Now we are into the second week of the CSA. Many things are growing well though we had a little bit of an outbreak of cucumber beetles. Apparently they like more than cucumbers because they were destroying the tiny zucchini plants. After days of removing the bugs by hand picking and with a shop-vac, it appears as though we are ahead of them. More seeds were planted just in case. Using a vacuum in the garden will certainly get the neighbors talking, but it works well as a chemical free way to remove many different pests.
This week, you will find in your basket among other things, Bee Balm, Bergamot or Monarda. Bee Balm has a orange, lemon, mint flavor. Though they taste very different, Bee Balm and Mint actually belong to the same family, Lamiaceae. During the American Revolution in 1773, colonists protested the tea tax and refused to drink imported tea. Instead, they drank tea from the Monarda plant introduced to them by the New York Oswego Indians. This became known as Oswego tea. This tea is reminiscent of Earl Grey and is thought to alleviate headache, aid in digestion, clear congestion and help with mild insomnia.
When making tea with fresh leaves, use 1 tbsp of fresh leaves to 1 cup boiling water. (use more leaves if stronger taste is desired) Strain off leaves and sweeten with honey. Can be combined with other herbs or black tea for a variety of flavors. You can make mock Earl Grey tea by infusing black tea with a sprig of bee balm. It is not exactly Earl Grey...which is actually made with something called bergamot orange, but the flavors are close.
The recipe choices are endless. I have used bee balm to make a nice glaze mixed with cranberry and brown sugar for pork tenderloin. You can also chop and add 1 tbsp to your pan oil when frying pork, white fish or scallops. Make a rub by chopping the leaves fine and mix with salt, some paprika and minced garlic. Use this rub on pork, chicken or turkey. Chop leaves fine and add to salads.
Also in your box you will find a small bunch of green onions. Along with the green onion, there is 1 green garlic and one green shallot.
Enjoy!
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!
Very nice photos you posted here and i saw Manny,too!!!Great choice of name!
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