CSA Spring Share 2013 - Week #8 (27 November/30 November)

WHAT’S IN THE BOX The following are the items harvested this week.  Items and quantities in your box may vary depending on your harvest day and the total harvest of each crop.  The boxes are completely governed by what is ripe and ready for harvest and how much of it there is.  We endeavor to divide the harvest fairly.  A "*" next to an item indicates that this is something that is being rotated through the boxes.  "F" indicates that this item is in the full share box.   "H" indicates that this item is in the half share box.

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. Basil –F– Bunches in the full share boxes. Bok Choy – Bug Free and lovely bunches. The ANDI rating for bok choy is 824 - higher then spinach and broccoli! (ANDI stands for "Aggregate Nutrient Density Index." An ANDI score shows the nutrient density of a food on a scale from 1 to 1000 based on nutrient content. ANDI scores are calculated by evaluating an extensive range of micronutrients, including vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals and antioxidant capacities.) Broad Beans – YES...this really is the last of the broad beans!  The plants have all been pulled out now so that is the end-  What a great season it has been! Double podding them is a great way to see their green colour. Broccoli – There are broccolini bunches and small to medium heads. *Cabbage – 'Green Acre' and 'Purple Savoy'-  This is the last of the cabbage for a few months. Carrots – Bunches of baby heirloom varieties mixed. *Cauliflower – Harvesting 'Early Snowball'.  The heads are little...caused usually from plant stress which these plants have had with the wind and the bugs.  What we harvested was put into the afternoon delivery  boxes. Coriander – Beautiful bunches with the roots! 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 – 'Perella Rougette" and/or 'Grandpa Admire's'.  Great names for lovely lettuces! Perpetual Gator Silver beet – Bunches in every box.  Tender and lemony. Radicchio – Radicchio is a hit or miss plant.  The conditions have to be just right for the plant to produce the tight round heads.  These raddichio have not done that but since we were told people still eat this cooked, we have included them in the box. The leaves are bitter and chickens LOVE them if you do not. *Romanesco Broccoli – This is much more of a cauliflower then a broccoli.  We have not noticed the distinct spirals that are characteristic of 'Romanesco'.  We are rotating this through the boxes like the cauliflower.  You may receive 'Romanesco' or cauliflower. Shelling Peas – The sugars in these plants begin to degrade into starch after harvest - so try and eat them tonight! Fresh peas are so delicious.  We like them raw in salads as well as very lightly steamed. Sugar Snap Peas –F– Last of the harvest for the full shares. *Summer Squash – 'Golden Crookneck' and 'Patty Pan'.  There is a recipe for 'Patty pan' squash on the website. *Zucchini – Pretty good harvest this week.  As the plants mature, they produce more zucchini and we begin to have a steady supply.

NOTES ON WHAT IS GROWING The beans are getting close to flowering, celery is bulking up and the first corn is about 30 cm high....AND today I spotted a bit of colour on the polytunnel tomatoes!

We are tilling in the brassica plantings as we harvest to try and ensure the brassica moth does not become a plague.  This means no side shoots of broccoli.  We do have another planting that should be ready in three weeks.  We have almost finished the cauliflower and 'Romanesco Broccoli' plantings and have finished all of the cabbage for a few months.

This week we planted the 2nd planting of melons and tomatoes and Christmas mesclun, more lettuce, spinach, rocket, radishes, carrots, green onions and beetroot.  We will be planting the second crop of zucchini and  cucumbers in a fortnight and our watermelons on Friday.

RECIPE SUGGESTIONS Zucchini Ribbon Salad with Greens, Feta and Semidried Tomatoes Quick Pesto Pasta Creamy Pasta with Roasted Zucchini, Goats Cheese & Basil Bok Choy Salad And here is a link for a Spinach and Pumpkin Curry for all of you who still have pumpkins from Autumn.  We made it for the crew who loved it.

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.