Howdy folks and welcome to week 9 of your CSA. We hope you had a nice weekend and are ready for another haul from the field. This week we’re happy to begin our outdoor carrot harvest (those first carrots were from the greenhouses) and debut our first harvest of cucumbers! Things are feeling like summer out here (the heat and all!) and despite some uncomfortably hot days working out here, we’re very pleased with what’s coming out of the ground and how well things look even with that quick spike in temperature. One of the trickiest parts about farming is not being in control of the weather or pests. And that’s why running a CSA is so important because we get the support from you all even during these tough times. I know folks aren’t always stoked with a ton of herbs or lettuce mix “again” but this is the reality of farming. We have to work with what we’ve got. The good news is that the boxes are always guaranteed to be jam packed with the healthiest, most nutritious greens and herbs you can find. More variety and tasty things are on the horizon. We hope ya’ll enjoy this week’s bounty. Happy cooking and eating everyone!
Your farmers,
Andrea, Taylor, Pepper, Maize & our awesome crew
Harvest 9
Cucumber— If you are feeling dehydrated eat a cucumber! Cucumbers are hydrating and contain more than 50 trace minerals. They contain chlorophyll in their skins that’s bonded to B vitamins and vitamins A and C. And cucumbers support digestion and hydration.
Basil—It’s antibacterial and antiviral making it effective against bacterial infections, colds and flu. Basil is a rich source of magnesium and is chock full of vitamins and minerals essential for overall body health and wellness.
Rainbow Chard—this dark leafy green is high in antioxidants and important vitamins and minerals including vitamin C, K and A and a healthy dose of magnesium (which many people are deficient in).
Romaine Lettuce—It’s 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.
Salad Mix—These leafy greens are a rich source of vitamins A, K and folate. Also a good anti- inflammatory leafy green.
Carrots—Rich in beta-carotene which your body converts into Vitamin A. This vitamin is important for vision, bone and immune function. Carrots are also high in antioxidants and important minerals for overall body health. Remove the greens on the carrots before storing them so they don’t go soft.
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.
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!
New Potatoes—Fun fact—potato plants draw some of the highest concentration of macro and trace minerals from the earth. 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. Potatoes also contain tyrosine, a chemical needed to produce thyroid hormones. So cool! Eat more potatoes folks! These potatoes have not been cured yet so keep them in the fridge and eat within the next 7-10 days.
Recipe Suggestions
Backyard Turnip Salad (this is SO good!)
Longevity Salad (AKA the best salad you’ll eat all summer!!)
Swiss Chard & Pistachio Meatballs (delicious!)
Lentils & Carrots with Swiss Chard and Yogurt (this is delicious!)
Coconut Chickpea & Turnip Curry (this tastes great even on a hot summer evening!)
Simple Carrot Salad with Cumin-Lime Dressing (this is refreshingly good!)
Turnip & Bacon Fritters (another winner!)
