Common Ground Garden

 


November 3, 2014


Volume 20, Issue 18
Common Ground Garden Rows
 


 

Kate Ritger 2013

A Note from the Production Manager

Kate Ritger    

 

"What? Has winter past already? Is it time for a garden again?" No, winter is still to come, but I write with exciting news! This year the Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict have decided to dedicate their Give to the Max fundraising efforts to the Garden!! That means we can take steps toward upgrading the electrical connection at the barn, a winter greenhouse, better cold storage, and a variety of equipment improvements. As you can imagine, we're thrilled!

 

As subscribers and garden friends, you have been key supporters of our mission to grow and distribute healthy produce in Central Minnesota. And together, grounded in the Benedictine values, we also educate and inspire people in the value of locally and sustainably produced food.

 

You are invited to participate in this campaign.  You can make a difference!  

1. share this information with friends

2. pray for success

3. make a donation 


Mini for the Max!
Your contribution of $10 or more on Give to the Max Day can be amplified.Here is how:
  • A Golden Ticket of $1,000 will be given to a randomly selected donor's charity every hour.
  • At the end of the day a Super-Size Golden Ticket worth $10,000 will be awarded through a random drawing.
  • Leaderboard prize grants of $500 to $10,000 will be awarded to the ten non-profit organizations in Greater Minnesota that received the most money. (Last year we were #5 and received an extra $1,000!)
  • We have Challenge Matching Grants that will automatically double your contribution when you give on line on Give to the Max day.

How can you participate?

  1. Go to giveMN
  2. In the "Find a Cause" box at the upper right of the page, type in a key word such as:
    • Sisters or Benedict
    • press "enter" on your keyboard.
    • Saint Benedict's Monastery icon will appear. Click on our picture, and it will take you to our site where you can make your donation.
3. The online giving platform allows you to make a secure credit or debit card donation. You will also receive an automated tax-deductible e-mail receipt.

 

 

Other News

Duck for the Holidays 

  

Our friends at DCBL Acres have Muscovy ducks ready for holiday meals. They are grass fed and free ranged, very lean and exceptionally tasty. The price is $5.59/lb. and they weigh between 5 and 8 pounds after processing.  

Contact Cheri to reserve your bird. Quantities are limited.

 cherisauerer@albanytel.com  

320-845-4511

 

 
Garden Clean-up for the Winter 
          
    Kate in the plowed garden                   LeDeanna carrying tomato cages and winding up irrigation tapes.  

 


  

The sandhill cranes have been our regular friends the last few weeks - doing their own gleaning.  

 

 

Community News

Food Nirvana at the Minnesota Street Market

Join the Minnesota Street Market's second annual Food Nirvana Cooking Contest!

Saturday, November 8th. Submit your favorite appetizer, side dish or dessert recipe and win up to $100! For rules and regulations, see their website. 

 

St. Joseph Farmer's Market Winter Schedule

The summer market season has ended and the winter schedule starts next week...

November 7 and 21

December 5 and 19

January 16

February 20

March 20

April 17

3-6pm INSIDE Resurrection Lutheran Church fellowship hall.

Stay tuned to market news at their  website.

 

 


Find us on

We've been posting photos and more about the garden.

 

Would you like to learn more about other happenings at Saint Benedict's Monastery? Sign up for our e-newsletter, Monastery Musings, and find out more about the Sisters, special events and offerings that go on here year-round. Just send Sister Karen Rose your e-mail address at krose@csbsju.edu and we'll add you to our e-newsletter list!

 

 

Recipes

We have  a significant collection of recipes on our website. Check them out. 

 

And another Kale recipe...

Shared by Farmer's Market customer, Mary Thyen,

from Super Natural Cooking by Heidi Swanson

 

Note: Mary also says wild rice and sunflower seeds are nice additions.

 

1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp toasted sesame oil
2 Tbsp shoyu, tamari, or soy sauce
3 ½ lightly packed cups chopped kale, stems trimmed, large ribs removed
1 ½ cups unsweetened large-flake coconut (or ½ cup fine coconut)

2 cups cooked faro or other whole grain (optional) spelt, barley, brown rice, etc.

 

Preheat the oven to 350° with two racks in the top third of the oven.

In a small bowl or jar, whisk or shake together the olive oil, sesame oil and shoyu. Put the kale and coconut in a large bowl and toss well with about two-thirds of the olive oil mixture.

Spread the kale evenly across two baking sheets. Bake for 12 to 18 minutes, until the coconut is deeply golden brown, tossing once or twice along the way. If the kale mixture on the top baking sheet begins to get too browned, move it to the lower rack.

Remove from the oven and transfer the kale mixture to a medium bowl. Taste. If you feel it needs a bit more dressing, add some and toss. Place the faro on a serving platter and top with the tossed kale. Serve warm.

 

 

 .

Contact information

commonground@csbsju.edu 

Ryan Kutter, Garden Director, cell: 320-219-3389

Kate Ritger, Production Manager, cell: 262-339-7737

 

 

CGG logoCommon Ground Garden is a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) farm, where members purchase a share of vegetables and each week during the farm season receive a bountiful box of fresh produce. We pride ourselves on producing fresh, clean, healthful food picked at the peak of flavor and nutrition. As much as we are able, we grow our vegetables without the use of any chemical herbicides, pesticides or fertilizers. We use cover crops, rotations, compost and ingenuity to produce your food in a way that's healthy for you and for the community. When necessary for pest control or to combat disease, we use only products approved for organic gardening.
Common Ground Garden Rows

Common Ground Garden is the ministry of the Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict.

104 Chapel Lane
St. Joseph, Minnesota 56374