Austin Area 2018 Spring & Summer Farm Share/CSA – Week 10

Posted on June 6, 2018 by Mark

We’re grateful for the inch of rain earlier this week and for the new calves and piglets that continue to thrive.  We continue successive planting this week for summer and early fall shares.  Thank you members for your support this year!

Here’s what’s expected in our Week 10 shares:
(Shares may vary slightly depending on field/garden conditions)

Half Share: Peppers, Tomatoes, Squash, Carrots (double portion). Swiss Chard, Beets, Herb, Onion

Full Share: Peppers, Tomatoes, Squash, Melon, Carrots (double portion). Swiss Chard, Beets, Herb, Onion, Baby Fennel, Kale, Cabbage

Blessing Falls Full Share, Spring week 10 including carrots, kale, tomatoes, chard, peppers, beets, rosemary, baby fennel, onion, squash, melon, cabbage

Recipe

Here’s a past recipe using the squash and onion in this weeks share: Creamy Squash with Bacon

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Austin Area 2018 Spring Farm Share/CSA – Week 9

Posted on May 31, 2018 by Mark

The blackberry harvest is winding down as the tomatoes are starting to ripen.  With hot and dry conditions the transition to summer is well underway.

In other farm news, we’re harvesting and threshing the grain from our heritage wheat experiment.  And we had our first farm piglets born this weekend!  The birth went very smooth for this first time mother and the now 5-day old piglets continue to thrive.

10 piglets, 1 day old with first time mother.

Here’s what’s expected in our Spring week 9 shares:
(Shares may vary slightly depending on field/garden conditions)

Half Share: Basil, Carrots(double portion), Kale, Chard, Beets, Onion, Squash, Blackberries, Cucumber

Full Share: Basil, Carrots(double portion), Kale, Chard, Beets, Onion, Squash, Blackberries, Fennel, Cabbage, Tomatoes, 3 Cucumbers, Dill

Blessing Falls Full Share, Spring week 9 (clockwise from top left): squash, carrots, shallots, fennel, blackberries, basil, kale, dill, swiss chard, cucumber, spaghetti squash, beets, cabbage, onion (center)

Recipe

Use your share’s onion, squash, tomato, basil, and chard in this favorite from last year: Summer Turkey Pasta.   Many more ideas on our Recipe page.

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Austin Area 2018 Spring Farm Share/CSA – Week 8

Posted on May 25, 2018 by Mark

Here’s what’s expected in our Spring week 8 shares:
(Shares may vary slightly depending on field/garden conditions)

Half Share: Cabbage, Squash, Cucumber, Chard, Beets, Carrots, Onion, Rosemary, Blackberries

Full Share: Cabbage, Squash, 3 Cucumbers, Chard, Beets, Carrots (double portion), Onion, Rosemary, Blackberries, Basil, Mizuna, Kale

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Austin Area 2018 Spring Farm Share/CSA – Week 7

Posted on May 16, 2018 by Mark

This week the blackberry harvest is peaking so we expect all shares to have berries.  Our onions are also ready.  As noted last week, we harvested all the Chinese cabbage earlier than expected due to increasing bug problems.  So shares had an extra portion of those last week instead of having some this week too.

We continue to prepare for summer with another succession of summer and winter squash, cucumbers, melons, and tomatoes planted this week.  If you missed our Spring Farm tour last Saturday, here are the highlights.

Here’s what’s expected in our Spring week 7 shares:
(Shares may vary slightly depending on field/garden conditions)

Half Share: Blackberries, Carrots, Chard (double portion), Basil, Beets, Kale, Onions

Full Share: Blackberries, Carrots (double portion), Chard (double portion), Basil, Beets (double portion), Kale, Onions, Beans or Mizuna, Fennel, Squash, Dill

check back for a photo later this week as we harvest and pack shares

Recipe

Blackberry and Basil Lemonade

Ingredients
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon water
10 blackberries
Juice of 1 lemon
4 fresh basil leaves
Ice
1 cup club soda (8 oz)

Steps
1. In cocktail shaker, place sugar and water; stir until sugar is dissolved.
2. Cut 8 of the blackberries into quarters; add to shaker. Add lemon juice and 2 of the basil leaves. Fill shaker with ice. Cover tightly with shaker lid; shake vigorously.
3. Strain mixture into 2 cocktail glasses filled with ice. Top each glass with 1/2 cup club soda. Garnish each with 1 whole blackberry and 1 basil leaf. Serve immediately.

Remember also the many other recipe ideas from past seasons, as well.

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Spring Farm Tour

Posted on May 16, 2018 by Mark

We invited folks out last Saturday to see the farm and learn about how we take care of our land, gardens, and animals.  We started at the main garden where grows most of the produce for our Spring/Summer CSA Farmshare.  Then stopped by the pigs, orchard, and asparagus patch on our way to the chickens and heritage wheat. Our Jersey milk cow and calf were the next stop and then on to the main pastures, through the woods to the beef herds.  On return, everyone enjoyed a few berries right off the vine in our blackberry patch.  And finally, we all sampled cold, fresh raw whole milk from our Jersey cow.

If you missed it, make plans to join us next time!  Here are a few photos.

Main Garden

Orchard

Family friendly laying hens!

Young beef cattle – 1 and 2 year olds

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Austin Area 2018 Spring Farm Share/CSA – Week 6

Posted on May 9, 2018 by Mark

Blackberries are starting to ripen and we should have enough for all Full shares this week. Others will get berries next week, though we hope there will be enough for everyone in week 7.

Our Spring Farm Tour is scheduled for Saturday, May 12.  Contact us for more details if you’d like to come.

Here’s what’s expected in our Spring week 6 shares:
(Shares may vary slightly depending on field/garden conditions)

note at harvest: We harvested all the Chinese Cabbage this week to stay ahead of bugs

Half Share: Carrots, Chard, Basil, Beets (double portion), Squash or broccoli greens, Onions, Pea tendrils, Chinese Cabbage (double)

Full Share: Carrots (double portion), Chard (double portion), Basil, Beets (double portion), Beans, Squash or broccoli greens, Onions, Pea tendrils, Chinese cabbage (double), Kale, Blackberries

Blessing Falls Full Share, Spring week 6: kale, chard, Chinese cabbage, pea tendrils, carrots, beets, basil, beans, blackberries, squash

Recipe

This recipe from past seasons works well with this week’s share:

Baby Beet and Carrot Salad with Herbed Yogurt Ranch

Remember also the many other recipe ideas from past seasons, as well.

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Austin Area 2018 Spring Farm Share/CSA – Week 5

Posted on May 2, 2018 by Mark

Here’s what’s expected in our Spring week 5 shares:
(Shares may vary slightly depending on field/garden conditions)

Half Share: Red onion, Lettuce, Chard, Mizuna, Broccoli Greens, Beets, Carrots, Herb

Full Share: Red onion, Lettuce, Chard (double portion), Mizuna or Pak Choy, Broccoli Greens, Beets (double portion), Carrots, Herb, Kale, Squash, Spinach

Blessing Falls Full Share, Spring week 5: kale, spinach, chard, lettuce, red onion, squash, beets, carrots, mizuna, broccoli greens, dill

Blackberries are just starting to ripen so we expect enough for some or most shares next week!

Recipe

Try roasting your carrots and beets with olive oil and dill! This is our favorite way to eat these young veggies.  Remember also the dozens of recipe ideas from past seasons, as well.

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