.  Great weather for cooking!!!!!


Wednesday, September 23

Autumn CSA Week 1


This photo looks a lot like last week's...except you can now see red leaves in the marsh.  The change from summer to fall was very abrupt this year, with night temperatures dropping nearly 20 degrees in a week or so.  Tomatoes are coming to an end as we transition to fall crops.

In this week's share:

Tomatoes, a lot fewer! Next week I hope to have enough to share again, but it will be the last week for them.
Potatoes
Radishes--the tops are abundant on these, so do yourself a favor and make this soup (you can use the potatoes and onions too!): http://allrecipes.com/recipe/38036/radish-top-soup/
Onions--little ones like you can't buy in the store!  Great flavor.
Arugula
Beans--mostly Italian heirloom Romanos--cut into bite size pieces, steam until tender, then toss into a garlic and tomato sauce and simmer for 15 minutes.  Delicious! Or try this: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/slow-roasted-romano-beans-51204610
Japanese Red Noodle Beanshttp://newrootsforrefugees.blogspot.com/2010/08/red-noodle-beans.html
Purple Kohlrabi: http://www.simplyrecipes.com/kohlrabi/
Honeycrisp Apples

If you haven't paid yet, your name won't be on the list--please write your name down!!!!

Thanks!

Wednesday, September 16

Last Week of Summer Share!!!


That went by quickly!

Thanks so much for supporting our modest farming venture.  If you liked this year's summer CSA program, tell a friend!  I would like to expand by 15-20 members next year, so spread the word!

We go out with a bang this week:

tomatoes
potatoes
Senposai...Huge leaves! Delicious!!!! http://monadnockfood.coop/try-senposai/
Curly endive
beans
parsley
Arugula
radishes
pears or apples or plums
1 Red Noodle Bean! Just thinning them out--more for Autumn CSA members next week...http://www.earthdancefarms.org/2012/09/recipe-idea-red-noodle-beans/

Still have a few slots left in the fall CSA...let me know ASAP!!!!!

Wednesday, September 9

Week 14


Hopefully this is the last day of the heat and drought!  Perhaps this front moving through brings early autumn with it.  Cooler temperatures and rain will help the greens for the autumn share.  Good luck!

In this week's share:

A new introduction this week: Italian leaf broccoli, or spigarello.  This is a fantastic plant!  Tall, drought tolerant, untouched by insects, loved by woodchucks!  I had to trap 3 woodchucks before this took off.  I hope you all like it, because I'd like to make it a staple of the CSA.  Keep the cooking simple: https://blackdirtrecipes.wordpress.com/2014/08/21/spigarello-with-garlic-and/

Also:

Tomatoes
Potatoes
Onions
Zucchini or patty pan
Radishes
Beans
Arugula
Pears or apples or plums

Honeycrisp Apples at the stand!!!!!!  These cost me quite a bit, so please don't select these as your apple in the share.


Wednesday, September 2

Summer Week 13


Our favorite day of the summer: our annual trip to the Dutchess County Fair!  I do believe I could have given that blue ribbon winner above a run for his money...

Ok.  It's finally time to complain.  After endless weeks of absolute perfect summer weather--truly, this summer has been as epic as last winter in its own way--the lack of rain is taking a toll.  Our main 2 acre field is impossible to keep properly irrigated right now, and some things are suffering.  Our well is limited to about 4 solid hours a day, and that is not enough...hopefully we make it through.  Not much else we can do.

In this week's share:

Tomatoes! 2 1/4 pounds!
Blue potatoes--great crop this year.
Tender baby kale/arugula microgreens!  Wow, fantastic!
eggplant or peppers
patty pan squash
beans (after observing the bean preference in the CSA this year: don't worry--next year is nothing but green beans!!!!!!)
Radishes--not everyone took these last week...they are great!  Some simple and delicious ideas: https://dancinggecko.wordpress.com/2009/03/21/10-tasty-radish-recipes/
Pears or apples

Green Gage Plums are at the farm stand!!!!!!  Holy cow, these are amazing and only here for a short time.

Peaches are ending, so I only have a few quarts to offer at the stand.  A few nectarines, too.

Enjoy!