Thanks for a great first week! Your excitement about having fresh greens again was so contagious. The posts of the first meals of the season are already being posted in our Facebook group - keep them coming! We love to see what you're making. And if you haven't already, join the group.
We had a great Opening Day on Saturday as well! We really appreciate being part of your families' lives. All of our products are now available for purchase, and we'll have extra veggies available every day, too. On Tuesday, we'll be featuring some of the new products in our store by email. Have you seen the new tags on all of our displays? Check them out for more information about the product and ideas about how to use it.
Our Veggie Swap basket returns this week - leave a veggie from your share behind and take an item from the basket to replace it. Please limit the swap to one item.
One more item of housekeeping - how to change your share pickup day if needed.
If you need to skip your share for the week, or change your pickup day, you must provide us with 48 hours notice since we pack shares the day before pickup. Once your share has been harvested and packed, we can not cancel your pickup.
For Tuesday pickups being changed, we need to know by Sunday. Wednesday pickups, we need to know by Monday. Saturday pickups, we need to know by Thursday. You have the option to choose another of those pickup days: Tuesday, Wednesday, or Saturday. Or, you can skip a pickup and double the following week.
We will hold your share for 24 hours after your pickup day (Monday for Saturday members), and then it will be donated to a local food pantry. With more members than ever before, we don't have the cooler space to hold onto shares longer than this. This is a great option if you accidentally miss your pickup - just come the next day.
Mother's Day hanging baskets are available for purchase: $25 each or 2 for $46. You can mix and match varieties for that price.
Hi, Eric!
Eric returns for his 3rd year this season. He spent some time last Monday sterilizing crates so we could pack your first shares of the season into them. There are so many odd jobs that go into running the farm beyond just planting. Fixing hoses, breaking down boxes, cleaning coolers, setting up irrigation, ordering supplies, going to the bank, the list goes on and on. We're still doing a ton of set-up at this point in the season, and there is ALWAYS something breaking...
One of the big projects we're working on is mulching the fruit fields. This helps with weed control and keeping the roots moist. This has to get done every few years once the chips break down, and we haven't had to do it since we planted 3 years ago.
Anyone else looking to cook with more herbs this season? I admit that I fall short when it comes to using fresh herbs, and I feel like having a planter on hand would help greatly. I'm infusing water with mint to help me increase my water intake as well, which is always a great use for fresh herbs, including basil. This week, large share members are receiving a fresh bunch of oregano, which is amazing in fresh salad dressings and in marinades for chicken. I'm feeling like this could be a good idea for a cooking contest this year - usiing fresh herbs... what do you think? We'll have herb seedlings at our sale on Saturday, May 20th (and beyond) - sage, dill, oregano, mint, thyme, cilantro, and basil.
What in the world is Tokyo bekana? You'll find this delicious, tender, leafy cabbage in your share this week. This is one of our members' favorite greens! You can use it raw in a salad or slaw, incorporate it into a stir fry, or use it as a wrap. Don't forget that you can always find information about what all of the veggies are, how to store them, and how to use them in our Vegetable Library of Resources.
On deck for next week: most likely you'll receive bok choy, pea tendrils, escarole, arugula, and scallions. While we can't always provide a prediction like this, it's easier at this point in the season when there are not a lot of veggies being harvested. Until then!
In Your Share (Listed approximately from shortest shelf life to longest)
Large:
2 bunches of spinach
1 bunch of Tokyo bekana
1 head of lettuce
1 bunch of radishes
2 lbs. of leeks
1 bunch of oregano
Small:
1 bunch of spinach
1 bunch of Tokyo bekana
1 head of lettuce
1 bunch of radishes
1 lb. of leeks
Caring For Your Share (All of this information, plus long-term storage info, can also be found in our Vegetable Library of Resources).
Shake out any excess water in the head of lettuce, spinach, and Tokyo bekana, then store in a plastic bag in the fridge. Wash and spin out when ready to use.
Store leeks in a plastic bag in the fridge. Wash when read to use.
Wrap oregano in a paper towel and put it in a plastic bag in the fridge for a week. Or, hang it in a pantry or cabinet to dry.
The LGF Cooking Club (Recipes to try in addition to those in the Library of Resources!)
Smoky Radish Greens (reduce quantities and use more for inspiration)
Thai Beef Bowl with Garlic and Spinach (you can also use your Tokyo bekana here)
Large Share Additional Ingredients: