What's in the Box - June 29, 30 & July 1

Click on a crop below for recipes and storage information.

Romaine Lettuce - 1 head
Yellow Carrots - 1 bunch
Cippolini Onions - 1 bunch 
Beets & Greens - 1 bunch
Kohlrabi - 3 pieces
Toscano Kale - 1 bunch
Dill -OR- Parsley - 1 bunch 
Broccoli - WED & THURS only this week - TUES next week! 

Notes on the Box

We have a great box for you this week- full of roots and leafy greens! The kohlrabi can be stored in the hydrator of the fridge for at least a month, so don't be overwhelmed! Broccoli is ready to harvest for our Wednesday and Thursday sites this week- all members picking up on Tuesday will receive theirs next week. And finally, don't forget to eat the tops of the beets! I know I keep repeating this over and over, but most people still throw them out when they're the best greens in the world! 

Update from the Fields...

Thanks to some excellent cultivating c/o Farmer Matt, your sweet potatoes have been saved from an onslaught of weeds! June is one of the busiest times of the season for us, as we try to keep up with the weeds in the fields, as well as planting, harvesting, and irrigating. It's been great to have so much hot sunny weather this year (especially compared to last year's endless rain) but it means that we have to keep irrigating (watering) our crops on a constant basis. Despite the extra effort irrigation requires, we'll take this weather over the rain any day!

News from the CSA Community

Join CSA Members Christine & Frank Egan and the Long Island Food Challenge to eat local for 3 weeks during the month of July!  For more information, see their website: www.longislandfoodchallenge.org

Join our Facebook Group! Share pics, recipes, and join the discussion with other members!   

Explore our Website

We welcome you to explore our website to learn more about our farm and the wonderful things you can do with your weekly share. You may find our PRODUCE STORAGE TIPS page useful in figuring out how to maximize the life of your veggies, and our RECIPE section to search for ways to cook up your box! And maybe you need help identifying a particular mystery vegetable? Try our CROP GUIDE.  

If you would like to place a special order, or if there is a problem with your box, please contact Holly at holly@goldenearthworm.com  All other inquiries should be directed to our general CSA mailbox at info@goldenearthworm.com.

THIS WEEK'S RECIPE SUGGESTIONS

Roasted Beet Salad with Oranges & Beet Greens
Kohlrabi Salad

More recipes for all the week's produce can be found here on our RECIPES page.  

What's in the Box - June 22, 23 & 24

Click on a crop below for recipes and storage information.

Swiss Chard - 2 bunches
Carrots - 1 bunch
Scallions - 1 bunch
Collards - 1 bunch
Fennel - 3 pieces
Cilantro -OR- Dill - 1 bunch 

Notes on the Box

This is the week to enjoy Swiss Chard! We also have our first crop of carrots in the share this week, and they're especially sweet this time of year. Babyfarmer Galen has been enjoying his first bites of mashed carrots and he thinks they're yummy!

Update from the Fields...

Overall our crops are looking terrific! We've been busy cultivating (the farming term for weeding) with our new cultivating tractor - which has made the task much more efficient and more fun! These are some pictures of our freshly mulched tomatoes and field of potatoes.

Woodchuck Woes... There's no lettuce in the box this week because the groundhog ate it! They ravaged most of the varieties we planted, but there should be more coming soon...  In other sad news, the bok choi and white salad turnip beds were taken over by weeds, so we've turned them in. Small losses considering the size of the farm, but we wanted to keep you informed!

News from the CSA Community

Join CSA Members Christine & Frank Egan and the Long Island Food Challenge to eat local for 3 weeks during the month of July!  For more information, see their website: www.longislandfoodchallenge.org

Join our Facebook Group! Share pics, recipes, and join the discussion with other members!   

Explore our Website

We welcome you to explore our website to learn more about our farm and the wonderful things you can do with your weekly share. You may find our PRODUCE STORAGE TIPS page useful in figuring out how to maximize the life of your veggies, and our RECIPE section to search for ways to cook up your box! And maybe you need help identifying a particular mystery vegetable? Try our CROP GUIDE.  

