CSA #23

Dear CSA-ers, This week’s preassembled bag will contain Spring Mix, Romaine, Kohlrabi, Beets, Corno Di Torno Peppers, Mixed Tomatoes and Garlic. Custom orders may be placed between now and Tuesday evening on the website at: http://magneyfarm.locallygrown.net/market

This week we mourn the loss of one of our oldest animal team members on the farm. Sam, the Great Pyrenees livestock guardian dog passed peacefully overnight on Wednesday. When we were raising sheep, Sam came to our farm as a rescue dog. He was an excellent protector, stepping up to chase away coyotes and other would-be predators of sheep. Tragically, Sam escaped during a storm and was struck by a vehicle which resulted in an amputation of one of his back legs. For this reason, Sam stayed with the farm when the sheep were sold. Even with 3 legs, Sam was an excellent dog up to the very end. He (and Destiny, our other Great Pyrenees) always barked at deer in the valley and kept us feeling safe at night. We will miss Sam and wish him well in the next life. He will be remembered fondly by us all.
In brighter news, work on the farm has been proceeding well. Over 1500 brassica (broccoli family) transplants went into the ground on Friday. This year, to reduce our dependence on landscape fabric, we are attempting to grow these vegetables in tandem with a clover cover crop. The under-sowing of clover should crowd out unwanted weeds while competing little with the crops we intend to grow. In deep winter, once the broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage are harvested, the clover will protect the soil from erosion while adding nutrition to it for the Spring. We are very excited to be making use of this innovative sustainability technique and hope for a bountiful harvest.
Speaking of brassicas, this week’s highlighted vegetable is kohlrabi. Our dedicated CSA-ers may recall kohlrabi from this Spring, but it is the first hearty brassica to grace the shares since kale went out in early summer. Kohlrabi is a very classically German vegetable, being developed centuries ago to provide a long storing crop full of nutrition for a long winter. Texturally, kohlrabi has a crisp interior “bulb” which grows above ground and is technically a swollen stem. This bulb is rich in Vitamin C and has a nice balance of other vitamins and trace minerals. An easy preparation for kohlrabi is to peel the bulbs, sliver them, and shake with a dash of lemon juice for a salad topper. Other preparations such as mashed or roasted are also good options. We invite you to experiment with this unique vegetable and hope that you come to enjoy it as we do.
Chopped Mexican Salad Recipe
adapted from Fine Cooking Magazine, July 2006 issue
Salad Ingredients:
2 red Corno di Toro peppers, halved and seeded then grilled and diced
2 yellow Corno di Toro peppers, halved and seeded then grilled and diced
3 ears of bicolored corn, husked, grilled and shucked
2 large heirloom tomatoes, diced
1 medium jicama, diced CAN ALSO USE KOHLRABI IN PLACE OF
2 avocado, pitted and diced
1 can black beans, drained
1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
Dressing Ingredients:
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
3 Tbsp orange juice
3 Tbsp lime juice
1 shallot, finely chopped
2 Tbsp honey
3/4 Tsp cumin, toasted and ground
salt and pepper to taste
I really like this salad because there are a lot of flavors and textures going on in each mouthful. You have the sweetness of the corn and the peppers, the umami of the tomatoes, the crunchiness of the jicama and the creaminess of the avocado. The cumin in the dressing gives it interest while the citrus juices tie everything together. All in all, a wonderful salad!
As always, thank you so much for your support of our farm and welcoming us to your community. With farmers’ markets nearing their conclusion, we are beginning to build CSA membership for the Fall and Winter. If you have any friends and neighbors that might be interested in our service, pleas refer them to our website signup at (https://magneyfarm.locallygrown.net/user/signin).
Wishing you and your loved ones the best this week,
The Magney Legacy Ridge Farm Team