CSA December 3rd

Hello CSA Members,

We hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday. 

We are grateful for all your understanding with last week’s change of delivery.  I am glad it worked out for most of you but sorry we could not get the mushrooms to you earlier. 

This week will be an egg delivery.

The farm seems to have shifted into a completely different mode this week.  With the farmer’s market now going indoors and the mountains of paperwork to do I can feel hibernation setting in.  The seed catalogs are being delivered and we are headed to 2 conferences in the next 2 weeks.  It feels like a farmer’s winter, dreaming and planning for the colorful summer ahead.

We hope you are all getting a little cozy relaxation time as well.  Time to nourish and strengthen you bodies. 

If you are a new member we encourage you to read this whole email to see instructions for ordering.  Please contact us with any questions.  It may seem like a lot to begin with but you will get the hang of it.  We appreciate all communication to make it easier on you.   If you choose not to order or forget to order don’t worry you will still be getting produce.  We will pack a nice box for you each week. 

We will post the weekly email on our blog: http://bhorganics.blogspot.com/ if you cannot check your email or erase the email feels free to check the blog for the week’s list.  The blog can be linked through our website www.bhorganicproduce.com.

Don’t forget to pick up your box.  It may help to set an alarm on your phone.  At the West Reading site we have a family that comes at 9 pm to clean up the porch.  I had to do this so that I can get some sleep.  I am crazy and I would worry about those boxes all night.  Sorry.

The Hartz pick up is at 211 Twin County Rd (RT10) Morgantown, PA from 2 pm till 6 pm.  The West Reading Pick up is at 330 Franklin St 3pm till 8 pm. 

Help:

If you have any questions please feel free to email me at bhorganicscsa@gmail.com or call 484-955-1098.  I also am available to receive text messages at this phone number.

If you are unable to pick up your box please text or call 484-955-1098 or email us. 

When:

You can order by replying to the email or by emailing bhorganicscsa@gmail.com.  The orders must be in by Tuesday at 1 am.  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. 

·      You may order from the list below.  If you do not choose to order we will select a well-rounded box for you.    

·      If it states behind the item that you may order 2 (or 3) than this counts as 2 (or 3) of your items.  If it does not state “You may order 2” behind the item than you can only order 1 of this item. 

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

·      If you see “OR” in an item list you can order one or the other from this list. 

·      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:

 Choose 6 items from this list.

·      Potato –Red Gold or Kennebec (White) – 2 lb. You may order 4.

·      Potato – Fingerling – 1.5 lb. You may order 3.

·      Salad Mix – 7 oz. You may order 2.

·      Spicy Mix – 7 oz. You may order 2.

·      Radishes, Watermelon. – 1.5 lb (May be without greens.) you may order 2.

·      Collard Greens – 3/4 lb.

·      Carrot, orange or mixed colors – 2 lb without greens. You may order 4.

·      Beet- Red or Chioggia (May be without greens.)– 1.5 lb. You may order 4.

·      Braising Mix (A mix of mustard greens in a bunch.) – ¾ lb. You may order 2.

·      Kale - Red Russian or Dino or Curly– ¾ lb.  We can make no promises which kind of kale we will have this week.  It all depends on what looks good on Tuesday. 

·      Cabbage, Savoy or Napa – 1 head.  You may order 2.

·      Rutabaga – 1 root.  Some roots are very large. (We purchased these from a local organic farm.) You may order 3.

·      Radish, Daikon – 1 lb – no greens. 

·      Winter Squash- Red Kuri, or Acorn– 1 fruit. (We purchased these from a local organic farm.) You may order 1.

Extras:   You must order “Extras” however they are free.  All extras are on a first come first serve basis. 

·      Napa Cabbage – 1 head. – You must order Napa in your original order. 

