Winter weeks 3 & 4; November13, 2014

Whats in the box(es)? 

winterbox3-4
winterbox3-4

potatoes

beets

onions

garlic

cabbage

spinach

diakon radish

green top and topped turnips

leeks

carrots

brussel sprouts

collard greens

winter squash

Notes on the box(es).... 

We tried to harvest some broccoli and kale for you, but it was too frozen.  Kale was crumbling apart and broccoli was frozen solid and thawed into a sad floppy tree.  But the Collards and brussel sprouts did okay during harvest and everything else was gotten before the big cold snap rolled in. 

To store brussel sprouts, snap them off the stalk into a plastic storage bag, seal, and keep in your fridge. 

Cabbage will keep for a looooooong time in your fridge.  Cabbage always keeps for a long time, but adding that this is a storage variety, it can hang out for quite some time.  You may have to remove the outer leaves, but it will still be good.  If you've ever considered making sauerkraut or kimchi, this is a good time!  Did you know that 2 tablespoons of fermented vegetables have as many probiotics as an entire bottle of probiotic supplements?!  And much of our immune system is dependent on healthy gut flora.  So during cold and flu season, it's very important to get some fermented veggies in our systems.  We love a serving of kimchi with a fried egg for breakfast.  Making fermented veggies is a great way to save a lot of money and help your gut flora. And it will make your veggies keep well into the spring while saving space in your fridge!  And all you really need are your veggies and some salt! Give it a try!

 Recipes... 

[yumprint-recipe id='59']Sauerkraut

Orecchiette with Butternut Squash and Sage

Wild Rice and Butternut Squash Salad with Maple Balsamic Dressing

Orange Glazed Brussel Sprouts and Butternut

Cabbage and Radish Slaw with Peanut Dressing to be served at room temperature

Vegan Lentil Shepherd's Pie

One pot Cabbage Casserole

Dijon Roasted Cabbage is a healthy one

and this is Roasted Cabbage recipe with bacon in it. 

On the farm...

     Looking at the 10 day forecast, it seems as though we won't make it above freezing, and will be 20 degrees below average!  We are not equipped to handle the extreme cold in our pack shed.  Also, the greens and broccoli are too frozen to harvest, so what is out of the field is everything that we have to offer!  In an effort to save yourselves and your farmers a trip to your drop site, we have combined the last two deliveries.  So here are the last TWO boxes of vegetables.  A lot of the items don't need to be stored in your fridge, so we hope to not overflow your fridge. 

     So this wraps up the Winter Shares!  We think you will still have local veggies around for your Thanksgiving meal.  Yay!  We are grateful for our CSA members!  Thank you! 

Best way to bring a baby out to the field on a snowy day.
Best way to bring a baby out to the field on a snowy day.
It's hard to make bunches with gloves on, but also hard with cold wet fingers!
It's hard to make bunches with gloves on, but also hard with cold wet fingers!
Harvesting in the snow!
Harvesting in the snow!
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IMG_1892
Taste testing the snow!
Taste testing the snow!
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IMG_1896

Happy Winter, everyone!

Winter Share week 2; November 6, 2014

What's in the box?  

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20141106_134607

Thanks to Chris and Cheyenne for the photo and the recipe this week!

Broccoli

Vitamin Green

Spinach

Potatoes

Beets

Carrots

Onions

Leeks

Brussel Sprouts

Winter Squash assortment

Salad Turnips

Dino Kale 

Recipes...  

[yumprint-recipe id='58'][yumprint-recipe id='57']Beet Caviar from 101 cookbooks 

Squash Toasts With Ricotta and Cider Vinegar from Smitten Kitchen

Spinach and Egg Pizzettes from Smitten Kitchen

Turkey Meatball Vegetable Soup (recipe calls for Arugula, but feel free to substitute Turnip Greens or Vitamin Greens)

 On the farm...

It's officially getting cold.  And it was raining during harvest.  But we didn't get any snow, yet!  We are scrambling to get things out of the fields before the ground freezes.  There's just Josh and Dana working on the farm right now, and they are really working hard to get the boxes to you!  We were grateful to have the help of a visitor and aspiring farmer, Ashley, on Wednesday.  Many hands make work light, and in the cold rain, the extra hands are even more appreciated.  Thanks Ashley!  

We have been reading through the Summer Share Surveys and are so pleased with the feedback.  We were really happy to hear that almost everyone really enjoyed the Vitamin Green and the Pak Choi!  We got some lovely compliments and the complaints were few and far between and mainly had to do with CSA not fitting in with people's lifestyle, which we understand.  We know that our most experienced home chefs and committed members sign up for Winter Shares, so we want to thank you for being that!  

We hope you are enjoying the sweetness of the greens and roots after they have been through some cold temperatures.  We will see what's left in the field for greens after this cold weather is with us for a solid week.  Hopefully everything is still in good shape, but even tastier!  Sorry we don't have pictures this week.  We've had some technical difficulties.  Please feel free to share any photos of you and meals you've made, if you like!  We love to include that on the blog!   

Extended Season Week 1; October 30, 2014

What's in the box? 

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IMG_0784

potatoes

green top carrots

hakurei aka salad turnips

diakon radish

leeks

pak choi

broccoli

broccoli leaves (the greens in a bunch)

fennel fronds (the wispy bunched greens that smell anise like)

spinach

onions

brussel sprouts on the stalk

pie pumpkins

Notes on the box...

To store brussel sprouts, pop them off the stalk into a plastic bag and keep them in your fridge.  This is a fun task with kids.  Notice how they grow in a spiral on the stalk.  So cool!

We've recently got word that broccoli leaves are soon to be the new "it" vegetable.  The new brussel sprout since brussel sprouts took over kale.  So you guys will be like "Oh, I was eating broccoli leaves before they were cool."  Prepare them as you would collards or kale.  They are chock full of vitamins and usually just go to waste in the field.  Let us know what you think! 

Fennel fronds are from some fennel that we planted too late and it wasn't going to size up.  But, you can use these fronds as an herb. They have an anise or licorice type flavor.  They are great chopped and added to roast carrots and turnips, or used as a bed upon which to bake fish.  Instant fancy. 

See the blog a few weeks ago for several links to diakon radish recipes.

Recipes... 

[yumprint-recipe id='56']Broccoli Cheese Soup

 Carrot Orange Fennel Soup (use fronds instead of bulb that the recipe calls for)

On the Farm

sprout spiral

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IMG_0782
IMG_0781
IMG_0781

Queen Francie RIP

Hand sized spinach leaves  (gloves are to keep that cold dew off tender fingers)

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IMG_0774

Caption contest:

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IMG_0771