Howdy folks and welcome to week 18 of your Tumbleweed Farm CSA haul. What a wild week. We had rain, sunshine, warmth and a low of 37 degrees two nights ago. This time of the year can keep us on our toes as we can’t afford an unpredicted frost with so many uncovered veggies in the field. But I’d be lying if I said it doesn’t feel nice to have this change in the weather and a taste of fall.

This week’s box reflects that change and we are harvesting the first of the fall cauliflower, bok choy is back, and plenty of leafy greens are on the horizon. The tomatoes, melons, peppers and zucchini are really slowing down and the winter squash is ready to get harvested later this week. Our large potato harvest will happen tomorrow and we’ll spend the day getting all of the potatoes out of the ground and into the barn for storage. It’s definitely the “heaviest” time of the year and our arms and backs are feeling it!

We hope you enjoy the veggies this week and this nice change in weather. Happy cooking and eating everyone!

Your farmers,
Andrea, Taylor, Pepper, Maize and our awesome crew

Harvest 18

Head Lettuce—Anti-infamatory and a rich source of vitamins A, K and folate.
Kale—super high in antioxidants, contains vitamin C, Vitamin K, Manganese and various polyphenols
Bok Choy—Full of anti-cancer properties such as Vitamins C & E, beta carotene, and selenium which is thought to slow the growth rate of tumors.
Kohlrabi— Kohlrabi is great for gut health as it contains both soluble and insoluble fiber. It also contains a wide array of antioxidants, such as vitamin C, anthocyanins, isothiocyanates, and glucosinolates. These plant compounds protect your cells against free radical damage that may otherwise increase your risk of disease.
Turnips—Rich in vitamins and minerals turnips are high in antioxidants which help provide anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and antibacterial effects, among other benefits. The greens boast a whole list of their own nutritional values but the biggest ones are that they’re high in vitamin A and calcium. Please remove the greens from the turnips and store them separately so the roots don’t get soft.
Cauliflower— it’s a good source of protective antioxidants, is rich in sulforaphane, high in choline and may support hormonal balance.
Potatoes—Potato skins and flesh are both very beneficial to human health. Fun fact—potato plants draw some of the highest concentration of macro and trace minerals from the earth. This was news to me!! They are high in potassium and rich in vitamin B6, as well as a fantastic source of amino acids, especially lysine in its bioactive form. Lysine is a powerful weapon against viruses such as Epstein-Barr and shingles that are behind rheumatoid arthritis, joint pain, autoimmune disease, and more. Potatoes also contain tyrosine, a chemical needed to produce thyroid hormones. So cool! Eat more potatoes folks!
Onions—Onions are high in probiotics and fiber which is great for gut health. They are also high in vitamin C, which may help regulate your immune health, collagen production, and iron absorption. Onions are rich in B vitamins, including folate and vitamin B6.
Lunch Box Pepper— these are some of our favorite snacking peppers!! Besides Vitamin C, lunch box peppers have a high amount of Vitamin B6 and Vitamin E. These contribute to improving the immune system as well as the body's nervous system. Vitamin B6 and Vitamin E also prevent the cells and tissues from getting damaged. This keeps immunity levels up at all times.
Jalapeno Peppers—jalapeños are rich in vitamins A and C and potassium. They also have carotene -- an antioxidant that helps protect your cells from disease– as well as folate, vitamin K, and B vitamins.