Common Ground Garden

 

  July 30, 2015
Volume 21, Issue 7 

Produce    

  

Veggies this week:

Zucchini, beans and cucumbers for everyone; Joi choi and kale for full shares; Dragon's tongue beans and Carlton for half shares.

  

                        
Extras:
Surplus cucumbers, cilantro and parsley.

Veggies on the Way:
Lots more cucumbers, zucchini and beans, and carrots and scallions, too.
 
Bread of the Week: 
Wild Rice Rosemary

  

 



A Note from the Production Manager

Kate Ritger    

 

Hello friends! 


The cucumbers, zucchini and beans are here in full force! And these are crops with gifts that keep on giving -- all three will continue to flower and produce fruit for weeks on end as long as the plants stay healthy. So stir-fry until your heart is content, make zucchini boats, cakes, breads and chips, make cucumbers your new favorite snack food and stash some away for the winter -- dill pickles are a wonderful summer flavor in January and zucchini and beans freeze very well.

 

We will continue to have green/yellow beans available for "you-pick" -- free to subscribers and Sisters of Saint Benedict's Monastery, $2.5/lb to friends of the garden. We will also have extra beans (already picked) for sale at distribution: $2.5/lb for subscribers and $4/lb or $3/lb for purchases of three or more pounds for friends of the garden.

 

If you have ever grown these three crops in your own garden you know that they require regular attention and picking. There are endless jokes about locking car doors in the summer so folks can't leave you their surplus zucchini, or contests for who accidentally grew the largest zucchini. So when the student gardeners and I aren't picking zucchini, cucumbers or beans, we are trying to keep up with the weeds!

 

Enjoy!


Kate
  

 

Huge zuc and cuc harvest!

 

 

 

 

Watermelons on their way!


 

Pickling vs. Fermenting    

By Kari Sholing, RDN, who is a subscriber and our garden registered dietician. She will be contributing regular articles to the newsletter and is happy to answer specific questions.  

Contact her at: karijean999@gmail.com   

 

There's a bit of a buzz going around these days about fermented foods and their benefits for healthy digestion. While this is true, consumers aren't always getting the benefits they believe are in the foods they've chosen because they aren't really fermented -- they're pickled.

 

The terms pickled and fermented are often used interchangeably, but they don't always mean the same thing. Pickling has been around for hundreds of years as a method of preserving food. Traditionally, pickled foods (you can pickle just about anything) were intended for use during times when fresh foods were not available before the days of refrigeration. Pickling is vinegar based and most of the time involves a heat process that seals the container. There are some health benefits of vinegar, but so little of the vinegar in pickles is consumed that the benefits are negligible. There are, however, the already existing benefits of the pickled fruit or vegetable that the pickling process captures.

 

Fermentation, on the other hand, involves the process of using salt and good bacteria and time. Rarely is heat used in true fermentation processes except where fermented foods may be canned afterwards. Sauerkraut is a perfect example of a fermented food: shredded cabbage is placed in a barrel with salt and allowed to age. As the sauerkraut ages, good bacteria produce lactic acid which naturally preserves the cabbage long term. The good bacteria in sauerkraut and other fermented foods are the bacteria that aid in good digestion. Good digestion leads to better nutrient absorption which in turn leads to better health.

 

Keep in mind, though, that not all sauerkraut is fermented by the traditional method with salt brine but with vinegar. The same can be true of pickles; they might have been pickled through the fermentation process. It's about as clear as mud, right!? The bottom line, if you want the digestive health benefits of fermented or pickled foods, find out what process was used. 

 

Events     


Monday Evening Volunteer Time
The weeds love the warm weather! Join us on Monday evenings for garden work, 5-7 p.m. All are welcome (any age or physical ability).

 

Girls in the Garden
The Girl Scouts had a great time on Monday exploring animal habitats in and around the garden. Tell your friends about our upcoming programs and contact Kendra to register your troop for fun at the garden: (320)-250-5668 and kmbutkowski@csbsju.edu. $5 per participant, free for chaperones, minimum of seven participants needed for a program, 6 - 7:30 p.m.
Monday, August 3 Junior Badge "Flowers"
Monday, August 10 Brownie Badge "Painting"
Monday, August 18 Junior Badge "Digital Photography" Girls need to bring their own digital camera.
   
Notes for Subscribers

Contact information
Kate Ritger, Production Manager: 262-339-7737 
Distribution takes place every Thursday afternoon, unless otherwise noted.
  • 4-6 p.m. at the Common Ground Garden. Enter at the college entrance from Minnesota Street near 3rd Ave NW. Make a right at the stop sign and follow the gravel road out to the barn.
  • 5 - 6 p.m. at St. John's Episcopal Church in St. Cloud. For a link on Google maps, click here.
  • If you are unable to pick up during the scheduled time, come to the garden on Friday or Monday -- the barn is open both days from 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Follow the instructions in the barn for self-service. A friend or family member can also pick up for you. Call Kate if you need to make other arrangements.

     

Bring Your Own Bag

Don't forget to bring your own bag to pick up your veggies--canvas bags are great. We are also happy to receive your extra brown paper bags, plastic grocery bags, gallon ice cream pails and canvas bags.

 

Too Many Food Scraps!

