The 2010 CSA season is underway!  Compared to the rains of last spring, this year’s mix of sun and rain has been simply wonderful.  The veggies are growing great, and the salad and cooking greens that we always start the season with are as satisfying and delicious a first harvest as ever.

Our awesome June crew around the salad-mixing pool (yes, that is your salad in there!). We harvest separately each component of the mix then sort, wash, and spin it dry, then mix it all together in this pool, then bag it up for you! L to R is Margo, Laurie, Bill, Emma, Bob, Hanni, and Erin with the salad mix on the first CSA harvest day of the year.

We’ve had a busy crew here at the farm this spring.  We hope you’ll get a chance to meet Laurie and Hanni, our full-season apprentices, as well as Emma and Erin, who will be here through August, and Margo, the volunteer who squeezed in at the last minute!  They’ve been ceaselessly transplanting, weeding, harvesting, and being the human meals for black flies.  This CSA would not be possible without them, so make sure to thank them if you see them around!

If you receive your share via a home or workplace delivery, remember to bring your cloth bag back every week.  And remember that you won’t be getting your own bag back, most likely.  Think of it as canvas bag roulette…very exciting.

We love to hear feedback on how the CSA is working for you, and what you think of the cheese and mushrooms this year.  I am super easy to reach, especially by email, so please contact me with any questions, scheduling concerns, or anything else.

And finally… what is that crazy looking veggie in your first week’s share?!  We know that as many of you have become fans of kohlrabi over the years as have come to dread it.  It will only make an appearance in your share a couple of times this year (it’s a quick growing veggie, so is a good way to diversify the early, greens-heavy weeks).  It won’t be around much, though, so peel it and munch away — part broccoli, part apple, all crunch!

Enjoy wonderful meals and have a great week!

Reba and the HCF crew

Week 1 veggies:  Lacinato Kale, Mesclun Mix, Kohlrabi, Broccoli, Swiss Chard

This week’s recipes:  Our Favorite Balsamic Vinaigrette, Swiss Chard Pie, Everyone’s Favorite Kale

Storage tips for Kale, Chard, and all other leafy greens:

All leafy greens will quickly wilt if exposed to the air.  The best way to store them is to place them in a plastic bag, and store them in the crisper drawer of your fridge (even better if you wrap them in a damp paper towel first, but not a necessary step).
The Evert-Fresh green produce storage bags, for sale at the co-ops, also do a great job at keeping veggies fresh.

Need Extra Inspiration in the Kitchen?
These cookbooks are consulted weekly, if not daily, in our kitchen.

How to Cook Everything Vegetarian
By Mark Bittman
An incredible cookbook that we turn to daily.

Vegetarian Planet and
Entertaining for a Veggie Planet
by Didi Emmons
her cookbooks are like magic  — every single recipe is delicious!

Farmer John’s Cookbook:the real dirt on vegetables
By Farmer John Peterson and
Angelic Organics
Organized by veggie especially for CSA members

From Asparagus to Zucchini: a guide to cooking farm-fresh seasonal produce
By the Madison Area CSA coalition

Greens, Glorious Greens!
By Johnna Albi and Catherine Walthers
The name says it all…

Also, at http://www.epicurious.com, like all the above cookbooks, you can look up any
specific vegetable and create your meal around the recipe that pops up!