Hello CSA members,
The June CSA harvest is ready for pick up beginning at noon on Thursday 6/25. If you haven’t already done so, please let me know approximately when you think you’ll be coming to pick it up so I can assure the freshest harvest possible.
NEW ADD ON – I am happy to announce that we now have kimchi available on the farm! Our organic ginger that we grow on the farm is one of the magical ingredients used to make – You Betcha Kimchi made in Minneapolis. It comes in three spice levels: Mild (Minnesota nice); Medium (a bit Nippy) and Hot (Uffda). If you are a kimchi fan you can purchase it online right here, $10 per one-pound jar. When you check out, please indicate in the notes which spice level you prefer. I’ll have it ready for you to pick up in the cooler when you come to get your CSA in July.
Now… here is what you will find in your harvest this month.
Romaine – probably the most popular variety of lettuce
Kohlrabi with leaves (white and/or purple) – unlike what you find in the grocery store, this kohlrabi includes all of the leaves. The leaves are also a treat, as they are pretty much the same as collard greens – thick and chewy. If you’re not familiar with kohlrabi, it is kind of like a big radish, but milder. My favorite way to enjoy them is to peel, slice thin and add a little salt. But there are many ways to prepare both kohlrabi and kohlrabi leaves. Google will be happy to help.
Radicchio – You will find two varieties, one is the traditional, small red round head, the other is a frilly green leafed variety. Radicchio is in the chickory family which is kind of a cross between lettuce and cabbage. You can enjoy it raw in a salad, or it can be grilled. Once again, google can help you come up with your own favorite way to prepare
Arugula – this popular green has a spicy, pepper flavor. It is frequently used as a pizza topping, made into a spicy pesto, or added to salads.
Beet greens with stems – these are delicious, colorful greens that are especially great in salads, but can also be sautéed or cooked, just like spinach. The stems add a vibrant color to you dish, and are crunchy when eaten raw, or tender when cooked. You might even find a few micro-mini sized beets on the end. You will definitely need to clean these up a bit more before you enjoy, as you will find some grit.
Swiss chard – these large, beautiful leaves are very versatile. In fact, they are also in the beet family, so you can prepare them raw or cooked, much like spinach….just like your beet greens
Random grab bag – You will find a big yellow tub in the cooler that has a variety of different items. There wasn’t enough of each of these items for everyone, so you can grab one bag of the item of your choice. Options include: radishes, bok choy, zucchini, or kale.
Herb potted plant – in the sugarhouse you will find a potted herb plant. Perhaps you’re not a gardener, but put this in your kitchen window, watch it grown and snip it as you like. The options include: oregano, thyme, dill, parsley, sage, or cilantro
1/2 dozen Eggs – unfortunately, I’m running short on eggs this month. What often happens this time of year, the chickens will slow down their egg laying when it gets warm and they start to molt. But adding to the problem is that since they are free-ranging in the orchard, they will start egg clutches in secret spots where we can’t find them. We’ve discovered clutches in a hay pile by the hoop house, on the trailer in the shed, and under apple trees in the orchard. Sometimes these clutches turn into new families, so don’t be surprised if sometime soon you’ll see some baby chicks following mama. The good news is that our new batch of baby chicks that we got late winter, should be starting to lay eggs within the month, so hopefully they will use the nesting boxes inside the hen spa instead of under an apple tree.
Beverages or substitute – Three four-packs of the beverages of your choice, or if you choose to substitute for maple syrup or honey, you will find it in the sugarhouse.
SAD NEWS – Over the years I have encountered a wide range of predators that attack my crops. I’ve dealt with pterodactyls chomping on my cabbage (true); aliens putting tattoos on my watermelons (also true); ground hogs devouring my cantaloupes, slugs invading my lettuce, a doe teaching her fawn how to get inside the hoop house, and bears knocking down my honeybee boxes. But my most feared predator of all is the bunny. I know, they’re cute, with their wiggly nose, pointy ears and round little tail. But those rascals have the ability to decimate everything I grow. And I’ve had one of those monstrous creatures get inside the hoop house and completely devour the edamame (Japanese soy beans) crop. Grrrrrrr…… now it’s too late to plant more, so I’m sad to announce there will be no edamame this year. No one is more sad than me.
Meanwhile, we have a number of other activities happening on the farm… food trucks, music, hiking, or just relaxing. You’ll find it all on our website.
Thanks again for your support of our farm, and as always, stay safe!
Debbie