We are no longer accepting compost at the garden. Please encourage your home city or municipality to expand their composting to food scraps, or start your own home bin.

 

 

Community News

St. Joseph's Farmers' Market 

The St. Joseph Farmer's Market is open every Friday, 3 - 6:30 p.m. Visit www.stjosephfarmersmarket.com for more information.  



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

Every week we will send several recipes that make use of the produce you are receiving in your bag. We also have  a significant collection of recipes. Please send us your own recipes, too--either favorites from your cookbooks or your own concoctions.


Note on storing salad greens: Try to keep as much air in your bags as possible. This will keep your greens fresher longer and prevent wilting. 

 

 

Pan-fried Cucumbers in Honey Sesame Sauce
From The CSA Cookbook, Voyageur Press, 2015 (For sale at the garden!)

 

Note: I know, this sounds strange and you probably have never cooked cucumbers before, but this is very tasty and simple. I think zucchini could also be used, but they most likely don't need to be salted like the cucumbers. Enjoy!

 

2 pounds cucumbers
1 tsp salt
2 Tbsp sunflower oil
4 garlic cloves or one garlic scape, minced
1 serrano pepper, minced (remove ribs and seeds for less heat) - I used a frozen hot pepper from last season, pepper flakes would also work

For the sauce ...
1 Tbsp soy sauce
1 Tbsp rice vinegar (I used Apple Cider vinegar because that is what I have on hand)
1 Tbsp sesame oil
1 Tbsp honey
1 tsp toasted sesame seeds

 

Slice each of the cucumbers in half lengthwise. Run a small spoon down the center to scoop out the seeds (I didn't want this to go to waste, so I ate it as I scooped). Cut the cucumber crosswise into ¼ inch slices. Place all the cucumber slices in a colander, toss with the salt, and let them drain in the sink for 15 minutes.

 

Meanwhile, make the sauce by combining all of its ingredients in a small bowl, and set aside. Heat the wok or large skillet over high heat and coat the surface with the sunflower oil. Toss the cucumbers with your hands to shake off any excess liquid, then spread them across the work with as little overlap as possible. Fry undisturbed until the cucumbers begin to brown on the bottom, about two minutes.

 

Using a spatula, flip the cucumbers and fry until the other side begins to color, about two minutes. Stir in the garlic and serrano and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Pour in the sauce, stir to coat and heat through.

 

Zuni Café Zucchini Pickles
from www.food52.com by way of the Seed Savers e-newsletter.

 

Makes 2 to 3 pints

 

1 pound zucchini
1 small yellow onion
2 Tbsp salt, a little more if using kosher
2 cups cider vinegar
1 cup sugar
1 ½ tsp dry mustard
1 ½ tsp crushed yellow and/or brown mustard seeds
1 tsp ground turmeric

 

Wash and trim the zucchini, then slice them lengthwise into 1/16-inch-thick slices on a mandoline. (You could slice them crosswise, too, but Zuni's are lengthwise.) Slice the onion very thinly as well. Combine the zucchini and onions in a large but shallow non-reactive bowl or casserole dish, add the salt, and toss to distribute. Add a few ice cubes and cold water to cover, then stir to dissolve the salt.

 

After about 1 hour, taste and feel a piece of zucchini-it should be slightly softened. Drain and pat dry.

Meanwhile, combine the vinegar, sugar, dry mustard, mustard seeds and turmeric in a small saucepan and simmer for three minutes. Set aside until just warm to the touch. If the brine is too hot, it will cook the vegetables and make the pickles soft instead of crisp.

 

Transfer the zucchini and onion pieces to three, two-cup canning vessels (or the equivalent) and pour over the cooled brine. Seal tightly and refrigerate for at least a day before serving to allow the flavors to mellow and permeate the zucchini. They'll last for a week in the fridge.

 

Caribbean Beans and Greens Wrap
from Moosewood Restaurant New Classics

 

Note: use any greens you have ... kale, collards, Swiss chard, Carlton, Chinese cabbage or Joi choi. This topping is also great with chips for hearty nachos or served with rice.

 

1 cup diced onions
1 garlic clove, minced or pressed
1 Tbsp vegetable oil of choice
½ tsp dried thyme
½ tsp ground allspice
½ tsp salt
4 cups lightly packed chopped greens
1 Tbsp water, or as needed
1 ½ cups cooked black beans (15.5 ounce can, rinsed and drained)
3 Tbsp orange juice (Lemon is nice, too.)
4 flour tortillas (Corn would work too -- or even the big outer cabbage leaves.)

 

In a nonreactive soup pot or skillet, saute the onions and garlic in the oil for about 10 minutes, until translucent, stirring often. Add the thyme, allspice, salt, greens and water. Cover and cook on medium heat, adding more water if necessary to prevent sticking, until the greens are tender, about five to ten minutes.

 

Push the greens to the sides of the pot, add the beans to the center, and mash them well with a potato masher (a fork works too). Add the orange juice, stir everything together and remove from the heat.


Warm the tortillas either in the microwave or in a skillet. Place a generous ½ cup of filling on the bottom half of each tortilla, roll it up and serve immediately.

 

 

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Contact information

commonground@csbsju.edu 

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 is the ministry of the Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict.

104 Chapel Lane
St. Joseph, Minnesota 56374