CSA Autumn Share 2013 - Week #10 (4 May - 10 May)

WHAT’S IN THE BOXThe following are the items being harvested this coming 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 endeavour to divide the harvest fairly.

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.

NOTES ON THE SHARE Beans – 'Strike' green beans and 'Cherokee Wax' yellow ones. Baby Red Pak Choi – Making bunches of these lovely baby Asian greens.  These are lovely stir fried whole. Broccoli – We continue checking for side shoots on the plants and while we wait for the next planting to head up.   We hope to get a bunch of some side shoots in all the boxes.  There may be green cabbage moth caterpillars...although we have only seen a few while harvesting. We have seen aphids, though and are trying to not harvest those heads.  If you do spy them, you can submerse the head in a salty water (cover the heads with a plate to keep them under.)  The aphids usually float up. If the aphids do take over the plantings, we will be tilling them in. 'Romanesco' Broccoli - This almost looks more like a cauliflower then a broccoli.  It is tender and mild with a slightly nutty flavor and its lovely lime green spirals.  Delicious raw. Use as you would cauliflower or broccoli. There are only a few plants heading up at this time but we hope the whole planting will in the next four weeks. Red Cabbage - 'Red Rock' Carrots – 'Scarlett Nantes'  Bigger orange carrots this week. Cauliflower - The plantings of 'Green Macerata' and 'Sicily Purple' cauliflower are continuing to produce heads ready for harvest.  These plantings are not coming on uniformly so we are uncertain how many heads will be ready each week.  We are keeping a list of who has received one and who has not.  There is also a planting of white cauliflower starting to head up.  Not sure if it will make it for this week but we should be harvesting them in a week. Chillies - We will include chillies in your box if you request them.  Please email us if you would like them. Coriander - Bunch in every box. Garlic – As we come to the end of this seasons shares, we are cleaning out the garlic we have.  Two to three bulbs in every box. Red Onions - 'California Red'... again we do not want to store onions over the winter.  So your share will include some extras. Parsley – Harvesting ‘Italian flat leaf’ and ‘Curly leaf’. Potatoes -  Harvesting 'Nicola' and 'Desiree'. Sweet Corn - We have two rows of a sweet corn experiment that is ready for harvest.  Some boxes received it last week.  We are hoping there is enough to put in the boxes that did not receive it yet. Baby Tatsoi – A green Asian green.  Again, we are harvesting them while they are tender and young.  They only need a very light wilting. Turnips - 'Purple Top'.

We are cleaning up several plantings.  Expect one of the following: Rocket Baby Silver Beet - 'Red Ruby'.  This is a lovely alternative to lettuce as a green under roasted vegetable, a great addition to soups or just lightly steamed. English Spinach - 'Long Standing Bloomsdale' ‘Perpetual Gator’ Spinach – This is more a silver beet then a spinach and it is tender and slightly lemony.

NOTES ON WHAT'S GROWING This weeks harvest is a bit unpredictable.  We know that the root crops, the Asian greens and the cabbage are ready and ample.  But we are unsure of what the broccoli, cauliflower, bean and sweet corn harvest will be.  In the fields, there are four varieties of lettuce (including raddichio, a mesclun planting, two 'Perpetual Gator' silverbeet plantings, another huge bok choy planting, Japanese turnips, rocket, english spinach, mustard greens, 'Mibuna' (another Asian Green), green cabbage, purple savoy cabbage, two white cauliflower plantings, sprouting broccoli planting, two more broccoli plantings, 200 feet of sugar snap peas in flower, our last sweet corn planting of 200 feet.  We are hoping that all of these will finish growing/ripening and be ready for harvest in the next few weeks.

There was a light frost this week which touched the leaves of the pumpkin plants, the last zucchini planting and the tops of the bean plantings leaves.  Luckily the beans were left untouched.  Any basil left on the farm is showing the signs of the cold with black spots all through it.  Most of the crops we are harvesting now are frost hardy.  The cold just slows down the growth.

SEASONAL EATING - SHARING INSPIRATION Please keep sharing your inspirations.  As we really shift away from the light hungry, heat loving plants, I feel grateful to have had a summer harvest which blessed us with pumpkins, beans, zucchini, cucumbers, tomatoes, corn - Which made the soil warm enough to grow our root crops for harvesting through the winter - and compost still rotting with the warmth.  True seasonal eating has lost its definition, due partly to the fact that the grocery stores and fruit and vegetable shops seem to have everything, all the time.  It is great to be a part of the re-awakening of eating with the season and I am enjoying compiling what that looks like for so many different families. So, please, delight us with your fig delicacies, your kale chips, your silver beet stews and your pumpkin, spinach and ricotta lasagnas!

RECIPE SUGGESTIONS Individual Turnip Gratins with Toast Fingers Tatsoi and Cabbage Stir Fry Bok Choy, Broccolini and Chicken in a Spiced Sauce and I found this recipe on the internet which would work well with 'Romanesco' and cauliflower, Quick Pickled Romanesco Broccoli

You can find more recipes by searching key ingredients on our website recipe page.

CSA Autumn Share 2013 - Week #9 (27 April - 1 May)

WHAT’S IN THE BOX The following are the items being harvested this coming 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 endeavour to divide the harvest fairly.

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.

NOTES ON THE SHARE Beetroot - Harvesting 'Detroit Red', 'Bulls Blood' and some 'Golden Detroit'. Broccoli – Another of our broccoli plantings became ready for harvest last week...hence the surplus in last weeks boxes.  This week we will be checking for side shoots and waiting for the next planting to head up which may be in two weeks.   We hope to get some side shoots in all the boxes.  There may be green cabbage moth caterpillars...although we have only seen a few while harvesting. We have seen aphids, though and are trying to not harvest those heads.  If you do spy them, you can submerse the head in a salty water (cover the heads with a plate to keep them under.)  The aphids usually float up. If the aphids do take over the plantings, we will be tilling them in. Capsicum – We are continuing to find a few red capsicums.  We have been putting these into boxes and will continue as they start to turn red.  Just leave them out on the counter and they will turn completely red in a matter of days. Carrots – Big bunches of mixed baby carrots.  You can roast or steam these whole. Varieties include 'Atomic Red', 'Deep Purple' and 'Solar Yellow'. Cauliflower - The plantings of 'Green Macerata' and 'Sicily Purple' cauliflower are beginning to produce heads ready for harvest.  These plantings are not coming on uniformly so we are uncertain how many heads will be ready each week.  We are keeping a list of who has received one and who has not.  Expect a head over the next three to four weeks. Celery – 'Tall Utah' Chillies - We will include chillies in your box if you request them.  Please email us if you would like them. Garlic – As we come to the end of this seasons shares, we are cleaning out the garlic we have.  Three of four bulbs in every box. Kale - 'Nero di Toscana' and 'Dwarf Blue Curled' - Bunch in every box Parsnips - 'Hollow Crown'. Peas - We have started harvesting 'Oregon Giant' Snow Peas.  We are uncertain of what the first harvest will be.  If you do not receive some this week, expect some over the next three weeks. Pumpkin – 'Hercules Butternut' or 'Queensland Blue'. Red Onions - 'California Red'... again we do not want to store onions over the winter.  So your share will include some extras. Baby Silver beet - 'Red Ruby'.  This is a lovely alternative to lettuce as a green under roasted vegetable, a great addition to soups or just lightly steamed. Sweet Corn - There is a small amount of sweet corn ready for harvest.  There is a final planting that Peter thinks will ripen.  So if you do not receive some this week, we hope you will i the next few weeks. Watermelon - We have found a few watermelon hiding in the grass...enough for the full shares.  Truly the end of the season now!!

NOTES ON WHAT'S GROWING Crops are greatly effected by daylight. Our daylight hours have reduced to 11.5 from 16 during the summer. We see this as growth slowing down...and then just stopping.  It is not only the cold, that slows them.  It is the daylight.  As growers, we try and time the seeding of the crops, taking this into account.  Sometimes we have a crop, ready to harvest, which will just slow down.  Sometimes we have that crop ready, and then the days heat up and the crop pushes on.  Sometimes, the crop is just lagging behind.  We are currently waiting and watching all we have planted.  As the day length approaches 10 hours, nothing will grow anymore.  And so we wait and watch and hope that all that is planted will either hold on or finish ripening.

SEASONAL EATING - SHARING INSPIRATION Please keep sharing your inspirations.  As we really shift away from the light hungry, heat loving plants, I feel grateful to have had a summer harvest which blessed us with pumpkins, beans, zucchini, cucumbers, tomatoes, corn - Which made the soil warm enough to grow our root crops for harvesting through the winter - and compost still rotting with the warmth.  True seasonal eating has lost its definition, due partly to the fact that the grocery stores and fruit and vegetable shops seem to have everything, all the time.  It is great to be a part of the re-awakening of eating with the season and I am enjoying compiling what that looks like for so many different families. So, please, delight us with your fig delicacies, your kale chips, your silver beet stews and your pumpkin, spinach and ricotta lasagnas!

RECIPE SUGGESTIONS Pumpkin and Autumn Green Cannelloni Delicious Hearty Pumpkin Soup Kale Chips Lentils, Monastery style Green Bean Salad - Try substituting broccoli for green beans and from Martha Stewart this delicious Celery, Fig and Gorganzola Salad

You can find more recipes by searching key ingredients on our website recipe page.

CSA Autumn Share 2013 - Week #8 (20 April to 26 April)

WHAT’S IN THE BOXThe following are the items being harvested this coming 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 endeavour to divide the harvest fairly.

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.

NOTES ON THE SHARE Basil - A bunch of tops in every box.  There are some leaves showing signs of colder weather...black spots. Bok Choy - Harvesting bunches of tender baby bok choy. Beans - This is our last bean planting for the season - and as it is getting cooler, we are unsure of the amount of beans that will be ready for harvest. We hope to get some in every box. The varieties are the yellow 'Cherokee Wax' and green 'Strike'. Broccoli – We have three varieties being harvested - 'DeCiccio', small, sweet side shoots which can be used stem to floret, 'Belfast' very tight medium size heads and 'Marathon' which have large heads.  Expect a few heads in every box.  There may be green cabbage moth caterpillars...although we have only seen a few while harvesting. Carrots – Big bunches of mixed baby carrots.  You can roast or steam these whole. Varieties include 'Atomic Red', 'Deep Purple' and 'Solar Yellow'. Cauliflower - The plantings of 'Green Macerata' and 'Sicily Purple' cauliflower are beginning to produce heads ready for harvest.  Expect a head over the next three to four weeks. Chillies - We will include chillies in your box if you request them.  Please email us if you would like them. Garlic – Bulb or two in every box. Leeks - 'American Flag' Parsley - Harvesting curly and Italian flat leaf Potatoes - 'Pontiac' or Nicola' Pumpkin – Harvesting 'Anna Swartz' and 'Queensland Blue'.  'Anna Swartz' is a buttercup variety which is drier and more flavourful.  This is delicious in soups and curries. Baby Rocket - Tender and young Silverbeet - 'Red Ruby' Spinach – 'Long Standing Bloomsdale'

ROTATING As the farm transitions into Autumn, the warm weather crops are finishing.  While they are still producing, we will harvest them and rotate them through the boxes.  If you have received these in the past two weeks, you may not see them again until next season. Patty Pan Squash – 'Jaune Et Verte' - scallop, small, round summer squash.  Delicious baked, grilled or stir fried. Pimiento de Padrons – These sometimes hot, sometimes not chillies are a wonderful entree...enjoyed by child and adult! Zucchini– 'Nero de Milano' and 'Romanesco'.  We are also harvesting 'Golden Crookneck', a summer squash.

NOTES ON WHAT'S GROWING With many areas of the farm tilled now and awaiting the germination of cover crops, cold weather crops are dominating the landscape.  The next planting of broccoli is heading up and we are harvesting the first of the cauliflower.  We are trialing three varieties of cauliflower - green, purple and white.   Many "greens" are glowing against the cloudy skies - Silverbeet, Spinach, Bok choys, Mustards, Rocket, Raddichio, Lettuce, Tatsoi, Kale and Fennel (not a green but the feathery tops look great!).  There are different varieties of turnips growing, more parsnips, radishes, carrots and beet root.  And the Kol Rabi's are beginning to plump up.  And there are also many small pea pods on the planting of snow peas.  They may be ready for harvest next week.  The last remaining warm weather crop will be our final planting of sweet corn which has tasseled and is full of ears.  We are hoping that they do finish their developing.  While the remainder of the warm weather crops are succumbing to powdery mildew, the cold weather crops are thriving.

We have taken a photo essay of what's growing and will be posting that on the website in the next few days.  If you receive the newsletter, it will come to you directly.

FARM TOURS The farm is open from 8am-11am on Saturdays for members to walk around and see your food growing.  Each week the landscape changes as crops grow, are harvested and then tilled in.  Please email us if you need directions. If you are not a member and would like to tour the farm, please join our mailing list (box in the right hand margin) to be informed of the next farm open day.

SEASONAL EATING - SHARING INSPIRATION Please keep sharing your inspirations.  True seasonal eating has lost its definition, due partly to the fact that the grocery stores and fruit and vegetable shops seem to have everything, all the time.  It is great to be a part of the re-awakening of eating with the season and I am enjoying compiling what that looks like for so many different families.

RECIPE SUGGESTIONS Spinach and Chicken Curry Blue Cheese, Proscuitto and Rocket Bruschetta Bok Choy, Broccoli and Chicken in a Spiced Sauce We will be adding two soup recipes at the beginning of the week. One with spinach or silver beet and the other with pumpkin.  You can find those on the home page of the website  or search by key ingredient on our website recipe page.

CSA Autumn Share 2013 - Week #7 (13 April - 19 April)

WHAT’S IN THE BOXThe following are the items being harvested this coming week.  Items and quantities in your box may vary depending on your harvest day and the harvest.  Please read the  Notes on the Share(below) to know which items we "rotate" through the boxes.  The boxes are completely governed by what is ripe and ready for harvest and how much of it there is.  We endeavour to divide the harvest fairly.