If you would like to place a special order, or if there is a problem with your box, please contact Holly at holly@goldenearthworm.com  All other inquiries should be directed to our general CSA mailbox at info@goldenearthworm.com.

THIS WEEK'S RECIPE SUGGESTIONS

Braised Fennel
Escarole & White Bean Salad with Fennel & Gruyere Cheese

More recipes for all the week's produce can be found here on our RECIPES page.  

What's in the Box - June 15, 16 & 17

Click on a crop below for recipes and storage information.

Toscano Kale - 1 bunch
Red Beets & Greens - 1 bunch
Red Boston Lettuce - 1 head
Kohlrabi - 1 bunch
Baby Arugula - 1 bag
Garlic Scapes - 1 bunch
Baby Spinach - 1 bag

Notes on the Box

The first beets of the season are making an appearance in the box this week! Be sure to use the beet tops as well as the roots- they're some of the best tasting greens you'll find. You can cook them up like any other green, either sauteed, or gently steamed. The baby spinach is perfect for salads this time of year when the leaves are still very tender. Kohlrabi is unfamiliar to many of you, so you can read more about it here. I love to eat kohlrabi raw- sliced very thinly and sprinkled with a little sea salt. And finally, try something new with the garlic scapes this week- it will be the last of them for the remainder of the season. I put them on the grill alongside some tempeh burgers last night and they were amazing. Join our Facebook community and share your favorite ways to cook up your box! 

News from the CSA Community

Join CSA Members Christine & Frank Egan and the Long Island Food Challenge to eat local for 3 weeks during the month of July!  For more information, see their website: www.longislandfoodchallenge.org

Join our Facebook Group! Share pics, recipes, and join the discussion with other members!  

The U-Pick Strawberry season is now over. We hope you were able to join us!

Explore our Website
We welcome you to explore our website to learn more about our farm and the wonderful things you can do with your weekly share. You may find our PRODUCE STORAGE TIPS page useful in figuring out how to maximize the life of your veggies, and our RECIPE section to search for ways to cook up your box! And maybe you need help identifying a particular mystery vegetable? Try our CROP GUIDE.  

If you would like to place a special order, or if there is a problem with your box, please contact Holly at holly@goldenearthworm.com  All other inquiries should be directed to our general CSA mailbox at info@goldenearthworm.com.

THIS WEEK'S RECIPE SUGGESTIONS

Pasta with Lentils & Kale
Kale Chips
Braised Kohlrabi
Garlic Scape Pesto 

More recipes for all the week's produce can be found here on our RECIPES page.  

UPCOMING EVENTS

Want to get your hands dirty? Check back for more information about upcoming work days in next week's newsletter!

What's in the Box - June 8, 9 & 10

Click on a crop below for recipes and storage information.

Escarole - 1 head
Red or Green Romaine Lettuce - 1 head
Swiss Chard - 1 bunch
Garlic Scapes - 1 bunch
Green Boston Lettuce - 1 head
Baby Bok Choi - 1 bunch
Japanese Salad Turnips - 1 bunch (2-3pc)

Notes on the Box

Greens Galore! This is a traditional late spring box, full of delicious leafy greens. The swiss chard is gorgeous- called Bright Lights because of its multi-color stems. The bok choi is delicious steamed up or used in a stir fry. And don't forget that the white salad turnips are a two-for-one veg because you can eat the leaves too! I love their spicy flavor when gently steamed and then sauteed with a little garlic, olive oil and a squeeze of lemon. And for all you escarole lovers (or soon to be)...a big beautiful head of escarole to round things out. Escarole can be eaten raw in a salad, or cooked. It is a bitter green, so cooking will help take off the bitter edge if you don't like the flavor. If eating raw, the inner (more yellow) leaves are less bitter and can even be a bit sweet! Finally, the funny looking long green things in your box are a springtime specialty called Garlic Scapes! Read more about them here.

News from the CSA Community

Join CSA Members Christine & Frank Egan and the Long Island Food Challenge to eat local for 3 weeks during the month of July!  For more information, see their website: www.longislandfoodchallenge.org

Join our Facebook Group! Share pics, recipes, and join the discussion with other members!  

U-Pick Strawberries will continue this weekend. We are already at the peak of the picking season, so if you haven't already joined us, this would be the weekend to do so! 

