June twenty sixth, 2023 | Monroe Natural Farms

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Expensive Farm Mates,

    Welcome to the third week of CSA!  This week, you’ll be receiving sugar snap peas, rainbow chard, garlic, garlic scapes, summer season squash, pickling cucumbers, Hakurei turnips, and fennel.  You possibly can eat each the bulb and the fronds or greens of fennel.  The fronds can be utilized in salads comparable to coleslaw or potato salad to provide it a kick.  You too can dry them and use them as a pot herb. Have in mind, if we provide the greens to any plant, they are going to be edible and can be utilized as an herb or cooked as a inexperienced.  Fennel could be very form on the stomach.   

July 4^th is a Tuesday this yr.  Not this week, however subsequent week we are going to transfer all Tuesday distribution to Monday, July 3^rd.  Join together with your distribution facilities in case you have questions on this. 

Funds due July 1^st for these of you who’ve solely paid your down cost.  When you’ve got a singular cost plan that we’ve agreed on, proceed with that!  For everybody else, the rest of your complete is due both in full on July 1^st or in two funds on July 1^st and September 1^st.  Thanks for being well timed together with your funds. 

A observe on beginnings: We all know it might appear odd once we offer you one or a pair small pickling cucumbers.  Consider them as a chew of what’s to return once we can actually load you up.  We really feel that it’s higher than no cucumbers in any respect.  Bear in mind, we frequently discover ourselves in a pickle (haha) when now we have a small quantity of produce to unfold out over tons of of CSA shares.  It’s not a easy process.  We do an immense quantity of planning to verify we get you every thing we’re producing and that you’re our precedence.  So, whereas one pickle could appear ridiculous to you, to us that one measly pickle is a literal extension of our hearts and farm to you.  Our crops are simply beginning to produce proper now.  Chances are you’ll not have seen, however most different farms aren’t but producing summer season squash not to mention cucumbers out within the area.  To be producing these crops with the spring we had has amazed us.  We’re so grateful that we will distribute these things to you and that now we have not been destroyed by the climate.   

Enjoyable Truth:  Chard is mainly the identical plant as a beet besides bred for his or her above floor elements whereas beets are bred for his or her underground elements!  A number of crops can come from one seed.  For all the guy plant nerds on the market, the seeds of chard (and beets) are often called polyembryonic.

Fundamental Canning Directions:  Since we’re getting nearer to full on pickle season, and we’re certain we are going to get sufficient fruit to can in some unspecified time in the future within the season, we thought we’d share these tried-and-true household ideas with you. 

Listed here are a few of our fundamental canning steps for the Entrance Vary:

1.  Sterilize jars and lids.  Preserve scorching whereas filling different jars (the dishwasher is superior for this).
2. Pack produce tightly whereas jars are scorching.
3. Add scorching brine/syrup & cowl to half inch from high of jar.
4. Add lid and rim, tighten and set into canner.
5. Scorching water bathtub for 15 min. plus 5 min. for each 5000 toes above sea stage.  We sit at simply over 4800 toes, in order that makes our canning timer set at 20 minutes.

These steps have served us effectively for a few years.  Jacquie’s mom and grandmother used the identical guidelines, and we by no means had an issue with any of our canned items!  Canning might be very therapeutic if you may get used to the warmth.  You understand the saying, “For those who can’t stand the warmth, get out of the kitchen!”  Good luck!

SHAVED FENNEL, MUSHROOM AND PARMESAN SALAD

Servings: 4                                                                                                                    Writer: Alice Waters

Elements:

• 2 small /1 medium or giant, fennel bulb
• 3 giant, white mushrooms
• 1/2 contemporary lemon
• Parmigiano Reggiano cheese (sub vegan cheese)
• 4 tablespoons olive oil
• salt and pepper
• Instructions:

Wash and trim fennel bulbs – lower away feathery tops and root finish. For those who can solely discover giant bulbs, take away the powerful internal core on the basis finish. Save the fronds for adornment.  Utilizing a vegetable slicer or mandolin slicer, slice the fennel as thinly as attainable and scatter over a plate or platter.  Drizzle with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and season with salt and pepper.  Shave mushrooms into paper skinny slices and scatter over fennel.  Season with extra salt and pepper, a squeeze of lemon juice and the remaining olive oil.  With a cheese slicer or vegetable peeler, shave about 30 skinny slivers of Parmesan on high of the fennel and mushrooms. Don’t toss!  Utilizing scissors, enhance with chopped fennel fronds.  Serve instantly.

Simplicity (How comfortable is the little Stone)

Emily Dickinson

How comfortable is the little Stone

That rambles within the Street alone,

And doesn’t care about Careers

And Exigencies by no means fears

Whose Coat of elemental Brown

A passing Universe placed on,

And unbiased because the Solar

Associates or glows alone,

Fulfilling absolute Decree

In informal simplicity

With gratitude,

Kyle, Sam, Jacquie, Jerry, Linda & The Crew