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.

NOTES ON THE SHARE HARVESTING Beetroot – The golden beetroot can be eaten raw or roasted. The colour stays brighter when they are raw. Broccoli – We have three varieties being harvested - 'DeCiccio', small, sweet side shoots which can be used stem to floret, 'Belfast' very tight medium size heads and 'Marathon' which have large heads.  Expect a few heads in every box.  There may be green cabbage moth caterpillars, as this is organic broccoli. Red Cabbage – 'Red Rock' Carrots – Big bunches of very baby carrots.  You can roast or steam these whole. Celery – Harvesting 'Tall Utah'.  This next celery planting is much more succulent then the ones in the summer.  Lovely raw. Chillies - ‘Hungarian Hot Wax’ and/or ‘Long Thin Cayennes’ . Please look at the pepper post to identify. Coriander – Bunch in every box. Garlic – Bulb or two in every box. Lettuce– Harvesting 'Brown Mignonette', a boston lettuce, and 'Red Romaine', a cos.  The heat of the past weeks have caused two lettuce plantings to be ready at the same time.  We will harvest them this week before we lose them and there may be no lettuce next week. Red Onions – 'California Red'. Parsley – Harvesting 'Italian flat leaf' and 'Curly leaf'. 'Perpetual Gator' Spinach – This is more a silverbeet then a spinach and it is tender and slightly lemony. Pumpkin – Harvesting 'Anna Swartz' and 'Queensland Blue'.  'Anna Swartz' is a buttercup variety which is drier and more flavourful.  This is delicious in soups and curries. Japanese Turnips – Also known as 'Hakurai' turnips, these lovely white 'salad' turnips are mild and sweet, even when raw.  Their greens are also very edible with their mustardy flavour.  You do not need to peel these turnips - just a light scrub will do. Turnips are a cousin to cabbage, and boasts two phytochemicals, indoles and sulforaphane, that may help fight or prevent cancer. They are also a good source of vitamin C and insoluble fiber. We are growing these for the first time and the first seeding was a double what we needed for a week.  So you get them for a second week while they are still young and tender. ROTATING As the farm transitions into Autumn, the warm weather crops are finishing.  While they are still producing, we will harvest them and rotate them through the boxes.  If you have received these in the past two weeks, you may not see them again until next season. Capsicum – There are capsicums on the bushes....we have only harvested 7 in the past two weeks.  Not sure when they will start breaking!  They will turn red if you leave them on your counter. Patty Pan Squash – 'Jaune Et Verte' - scallop, small, round summer squash.  Delicious baked, grilled or stir fried. Pimiento de Padrons – These sometimes hot, sometimes not chillies are a wonderful entree...enjoyed by child and adult! Zucchini– 'Nero de Milano' and 'Romanesco'.  We are also harvesting 'Golden Crookneck', a summer squash.

SEASONAL EATING - SHARING INSPIRATION Please keep sharing your inspirations.  True seasonal eating has lost its definition, due partly to the fact that the grocery stores and fruit and vegetable shops seem to have everything, all the time.  It is great to be a part of the re-awakening of eating with the season and I am enjoying compiling what that looks like for so many different families.

FARM TOURS The farm is open from 8am-11am on Saturdays for members to walk around and see your food growing.  Each week the landscape changes as crops grow, are harvested and then tilled in.  Please email us if you need directions. If you are not a member and would like to tour the farm, please join our mailing list (box in the right hand margin) to be informed of the next farm open day.

RECIPE SUGGESTIONS We enjoyed the following recipes that I found on the internet. Red Cabbage, Fennel and Apple Slaw Roasted Japanese Turnips and their Balsamic Greens Braised Red Cabbage with Fennel and Apple Pumpkin and Spinach or Curry

You can also search by key ingredient on our website recipe page for many more ideas.

CSA Autumn Share 2013 - Week #6 (6 April - 12 April)

WHAT’S IN THE BOXThe following are the items being harvested this coming week.  Items and quantities in your box may vary depending on your harvest day and the harvest.  Please read the  Notes on the Share (below) to know which items we "rotate" through the boxes.  The boxes are completely governed by what is ripe and ready for harvest and how much of it there is.  We endeavour to divide the harvest fairly.

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.

NOTES ON THE SHARE IN EVERY BOX Basil – Basil plantings are being pulled up before they are tilled in.  Big pesto bunches in every box. Beetroot – Bunch in every box.  The golden beetroot can be eaten raw or roasted. The colour stays brighter when they are raw. Broccoli – We have three varieties being harvested - 'DeCiccio', small, sweet side shoots which can be used stem to floret, 'Belfast' very tight medium size heads and 'Marathon' which have large heads.  Expect a few heads in every box.  There may be green cabbage moth caterpillars, as this is organic broccoli. Green Cabbage – 'Golden Acre' - a head in every box.  This week will be the last harvest of green cabbage for at least 5 weeks. Carrots – Big bunches of very baby carrots.  You can roast or steam these whole. Chillies - ‘Hungarian Hot Wax’ and/or ‘Long Thin Cayennes’ . Please look at the pepper post to identify. Fennel – Harvesting 'Zefo Fino'. Leeks – Harvesting American Flag. Lettuce – Harvesting 'Brown Mignonette', a boston lettuce, and 'Crisp Mint' or 'Freckles', a cos, for the full shares. Parsley – Harvesting 'Italian flat leaf'. Potatoes – Bit larger portion in every box. Pumpkin – Harvesting 'Australian Butter'. Thyme – Bunch in every box. Japanese Turnips – Also known as 'Hakurai' turnips, these lovely white 'salad' turnips are mild and sweet, even when raw.  Their greens are also very edible with their mustardy flavour.  You do not need to peel these turnips - just a light scrub will do. Turnips are a cousin to cabbage, and boasts two phytochemicals, indoles and sulforaphane, that may help fight or prevent cancer. They are also a good source of vitamin C and insoluble fiber. ROTATING As the farm transitions into Autumn, the warm weather crops are finishing.  While they are still producing, we will harvest them and rotate them through the boxes.  If you have received these in the past two weeks, you may not see them again until next season. Lemon Basil and Purple Basil – We have both.  If you would like a bunch, please email us.  The lemon basil is lovely in salad dressings, marinades and vegetable pastas...to mention a few dishes.  The purple basil has a subtle basil flavour and adds a great colour to many dishes. Capsicum – There are capsicums on the bushes.  We harvest them when they are 'breaking' - not completely red.  They will turn red if you leave them on your counter. Cucumbers – Small, round 'Lemon' cucumbers, medium size cucumbers 'Marketmore' and 'Straight Eight' and large Chinese climbing cucumbers 'Suyo'. Eggplant –  Please look at the eggplant post to identify. Patty Pan Squash – 'Jaune Et Verte' - scallop, small, round summer squash.  Delicious baked, grilled or stir fried. Pimiento de Padrons Zucchini – 'Nero de Milano' and 'Romanesco'.  We are also harvesting 'Golden Crookneck', a summer squash. CLEANING OUT The following are plantings that we are finishing in order to prepare the soil and sow a cover crop. Expect at least one of the following in your box this week. Red Cabbage – 'Red Rock' Corn –  'Ruby Queen' Radish - 'French Breakfast' Rocket Spinach Baby Silverbeet

NOTES ON WHAT'S GROWING This week saw whole sections of the new land being cleaned out.  In the next few days, Peter will till in compost and in a few weeks, sow cover crops.  Cover crops protect the soil from winter erosion, put a variety of nutrients back into the soil and add humus to the soil when they are tilled in in the Spring.

The Autumn harvest snow and sugar snap peas are all flowering.  We have several varieties of cauliflower growing well with the green and the white all starting to head up, more plantings of broccoli are coming on, a variety of greens such as Bok Choys, Mustards and Mibuna are all growing well and plenty of root crops to add variety to the boxes.

The garlic that will be ready for harvest in late November has been planted as have the Spring share broad beans and over wintered cauliflower.  These may all be ready for harvest in October...7 months later!  We will be adding information about the Spring Share on our website in the next fortnight.

We have also begun working out our crop rotation for the next three years.  We take the information we have about the harvest of crops, the feedback about which crops members would like more of and which crops they did not enjoy, plan what we will be planting next year and then work out where it will be planted.  Crop rotation "means variety and variety gives stability to biological systems." (Coleman, The New Organic Grower).  We thank the members who filled out the surveys during the summer share.  We will be sending another out in the next week.  The survey takes 5 minutes and really helps us to know what you would like to be eating.

ESKY'S Please keep putting out your esky's.  Peter is happy to put your vegetables in one to preserve the freshness of the food until you return home.  Leave them in the shade and leave a note if you think he would not spot it.  We have also been told that water frozen in juice bottles with card board on top in an esky is an excellent way to protect the tender greens and keep everything cold and crisp.  Thanks for the advice!

FARM TOURS The farm is open from 8am-11am on Saturdays for members to walk around and see your food growing.  Each week the landscape changes as crops grow, are harvested and then tilled in.  Please email us if you need directions.

SEASONAL EATING - SHARING INSPIRATION Please keep sharing your inspirations.  True seasonal eating has lost its definition, due partly to the fact that the grocery stores and fruit and vegetable shops seem to have everything, all the time.  It is great to be a part of the re-awakening of eating with the season and I am enjoying compiling what that looks like for so many different families.

RECIPE SUGGESTIONS We enjoyed the following recipes that I found on the internet. Red Cabbage, Fennel and Apple Slaw Roasted Japanese Turnips and their Balsamic Greens Braised Red Cabbage with Fennel and Apple Pumpkin and Spinach Curry Beetroot, Rocket and Feta Salad

You can also search by key ingredient on our website recipe page for many more ideas.

CSA Autumn Share 2013 - Week #5 (30 March - 4 April)

WHAT’S IN THE BOX The following are the items being harvested this coming week.  Items and quantities in your box may vary depending on your harvest day and the harvest.  Please read the  Notes on the Share (below) to know which items we "rotate" through the boxes.  If the harvest of a crop is not enough for every member, we keep track of whom has received it and whom has not so as to keep the shares even.

The picture represents a full share box and is not exactly what every box will contain this week.  The boxes are completely governed by what is ripe and ready for harvest and how much of it there is.  We endeavour to divide the harvest fairly.

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.

NOTES ON THE SHARE Basil – We are preparing whole areas of the farm for cover crops.  Basil plantings are being pulled up before they are tilled in.  Big pesto bunches in every box. Lemon Basil and Purple Basil – We have both.  If you would like a bunch, please email us.  The lemon basil is lovely in salad dressings, marinades and vegetable pastas...to mention a few dishes.  The purple basil has a subtle basil flavour and adds a great colour to many dishes. Broccoli – We have two varieties which are heading - 'DeCiccio' which have smaller heads and 'Marathon' which have large heads.  There may be green cabbage moth caterpillars, as this is organic broccoli. Green Cabbage – Still harvesting 'Golden Acre'.  If you would not like any, please let us know. Red Cabbage – Harvesting 'Red Rock'. Carrots – This next planting of carrots are some of the ugliest carrots we have grown.  The varieties are 'Scarlett Nantes', 'Deep Purple' and 'Cosmic Purple'.  They are still great to eat and juice but the soil in which they were planted must have been too rich and/or trying to keep them cool during the heat waves of the summer has caused them to branch out....as opposed to sending down a single tap root searching for water.  So everyone will receive a bunch of WILD carrots - bagged to try and contain them!  Our next planting of carrots which are lovely and straight, will not be ready for two to three weeks.  If you would prefer no ugly carrots for the next few weeks, please email us. Chillies - The harvest of ‘Padron’ chillies will continue to appear in some boxes. There are ‘Hungarian Hot Wax’,  ‘Long Thin Cayennes’ and ‘Thai Hot’ or ‘Bird’s Eye’ being harvested.  Please look at the pepper post to identify. Coriander – Bunch in every box. Cucumbers – We are harvesting the third planting. There are small, round 'Lemon' cucumbers, small pickling cucumbers 'Sumter', medium size cucumbers 'Marketmore' and 'Straight Eight' and large Chinese climbing cucumbers 'Suyo'. Eggplant –  Please look at the eggplant post to identify.  We rotate the harvest. Garlic – Bulb in every box. Lettuce – Harvesting 'Crisp Mint' a Romaine lettuce and 'Perella Rougette' for the full shares. Mesclun – Harvesting another mesclun planting. Onions – 'California Red' onion(s) in every box. Parsley – Harvesting curly leaf. Parsnips – We have started harvesting big parsnips 'Hollow Crown'. Patty Pan Squash – The variety is 'Jaune Et Verte'.  They are scallop, small, round summer squash.  Delicious baked, grilled or stir fried.  We are rotating the harvest of these each week. Silverbeet – Bunches of 'Ruby Red' or 'Perpetual Gator' in every box. Tomatoes – Romas and 'Marglobes', 'Principe Borghese' and 'Sun Gold'.  The tomato harvest is dwindling...even with a second planting.  Their season is almost done. Pumpkin – Harvesting 'Australian Butter' and 'Butternut' pumpkins. 'Tiny Tim' Pumpkins – We planted a few of these tiny little pumpkins just as an Autumn treat.  They are apparently edible but we just like them as a seasonal display.  Happy Autumn!! Zucchini – Harvesting 'Nero de Milano' and 'Romanesco'. The zucchinis are slowing down and we are rotating the harvest.  We are also harvesting 'Golden Crookneck', a summer squash.

NOTES ON WHAT'S GROWING The melon and watermelon have finished.  There are many huge melons on the plants but we are not sure if they will ripen as the nights have really cooled down and melons like balmy nights!  It has been a wonderful season for both melons and watermelons!

We have planted a variety of broccoli which is all heading up now...every single plant at the same time!  I have never seen anything like it...so uniform and perfect.  With that and our other two varieties which are producing, we are about to have a great amount of broccoli.  Not sure if the 'Belstar' will be ready this week or next but get your broccoli recipes ready!