Explore our Website
We welcome you to explore our website to learn more about our farm and the wonderful things you can do with your weekly share. You may find our PRODUCE STORAGE TIPS page useful in figuring out how to maximize the life of your veggies, and our RECIPE section to search for ways to cook up your box! And maybe you need help identifying a particular mystery vegetable? Try our CROP GUIDE.  

If you would like to place a special order, or if there is a problem with your box, please contact Holly at holly@goldenearthworm.com  All other inquiries should be directed to our general CSA mailbox at info@goldenearthworm.com.

THIS WEEK'S RECIPE SUGGESTIONS

Braised Bok Choi
Escarole & Pine Nuts
Roasted Garlic Scapes
Grannie's Swiss Chard

More recipes for all the week's produce can be found here on our RECIPES page.  

UPCOMING EVENTS

Join us for U-Pick Organic Strawberries at the farm!  We'll be open this weekend!

What's in the Box - June 1, 2 & 3

Click on a crop below for recipes and storage information.

Red Boston Lettuce
Green Boston Lettuce
Spinach
Baby Arugula
French Breakfast Radishes
Baby Japanese Salad Turnips
Rhubarb
Strawberries 

News from the Farm

Welcome to the 2010 CSA! We are so excited to start off the season with a terrific first harvest! The weather has been great this spring for planting and growing, and our crops in the fields are looking beautiful. This has been the first year in a long time that we were able to get many of our crops in the ground ahead of schedule. 

Check back next week for a crop update and some photos from the fields...

Explore our Website
We welcome you to explore our website to learn more about our farm and the wonderful things you can do with your weekly share. You may find our PRODUCE STORAGE TIPS page useful in figuring out how to maximize the life of your veggies, and our RECIPE section to search for ways to cook up your box! And maybe you need help identifying a particular mystery vegetable? Try our CROP GUIDE.  

Farmers Matt and James are always busy in the fields growing your food, so check out the FARMER BLOG to learn how they do it!  You'll be amazed how little seeds grow into heads of cabbage, leaves of spinach, and string beans!  (You can even check out some pics of our new tractor!)

You can usually find me (Maggie) in the kitchen or behind the camera, so I'll be bringing you lots more inspiration throughout the season.  And Holly, our harvest manager, is here for her third year, overseeing the CSA operation.  If you would like to place a special order, or if there is a problem with your box, Holly is the person to contact!  holly@goldenearthworm.com  All other inquiries should be directed to our general CSA mailbox at info@goldenearthworm.com.

And last but certainly not least, you have a new farmer this year!  Baby Galen was born on New Year's Day at home on the farm. He is now a strapping 20 pound 5-month old who enjoyed his first leaf of arugula last night for dinner. (I wish I was kidding.) 

Here's to a wonderful farming and eating season!  

- Matt, James, Maggie, Holly, baby-farmer Galen and the rest of the farm crew

THIS WEEK'S RECIPE SUGGESTIONS

Salad Primer - The perfect Leaf Salad & Simple Vinaigrette
Rhubarb Compote
Rhubarb Cake 
Salad Turnips with Miso 

More recipes for all the week's produce can be found here on our RECIPES page.  

UPCOMING EVENTS

Join us for U-Pick Organic Strawberries at the farm!  We'll be open this weekend!

The first newsletter of the 2010 CSA season will be posted here on June 1st!

THIS WEEK IN THE BOX - week of November 23rd - THE FINAL WEEK!

VEGETABLE SHARE 

Sweet Potatoes - 3 lbs
Carrots - 1 bunch
Toscano Kale - 1 bunch 
Potatoes - 2 lbs
Radicchio or Kohlrabi - 1 piece/head
Rutabaga - 1-2 pieces (depending on size)
Butternut Squash - 1 piece
Red or Savoy Cabbage - 1-2 heads (depending on size)
Watermelon Radish - 1 piece
Broccoli - 2 pieces 

NEWS FROM THE FARM

Feeling grateful...As the last shares of the season are packed and shipped out to you on the truck this week, we can finally take a big breath, sit down with our families to a Thanksgiving meal, and feel enormous gratitude for everyone who makes our CSA program possible and keeps our farm thriving.