High Energy:

As a farmer, foodie and vegetable lover I am always interested in the “energetics” of food.  Essentially this means when a vegetable is at its “peak.”  If you are stuck in your ways but want to try something new I highly recommend choosing something new from this list.  Here are the foods at their highest energy level this week:

·      Potatoes

·      Spicy Mix

·      Collards

·      All radishes

·      Braising Mix

·      Carrots

·      Beets

·      Cabbage

·      Winter Squash

Recipes:

Braising Mix:

So here I go spouting off about another one of my favorite vegetables to eat.  And it is always the obscure veggies that I love so much.  I have always had a soft spot for the underdogs. 

However, this time I am not talking about something too obscure.  “Braising Mix” is just a horrible name for this mix of greens.  It is called “Braising Mix” in most seed catalogs and the farmers I have worked for in the past used this term as well.  I was thinking I should come up with a sexier description for this wonderful mix of mustard greens that can be eaten raw, “Braised”, steamed or put in soups. 

The reason it is called “Braising Mix” is to denote the tenderness of these greens.  Most mustard greens are very light and tender and do not need to be cooked for very long.  They are so light and tender, in fact that we do not usually take them to market because they wilt so fast on the table and do not look as good and healthy are they really are.  Mustard greens are extremely high in vitamin A, iron, magnesium and calcium. 

We mixed this particular batch of mustard greens our selves with different seeds we have purchased throughout the year.  It consists of: turnip greens, arugula, tatsoi, boc choi, red Russian and curly kale, cabbage, red giant mustard, purple frills mustard, broccoli raab, Komatsuna and mizuna. 

So you might say “Isn’t this the spicy mix but bigger?”  And you would be correct.  Yes, bigger and better.  The mustard greens are great in salads because they have much more flavor than lettuce.  But they are also great when cooked just slightly. 

Here are some of our recommendations.

·      My favorite way to eat these greens is with a brothy soup.  I don’t cook the greens.  I just pour the hot soup over them or add the greens to the hot broth.  You can do fish, beef, chicken or miso for the broth: http://www.vietworldkitchen.com/blog/2013/05/mustard-greens-tofu-and-chicken-soup-recipe-canh-cai-dau-hu.html

·      Tofu Curry with Mustard Greens: http://www.foodrepublic.com/2014/06/16/kitchen-afro-vegan-tofu-curry-mustard-greens-recip

·      Massaged Mustard Green Salad: http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/mustard_greens_salad.html

·      We like to make a salad with the Mustard greens and add a hot bacon or hot mushroom dressing to the greens.  We do a dressing exactly like this one and then we heat it slightly before pouring over the greens: http://www.annies-eats.com/2011/03/31/mixed-greens-with-dijon-vinaigrette-and-roasted-portabellos/

·      And of course when all else fails you can always make a pesto out of it: http://nourishedkitchen.com/spicy-mustard-green-pesto/

Enjoy!

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

Thank you,

Erica

CSA 11/19

Hello CSA Members,

We are sending warm wishes to you all. 

In preparation for your Thanksgiving feasts we hope to have a similar list next week however, we may not have garlic or turnips, and we are planning to have Brussels sprouts and sweet potatoes. 

In case you have not yet heard the great news, the West Reading Farmer’s Market is beginning a Winter Session this season.  It will be every other week on Saturdays inside at the VF Outlets outside of Reading China and Glass.  This is a brand new development and we are very excited.  The first indoor Saturday market will be November 29^th. 

We have been practicing the last few years for year-round harvesting and farming.  It has its challenges but I truly love experiencing all the seasons.  (Hot summers are still my favorite.)  But I love seeing the change in colors and flavors of all the crops.  This weekend’s harvest was astonishing to taste all the unique flavors. 

This time of year lettuce becomes bitter but the other crops become extremely sweet.  You may not even recognize the flavor of these crops: cabbage, carrots, radishes, turnips, collards and kale. 

If you are a new member we encourage you to read this whole email to see instructions for ordering.  Please contact us with any questions.  It may seem like a lot to begin with but you will get the hang of it.  We appreciate all communication to make it easier on you.   If you choose not to order or forget to order don’t worry you will still be getting produce.  We will pack a nice box for you each week. 

