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Farmer Dave's

Community Supported Agriculture 

IN THIS ISSUE
Field Notes
In Your Share
Storage Notes
Registration Open for All Shares
CSA Q & A
Recipe of the Week
More greens inspiration
Other Worthy Events

Dracut Pick-up Details

Tuesdays

3:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.  

1276 Broadway Road
Dracut, MA

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Field Notes
Cucumber Plant
Cucumber plants in the greenhouse grab hold of the twine supports.

The spring temperatures seem to have fallen back to normal after many weeks of abnormally warm winter. Will the normal weather continue or will we go back to warmth? These weather swings are just part of life in New England and reminds the farmer to be careful not to jump the gun too much on the early season.

 

The peas that we already planted should be emerging around the end of the week. They can withstand a frost, but a hard freeze could kill them. Monday night will be a freeze; hopefully it will be the season's last. The onion sets are comfy under the ground, pushing out their roots downwards and soon pushing their stem upwards to the warmth of the sun. Later in the week, after the coldest nights have passed, we will be dragging the straw off the strawberries so that they too can begin absorbing the sun's rays. If the rains are less frequent this year than last we will hopefully be in for some good strawberries in this year's fruit shares.

 

In the greenhouses we are continuing to seed like crazy. Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, cucumbers, scallions, celery, celeriac, parsley, basil, and on and on. When the weather warms these large plants will be put into the open field and be ready to stretch their legs (roots) out and produce the season's bounty earlier than otherwise. The spring share's harvest continues in the protected environment of the greenhouses. This week abundant greens will combine with last year's potato harvest for many healthy meals. In about two weeks we should begin harvesting cucumbers from the greenhouse. This means that the tomatoes cannot be far behind. Next week we will begin pulling carrots from winter storage to add to the shares. Barring harsh freezes, soon the spinach should be ready to harvest from the field. The mild winter seems to be providing for a very abundant share. The bounty of this year's spring is frankly amazing.

 

Farmer Dave  

 

Baby cucumbers already forming on our greenhouse cucumber plants.
Baby cucumbers already forming on our greenhouse cucumber plants. It's going to be a crunchy spring share very soon! Main season veggie shareholders will also get to enjoy some earlier cucumbers, before our field-grown ones are ready. 
In Your Share - Week 2*
The following items will most likely make an appearance in your share this week (and as always, the contents of your share is ultimately determined by Mother Nature's harvest conditions):
  • Lettuce Mix
  • Spicy Baby Mix (a tender and tasty mix of red Russian kale, mizuna, tatsoi, mustard greens, and komatsuna. Contrary to it's name, it's not too spicy! Great sauteed or stir-fried, or raw in salads) 
  • Baby bok choy leaves
  • Baby tatsoi leaves (use in stir-fries, or salads; tastes similar to spinach!) 
  • Arugula 
  • Potatoes
  • And possibly more, depending on harvest conditions!

*A note about this week's share: Part of being a CSA member means sharing in the risks and rewards of the harvest. The warm weather of the past two weeks has been pushing the greens along, so this week is full of abundant green rewards! (You are getting "more green for your green!"). If you're finding the abundance overwhelming, share the nutritious, delicious greens with a friend!  

Spicy Baby Mix
Spicy Baby Mix
Storage Notes for this Week
Some quick notes on storing your share this week:
  • You'll find your potatoes packed in plastic bags. When you take your share home, make sure to take them out of the plastic bags and store them in paper in a cool, dark place.
  • For your greens, keep them in the refrigerator and keep them cool. If you find your greens aren't lasting through the week, try turning your refrigerator a degree or two colder - it makes a big difference!  
Registration Underway for Vegetable, Fruit and Late Fall Shares, Too!
Now spring is here and the weather is warm, registration is picking up fast for our pre-boxed vegetable, choice-style vegetable, fruit, and late fall shares. Now is the time to sign up and reserve your space for all pick-up locations!

As always, feel free to contact us with questions any time!
CSA Q & A: Checking my account
Q: I signed up for the CSA so long ago that I can't remember what shares I signed up for? How can I check?

