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Farmer Dave's

Community Supported Agriculture 

IN THIS ISSUE
Field Notes
The Squash Story
In Your Share
Fruit Share
Storage Notes
Broccoli Rabe!
Spotlight on Apples!
Late Fall Shares
CSA Potluck in 1 week!
Groundwork Share-A-Share Update

Dracut Pick-up Details

Tuesdays

3:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

(choice-style shares)

 

3:00 p.m. - 7 p.m.

(pre-boxed shares)

   

Farmer Dave's
437 Parker Road
Dracut, MA

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Field Notes
Kale coming in from the field 

 

 

Knowing that most Americans are becoming more and more removed from where and how their food is grown, the US Department of Agriculture recently developed the "Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food" initiative.  As a CSA member you already knew your farmer before the government encouraged you to do so.  For twenty or more weeks of the year, you know who your farmer is, how your food is grown, and as a CSA member, "know your food".  I prefer to keep our relationship simple -- no need for fancy marketing to convince you that the CSA is right for you.  The truth is in the pudding.  When it is simply good, and you know who grew it, and you know how to eat it, what more do you need?

 

Knowing simple goodness,

 

Farmer Dave

The Squash Story
Because this summer was so sunny, with few cloudy days or rain, the crops grew and ripened faster than normal.  Instead of many of the crops maturing in their normal September period, they matured as much as two weeks earlier, sometimes in August.  This gave us a super abundant August harvest followed by a slightly smaller September harvest.  Yet, growing so many varieties of crops means there has still been more than enough food for everyone.

The weird weather has ended the corn season earlier than expected, and it has also left us with less squash than expected.  Even though we irrigated and irrigated through the dry summer period, the amount of winter squash was much less than expected and the quality of the harvest was also low.

Unlike many CSAs that source a lot of vegetables in their shares from other farms, my pledge has been that 100% of the vegetables in the vegetable share are grown by us at Farmer Daves, so that you truly know your farmer.  This does make us rather unique in this area and is something I am proud of.  As a shareholder, you share in the season's harvest.  This year that means less squash than I would like to provide.

To ensure we all get enough vitamin A by eating squash through the fall, and to have it on the table at Thanksgiving, I will be getting some winter squash from other local farms that I know for the late fall share.  All the other vegetables in the share will be grown by us at Farmer Daves.

While our squash was sprayed organically, I will first speak with the other farmers about their growing practices to ensure the healthiest squash I can obtain.  Next year, we will be sure to plant more squash to ensure enough of our own through December.

Providing the best I can,

Farmer Dave

 

In Your Vegetable Share - Week 17
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)
  • Broccoli Rabe
  • Kale or Swiss Chard
  • Spinach or lettuce
  • Bell peppers
  • Peppers
  • Beets
  • Carrots
  • Potatoes
  • Green or yellow wax beans
  • Onions or leeks
  • Summer Squash
  • And more, depending on harvest conditions!
In Your Fruit Share:
In the fruit shares this week:
  • Raspberries (weather depending!) 
  • Pears
  • Apples (several varieties)
  • And possibly more, depending on harvest conditions!
Storage Notes
Some tips for storing your share this week:
  • Greens do best when in the fridge and kept cold. If you find your greens are not lasting as long as you would like, try turning your refrigerator a degree or two colder - it makes a big difference!  
  • For root vegetables, such as beets, radishes and turnips, cut the greens off and store them separately from the roots. The roots will keep much longer, and you can cook the greens separately (just like you would spinach or Swiss chard!)
  • If you run out of space in your crisper drawers, try using some large tupperware-like containers. You'll find your veggies last a long time in those!   

Try this trick from Cooks Illustrated to keep your greens fresh!

 

Carbon dioxide is the secret to keeping greens fresh so try making a mini-CO2 generator.  Freeze 1 teaspoon of white vinegar in a small 2-4 ounce container like an old spice jar. Then sprinkle 1 teaspoon of baking soda over the vinegar, cover the container with 3 layers of paper towels and secure with a rubber band.  Toss the container in a ziplock bag with your greens and close.  As the vinegar melts it reacts with the baking soda and slowly releases CO2 in the bag with your greens!   

Featured Vegetable: Broccoli Rabe
 Broccoli Rabe Three Ways!
 
Broccoli rabe is a pungent little green of many names.  Also known as rapini, raab, and broccoletti (not to be confused with broccolini), broccoli rabe is a member of the brassica family more closely related to turnip and mustard greens than broccoli.  As I'm sure you've noticed by now, it's flavor can be described as pungent and bitter but a quick dip into a pot of boiling water will knock that bitterness right out and leave a delightfully nutty and healthy green.  Broccoli rabe is high in vitamins A & C, calcium and iron, so don't pass it by at the dinner table!
 
