Mountain Bounty Farm News 

Dear Farm Friends,

In last week’s newsletter I talked about serious financial challenges that the farm faces, about how we need more CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) members, and more from our current CSA members. But why is this CSA so important? There is a reason why 80% of our produce, and the vast majority of our planning and effort go towards the CSA. 

The core CSA ideal, a cooperative arrangement where consumers connect directly with farms, has its roots in 1960’s Japan. Supposedly, a group of Japanese women, concerned about industrial milk that was contaminated with mercury, contracted with local farmers to produce clean milk. Thus was born Japan’s co-op system called Teikei, which has been very loosely translated as “food with the farmer's face on it.” In the late 1980’s, Idealistic farmers in the US began to experiment with this idea. My own farming mentor, Marc Bouchier-Colbert, was an apprentice at one of the first two CSA farms in the US, Wilton Community Farm in New Hampshire. 

This idea of creating an alternative social system through farming was a major part of what drew me to farming. While I loved the challenge and magic of growing vegetables, I was never interested in growing produce to sell at "x price per pound", hopelessly competing with giant industrialized farms. The possibility of an economy that was more about building community, about working outside the system, outside the race to the bottom of the “market,” was, and still is, the driving force behind Mountain Bounty. What if a group of farmers put all their passion and skill into growing the best possible food, and at the same time a group of community members committed to supporting that farm?

This direct connection is what it's all about, that’s what makes Mountain Bounty unique. We’re not a convenient app, an online meal kit, or any of the plethora of other greenwashing that’s out there these days, we’re the real thing.

Thanks for your support,

John Tecklin 

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)

• Romaine Lettuce (Full Belly Farm)
• New Potatoes (Riverdog Farm)
• Bunched Baby Broccoli (Coke Farm)
• Purple Salad Turnip (Coke Farm)
• Green Garlic (Coke Farm)
• Beets (Riverdog Farm)

Spring Mushroom CSA

(Provided by Grass Valley Mushrooms)

This week will be a mixed bag of Oyster and Lion’s Mane Mushrooms, locally grown from Grass Valley Mushrooms.

General mushroom cooking instructions: Mushrooms should be cooked for about 15-20 minutes. Sautéing them is what we do most around here! 

Health Benefits of Mushrooms:

Aside from being a low-calorie food, mushrooms have a wide variety of health benefits! They are loaded with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, all which are important for our bodies. Some specific ways they have been found to benefit us include: boosting our immune system, lowering blood pressure, assisting with weigh loss, and even reducing the risk of serious diseases like cancer, Alzheimer’s, and heart disease.

They are also an amazing option for plant-based diets, since they have a meaty texture and can absorb flavors extremely well!

Recipes to try:

• Mixed Mushroom Foil Bake (click here) - prep time is only 10 minutes, and is done 20 minutes late!
• Asian Fusion Marinated Lion’s Mane Mushroom recipe (click here) - serve these delicious mushrooms over rice, in ramen, of even in a salad.

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

**IMPORTANT! The Fruit Share will be taking a seasonal break the weeks of

April 10/11 through May 15/16, with deliveries resuming May 22/23**

Peony Share - SIGN UP TODAY!

Provided by Little Boy Flowers

The Peony Flower CSA offered by our partner farm Little Boy Flowers begins May 9th and runs for 4 weeks!

In these shares you will receive beautiful bunches of peonies, which will fill your house with their amazing fragrance and long lasting, romantic blooms.

Our Coffee bags have undergone a fun makeover, compliments of the design talents of our Farm Team Member Kyla!

Try our 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.

Recipes, storage tips, inspiration and nutrition information:

• Curious how to use your Purple Salad Turnips this week? While many people enjoy munching on them raw, you can also gently cook them. Salad turnips are less starchy than normal turnips, and make for a creamy, crunchy treat. They are perfect sliced or shredded on a salad. You can also use them in any dish calling for Hakurei turnips, as they are very similar! Try this Salad Turnips with Avocado and Candied Pecans (click here.) It would be perfect on a bed of fresh Arugula!

• Green Garlic is a wonderful herb to have on hand! You can use it just as you would normal garlic, but it often has a milder, less spicy flavor. Use it in any recipe that calls for garlic, or highlight its flavor in a recipe like this Seared Pork Cutlets with Green Garlic Salsa Verde (click here.)

• Everytime we get Romaine Lettuce in the box, I get excited for Caesar salad. And when I don’t have any dressing on hand, it’s nice to make it myself! Try this Vegan Caesar Dressing recipe (click here) for a zesty, creamy treat. This recipe is also egg, dairy, and anchovy free!

• Many peoples’ favorite Arugula recipes are salads, especially when paired with nuts, fruit, and cheese. However, if you’re looking for a different way to enjoy it, you can put it on pizzas or even blend it up to make a pesto. This Arugula Pasta recipe (click here) combines it with sun dried tomatoes, Parmesan, and cashews for a delectable, creamy dish.

• Try pickling your Beets this week for a fresh, tangy change! This recipe (click here) comes together in 15 minutes, and they can be enjoyed later that day! Put them on a salad or snack on them straight out of the jar.

Important Dates:

• The Fruit Share will be taking a seasonal break the weeks of April 10/11 through May 15/16, with deliveries resuming May 22/23.
• 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