Farm Message for Saturday, January 30, 2010

Star Hollow Farm News

For the week preceding Saturday, January 30, 2010

Hi folks,

Well, it's been a quiet week at Star Hollow, my home farm. Actually, it's quiet now, but it wasn't 4 or 5 nights ago when a day's rain caused the six-inch layer of ice over the creek to break up and be heaved up along the sides. There it sat for several days until this Monday evening, when it rained and rained again, about 2 to 3 inches all through the night. As the ground was already saturated, it all ran off into the creek. We awoke Tuesday morning to a torrent just a foot or so shy of coming into our road and fields. Chris had an appointment at the vet's for our cat, which she got out to, but within an hour of her leaving our road looked more like a canal. She came back as far as the mailbox by noon, then Sam and I hiked out to meet her and carry groceries in, ¾ mile across the fields. By evening the water was back mostly where it belongs, and I spent several hours today regrading the road. Ah, country living!

Winter Schedule (NOTE: deliveries are every other week):

Delivery dates remaining: Jan. 30. Feb. 13 & 27. Mar. 13 & 27. Orders are placed on the Wednesdays prior to delivery. Mark your calendars, and remember to order for two weeks instead of just one. And note that during these winter months, the Adams Morgan order pick-up hours are changed to 10 AM until 1 PM.

Storing your produce: We've been meaning to prepare a section for you with the full rundown on how to store your produce (especially since it's the storage time of year!). For me to start from scratch, however, would be a pretty big job, so I've got a plan: give you some general guidelines, then list several online references for you to check out, and you can print out the one you like. How's that?

Something to keep in mind is that – as with anything – there are differing opinions on some items. We have always kept potatoes in the cooler (our “big” 'fridge), though many say not to. They usually last 6-7 months. That seems pretty good to me. We also refrigerate onions, but the key there is aeration. Point: use these notes and references as guidelines, but most are not “hard and fast” rules. Ask me at the truck if you have a particular concern.

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Leafy greens: The trick here is to keep them cold (refrigerated) and keep them from drying out (plastic bag). They want to be humidified, but not dripping wet.
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Root veggies: Assuming you don't have a root cellar, the 'fridge is the place for your roots. (Some people argue that it's too cold for spuds, but that's where we keep ours, all winter long, so it makes sense for you to keep potatoes from us in your 'fridge too.) Most roots will eventually dry out in the 'fridge, which is why the crisper is a good place for them, away from the fan.
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Herbs: We pack herbs in plastic bags, and if you want to keep them fresh, you should keep them there also. For most, we recommend keeping them in the 'fridge, for longest shelf-life. (Basil also, but you have to be careful, as the 'fridge is colder than it really likes.) If you want to dry them, just lay them out on a plate or rack in the kitchen and most will dry on their own.
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Mushrooms: Keep them in the 'fridge also, but most important is keep them in paper bags, not plastic bags. Plastic bags will cause condensation to form, the 'shrooms will absorb it and get slimy. Yuck!
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Apples: The 'fridge is best, but they'll last for days in a bowl on the counter, if you are likely to eat them faster that way, or just because they look nice.

Some websites to check out include:

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Angelic Organics CSA page (www.angelicorganics.com/Vegetables). They are the farm featured in the movie “The Real Dirt on Farmer John,” an entertaining film about a CSA that's not much like ours – or us!
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What's Cooking America (www.whatscookingamerica.net/Information/FreezerChart.htm) site includes lots besides veggies, which are down at the bottom of the page.
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Harvesting and Storing Home Garden Vegetables (www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/DG1424.html) is an extension publication that seems thorough.
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Have a favorite that's not listed here? How about sending me a link, and if it seems appropriate, perhaps I'll mount it permanently on this page or in the “store open” email.

This week's planned produce: New items are underlined.

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Greens: arugula, Asian greens mix, cabbage, chard, lettuce (bibb, romaine and red leaf), mesclun, microgreens, spinach.
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Veggies: beets, carrots, celeriac, garlic, Jerusalem artichokes, onions, parsnips, cayenne peppers, potatoes, winter radishes, rutabagas, salsify (oyster root) & scorzonera, shallots, sweet potatoes, turnips, winter squash
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Herbs: basil, cilantro, parsley, rosemary, tarragon, thyme
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Mushrooms: crimini, oyster, portabella, shiitake, white
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Apples: Fuji, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, Pink Lady, Stayman
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Other items: the usual eggs, chicken, butter, cheeses and preserves.

Blog update: In case you weren't aware of it, we do have a blog where I post this message each week, so that if you wanted to refer back to something that was in here after the store closes, it would be there.

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Star Hollow Farm blog (www.starhollowfarmcsa.blogspot.com)

Also, one of our new CSA members is also contributing to a blog where she writes about what she's doing with her CSA box contents.

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Sustainable in the City blog (http://sustainableinthecity.wordpress.com/)

Let us know if there are other blog links we should be aware of and listing here.

CSA-Specific Information

Planned CSA produce for this week:

This week: baby arugula, two heads of lettuce, carrots, garlic, onions, Austrian Crescent fingerling potatoes, crimini mushrooms, pepper relish, assorted apples.

CSA Harvest box: We have increased the contents and value of the box somewhat this winter due to the fact that it is now a “two week box” instead of just one. You can add items to that or skip the box entirely and shop all a la carte if you wish. Your choice.

Thanks for your support!

Randy, Chris and all at Star Hollow Farm

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