Winter CSA 2019-2020 - Week #1
Hello friends! Welcome to the first week of our Winter CSA Program. We've been harvesting these root vegetables from our fields over the past month and storing them in our coolers where they will remain fresh for you all winter long. Our storage system is similar to a root cellar. In the "olden days", everyone would rely on the food put away in their root cellars to keep them nourished all winter long. Our bodies crave root vegetables in stews and roasts during these winter months. Root vegetables are "grounding foods"...the energy is built up in the plants all season long and is stored inside the roots. Whether you are aware of it or not, we are part of a very intricate web of life, and eating with the seasons just means tuning into what Mother Nature already provides for us at just the time we need it. It is healthier to eat what's available in a given season, and our bodies instinctively know it. Root vegetables are also sweeter than the leaves and the fruits we are accustomed to eating in the warmer months. This natural sugar helps with digestion and provides stable energy for our bodies without blood sugar highs. Root vegetables are also high in minerals and nutrients directly absorbed from the soil. Our soil is particularly rich in macro- and micro-nutrients as we have been building and fine-tuning it for over 2 decades. Healthy soil grows healthy plants and healthy plants grow healthy people!
We wish you and your families a very happy and joyous holiday season!
Warmest wishes from the farm,
Maggie, Farmer Matt, Galen, Zinny, Kelly & Crew
FIND MORE RECIPES FOR ALL THE VEG IN YOUR BOX! If you need recipes that are not included in the newsletter, we have a massive recipe index on our website where you can search by vegetable here: http://goldenearthworm.com/cropswegrow/
AN IMPORTANT NOTE ON PRODUCE STORAGE -- Your root veggies will hold up for a full month AS LONG AS YOU STORE THEM PROPERLY. Sweet potatoes don't like to be cold, so a cool spot is best. The other root vegetables should be stored separately from the cabbage, but they can be stored together, also in airtight bags in the fridge. What do I mean by airtight? Ziplocks are good, as are regular plastic bags that are closed/sealed well at the top. You can also use glass or stainless containers with tight fitting lids. The idea is to lock in the moisture so that the veggies stay fresh and don't turn soft and limp. The potatoes should be stored in a cool (not cold), DARK place. Our good friend, chef and blogger, Alexa Weitzman, has written a great article about Winter CSA full of tips and tricks to eat well all winter long! http://sustainablepantry.com/2018/12/10/csa-winter-share-tips/
What's in the share?
Carrots
Storage: In an airtight bag in the refrigerator. Uses: Raw or Cooked. When to use: Within 3 weeks.
Green Cabbage
Storage: In an airtight bag in the refrigerator. Uses: Raw or Cooked. When to use: Within 3 weeks.
Red and/or Golden Beets
Storage: In an airtight bag in the refrigerator. Uses: Raw or Cooked. When to use: Within 3 weeks.
Potatoes - These are a waxy variety - perfect for roasting. My trick to roasting potatoes is to roast with a top on the baking dish. Foil works well too. The point is to steam the potatoes. Once tender, remove the top and continue roasting for another 10-15 minutes until nicely browned.
Storage: In an cool (not cold) space. Uses: Cooked. When to use: Within 3 weeks.
Large Japanese Salad Turnips
Storage: In an airtight bag in the refrigerator. Uses: Raw or Cooked. When to use: Within 3 weeks.
Watermelon Radish
Storage: In an airtight bag in the refrigerator. Uses: Raw or Cooked. When to use: Within 3 weeks.
Sweet Potatoes
Storage: In a cool, but not cold spot. Uses: Cooked. When to use: Within 2 weeks.
PLUS...a bonus item!
BRIERMERE FARM APPLE SHARE - Pink Lady & Fuji Apples
Recipes!
Simple Sauteed Cabbage
Creamy Thai Carrot Soup with Basil
Roasted Japanese Turnips
Sweet Potato Galette
Julia Child's Best Balsamic Roasted Beets