*Special Note Dec 19th Deliveries: The warm weather has brought back our kalettes, so you'll be getting a full round of fresh treats! Also, we've got various types and sizes of squash available which isn't auto-filling quite like I'd hoped - so double check your box to make sure you have the sizes and types of squash you'd like (and not a surprise of too many!)*
You're all one step closer to solving the mystery of what farmers do for the winter... We like to pack veggie boxes, which gives us a regular schedule and leaves room for other things. We like to enjoy a bit of quiet time to recharge after a busy season, and travel to conferences to connect with our colleagues from across Ontario and learn from ecological farming mentors from across North America! So we're feeling better rested, and full of ideas and inspirations to make next year even better.
We've also been busy giving back to the farming community: getting involved with the Belleville Farmers' Market Board, Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario providing educational opportunities for farmers, and with the National Farmers Union to advocate for policy that supports small farmers like us.
We're getting ready to delve into our business planning... one of the more exciting times of year to plan how to make all our fresh ideas into delicious food, and make sure next year is even tastier than the last!
This month I've got a few more of our winter storage stars listed for you to choose from, like Black Radishes for a nice spice and all the kinds of potatoes to choose from. The default is two of our favourites, French fingerlings which are amazing herb roasted, and Nicola which make a lovely mash, stew or soup potato. Both, when sliced thinly and tossed in oil make a lovely crunchy baked "chip" too!
Most of your veggies will be best in the fridge this month, but if you find you're short on space the potatoes, onions and garlic can go in a very cold cupboard as long as it doesn't freeze. You'll want to tuck the sweet potatoes and squashes on the counter - they don't mind the sun and prefer the warmth. Sweets are in plastic as they like high humidity and our homes in the winter tend to be quite dry. Root veggies I like to throw in a large bag together in the crisper drawer, this keeps the humidity in but since you'll be popping in regularly they won't stay too wet. Veggie storage is all about moisture - too dry and they'll look wrinkly and soft, too wet and they might go mushy/mouldy. A bit of air flow is key! That's why anything we've bagged for you will have little holes in the zip bag, to keep the humidity just right.
