Springing into the New Season

The CSA is starting up again and it certainly feels like spring at the farm. The pear trees are bursting out in blossom, the blueberry bushes are loaded with green berries, and of course the weeds are going gangbusters. The bees are thick around anything in flower, ducks are flying over in pairs, and the swallows are swooping about overhead catching flying insects. It’s hard to argue with these beautiful sunny days, though we’re still hoping for some more winter rain before the end of March.

We are happy to have an experienced farm crew on board again this year. Almost all of our field crew are back from last year, some have stayed on through the winter; others are just starting work again this week. Drivers Mark and Stephanie are ready to roll with your CSA boxes starting Wednesday. Sarah is always available either from her home or our yurt office to help you with any administrative questions. Chef Andrew Cohen is again lending his expert culinary advice in the newsletter.

For those of you new to our CSA, this newsletter comes out every Tuesday during the CSA season with a note from Farmer Steve or me, Jeanne. We let you know what you can expect in your box that week and Sarah writes up some tips on how to use your vegetables. Plus, we give local chef Andrew Cohen our list of expected items and he puts together culinary creations that feature them. Please remember that the weekly list of what’s in the box is a guideline, not a promise. We pick most of your produce the day before you get it, and sometimes things change between the time we write the newsletter and harvest time. Substitutions happen occasionally.

So what’s new this spring? We’re trying fava greens for the first time. We hope you enjoy these tender greens from the bean plant. Let us know what you think. A little later in the spring you’ll get the fava beans as well. We also have a nice planting of green garlic coming in. We did not manage a green garlic crop last year, due to rain at planting time, so we’re excited that things worked out for the garlic planting this year. Green garlic is such a special spring treat. You’re also getting the first cutting off of the oregano patch we planted last year.

Enjoy the first boxes of spring and thank you for supporting our farm. We’re looking forward to a great year of growing your vegetables.