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June 26, 2005
This week's CSA
Berries are starting to hit their prime, so we are planning on providing you with both raspberries and strawberries this week! The rain may make the berries too wet to keep well, if they are looking too wet we will substitute. Our medium and large share customers are getting a real treat with the first harvest of our tender haricot vert. These delicious beans are best prepared simply. I like to steam them until crisp tender then serve them with a splash of walnut or hazelnut oil and crumbled feta. We also have a nice scallop and haricot dish recipe for that special dinner. Everyone is getting spinach and raspberries this week, for a taste treat try a spinach raspberry salad with raspberry vinaigrette and smoked turkey.
Small Shares: 1/2 lb salad, 1 head lettuce, 1/2# spinach, 1/2 pt raspberries, 1/2 pt strawberries, 1 small head broccoli and 1 bunch radishes.
Medium Shares: All of the above plus more spinach, strawberries and broccoli. These shares will also receive the first of our tender haricot vert beans.
Large Shares: Everything in a medium share, plus more salad, spinach raspberries and haricot vert. Large shares will also receive two bunches of bullsblood beet greens and 1/2# of our saute mix.
Bullsblood beet greens are a staple in both our saute mix and salad mix. We love it for it's color and texture. The large shares have some bunches for you to enjoy. Toss braised bullsblood greens with a little garlic and olive oil and serve over pasta and ricotta for a pretty pasta dish.
Posted by Christine at 07:06 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
June 24, 2005
Grand opening and Farm Tours
We are very excited to be opening our new farm stand in downtown Monroe on June 26th. From 9-4, we will be celebrating at the farm stand and at the farm itself, just a couple of miles away. The farm stand is on Lewis st, just off Highway 2.
At the Willie Green's Organic Farm Stand we will have raffles, chef demos, samples, kid's activities and of course our great 100% organic and locally grown produce! Raffle prizes will include a gourmet dinner for two prepared by chef Miller at the farm, boxes of produce and a 16 week medium CSA share. Chef Miller will be demonstrating and sampling berry shortcakes, salads, arugula baquettes and smoothies. Kid's activities will include a play area, face painting and balloons.
We will have farm maps of our three fields available at the farm stand. Brett, our farm manager, will be giving farm tours at our main field through out the day. Come see how the crops are doing and learn about how we prepare the harvest for you and your family.
Take a drive out in the country for some great food and a great time! Questions? call us on the cell at (206) 321-4414 or (206) 390-7929
Posted by Christine at 07:45 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 22, 2005
Corn, Corn and more Corn
Fergus in the corn field.
Well, our goal for corn on our tables for the fouth of July weekend will not quite happen... but it should be ready by the middle of the month. A look at the current photos should show you that it is coming along very nicely. This year our corn will be a month earlier than it ever has been and should compete in timing with the boys from Eastern Washington. Quite a feat considering the cool, wet weather we have had thus far. It will be sweet, tender and absolutely delicious. LOOK FOR IT SOON!!!
Posted by Jeff at 05:51 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 20, 2005
What's in the box?
This week's boxes should be colorful and flavorful. The strawberries are finally coming into their own with a heady fragrance and a delicious flavor. We will have a brief lapse in the carrots but hope to have some more soon. We have two greens with distinctive flavors. Arugula has a peppery taste that adds a bit of a bite to salads or is wonderful in sandwiches. It is wonderful balanced with a creamy goat cheese. Try it on toasted baguettes with radishes, tomatoes or carmelized onions. We have several nice arugula recipes here.Rapini is another distinctive green that is very popular in Italian and Asian cooking. It is probably one of the most popular vegetables in Hong Kong, but it can be an acquired taste for Americans. It does well in sweeter dishes with a teriyaki sauce or with some heat to the seasonings. Tonight, I am serving one of my favorites Rapini Pizza at our market staff meeting. We are gathering tonight to taste and trade recipes. Look to see some of them in the near future. I have enabled comments on the blog so you are welcome to share some of your own favorite recipes with your fellow CSA memebers. We love to hear how you are using our produce!
Small Shares:
1/2# salad mix, 1 head lettuce, 1# sugar snaps, 1/2pt strawberries, 1 bn radishes, 1/4# arugula, 1 bn rapini.
Medium Shares:
Medium share get all of the above PLUS extra salad mix, strawberries, arugula and rapini. The medium boxes also have turnips.
Large Shares:
Large Share boxes have everything a medium share has PLUS extra salad mix, sugar snap peas, radishes, and they also have spinach and broccoli.
Posted by Christine at 06:42 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 18, 2005
summertime!
The sun is up, its hot, things are growing fast and the work list seems impossible to tackle, which can only mean one thing, its summertime here at Willie Greens. Time to reap the fruits of our labor and try and stay sane in the hectic proccess. With limited harvest time for the greens in the hot summer months, the cooler mornings and evenings are utilized to bring the freshest greens around. What seems like of months of rain and plenty of water, the sun and hot days seem to erase it in a matter of days, and the constant irrigation will begin soon. Organization is always a key element at this time of year, with multiple markets, c.s.a.'s and our wholesale accounts are all large tasks in themselves, and easy to get caught up in, but even more important is to keep looking forward to ensure the success of future crops, a slip up could mean weeks without a particular item. This is what we do best here, and despite the massive amount of stress I am put under, it is a hugely rewarding time and it keeps me coming back to subject myself to it every year.
It is always nice to see the berries finally producing, with the strawberries coming on strong and the first ripe raspberries and blueberries appearing we are extremely eager to supply them for our customers at the market. Come on by to try em'!
Posted by Brett at 07:56 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 08, 2005
First CSA Week
We are gearing up for the first week of our CSA. ALthough the farm is still dealing with hail damage, our CSA customers will be receiving first "dibs" on our produce. The sugar snap peas right now are truly wonderful, plump, crunchy and very sweet. The strawberries are smaller but packed with juicy flavor.
Here is what you will see in your CSA boxes this week:
Small shares will receive: salad mix, carrots, radishes, sugar snap peas, strawberries, bok choy and head lettuce.
Medium share boxes will have the above in larger quantities and they will have also have baby turnips.
Large share boxes will have the same as medium share, except they will have even more salad mix and peas. In addition, large shares will receive arugula and spinach.
I will posting some recipes the early part of next week.
Posted by Christine at 10:11 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 04, 2005
Rainy Days
Well after a few very helpful days of sun and heat, we seem to have reverted back to winter a bit. The rain hasn't seemed to stop around here, just slow down from time to time. The freshly cultivated soil is mush and at the moment it is impossible to get things in the ground, but it doesn't appear to be a problem for our crops, they are still thriving in this wet and mild weather. Me and my crew are ready for the sun to make things easier on us, but as far as water is concerned it is always too much or not enough, from experience, I'll take the too much any time. It is an easy time to stay upbeat though, with first harvests of carrots and broccoli, things are looking great and the growing season has just begun. Soon enough I will be begging for rain.
Posted by Brett at 09:16 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack