Final CSA 12/18

I love this t-shirt a saw a customer wearing.

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Hello CSA Members,

This is sadly our last week of CSA.  It is sad because I hate to see it end but, good because due to the snow it is pretty much over for the season. 

Yes, we will still have a few things for the store and for Papillon (the wonderful French Brasserie) but pickings are slim.   Mother Nature keeps us on our toes so we never become complacent or uncreative.  Hooray for that!

We just returned an hour ago from Illinois where we attended the ACRES USA conference.  It was pretty amazing.  We spent 3 days in lectures from leaders of organic farming.  It was amazing, humbling, awe inspiring and frightening all at the same time.  I am thankful for my community of customers, friends and neighbors.  We are blessed with a beautiful farming community.  

After learning about the frightening affects of Atrazine, Glyphosates, and GMO’s I realized that in the end the only ones who can make a change in our environment and what we eat is the consumer.  It is so powerful.  By supporting our CSA you are voting for better food and innovation in organic agriculture.  The change I see in the way we farm and how our environment is affected is going to come from the people buying our food.  Thank you for investing in our farm and the future of farming communities (These communities are global too!).  

If you have any questions please feel free to email me at bhorganiccsa@gmail.com or call 484-955-1098.  I also am available to receive text messages at this phone number.  I appreciate all feedback and strive to create a healthy customer service experience. 

If you do not see an email from us feel free to check our blog where we will post the same email for you each week. http://bhorganics.blogspot.com/

Don’t forget to pick up your produce!  It may help to set an alarm on your phone. 

You can order by replying to the email or by emailing bhorganicscsa@gmail.com.  The orders must be in by Tuesday at 2 pm.  Processing the orders takes some time so I would appreciate no late orders.

Notes about ordering:

·      We cannot guarantee orders.  We will definitely do our best. 

·      If an item has OR stated in the list than you can either of these items not both. 

·      You may order from the list below.  If you do not choose to order we will select a well-rounded box for you.  You can also order less than 6 items and we will fill in the rest. 

·      If it states behind the item that you may order 2 than this counts as 2 of your 6 items. 

·      We do not split items or make smaller bunches.  All sizes of the items are stated below. 

·      Yes, we definitely make mistakes.  So please let us know so we don’t make them again.  We are striving to provide great customer service. 

This week’s Harvest:

  All shares will choose 6 items from this list.

·      Garlic – ¼ lb.  Purple Stripe or Elephant.  Elephant garlic has large cloves and is very mild in flavor.  Purple stripe has smaller cloves and was voted by Rodale as the best tasting baking garlic. OR Scallions – 1 bunch

·      Beets- Red or Gold 1.5 lb. Large beets with no tops.  You may order 2

·      Daikon Radishes. No tops. – 1- 2 roots OR Watermelon Radishes, small – 1 lb

·      Potatoes, Red – 2 lb

·      White Turnips – small – ¾ lb OR Cabbage, Savoy – 1-2 heads

·      Salad Mix – ½ lb OR Spinach ½ lb

·      Carrots – 1 lb OR Winter Squash, Kabocha – 1 fruit

Extras: You must order these in your regular order. 

·      Beets- Red or Gold 1.5 lb. Large beets with no tops. 

Thank you all so much for your support.  May you all have happy and healthy holidays and a winter season!

 Love and blessings,

Erica, Paul, Pamela, Jill, David, Austin, Maria, and Mike!

CSA 12/11

Sauteed Broccoli Greens.

Hello CSA Members,

Please stay safe out on the roads today. 

This fall has been the coldest fall that I have experienced in the last 6 years.  We have been blessed to be able to offer you produce for your boxes although it hasn’t been quite the selection of greens or brassicas that I had planned for.  This is farming and it is a beautiful thing.

This past week Paul and I attended a 2-day vegetable intensive workshop in Easton, PA.  It was so inspiring and just what I needed.  It was so great to meet and learn from farmers whom have 2,000 member CSAs.  I found out that they have very similar issues as our tiny little farm.  This fall has been a bit dreary but after that conference I am ready to start planning for 2014! 

This week Paul and I will be heading to Illinois for a 3-day conference on soil management.  Your positive thoughts are prayers are appreciated as we attempt to drive to the center of the country in December.  Thankfully we are missing this weather. 

Due to the fact that our schedule is tight this week, I will absolutely need orders in by Tuesday at 2 pm.  The delivery will remain the same.  Thank you for your cooperation. 

