CSA 2015 - Week #12
NEWS FROM THE FARM
IN THE FARM OFFICE
Thanks for all the love, folks! We've heard from so many of you who are enjoying this season's program and all the delicious veggies we've been harvesting for you. Some of you have shared some helpful constructive criticism, and we appreciate that too. All feedback is important to us as it helps us make our program better.
Today's rain is a welcome change in the forecast. It has been an extremely dry season. Huge dust clouds follow our tractors and farm vehicles, and our field workers have to wear masks while harvesting potatoes to avoid breathing in so much dusty soil. This rain will also give us a break in our irrigation work - allowing us some more time to attend to other field work and crop maintenance.
This past week we've been busy seeding some of our fall root crops, like carrots and beets, and transplanting fall brassicas, like kales, broccoli, kohlrabi and cabbage. We'll be transplanting until the end of the month, and continue our seedings of turnips, bok choi, watermelon radish, white salad turnips and baby greens through the middle of September.
SAVE THE DATE!
Bring your family and friends to our celebration of CSA at our annual Harvest Festival on Sunday, October 18th. Good food, cooking demos, kids' activities, live music, hayride tours and more! Come meet your farmers and see where your food comes from. We hope to see you there!
IN THE SHARES
Another fabulous share this week!
Yellow Watermelon - If you liked last week's melon, you'll LOVE this one! Fewer seeds, sweeter, juicier flesh.
Cipollini Onions - These are a sweet, Italian variety of onion known as "little onion". Try our recipe this week.
Swiss Chard - This is a leafy green that loves the heat! I've been steaming and serving chard alongside eggs for breakfast. You can also try this week's simple recipe for swiss chard & potatoes.
Red Potatoes - This variety is called Red Norland. Great texture for potato salads!
Red Tomatoes & Cherry Tomatoes - The tomatoes keep coming in! We hope to continue harvesting from our plants through the end of September.
Green Bell Pepper - If you leave green peppers on the plant, eventually they will turn red or yellow, depending on the variety. We leave a lot of our peppers to turn colors, but we do harvest them in their green stage a few times for the CSA. Try it in gazpacho!
Bon appetit! - Maggie
KIM'S HEALTH & NUTRITION CORNER...
Read all about Supplements in Kim's blog this week!
WANT MORE BEHIND-THE-SCENES? FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM! Get up-to-the-moment posts from the fields, the barn, the farmhouse kitchen and more!
VISIT OUR FARMERS' MARKETS
Can't get enough of our veggies? Some of our best Farmers' Market customers are our CSA members! Stock up on more of the goodness you get in your shares at our markets in Port Washington (Saturdays), Islip (Saturdays) and Huntington (Sundays). Visit our website to learn more about our markets and find a map! Brian & Orlando look forward to seeing you there!
THIS WEEK IN THE SHARES
AUGUST 11, 12, 13 & 14
Red Potatoes - 1 quart
Green Bell Pepper - 1 piece
Swiss Chard - 1 bunch
Cipollini Onions - 1 bunch
Cherry Tomatoes - 1 bag
Red Tomatoes - several pieces
Yellow Watermelon - 1 piece
*The contents of the share may change through the week as we monitor the fields and harvest what is at its peak.
Clockwise from top: Cipollini Onions, Swiss Chard, Red Tomatoes, Yellow Cherry Tomatoes, Red Potatoes, Yellow Watermelon & Green Bell Pepper!
STORAGE TIPS
In the fridge...
Watermelon, Pepper, Potatoes
In a bag in the fridge...
Swiss Chard, Onions
On the counter...
Tomatoes - eat right away when fully red (or yellow for the cherries) and ripe!
BRIERMERE FARM FRUIT SHARE
THE FRUIT SHARE IS NOT ORGANIC! PLEASE BE SURE TO WASH THE FRUIT BEFORE YOU EAT IT.
Peaches - 1 bag
Donut Peaches - 1 bag
RECIPES
Roasted Cipollini Onions with Honey & Balsamic
Simple Swiss Chard & Potatoes
Red Potatoes with Feta, Olives & Mint
Gazpacho