We have finished with one bean planting and we have one more which we are hoping will produce.  The cold nights keep the warm weather plants from producing flowers.  Without flowers, there are no fruits...or beans in this case. We are not sure if this last planting will produce or not...

We have two more corn plantings which we hope will keep growing.  One has already tasseled and pollinated but the ears are not ready.  The other has not tasseled yet.

There is a planting of cauliflower just beginning to head up and a planting of 'Romanesco' broccoli which may start heading up.  'Romanesco' is that lovely Esher-esc plant that has whirls of lime green spirals.  It is classified a broccoli but grows like a cauliflower and can be used as you would either.

The kale plantings are growing as are the silverbeet.  And the re-plantings of Asian greens have sprouted and have true leaves. Baby bok choy in three weeks!!

ESKY'S Please keep putting out your esky's.  Peter is happy to put your vegetables in one to preserve the freshness of the food until you return home.  Leave them in the shade and leave a note if you think he would not spot it.  We have also been told that water frozen in juice bottles with card board on top in an esky is an excellent way to protect the tender greens and keep everything cold and crisp.  Thanks for the advice!

SEASONAL EATING - SHARING INSPIRATION Please keep sharing your inspirations.  True seasonal eating has lost its definition, due partly to the fact that the grocery stores and fruit and vegetable shops seem to have everything, all the time.  It is great to be a part of the re-awakening of eating with the season and I am enjoying compiling what that looks like for so many different families.

RECIPE SUGGESTIONS Braised Red Cabbage with Bacon Thai Salad Dresssing Pasta with Broccoli and Lemon Basil Sauce Pickled Red Cabbage Roasted Parsnips, Beetroot and Carrots

You can also search by key ingredient on our website recipe page for many more ideas.

CSA Autumn Share 2013 - Week #4 (23-29 March)

WHAT’S IN THE BOXThe following are the items being harvested this coming week.  Items and quantities in your box may vary depending on your harvest day and the harvest.  Please read the  Notes on the Share (below) to know which items we "rotate" through the boxes.  If the harvest of a crop is not enough for every member, we keep track of whom has received it and whom has not so as to keep the shares even.

The picture represents a full share box and is not exactly what every box will contain this week.  The boxes are completely governed by what is ripe and ready for harvest and how much of it there is.  We endeavour to divide the harvest fairly.

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.

NOTES ON THE SHARE Basil – We have a big planting that we are cutting from.  If you do not know what to do with the basil, you can make pesto and freeze it to add to pasta sauces and soups through the winter.  Field basil dies with the first frost and will return late November/Early December. Lemon Basil and Purple Basil – We have both.  If you would like a bunch, please email us.  The lemon basil is lovely in salad dressings, marinades and vegetable pastas...to mention a few dishes.  The purple basil has a subtle basil flavour and adds a great colour to many dishes. Beans – We are in between plantings...and unsure if our last planting of beans will produce.  It depends on how warm it stays.  We will divide the harvest of whatever is left in the planting we have been picking and hope that the last planting comes on.  This may be it until December though for beans. Beat Root – We are harvesting 'Ruby Queen', 'Golden Detroit' and 'Bulls Blood'. Broccoli – We have two varieties which are heading - 'DeCiccio' which have smaller heads and 'Marathon' which have large heads.  There may be green cabbage moth caterpillars, as this is organic broccoli. Cabbage – The heat two weeks ago brought on the next cabbage crop early.  All of the green cabbage 'Golden Acre' is ready for harvest! Capsicum – We are harvesting "breaking" capsicums. These are green or purple capsicums that have started to turn to red.  Leave these capsicums on your kitchen counter or in a bag with a banana to allow them to mature and turn to beautiful red peppers.  I have attached two photos to the end of this of one I did.  We are harvesting them "breaking" to keep the plant producing as they should produce for another three weeks depending on the weather. Please look at the capsicum post to identify varieties you are unsure of. Chillies - The harvest of ‘Padron’ chillies will continue to appear in some boxes. There are ‘Hungarian Hot Wax’,  ‘Long Thin Cayennes’ and ‘Thai Hot’ or ‘Bird’s Eye’ being harvested.  Please look at the pepper post to identify. Corn – We are harvesting the sixth planting of corn, a butter and sugar variety 'Polaris'. Corn is best the day it is picked and we pick it Saturday morning for farm pick up and right before the truck leaves for deliveries on Wednesday.  Try and eat it that day as the sugars begin to turn to starch instantly after picking...no matter how cold it is kept. The harvest may be less then last week.  We also have a planting of 'Ruby Queen', the red sweet corn which may be ready in a week, weather depending. Cucumbers – We are harvesting the third planting. There are small, round 'Lemon' cucumbers, small pickling cucumbers 'Sumter', medium size cucumbers 'Marketmore' and 'Straight Eight' and large Chinese climbing cucumbers 'Suyo'. Eggplant –  Please look at the eggplant post to identify.  We rotate the harvest. Garlic – Bulb in every box. Leeks – Harvesting 'American Flag'. We are cleaning out the first planting of leeks.  If you do not receive one, you will receive a 'California Red'  onion. Lettuce – Harvesting beautiful 'Perella Rougette' for everyone and a head of 'Freckles' for the full shares. Melons – The harvest in the third planting has slowed right down, with the coolness of the weather.  There are some huge French melons which we hope will ripen but it may just stay too cold to finish them off .  We are unsure of what the harvest this week will be. Parsley – Harvesting 'Italian Flat Leaf'. Parsnips – We have started harvesting big parsnips 'Hollow Crown'. If you receive parsnips, you will not receive turnips this week. Patty Pan Squash – The variety is 'Jaune Et Verte'.  They are scallop, small, round summer squash.  Delicious baked, grilled or stir fried.  We are rotating the harvest of these each week. Potatoes – Harvesting 'Desiree' and 'Nicola'. Radishes – We are finishing our harvest of 'French Breakfast' Radishes. Tomatoes – Romas and 'Marglobes', 'Principe Borghese' and 'Sun Gold'. We have finished the first planting of tomatoes and will be pulling the plants out in the next week.  There are still cherries, if you would like to come and U-Pick them to jar or have extra for Easter.  Available this Saturday, 23 March between 8-11am or email and make an appointment. They will be gone by next Saturday. Turnips – We have started harvesting our first planting of turnips, 'Scarlett Queen'.  The turnip tops are also very nutritious and tasty.  If you receive turnips, you will not receive parsnips this week. Watermelon – There are still a few watermelon in the field which we hope have ripened. Zucchini – Harvesting 'Nero de Milano' and 'Romanesco'. The zucchinis are slowing down and we are rotating the harvest.  We are also harvesting 'Golden Crookneck', a summer squash.

NOTES ON WHAT'S GROWING The further effects of the hot dry summer are showing up.  Our next planting of carrots had just germinated when we had the heat wave in January. In order to get them through, we watered them frequently through that week.  Consequently, the carrots did not stretch down for water and they are all short and stubby.  The next planting has lovely long straight baby carrots.  As we search more through planting three, we will let you know what we are finding.

The heat wave in March caused our Autumn bok choys to all bolt (go to seed) before they were even baby bok choy.  We have seeded more which will be another few weeks.  That heat wave also caused very poor germination in our next spinach planting.  We have weeded the baby spinach that are there and have planted more.

The seasons are changing though with the cooling down of the nights and the loss of daylight.  The lettuces are loving it as are the brassicas!  And slowly the summer crops are fading out of the harvest.

ESKY'S Please keep putting out your esky's.  Peter is happy to put your vegetables in one to preserve the freshness of the food until you return home.  Leave them in the shade and leave a note if you think he would not spot it.  We have also been told that water frozen in juice bottles with card board on top in an esky is an excellent way to protect the tender greens and keep everything cold and crisp.  Thanks for the advice!

SEASONAL EATING - SHARING INSPIRATION Please keep sharing your inspirations.  True seasonal eating has lost its definition, due partly to the fact that the grocery stores and fruit and vegetable shops seem to have everything, all the time.  It is great to be a part of the re-awakening of eating with the season and I am enjoying compiling what that looks like for so many different families.

RECIPE SUGGESTIONS Tatsoi and Cabbage Stirfry (which works great with Broccoli, Zucchini, Capsicum, Summer Squash and/or Cabbage) Mashed Turnips and Potatoes Lamb Stew with Root Vegetables Ottolenghi’s Perfect Lettuce Salad with Radishes, Semi-dried Tomatoes, and Capers Roasted Parsnips, Beetroot and Carrots

You can also search by key ingredient on our website recipe page for many more ideas.

CSA Autumn Share 2013 - Week #3 (16-22 March)

WHAT’S IN THE BOX The following are the items being harvested this coming week.  Items and quantities in your box may vary depending on your harvest day and the harvest.  Please read the  Notes on the Share (below) to know which items we "rotate" through the boxes.  If the harvest of a crop is not enough for every member, we keep track of whom has received it and whom has not so as to keep the shares even.

The picture represents a full share box and is not exactly what every box will contain this week.  The boxes are completely governed by what is ripe and ready for harvest and how much of it there is.  We endeavour to divide the harvest fairly.

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.

NOTES ON THE SHARE Basil – We are continuing to thin a new planting. Bunches are young basil with roots. Lemon Basil and Purple Basil – Thinning both. Beans – We are harvesting 'Cherokee Wax' , yellow, string less, bush beans and 'Strike', green, string less, bush beans. Broccoli – We have two varieties which are heading - 'DeCiccio' which have smaller heads and 'Marathon' which have large heads.  There may be green cabbage moth caterpillars, as this is organic broccoli. Capsicum – We are harvesting "breaking" capsicums. These are green or purple capsicums that have started to turn to red.  There are many posts online which talk about how to continue to turn the capsicum red...on your kitchen counter or in a bag with a banana.  We are harvesting them "breaking" to keep the plant producing as they should produce for another four-six weeks depending on the weather. Red capsicums contain high levels of vitamin C but come only when the plant has matured.  Please look at the pepper post to identify. Celery – Our celery has been greatly effected this year by the lack of rain.  The flavour has been concentrated and it may be stringy.  We are still putting it into the boxes though as celery is filled with so many minerals and the stock we have been making from it is fabulous...so full of flavour.  We also had one member write to us and tell us that all celery used to be stringy and an evening chore for young children, much like shucking corn and topping and tailing beans was taking the strings off the celery. Chillies - The harvest of ‘Padron’ chillies will continue to appear in some boxes. There are ‘Hungarian Hot Wax’,  ‘Long Thin Cayennes’ and ‘Thai Hot’ or ‘Bird’s Eye’ being harvested.  Please look at the pepper post to identify. Corn – It missed the photo but YES, we are still harvesting corn! The fifth planting of corn is a butter and sugar variety 'Max'. Cucumbers – We are harvesting the third planting. There are small, round 'Lemon' cucumbers, small pickling cucumbers 'Sumter', medium size cucumbers 'Marketmore' and 'Straight Eight' and large Chinese climbing cucumbers 'Suyo'. Eggplant – The eggplants were another crop effected by the extreme heat.  We are continuing to harvest what is there.  Please look at the eggplant post to identify.  We rotate the harvest. Fennel – Harvesting lovely small and medium, tender heads of 'Zefo Fino'. Leeks – Harvesting 'American Flag'. Melons – We are still harvesting from the second planting, although the harvest is scanty.  The harvest of the third planting has begun with the green flesh 'Eden's Gem' .  We are unsure of what the harvest this week will be. Patty Pan Squash – The variety is 'Jaune Et Verte'.  They are scallop, small, round summer squash.  Delicious baked, grilled or stir fried.  We are rotating the harvest of these each week. Potatoes – Harvesting 'Desiree'. Rocket – There is some baby rocket ready for harvesting.. English Spinach – Harvesting young 'Bloomsdale'. Thyme – Bunch in every box. Tomatoes – Romas and 'Marglobes'. Watermelon – We found that the heat of last week left some of the watermelons cooked inside.  Some still had lovely sweet flesh, so we did put it into the boxes as the taste was so good.  But some was literally cooked.  There are still watermelons in the field.  We are unsure of what they will be like though. Zucchini – Harvesting 'Nero de Milano' and 'Romanesco'. The zucchinis are slowing down and we may need to start rotating the harvest.

NOTES ON WHAT'S GROWING The tomato plants were really struck down by the last heat wave.  The lack of rain and the heat left them open to an attack from green shield beetles.  We will be abandoning the first tomato planting.  There is a second planting which we are harvesting and hope it will continue.

The watermelons, which have been amazing, really fell to the heat last week - Nine days straight of 32-35 degree days.  Before Tuesday, when we harvested the watermelons, the outsides were really hot.  But when we cut them open, straight from the field, the insides were cool!  It was amazing proof that plants are alive...they regulate their own temperature.  But on Tuesday, we found watermelons with very warm, mealy centers.  They just could not last any longer with the lack of a deep water and the intense heat.

The lettuce also rotted in the heat so no lettuce this week and maybe even next.

The Brassica plantings are looking great with more cabbage coming (not intentional trying to overload you with cabbage - the heat has hastened along the next planting) and two broccoli plantings heading up.

Next week we may have Turnips, our first planting of the season looks almost ready, and carrots will return.

ESKY'S Please keep putting out your esky's.  Peter is happy to put your vegetables in one to preserve the freshness of the food until you return home.  Leave them in the shade and leave a note if you think he would not spot it.  We have also been told that water frozen in juice bottles with card board on top in an esky is an excellent way to protect the tender greens and keep everything cold and crisp.  Thanks for the advice!

SEASONAL EATING - SHARING INSPIRATION Please keep sharing your inspirations.  True seasonal eating has lost its definition, due partly to the fact that the grocery stores and fruit and vegetable shops seem to have everything, all the time.  It is great to be a part of the re-awakening of eating with the season and I am enjoying compiling what that looks like for so many different families.