If you have any questions please feel free to email me at bhorganiccsa@gmail.com or call 484-955-1098.  I also am available to receive text messages at this phone number.  I appreciate all feedback and strive to create a healthy customer service experience. 

If you do not see an email from us feel free to check our blog where we will post the same email for you each week. http://bhorganics.blogspot.com/

Don’t forget to pick up your produce!  It may help to set an alarm on your phone. 

You can order by replying to the email or by emailing bhorganicscsa@gmail.com.  The orders must be in by Tuesday at 2 pm.  Processing the orders takes some time so I would appreciate no late orders.

Notes about ordering:

·      We cannot guarantee orders.  We will definitely do our best. 

·      If an item has OR stated in the list than you can either of these items not both. 

·      You may order from the list below.  If you do not choose to order we will select a well-rounded box for you.  You can also order less than 6 items and we will fill in the rest. 

·      If it states behind the item that you may order 2 than this counts as 2 of your 6 items. 

·      We do not split items or make smaller bunches.  All sizes of the items are stated below. 

·      Yes, we definitely make mistakes.  So please let us know so we don’t make them again.  We are striving to provide great customer service. 

This week’s Harvest:

  All shares will choose 6 items from this list.

·      Garlic – ¼ lb.  Purple Stripe or Elephant.  Elephant garlic has large cloves and is very mild in flavor.  Purple stripe has smaller cloves and was voted by Rodale as the best tasting baking garlic.  You may order 2.

·      Lettuce- Red Leaf or butterhead– 1-4 heads. Heads are smaller.  You may order 2

·      Beets- Red or Gold 1.5 lb. Large beets with no tops.  You may order 2

·      Daikon Radishes. No tops. – 1- 2 roots

·      Potatoes, Red – 2 lb OR Potatoes, Fingerling – 1.5 lb

·      Watermelon Radishes, small – 1 lb

·      White Turnips – small – ¾ lb

·      Yams – 2 lb

·      Salad Mix – ½ lb

·      Arugula – ½ lb

·      Brussels Sprouts – 1 pint

·      Broccoli Greens – ¾ lb See Below. 

Extras: You must order these in your regular order. 

·      Beets- Red or Gold 1.5 lb. Large beets with no tops. 

·      Daikon Radishes. No tops. – 1- 2 roots

What crops we think have a high energy this week:

·      Garlic

·      Daikon

·      Lettuce

·      Beets

·      Broccoli Greens

Recipes:

What in the heck are broccoli greens?

As I was out in the field yesterday scouting what might be available in our once again disappointing broccoli patch I saw something new to me.  Below the frozen plants were new sprouts off the main stem.  Some of them had teeny tiny broccoli heads and other were just greens.  So I did what any farmer would do I popped on in my mouth.  Yum!  Super sweet from several freezes and very tender.  For years I would not attempt to market such things to the CSA thinking it was not the typical broccoli head everyone is looking for.  But wait.  These broccoli greens are extremely edible, very tender and with all the exposure to the elements they must be full of antioxidants.  So I am offering them to you. 

I visited a farmer this summer who markets only to high-end restaurants in Philadelphia and he pretty much harvests everything this way.  And why not?  Just because it is not the form we are used to does not mean it isn’t good for us.  It is just that grocery stores haven’t marketed them yet.  I love meeting people who think out of the box.  And I love seeing my farm and produce in a new way. 

The Broccoli Greens can be eaten raw but I prefer them lightly steamed or wilted to bring out more of the sweetness.  Consider them as an alternative to your kale recipes.  Broccoli greens look a lot like broccoli Raab but are sweet like broccoli.

Enjoy!

·      Sautéed Broccoli Greens: http://www.primalpalate.com/recipe/sauteed-broccoli-greens/

·      Pasta: http://www.cuesa.org/recipe/tubetti-rigate-long-cooked-broccoli-leaves-and-pecorino

·      Broccoli Leaf Chips: http://www.thekitchn.com/one-of-the-advantages-of-169538

·      6 ways to prepare Broccoli Greens: http://www.girlsgonechild.net/2011/01/eat-well-broccoli-leave-in-on-jet-plane.html

·       

We really appreciate you and could not do it with out you.

Thank you,

Erica

CSA 12/4

This is the tall type of Radicchio called Treviso. 

Hello CSA Members,

We hope you all had a healthy Thanksgiving and enjoyed anytime off you may have had.

This November has been colder than the past few years.  It has been quite an adjustment for us.  Most of the field crops have entered dormancy.  Although I love the hot weather, I always enjoy the seasons and watching Mother Nature change before my eyes. 