We are grateful to our wonderful field workers who tend the crops and harvest your produce from sun up to sun down, week after week, all season long. Just like us farmers, our field crews devote their lives to organic farming, and to growing food to feed you throughout the season. They are dedicated to their work, and to our farm, and without them there would be no harvest, no CSA, no food on our tables. 

We are grateful to our members (that's you!) for understanding the importance of supporting local agriculture, for seeking out organically grown produce to feed your families, and for appreciating the significance of food that is grown with integrity and respect for the land and the community. 

We are grateful for the strong organic farming community that supports our efforts all year long, and for the dozens and dozens of generous folks who facilitate our farm operations every year - from mechanics, to electricians, seed producers and fellow farmers.  We thank you all!

The Farmer's Winter...The winter months used to be spent pouring over seed catalogues and dreaming about the first spring planting, but now with a Winter CSA Share, our "time off" in the winter is just a slower period of work for us. Stay up-to-date with our winter activities by reading our Farmers' Blog. Also worth noting- a new farm member will be arriving in mid-December, so stay tuned!

We send you all our best wishes for a wonderful Thanksgiving and holiday season! We hope to welcome you all back to our program next spring!

Warm wishes,
Farmers Matt, James, Maggie & Holly & the whole crew!

Renew your membership for 2010!  Renewal applications for our 2010 CSA season are now available! Click here to renew your share! We probably won't have room for everyone next season, so be sure to renew early to save your spot! 

WINTER SHARES
Winter shares for the 2009-2010 season will be available for pick-up at the farm in Jamesport and through our Queens groups. (For current Queens members only at most sites- contact them to check first.) Please contact your core group directly for inquiries about the Queens sites.  If you are interested in picking up at the farm, please e-mail us at info@goldenearthworm.com.  There are a limited number of shares available.  

THIS WEEK'S RECIPE SUGGESTIONS

Pureed Rutabaga with Pan-Fried Leeks
Braised Cabbage with Carraway
Honey Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Butternut Squash with Shallots & Sage

More recipes for all the week's produce can be found here on our RECIPES page.

THIS WEEK IN THE BOX - week of November 16th

VEGETABLE SHARE 

Sweet Potatoes - 4.5-5 lbs!
Carrots - 1 bunch
Red Kale - 1 bunch - This is my favorite kale variety- so tender!
Baby Potatoes -or- Leeks - 1.5 lbs or 2 pieces
Celery Root (Celeriac) - 2 pieces - This is an ugly veg, but oh so delicious! Try this week's recipe below. 
Sunshine Squash - 1 piece
Parsley - 1 bunch
Broccoli - 1 piece

FRUIT SHARE*
Eating Apples - Macintosh, Fuji & Jonagold Varieties - 1 mixed bag 
Cooking Apples - Ida Red, Rome, and Jonamac varieties - perfect for all your holiday baking! - 1 mixed bag MARKED WITH TAPE

*THIS IS THE LAST WEEK OF THE FRUIT SHARE!  We've reached the full $138 value of fruit for this season.

NEWS FROM THE FARM

Next week- the week of Thanksgiving- is the FINAL WEEK of CSA for the 2009 Season. It's been a crazy year for farming, but we hope you've enjoyed the experience with us! Here's a preview of next week's special Thanksgiving CSA Box:  Sweet Potatoes, Savoy Cabbage, Potatoes, Kohlrabi, Rutabaga, Carrots, Watermelon Radish?, Butternut Squash?, Kale?. 

Renew your membership for 2010!  Renewal applications for our 2010 CSA season are now available! Click here to renew your share! We probably won't have room for everyone next season, so be sure to renew early to save your spot! 

WINTER SHARES
Winter shares for the 2009-2010 season will be available for pick-up at the farm in Jamesport and through our Queens groups. (For current Queens members only at most sites- contact them to check first.) Please contact your core group directly for inquiries about the Queens sites.  If you are interested in picking up at the farm, please e-mail us at info@goldenearthworm.com.  There are a limited number of shares available.  

THIS WEEK'S RECIPE SUGGESTIONS

Celeriac Mash
Leek & Potato Soup

More recipes for all the week's produce can be found here on our RECIPES page.