RECIPE SUGGESTIONS Fennel Salad with a Lime Vinaigrette Pesto - Have on pasta, bread, stir into soup or freeze for winter Mineral Rich Chicken Stock Szechwan Green Beans

You can also search by key ingredient on our website recipe page for many more ideas.

What is our CSA all about?

CSA's are quite a rarity in Australia (we hope this will change!).  If you are thinking about joining a CSA, one of the first things  to understand (and the most important) is the reasoning behind the concept of a CSA.  Here is our interpretation of what a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) is, and how it applies to our farming practices and the produce that our members receive. When you sign up for our CSA you are agreeing to a commitment between the farmer (us) and the member (you). In this case your membership fee pays for seeds, soil amendments, irrigation supplies, farm equipment and allows us to pay our expenses. In return, we will provide you with veggies for the seasonal share that you have signed up for.

What a CSA is NOT

A Cheap Source of Food Cheap food may be inexpensive, but it is hard on the environment and may be transported over thousands of kilometres to your local store Cheap food may be treated with harmful chemicals Cheap food may have compromised nutritional qualities and a lack of freshness

And most importantly - a CSA is NOT designed to replace the supermarket.

What IS a CSA?

A Source of Quality Food We grow our food with a focus on protecting and enhancing the environment We grow our food with ZERO pesticides, herbicides and/or fungicides We grow in a way that maximizes the soil health and builds up the life within it We provide our food fresh, from the farm to you

What is in my Share (weekly box)? We focus mainly on foods that grow in our specific seasonal climate An effort is made to estimate quantities and items available in your share each week, but it is only that, an estimate What you will receive each week is determined overwhelmingly by the season - temperature and weather

Why join our CSA? You have the opportunity to get the know the people who are growing your food You can learn about how your food is grown and the methods we use You can learn about our integrated farm and how we are trying to maintain a healthy ecosystem You may try new foods You will get to experiment with new recipes - there are plenty of Recipes on our website You will eat nutrient dense, fresh and varied produce You have the opportunity to visit the farm to see your produce growing You will be eating seasonally You will be eating locally and reducing the energy required to transport food long distances You are supporting sustainable agriculture You are helping to keep small farms viable You are helping to keep rural communities vibrant You are helping to support your local economy You are helping to maintain small, mixed farms You are reducing your reliance on agricultural chemicals You are supporting organic/biodynamic growing methods

What do YOU have to do? Pay your membership fees - on time. We are committed to getting our members their produce each week and expect them to attend to their invoices with a similar commitment.

Ensure your empty veggie boxes are left out for pick up or returned each week.

Ask questions. Lots of them!!  If you are curious about what we are growing, how we are growing it and why we are growing it in that way.

Communicate with us if there are new crops or varieties you would like. We are growing for YOU!

What do we the FARMERS do? Planning, planning, planning, researching and more planning, ordering seed and supplies, seeding, preparing soil, making compost, making compost, making compost, planting, nurturing plants, weeding, feeding, watering, observing insects and plant health, making special brews to support plant health, sow cover crops for soil health. Recording how things grew, where they grew and how much they yielded Devise integrated farm systems where intensive market gardening, cover crops, animal husbandry and native corridors are all interconnected to support farm health. Administrative work Organizational work Harvesting, Washing, Weighing, Packing Delivery/Pickup

Managing Expectations If you are not used to eating seasonally, do some research If you are not accustomed to eating seasonally, you may find that it takes a while to make a transition from eating whatever is at your local supermarket (pretty much everything) to whatever is in your weekly CSA box (what’s in season). It may surprise you to find that capsicum do not turn red until late February in our area, there may be no carrots in the month of October and its a bonus if you have tomatoes for Christmas.

You should expect the boxes to vary from week to week.  We harvest when things are ripe and perfect for eating.  Sometimes that means a box is fuller. Other times the box may be light.  We have tried, through planning, to provide an even harvest but sometimes, with weather, plantings ripen at the same time...or go by quicker then we thought.  We provide lists of what types of produce you might expect for each season on our website under each respective season, eg. Autumn Share.

Quantity varies – good to ask up front When filling the weekly CSA baskets, we try and provide a variety of items, in a reasonable quantity. We don’t want to be skimpy, and we don’t want to overwhelm our members. Too much of even a good thing, and it ends up going to waste, which makes everyone feel bad. Of course, the weather and other mitigating circumstances can get in the way of our ability to provide the ideal amount, as discussed above. We will try to provide you with an accurate description of how much of what items you may expect in your box each week in our Whats in the Box newsletters.

Make sure you understand these concepts - they are at the core of how we are running our farm CSA for our members. If you have any questions ..... please always ask!!

We have written more about What is CSA on our website if you are interested to read more about the background and ideology behind why we are farming this way.

CSA Autumn Share 2013 - Week #2 (9-15 March)

WHAT’S IN THE BOX The following are the items being harvested this coming week.  Items and quantities in your box may vary depending on your harvest day and the harvest.  Please read the  Notes on the Share (below) to know which items we "rotate" through the boxes.  If the harvest of a crop is not enough for every member, we keep track of whom has received it and whom has not so as to keep the shares even.

The picture represents a full share box and is not exactly what every box will contain this week.  The boxes are completely governed by what is ripe and ready for harvest and how much of it there is.  We endeavour to divide the harvest fairly.

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.

NOTES ON THE SHARE Basil – We are thinning a new planting this week so your bunch is young basil with roots. Lemon Basil and Purple Basil – Harvesting bunches.  If you would prefer a bunch of lemon and purple basil instead of coriander, please email us. Beans – We are harvesting 'Cherokee Wax' , yellow, string less, bush beans and 'Strike', green, string less, bush beans. Beat Root – Harvesting 'Bulls Blood', 'Ruby Queen' and 'Golden Detroit'. The 'Golden Detroit' steam well.  They turn a brown colour when grated.  Better cut into thin matchsticks raw in a salad. Cabbage – We are continuing to harvest our first Autumn planting of green 'Golden Acre' cabbage.  Harvesting a few heads of 'Red Rock', red cabbage. Capsicum – We are harvesting "breaking" capsicums. These are green or purple capsicums that have started to turn to red.  There are many posts online which talk about how to continue to turn the capsicum red...on your kitchen counter or in a bag with a banana.  We are harvesting them "breaking" to keep the plant producing as they should produce for another four-six weeks depending on the weather. Red capsicums contain high levels of vitamin C but come only when the plant has matured.  Please look at the pepper post to identify. Carrots – Bunches of 'Scarlet Nantes' or 'Red Core Chantenay'. Chillies - The harvest of ‘Padron’ chillies will continue to appear in some boxes. There are ‘Hungarian Hot Wax’,  ‘Long Thin Cayennes’ and ‘Thai Hot’ or ‘Bird’s Eye’ being harvested.  Please look at the pepper post to identify. Coriander – Harvesting small bunches. If you would prefer a bunch of coriander instead of lemon and purple basil, please email us. Corn – The fifth planting of corn, a butter and sugar variety 'Max', is coming on.  Lovely big ears full of flavour! We found ears today for the photo and expect to find more for Saturday pick-ups.  We will continue harvesting on Wednesday and divide the harvest. Cucumbers – We are harvesting the third planting. There are small, round 'Lemon' cucumbers, small pickling cucumbers 'Sumter', medium size cucumbers 'Marketmore' and 'Straight Eight' and large Chinese climbing cucumbers 'Suyo'. Eggplant – The eggplants were another crop effected by the extreme heat.  We are continuing to harvest what is there.  Please look at the eggplant post to identify.  We rotate the harvest. Lettuce –  Harvesting 'Freckles' and 'Green Oak Leaf'. The lettuce has not liked the hot humid weather. If we leave it in the ground, it will rot.  So we will harvest the whole planting, giving you extra lettuce this week.  There will be none next.  If you wash it and wrap it in kitchen paper, or wash it, spin it and store it in a plastic container, it should last for ten days. Melons – We are still harvesting from the second planting, although the harvest is scanty.  We keep checking the third planting as there are some big melons growing.  We are unsure of what the harvest this week will be.  We are also awaiting two more watermelon varieties which are not quite ready yet. Onions – We are harvesting 'California Red'.  We harvested these storing onions in the earth sign according to the biodynamic calender.  These onions should contain all of the flavour and nutrients you would expect from a biodynamic onion and they should store well too. Parsley – Harvesting 'Flat leaf' Italian and 'Curly Leaf'. Patty Pan Squash – The variety is 'Jaune Et Verte'.  They are scallop, small, round summer squash.  Delicious baked, grilled or stir fried.  We are rotating the harvest of these each week. Radishes –  Harvesting 'Purple Plum'. Hoping to get them into all the half share boxes this week. Tomatoes – There is a bumper crop of cherry tomatoes.  The Romas are coming on and there are a few 'Marglobes' too.  Expect extra this week as the cherries are so prolific! Zucchini – Harvesting 'Nero de Milano' and 'Romanesco'. The zucchinis are slowing down and we may need to start rotating the harvest.

NOTES ON WHAT'S GROWING We are still in the thick of tomato season with the bigger varieties ripening now.  The first planting is beginning to slow down.  We have put a second planting in though and we are just beginning to harvest those tomatoes.  We are unsure how prolific this planting will be, being so late in the season, but wanted to experiment.  There are teeny tiny heads of broccoli-  unsure when we will be harvesting.  The English spinach planting still does not look ready for harvesting for this week.  Hopefully next.  There is also fennel and celery which will be ready for next week. And maybe baby rocket too!  The potato harvest this year has been reduced by the lack of rain...potatoes require large amounts of water.  So there are no potatoes this week but they will be back next week.

ESKY'S Please keep putting out your esky's.  Peter is happy to put your vegetables in one to preserve the freshness of the food until you return home.  Leave them in the shade and leave a note if you think he would not spot it.  We have also been told that water frozen in juice bottles with card board on top in an esky is an excellent way to protect the tender greens and keep everything cold and crisp.  Thanks for the advice!

U-PICK FLOWERS We have cosmos, zinneas, scabiosa, fever few, snap dragons, calendula, nasturtiums, statice, helichrysums and many other flowers growing.  Every member is welcome to come and U-pick some edible flowers and a bouquet each week on Saturdays from 8am-11am.  If you have not been to the farm yet, this is a great chance to walk around, see your food growing and leave with a wonderful posy.

SEASONAL EATING - SHARING INSPIRATION Please keep sharing your inspirations.  True seasonal eating has lost its definition, due partly to the fact that the grocery stores and fruit and vegetable shops seem to have everything, all the time.  It is great to be a part of the re-awakening of eating with the season and I am enjoying compiling what that looks like for so many different families.

RECIPE SUGGESTIONS Beet Root, Feta and Almond Salad Carrot and Radish Salad with a Glorious Moroccan Inspired Dressing Perfect Lettuce Salad with Radishes, Semi Dried Tomatoes and Capers Zucchini, Cherry Tomatoes and Chicken Kebabs

You can also search by key ingredient on our website recipe page for many more ideas.

CSA Autumn Share 2013 - Week #1 (2 - 8 March)

WHAT’S IN THE BOX The following are the items being harvested this coming week.  Items and quantities in your box may vary depending on your harvest day and the harvest.  Please read the  Notes on the Share (below) to know which items we "rotate" through the boxes.  If the harvest of a crop is not enough for every member, we keep track of whom has received it and whom has not so as to keep the shares even.

The picture represents a full share box and is not exactly what every box will contain this week.  The boxes are completely governed by what is ripe and ready for harvest and how much of it there is.  We endeavour to divide the harvest fairly.

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.

NOTES ON THE SHARE Basil – Bunch in every box. Beans – We are between plantings of bush beans.  The last planting has finished producing and the next one is not quite ready for harvesting.  The beans are there and we will harvest them when they are big enough. Cabbage – We have begun harvesting another cabbage planting 'Golden Acre'.  We are unsure how many heads will be ready and will be dividing the harvest.  If you do not receive green cabbage this week, there is more coming on, as well as a planting of 'Red Rock', purple cabbage. Capsicum – We are harvesting "breaking" capsicums. These are green or purple capsicums that have started to turn to red.  There are many posts online which talk about how to continue to turn the capsicum red...on your kitchen counter or in a bag with a banana.  We are harvesting them "breaking" to keep the plant producing as they should produce for another four-six weeks depending on the weather. Red capsicums contain high levels of vitamin C but come only when the plant has matured.  We did lose flowers on the pepper plants two weeks ago during those days with heat above 33 degrees.  Many of the capsicums were also sun scalded during those days too.  So we are nursing the plants and hoping we can keep them producing until the weather gets cold. Please look at the pepper post to identify. Carrots – Bunches of 'Scarlet Nantes' or 'Red Core Chantenay'. Chillies - The harvest of ‘Padron’ chillies will continue to appear in some boxes. There are ‘Hungarian Hot Wax’,  ‘Long Thin Cayennes’ and ‘Thai Hot’ or ‘Bird’s Eye’ being harvested.  Please look at the pepper post to identify. Corn – The fourth planting of corn was stunted in its growth.  The ears are stunted as well, but they are still very tasty. We have begun harvesting them this week and hope they make it into everyone's box.  Corn is the tastiest the day it is picked - the natural sugars begun to turn to starch immediately and even refrigeration does not slow this process.  We do not pick the corn until Saturday morning, for farm pick ups, and right before the truck heads out with the boxes on delivery days...that is how strongly we think the taste changes over time.  Try to eat them on the day you receive your box . Cucumbers – We are harvesting the third planting. There are small, round 'Lemon' cucumbers, small pickling cucumbers 'Sumter', medium size cucumbers 'Marketmore' and 'Straight Eight' and large Chinese climbing cucumbers 'Suyo'.  With the cooler weather the past few days, the harvest has reduced. Eggplant – The eggplants were another crop effected by the extreme heat.  We are continuing to harvest what is there.  Please look at the eggplant post to identify.  We rotate the harvest. Garlic – Each box will receive a clove or two this week. Lettuce –  Harvesting 'Freckles', 'Red Lollo' and 'Green Oak Leaf'. Mesclun – There is still some mixed lettuce left in the mesclun planting.  We will finish that harvest and divide what is there. Melons – The prolific second planting has slowed down a bit...Hasn't it been fantastic!  We have now harvested two of the four varieties of watermelon and hope to continuing harvesting them this week.  We harvest the cantaloupes and honey dews when they 'slip' off the vine.  It is like an umbilical cord to the melon and when it simply pops off when we touch it, the plant is telling us the melon is ready.  These melons should be ready for consumption when you receive them.  We are not sure when the second planting will continue to ripen and the third planting is not yet ready.  If the heat continues, we should be able to harvest those as well. Onions – We are harvesting the 'Long Torpea Red', 'Spanish White' and 'California Red'. Parsley – 'Flat leaf' Italian and 'Curly Leaf'. Bunch in every box. Patty Pan Squash – The variety is 'Jaune Et Verte'.  They are scallop, small, round summer squash.  Delicious baked, grilled or stir fried.  We are rotating the harvest of these each week. Potatoes – We harvested 'Nicola' and 'Desiree' for Saturday.  We are unsure of which varieties we will harvest for Wednesday delivery. Pumpkin –  Harvesting 'Queensland Blue' and 'Buttercup'.  Each pumpkin variety is unique and just like potatoes, they have their specialty dishes.  Both of these are good roasted, baked or mashed.  The 'Buttercups' have a more intense flavour and are better roasted in larger chunks. Radishes –  Harvesting a few 'Purple Plum'. They are starting to bulb up although we are unsure if they will be ready this week or next. Rosemary –  Bunch in every box. Tomatoes – There is a bumper crop of cherry tomatoes.  The Romas are coming on and there are a few 'Marglobes' too.  Expect extra this week as the cherries are so prolific! Zucchini – Harvesting 'Nero de Milano' and 'Romanesco'. The zucchinis are slowing down and we may need to start rotating the harvest.