Ginger's Go-To Broccoli Rabe
Similar to a caesar salad. The anchovy paste balances out the bitterness of the broccoli rabe. 
Ingredients:
  • 1 bunch of broccoli rabe, stems removed 
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 2 cloves of garlic, minced
  • anchovy paste 
  • 1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan
  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil
Directions:
  1. Add broccoli rabe to a pot of boiling water.  After 3-4 minutes drain and set to the side.
  2. Heat olive oil in a heavy saute pan.  Add onion and saute until onions are clear.  Add a 1-2 inch ribbon of anchovy paste and garlic to pan and saute for a minute or two until fragrant.
  3. Add drained broccoli rabe and saute until tender and wilted.
  4. Remove from heat and stir in parmesan until incorporated.
  5. Salt and pepper to taste. Serve with more freshly grated parmesan and fresh black pepper.
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Squash and Broccoli Rabe Lasagna
From Bon Appetit.  This recipe calls for 2 pounds of broccoli rabe so take advantage of that swap box!

Ingredients:

Filling:
  • 4 lbs. butternut squash, peeled, halved, seeded, cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil plus more
  • Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper
  • 2 pounds broccoli rabe (rapini), tough stems removed
  • Crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1 pound fresh mozzarella, coarsely grated
  • 1 pound whole-milk ricotta
  • 1 cup finely grated Parmesan
  • 1 tablespoon finely grated lemon zest
  • 2 teaspoons minced fresh sage
  • 1 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary
Bechamel & Assembly:
  • 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
  • 1/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
  • 5 cups (or more) half-and-half
  • 1/8 teaspoon (or more) freshly grated nutmeg
  • 1 bay leaf
  • Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper
  • 1 pound lasagna noodles
  • 3/4 cup finely grated Parmesan  

Directions:

 

Filling
  • Preheat oven to 400°. Place squash and 3 tablespoons oil in a large bowl; season generously with salt and pepper and toss to evenly coat squash. Transfer to 2 rimmed baking sheets, spreading out in a single layer, overlapping slightly. Roast until tender but not mushy, about 15 minutes. Let cool.
  • Quickly blanch broccoli rabe in a large pot of boiling salted water just until it wilts, 1-2 minutes. Drain; briefly cool under running water. Squeeze out excess water; coarsely chop and transfer to a large bowl. Season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes; drizzle with oil and toss to coat.
  • Mix mozzarella and next 5 ingredients in a large bowl; season with salt and pepper. DO AHEAD Squash, broccoli rabe, and cheese mixture can be made 1 day ahead. Cover separately and chill.
Béchamel and Assembly
  • Melt butter in a large heavy saucepan over medium heat. Add flour; stir until slightly thickened (do not allow mixture to turn brown), 2-3 minutes. Increase heat slightly; slowly whisk in 5 cups half-and-half, 1/2-cupful at a time, allowing béchamel to thicken between additions (adding half-and-half gradually will help to prevent lumps from forming). Add 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg and bay leaf.
  • Reduce heat to low and cook, thinning with more half-and-half if too thick, until sauce is a milk shake-like consistency, about 10 minutes longer. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a medium metal bowl. Set bowl over a large saucepan of gently simmering water. Cover and keep warm.
  • Cook lasagna noodles in a pot of well-salted boiling water until still quite al dente, 8-9 minutes. Transfer immediately to a large bowl of ice water to cool. Drain; spread out noodles on a kitchen towel or baking sheets lined with parchment paper, placing a kitchen towel or parchment between layers.
  • Ladle about 1/4 cup béchamel into a 13x9x2-inch baking dish; spread evenly over bottom. Line dish with a single layer of noodles, cutting as needed to fit (use large scraps in subsequent layers). Layer 1/3 of squash over. Scatter 1/3 of broccoli rabe over. Dollop 1/3 of ricotta mixture randomly over greens. Drizzle 1/2 cup béchamel evenly over ricotta mixture. Repeat process 2 more times for a Total of 3 layers, finishing with a layer of noodles. Spread remaining béchamel over; top with Parmesan. DO AHEAD Lasagna can be assembled 1 day ahead. Cover and chill. Return to room temperature before continuing.
  • Preheat oven to 375°. Bake lasagna uncovered until bubbly and starting to brown, about 45 minutes. Turn oven to broil. Cook until browned and golden, 4-7 minutes. Let rest for 20-30 minutes before serving.

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Fusilli w/ Broccoli Rabe, Garlic, & Tomato Wine Sauce
 From Allrecipes.