A: Here's how you can log in to your account and check what we have for you in our records:
  1. If you do not have an online account yet (user name and password), please e-mail us at farm@farmerdaves.net so we can send you an invitation. This will enable you to create a log-in that is linked to the shares we have on file for you. (This is very important; if you simply try and create one without this invitation, the system won't "know" that the shares you've already signed up for "belong" to your newly created account. E-mail us if you need help!) You can also e-mail us if you already have an online account, but can't remember your password - we can reset it for you!
  2. Once you have an online account, go to our home page and click on "member log-in" (it's in the bottom right-hand corner).
  3. When you log in, click on "View / modify subscription" to see what you are signed up for. You can also click on "Box schedule and contents" to see your pick-up schedule, or shop for other shares or add-on items.

Or, just call or e-mail us, and we'll check what you have!

 

Q: What happens if I can't make it to my pick-up? Can I switch to another pick-up location?

 

A: If you won't be able to pick up your share at your regular pick-up location (vacation? long weekend? appointment?), you can switch to a different location for that week, as long as we have enough notice from you and enough truck capacity at that pick-up location.

 

Want to make a one-time pick-up location switch? Here's what you need to do:

  • Notify us by e-mail at least 3 business days before your regular pick-up day, or 3 business days before the pick-up day you'd like to switch to, whichever is earlier.  Let us know the primary shareholder's name, and the date and pick-up location where you'd like to pick up.
  • We will respond to your e-mail, letting you know if we have space at that pick-up location on that day.
  • Once we let you know that your pick-up switch is arranged, just show up at the new pick-up location during the designated time, and give your name to the pick-up staff. They will orient you to the new location and answer any questions you may have.

If you are unable to pick up your CSA share, you may have a friend or family member pick up your share; just have them say that they are picking it up for you. If you are unable to get someone else to pick up your share, we cannot keep the shares past the distribution time, and will donate the produce to one of our hunger relief partners.   

 

If you would like to permanently switch your pick-up location for the remainder of the season, we will make every effort to accommodate this, as long as we have truck capacity / space at your requested pick-up location. Just let us know! 

Recipe of the Week
Spring Greens Soup
Adapted by Farmer Dave's from Better Homes and Gardens
 
Ingredients:

1 medium onion, halved and sliced

  • 1 tablespoon cooking oil
  • 3 cups reduced sodium-chicken broth or vegetable broth
  • 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 12 ounces Yukon gold potatoes, quartered
  • 3 cups sliced fresh mushrooms (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 6 cups fresh greens, such as elegance mix, spicy baby mix, or a combination of spinach and arugula. 
  • 2 cups fresh Italian (flat-leaf) parsley leaves and tender stems
  • Fresh arugula
Directions

1. In 3-quart saucepan cook onion in hot oil over medium heat for 5 minutes. Add broth, pepper, and salt. Bring to boiling. Add potatoes and return to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, covered, 10 minutes.

 

2. Meanwhile, in large skillet cook mushrooms in butter over medium heat 6 to 8 minutes until tender and liquid has evaporated; set aside.

 

3. Remove saucepan from heat. Use immersion blender to blend onion-potato mixture until almost smooth. Add greens and parsley. Return to heat. Bring to boiling; remove from heat. Using immersion blender, puree soup again until nearly smooth and flecks of green remain. Season to taste with salt. Serve immediately topped with sauteed mushrooms and fresh arugula.  

 

Makes 6 side-dish servings.


Need more greens inspiration?
Looking for more things to do with your Elegance Mix or Spicy Baby Mix? Try the recipes in this article.
Other Worthy Events
We wanted to pass the word about a few worthy events going on in our communities within the next few weeks. These are not "Farmer Dave's" events - but as we love and support these organizations, we thought you might like to know about these events!
  • Chocolate Tasting Party to benefit Project Bread's Walk for Hunger (Burlington) - Friday, March 30 at Burlington Presbyterian Church, hosted by Jane McIninch of Fine Chokolader (and our Burlington CSA pick-up!). $5 entrance fee; 20% of all Fine Chokolader sales to benefit Project Bread.
  • Trashfinders Ball (a fundraiser for the Beverly Farmers Market) - Saturday, March 31 at 7:00 p.m. Click here for details.    
  • Let's Get Walkin' - a community walk for the whole family(sponsored the East Boston Health Coalition) - Saturday, March 31 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  Click here for details.

Contact us:

 

Farmer Dave's 
437 Parker Road
Dracut, MA 01826
(978) 349-1952