NOTES ON WHAT'S GROWING We are still in the thick of tomato season with the bigger varieties ripening now.  The smaller ones are beginning to show signs of slowing down. The fifth planting of corn is huge - well over seven foot high - with big ears which have pollinated and should be ripe in two to three weeks. There is another planting of coriander which should be ready next week. A planting of broccoli is also showing signs of sending heads up...but I am unsure when we will be harvesting.  We started seeding the brassicas for this Autumn in December.  This has been the year of the caterpillar with the lack of rain.  Even greens like rocket have had caterpillars.  But there is plenty left of each plant for us...it just looks nibbled.  We believe that the hole you see is much better then the chemicals which you don't. There is an English spinach planting which may be ready next week and the first of the heirloom turnips coming in about three weeks.

ESKY'S Please keep putting out your esky's.  Peter is happy to put your vegetables in one to preserve the freshness of the food until you return home.  Leave them in the shade and leave a note if you think he would not spot it.  We have also been told that water frozen in juice bottles with card board on top in an esky is an excellent way to protect the tender greens and keep everything cold and crisp.  Thanks for the advice!

U-PICK FLOWERS AND CHERRY TOMATOES While many flowers have felt the effects of the heat and lack of water, there are still  zinneas, scabiosa, fever few, statice, helichrysums and a few other fillers.  Every member is welcome to come and U-pick  a bouquet each week on Saturdays from 8am-11am.  If you have not been to the farm yet, this is a great chance to walk around, see your food growing and leave with a wonderful posy.

We also have a row of cherry tomatoes that you are welcome to come U-Pick.  Saturday 8-11 or during the week by appointment.  Please call Robin 0434002130.

SEASONAL EATING - SHARING INSPIRATION Please keep sharing your inspirations.  True seasonal eating has lost its definition, due partly to the fact that the grocery stores and fruit and vegetable shops seem to have everything, all the time.  It is great to be a part of the re-awakening of eating with the season and I am enjoying compiling what that looks like for so many different families.

RECIPE SUGGESTIONS Ministrone Vegetable Pakoras Perfect Lettuce Salad with Radishes, Semi Dried Tomatoes and Capers Slow Roasted Tomatoes Quinoa Tabouli Watermelon, Feta and Toasted Pumpkin Seed Salad

You can also search by key ingredient on our website recipe page for many more ideas.

CSA Summer Share 2012-2013 - Week #13 (23 Feb - 1 March)

LAST WEEK OF THE SUMMER SHARE WOW!  This is week #13.  We thank you for your support, for sharing your thoughts about the vegetables and this service, for eating so many carrots and for giving it a go!

Farm pick-ups in Autumn will still be on Saturday's from 8am-11am. Deliveries will be on Wednesdays.  We are happy to change you from a Saturday pick -up to a Wednesday delivery or vice versa, permanently or just for a week.  Please just let us know.

WHAT’S IN THE BOX The following are the items being harvested this coming week.  Items and quantities in your box may vary depending on your harvest day.  The photo is of the full share box on Saturday.

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.

NOTES ON THE SHARE Basil – We have some pesto bunches available.  Please write if you would like one.  All the Saturday pick-ups will receive one.  Otherwise, small bunches in every box. Beans – We are between plantings of bush beans.  We harvested for Saturday but unsure if the next planting will be ready for Tuesday. Beet Root – Bunches of 'Bulls Blood' , 'Ruby Queen' and/or 'Golden Detroit'. Capsicum – We have begun harvesting "breaking" capsicums. These are green or purple capsicums that have started to turn to red.  There are many posts online which talk about how to continue to turn the capsicum red...on your kitchen counter or in a bag with a banana.  We are harvesting them "breaking" to keep the plant producing as they should produce for another four-six weeks depending on the weather. Red capsicums contain high levels of vitamin C but come only when the plant has matured. Carrots – Bunches of ‘Deep Purple’ on Saturday. Mixed bunches of 'Deep Purple', 'Scarlet Nantes' and/or 'Red Core Chantenay'. Chillies - The harvest of 'Padron' chillies will continue to appear in some boxes...although they lost their flowers in the heat wave this week. It may take them a few weeks to recover. There are 'Hungarian Hot Wax',  'Long Thin Cayennes' and 'Thai Hot' or 'Bird's Eye' available.  Please write if you would like some.  They are starting to turn red now. Corn – The fourth planting of corn has some small but tasty ears.  When these are ready, we will harvest them.  Corn is the tastiest the day it is picked.  We do not pick the corn until Saturday morning, for farm pick ups, and right before the truck heads out with the boxes on delivery days...that is how strongly we think the taste changes over time. Cucumbers – Another planting has begun while the first two are slowing down. Eggplant – We are continuing to rotate the harvest.  Please look at the eggplant post to identify. Fennel – Harvesting 'Zefo Fino' baby bulbs on Saturday and Tuesday.  If you are a Thursday box and would like some, please email and if there is any left, we will try and get it in your box. Garlic – Each box will receive a clove or two this week.  Sorry to have forgotten to put the garlic in Tuesday boxes two weeks ago.  We put it in this past week to correct. Leeks –  Two or three in every box. Lettuce –  Harvesting 'Freckles'. Mesclun – Another planting is ready.  Bag in every box. Melons – Harvesting cantaloupes, honey dews and water melons...Perfumed sunshine!! I understand how the cantaloupes acquired the name musk melons. To learn more about the varieties we planted, check our heirloom melon post. The second planting is still producing and hope it continues through the week.  There may not be watermelon again for a week as we wait for other varieties to ripen. Onions – We harvested the 'California Red' this week and dried them in the shed. These will store for a while. Parsley – 'Flat leaf' Italian and 'Curly Leaf'. Patty Pan Squash – The variety is 'Jaune Et Verte'.  They are scallop, small, round summer squash.  Delicious baked, grilled or stir fried.  We are rotating the harvest of these each week. Potatoes – Harvesting 'Coliban'. Rocket – Harvesting Baby Rocket. Tomatoes – There is a bumper crop of cherry tomatoes.  The Romas are coming on and there are a few 'Marglobes' too.  Expect extra this week as the cherries are so prolific! Zucchini – Harvesting 'Nero de Milano' and 'Romanesco'.

NOTES ON WHAT'S GROWING I have written a post on the Intense Heat, Lack of Rain and What's growing in Mid February.  There are alot of pictures.

We are in the thick of tomato season with the bigger varieties ripening now.  They taste is so wonderful in the simplest of ways.  If you have too many small ones, you can blend them and freeze to use in sauces and soups in the winter.  Another member preserved them in jars whole, covering with water (and a bit of citric acid) and processed them for the time recommended by Fowlers.

We will continue harvesting melons this week.  The second planting has been fantastic!  The third planting is full of flowers.  If March is as hot as predicted, we should have melons from the third planting..

Mesclun- This summer has been a trial of the mesclun mix we devised in spring.  Unfortunately, some of the varieties do not cope with the heat.  And the timing of some varieties is different in Summer to Spring.  The mix this week contains several lettuces, mustards, tatsoi, silverbeet and beetroot greens.

Heading into Autumn, there are more corn plantings, lots of different varieties of pumpkins, another broccoli planting should be ready in two weeks, cabbage coming soon, turnips, parsnips and rutabegas!

ESKY'S Please keep putting out your esky's.  Peter is happy to put your vegetables in one to preserve the freshness of the food until you return home.  Leave them in the shade and leave a note if you think he would not spot it.  We have also been told that water frozen in juice bottles with card board on top in an esky is an excellent way to protect the tender greens and keep everything cold and crisp.  Thanks for the advice!

U-PICK FLOWERS AND CHERRY TOMATOES We have cosmos, zinneas, scabiosa, fever few, snap dragons, calendula, nasturtiums, statice, helichrysums and many other flowers growing.  Every member is welcome to come and U-pick some edible flowers and a bouquet each week on Saturdays from 8am-11am.  If you have not been to the farm yet, this is a great chance to walk around, see your food growing and leave with a wonderful posy.

We also have a row of cherries that you are welcome to come U-Pick.  Saturday 8-11 or during the week by appointment.  Please call Robin 0434002130.

SEASONAL EATING - SHARING INSPIRATION Please keep sharing your inspirations.  True seasonal eating has lost its definition, due partly to the fact that the grocery stores and fruit and vegetable shops seem to have everything, all the time.  It is great to be a part of the re-awakening of eating with the season and I am enjoying compiling what that looks like for so many different families.

RECIPE SUGGESTIONS Slow Roasted Tomatoes Beet Root, Feta and Almond Salad Carrot, Leek and Almond Soup Pasta with Fresh Tomatoes, Basil and Bocconcini

You can also search by key ingredient on our website recipe page for many more ideas.

CSA Summer Share 2012-2013 - Week #12(16 - 22 February)

WHAT’S IN THE BOX The following are the items being harvested this coming week.  Items and quantities in your box may vary depending on your harvest day. The photo is of a full share.

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.

NOTES ON THE SHARE Basil – Small bunches. Beans – We are harvesting bush beans 'Strike' (green), 'Cherokee Wax' (yellow) and 'Royal Burgundy' (purple). Capsicum – We have begun harvesting "breaking" capsicums. These are green or purple capsicums that have started to turn to red.  There are many posts online which talk about how to continue to turn the capsicum red...on your kitchen counter or in a bag with a banana.  We are harvesting them "breaking" to keep the plant producing as they should produce for another four-six weeks depending on the weather. Red capsicums contain high levels of vitamin C but come only when the plant has matured. Carrots – Bunch of ‘Red Core Chattenay’. Celery – We are harvesting 'Tall Utah' from the second planting.  More about lack of rain below...Celery is a very water hungry plant.  It is also very dense in micro nutrients. Rich in alkaline organic sodium (not sodium chloride), it is characterized in Ayurveda as having an “Astringent” taste.  Once ingested, celery works to support water balance in the body and functions to cleanse the mind and prepare for meditation.  Produce that is deficient in water, concentrates nutrients.  Just one bite will confirm that this celery is filled with nutrient goodness.  I have been making wonderful stocks with the celery and adding it to juice (A little goes a long way).  The stocks will be so welcome in the winter! Conventionally grown celery falls among the “Dirty Dozen” of foods high in pesticides. Organic stocks are a wonderful way to preserve the harvest. Chillies - The harvest of 'Padron' chillies will continue to appear in some boxes. There are 'Hungarian Hot Wax',  'Long Thin Cayennes' and 'Thai Hot' or 'Bird's Eye' being harvested.  Please look at the pepper post to identify. Cucumbers – Another planting has begun while the first two are slowing down. Eggplant – We are continuing to rotate the harvest.  Please look at the eggplant post to identify.  We have found caterpillars in the eggplant this week.  We are trying to be careful about what goes into the boxes and apologise if you received a caterpillar in your eggplant!  We have cleaned small eggplants off the plants to try and get rid of the problem.  Consequently, the harvest may be light for the next few weeks. Lettuce –  Harvesting 'Freckles', 'Oak Leaf', 'Buttercrunch' and 'Lollo Red'. Melons – Harvesting cantaloupes, honey dews and water melons...Perfumed sunshine!! I understand how the cantaloupes acquired the name musk melons. To learn more about the varieties we planted, check our heirloom melon post. Onions – Harvesting 'Spanish White', 'Long Tropea Red', 'California Red' and 'Hunter River Brown'. Parsley – 'Flat leaf' Italian and 'Curly Leaf'.. Patty Pan Squash – The variety is 'Jaune Et Verte'.  They are scallop, small, round summer squash.  Delicious baked, grilled or stir fried.  We are rotating the harvest of these each week. Rocket – A small rocket planting intended for the next mesclun mix has grown quicker than the mixed lettuce and other greens.  Hence, we will be harvesting it this week. Silverbeet – Harvesting bunches of 'Ruby'. Spinach – We are continuing to harvest 'Perpetual Gator'. We will also be harvesting an English spinach "Bloomsdale'. Tomatoes – There is a bumper crop of cherry tomatoes.  The Romas are coming on and there are a few bigger ones too.  Expect extra this week as the cherries are so prolific! Zucchini – Harvesting 'Nero de Milano' and 'Romanesco'.