We will post the weekly email on our blog: http://bhorganics.blogspot.com/ if you cannot check your email or erase the email feels free to check the blog for the week’s list.  The blog can be linked through our website www.bhorganicproduce.com.

Don’t forget to pick up your box.  It may help to set an alarm on your phone.  At the West Reading site we have a family that comes at 9 pm to clean up the porch.  I had to do this so that I can get some sleep.  I am crazy and I would worry about those boxes all night.  Sorry.

The Hartz pick up is at 211 Twin County Rd (RT10) Morgantown, PA from 2 pm till 6 pm.  The West Reading Pick up is at 330 Franklin St 3pm till 8 pm. 

Help:

If you have any questions please feel free to email me at bhorganicscsa@gmail.com or call 484-955-1098.  I also am available to receive text messages at this phone number.

If you are unable to pick up your box please text or call 484-955-1098 or email us. 

When:

You can order by replying to the email or by emailing bhorganicscsa@gmail.com.  The orders must be in by Tuesday at 1 am.  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. 

·      You may order from the list below.  If you do not choose to order we will select a well-rounded box for you.    

·      If it states behind the item that you may order 2 (or 3) than this counts as 2 (or 3) of your items.  If it does not state “You may order 2” behind the item than you can only order 1 of this item. 

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

·      If you see “OR” in an item list you can order one or the other from this list. 

·      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:

 Choose 6 items from this list.

·      Parsley, Flat Leaf – 2 oz. You may order 4.

·      Potato –Red Gold or Kennebec (White) – 2 lb. You may order 4.

·      Potato – Fingerling – 1.5 lb

·      Salad Mix – 7 oz. You may order 2.

·      Spinach – 8 oz.

·      Dandelion – 8 oz. You may order 4.

·      Radishes, Watermelon. – 1.5 lb you may order 2.

·      Collard Greens – 3/4 lb. You may order 2.

·      Carrot, orange or mixed colors – 2 lb without greens. You may order 4.

·      Beet- Red (May be without greens.)– 1.5 lb. You may order 2.

·      Braising Mix (A mix of mustard greens in a bunch.) – ¾ lb. You may order 3.

·      Kale - Red Russian or Dino – ¾ lb. You may order 3.

·      Cabbage, Green – 1 head.  You may order 2.

·      Radish, French Breakfast or Purple Plum (a small radish)– ¾ lb

·      Rutabaga – 1 root.  Some roots are very large. (We purchased these from a local organic farm.) You may order 3.

·      Radish, Daikon – 1 root – no greens. 

·      Garlic – ¼ lb

·      Winter Squash- Butternut or Delicata – 1-2 fruits depending on size.

·      Turnips, White – ¾ lb

Extras:   You must order “Extras” however they are free.  All extras are on a first come first serve basis. 

·      Parsley, Flat Leaf – 2 oz. You may order 2.

·      Watermelon Radish – 1.5 lb. You must order watermelon radish in your regular order.  You may order 2.

·      Collards – ¾ lb.  You may order 2 but you must order collards in your original order. 

High Energy:

As a farmer, foodie and vegetable lover I am always interested in the “energetics” of food.  Essentially this means when a vegetable is at its “peak.”  If you are stuck in your ways but want to try something new I highly recommend choosing something new from this list.  Here are the foods at their highest energy level this week:

·      Parsley

·      Potatoes

·      Salad Mix

·      Collards

·      All radishes

·      Braising Mix

·      Carrots

·      Beets

·      Cabbage

Recipes:

Carrots:

It is hard to imagine that I would have any new information to share with you about carrots.  We all know they are high in antioxidants and beta-carotene.  They get much sweeter after a frost.  They are a great source of fiber.  What else? 

Did you know that carrots could be stored for up to 4 months?  The greens need to be removed and they should be stored at 32-35 degrees with a bit of humidity.  We store them in or refrigerator in glass or plastic containers.  Who knows how long the carrots from California are stored?  In the debate of local versus freshness I always go for local.  I would rather have delicious stored carrots from my local organic farmer than carrots from California that taste like cardboard.  Not to mention that it supports my local economy and the preservation of local farms. 

