How can this be?! It seemed like just yesterday I was out there harvesting asparagus on the daily to make sure each person received some to enjoy, or gazing out at fields of newly planted seedlings, dreaming about crops to come. It’s been a year of strange weather, and ups and downs, but overall, I’m totally calling this a good year! This year a lot more folks started looking locally for their foods and other needs. Did any of your purchasing habits change over these last months? Many of us realized that ferrying our kids everywhere and keeping our schedules full to the brim wasn’t all that it was cracked up to be- that being home with family was all that really mattered. Some of us struggled financially, struggled with losses and loneliness, worried over charts and numbers yet felt more thankful than ever for our good health. Here, we are, still in the midst of the pandemic, but still moving along- still caring for the kids and parents and neighbours, still trying to make the best of this ever-changing life. We hope taking part in Farm Share helped keep you healthy and grounded, and added a little adventure to your days at home (or on the go). This is week 21 or 22 of the summer season (the last week for those of you with a biweekly share that get a delivery this week). We hope you enjoy it, and are able to make it last a little. Pretty soon we’ll be into winter shares (starting Nov 18/19), where we keep you stocked with local, hearty and always organic veggies and fruits.
That’s celery root on the right- funny-looking but tasty! Trying Persimmons this week- because why not?! That’s them on the upper right of the photo.
A new item this week is celery root, or celeriac. I will honestly say it is probably the ugliest veggie out there- a cluster of white roots all knotted together. It looks a lot like celery in the fields, but a darker green, and all the action is at the root. Celery root has a mild celery taste that is awesome roasted, in soups, or even mashed with or without potatoes. It’s full of fibre, potassium, magnesium, and even Vitamin K and you can eat it raw of cooked. Try this Underground Vegetable Salad which also features rutabaga and carrots. Feel free to use your lettuce instead of endive (it’s less bitter anyways). Speaking of which, this will likely be the last week for lettuce. It has actually been pretty awesome to have lettuce this close to the end of the season, as lettuce can only tolerate a bit of frost. Lettuce is still my go to when I am too tired to do serious cooking, but I need my veg! Whole shares also get cucumbers, which are a special treat as well in October. Try Celeriac and Garlic Mashed Potatoes if your typical mashed potatoes need an upgrade.
Another item we haven’t had in a while is chinese cabbage a.k.a. napa cabbage. I have already shared that chinese cabbage makes an amazing Asian-inspired salad raw with a peanut dressing and a fantastic stir fry with bacon and chow mein moodles, but it is truly awesome in soup as well! Try this Napa Cabbage and Bean Soup suitable for vegetarians, vegans and meat-eaters alike, or simply chop it up and add it to your basic noodle or wonton soup for some added interest and health benefits.
We did something fun in the fruit shares this week- persimmons. Honestly, I have never tried them, so we’ll do this adventure together. You can make this Autumn Salad with Persimmons or simply slice them and sprinkle with a little cinnamon and enjoy as is. We are enjoying Hachiya Persimmons (originated in Japan) which are best when soft, like an over-ripe tomato. They happen to be a little on the exotic side and have the price to match, so we just get to try 2 each. Hope you enjoy this little adventure with me!
Whole Shares
- 1lb russet potatoes
- 1 bunch carrots
- 1lb celery root
- 1 head red or green leaf lettuce
- bunch red beets
- chinese cabbage
- 1lb rutabaga
- bunch green kale
- butternut squash
- yellow onions
- cilantro
- extra squash
- bok choy
- cucumbers
- red and green leaf lettuce
Half Shares
- 1lb russet potatoes
- 1 bunch carrots
- 1lb celery root
- 1 head red or green leaf lettuce
- bunch red beets
- chinese cabbage
- 1lb rutabaga
- bunch green kale
- butternut squash
- yellow onions
Simply 6 Shares
- 1lb russet potatoes
- 1 bunch carrots
- 1lb celery root
- 1 head red or green leaf lettuce
- bunch red beets
- chinese cabbage
Fruit Shares
- 1/2 pint blueberries
- 2 hachiya persimmons
- 5 BC sunrise apples
- 3lbs bananas
- 4-5 avocadoes
I just had to write a little something about the man you see above. While running the farm, driving tractors and trucks, managing and selling, he spends his weekends fixing out roof (with me too). He truly is fearless and gives 100 percent for our family. He probably would not be too impressed with me putting this up here, but too bad! Sometimes a girl just has to admire the fearless farmer in her life 🙂