Howdy folks and welcome to harvest week 22!

It’s absolutely beautiful out here at Tumbleweed Farm right now, with sunny skies, crisp mornings, and all those gorgeous fall colors. Gosh, I truly love this time of year! We’re officially wrapping up our CSA season, with just one final box to go after today’s share. We really hope you’ve enjoyed these past 22 weeks of fresh, seasonal veggies!

I’ll never forget my pediatrician telling me that one of the healthiest choices a family can make is joining a CSA. Why? Because it encourages you to eat a wider variety of vegetables, including the ones you might not normally gravitate toward. It gets kids excited about real food and introduces new ways to enjoy the same old veggies. And here’s a fun little farm connection: our pediatrician is actually part of our CSA and feeds his family of six with our veggies! We feel pretty darn honored by that.

Thank you all for trusting us to grow food for you and your families this season. We know that cooking with a CSA share isn’t always easy. There’s the fridge organizing, figuring out what to do with unfamiliar veggies, and finding ways to use everything before the next box arrives. We appreciate you showing up for local food, trying new things, and being part of this little farm community more than you know.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for another wonderful season. We hope this week’s share is a tasty one!

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

Harvest 22

Beets—rich in folate, manganese and copper. Copper is very important as it helps make red blood cells and helps keep your immune system healthy.

Kale—super high in antioxidants, contains vitamin C, Vitamin K, Manganese and various polyphenols
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.
Garlic —the list of health benefits is almost too long!! It’s anti-fungal, anti- inflammatory, boosts immune health, and is full of antioxidants! Just eat garlic with every meal!
Spinach-rich in iron, potassium, vitamins C & E, and magnesium. Spinach can also aid in digestion and has anticancer properties. Eat this veggie up!!
Cauliflower— it’s a good source of protective antioxidants, is rich in sulforaphane (which is one of the most powerful sulfur rich plant compounds that supports your body’s natural defense systems, helping it stay resilient under stress. It strengthens detox pathways, reduces inflammation, and protects cells) and cauliflower is high in choline and may support hormonal balance.
Head lettuce— high in folate (if you’re suffering from allergies this season eat this green up!) It’s also a good source of copper and vitamins A, K and C.
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!
Winter Squash (Delicata)—Winter Squash is a highly nutritious and alkaline food which is rich in phytonutrients and antioxidants. It’s easy to digest and contains high amounts of Vitamins A, E, C, B-complex, and beta carotene, iron, zinc, calcium, and potassium which are vital for a healthy and strong immune and nervous system
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.