CSA #9

Dear CSA-ers,

This week’s Preassembled Bag will contain Spring Mix, Lovelock Head Lettuce, 2 bundles of Kale, Spring Carrots, and Spring Garlic. Orders may now be placed on the online market at: https://magneyfarm.locallygrown.net/market

It seems we are having one of those rare, long, cool Springs that Kentucky only experiences every once in a blue moon. It’s made for some absolutely beautiful days do be outside planting, tending, and harvesting crops. This week’s triumphant accomplishment has been completing planting in the tomato tunnel, with a row of heirloom slicers and setting all the zucchini in the ground outside. Early Spring plantings are starting to come into their own as the warm sunlight hours and favorable rains boost the crops along.

We are starting to notice some real dividends on the gentle management of our soil and plant life that comes from growing organically. To start with the number of earthworms we see in and around the plots is spectacular. Earthworms help decompose plant roots from previous season’s crops, turning them into rich nutrition, while their tunnels provide drainage and healthy airflow to the soil. Another animal we have noticed for the first time this year is the Eastern Phoebe, an endearing little bird in the ‘flycatcher’ family. A pair has made a cute little mud-and-moss nest under the eave of the house. We see them flitting in and out of the tunnels catching moths and flies that get stuck at the top. They are charming and clever birds; we are glad to have them helping us to manage insects on the farm.

This week’s highlighted vegetable is carrots. The carrots on the market this week were started late last year and overwintered in one of our tunnels. They grew very slowly from the winter months but are looking quite healthy now. This variety is ‘Starlight’ which will have a mix of colors. We find the flavor of our local carrots to be deeper and more complex than what is found in groceries, even compared to the organic carrots from California. This batch has been frost kissed many times and should be extra sweet. They will have their beautiful tops included, so consider recipes that utilize this portion. We hope you enjoy them!

Our employee Patrick has forayed into growing Oyster Mushrooms through his small business, Prescience Produce LLC. He grows the mushrooms on local straw in his family’s greenhouse. There is a chance that there will be some Fawn Oyster Mushrooms available this week. As this is a fledgling endeavor the amount and timing of their availability is not yet certain. If you would like Oyster Mushroom, please request them in your note. Should they be available on Thursday, they will be billed to your account and included in your bag on a first come first serve basis. Their price is $4.00 for a 5 oz. portion. In coming weeks, we expect to list them on the main site like the rest of our items.

As always, we thank you for your support of our growing farm. We are all striving to make our CSA the best it can be for you, our West Kentucky community.

Sincerely,
The Magney Legacy Ridge Farm Team