2010 CSA

This post is going to be a little bit different than the rest.  We're going to look at how a good CSA grows.  Last year we only offered large shares and many of you mentioned having to give some of the goodies away, because it was too much!  So this year we offered a small share and the amount of members nearly double here in Staunton.  That's one way to grow!

We also offered Dairy and Flower shares...and we pick up two new member last week!  That's yet another way to grow.

The reputation we are building with our members is spreading to the point we have people asking about joining next year...already!!!  Still another way to grow.

But the best way is the one I found out about this week.  The Walters family welcomed a new daughter to their family!  And she was SO anxious to be part of this, she was born on CSA drop day.  Now THAT'S the best way to grow a CSA.  Congratulations Walters family!

Happy Eating!

John

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The time of year has arrived to rejoice in the early harvest of summer squash!  (We'll all curse the existence of the wretched things in another month, but let's enjoy them while we can)  In addition to the traditional fried squash, grilled squash and the occasional squash casserole, did you know you can stuff and bake them as well.  Click on the link to find a really nice stuffed squash recipe.  Simply substitute the squash you have, use the onions in your bags and use the tarragon instead of the thyme!  Now THAT'S how you customize a recipe for your CSA items!!   http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/stuffed-summer-squash-10000001892176/

You can also use your cabbage, add some browned ground beef and shredded carrots to make a super tasty soup!  Be creative with your items, share your ideas but most of all...have fun with your CSA! 

Happy Eating!

John

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 Part of the fun of a CSA is the odd, unusual and different foods that you may not normally buy, but you end up with anyway.  This week may be one of those times!  If the weather permits, each of you will get a head of Bok Choy this drop.  If you've never tried bok choy in your home, you probably have in other places, if you've eaten in an Oriental restaurant.  It's the stuff in the dishes that looks like celery without the strings.  If you do research on it, it's has several different spellings.  So you may see it: bok choy, pak choy, bok choi, pak choi, and even pok choi, but however it's spelled...it's still delicious!!

Below is a recipe using some simple ingredients, a little chicken and some of the items from your bags.  It's quick, it's easy and will put a little something different to eat in front of your family.  If you'd like more information about bok choy (and it's different spellings) you can check out this web sight http://chinesefood.about.com/od/vegetablesrecipes/a/bokchoy.htm

Happy Eating!!

John

Here's a recipe that is simple and easy to do, using your bok choy and onions from your CSA bags!

Chicken and Bok Choy Stir Fry

Ingredients

• This recipe goes with Perfectly Cooked White Rice
• 1 tablespoon canola oil
• 4 6-ounce boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
• Kosher salt and black pepper
• Baby bok choy, coursely chopped 
• 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
• 1/4 cup store-bought barbecue sauce
• 4 scallions, thinly sliced

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As the CSA season starts and progresses, you'll find a wide variety of fresh herbs in your drops.  Cilantro, Corriander, Basil, Dill, Oregano and Chives name but a few of the pungently delicious herbs I plan on offering this summer.  You've probably sprinkled a little of the dried version in various dishes, maybe even seen the fresh bunches in the supermarket, but how many of you have actually used fresh herbs in everyday cooking?  Basil in a rice dish?  Dill with cabbage? Oregano in potato salad?  Yes to all of the above!!

You can go to some web sights I use for finding recipes and using herbs like http://culinaryherbguide.com/ http://www.myrecipes.com/ and http://www.supercook.com/ for some great ideas.  With supercook, you plug in what you normally have in the house for great combination ideas, myrecipes offers easy ideas that usually don't take many extra ingredients.  I think you'll like any of these.

Back to the herbs, if you've never eaten raw fresh herbs...go easy!!  Some of them pack quite a flavor punch.  They're designed to release their goodness under heat or with other foods, by themselves they can be somewhat overpowering, so sample a small amount at first.  After that first encounter, you're on your own for how much you can handle raw at one time.  When cooking, remember you may need up to three times more fresh herbs than dried in your recipes, due to the concentration  factor of drying.  Another great resource for understanding fresh herbs is http://lancaster.unl.edu/food/ftapr03.htm (since it's an .edu sight I tend to trust it a bit more than a regular .com sight)

The main thing I want to get across to you is to be gutsy!  If you don't know what herb I gave you, and if I forget to let you know...ask me!!!  If you like what you get and want more, let me know!  If you've searched and can't find anything you like to use the herbs in combination with, yell out and help will be there!  Enjoy the bounty of strange weeds that show up in your drops.  Each one has a story to tell using flavor as the stage. 

