CSA Spring Share 2013 - Week #6 (13 November/16 November)
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CHANGE TO THE PICK UP SCHEDULE To accommodate those picking up their Mountain View Farm Milk, Farm Pick Up times are Friday afternoon from 3pm-5pm and Saturday mornings from 8am-11am.
NOTES ON STORING THE HARVEST Please check out our Vegetable & Fruit page on the website to find tips on maximizing the life of your veggies. We envisage that many of the vegetables you are receiving this week will last for two weeks with careful attention to storing upon arrival. Although we do wash all the greens after harvest, we are washing to take the heat out of the plants and wash away some surface dirt, not to prepare them for consumption. We also spray a seaweed/herb brew about every ten days. While this will not harm you, it does have a taste. We do suggest washing your produce prior to eating.
NOTES ON THE SHARE *Artichokes – There are two varieties being harvested 'Green Globe' and 'Purple Jesi'. The 'Purple Jesi' have thorns on the tops so be careful. These are easily cut off before steaming or grilling. The artichokes are still producing. But we are not sure for how much longer. Broad Beans – There are extra broad beans this week! I have added a few simple recipes, one a broad bean pasta and the other a dip. We are unsure what next week might bring. The broad bean season is relatively short compared with other crops - one month. Hope you are still enjoying them! *Beetroot - Bunches of baby beetroot. So tender you can steam them! The tops are very edible as well. Lovely mixed into a salad or eaten like silver beet. We were able to find bunches for the afternoon boxes this week and hope to be able to find enough for Saturday's boxes. We will wait a few more weeks before exploring again. Broccoli - Harvesting 'DiCiccio' and 'Greenbelt'. As we have said before, the broccoli crops have been effected by wind (blowing many plants right out of the earth) and bugs, reducing the vigor of the crop and producing small heads. There has been one fantastic planting which the afternoon boxes last week received. The morning boxes received these heads this week. Cabbage – Heads in every box. The cabbage, being in the brassica family, has been affected by the caterpillars. We found though that the insides are gorgeous. We have given everyone a whole head so that there is plenty to use after removing the bug damage. Carrots - These are bunches of baby carrots 'Little Fingers'. These are very tender and only need a little scrub with your hands. You can roast or steam them whole or have them raw. SAVE THE TOPS! One of our members, Amy Minichiello, is a fresh, local food lover opening a cafe in Rye in December. She made a pesto using the carrot tops. Sounds perfect for this time of year as the baby carrots and peas work so well in a creamy pesto pasta and the basil is itty-bitty...awaiting some warmth to grow. We will ask if she wants to contribute the recipe and post it on our website. *Cauliflower - We began harvesting 'Early Snowball'. The heads are little...caused usually from plant stress which these plants have had with the wind and the bugs. There was enough for the afternoon half-share boxes. We hope to continue harvesting next week. Coriander – Bunches of the leaves with roots (which have a great flavour!). Fennel – Baby fennel. We harvested the last of the current planting. Everyone is receiving one or two bulbs. Green Garlic – This is a treat for all of us who grow and use our own garlic. The bulbs are starting to ripen...we can tell by the stronger smell when we are harvesting. The greens are also becoming stiffer - only use the white part. Do not cook them very long if at all. I like to mix them into stir fries at the very end and use them raw in salads. Lettuce – Harvested 'Marvel of Four Seasons' and 'Buttercrunch'. There may be a gap now in the lettuce harvest as we lost two plantings to rot. Limes – Special treat, organically grown on Peter's uncle's farm. He had a glut and offered to give us enough for every box to receive two this week. Perfect companion with the green garlic and coriander for Thai or Mexican dishes. Radishes –F– The last of the 'Purple Plum' has been harvested for the full share boxes. Rocket – Bunches of rocket in every box. Rocket is also in the brassica family and effected by the caterpillars. There are holes in the leaves but still plenty left for you to enjoy. Silver beet – 'Perpetual Gator' bunches. This is one of our favourite silver beets as the leaves are so tender and the flavour very fresh. Snow Peas – Saturday's boxes will receive the last of the snow pea harvest! Sugar Snap Peas –F–The full shares received some 'Sugar Anns' this week. Like the Snow Peas, you can eat the pod and all. They are succulent and sweet.
NOTES ON WHAT IS GROWING The shelling peas were not ready for harvest yesterday. They may be by Saturday and are definitely hoping for them next week. We have finished the first sugar snap and snow pea plantings.
We are hoping to be able to harvest kale again next week. As it is in the brassica family, the leaves have been very effected by the caterpillars. The caterpillar population is reducing...but the damage has been done to several broccoli plantings, the cauliflower, cabbage and kale. We will know more about the kale when we actually harvest it. The new leaves are looking good! Just hard to determine how much of the planting is too damaged to include.
The broad beans may have one more week of harvest!
In looking ahead to next week, growth has been slowed this week by the weather. This weeks box is full. Next week may be a bit lighter. Most of the items will store very well with careful attention. The cabbage will last for at least two weeks, even once it is cut.
RECIPE SUGGESTIONS Broad Bean Dip Silver Beet Fritters from Ottolenghi's Jerusalem Barley Gratin with Beet Greens and Green Garlic Broad Bean Pasta - This is very simple - a few flavours that combine together to make a delightful dish. Children love it too! Nikki Fisher from The Wholefood Mama's recipe for Beetroot, Rocket, Persian Feta and Walnut Salad Cabbage Stir-fry - Even though there are no Asian greens in the box this week, you can use the baby carrots and broccoli in this stir fry that our children love.
You can search our recipes by looking for the key ingredients on our website recipe page.
WHAT'S IN THE BOX EMAILS Expect the What's in the Box email before noon on Wednesday's. If you do not receive it, please let us know so that we can work out why.
Please note - Photo is of a full share box with a cauliflower head from the half share box.
