Spring CSA Newsletter

Harvest List

scallions

garlic scapes

green cabbage

kale

arugula

bok choi

radish

lettuce

dill

kohlrabi

popcorn

+ Bonus PYO herbs and peas!

Field Notes from Farm Manager Hannah

Hi members,

 

Summer Solstice is just around the corner, and this week's impending heat wave plus the longest days of the year will give many summer crops a big growth push. Staff have been busy pruning and trellising the first succession of tomatoes, transplanting popcorn, cucumber, and summer brassicas, cultivating and weeding, and more. Our spring cover crop of buckwheat located in one of our fields at the Bradley Estate is flowering, and will be mowed this upcoming week before it goes to seed. We grew a spring cover crop this year to prevent soil erosion, manage weeds, cycle nutrients, and increase pollinator habitat. The honeybees love the buckwheat flowers! After we mow the buckwheat, the soil will be fertilized, tilled, and beds will be prepared for planting fall crops next month.

 

We will have garlic scapes in the CSA for the next week or two. These are delicious and only available this time of the year. They are actually the top of the garlic plant that goes to flower, and we remove them before the flowers open up, which sends the plant's energy back down toward the bulb and leads to a larger garlic head size. Cook scapes as you would normal garlic or make a pesto (which holds great in the freezer!)

 

I am looking forward to our Solstice Music on the Farm event this Thursday and I hope to see you there! Being part of a CSA means to be part of a community and I am excited Brookwood is able to offer several opportunities for connection and festivities to members this season.

 

Thank you for your support!

 

Best,

Hannah

Recipe of the week:

Anchovy and Egg-Free Caesar Dressing!

We all have lettuce and salads are a great use of lettuce. Dressing is essential!  Before we get to the recipe, let's think about salad dressings in general.  Of course, you can buy dressing; there are many delicious ones on the market.  But, homemade dressing is just better.  You can always find an actual recipe or you can improvise, based on what you have in your refrigerator.  So, to start, you want to make a vinaigrette base that is roughly two parts oil to one part acid; this ratio is somewhat acidic so adjust it to your own personal taste.  A lovely start is 2 parts extra virgin olive oil to one part lemon juice (or rice, white wine, red wine, sherry or balsamic vinegar; don't use plain white).  Mix it up; add some black pepper and you have a basic vinaigrette.  Now, make it more exciting.  Do you want it to be sweet?  Add a tablespoon of maple syrup (or honey! or even jam!) and a teaspoon of Dijon mustard. Would you prefer something creamy?  Add some yogurt, sour cream or buttermilk.  Maybe something a little nutty?  Add tahini.  Add herbs and spices as desired.

 

Now, for some anchovy free Caesar salad dressing.  I don't generally keep anchovies in the house but I always have capers and the saltiness of the capers make a reasonable substitute for anchovies.  I also have an aversion to raw eggs and this recipe eliminates that as well.

 

Gently heat the garlic in the olive oil; this step is optional but will remove some of the bite of the garlic; 30 seconds in the microwave will do the trick.  Then, mix together all the ingredients and use to dress your salad!  This dressing improves as it stands.

Storage Tips: Lettuce

It is best to store lettuce in produce bags with a paper towel in the veggie drawer of your fridge.  Do not wash until you are ready to use or it will wilt.  Head lettuce can keep for over a week in the fridge but do keep an eye on it.

 

Lettuce is usually eaten raw in salads, on sandwiches or as wraps.  Margaret Li and Irene Li have a recipe for lettuce soup in their book Perfectly Good Food; I haven't tried it yet, but I am intrigued!

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!

Pick-up policy reminder:

Veggies: We can accomodate three day switch requests for the whole season this year. That means that you can change your pick-up day in the same week you signed up for. For instance: You are an odd week Saturday pick up but will be away for your typical day. You may request to change your Saturday odd week pick up to a Tuesday or Thursday odd week pick up for one particular week (up to three times). You may only switch days of your pick-up week, you may not switch pick-up weeks (odd/even). You’ll need to request this change the week before you want to use it. To make a day switch request: Up to the week before you want to switch pick-up days by 5 PM on Friday the week before the pickup you would like to change. Email csa@brookwoodcommunityfarm.org and include your name, your usual pick-up day, and your requested pick-up day. For example, Jane Smith, Tuesday, July 2nd is my pick-up day, and I would like to pick up on Saturday, July 6th instead.

 

Eggs: You may pick up your egg share up to three weeks after your missed pick-up day without notice. This means you may double up on previously missed pick-ups of up to three weeks.

 

Fruit: You may pick up your fruit share up to 7 days after your missed pick-up day without notice. This means you may double up on previously missed pick-ups of up to one week.

 

Mushrooms: You may pick up your mushroom share up to 7 days after your missed pick-up day without notice. This means you may double up on previously missed pick-ups of up to one week.

 

Flowers: Once the flower share starts you may pick your flowers in any increment you would like. But please keep an eye on the weekly newsletter as that will have advice on the abundance of blooms and other good information! You can pick one bouquet per visit or multiples of your share amount per visit.

Upcoming events:

Brookwood Community Farm presents the 2024 Music on the Farm series thanks to the Canton Cultural Council. On June 20, celebrate the solstice with jazz on the farm from 7:00 to 8:30.

Feel free to bring your favorite chair, pack a delicious picnic dinner, and unwind as you enjoy an evening at DCR’s Brookwood Farm at the base of the Blue Hills. Carpooling is encouraged!