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It was a rainy market day on Sunday. We were so grateful to our regulars who made sure it was still worthwhile for us to show up, but also reminded (although I don't need this reminder) that CSA is the best. We love having committed customers and know that weather isn't going to also affect whether someone will show up to buy our food!
The cool part of the market was that some vendors cancelled/some vendors weren't coming for the holiday so I go to be next to Te and her brother from Flats Mentor Farm.
They sell produce on at the Ashland Farmer's Market and Brookline Farmer's market for their parents, Hmong immigrants, who do most of the production work. They were selling bitter melon, which I have heard a lot about but never actually tried. We traded melons for sunflowers. I haven't actually prepared the melons, but we've had a busy few days. If you come to Ashland, check out their stall - and try something new!!
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Also, although I have slightly mixed feelings about growing and harvesting lots of food that doesn't sell, the systems we have in place for food donation ensured non of it was wasted. Between the 20 shares we are committed to donating, plus all the extra surplus that comes from being worried about running out during CSA pick up and having extra at farmers market we donated over 50 cases of produce last week to six different hunger relief organizations. Lisa, our stand attendant on Tuesdays, has put in a lot of work organizing the pick up of extra produce on Tuesdays when the amount we have extra ends up being more than what Holliston and Ashland Food Pantries can use.
We are selling 10 more summer shares, for $285 for the remaining 12 weeks. If you know someone who wants in, please let them know to email me ASAP!
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Carrots are in the share again this week! If you haven't been in the share before, you might not know how wacky some carrots can grow. Carrots are tap-roots, which, in sandy soil with no stones will grow long and straight, but in our new england soils we have plenty of obstacles which cause the roots to fork, twist and otherwise grow pretty funky. When the crew is making bunches I hate to waste carrots just because they aren't perfectly straight, so we allow a certain number of oddly shaped carrots in each bunch. These carrots are very sweet, Mokum is the variety, which is my favorite for flavor so please handle them gentle at pick up! |
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I took a training course this past week intended for farmers like me, who don't need to carry a pesticide license but are still required by law to be able to inform employees how to be safe around pesticides. It was a painful 3 and a half hours, but an interesting insight into what goes on at farms that use pesticides regularly. We apply certified organic pesticides maybe once, on a rare occasion twice a year, but otherwise use prevention and tolerate low levels of pest pressure/slight yield reduction.
After the slides on seizures and vomiting from pesticide poisoning, I couldn't help but wonder, who can watch these slides and at the end still be like, "yep, pesticides are worth it." We spend millions, billions probably, annually (as a country) on all of these regulations to mitigate the problems caused by agricultural systems that just don't work to begin with.
It's already 6:06 and I have to get out into the field, but I just wanted to let you know, that I'm happy to not be worried about who is going to accidentally get pesticide poisoning from the work that I do.
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So . . . What's in the Share?
Head lettuce: one head
Carrots: one bunch
One to two pound mixed, cukes and zucchini and broccoli Very limited cucumber, sorry! Broccoli is also delicious, but should be used ASAP. It does not like the weather fluctuations of Climate Change.
Peas! One pint.
Choose three more items: beets, scallions, arugula, pea tendrils, kales, chard, basil, radish, bok choy, celery, fennel, cabbage . . .
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More recipes from our recipe queen Jess:
CELERY SALAD WITH DATES, ALMONDS AND PARMESAN
Crunchy celery, nutty almonds and salty parmesan all combine to make a mouth watering and refreshing summer salad that will hold up to the heat.
FLOUNDER POACHED IN FENNEL-TOMATO SAUCE
Ground fennel seeds combine with fresh fennel in this fast but elegant meal to really highlight this delectable veggie.
VIBRANT SPRING BROCCOLI BUDDHA BOWL
Colorful veggies and hearty grains with a turmeric-ginger vinaigrette.
CHEESY ZUCCHINI CHICKEN AND RICE BAKE
She says that the everything seasoning is optional in this dish, but is it?
AVOCADO, KALE, PINEAPPLE AND COCONUT SMOOTHIE
A refreshing and tropical smoothie to start your day!
CHICKEN & CABBAGE DUMPLINGS
Don't skimp on the sauce for these dumplings. Bonus: These can be made several days in advance - perfect for a summer gathering!
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REMEMBER! IF YOU WANT TO SWITCH YOUR PICK UP DAY I PREFER 48 HOURS NOTICE WHENEVER POSSIBLE!
If you can't make it, please feel free to send someone else to pick up your share, or reach out to us and we can coordinate an alternate pick up plan.
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CSA Pick Up Hours:
Holliston Community Farm
34 Rogers Rd, Holliston
Tuesday, 1pm-6pm
Weston Nurseries
93 East Main St (but don't use the main entrance. At the light in front of the Nursery, turn uphill on Legacy Farm road and make your first right. It's a back entrance and you'll see the box truck!)
Thursday, 12pm-5pm
On Farm
65 Brookline St, Pepperell (but really it's more like 60 Brookline st, just east of where the GPS will take you. There's a big sign and a parking lot.)
Thursday 4pm-7pm
FLOWER SHARES :
Remember to change the water for your flowers daily, if possible, trim the stems after 3-4 days. Keep the bouquet out of the sun and in a cooler part of the house for longer vase life.
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Enjoy!
Brittany and the Upswing Farm Team
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