Serenbe Farms

  CSA Newsletter and Recipes (year)6-(week)19



August 30th 2011



Note about fall shares:

 

Most of you are full season shareholders, but some of you signed up for just the spring and summer shares.  I sent a reminder to your email address if you are a spring/summer share last week, but if you have any doubts, please email me (info@serenbefarms.com). 

 

Spring/Summer weekly (full) shares' last pick up date is next week (September 6th).

 

Spring/Summer bi-weekly (half) shares' last pick up will be this week for on farm members.

 

Please inquire about renewal for fall if you're interested in continuing for the next season.

 

Farm Update from Justin

     This week has hit with a sigh of relief.  Coming off many hot days I cannot believe I now say that low 90's is pleasurable.  But there is a cool breeze in the air and fall is oh so close.  And boy do the fall brassicas know the cool weather is close.  Look at them growing in all of their beauty.  (From left to right -- 2 rows of cauliflower, 2 rows of broccoli, 2 rows of kale, and 2 rows of collards) 

 

Fall Gardening

Here is an outline from a workshop Paige gave at market last year.  Fall is a great time to garden -- weather is nice and can ensure a great harvest for the fall and winter (without sweat!).   

  • Site selection
    • Space/size (factor of the time you have to spend in the garden and how much food you want to grow)
    • Sunlight
    • Water accessibility
    • Soil
  • Soil preparation
    • Texture, feel, soil test (for larger plots)
    • General fertilization (composts, mineral additions, lime)
    • Digging the garden beds
  • Garden planning
    • What, how much, and when to grow each crop
    • General plan of crop timing and succession plantings (the more you plan now, the less you have to think about it later)
  • Planting
  • Maintenance                
    • Water-approximately 1 inch per week is needed for most crops (a little less when its chilly)
    • Weeds-always easiest to get when they're first emerging
    • Pest control (companion plants, physical barriers, organic sprays)
    • Fertilization (side dressing or foliar feeding)
    • Trellising (for some crops)
  • Harvest
  • Storage of winter crops

A few veggies to consider for fall/winter gardening (most can be planted now!): 


Direct seeded (put seeds straight in the ground): 
  • Beets
  •  Turnip
  • Radish
  • Rutabaga
  • Arugula
  • Carrots
  • Parsnips (wait till it cools off a bit more to seed) 
  • Dill
  • Cilantro
  • Garlic (harvest in May/June, plant in October-November)
 

Either direct sown or transplanted: 

  • Kale
  • Parsley
  • Lettuce
  • Swiss chard
  •  Collards
  • Spinach
  • Bok choi
  • Chinese cabbage
  • Mustard greens

Most often transplanted (seeded in pots and planted into garden):

  • Broccoli
  • Cabbage
  • Cauliflower
  • Brussels Sprouts
  • Green onions
  • Onions (harvest in May, plant in October-December)
  • Fennel
  • Kohlrabi
  • Leeks

 

A few resources (there are far too many to list):

www.caes.uga.edu/extension - UGA Extension

www.attra.org - ATTRA (National Sustainable Ag Service)

http://tinyfarmblog.com/ - Small farmer blog

http://www.garden.org/home - National Gardening Association

 

Books:

The New Organic Grower-Eliot Coleman

Four Season Harvest-Eliot Coleman

Square Foot Gardening-Mel Bartholomew

How to Grow More Vegetables (on less land)-John Jeavons

Seed Starters Handbook-Nancy Bubel

Root Cellaring-Mike and Nancy Bubel

Growing Great Garlic-Ron Engeland

 

Seeds: Johnny's, High Mowing, Fedco, Southern Exposure Seed Exchange, Seed Savers, Harris Seeds. Gourmet Seeds International 

Supplies: Johnny's, High Mowing, Peaceful Valley



Eggplant 

eggplant 



History: Eggplant is a delicate perennial but almost always treated as an annual.  This vegetable is native to India.  The first known written record of the plant is found in Q� m�n y�o sh�, an ancient Chinese agricultural treatise completed in 544.  The numerous Arabic and North African names for it, along with the lack of the ancient Greek and Roman names, indicate it was introduced throughout the Mediterranean area by the Arabs in the early Middle Ages.  Our state of Georgia produces more eggplant than any other in the U.S.      

 

Nutritional Benefit:  Great source of potassium.  Helps to block free radicals and lower cholesterol.   

 

Storage: Raw eggplant are best stored above 50F.  They bruise easily so be careful handling them.  They are best consumed within a day or two of receiving.   

 

Preparation: Wash.  Trim top and skin if desired.

 

Saute: in several tablespoons of butter/oil and sauteed 8-10 minutes.  

Fried: Example would be eggplant parm.  Need something besides the tomato sauce?  Try coconut curry sauce.  

Roasted: Rub with olive oil.  Use knife to make slits for garlic cloves.  Roast for 20 mins on 350+ 

Serving Suggestions: Not typically eaten raw. Roasted, sauteed, or fried.   

 

Recipe: Fried Eggplant [Coconut Curry version] 

 

Ingredients:

- Rice

- Eggplant
- Garlic

- Peppers 

- Salt and pepper
- Herbs
- Breadcrumbs

- Eggs

- Premade curry sauce or  

  - Coconut Milk

  - Curry spices  

  - Sugar 

  - Hot peppers 

 

Steps:

1) I prepare garlic and peppers to make rice with peppers.  Sautee garlic and peppers.  Add rice.  Add liquid to cook rice.  Add herbs if desired.  Don't forget salt and pepper.   

 

2) Wash eggplant and slice into desired shapes for frying.  

 

3) Dip eggplant into eggs.  [I prefer to lightly beaten eggs with a touch of milk] Then dip eggplant into breadcrumbs.  

 

4) Fry on stove or in deep fryer. 

 

5) Top with pre-made or homeade coconut curry sauce.  

 

6) Place rice on dish with eggplant on top.  Pour coconut curry sauce on top.

 


I assume some basic cooking knowledge and desire to get creative in the kitchen.  We fry eggplant in a deep fryer using coconut oil instead and frying oil.  It gives the eggplant a sweet flavor. 

   

 

 

This week's share
(this list is subject to change): 

 

 Garlic

Sweet peppers

Eggplant

Tender Greens (for cooking or for salads)

Root Vegetable

Okra

Herb

Melon or Winter Squash

A couple tomatoes?  almost gone :(

Probably one more thing -- we'll see what today's harvest brings. 

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