The carrots we are harvesting for the CSA are still coming out of the ground.  We try to leave them in the ground as long as possible for maximum flavor.  We remove the greens to help speed the washing process. 

·      Carrot Ribbon Salad: http://www.bhg.com/recipe/carrot-ribbon-salad-1/

·      Baked Carrot Bacon: http://www.meettheshannons.com/baked-carrot-bacon/

·      Fermented Carrots with Ginger: http://stupideasypaleo.com/2013/07/08/how-to-guide-fermented-ginger-carrots/

·      Curried Carrot Soup: http://www.marthastewart.com/274839/carrot-recipes/@center/276955/seasonal-produce-recipe-guide#336733

·      Gluten Free Carrot Cake: http://divascancook.com/best-gluten-free-carrot-cake-recipe-moist-fluffy/

Enjoy!

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

Thank you,

Erica

B & H Late Season CSA 11/5

Hello CSA Members,

Our first week of deliveries went well last week.  We thank you all for getting used to a new system and learning new things.

There will not be an egg share this week.  Eggs will be delivered every other week so look for them again on November 9^th.  Don’t forget to look for your mushrooms and pantry items this week.  And as always don’t forget to pick up your box. 

We are feeling the fall weather at the farm and working diligently to clean out the fields.  As farmers we are always looking ahead about 3 months.  Currently my mind is focused on February.  You may be encouraged to know that we used the money from the fall CSA to purchase a greenhouse to start all the seedlings for the farm.  The past 2 years I rented a greenhouse and before that I spent several years creating makeshift rooms for growing.  I have needed this greenhouse since the beginning and now I can see it happening.  We will be working hard this winter constructing the house and with the help of a CSA member we will be heating the house with radiant heat tables, which will be more energy efficient than the standard forced air.  We have a lot of work ahead of us but we are already excited for 2015. 

If you are a new member we encourage you to read this whole email to see instructions for ordering.  Please contact us with any questions.  It may seem like a lot to begin with but you will get the hang of it.  We appreciate all communication to make it easier on you.   If you choose not to order or forget to order don’t worry you will still be getting produce.  We will pack a nice box for you each week. 

We will post the weekly email on our blog: http://bhorganics.blogspot.com/ if you cannot check your email or erase the email feels free to check the blog for the week’s list.  The blog can be linked through our website www.bhorganicproduce.com.

Don’t forget to pick up your box.  It may help to set an alarm on your phone.  At the West Reading site we have a family that comes at 9 pm to clean up the porch.  I had to do this so that I can get some sleep.  I am crazy and I would worry about those boxes all night.  Sorry.

The Hartz pick up is at 211 Twin County Rd (RT10) Morgantown, PA from 2 pm till 6 pm.  The West Reading Pick up is at 330 Franklin St 3pm till 8 pm. 

Help:

If you have any questions please feel free to email me at bhorganicscsa@gmail.com or call 484-955-1098.  I also am available to receive text messages at this phone number.

If you are unable to pick up your box please text or call 484-955-1098 or email us. 

When:

You can order by replying to the email or by emailing bhorganicscsa@gmail.com.  The orders must be in by Tuesday at 1 am.  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. 

·      You may order from the list below.  If you do not choose to order we will select a well-rounded box for you.    

·      If it states behind the item that you may order 2 (or 3) than this counts as 2 (or 3) of your items.  If it does not state “You may order 2” behind the item than you can only order 1 of this item. 

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

·      If you see “OR” in an item list you can order one or the other from this list. 

·      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:

 Choose 6 items from this list.

·      Lettuce, Butter head – 2 - 3 small heads.

·      Swiss Chard, small and baby leaves –3/4 lb bag.

·      Parsley, Flat Leaf – 2 oz. You may order 4.

