Harvest Newsletter

Greetings from the Garden! This week's CSA box has salad and braising greens, shallots, kohlrabi, celeriac, carrots, potatoes and the first of the parsnips!

Field Notes.  Ken had expected to harvest from the mobile high tunnel this week, but the cooler nights have slowed everything down.  Spring is pretty unpredictable - one year 80's in March, one year snow and cold.  So we roll with the weather and work in all those windows of opportunity as they pop open.

As much as Ken gets ready ahead of a job, and keeps equipment in good repair,  once the spring weather hits he is incredibly busy - planting, transplanting, trimming apple trees, making compost for the next year, etc

And then there are those unforeseen events - like coming home and finding Oscar in the irrigation pond stuck in ice on Monday.  Go back a few blog entries if you want the whole story.  He is fine and we are recovering as well

From the Kitchen.  Parsnips!  These white roots that are related to carrots and dill are sweet after a frost and even sweeter if left in the soil and dug in spring.  They are sometimes found in stores - often waxed.  Few farmers we know grow them because their seeds are a challenge to germinate, they require the labor of thinning like carrots, and they take up garden space for such a long period of time.  But when one wants to eat local and seasonally, these spring dug parsnips are a real treat!  I usually scrub, parboil or steam 3 - 5 minutes, drain and saute in a skillet with butter just to the point when they start to caramelize.  Parsnips also make a great pie - Ken uses a squash or pumpkin pie recipe, but uses less sugar.  I like to make cream potato and parsnip soup with just a pinch of curry.

Goose egg season has started.  This seasonal treat comes around each spring.  Goose eggs are large - about the size of three large chicken eggs.  They are particularly good for smooth custards, light cakes and  airy omelettes.  We have these available for sale - usually just into May.

PLEASE NOTE!  This is the last week of our 2014 - 5 season.  Our next season starts next week on April 1st (no fooling).  We are no longer delivering vegetables.  St Croix Falls has organized a group pickup at farm, but no one in Amery has, so this is the last box we are delivering to Amery. 

'Til Next Week, Judith