This week we will busy planting greenhouse number 2 for late winter early spring harvest.  I feel so blessed to go into a greenhouse in the winter and still see so much green foliage.  Even on the cold days the greenhouse is still nice and warm when the sun is shining.  The air is moist and fresh.  It has gives me a lot of inspiration.

If you have any questions please feel free to email me at bhorganiccsa@gmail.com or call 484-955-1098.  I also am available to receive text messages at this phone number.  I appreciate all feedback and strive to create a healthy customer service experience. 

If you do not see an email from us feel free to check our blog where we will post the same email for you each week. http://bhorganics.blogspot.com/

Don’t forget to pick up your produce!  It may help to set an alarm on your phone. 

You can order by replying to the email or by emailing bhorganicscsa@gmail.com.  The orders must be in by Tuesday at 2 pm.  Processing the orders takes some time so I would appreciate no late orders.

Notes about ordering:

·      We cannot guarantee orders.  We will definitely do our best. 

·      If an item has OR stated in the list than you can either of these items not both. 

·      You may order from the list below.  If you do not choose to order we will select a well-rounded box for you.  You can also order less than 6 items and we will fill in the rest. 

·      If it states behind the item that you may order 2 than this counts as 2 of your 6 items. 

·      We do not split items or make smaller bunches.  All sizes of the items are stated below. 

·      Yes, we definitely make mistakes.  So please let us know so we don’t make them again.  We are striving to provide great customer service. 

This week’s Harvest:

  All shares will choose 6 items from this list.

·      Italian Flat Leaf Parsley – 1/8 lb

·      Garlic – ¼ lb.  Purple Stripe or Elephant.  Elephant garlic has large cloves and is very mild in flavor.  Purple stripe has smaller cloves and was voted by Rodale as the best tasting baking garlic.  You may order 2.

·      Lettuce- Red Leaf or butterhead– 1-4 heads. Heads are smaller.  You may order 2

·      Beets- Red 1.5 lb. No tops.  You may order 2

·      Collards – ¾ lb

·      Daikon Radishes. No tops. – 1- 2 roots

·      Radicchio, tall or round – 2 heads

·      Carrots – ¾ lb.  No tops.

·      Potatoes, Red – 2 lb OR Potatoes, Fingerling – 1.5 lb

·      Cabbage, Savoy – 1-2 head

·      Watermelon Radishes, small – 1 lb

·      Spinach – ½ lb

Extras:

·      Sorry we will not have extras this week. 

What crops we think have a high energy this week:

·      Garlic

·      Daikon

·      Lettuce

·      Beets

·      Radicchio

·      Collards

Recipes:

Radicchio:

We grow 2 different types of radicchio: a tall variety and a round variety.  Most people are used to the round variety.  It would be hard to find a difference in taste or texture.  I find the tall type is better for grilling because it sits well on the grill and is not so thick.  Our radicchio looks a bit different than when you might buy it in the store because we leave on the outer leaves.  The outer leaves are a bit more tough and bitter but that is where most of the nutrition is.  Studies have found that the outer leaves higher in antioxidants than inner leaves of plants.  This is because they are more exposed to the sun and the elements.  The reason iceberg lettuce has less nutritional value is because it forms a tight head and the inner leaves that you eat have not been exposed to the antioxidant giving elements.  There is a great new book out which outlines all these cool facts: “Eating on the Wild Side” by Jo Robinson.  You can listen to her interview on NPR http://www.eatwild.com/. I was so inspired listening to this that Paul and I are traveling to Illinois in 2 weeks to see her speak. 

Yes, Radicchio is bitter but remember that bitter is extremely good for your liver and stimulating digestion.  I think all of our livers could use a little boost this time of year. 

·      Radicchio Risotto: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Radicchio-Risotto-1232

·      Radicchio Pasta Salad: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/rachael-ray/radicchio-pasta-salad-recipe/index.html

·      Grilled Radicchio: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/balsamic-grilled-radicchio-with-shaved-pecorino-232705

·      Baked Radicchio: http://www.lidiasitaly.com/recipes/detail/870

·      Radicchio and Roasted Beet Salad: http://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/farro-radicchio-and-roasted-beet-salad

·       

We really appreciate you and could not do it with out you.

Thank you,

Erica

CSA 11/27

Yes, this picture was taken some time ago but on a day like today I am dreaming of that warm greenhouse and that beautiful butterfly.