NOTES ON WHAT'S GROWING We will continue harvesting melons this week.  The melons are loving the heat. There are some really big watermelons ripening in the field!

The fifth sweetcorn planting is tassled and pollinating. Expect more corn in three weeks.

The first planting of turnips has germinated and the Autumn crops of brassicas (cabbage, cauliflower, kale and broccoli) are all growing well.  I love how gradually the seasons change...small hints of what is to come while still fully being in Summer!! The abundance of tomatoes and the sweetness of melons...

Rain...while Sorrento received some rain on Thursday morning...mixed into a thunder and lightening storm, we just received the lightening.  I am very thankful that none touched down as our farm is very dry.  We are losing four year-old established natives, having only received 10mls of water since November. The cool nights help, with some added dew.  This will be another very hot week.  We are hoping for a bit of rain as we would like to begin sowing cover crops to renew and feed the soil. Our irrigation is running non-stop on the food crops.

ESKY'S Please keep putting out your esky's.  Peter is happy to put your vegetables in one to preserve the freshness of the food until you return home.  Leave them in the shade and leave a note if you think he would not spot it.

U-PICK FLOWERS We have cosmos, zinneas, scabiosa, fever few, snap dragons, calendula, nasturtiums, statice, helichrysums and many other flowers growing.  Every member is welcome to come and U-pick some edible flowers and a bouquet each week on Saturdays from 8am-11am.  If you have not been to the farm yet, this is a great chance to walk around, see your food growing and leave with a wonderful posy.

SEASONAL EATING - SHARING INSPIRATION Please keep sharing your inspirations.  True seasonal eating has lost its definition, due partly to the fact that the grocery stores and fruit and vegetable shops seem to have everything, all the time.  It is great to be a part of the re-awakening of eating with the season and I am enjoying compiling what that looks like for so many different families.

RECIPE SUGGESTIONS Pizza...so wonderful with the tomatoes and greens and basil!  Here is a great dough recipe. Tabouli Quinoa, Roasted Veggies, Marinated Chickpeas and Feta Salad Cucumber, Tomato, Feta and Olive Salad Ratatouille Zucchini, Cherry Tomatoes and Chicken Kebabs

You can also search by key ingredient on our website recipe page for many more ideas.

CSA Summer Share 2012-2013 - Week #11 (9 - 15 February)

WHAT’S IN THE BOXThe following are the items being harvested this coming week.  Items and quantities in your box may vary depending on your harvest day. The photo is of a full share.NOTES ON STORING THE HARVST Please check out our Vegetable & Fruit page on the website to find tips on maximizing the life of your veggies.

NOTES ON THE SHARE Basil – Small bunch in every box. Beans – We think the next planting will be ready for harvest sometime during the week...but unsure when. Beetroot – Harvesting 'Ruby Queen', Bulls Blood' and 'Golden Detroit' Broccoli – The planting of 'Marathon' is still producing a few heads...not many and not very big but you may find one in your box. Carrots – Bunch of ‘Deep Purple’, ‘Scarlet Nantes’ and ‘Atomic Red’.  The ‘Atomic Red’ are lovely carrots but their peel has a bitter after taste.  If you peel them, they have a taste almost like peppermint.  To learn more about the nutritional value of purple carrots, check our post Purple Carrots - The New Super Food. We have finished the second planting of purple carrots but they will be back in the Autumn Share. Chillies - The harvest of 'Padron' chillies will continue to appear in some boxes. If you would like any of the other chillies you have had in your box the past few weeks, please let us know. Otherwise we are leaving them to turn red. Cucumbers – We are growing long cucumbers and short cucumbers.  We are also growing a variety called 'Lemon'.  They have a lovely flavour and are yellow and round.  We will continue to divide the harvest. Eggplant – Please look at the eggplant post to identify ones you find in your box. We will continue to rotate the harvest. Garlic – Bulb in every box. Lettuce –  We will harvest 'Freckles' this week and 'Green Oakleaf'. Then moving into 'Lollo Rosso', a red leaf variety. Melons –  We have started harvesting what we can find in the first planting (see notes below). The honey dew melons in the second planting should begin to ripen soon.  We "slip" harvest the melons which means that we wait until the melon slips off the vine, the plants signal that it is ready to eat.  I tend to trust my nose, though.  When the picked end smells sweet, the melon is ready! Nectarines – White fleshed 'Goldmine' - we harvested another two trees and have about 300 nectarines! - Just a little taste of the stone fruit we are growing. Onions – 'Spanish White' is the variety for Saturday.  The onions are beginning to drop their heads, their skins are drying back, getting ready for storing.  We are harvesting the ones that need to be harvested and allowing the others to complete their drying off process. Parsley – Bunch in every box. Patty Pan Squash – The variety is 'Jaune Et Verte'.  They are scallop, small, round summer squash.  Delicious baked, grilled or stir fried.  We are rotating the harvest of these each week. Potatoes – We are harvesting 'Nicola' this week.  White skinned and white fleshed.  There will be no potatoes next week. Pumpkin – Maybe it seems a bit early for pumpkin but the 'Pottimons' are ready for harvest! These pumpkins are wonderful roasted with a bit of olive oil, salt and rosemary.  Leave the skin on as it is nutty and very tender. Rosemary – Bunch in every box. Spinach – Another planting of 'Perpetual Gator' is ready for harvest. This was sold as a spinach that withstands heat...it is actually a really delicate silver beet, wonderful raw and cooked.  I am enjoying the slightly lemony flavour which makes it so light and refreshing.  Works well with eggs, in salads and in filo pockets. Sweet Corn – We began the 'Ruby Queen' harvest on Thursday.  Saturday and Tuesday boxes will receive it this week.  Unsure what will be left by Thursday. Tomatoes – The harvest is increasing so expect some extra tomatoes this week. Zucchini – We will continue to divide the harvest to 'Nero Milano',  'Romanesco' and 'Di Flor'

NOTES ON WHAT'S GROWING We have harvested two more nectarine trees.  The fruit are small and delicious.  We are experimenting with how to store harvested fruit...as providing stone fruit is new to us.  The harvest was so ample though, so we will be sharing some more.  Hope that you enjoy them!

We rushed to get the first planting of melons into the ground, so that there would be melons in the summer share.  Even though they were thoroughly weeded, the grass on the new land was not completely tilled in and it re-sprouted.  The first planting has produced some glorious melons, but not that many.  We have been dividing the harvest.  The second planting is coming on though...completely weed free.  We are expecting to begin harvesting the honey dews first and then cantaloupe and watermelon!

The third and fourth plantings of sweetcorn are stunted.  These two plantings are in between 1 and 2 and 5 and 6 which are all looking great - Peter and I have no idea what has happened to 3 and 4.  There may be some small ears to harvest. Planting five is tasseling up well, though, and six is deep green and strong.  There may be a gap in the sweetcorn harvest.

The pumpkins are coming along really well!  Lots of new varieties, colours shapes and sizes! The 'Pottimons' were ready for harvest.  It just makes me think that we need to enjoy the greatness of summer left as the shadows in the evening are already lengthening.

This feels like a great time to let all of you know how much we have appreciated your support!  This is only our second year growing for others and our first year growing on this scale! We are not third generation market gardeners.  We learn through trial and error.  We could not be trying as much as we are without you.  Farming is a funny business, though - We have to wait until next year to incorporate all that we have learned this year. We will be sending another survey before the end of the Summer Share.  As a new business, we really appreciate any feedback you have!

ESKY'S Please keep putting out your esky's.  Peter is happy to put your vegetables in one to preserve the freshness of the food until you return home.

U-PICK FLOWERS We have cosmos, zinneas, scabiosa, fever few, snap dragons, calendula, nasturtiums, statice, helichrysums and many other flowers growing.  Every member is welcome to come and U-pick some edible flowers and a bouquet each week on Saturdays from 8am-11am.  If you have not been to the farm yet, this is a great chance to walk around, see your food growing and leave with a wonderful posy.

SEASONAL EATING - SHARING INSPIRATION Please keep sharing your inspirations.  True seasonal eating has lost its definition, due partly to the fact that the grocery stores and fruit and vegetable shops seem to have everything, all the time.  It is great to be a part of the re-awakening of eating with the season and I am enjoying compiling what that looks like for so many different families.

RECIPE SUGGESTIONS Tomatoes, Basil and Garlic - I love the simple ways of eating summer produce! Tabouli Quinoa, Roasted Veggies, Marinated Chickpeas and Feta Salad Beetroot, Feta and Almond Salad Corn and Zucchini Burgers

You can also search by key ingredient on our website recipe page for many more ideas.

CSA Summer Share 2012-2013 - Week #10 (2 - 8 February)

WHAT’S IN THE BOX The following are the items in your box this coming week.  Some items and quantities may vary depending on your harvest day.

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.

NOTES ON THE SHARE Basil – Small bunch in every box. Beans – We are harvesting bush beans 'Strike' (green) and 'Royal Burgundy' (purple). Broccoli – Last week we started harvesting 'Marathon' a summer broccoli variety.  The heads are lovely, tight, big and we have found green caterpillar worms inside them.  We have cut the broccoli into florets, remove the worms we can and then soaked the florets in salted water for about ten minutes.  Any remaining worms have floated to the surface. The planting still has more heads growing.  We will continue to divide the harvest. Carrots – Bunch of ‘Deep Purple’, ‘Scarlet Nantes’ and ‘Atomic Red’.  The ‘Atomic Red’ are lovely carrots but their peel has a bitter after taste.  If you peel them, they have a taste almost like peppermint. We have included some recipe ideas that use lots of carrots in case you have a stash! Celery – We are harvesting 'Tall Utah' and the smaller 'American Stringless'. Chillies - The harvest of 'Padron' chillies will continue to appear in some boxes. There are 'Hungarian Hot Wax',  'Long Thin Cayennes' and 'Thai Hot' or 'Bird's Eye' being harvested.  Please look at the pepper post to identify - The 'Cayennes' and the 'Thai Hot' look similar but their heat rating is very different. Cucumbers – We are growing long cucumbers and short cucumbers.  The shorter are sweeter and apparently "burpless".  We are also growing a variety called 'Lemon'.  They have a lovely flavour and are yellow and round.  This week each box should receive at least two or three cucumbers. Eggplant – The eggplant harvest has begun.  Please look at the eggplant post to identify.  We will continue to rotate these through the boxes. Lettuce –  We will harvest 'Freckles' this week once the mesclun planting has finished. Mesclun –  Everyone last week received the mesclun mix and there is still some left in the planting.  We will finish the harvest of this planting and then move into the next lettuce planting. Nectarines – White fleshed 'Goldmine' and orange fleshed 'Fantasia' - Just a little taste of the stone fruit we are beginning to harvest. Onions – 'Spanish White' is this weeks variety. Parsley – Bunch in every box. Patty Pan Squash – The variety is 'Jaune Et Verte'.  They are scallop, small, round summer squash.  Delicious baked, grilled or stir fried.  We are rotating the harvest of these each week. Potatoes – We are harvesting 'Royal Blue' this week.  They have a lovely red purple glow to the skin and a white inside. Rocket – There is another Rocket planting which we think will be ready soon for harvesting...depending on the weather and how fast it grows.  Not sure if it will make it into Tuesday's box but will definitely be ready for Thursday. Baby Silverbeet – There will be a small bag of baby silverbeet in each box.  You can add it to your salad or have it alone.  It looks wonderful mixed with beans. Spinach – We are continuing to harvest 'Perpetual Gator'. This was sold as a spinach that withstands heat...it is actually a really delicate silver beet, wonderful raw and cooked.  I am enjoying the slightly lemony flavour which makes it so light and refreshing.  Works well with eggs, in salads and in filo pockets. Sweet Corn – We are finishing the first planting of corn 'Max'. The second planting is 'Ruby Queen'.  The ears are blush red and sweet when picked early - and the old-fashioned rich corn flavour comes when it is allowed to fully ripen to a deep red. Thyme – Bunch in every box. Tomatoes – We will continue to divide the harvest. Zucchini – We are harvesting zucchini from two plantings now and still do not have the glut of zucchini that many home gardeners have. It is just not a zucchini year on our farm this year!

NOTES ON WHAT'S GROWING We have harvested Nectarines from three trees today.  While not all of the fruit is completely ripe, they are really yummy.  Whilst fruit is not in this years Summer Share, we thought we would put some in each box this week just to give everyone a little taste.  We hope to be able to offer more fruit next year. We leave them in a bowl on the table to ripen, eating them when they are just soft to touch but still firm.

This week has seen the big planting of the Autumn Share brassicas with 22 new beds being formed through the new land. These seeds were started in a shade house to protect them from the intense heat and sun that we had in the beginning of January. We also direct seeded the first plantings of turnips, another parsnip planting, more radishes, carrots and beetroot. Next week we will continue our plantings of spinach, coriander, rocket and spring onions.  We have been experimenting with intensive market gardening techniques such as direct seeding five or six rows per bed to take advantage of the rich, prepared soil.  We have had some great success and other not so successful combinations.  I will include photos of both in a post this week. By using these techniques, we believe we can make the best use of our soil and water resources and allow areas more time to be fallowed and cover cropped.

The next planting of sweet corn is a red variety 'Ruby Queen'.  This is so pretty and also sweet!  The natural sugars in sweetcorn begin to turn to starch as soon as it is picked.  We do not harvest the sweetcorn until Saturday morning for pick ups and for deliveries, until all of the boxes are packed and ready to be loaded into the truck.  It is best eaten the day you receive it.  We steam the cobs for about 4-7 minutes...we take it off the stove one minute after the kernels bead.

We will try and stop harvesting the capsicums this week and see if those remaining on the plant start to turn red. If they do start to turn, they will be picked before they have completely turned red so that the plant will continue to produce more fruit.

