Mountain Bounty Farm News 

Dear CSA,

While the recent winter storms and lingering long days remind us that it is still winter, beginning our seed planting ("seeding" for late Spring/early summer crops has us thinking ahead of warmer, busier days!

Seeding in winter for a late spring/early summer crop is a strategic practice employed by farmers to maximize the growing season and optimize crop yields, particularly in climates such as ours where the season can be limited by late springs and cold falls. While it may seem counterintuitive to plant during the colder months, this early sowing allows seeds to undergo a period of dormancy and gradually acclimate to the soil conditions.

This process of winter planting takes advantage of the moisture in the soil and the natural chilling requirements of certain crops, promoting better germination and stronger root development. Our lovely greenhouse at the farm helps these new plants or "starts", experience a relatively stable winter, allowing us to plant stronger plants earlier in the season with greater success.

It is exciting to think that the tiny seeds we planted this week will eventually fill the CSA boxes with Mountain Bounty-grown kale, leeks, broccoli, scallions, kohlrabi, fennel and TOMATOES! As farmers, we have to be patient with the time it takes for seed germination, sprouting, and maturation. Seeding season is a good reminder that nature's wonders unfold in their own time and the rewards are well worth the wait!

Enjoy your shares this week!

-Becky and the Mountain Bounty Crew

We are now offering a Mountain Bounty personalized coffee blend CSA (both Regular and Decaf) from Remedy Coffee Company in Auburn!

Remedy coffee is made with a focus on quality, by working directly with growers and producers, and small batch-roasting to bring out the natural flavors of the coffee bean. Their coffee is served at local Nevada City haunts such as Three Forks and Briar Patch. We are thrilled to offer up our own signature coffee; the "Mountain Bounty Blend" as a Weekly or Bi-weekly CSA Subscription.

Seasonal Flower Shares -

Provided by Little Boy Flowers

The Early Spring Flower CSA offered by our partner farm Little Boy Flowers is now live for signups! This CSA runs for 8 weeks, March - Early May (Subject to change due to weather, exact start date TBD).

The Early Spring Flower CSA includes big bunches of our farm's most popular blooms- anemones, ranunculus, Icelandic poppies and tulips. The size of the bouquets progresses with the season.

Farm Box Contents

(Contents are subject to change depending on harvest and weather conditions at Mountain Bounty and our Partner Farms.)

Please check the delivery list at your CSA site and sign your name indicating you have picked up your shares. We deliver exactly what is on the delivery list.

Small Box (Feeds 1-2 people)

• Potatoes (Mountain Bounty Farm)
• Spinach (Riverdog Farm)
• Pea Shoots (Natural Trading Co.)
• Beets (Terra Firma Farm)
• Lettuce (Full Belly Farm)
• Onions (Coke Farm)

Fruit Box

(Provided by FROG HOLLOW FARM and contents subject to substitutions)

• Nagafu Fuji Apples - Cuyama Orchards, New Cuyama
• Pink Lady apples - Cuyama Orchards, New Cuyama
• TDE Mandarins (Temple, Dancy, Encore cross mandarins) - Buck Brand Citrus, Porterville 
• Cara Cara )ranges, Cousins Organic Citrus, Orange Cove
• Fuerte Avocados, Eco Farm, Temecula

**Due to delivery logistics, we are unable to return the Fruit Share Boxes to Frog Hollow. Please recycle your box at home**

If you are unsure if you are signed up for Fruit Shares, please visit your Member Dashboard HERE to verify!! Please do not grab a share unless you see your name on the pickup list.

Mushroom CSA

(Provided by Grass Valley Mushrooms)

This week will be Oyster Mushrooms in your CSA bags, locally grown from Grass Valley Mushrooms.

Cooking tips: Mushrooms should be cooked for about 15-20 minutes. Sauteing them is what we do most around here! 

Start with a dry saute' (no oil or butter) on low heat first for about 5 minutes to soften them and break down the outside cellular wall of the mushroom, and this will get some of the excess moisture out. Then, add oil or butter and your seasoning and go to a low-medium heat, sauteing for 10-15 minutes.

Nutritional Info:

Mushrooms are high in essential vitamins and minerals so they all have similar benefits because of that. We encourage our customers to do research online for all the many benefits of medicinal mushrooms. It's fun and extremely interesting and truly amazing what mushrooms can do for not only our health but the planet. They are high in fiber, are a healthy carb, and a good protein source. The below is based on research we have found ourselves online:

Oyster Mushroom: Oyster mushrooms are used in Czech, Polish, and Slovak contemporary cuisine in soups and stews in a similar fashion to meat, as well as breaded to become a vegetarian alternative to a meat cutlet. The oyster mushroom is a choice edible, and is a delicacy in Japanese, Korean and Chinese cuisine. It is frequently served on its own, in soups, stuffed, or in stir-fry recipes with soy sauce. Oyster mushrooms may be used in sauces, such as oyster sauce. The mushroom's taste has been described as mild with a slight odor similar to anise. For more on the health benefits of Oyster Mushrooms CLICK HERE.

Recipes, storage tips, inspiration and nutrition information:

• Every year I look forward to Pea Shoots from The Natural Trading Company! Pea shoots are so nutritious - they have high levels of vitamins C and A and a significant amount of folic acid. Honestly, my family and I love snacking on them out of the bag, but they are also delicious on top of avocado toast, in a sandwich, or as a garnish as in this Simple Pea Shoot and Lemon Pasta (Click here)

• Collard Greens, Spinach and even leftover Kale are put to good use when paired with beans and bacon in this White Beans and Greens with Bacon recipe (Click here). Serve with a side of brown rice for a complete meal!

• There is something amazing about the paring of Beets and blue cheese. Experience it yourself by using your Spinach, Beets and Onions (in place of shallots) in this Warm Roasted Beet Salad with Spinach and Blue Cheese (Click here).

• If you find you have some time on your hands and are craving cheesy goodness plus an art project, grab your MBF Potatoes and take a stab at these Cheese and Herb Potato Fans (Click here).

• If you are subscribing to the Mushroom CSA, you can substitute your Oyster Mushrooms for any white button mushrooms in recipes, or highlight their flavor by sauteing as in Sauteed Oyster Mushrooms with Garlic (Click here).

Important Dates:

• All shares will be delivered on Wednesday, November 27th for the week of Thanksgiving.
• We will be closed for a Farm Vacation from 12/21/24 through 1/5/25. There will be no deliveries those weeks, as well as no Admin support.

info@mountainbountyfarm.com

Mailing Address:

14579 Blind Shady Road, Nevada City, CA 95959

Phone:(530)292-3776