2015 CSA Share 1

2015 CSA Share 1

It's our first share of the season and we're glad to see the return of salad greens after a long winter going without! We have our favorite lettuce mix from previous years, also a mix of various greens like arugula, mizzuna, tatsoi, and Swiss Chard. We also have some big spinach leaves from the greenhouse, radishes, rhubarb for something sweet, and herbs like catnip, tarragon, and garlic chives. We will have extra lettuce mix and greens mix and eggs available at our farm stand and pickup, see you all there! 

Large Share: 2 bags lettuce mix, 2 bags spinach, 2 bags mixed greens, 8 stalks rhubarb, 2 bunches radishes, 2 bunches of herbs (catnip, tarragon, garlic chives)

Mixed Greens-Tatsoi, Mizzuna, Arugula, Swiss Chard

We have a mix of some of our more unusual greens this year. Young Swiss Chard leaves, mizzuna and arugula, both more peppery leaves. We also tried out some tats this year, included in this greens mix, which is a asian variety of greens, a dark green spoon-shaped leaf, often called spinach mustard. 

Spinach

We have some beautiful Spinach for everyone this week, fresh from the greenhouse. Farmer Figgins's favorite dish with spinach is sautéed mushroom and spinach sandwich with feta cheese. We've also been enjoying making spinach artichoke dip with the spinach we grew over the winter. 

Spinach Artichoke Dip

Radishes

This week we have the first of the radishes to add some heat to your salad. For a change, try them thinly sliced on buttered toast, you won't regret it! 

Lettuce Mix

Our favorite lettuce mix variety from Johnny Seeds, this is a mix of green oak leaf, red oak leaf, green romaine, red romain, lollo rossa, and red leaf lettuces that always gets rave reviews from our customers.  

Rhubarb

This spring favorite can be eaten many different ways.  Our favorite is with lots of sugar and baked into a strawberry rhubarb pie!  There are also many great muffin and scone recipes which you can use rhubarb in. Others will eat the stocks with some salt raw.  If you are feeling really ambitious you can even pickle rhubarb.  

Pickled Rhubarb
Strawberry Rhubarb Turnover Pie
Cinnamon-Rhubarb Muffins

Herbs

This week we have three herbs for everyone, catnip, tarragon, and garlic chives. Catnip can be given to cats, it contains a feline attractant nepetalactone. Bruise the leaf and let the cat sniff and eat the leaf, the cat will start rubbing on the plant, rolling on the ground, pawing at it, licking it, and eating it. Consuming it results in drooling, sleepiness, anxiety, leaping about and purring, some may growl, some may purr or meow or scratch or bite the hand holding it. The main response lasts from 5-15 minutes. Humans can also use it, drinking a herbal tea. Soak 1/4 cup of fresh leaves in hot water for 5 minutes, then sweeten with honey or sugar. The herb can also be made into a juice, tincture, infusion or poultice. 

Tarragon is used best with chicken, fish or egg dishes. Garlic chives can be used in a similar way to chives, scallions or garlic and are used as a stir fry ingredient, they also do well with egg, shrimp and pork.