Community Supported Agriculture
In This Issue
Farm Notes
You're a Good Apple
In Your Share
Spotlight on Summer Squash
Recipe of the Week
Groundwork Share-a-Share
Dracut Pickup Details
Tuesdays

Choice Style
3:00pm - 6:30pm

Pre-Boxed
3:00pm - 7:00pm

Farmer Dave's Farm
437 Parker Road
Dracut, MA

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Happy Independence Day   
Nature's flag. (Blueberries will be ready in a few weeks) 

  

    

This weekend we celebrate the independence of the United States of America as a sovereign country free to make decisions on our own as a representative democracy. We are no longer taxed by a monarchy based across an ocean without due representation in that government.


Today, many are noticing that we are losing the freedom to eat as our forbearers once did because the production of our food has become distanced from us and the reality of how it is produced has been removed from our view. I seem to hear it over and over again- "My grandparents were farmers." "I grew up on food from local farms." "My mother used to cook everything from scratch." Many are calling for a revolution of sorts in our food system to take back our food sovereignty. Over the past generation our food system has slowly changed to the state we find it in now. Our interns from other countries find living in the US to be expensive, with the exception of our food. But the find the quality of the food Americans eat to be less than they are used to eating. They find the food at most supermarkets to over processed and the produce to be flavorless and "like cardboard". They and you see the value of retaking our food system. 

I was recently told that now half of all the tomatoes consumed in the US are grown in Mexico. We should have the freedom to eat what we choose and have a representative voice in its production. Yet, if the only food system is one that brings food from great distances grown in large quantities, with methods focused on lowering the cost of production, focused on being able to last days in shipping and shelf life, focused on having uniform and peak "eye appeal" rather than nutrition and flavor, then we have lost our freedom to choose a better alternative focused on local production, local economies, and nutrient dense healthy food that just naturally tastes good. 

To join Farmer Dave's is in a sense a revolutionary (or reactionary) act to not accept the status quo and to develop a food system that we view as better for our health, our families, our society, our nation and our future. One day a year we should celebrate a revolution. Everyday we should eat well.

 

Farmer Dave
We think you're a Good Apple 


Farmer Dave's thinks our members are the best and to show our appreciation we're adding a new benefit for being a CSA member. This week we'll be distributing our new CSA Member's Guide with tips and tricks for making your CSA experience the best possible.

Along with the CSA Member Guide you will receive a "Good Apple" card. Presenting the Good Apple card at any of our Farmers Markets booths or Farm Stands (Brox Farm Stand in Dracut, East Street Farm Stand in Tewksbury & Hill Orchard in Westford) entitles you to:
  • 10% off your farm stand or farmers market purchase!
  • 25% off Apple picking at Hill Orchard!
You can find a list of the Farmers Markets that we participate in on our website.

Thank you for being a member of Farmer Dave's CSA!
In Your Share: Week 4     

The first few weeks of every New England CSA share will always have a great assortment of delicious, nutritious and tender greens.  These greens grow well in the cool Spring weather.  As the weather warms into summer, you can expect the number of greens to decrease as the weather continues to warm and more variety begins to be able to be harvested from the fields.

This is what we are planning and hoping to harvest this week.  Ultimately Mother Nature has the last word so the actual contents of your share will vary.
  • Beets
  • Broccoli Rabe
  • Cucumbers
  • Kale
  • Lettuce
  • Peas
  • Summer Squash
  • Garlic scapes
  • Scallions
  • Cilantro
  • Dill
  • and more!

Fruit Share

  • Strawberries!
  • Apples

*Farmer Dave's does not spray fungicides on our berries. This provides what we believe to be a safer product for our members and farmers but means that we can only harvest in optimal (dry) conditions. If there is rain in the forecast we will not be able to harvest berries for our fruit shares because they would mold quickly once harvested. We also recommend that our members plan to use their berries within 48 hours of pickup. They will not last as long as store bought berries.  