The first melon planting got completely taken over by the couch grass on the new land.  Still there are some melons starting to ripen and we will look through to see what we can find.  The second planting is doing really well and almost completely weed free...the difference between being rushed to plant in the Spring on our new land and having time to prepare the land before the second planting!  The watermelons are also looking really great!

ESKY'S Please keep putting out your esky's.  Peter is happy to put your vegetables in one to preserve the freshness of the food until you return home.

AUTUMN SHARE The Autumn Share runs from 1 March - 31 May.  If you would like to continue being a part of Transition Farm's CSA, you will need to email Peter at petercarlyon@gmail.com and confirm your intention.  On the 3rd of February, we will start adding the names for those people who are on our waiting list, so please express your interest before then.  Thank you!

U-PICK FLOWERS We have cosmos, zinneas, scabiosa, fever few, snap dragons, calendula, nasturtiums, statice, helichrysums and many other flowers growing.  Every member is welcome to come and U-pick some edible flowers and a bouquet each week on Saturdays from 8am-11am.  If you have not been to the farm yet, this is a great chance to walk around, see your food growing and leave with a wonderful posy.

SEASONAL EATING - SHARING INSPIRATION Please keep sharing your inspirations.  True seasonal eating has lost its definition, due partly to the fact that the grocery stores and fruit and vegetable shops seem to have everything, all the time.  It is great to be a part of the re-awakening of eating with the season and I am enjoying compiling what that looks like for so many different families.

RECIPE SUGGESTIONS Spinach and Chicken Curry Pasta with Broccoli and a Lemon and Basil Sauce Summer Vegetable Stock - you can use the Perpetual gator stems in this too! Roasted Cherry Tomatoes with Quinoa and Feta Zucchini, Cherry Tomatoes and Chicken Kebabs

You can also search by key ingredient on our website recipe page for many more ideas.

CSA Summer Share 2012-2013 - Week #9 (26January-1February)

WHAT’S IN THE BOXThe following are the items in your box this coming week.  Some items and quantities may vary depending on your harvest day. The photo is of the full share.

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.

NOTES ON THE SHARE Basil – Small bunch in every box. Beans – We are harvesting bush beans 'Strike' (green) and 'Royal Burgundy' (purple). Beetroot – We will finish harvesting the third planting of beetroot.  There may not be enough left for Thursday boxes. Broccoli – Another planting of 'Marathon' is coming on. We will divide the harvest. Capsicum – The harvest has begun.  Please look at the pepper post to identify the ones in your box. I have also updated it with some more capsicum news. We will be dividing the harvest each week. Carrots – Bunch of ‘Deep Purple’, ‘Scarlet Nantes’ and ‘Atomic Red’.  The ‘Atomic Red’ are lovely carrots but their peel has a bitter after taste.  If you peel them, they have a taste almost like peppermint. We have included some recipe ideas that use lots of carrots in case you have a stash! Chillies - The harvest of 'Padron' chillies will continue to appear in some boxes. There are 'Hungarian Hot Wax',  'Long Thin Cayennes' and 'Thai Hot' or 'Bird's Eye' being harvested.  Please look at the pepper post to identify - The 'Cayennes' and the 'Thai Hot' look similar but their heat rating is very different. Cucumbers – We are growing long cucumbers and short cucumbers.  The shorter are sweeter and apparently "burpless".  This week each box should receive at least two or three. Eggplant – The eggplant harvest has begun.  Please look at the eggplant post to identify.  We will continue to divide the harvest. Lettuce –  We will harvest 'Freckles' this week.  These are smaller heads. Mesclun –  We have started harvest a small planting of mesclun.  We planted it as a trial to see what baby lettuces could survive the heat.  We are not sure how many boxes will receive it. Onions – We have cleaned out a whole bed of 'Red Burgundy'  and will divide these into the boxes.  If they finish before Thursday, we will harvest 'Spanish White'. Potatoes – Bag in every box. Spinach – We are continuing to harvest 'Perpetual Gator'. This was sold as a spinach that withstands heat...it is actually a really delicate silver beet, wonderful raw and cooked.  I am enjoying the slightly lemony flavour which makes it so light and refreshing.  Works well with eggs, in salads and in filo pockets. Sweet Corn – I feel so American when I say this but... it really is summer when the corn harvest begins! The first variety is 'Max'. Ears in every box. Tomatoes – We will continue to divide the harvest. Zucchini – Zucchini this week includes 'Nero di Milano', 'Romanesco' and smaller "de Flor'.

NOTES ON WHAT'S GROWING We are cleaning out circles and beginning to think about sowing our first round of cover crops.  This has meant very full boxes for the past two weeks.  This weeks box is back to between 10-12 items. Maybe that is a welcome relief!  An interesting difference to running a CSA and just running a farm is that we actually try and harvest every last bit of food from an area (if it is still in good nick) and put it into the boxes.  Our feeling is that we have invested time and energy to grow it, we have used the resources of soil and water, and we are growing all this food for you.  Sometimes in farming if you have more then your market will bear of a crop, it is not worth the cost of labour to harvest it. So the food is simply tilled into the soil.  For us, we would rather put it in a box and hope it is enjoyed. I wrote a post about Preserving the Harvest - maybe something will inspire you.  Happy to send any recipes not linked.

The effects of the heat wave a few weeks ago are still being felt.  The capsicums and the chillies dropped all of their flowers as did the zucchini.  I saw today new flowers on the chillies and zucchini bushes.  Hopefully the capsicums will follow suit.  Plants are amazing when under stress.  All of our efforts kept them from frying but the plant still knew that the conditions were more then it could bear.  So instead of trying to make heaps of seeds, they chose to focus their energy just on the ones they had already made.

ESKY'S Please keep putting out your esky's.  Peter is happy to put your box in one to preserve the freshness of the food until you return home.

AUTUMN SHARE The Autumn Share runs from 1 March - 31 May.  If you would like to continue being a part of Transition Farm's CSA, you will need to email Peter at petercarlyon@gmail.com and confirm your intention.  On the 3rd of February, we will contact others interested and begin to fill the shares available.  Please express your interest before then.  Thank you!

U-PICK FLOWERS We have cosmos, zinneas, scabiosa, fever few, snap dragons, calendula, nasturtiums, statice, helichrysums and many other flowers growing.  Every member is welcome to come and U-pick some edible flowers and a bouquet each week on Saturdays from 8am-11am.  If you have not been to the farm yet, this is a great chance to walk around, see your food growing and leave with a wonderful posy.

SEASONAL EATING - SHARING INSPIRATION Please keep sharing your inspirations.  True seasonal eating has lost its definition, due partly to the fact that the grocery stores and fruit and vegetable shops seem to have everything, all the time.  It is great to be a part of the re-awakening of eating with the season and I am enjoying compiling what that looks like for so many different families.

RECIPE SUGGESTIONS Beetroot Relish Carrot Dip Cucumber, Tomato and Feta Salad Lazy Sweet Corn Fresh Corn Salsa Pasta with Fresh Tomatoes, Basil, Spinach and Bocconcini ... this is lovely with 'Perpetual Gator' Spinach

You can also search by key ingredient on our website recipe page for many more ideas.

CSA Summer Share 2012-2013 - Week #8 (19-25 January)

WHAT’S IN THE BOXThe following are the items in your box this coming week.  Some items and quantities may vary depending on your harvest day.  The photo is of a full share.

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.

NOTES ON THE SHARE Basil – Small bunch in every box. Beans – We are continuing to harvest the climbing beans 'Purple King'. We are also harvesting bush beans 'Strike' (green) and 'Cherokee Wax' (yellow).  We may be between bush bean plantings through the week and are unsure what the harvest of the bush beans will be. Beet Root – Bunch in every box. Capsicum – The harvest has begun.  Please look at the pepper post to identify the ones in your box. We will be dividing the harvest each week. Carrots – Saturday boxes received the rest of the harvest of the first carrot planting - A big bag of 'Cosmic Purple' and a few 'Scarlett Nantes'.  We have now moved into the second planting of carrots 'Deep Purple', 'Scarlet Nantes' and 'Atomic Red' (pictured below).  The 'Atomic Red' are lovely carrots but their peel has a bitter after taste.  If you peel them, they have a taste almost like peppermint. Celery - One in every box. Chillies - The harvest of 'Padron' chillies will continue to appear in some boxes. There are 'Hungarian Hot Wax' and 'Long Thin Cayennes' being harvested.  Please look at the pepper post to identify. Coriander - Bunch in every box.  If you have not yet tried the roots in curry pastes, you should give it a go.  They add a rich, full flavour. Cucumbers – We are growing long cucumbers and short cucumbers.  The shorter are sweeter and apparently "burpless".  This week each box should receive two/three  cucumbers. Fennel - Saturday and Thursday boxes will receive 1 or 2 bulbs this week (more about that below). Garlic – I forgot to include it in the photo but there is a bulb for every box. "Lazy Lettuce" –  We will continue to harvest the lazy lettuce until the planting is done.  This is the bag of mixed lettuce leaves.  Although it has been washed and spun dry, it should be washed before eating. Onions – We will be harvesting onions this week - 'Red Burgundy' or 'Spanish White'. Potatoes – Harvesting red skinned 'Desiree'. Rocket – A bag in every box. Spinach – We are harvesting 'Perpetual Gator'. This was sold as a spinach that withstands heat...it is actually a really delicate silverbeet, wonderful raw and cooked.  I am enjoying the slightly lemony flavour which makes it so light and refreshing.  Works well with eggs and in zucchini ribbon salads. Tomatoes – We will do a post this week about all of the Tomato varieties we are growing.  We have started to harvest the Romas and the 'Tommy Toes'.  Please check the website for the post.  We will continue to divide the harvest. Zucchini – Zucchini this week includes 'Nero di Milano' and 'Romanesco'.

NOTES ON WHAT'S GROWING We have fully picked the second planting of bush beans.  We may be able to re-pick this week and the third planting might also be ready for picking.  The 'Purple King' Climbing bean harvest continues as does the first and second plantings of cucumbers and zucchini.  The first panting of zucchini has slowed down and the second is only just starting.  If your box does not contain zucchini this week, that is why.

When fennel does not have adequate water, it goes to seed, leaving a very woody stem inside the bulb.  Part of the fennel planting was on the edge of a bed.  The combination of wind blowing the irrigation and lack of rain has left that part of the bed drier then the rest, which resulted in part of the planting bolting (going to seed) early.  Thursday boxes missed out on the last harvest of fennel in December,  so they will be receiving the fennel this week with Saturday pick up boxes.  Sorry Tuesday share holders!! There is another planting of fennel planted and two more in the greenhouse.

Peter thinks the first planting of corn may ready in the next week or so!

We have some dill available.  If you would like a bunch please email Robin (robinjkoster@gmail.com) or send a text 0434002130.  Saturday pick-ups, please let me know first thing Saturday morning.  Tuesday boxes, please let me know by Monday 7am and Thursday boxes by Wednesday 7am.  I am unsure how many bunches are left in the planting so... first come, first served no matter what your day is.

Carrots (from left to right) - 'Scarlet Nantes', 'Deep Purple'  and 'Atomic Red'

U-PICK FLOWERS We have cosmos, zinneas, scabiosa, fever few, snap dragons, calendula, nasturtiums, statice, helichrysums and many other flowers growing.  Every member is welcome to come and U-pick some edible flowers and a bouquet each week on Saturdays from 8am-11am.  If you have not been to the farm yet, this is a great chance to walk around, see your food growing and leave with a wonderful posy.

SEASONAL EATING - SHARING INSPIRATION Please keep sharing your inspirations.  True seasonal eating has lost its definition, due partly to the fact that the grocery stores and fruit and vegetable shops seem to have everything, all the time.  It is great to be a part of the re-awakening of eating with the season and I am enjoying compiling what that looks like for so many different families.

GROWING... We are looking for someone to work with us on a full-time basis.  The successful applicant will be a hard worker, will have vegetable and/or fruit farming experience and will be expected to work unsupervised in planting, weeding, harvesting and packing vegetables and herbs. General farm skills, knowledge of fruit tree maintenance, an understanding of time management and experience as a farm labourer would be an advantage.  If you or someone you know is interested, please email a resume and/or contact us for further information petercarlyon@gmail.com. This position does not include farm accommodation.

RECIPE SUGGESTIONS Crunchy Salad Spinach and Feta Triangles - Perfect for beach picnics! Nikki Fisher's Beetroot, Rocket, Walnut and Feta Salad Spaghetti Vongole - Mixed Seafood

You can also search by key ingredient on our website recipe page for many more ideas.

CSA Summer Share 2012-2013 - Week #7 (12-18 January)

WHAT’S IN THE BOXThe following are the items in your box this coming week.  Some items and quantities may vary depending on your harvest day.  The photo is of a full share.

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.

NOTES ON THE SHARE Basil – Small bunch in every box. Beans – I am happy to finally write that we have something in surplus...BEANS.  Your box will contain an ample share of the harvest of yellow beans 'Cherokee Wax', green beans 'Strike' and climbing beans 'Purple King'. Broccoli – There is a bit more to harvest from the current planting and this will be divided into boxes. The harvest may finish before Thursday. Cabbage- Green or Red.  We are harvesting the last of the Spring cabbage plantings this week. Capsicum – The harvest has begun.  We have done a post on the varieties and will be dividing the harvest each week. Carrots – Big bunch mixture of ‘Scarlett Nantes’, ‘Cosmic Purple’ and ‘Red Core Chatenay’. Chillies - The harvest of 'Padron' chillies will continue to appear in some boxes. There are 'Hungarian Hot Wax' and 'Long Thin Cayennes' being harvested.  Please look at the pepper post to identify. Cucumbers – We are growing long cucumbers and short cucumbers.  The shorter are sweeter and apparently "burpless".  This week each box should receive two/three  cucumbers. "Lazy Lettuce" –  We will continue to harvest the lazy lettuce until the planting is done.  This is the bag of mixed lettuce leaves that you received last week.  Although it has been washed and spun dry, it should be washed before eating. Leeks – One for the half share and two for the full. Parsley – Either 'Italian Flat Leaf' or 'Curly' - Bunch in every box. Potatoes – Harvesting red skinned 'Desiree'. Rocket – A bag in every box. Thyme – Bunch in every box. Cherry Tomatoes – The harvest has begun and while each share is small (more on that below), we hope every box will receive some this week. Zucchini – Zucchini this week includes 'Nero di Milano' and 'Romanesco'.

