Hello Members - Welcome to CSA 2022 - We are so happy that you have joined us as members of the Regional Food Bank Patroon Land Farm CSA, as we begin the harvest of crops and the opportunity to fill your shares and tables. Your partnership also allows us to send many pounds of farm fresh vegetables to the Food Bank to feed those in need. Thank you!
Pictured above is our garlic scapes - which are featured in your share this week!
Garlic scapes are the tender stem and flower bud of a hardneck garlic plant. (Hardneck garlic is the kind of garlic that typically grows in Canada and the northeastern U.S.) Scapes first grow straight out of the garlic bulb, then coil. When harvested, they look like long, curly green beans.
Garlic scapes taste like a unique blend of onion, scallion and garlic. However, scapes are usually less fiery and have a fresher, “greener” taste than the actual garlic bulbs.
Scapes are very versatile and can be used in an assortment of recipes. They can be used anywhere you might otherwise use garlic cloves or scallions. (If using, we would recommend not adding garlic as the flavor can be overwhelming.) They can be sautéed, pureed, roasted and pickled. (Sautéed in butter and sprinkled with salt, they make an excellent burger or sandwich topping, or even a kid-friendly side vegetable.) They’re great in a stir fry. They can be diced and used in omelettes, frittatas, soups and salads. They can be eaten cooked or raw—though, be warned, they are a little tough when raw. They can also be pickled.
Another common use for garlic scapes is pestos: it’s a great alternative to the standard basil and pine nuts pesto. Garlic scapes pesto can be made by simply replacing basil with raw scapes. It’s best to use a neutral tasting oil so the natural flavours of the garlic scapes can shine through.
Garlic scapes keep very well in the crisper—they can last for up to two weeks. You can also chop them up and freeze them in plastic bags, which will preserve them for much longer.
You are receiving your customization email today and have the weekend to choose what you want to receive in your share next week July 14 - you may keep what is in your share based upon the preferences you made when you signed up - or you may swap items - or you may purchase additional items - when you have finished - please return the email - the deadline is Monday July 11 at 10 am to return your selections via email - we need your email returned because it generates the label for your share box that tells us what to pack in your share - Thank you!
The first delivery/pick-up will be Thursday July 14 and for the Farm and Food Bank only - pick-up will also occur on Friday July 15.
The first week is always an exciting time as we begin the CSA season - and a very busy time at the Farm to get back into the weekly routine of harvest, washing, packing and delivering the shares - Please have a little patience with us for the first couple of weeks till we work out all the details - one place that may happen in on the packing line - a packing error - if this occurs and you are missing a vegetable - please contact me and we will issue a credit on your Harive Balance which you may use for future deliveries. If you have a matter that needs addressing or a question arises - please contact me, Bob at bobb@regionalfoodbank.net Thank you!
We recycle our share boxes - please return them each week - the following sites do not allow returns - Mercy Auditorium - Krause Center - Life Works Cmmty Action - for members at these sites - we would greatly appreciate that you save your boxes and when you have a stack drop them off at the Food Bank -
Thank you for your help!!!
We are still very much in need of volunteers to help us at the Farm - we experience significantly low numbers of volunteers in the Summer - if you are considering volunteering at the Farm - you may visit our website www.regionalfoodbank.net and choose Volutneer at the Farm or contact one of our farmers - Brandon to learn more details about the opportunities available - brandonm@regionalfoodbank.net Thank you!
Weather for the weekend looks very warm - please stay hydrated - hope yours is very enjoyable!
Very best, Bob