Spotlight on Summer Squash
 
July is rapidly approaching which means in a few short weeks the trickle of summer squash from the fields is going to become a deluge of deliciousness.  Farmer Dave's is growing five different varieties of summer squash this year: zucchini, kousa, golden zucchini, patty pan and straight-necked summer squash.

Zucchini, golden zucchini and kousa all have small seeds and firm flesh.  They can be used interchangeably in recipes.  Combine multiple varieties to jazz up your meals!  Golden zucchini was a new variety for Farmer Dave's last year and became a fast favorite.  It's slightly sweeter and has denser, smoother flesh than green zucchini.  

Pattypan (also known as scallop squash or custard squash) has very firm flesh that holds its shape exceptionally well when cooked.  This quality makes it a favorite to stuff.  Try stuffing pattypan with brown rice, Maplebrook Farm mozzarella cheese, and pesto. Pattypan is absolutely gorgeous when sliced crosswise and used in a saute or gratin.  

Straight-necked summer squash has the highest water content and largest seeds of the bunch.  It's delicious raw or lightly sauteed.  Be careful not to overcook this one or it turns to mush.

Summer squashes are extremely versatile.  Here are just a few of the many common ways that summer squashes can be eaten:

  • Shaved raw into salads (try the recipe of the week below!)
  • Cut into spears and served with hummus or dip
  • Shredded into ribbons and used as a pasta substitute
  • Steamed
  • Sliced in rounds, smothered in cheese and baked
  • Stuffed with meat or rice
  • Added to stir fry
  • Our favorite preparation method- Sauteed in olive oil and garlic
  • Zucchini bread!
  • Chocolate Zucchini cake!

Storage:

Dry thoroughly and store in the fridge in a plastic bag.  It's really important that they are dry as moisture easily permeates the flesh and causes soft spots.  The Golden Zucchini has a particularly short storage life.  They should be used within a few days.

Recipe of the Week     

Ginger's Shaved Summer Squash and Herb salad with Hazelnuts 
 
Serves 4 as a side or 2 as a lunch

Ingredients
 
  • 4 Summer squash or zucchini
  • 1 handful parsley, chopped 
  • 1 handful basil, chopped 
  • 1 handful arugula, torn into pieces (optional)
  • 1/2 cup hazelnuts (or almonds) 
  • Parmesan or Romano cheese 
  • 1 lemon 
  • 2-3 Tablespoons hazelnut oil ( olive oil would work but the hazelnut paired really nicely) 
  • 1 garlic scape, minced (I threw it in the food processor) or 1 garlic clove 
  • Salt and pepper to taste 
  • Lettuce (optional) 
Directions

1) Cut the ends off the squash. Using a vegetable peeler or mandolin shave into ribbons working from each side towards the center and discarding the core. 
2) In a large bowl toss squash ribbons with parsley, basil and the zest of one lemon. 
 3) In a small bowl whisk together the juice of one lemon with hazelnut oil, garlic and salt and pepper to taste. 
 4) Pour marinade over squash, toss thoroughly and let sit for 30 minutes. 
 5) Meanwhile, toast hazelnuts in a pan or quickly under the broiler. When cool, chop into small pieces. 
 6) Before serving, toss herbs and arugula with squash. 
 7) Serve topped with toasted nuts and shaved Parmesan as a side or on a bed of lettuce for a lunch salad.

Have a great tip or recipe to share?  Email Ginger to have it included in our newsletter and recipe blog!

Groundwork Share-a-Share:
 
Please consider helping us in our efforts to make the CSA accessible to more families by  donating to Groundwork Share-A-Share. With the help of CSA members like you, Groundwork has been able to help subsidize the cost of CSA shares for families who would otherwise be unable to afford participation.

 

To learn more about the program,  click here.

 

Thank you all for helping us keep this program going in 2015!  

 
Contact Us:

Farmer Dave's CSA
437 Parker Road
Dracut, MA 01826

(978) 349-1952
farm@farmerdaves.net