The week of the solstice, full moon, and Juneteenth has brought lots of life and energy to the farm. The staff did a great job staying cool during the heat wave, starting our days at 6 AM and taking lots of water and shade breaks. The plants are growing inches per day and so much is changing week to week. It’s crazy to think that the days are getting shorter now, but there’s still 22 weeks left of the season to savor and enjoy.
This week we mowed our spring cover crop of buckwheat. Also, we planted our second succession of cucurbits including 6 different varieties of winter squash.
This week marks the first summer CSA pickup for 2024! Our staff has been pouring their hearts into growing all of this delicious produce for you, and we truly hope you enjoy the fruits of our labor. Thank you for your ongoing support!
Best,
Hannah
PS Sorry! No new pictures today! I am camping and forgot my work phone.
Recipe of the week:
Fava Bean Crostini
Fava beans-about 1 pound
2 TB Extra virgin olive oil
1 clove of garlic or some garlic scapes
scallions, chopped, about ¼ scant cup
dash of crushed red pepper
½ tsp rosemary, crushed (fresh or dry)
1 baguette, sliced
1. Prepare the beans. Shuck the beans and then plunge them into boiling water for about 1 minute. Plunge into cold water to stop the cooking process. Remove the outer skin.
2. Heat EVOO in a skillet. Add beans and garlic. Cook for about 30 seconds
3. Add 2 TB water, bring to a simmer. Cover and cook about 10 minutes, or until the beans are softened. Remove from heat.
4. Mash beans. Return to pan with the scallions, pepper and rosemary. Heat for about a minute or so.
5. Toast your baguette slices.
6. Spread the fava dip on the bread. Drizzle with more EVOO, if you like and maybe sprinkle with salt.
Buckwheat cover crop
Sugar snap peas
The first California poppy of the year!
Storage Tips: Fava Beans
Fava beans are, admittedly, labor intensive. You need to shuck them from their outer pod, blanch them and then remove their outer skin, one bean at a time. It's probably best to have a friend to help! But the rewards are great. First of all, fava beans are delicious. They are rich in nutrients--fiber, protein, folate, zinc, phosphorus, iron and magnesium, to name just a few. They are eaten around the world.
To blanch fava beans, plunge them into boiling water and let them cook for about a minute. Then plunge them into cold water to stop the cooking process. Once they are cool enough to handle, remove the outer skin by slitting it, and squeezing the bean out.
Once you have prepared your fava beans, you can serve them simply with butter and lemon juice. Or you can make a delicious pesto. Or you can freeze them to add to soups or stews throughout the year.
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!
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 Tuesday, June 25, 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!
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11 Blue Hill River Road Canton, MA 02021, The United States of America
