THE BEET: Volume 15; Issue 22
FINAL PICK UP TONIGHT
FULL SHARE & YELLOW HALF SHARE
Pick up today: 5pm - 7:30pm at PS 56 on the corner of Gates and Downing
Dear Clinton Hill CSA members,
As our 15th season comes to an end, we'd like to thank you for being a part of our Clinton Hill CSA community. From your enthusiasm and anticipation at the start of the season to your cheerful volunteer shifts to your astonishing generosity in the wake of the fruit share difficulties, we've appreciated everything you've given us this year. In a world of big media, big box stores, and large corporations, the CSA is the essence of small and personal—or, at least, we hope it is. Whether you're a new member trying out the CSA or part of our longstanding crew, we're so happy you've shared the season with us, and we hope to see you again next spring. In the meantime, check out our winter share and see if it's for you, and enjoy the very last distribution of our 2016 season!
Best wishes,
The Clinton Hill CSA Core
This Week's Share
- Yellow or red onions and
- Leeks
- Sweet potatoes
- ‘Delicata’ squashes
- Choice of: sage, lemongrass and Rosemary
- Chiles
- Spinach and a lettuce mix
- Choices of two bunches of greens: kale, choy, chard, escarole, collards and a mustard mix
Season's first snowfall at Windflower Farm - October 27th
From Windflower Farm
As you already know, this week’s delivery is the last of our ‘summer’ season. On behalf of our staff and the farmers we work with to deliver fruit and egg shares, Jan and I would like to express our thanks to all of you for your membership in the Windflower Farm community. Your purchase of a share in our farm’s 2016 vegetable and flower harvest made possible the employment of some 18 people grateful for the good work of growing healthy food in a sustainable way. We appreciate that you have shared in the adventure of navigating a season long on hot weather and short on rainfall. As is the case every year, there were successes and failures, too many of some things, and too few of others. That you are with us, rooting for us, and that as shareholders you have “skin in the game,” adds immeasurably to the meaning of our labors. We hope you have enjoyed your shares of vegetables, cut flowers, fruits, and eggs and your connection to our farm, and we hope to see you again next year.
We value your thoughts and ask that you provide us with your responses to our end-of-season survey. It should be available midweek next week.
The CSA model continues to thrive because of the active participation of people in their food system. That includes all of you, of course, but there is a special group of you who make a substantially extra effort. In each neighborhood where we deliver, we work with a “core group” of your fellow shareholders who volunteer to organize a school, church, garden or stretch of sidewalk into a weekly distribution site. They promote the CSA, “sell” shares, write newsletters, gather recipes, sort out site logistics, coordinate volunteers, arrange special events and maintain a constant dialog with the farm. They are certainly underpaid, but they are not underappreciated. Our small farm would not exist without their efforts. To them, we say, thank you, thank you, thank you!
This need not be goodbye - winter shares are still available! - but if it is, we’d like to extend our warmest wishes for the season.
Our very best regards, Ted and Jan
Winter Share Sign-Up!
The winter share is comprised of four once-a-month deliveries of our stored squashes, onions, leeks, carrots, beets, turnips, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and fresh salad greens from our greenhouses, along with apples, pears and either cider or jam. We hope you’ll join us!
Delicata Squash: Your new favorite winter squash
Delicata squash are my favorite winter squash. Their flavor is smooth and slightly sweet. They only get better when roasted, and best of all- you can eat the skin! No peeling involved! To clean, all you have to do is wash & remove the seeds. Delicata squash are native to North America- originally cultivated by Native Americans. They are rich in beta-carotene, and a good source of fiber, potassium, vitamins C & B, magnesium & manganese.
Here's a variety of ways to try them, if you haven't all ready.
In a Quiche! Tho this recipe calls for roasted butternut, delicata can easily be subbed. I have put it in quiche many times for a sweeter twist on my savory breakfast pie. Taste and Tell Quiche.
Chickpeas with Delicata Squash, Kale and Coconut milk. Sauteed and served over brown rice or farrow for a complete and healthy dinner. From Healthy Green Kitchen
Italian Style- cut in half and baked with cream and parmigiano cheese.
Pan-Asian Style; Miso Sesame Winter Squash. From one of my favorite cooking blogs; 101 Cookbooks.
Sweet Potato Breakfast Bread! Do yourself a favor, turn the oven on and make yourself a delicious loaf. While baking it will make the whole apartment smell good, and when it's done- it will fly off the cutting board. This bread goes well with all meals- especially breakfast and second breakfast.