Welcome to the first week of the CSA! Thank you for becoming a member and supporting local food. I hope you enjoy veggies as much as we do. This week, the first week, is a little sparse, which is to be expected. Most things are not ready yet but well on their way.
You will find in your basket, among other things, Mint. This versatile herb is available in abundance which is great, since it has so many uses. Mint is known for its calming effect and digestion aid. The list of the health benefits of mint is extensive! Too many to list here.
In the kitchen, throw some mint into the steaming water of vegetables. Make tea with ¼ cup of fresh herb per cup of boiling water and a bit of sugar. Or make iced tea, allow to cool, serve with ice with a few leaves floating around. Chop leaves fine and add to the butter that will dress your new potatoes. Throw whole leaves into cooked rice, just before serving. Freeze whole leaves in ice cubes to add to summer drinks. Make a salad dressing with mint, lemon, vinegar and oil.
Here is a refreshing recipe, courtesy of www.allrecipes.com.
Watermelon Agua Fresca
4 c cubed seeded watermelon
½ c water
½ c sugar or to taste
4 slices lime
24 mint leaves
ice
Puree the watermelon and water in a blender until smooth. Add sugar to taste. Cut the lime slices in half. Place a half lime slice into each of 8 glasses along with 3 mint leaves. Crush with a cocktail muddler, then fill each glass with ice. Pour in the watermelon agua fresca, and stir before serving.
Definitely taste before adding all of the sugar. Some watermelon is quite sweet and ½ c of sugar may be way too much.
Enjoy!
See you next week.
Spray free Produce and CSA
A Growing Concern Farm is a small hobby farm located inland from Chester, NS, focusing mainly on fresh produce and farm raised eggs from happy chickens with names.
CSA, or Community Supported Agriculture allows a member to purchase a membership which will result in a box of fresh produce each week, all growing season long. The risk is shared, meaning that if something didn't grow well, that will be reflected in the weekly share. Likewise, when something does well, members will reap the benefits.
Members can expect to receive a box or basket of produce beginning around June 8th and ending near the end of September. June and the last half of September will likely be a smaller share than the bulk of the summer.
This year, the membership will include eggs as they become available. A member could expect to receive about a dozen eggs every second week. This is not a guarantee as we can't make chickens lay eggs! The chickens are fed a diet of grains and greens. They are grown without the use of hormones or antibiotics. They do not free range on our property because of hawks and other predators but they do have a large, outdoor enclosure that is covered with bird netting. The chickens are able to go inside and outside when they please.
The fresh produce at A Growing Concern Farm is grown without herbicides or pesticides and is picked at its peak of ripeness and ideal size. (no baseball bat zuchini!!!) There is a wide variety of produce being planted which will hopefully produce tomatoes, tomatillo, beets, swiss chard, spinach, bush beans, zuchini, parsnip, radish, lettuce, leeks, peas, cilantro, parsley, chives, turnip, kale, shallots, onions, garlic, summer savory, dill, new potatoes, pole beans, jerusalem artichokes, carrots, melons, squash, koli rabi, celeriac, cucumbers, oregano, thyme, mint, basil, eggplant, sage, rosemary, chamomile, caraway, okra, soybeans, sunflowers, bee balm, cut flowers and more. There is a wide variety of each type in many cases, so expect a wide variety of color! Items chosen for the weekly basket will depend on what is ripe and available at that time. Remember, availability of items and quantities is all up to mother nature.
Produce will be spray free but should be washed before eating. Expect a little bit of dirt on root vegetables and a few small holes in leafy vegetables. Expect too, superior taste and freshness. Eggs are wiped down but not sanitized. You will notice that these eggs are more flavorful, have a brighter yoke and a greater density when cracked into a pan.
This year, 2010, is a trial year with only 4 members and a small amount of restaurant supply. Hopefully it will continue in 2011 with a larger number of members and a larger area of cultivated land. We will accept new members on a first come, first serve basis. Be sure to notify us in writing as soon as possible if you are interested. Planning for next year's crop actually will begin in the fall!
Thanks for making this drink to us,Tanya.It was refreshing!
ReplyDeleteAnd the fresh eggs?Coco & Cam definitely savoured them so fast!