 

 Ingredients:

  • 1 bunch broccoli rabe, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1/2 cup uncooked fusilli pasta
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
  • salt and ground black pepper to taste
  • 1 sprig fresh rosemary (optional)
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried Italian herb mix, or to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, or to taste
  • 1/4 cup white wine
  • 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes
  • 2 green onions, sliced
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 2 teaspoons grated Parmesan cheese, or to taste
Directions:
  1. Fill a saucepan with enough water to cover the broccoli rabe, sprinkle in some salt, and bring the salted water to a boil. Stir in the broccoli rabe, and cook until bright green and just starting to become tender, about 2 minutes; drain the rabe, and cool in a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process. Drain well, and pat dry with paper towels.
  2. Fill a pot with lightly salted water and bring to a rolling boil over high heat. Once the water is boiling, stir in the fusilli, and return to a boil. Cook the pasta uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the pasta has cooked through, but is still firm to the bite, about 12 minutes. Drain well in a colander set in the sink.
  3. While the pasta is cooking, heat the olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat, and cook and stir the 2 roughly-chopped garlic cloves until they start to turn translucent, about 2 minutes; sprinkle with salt and black pepper, and stir in rosemary sprig, dried Italian herb mix, and crushed red pepper flakes.
  4. Stir in the blanched rabe, white wine, and tomatoes; remove rosemary sprig, and bring the mixture to a boil. Mix in the cooked fusilli pasta, green onions, and 1 minced clove of garlic; simmer for 1 more minute, and serve topped with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese.

 

 

Fruit Spotlight: It's apple season

Here's some information about the apples that we expect to be seeing this week in the fruit shares.  While we continue to work on our apple guide, we came across The Cooks Thesaurus that references the different types of apples and their uses. 
Empire Apple


The Empire apple was developed as a cross between the Mcintosh and Red Delicious apples.  It's a great storage apple and resists bruising.  They are a wonderful all purpose apple that can be eaten fresh or used for baking, sauce, freezing and pies.

Empire Recipes:

Golden Delicious


 
The golden delicious apple is one of nature's special gifts.  It was discovered as a seedling on a West Virginia orchard in the late 1800s.  It is believed to have resulted as a chance seedling of a Grimes Golden tree.  When allowed to ripen on the tree, the Golden Delicious has a sweet rich flavor that can't be beat. It's a favorite for pies and baking because the flesh retains its shape after cooking.

Golden Delicious Recipes:

Macoun Apple



The Macoun apple is a cross between the Mcintosh and Jersey Black apples.  It's bright red skin and pure white flesh make it a beautiful apple for eating fresh and for applesauce.  Farmer Dave likes this one best for eating, but only in early October when it is crisp. 

Macoun Recipes:

Late Fall Share! Register now!
The late fall share will be beginning in just a few short weeks.  We love that we are able to extend the CSA season with fresh vegetables and storage crops an additional 7 weeks for our members! 

We only offer about half as many late fall shares as main season shares, so get registered soon to avoid being on the waitlist. 

To show our appreciation we will be giving
free Farmer Dave's cloth shopping bags
to all of our Late Fall members who
register and pay in full by October 15th! 


Register online or email Ginger with any questions!
Upcoming Events:

Only 1 week left until our annual Farmer Dave's CSA potluck.



Join us on Sunday, October 14th from 1:00 - 6:30pm for our 2012 CSA Member Appreciation Potluck.

RSVP on our Facebook page or at your pickup this week!  Don't forget to let us know what you think you might be bringing so that we can try to balance out the dishes.  Although, all desserts wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing...

We have some amazing activities planned including hayrides, farm tours, donut eating contests, tractor demonstrations, and more!  Don't miss this opportunity to come out to the farm, talk to your farmers, and meet your fellow CSA members!

The potluck is free for CSA members and their families. The only requirement is that you bring a dish to share that is large enough to feed 8-10 people.

We're still looking for a few volunteers to help out with the following items:
    • Cooking extra food, with extra produce we'll supply 
    • Face painting!
    • Photographing the event.
    • Clean up crew!

Email Ginger at farm@farmerdaves.net if you'd like to help out with any of these items or if there's some other talent that you have that would enhance the day!  

Other worthy events
Seed Swap and Perennial Exchange

Join the Merrimack Valley Food Co-op at the Lawrence Farmers Market on Saturday, October 6th for a seed swap and perennial exchange.  More information here or email suzanne@mvfood.coop

 

SASGroundwork Share-A-Share™ Update
Thanks to generous donations by you (CSA members) to the Groundwork Share-A-Share™ fund, we were able to subsidize the cost of shares in 2012 for over thirty individuals and families, as well as shares for local food pantries.

We'd love to be able to subsidize late fall shares as well. Please consider helping us in our efforts to make the CSA accessible to more families by donating to Groundwork Share-A-Share.

 

To learn more about the program, click here.

 

Thank you all for helping us keep this program going in 2012! 

 

 

Contact us:

 

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