Mountain Bounty Farm News 

Dear CSA,

Persian New Year, also known as Nowruz, starts on the vernal equinox — this year, Tuesday, March 19 (earlier than usual because of the leap year) — and is celebrated for 13 days thereafter. The much-loved, nonreligious holiday has been observed for at least 3,000 years in Iran and is now commemorated worldwide. It was a holiday that was largely off my radar until I married into a Persian family around 17 years ago, and I have been lucky enough to participate in their celebrations since then. I love the idea of beginning the new year in the spring - it always feels like such a joyful time, especially being a farmer.

Nowruz has deep connections to farming and agriculture, rooted in its origins as an ancient festival marking the arrival of spring. As a predominantly agrarian society, the Persian people historically relied on the land for their sustenance, making the transition from winter to spring a momentous occasion.

At its core, Nowruz celebrates the rejuvenation of nature and the beginning of a new agricultural cycle. The vernal equinox is a time when the days grow longer, temperatures rise, and the earth awakens from its winter slumber. This transition marks the onset of planting season, a crucial time for farmers to sow seeds and cultivate fields.

The Haft-Seen table, a central feature of Nowruz celebrations, is laden with symbolic items, many of which have agricultural connotations. Wheat or barley sprouts, representing new growth and fertility, are prominently displayed, underscoring the importance of agriculture in sustaining life. Other items, such as apples for abundance and garlic for health, also reflect the desire for a bountiful year ahead.

Nowruz serves as an opportunity for people to come together, exchange knowledge, and celebrate community bonds. As families gather to feast on traditional dishes made from seasonal ingredients, they share stories, wisdom, and hopes for a prosperous year ahead. It embodies what we are all striving for through local, organic farming and community supported agriculture, and there is value in taking a moment to celebrate!

I wish you a happy and joyous spring! Eide Shoma Mobarak!

Enjoy your shares this week!

-Becky and the Mountain Bounty Farm Crew

Spring Mushroom Shares - NOW AVAILABLE

Provided by Grass Valley Mushrooms

Have you been wanting to try locally-grown delicious gourmet mushrooms, but missed out on the Winter Mushroom CSA? Does it make you anxious to think your Winter Mushroom Share will be ending next week?

Good news! We have added an 8-week Spring Mushroom CSA Share from April 3rd through May 22nd, so you still have the opportunity to eat Grass Valley Mushrooms' amazing Lions Mane, Oyster Mushrooms and other delicious fungi. Sign up today! Spots are limited! This will again be a traditional CSA, with no holds or rollover credits.

Seasonal Flower Shares -

Provided by Little Boy Flowers

The Early Spring Flower CSA offered by our partner farm Little Boy Flowers is happening now! Signups are still available for the remaining weeks of delivery. This CSA runs through April 17/18

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

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.

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)

• Red Beets (Super Tuber Farm)
• Leeks (Riverdog Farm)
• Savoy Cabbage (Terra Firma Farm)
• Red Russian Kale (Riverdog Farm)
• Celery or Celeriac (Coke Farm)
• Parsley (Pinnacle Farm)

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

**PLEASE NOTE: 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**

• Pink Lady & Fuji apples - Cuyama Orchards
• Gold Nugget mandarins - Stehley Farm
• Cara Cara oranges - Cousins Organic Citrus
• Blueberries - Central West Produce
• Hass avocados - Eco Farm

**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 a bag of 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! 

Start with a dry sauté (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. This will get some of the excess moisture out. Add oil or butter and your seasoning (salt is just fine) and go to a low-medium heat, sauteing for 10-15 minutes.

Tips and Recipes:

By now you’re probably a pro at cooking Lion’s Mane Mushrooms! Whether you’ve been adventurous and tried making them into different “crab” recipes, or if you’ve kept it simple, we hope you’ve enjoyed them. This Creamy Mushroom Pasta Recipe (click here) is another simple, quick dish that highlights the flavor of the mushrooms. (Please read author’s note about sautéing the mushrooms before adding the cream.)

Recipes, storage tips, inspiration and nutrition information:

• Savoy Cabbage is a milder, sweeter, more textured version of its cousin, green cabbage. You can use it in similar ways, but this Caramelized Cabbage Recipe (Click here) is an incredibly delicious side dish.

• If you’re looking for a new way to eat your Red Beets, try this Moroccan Beet Salad (Click here.) The boiled beets are paired with orange zest, mint, and cilantro to bring you a vibrant side dish that can be made up to 5 days in advance! Beets are high in antioxidants, fiber, folic acid, and potassium. They are an amazing addition to your diet!

• If you’re unsure how to use your French Breakfast Radishes this week, try using them in the classic French way. This simple recipe requires only 4 ingredients: Toasted bread, unsalted butter (European is best,) radishes, and flaky salt. The butter balances out the peppery taste of the radish and turns it into a delectable treat. French Radishes with Butter and Toast (Click here.)

• There are SO many ways to enjoy toast, which is why we are including two toast ideas this week! This Green (Spring) Garlic Toast (click here) would be the perfect addition to any Italian inspired dish. Alternatively, Spring Garlic is incredibly versatile, meaning you can add it to any dish you’d normally add garlic to. Just keep in mind that it is the immature form of regular garlic and has a slightly milder flavor (not a bad thing for date night!)

• If you still have leftover veggies from the last few weeks, one of our CSA members shared their recipe for a “roasted vegetable feast!” They used a golden beet, a kohlrabi bulb, carrots, onion and broccoli (but you can use what you’ve got.) Then they tossed it all in a honey, balsamic vinegar, and thyme dressing, and roasted for an hour at 375. (See picture below.) We love hearing about your delicious creations!

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