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Hello CSA Members,

Holy Cow!  It is so cold out.  Not to state the obvious but the last day at market today was a shockingly cold.  As soon as I put the greens on the table they froze.  I have never seen anything like it. 

Luckily we cleaned the fields as much as possible this weekend in preparation for a freeze.  The hardy greens and roots seem to be standing their ground. 

We will be delivering on our normal schedule on Wednesday. 

This week we ordered in a few items to make your Thanksgiving holiday special. 

From all of us at B & H we wish you and your families a warm and healthy holiday.  Don’t eat too much!

If you have any questions please feel free to email me at bhorganiccsa@gmail.com or call 484-955-1098.  I also am available to receive text messages at this phone number.  I appreciate all feedback and strive to create a healthy customer service experience. 

If you do not see an email from us feel free to check our blog where we will post the same email for you each week. http://bhorganics.blogspot.com/

Don’t forget to pick up your produce!  It may help to set an alarm on your phone. 

You can order by replying to the email or by emailing bhorganicscsa@gmail.com.  The orders must be in by Tuesday at 2 pm.  Processing the orders takes some time so I would appreciate no late orders.

Notes about ordering:

·      We cannot guarantee orders.  We will definitely do our best. 

·      If an item has OR stated in the list than you can either of these items not both. 

·      You may order from the list below.  If you do not choose to order we will select a well-rounded box for you.  You can also order less than 6 items and we will fill in the rest. 

·      If it states behind the item that you may order 2 than this counts as 2 of your 6 items. 

·      We do not split items of make smaller bunches.  All sizes of the items are stated below. 

·      Yes, we definitely make mistakes.  So please let us know so we don’t make them again.  We are striving to provide great customer service. 

This week’s Harvest:

  All shares will choose 6 items from this list.

·      Italian Flat Leaf Parsley – 1/8 lb

·      Garlic – ¼ lb.  Purple Stripe.  This is individual cloves and very sweet.  You may order 2.

·      Lettuce- Romaine or Red Leaf– 1-2 heads. You may order 2

·      Beets- Red or Golden 1.5 lb. No tops.  You may order 2

·      Collards – ¾ lb

·      Daikon Radishes – 1- 2 roots

·      Radicchio, tall or round – 2 heads

·      Carrots – ¾ lb.  No tops.

·      Potatoes, Red – 2 lb OR Potatoes, Fingerling – 1.5 lb OR Yams – 2 lb

·      Cabbage, Savoy – 1 head

·      Pac Choi, baby – ½ lb

·      Watermelon Radishes – 1 lb

·      Winter Squash, Buttercup – 1 fruit

·      Celery Root – 1-2 roots with greens

·      Turnips, baby white – ¾ lb

Extras:

·      Beets- Red or Golden 1.5 lb. No tops.  You must order beets in the list above to get extra beets this week.

What crops we think have a high energy this week:

·      Garlic

·      Daikon

·      Lettuce

·      Beets

·      Radicchio

·      Collards

Recipes:

Here is a repeat from last Thanksgiving.  Some new ideas for your holiday feast.

·      Beet Tartare with Goat Cheese on Arugula http://theshiksa.com/2012/08/17/roasted-beet-tartare/

·      Baked Radicchio & Herbed Goat Cheese Recipe http://whatscookingamerica.net/Appetizers/radicchioGoat.htm

Salads:

·      Orange, Fennel and Beet Salad http://frenchfood.about.com/od/salads/r/ojbeetfennel.htm

·      Radish Salad with Arugula – ( I recommend the Watermelon Radishes for this recipe.  They will definitely impress your guests.) http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2010/05/radish-arugula-salad-recipe.html

Side Dishes:

·      Spicy Brown Sugar Carrots http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/sandra-lee/spicy-brown-sugar-carrots-recipe/index.html

·      Potato and Celery Root Mash http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/potato-celery-root-mash-00000000044532/

·      Collard Greens with Pancetta http://off-my-plate.blogspot.com/2009/09/collard-greens-from-garden-to-plate.html

·      Roasted Fingerling Potatoes http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/tyler-florence/roasted-fingerling-potatoes-with-fresh-herbs-and-garlic-recipe4/index.html

·      Mashed Turnips (This recipe calls for Rutabagas but I use our White Turnips for this.  It is even a lighter texture.  A great alternative to heavy mashed potatoes.) http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/mashed-yellow-turnips-with-crispy-shallots-recipe/index.html

We really appreciate you and could not do it with out you.

Thank you,

Erica