Serenbe Farms
  CSA Newsletter and Recipes 5-16
Archived CSA Newsletters from this year can be found here: http://www.serenbefarms.com/food/csa/newsletter

August 10th, 2010
Farm News From Justin- 
 
   As many of you saw this last week at pickup the farm is undergoing a face lift for the fall.  We have begun the transition time to begin planting parsnips, rutabagas, turnips, radishes, arugula, onions, and other fall/winter items.  To do this we had to till in many cover crops and turn once luscious fields of sunflowers down to Georgia red clay.

   Some of the items we plant like collards, onions, and parsnips will be in the ground until early next year.  This always has a way of making me nervous when pushing the seeder thinking about how I want the rows to be straight for easy cultivation.  It's important that we keep these seeds evenly moist to ensure high germination so that we don't waste time and seed trying to get these crops started.  After they germinate we have to 'thin' them down to the appropriate spacing.  Since cold weather makes things grow slower adequate spacing for a crop to size up is key to success.  And then there is the very involved process of caring for these crops over the winter ensuring their survival in cold temperatures with typically either too much [last year] or too little moisture.  But with the process of caring comes the excitement of producing those wonderfully warm and starchy winter time meals that seem ever so distant as we endure the 100+ degree days right now.

    The last few weeks you have been receiving onions in your share.  I want to shed some light on how these onions made it from our fields to your table.  Onions are typically bought as transplants from some 'larger' organic farm and planted each year by us.  The last few years we have begun growing a percentage of our transplants from seed ourselves.  Each year the percentage gets larger.  This year many of the onions you are receiving are actual transplants that we grew out from seed.  This upcoming year we are aiming to grow all of our onion transplants.  Why is this important?  It is important because we are seeing that our transplants are better than any we have ever bought.  It also saves us from paying shipping and taking in an 'outside' input that may not be totally free of disease or pests.  Our onions since they are grown on our farm are 'comfortable' with their environment.  The ones we purchase have a 'transition' time.  This transition time is due to the fact that they were pulled up at a farm miles away put in a box and shipped to us.  Breaking this cycle is important for us because we feel independent and proud of our accomplishments.  There is little to no written material about doing this in Georgia on a small organic scale.  Lots of it we have figured out on the way.  We believe our onions this last year are the best so far, hopefully you think so to.    
 
Blueberries- 
 
   The blueberries we have been giving over the last few weeks have been coming from Manyfold Farm.  The have some great bushes that are really old and we actually picked them this last time on step ladders.  It's amazing to see dime sized blueberries covering an entire plant.
  Manyfold Farm is located right down the road from us on Rico Rd.  They have eggs right now and will be selling cheese and other items in the future.  The farm is run by Ross and Rebecca Williams, who are Serenbe residents who live behind Serenbe Farms.   
 
Sweet Potato Greens: 
 
   Sweet potato greens will begin making their way into your shares very soon.  They are a very versatile and very nutritious green.  Many folks are initally shocked at the idea of eating the green as we are mostly familiar with the starchy roots.  In other countries sweet potato greens and roots are considered a staple and contain much of the complex carb contient of peoples diets.
    The greens are great sauteed, steamed, or boiled.  I like to boil them down in chicken stock.  I then make a coconut curry sauce with coconut milk and curry.  Mix in the greens and other cooked veggies with rice and you've got a great meal. 
 
Have a great week,
 
Justin 
Find recipes here.  This week you'll find a ton of new ideas!!
 
This week's share prediction:

Tomatoes

Green tomatoes

Potatoes

Blueberries

Leeks

Garlic

Peppers
 
A few items from this list:
Edamame
Melon
Black Eyed Peas
Okra
Eggplant
Greens
Herbs

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Links
www.serenbefarms.com

www.georgiaorganics.org
www.slowfoodatlanta.org
RECIPES

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