·      Potato – Yukon Gold, Red Gold or Kennebec (White) – 2 lb. You may order 4.

·      Salad Mix – 7 oz.

·      Spinach – 8 oz.

·      Dandelion – 8 oz. You may order 4.

·      Radishes, Watermelon. – 1.5 lb you may order 2.

·      Collard Greens – 3/4 lb. You may order 2.

·      Carrot, orange or mixed colors – 2 lb without greens. You may order 4.

·      Beet- Red, Golden or Chioggia– 1.5 lb. You may order 2.

·      Komatsuna – ¾ lb. You may order 3.

·      Kale - Red Russian – ¾ lb. You may order 3.

·      Cabbage, Green – 1 head.  You may order 2.

·      Radish, French Breakfast (a small radish)– ¾ lb

·      Rutabaga – 1 root.  Some roots are very large. (We purchased these from a local organic farm.) You may order 3.

·      Radish, Daikon – 1 root – no greens. 

·      Garlic – ¼ lb

·      Winter Squash- Butternut, Sweet Dumpling or Delicata – 1-2 fruits

Extras:   You must order “Extras” however they are free.  All extras are on a first come first serve basis. 

·      Parsley, Flat Leaf – 2 oz. You may order 2.

·      Dandelion – 8 oz. You may order 2.

·      Watermelon Radish – 1.5 lb. You must order watermelon radish in your regular order.  You may order 2.

·      Collards – ¾ lb.  You may order 2 but you must order collards in your original order. 

High Energy:

As a farmer, foodie and vegetable lover I am always interested in the “energetics” of food.  Essentially this means when a vegetable is at its “peak.”  If you are stuck in your ways but want to try something new I highly recommend choosing something new from this list.  Here are the foods at their highest energy level this week:

·      Lettuce

·      Parsley

·      Potatoes

·      Salad Mix

·      Dandelion

·      Collards

·      All radishes

·      Komatsuna

·      Carrots

·      Beets

·      Spinach

·      Cabbage

Recipes:

Radishes:

If you are a returning member you have heard me wax poetic about radishes many times.  It is because when they grow they are all ready at the same time and it is because they grow really fast.  However, it is also because I do truly love them and feel they are under appreciated.  Our radish selection is top notch right now and they are sweet and a bit spicy.  The frost has a tendency to increase the sugar in most root vegetables and radishes are not exception.  Radishes will store really well and retain their crunch.  I love foods with crunch!  Radishes are great raw in salads or as a salad but they are amazing roasted in combination with other root vegetables as well as in soups, stews and mashed. 

This week we have:

French Breakfast Radishes – small red and white cylindrical radishes.

Daikon – Long white radishes

Watermelon – named for their color.  They are white and slightly green on the outside but hot pink on the inside!

Radishes are high in potassium, which is good for helping us regulate body temperature.  Radishes are known to remove stagnation from the body and clean out mucus.  Which is a great thing for winter colds and the flu. 

If you are concerned about the spicy quality of a radish I highly recommend shredding them or cooking them. 

And don’t forget you can eat the greens too!!! The stems tend to be tough but the leaves are very closely related to arugula and mustard greens.  They can be eaten raw or sautéed.

·      Seared Scallops with Avocado and Daikon: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Seared-Scallops-with-Avocado-and-Daikon-51214680

·      Daikon, Carrot and Broccoli Slaw: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Daikon-Carrot-and-Broccoli-Slaw-240679

·      A slightly new twist on Tartar sauce: Daikon Radish Remoulade: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Daikon-Radish-Remoulade-11793

·      I love mixing radishes with a strong cheese like feta: http://www.feastie.com/recipe/healthy-nibbles-bits/colorful-spring-salad-radishes-beets

·      Daikon Tofu??????????????? http://www.bonappetit.com/restaurants-travel/article/three-ways-chefs-are-cooking-radishes-from-simple-buttered-breakfast-radishes-to-sauteed-watermelon-radishes

·       

Enjoy!

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

Thank you,

Erica