Spring CSA Newsletter

Harvest List

(Choose 9):

- Scallion

- Kohlrabi

- Bok choi

- Lettuce head

- Lettuce mix

- Spinach or stir fry mix

- Dandelion greens

- Radish

- Arugula

- Napa cabbage

- Kale

- Swiss chard

- Fava greens

- Popcorn

 

+ Bonus PYO herbs and peas!

Field Notes from Farm Manager Hannah

Hi members,

 

I feel like I blinked and this week was over! Our focuses included harvest, cultivation, pest management, and preparing for our donation programming which begins this week. Each season we donate the remaining produce after CSA pickup to different food pantries all throughout the greater Boston area. Last year we donated over 11,000 lbs (yes you read that correctly) of fresh vegetables to our partner organizations! This year we also donated dozens of trays of seedlings to community gardens and other growing projects. For our donation programming we need lightly used waxed produce boxes (new ones cost between $4-$5 each), so if you have some lying around please bring them in with you on your next pickup day. Our team also enjoyed a potluck lunch on Friday to celebrate our fabulous farm administrator, Megan's, birthday. The theme was "Gemini Snacks" and featured dishes of asparagus and hakurei salad, hummus, fruit, pretzels, cheese and crackers, tortitas de espinaca con queso, kale chips, donuts, chocolate cake with mango and more! 
 

This week we are offering the greens of fava bean plants as an item in the share. Not only are these greens easy to stir fry, delicious, and healthy, but harvesting them will hopefully lead to a more robust fava bean crop as well (which we expect to harvest in a few weeks).
 

This week also marks the beginning of our pick-you-own pea season. Please make sure to pick from the beds labeled "PYO", stay on the paths, be gentle with the plants, and take the allotted amount for each share. We should have good picking for around a month or maybe more depending on weather (peas don't like heat!) and since we planted different varieties with various days to maturity they should not all ripen at once, contributing to a longer season as well. Enjoy the crunchy goodness! 

 

Best,

Hannah

Recipe of the week:

Chicken, Mushroom and Bok Choy Bowls

All stir-fries are a kind of “choose your own adventure”.  You can change the veggies to include whatever you may have--carrots, celery, napa cabbage, peppers, etc.  Just adjust the cooking time as needed.  You can also swap out the chicken for pork, ground turkey, beef, or omit it entirely.

 

2 TB canola oil, divided (1+1)

about 8 oz sliced chicken (or ground, if you prefer)

about 8 oz chopped mushrooms--any kind!

½ cup sliced mushroom caps (whatever you like!)

6 bok choys, halved lengthwise, and then coarsely chop leaves and stems.  Keep separated.

½ cup scallion

1 garlic clove (or green garlic, if you still have some)

Any other veggies that you like

1 TB ginger, minced

3 TB soy sauce

1 TB rice vinegar

1 TB honey

¼ cup peanuts (optional)

 

Heat 1 TB canola oil in a large skillet over medium high heat.  Add chicken and cook 5 minutes or until browned.  Add mushrooms (and any other veggies you like), cook 6 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Remove mixture from pan; keep warm.

 

Return pan to heat.  Add 1 TB oil, swirl.  Add bok choy stems, cook 4-5 minutes or until lightly browned, turning occasionally.  Add bok choy leaves, scallions, garlic and ginger, sauté 2-3 minutes.  Stir in chicken mixture.

 

Combine soy sauce, vinegar and honey in a small bowl.  Add to chicken mixture; top with peanuts.  Serve with your favorite grain (rice is nice).

Storage Tips: Bok Choy

Bok Choy is a cruciferous vegetable with crisp stalks and fresh, grassy leaves.  There are many different varieties of bok choy, and they are all delicious!  Both the stems and leaves are edible.  Bok choy is good for stir-frying or simmering in soup.  It is low in calories, but high in Vitamin C and Vitamin K.  Bok choy also contains beta carotene, which your body can make into Vitamin A.

 

Wrap bok choy in a paper towel and it should last about a week in your refrigerator.  Bok choy really does not freeze well.

Now Available: Mushroom Shares

We're thrilled to introduce our new Mushroom CSA shares from Fat Moon Mushrooms! These high-quality gourmet mushrooms are a perfect way to diversify your plate! Mushrooms are sourced from Fat Moon Mushrooms and are certified organic by Baystate Organics. Growing fresh mushrooms involves a lot of variability. Each week, there may be a variety of mushroom types—we cannot guarantee a certain type of mushroom! You must pick up your mushroom share on the pick-up day you choose upon purchase. If you miss your pick-up date, you are allowed to pick up your share within seven days of your missed pick-up. Otherwise, it will be donated!

 

PLEASE NOTE: We do not have Saturday mushroom shares! This is a pilot program for our first year. Thank you for understanding!