Hello and welcome to CSA Box #2! (#1 for this weeks Half shares)
The season is chugging right along, as long as we keep moving the irrigation around. We have 4 different irrigation systems and at least 3 of them are running at all times right now in order to keep the crops growing. We have a sandy soil here at Blackbrook Farm, and although a lot of crops like it- water is the limiting factor for us. We tend to have less disease, rot and never any flooding or mucky soils to contend with, but we do need rain!!
The box is a little more full this week! The crops are really looking quite well despite lack of rain and we are very excited for peas this week! Carrots will most likely make an appearance next week. It's amazing how fast things can grow in warm weather!
For the half shares who did not see this newsletter last week- I am repeating all the info here for you to read up on. I also have sent a seperate email to everyone just in case you miss it here.
There is a lot of info in here that is important to read prior to getting your box.
Please email with any questions at blackbrook.farm.llc@gmail.com
Remember that you can easily add additional contacts to newsletter emails by going to your account and adding additional contacts under account details.
We look forward to starting the CSA!
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Here are some very important details about how the CSA works and what to expect: PLEASE READ THIS!!! All CSA deliveries are on Thursdays. ALWAYS wait for the Delivery Confirmation Email from us before going to get your box. At first, we make no promises as to the exact time as we are getting our route and schedule down. All boxes will be to their locations before 5 pm, please wait for the email. Most, if not all, will be by 1pm. Please pick your box up ASAP after you get the email and do not leave it overnight!! most dropsites will throw it away or donate it- please arrange someone else to pick your box up for you or email me if you cannot pick your box up. Only take the BLACKBROOK FARM BOX WITH YOUR NAME ON IT!!! We label our boxes and your name or your boxmates name will be on it! If you are a half share, you get a box EVERY OTHER WEEK- starting either this week or next week. If you are UNSURE of where you pick your box up or when you pick your box up, please look back at your CSA confirmation email you received when you signed up. You can also go to your account here: https://www.harvie.farm/login to see when and where you pick your box up. You can always email us, too at blackbrook.farm.llc@gmail.com You can also find the dropsite information (where to pick up exactly) in your login and in that email. Please take the box with your veggies in it OR bring a bag or box and empty the contents of the CSA box into it and leave the box, broken down please. In any event, we do reuse these boxes throughout the season and would like for them to be returned as soon as you are able to your dropsite. We DO NOT keep track of boxes or who returns them or doesn't, but we DO reuse them and buy enough for each member to have 2 boxes throughout the season- so it is important to return them! Our produce is harvested fresh within 24-48 hours ahead of delivery. We are an organic farm and we have lots of post harvest washing/packing methods we use. However, we grow food in the dirt. So, we DO recommend that you wash all of your vegetables if you do not want grit in your salad. We're used to it, but some are not! We do our best, but understand you may find a bug, slug or dirt in there occasionally. It's a living farm! Enjoy knowing you're eating the most nutritional, fresh local food you can get your hands on! If you need to reschedule a delivery or Add a contact- please go to your account by logging in to https://www.harvie.farm/login. You will find under your account details that you can easily reschedule and add contacts. please email me if you need help with this. I have had lots of emails about adding contacts and cant keep track of them all! If you did not hear back from me, that means I probably did NOT do it and you will have to or email me again! Sorry! Don't forget to customize your box if you want! You can swap out items or add extra items into your box- you can add more vegetables, pork, beef, honey, mustard, coffee beans and more! And without further ado, here is what you might see in your box this week: Snap Peas- Yippy! These are a favorite for the kids. no recipe is going to make these better than they are plain- eat the whole thing! Keep in a container to prevent them going soft. Radishes (french or Round Red)- It's been a tough radish year- for some reason. They are flea beetle eaten, small and some successions almost all of them are eaten by worms. You will either get french breakfast (long and skinny) or round red radishes this week. Salad Turnips- These are like a radish, but sweeter and less spicy. They are great eaten like an apple as a snack, sliced thin on a salad or sandwich, grilled or matchsticked for a dip. The tops are good too! Spring Mix- A nice crispy mix of red and green lettuces that will keep well for about 2 weeks. These greens hold up great to any dressing! Add all the veggies to the top and you have yourself a wonderful side or main dish salad. Baby Kale Mix- A nutrient dense mix of 4 different kales. This mix can be added to the spring mix for a heartier salad or you can braise it into dinner dish. They are also great as an addition to a sandwich. Head lettuce (Red Oscarde or Green Fusion)- Wash first! We do hydrp cool, spray and wash but there is dirt between the leaves- make sure you wash once you cut! Cilantro- Our favorite herb here on the farm! So fresh and floral added to a salad, eggs, tacos and burritos and just about anything else. Get creative! You can also blend it up with some olive oil, chives or garlic and salt for a quick pesto! Dill- Our second favorite herb on the farm! Wonderful on salads of all sorts. Nothing like fresh dill. Beets with a Creamy Yogurt Dill Sauce Red Beets- Yay the first beets of the year look so good! Some are really big! These store great with the tops removed, but don't throw the tops away! Saute or stir fry them up with other veggies! They are basically swiss chard. Pac Choi (bok choy)- Either 2 small or 1 big pac choi. These are great on the grill coated in a little olice oil and herbs with soy sauce. Keeps well in a plastic bag or container in the fridge. Herb Pot (Half Shares)-These lovely herbs can up transplanted into a garden or other seperate pots for fresh herbs all season long. Keep the Thai Basil (center, purple) trimmed to prevent flowering. The sage (wide, long green leaves) is great fried and added to pasta or risotto. The thyme nad oregano are great in a spaghetti sauce or other italian dishes. The parsley (curly light green) is great fro fresh salads, tabbouleh salad and pasta dishes.
Have a great week! Your Farmers
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