THIS WEEK IN THE BOX - week of November 9th

VEGETABLE SHARE 

Potatoes - white or yellow - 2 lbs
Watermelon Radish - 2 pieces
Red or Green Boston Lettuce - 1 head
Escarole -or- Green Crisp Lettuce - 1 head 
Radicchio - 1 head
Japanese Salad Turnips -or- Bok Choi - 1 bunch 
Butternut Squash - 1-2 pieces (depending on size)  
Broccoli - 1 piece
Cilantro - 1 bunch (Try making pesto!  See recipe below.)

FRUIT SHARE*
Red Delicious, Macintosh & Fuji Apples - 1 mixed bag 
Bosc Pears - 1 bag (These are ripe when still hard- just wait until there is no more green skin, then eat!)

*THE FRUIT SHARE WILL END THE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 16th!  That means that next week is the last week.

NEWS FROM THE FARM

Renew your membership for 2010!  Renewal applications for our 2010 CSA season are now available! Click here to renew your share! We probably won't have room for everyone next season, so be sure to renew early to save your spot! 

WINTER SHARES
Winter shares for the 2009-2010 season will be available for pick-up at the farm in Jamesport and through our Queens groups. (For current Queens members only at most sites- contact them to check first.) Please contact your core group directly for inquiries about the Queens sites.  If you are interested in picking up at the farm, please e-mail us at info@goldenearthworm.com.  There are a limited number of shares available.  

THIS WEEK'S RECIPE SUGGESTIONS

Escarole Soup
Penne with Caramelized Onions & Radicchio
Cilantro Pesto

More recipes for all the week's produce can be found here on our RECIPES page.

THIS WEEK IN THE BOX - week of November 2nd

VEGETABLE SHARE 

Sweet Potatoes - 2 lbs
Rutabaga - 2 pieces
Romaine or Batavian Lettuce - 1 med. head or 2 sm. heads
Leeks - 2 pieces
Broccoli Raab or Spinach - 1/2 lb. bag
Japanese Salad Turnips - 1 bunch 
Red Kale - 1 bunch
Green Cabbage - 1 head

FRUIT SHARE*
Red Delicious, Empire & Fuji Apples - 1 mixed bag 

*THE FRUIT SHARE WILL END THE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 16th!  That's 3 more weeks including this week!

NEWS FROM THE FARM

We have a lovely autumn share for you this week- including the first harvest of our beautiful (and big!) rutabagas. Don't be intimidated if you've never cooked them before. Mashing them up is an old stand-by. Just peel the skin, cut into 1/2" cubes and steam until soft. Then mash up with butter and salt & pepper to taste. You can find some more recipes for rutabaga below under "Recipes".

Renew your membership for 2010!  Renewal applications for our 2010 CSA season will be available on our website later this week for our Long Island sites. We probably won't have room for everyone next season, so be sure to renew early to save your spot! 

WINTER SHARES
Winter shares for the 2009-2010 season will be available for pick-up at the farm in Jamesport and through our Queens groups. (For current Queens members only at most sites- contact them to check first.) Please contact your core group directly for inquiries about the Queens sites.  If you are interested in picking up at the farm, please e-mail us at info@goldenearthworm.com.  There are a limited number of shares available.  

THIS WEEK'S RECIPE SUGGESTIONS

Braised Cabbage with Caraway Seeds
Rutabaga Oven Fries
Pureed Rutabagas with Pan-Fried Leeks 

More recipes for all the week's produce can be found here on our RECIPES page.