I'll try to not give you the same herb twice in a row, just so you can experience more variety.  The drops in May will have either Cilantro or Oregano, depending on the harvests.  I'd love you have your feedback on how you use your herbs, so feel free to make a post here and let us know! 

Happy Eating!!

John

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Welcome one and all to the 2011 Nu-Beginning/Sullivan Farm CSA.  This blog page was set up for your reading pleasure and to provide a venue for you to share your experiences with each other.  Feel free to post photos, family stories related to the CSA, recipes...whatever!  Our goal is for you to enjoy your CSA enough to join again next year and refer freinds...which several of you did this year!  Let's travel the road of good food and happy summer days together.  Let's rejoice in the wonderful experience of meeting like minded people in your town.  Let's not cause bodily harm to John if he messes something up! 

Happy Eating!!

John

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Well, we made it through the first week CSA deliveries, with only a few bugs to work out...both administratively and living.  With all the rains we've had, the bugs were all seeking higher ground...in the lettuces!  Welcome to the wonderful world of farming!  Thank you all for your patience.  I completely believe we have some of the rough edges worked out.  This, of course, clears the way for new problems to arise.  The adventures never end! 

I am in the process of trying to figure out how to put pictures on this thing.  As soon as I do, I'll update with lovely visuals.  Until then, imagine beautiful gardens, full of lush glistening vegetables, spacious weed-free walk paths melding gracefully into the abundant promise of future harvests.  Now that you have that Norman Rockwell image...that's not what anything here looks like.  The rains have caused the weeds to sprout to monstrous proportions, looking like vegetative incredible hulks, lurking to overtake the edibles.  Mud oozes where the walk paths are supposed to be.  But somewhere in that labarinth of chaos are the peppers, peas, summer squashes and all the other future dinners. 

Even through the sleepless nights, fighting the elements, wondering what will be in the next drop, we are having fun here.  I am getting feedback from some of you thanking me for being your farmer.  That alone makes everything worthwhile.  I can only hope that the excitement I feel when I hear from you is magnified for you in your boxes.

Share your ideas for using the goodies here.  I created this post for you to use and "meet" each other.  So take advantage of it!  Introduce yourselves!  In addition to getting and trying new foods, this is also an opportunity to meet new friends, whom you already know shares a common interest.  You became closer to your food last week, you got to know the people who grow your food.  So say "hello" to each other, then, go wash your hands, it's time to eat!

John

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I want to welcome everyone to the Nu-Beginning Farm/Sullivan Farm 2010 CSA season!  You have trusted us to deliver you healthy, wholesome vegetables, fruits and eggs, and for that we sincerely thank you.  We won't let you down.

Feel free to use this blog as a place to exchange recipes and ideas, talk about all the goodies you get, and basically "meet" each other and hopefully make some new friends in the process.  We want this to be a fun and rewarding experience for you and your families.

We started out with one CSA in Purcellville, VA. using Fields of Athenry Farm as the drop point.  Before we could fill the open slots there, we were given an opportunity to start a second CSA in Staunton, VA. using George Bowers Grocery as the drop point there!  This blog will bring both of the CSAs together, joining all of our customers in one place.  If you want to know a little bit about the other location, why not Google the city?  Bring the kids in and see what you can learn, perhaps you'll find a new place to take a family vacation, both places have so much to offer!

As we embark on our journey of deliciousness, remember to make this a fun trip.  There's more to enjoying a meal with your families, there's enjoying the shopping trip, preparing the meals together, trying strange and different foods, learning about the foods you're getting, teaching your kids and grandkids...The list goes on and on. 

Right now in the gardens, Glenn and I have already planted green leaf lettuce, red leaf lettuce, spinach, swiss chard, mesculin salad mix, spring onions, red radishes, white radishes, English peas, garlic, bok choy, napa cabbage, green cabbage, red cabbage, leeks, red onions, arugula, cucumbers, yellow squash, zucchini, patty pan squash and celery.  And the main growing season hasn't even gotten here yet!  Just wait for the dozen different varieties of tomatoes and peppers, green beans, potatoes, sweet potatoes, canteloupe, watermelon, herbs, winter squashes (four varieties) and egg plants (both purple and white!).  That's not to mention the fruit you'll also be getting, strawberries, peaches, apples, plums and grapes!  Gardening in Virginia offers SO much variety!

Remember, your first boxes are schedeuled to arrive the last part of May.  I'll have a better idea of what will be in those first drops a little later on this month.  So until we meet again, clean up your best dinnerware and scrub the kids' elbows, there's gonna be some good food for dinner!

John

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