NOTES ON WHAT'S GROWING We have begun to harvest tomatoes.  We harvest them before they are fully ripe and ripen them in the shade of the shed, to preserve their flavour.  The harvest in the beginning weeks of any new crop is always modest.  It is the mid-life of the plants when they just produce like crazy...we hope.  The second corn planting, a red variety, is tassling.  It looks so beautiful.  I will be posting a picture walk around the farm this week so if you do not receive our newsletter, you can check the webpage.  The second bean planting has been picked once with a great harvest!  The purple climbing beans are producing and should continue for awhile.  We have continued to plant spinach, rocket, lettuces and other greens, to try and have variety in the boxes each week.  We are trialing some different types of spinach which can withstand the heat better then the English spinach.  The first planting of carrots is almost done and then there is a second ready.  The onions are bulbing up beautifully.  The cucumbers are starting to have a really good harvest every other day.  Our second planting of zucchini is ready for harvest which is great as the first one never really went bonkers.  We are happy with how things are growing and continue to make notes about changes we might make for next year.  Please send through any feedback you have about crops you are receiving and/or amounts.

We have had to set priorities for water distribution.  The autumn crop seeding began in mid December and with the greenhouse full again of seedlings ready to be planted, they have received first dibs on water with corn, tomatoes, zucchini, beans, melons and pumpkins coming in next.  By rotating the irrigation throughout the days of intense heat, we have been able to minimize damage thus far.

U-PICK FLOWERS We have cosmos, zinneas, scabiosa, fever few, snap dragons, calendula, nasturtiums, statice, helichrysums and many other flowers growing.  Every member is welcome to come and U-pick some edible flowers and a bouquet each week on Saturdays from 8am-11am.  If you have not been to the farm yet, this is a great chance to walk around, see your food growing and leave with a wonderful posy.

SEASONAL EATING - SHARING INSPIRATION Please keep sharing your inspirations.  True seasonal eating has lost its definition, due partly to the fact that the grocery stores and fruit and vegetable shops seem to have everything, all the time.  It is great to be a part of the re-awakening of eating with the season and I am enjoying compiling what that looks like for so many different families.

RECIPE SUGGESTIONS Poached Baby Vegetables with Caper Mayonnaise Carrot and Radish Salad with a Morrocan Inspired Dressing Roasted Radishes Szechwan Green Beans

You can also search by key ingredient on our website recipe page for many more ideas.

CSA Summer Share 2012-2013 - Week #6 (5 - 11 January)

WHAT’S IN THE BOXThe following are the items in your box this coming week.  Some items and quantities may vary depending on your harvest day.  The photo is of a full share.

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.

NOTES ON THE SHARE Beetroot – A bunch of assorted beetroot in every box. Bush Beans – We have finished the first planting of bush beans and moved into the second, which includes yellow beans 'Cherokee Wax'. The purple climbing beans 'Purple King' should be ready for their first harvest this week as well. Carrots – Big bunch mixture of ‘Scarlett Nantes’, ‘Cosmic Purple’ and ‘Red Core Chatenay’.  And a small bunch of baby carrots 'Deep Purple'. Cauliflower/ Broccoli – We have moved into another planting of broccoli.  We are finishing a cauliflower planting which has yielded beautiful and small heads.  The next cauliflower harvest will be in the Autumn.  The harvest will be divided up between the boxes. Celery – We have begun to harvest the celery 'Tall Utah'. It's flavour is intense and it is a bit stringy. Chilli - The harvest of 'Padron' chillies will continue to appear in some boxes. Cucumbers – We are growing long cucumbers and short cucumbers.  The shorter are sweeter and apparently "burpless".  This week each box should receive two/three  cucumbers. "Lazy Lettuce" –  We have thickly seeded a mixture of lettuces so that we can harvest mixed lettuce leaves when they are still young.  Although it has been washed and spun dry, it should be washed before eating. Onions - The onions this week are 'Red Burgundy'. Slightly sweet and very beautiful. The tops can be used too like you would a green onion. Parsley –  'Italian Plain Leaf' or 'Curly Leaf' Potatoes – Harvesting red skinned 'Desiree' or 'Sapphire', a spectacular purple potato with rich purple flesh that maintains its colour when cooked.  Makes the most striking mashed potato. Radishes – Every box will receive a bunch of radishes this week.  We had not intended for some boxes to have them two weeks in a row but the next planting is ready for harvest now.  If left for a week, they all split. The variety is 'Champion'. Rocket/ Silverbeet/ Spinach – We have trialed growing some baby rocket, silverbeet and beetroot greens.  We will be harvesting whatever is ready. These can be mixed into a salad or used separately.  They are all suitable to be eaten raw or cooked. Peas – The heat of Friday has finished the last of the peas for the summer share.  Heat changes the flavour of the peas and makes the powdery mildew spread rapidly.  Bye Bye peas.  Hello beans! Squash – The variety is 'Jaune Et Verte' but in Vermont we just called them Patty Pans.  These are delightful summer squash if picked when young.  We have added a recipe for them and will get them into everyone's boxes throughout the season. They are small, round with scallop edges and a light green colour.  Really lovely baked! Zucchini – Zucchini this week includes 'Nero di Milano' and 'Romanesco'.

NOTES ON WHAT'S GROWING Although we are very lucky to have a secure water source, the lack of a good rain is evident.  With some crops, there is a reduction in size and with others we are noticing damaged leaves.  Our irrigation runs nearly non-stop but sprinklers are just not the same as an even soaking from rain.  We will keep you informed of how the crops fair in the heat.  While so many growing descriptions of crops indicated that they like "full sun", I think that the sun here in Australia, especially on these intense days is scorching and many leaves burn.  Permaculture's placing of shade trees is a wonderful idea in Australia!  We have lost one lettuce planting to mildew...the combination of a variety with many folds and lots of overhead watering to try and combat the heat.  But luckily there is a baby lettuce planting that has grown wonderfully to fill in the spot.  We keep talking about the cherry tomatoes.  There was a very small harvest today but we are still not seeing any of the larger size tomatoes turning colour and not that many cherries. Next year we will start the first planting of tomatoes in a movable greenhouse to try and have tomatoes just a bit earlier.  If you are on our mailing list, you will receive a post about corn this week.  The first planting is ready for pollination!

U-PICK FLOWERS We have cosmos, zinneas, scabiosa, fever few, snap dragons, calendula, nasturtiums, statice, helichrysums and many other flowers growing.  Every member is welcome to come and U-pick some edible flowers and a bouquet each week on Saturdays from 8am-11am.  If you have not been to the farm yet, this is a great chance to walk around, see your food growing and leave with a wonderful posy.

SEASONAL EATING - SHARING INSPIRATION We have received many meal photos and recipe suggestions from CSA members in the past two weeks.  It is great to see and hear about the yummy food that is being enjoyed!  Seasonal eating looks wonderful, sounds delicious and is very different from what we are seeing in the grocery store.  Please keep sharing your inspirations.  True seasonal eating has lost a definition, due partly to the fact that the grocery stores and fruit and vegetable shops seem to have everything, all the time.  It is great to post meal photos on our facebook page so that others can be inspired as well.  We are also happy to include tried recipe suggestions.  Maybe an easier way to share these is to set up another facebook page for CSA members where you can post photos and recipes directly?  Any other ideas or thoughts?

DELIVERY With the heat really setting in, we encourage those who get their boxes delivered to leave an esky with ice blocks in a sheltered location.  We are happy to unpack the box into an esky so that the produce has a better chance to stay in good condition until you return home.

With the holidays finished, Tuesday deliveries are back on Tuesday.

CSA's (Community Supported Agriculture) Kirsten Bradley of Milkwood Permaculture wrote a great post on CSA's. http://milkwood.net/2013/01/01/new-models-for-awesome-community-supported-agricultures-csas/ Transition Farm is listed as one of 5 CSA's in Australia. As members, we think you are all very special for supporting an idea new to this country.  We love hearing what you think about being part of a CSA and how the service could be better catered to you.

RECIPE SUGGESTIONS Ottolenghi's Perfect Lettuce Salad with Radishes, Semi-dried Tomatoes and Capers Szechwan Green Beans Potato and Green Bean Salad Crunchy Salad

You can also search by key ingredient on our website recipe page for many more ideas.

CSA Summer Share 2012-2013 - Week #5 (29 December- 3 January)

WHAT’S IN THE BOXThe following are the items in your box this coming week.  Some items and quantities may vary depending on your harvest day.  The photo is the full share on Saturday.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! We send you our best wishes for a enjoyable and peaceful 2013 and thank you for your support of our farm.

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.

NOTES ON THE SHARE Basil - Small bunch in every box. Bok Choy – Medium size bok choy 'White Stem' and 'Red'. Capsicum - 'Purple Beauty', 'Emerald Giant' and 'Corno di Toro'. Carrots – Mixture of ‘Scarlett Nantes’, ‘Cosmic Purple’ and ‘Red Core Chatenay’. The carrots are growing into longer medium size carrots. Cauliflower/ Broccoli / Cabbage – Some boxes are receiving cauliflower, some broccoli and some cabbage depending on the harvest. Chilli - 'Hungarian Hot Wax', 'Pimiento de Padron' and 'Cayenne Long Thin'. We leave the chillies loose but the 'Padrons' we put into a bag and you get enough to make a tapas dish.  These delightful  "sometimes hot, sometimes not peppers" are a great starter. Coriander - Small bunch in every box. Cucumbers – We are growing long cucumbers and short cucumbers.  The shorter are sweeter and apparently "burpless".  This week each box should receive two/three  cucumbers. Dill - Small bunch in every box. Garlic – One clove in every box. We have begun to clean the garlic and sort out our seed garlic for next year.  The remainder of the harvest will be divided into the summer and autumn share boxes. Bush Beans – The harvest has started with the varieties this week include 'Cherokee Wax' a yellow bush bean, 'Simba' and 'Strike' which are both green. Lettuce – 'Buttercrunch' and 'Parris Island Cos' (in the full share). Onions - The onions this week are 'Red Burgundy'. Slightly sweet and very beautiful. Parsley –  'Italian Plain Leaf' Potatoes – The past week we have been moving through the 'Cranberry Red' variety and into the 'Desiree'.  Both are red skin.  The cranberry red remains red even when cooked. Shelling Peas – 'Green Feast' is the variety.  The natural sugar in peas begins turning to starch immediately after picking.  So try and eat your peas in the first days of receiving your box. We love the shelling process - sitting with a friend, your children and a cup of tea and sharing the day while you prepare the meal. These are so sweet they barely need cooking (steam for three minutes) or just put them raw into your salad...if they even make it past the table.  The peas have started to succumb to powdery mildew which is very normal.  They do not like the hot, humid conditions that summer brings. We will attempt to continue picking the peas that remain until the mildew damages the actual peas. It is just come onto the foliage of the last pea planting for this season. Spinach – English spinach 'Long Standing Bloomsdale' or a bunching variety 'Sharaku'. Squash – The variety is 'Jaune Et Verte' but in Vermont we just called them Patty Pans.  These are delightful summer squash if picked when young.  We have added a recipe for them and will get them into everyone's boxes throughout the season. They are small, round with scallop edges and a light green colour.  Really lovely baked! Zucchini– Zucchini this week includes 'Nero di Milano' and 'Romanesco' - two/three in every box.

NOTES ON THE SHARES We are moving between crops and between plantings of the same crops. We think there will be a variation between the Saturday, Tuesday and Thursdays boxes.  As we assemble the boxes from the harvest, we try to ensure that within each box there are at least 10 items (not including herbs) in half share or full share quantities.  This means that someone may receive peas while someone else might receive beans.  We do record what everyone receives to try and ensure everyone gets everything.  Items such as 'Pimiento de Padrons' or the 'Jaune Et Verte' squash we rotate through the boxes so that everyone will get to try them.

NOTES ON WHAT'S GROWING The cherry tomatoes have started to change colour and will be making it into the boxes soon.  The corn is beginning to flower with ears just forming.  We expected to have the celery by now but it is a really long season crop, loving water and compost.  We noticed last year that the longer it stays in the ground, the taller it becomes and also the juicier.  It is still very stringy right now but we will keep trying it every week. We will begin harvesting yellow beans this week and have moved into another planting of green one.  The purple climbing beans are about 2cm long and growing.  We are entering into what we hope will be a nice long season of beans!

RECIPE SUGGESTIONS As this is the season for entertaining, we tried to find a variety of finger food recipes.

Vegetable Pakoras is a recipe donation from Paul Dempsey.  Paul and Lisa Dempsey are the faces behind Big Blue Backyard, a local, secluded, award winning, ocean beach hideaway for couples. Designed to blend into the natural environment, this unique retreat sits perfectly between the dunes abutting the National Park at wild and often deserted St Andrews Beach. Paul is a wonderfully diverse chef who draws his inspiration from the ingredients presented to him each week.  The meals served to guests are unique, exquisite and seasonal with ingredients sourced locally.

Other recipe suggestions for the week are: Spinach and Feta Triangles Spinach, Herb and Goats Cheese Tartlets Southeast Asian Fish Rolls served with an Asian Cucumber Condiment Blue Cheese, Proscuitto and Rocket Bruschetta and Zucchini Ribbon Salad with Greens, Sundried Tomatoes and Feta Cheese

You can also search by key ingredient on our website recipe page for many more ideas.