THIS WEEK IN THE BOX - week of October 26th

VEGETABLE SHARE 

Lettuce Mix - 1/4 lb. bag
Carrots - 1 bunch 
Daikon Radish or Kohlrabi - 1-3 pieces - The Japanese love this veg!  You can prepare it like any ordinary radish, shredded or sliced raw in salads, but it's also delicious cooked up in soups. It's one of my favorite additions to a warm and soothing miso soup.
Leeks - 2 pieces
Cilantro - 1 bunch
Green Kale - 1 bunch 
Baby Salad Turnips - 1 bunch
Baby Bok Choi - 1 bunch
Green Tomatoes - 2-3 pieces - As you know, our tomato crop was hit hard by the late blight earlier this season, but some tomatoes hung out on the vine unharmed.  The only problem was that they never turned red! There is always a silver lining....green tomatoes are a huge treat and if you've never cooked with them before, you're in for a big surprise!  Try this week's chutney or fried green tomato recipe (see below).  The chutney will store for a very long time (over a year) in the fridge and is delicious on rustic bread with slices of sharp cheddar cheese.  
Green or Savoy Cabbage or Broccoli - 1 piece or head -  These are mini-cabbages!  Not on purpose, however.  Usually we like having cabbages that are medium to large size, but these ended up stunted in growth because they were in their transplant cells a bit too long back in the summer. They also faced some serious weed pressure in the field.  ...Luckily, they still taste just as good!

FRUIT SHARE
Bosc Pears & Apples  - 1 bag - Bosc pears are ripe when they turn an even brown color. They are still firm when ripe!  Refrigerate immediately when ripe. If left to soften, they will be rotten when you cut them open, so be careful!

Be sure to remove fruit from plastic bags immediately when you get them home.  They can ripen out on the counter or in a paper bag.  Store ripe fruit in the fridge.  

NEWS FROM THE FARM

Our sweet potato storage container is arriving at the farm on Wednesday morning and it couldn't happen at a better time! The sweet potatoes are ready to be cured and they need just the right conditions for it. I'll post some pictures and more details next week once it's up and running!  

WINTER SHARES
Winter shares for the 2009-2010 season will be available through our Queens groups (for current Queens members only) and a pick-up at the farm in Jamesport.  Please contact your core group directly for inquiries about the Queens sites.  If you are interested in picking up at the farm, please e-mail us at info@goldenearthworm.com.  There are a limited number of shares available.  

THIS WEEK'S RECIPE SUGGESTIONS

Classic Fried Green Tomatoes
Green Tomato Chutney
Pickled Daikon Radish
Braised Leeks with Lemon 

More recipes for all the week's produce can be found here on our RECIPES page.

THIS WEEK IN THE BOX - week of October 19th

VEGETABLE SHARE 

Buttercup or Sunshine Winter Squash - 1 piece
Carrots - 1 bunch 
Bell Peppers - 2-3 pieces
Mustard Mix - 1 bunch
Nicola Potatoes - 2lb. bag
Toscano Kale - 1 bunch 
Savoy Cabbage - 1 head
Curly Cress - 1 bunch
Baby Arugula - 1/4 lb. bag

FRUIT SHARE
Bosc Pears & Apples  - 1 bag - Bosc pears are ripe when they turn an even brown color. They are still firm when ripe!  Refrigerate immediately when ripe. If left to soften, they will be rotten when you cut them open, so be careful!

Be sure to remove fruit from plastic bags immediately when you get them home.  They can ripen out on the counter or in a paper bag.  Store ripe fruit in the fridge.  

NEWS FROM THE FARM

Our Fall CSA Day was cancelled for the first time ever this past Sunday.  While we usually run the event rain or shine, the forecast called for heavy downpours all day long, so we had no choice.  Without a rain date scheduled, we hope you will join us again at our Spring Tour Day next May!  

It's "catch up" time here on the farm!  All the projects that have been sitting idly by are finally getting our attention and many are getting finished.  Always satisfying.  Right now the big push is to finish covering the new greenhouse for our winter share greens!  It's the first year we'll be growing greens in-grown to supplement the storage crops for our winter shares. (See below for more information.)  Other projects include installing the new sweet potato storage container and finishing our new washing facility which has been in use mid-construction all season long.  

WINTER SHARES
Winter shares for the 2009-2010 season will be available through our Queens groups and a pick-up at the farm in Jamesport.  Please contact your core group directly for inquiries about the Queens sites.  If you are interested in picking up at the farm, please e-mail us at info@goldenearthworm.com.  There are a limited number of shares available.  

THIS WEEK'S RECIPE SUGGESTIONS

Savoy Cabbage with Ginger and Garlic
Roasted Winter Squash Risotto 

More recipes for all the week's produce can be found here on our RECIPES page.