Baby cucumbers in the greenhouse

 

Let me start with a little backstory: in the year 2007, I weighed 265 pounds. At 4'10", my weight and health were out of control. I was not eating the right foods, and I wasn't exercising. One day, I got disgusted with living inside a sick, unhealthy body, and I started making changes. Over the years, I have lost 155 pounds! What made that weight come off and, more importantly, stay off? My diet.

I discovered how good vegetables were for my body, and I ate more and more of them. Did I always like them? No, and I didn't really experiment with some of those "weird" vegetables that I had no idea how to eat. I started to ask myself how I could get even more benefits nutritionally, and my friend, Karen, recommended Farmer Dave's. One summer share, and my family and I were hooked.

Locally grown means super fresh. But, just like "feeling healthy" does not do justice to the actual feeling of a fully functioning, strong body, "fresh" does not do justice to the actual flavors of Farmer Dave's produce. There are depths of flavors in leafy greens I've never experienced with grocery store vegetables. The sharp bite of arugula, the tangy sweetness of a turnip, the peaches...oh, man, the peaches run with sugary juices that taste like candied sunshine. Because Farmer Dave's produce tastes so good, my kids eat more vegetables, too. They asked for double batches of homemade Ramen with watermelon radishes, purple carrots, baby Asian greens, and thinly sliced turnips. Trust me, these types of requests never come from grocery store produce.

Also, we eat what we're given, and that means experimenting with strange, sometimes alien- looking vegetables that make an appearance from time to time. But in eating these new foods, we've discovered 
that celeriac and romanesco are some of our absolute favorites, and we can't wait to see them in our box. We've found new ways to eat beets, radishes, squashes, and kale. We've created soups and salads that are rich, hearty, and nutritious.

But beyond taste and variety, I'm supporting a local farmer. I know exactly where my food is grown. I don't have to worry about those outbreaks of e coli or salmonella. I know that my food isn't tainted, dangerous, or beyond its shelf life. I know the farmers that work there care about the food that reaches my table. And because I am supporting a local farm, I'm also supporting my community. Farmer Dave's makes my family feel great inside and out.

Thanks so much for feeding my family!
Amanda M.

Thanks for kicking off our first Member Farm Notes, Amanda and sharing your inspiring story! We hope to feature one member each month going forward so send in your thoughts about Farmer Dave's!

 

 

Some of these greens may appear in your share this week. Use this chart to help identify them!

 

The following items may make an appearance in your shares this week.  The actual contents of your share may differ based on harvest conditions.  As always Mother Nature ultimately dictates what is available.  

• Carrots
• Potatoes or Beets
• Baby Lettuce Mix
• Baby Bok Choi or Tatsoi
• Elegance Mix
• Kale
• Cortland Apples
• And more!

Unsure what's in your share? Check out our  produce ID guide for help identifying any new to you vegetables. You'll be a CSA pro in no time! 

 

 

Check out the new Vegisodes episodes featuring spring greens, carrots and radishes for storage tips and delicious recipes.

Spring Share Greens Storage and Preparation

For recipe ideas, tips and resources, be sure to friend us on Facebook and follow us on  Pinterest. We have two Facebook profiles. Our  "personal" Facebook page is where we encourage our CSA members to share pictures, recipes and create a community.  This is also where we will make CSA related announcements like weather delays. We also use our  Facebook business page for promoting sales and events, discounts, and more at the two farm stands that we operate and the many farmers markets that we attend.

 

As always, you can refer to our  recipe blog and resources page on our website for more ideas!

 

Thank you so much for allowing us at Farmer Dave's to grow for you this spring! We hope that you enjoy your share and encourage you to reach out to us with any questions that you have!

 

The Farmer Dave's Team 

Adapted by Farmer Dave's from NPR

I added some toasted sliced almonds and dried raisins to this salad to make it a little more robust. My toddler asked for third helpings. -Ginger 

Ingredients:

For the salad:  

• 8 packed cups washed, trimmed, thinly chopped greens such as kale, elegance mix, bok choi or spicy mix. (Baby greens do not need to be chopped)
• 1 cup shredded carrots
• 1 Cortland or Goldrush apple, thinly sliced, sprinkled with lemon juice

For the dressing: 

• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
• 2 tablespoons spicy mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, toss together salad ingredients.
2. In a small bowl, whisk vinaigrette ingredients. Microwave on high for 45 to 60 seconds. Pour over salad and toss well. Let sit for 20 to 30 minutes before serving so the greens soften and become infused with the vinaigrette.

Have a great recipe to share? Email it to us to be featured in the newsletter and on our recipe blog! 

Thanks to generous donations by you (CSA members) to the Groundwork Share-A-Share™ fund, we were able to subsidize the cost of shares in 2015 for over thirty individuals and families, as well as shares for local food pantries.

Please consider helping us in our efforts to make the CSA accessible to more families by donating to Groundwork Share-A-Share.