Spring CSA

Week Eleven of the Spring CSA will include the following: Hardy Greens (Red Mustard, Wasabi Mustard, Red Russian Kale, OR Tokyo Bekana), Mesclun Salad Greens, Hakurei Turnips OR Parsnips, Apples, Potatoes, and Dried Beans (white, kidney, OR black). Please note that the weekly photo is not an exact depiction of what is in your share, but rather a reference image.

The weekly letter will be coming to your inbox the day before your pickup and is also available at stillmansfarm.com/blog and stilllifefarm.wordpress.com.  

Weekly Featured Item: Hardy Greens

(Tokyo Bekana, Red Russian Kale, Red Mustard, OR Wasabi Mustard)

It’s that time of year, the major flipping of greenhouse space from winter crops to summer crops has begun.  This week at Still Life Farm we pulled out all our winter greens to make space for cherry tomatoes.  That being established, you are going to see some form of hardy cooking green turn up in your CSA bags!  I thought I would do a quick run-down on each, so you know what you are working with.

Tokyo Bekana is often mistaken as lettuce, but in fact is a soft, light form of Napa Cabbage that is grown in Japan. It is high in Vit A, C, and K.  Perfect for a quick stir fry with your Hakurei turnips.

Red Russian Kale is a smooth kale with oak leaf-shaped leaves and red stems.  This kale has a mild nutty flavor.  When the stalks are young and tender (like they are in your CSA share), I chop them right into whatever recipe I am using. High in Vit A, C, iron, calcium magnesium, and potassium.

Red Mustard has brilliant purple leaves.  Pairs well with rich meats, with its moderately peppery notes and nutty finish.  High in Vit A, C, and K (seeing a trend here…).

Wasabi Mustard has fluffy light green leaves.  The flavor has only a subtle hint of the hot wasabi we are used to with our sushi, but you will get a peppery bite with this green. This green is high in Vit A, B, and C.

This week I was informed that this world lost a dear sweet soul who was a long-time Stillman’s/Still Life Farm CSA member.  In honor of her memory, I am sharing one of the many recipes she shared with me over the years.  She will definitely be missed.  This soup calls for kale, but you could easily sub any of the hardy greens that comes in your CSA bag this week.

White Bean & Kale Soup with Chicken Meatballs

• 1 pound ground chicken
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
• 1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 2 Tbsp fresh thyme (divided)
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 tsp sea salt (divided)
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 2 tsp oil
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 5 cups chicken broth
• 1/2 tsp red chili flakes
• 2 cans cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
• 4 cups chopped spinach or kale (or any hardy green)

Combine chicken, eggs, breadcrumbs, parmesan, 1 Tbsp thyme, garlic, S&P.  By heaping tablespoon, form into balls.  Set aside.  In a large pot, heat oil, add onion, and cook five minutes.  Add broth, remaining salt and chili flakes.  Bring to a boil, then drop meatballs and simmer 10 minutes.  Meanwhile, add one cup water to blender or food processor along with one can of beans.  Puree until smooth.  Stir pureed beans, the second can of whole beans, chopped greens, and the remaining thyme into soup.  Simmer five minutes.

 

A note about Hakurei Turnips.  Hakurei turnips are absolutely delicious little spring treats and are not your “grandma’s turnips” at all.  They are so tender they can be sliced raw and eaten in salad or slaw.  Or you can choose to do a quick roast or sauté with them.  The greens are also delicious, so be sure to sauté those up or throw them in soup, etc.

Farm Dirt

Stillman’s Farm.  It’s about to be MARKET SEASON!  Copley Square Farmer’s Market has its opening day this Friday, May 13th, 11am-6pm.  Be sure to stop by to visit if you are in the area! Here’s where you can find our market offerings thus far into the season:

Copley Square Farmer’s Market, Tues & Fri, 11am-6pm

Centre Street Farmer’s Market in JP, Sat, 12-3pm

Boston Public Market, daily, 9am-6pm

The farm in New Braintree, Mon – Sat, 9am-4pm ***

***this is the best location to shop for all your garden plants.  The selection is HUGE at the New Braintree farm!  And remember, if you can’t make it to the farm, we will have a sampling of our seedlings at all our spring markets.

Still Life Farm.  Busy week at SLF.  Farmer Curt has been working hard to get fields prepped (now that the rain has stopped).  He has the onion field all prepped and ready, so we will begin transplanting our thousands of onions later this week.  The potato field is just about done – when I stopped to visit him this afternoon, he was just finishing spreading fertilizer and about to lay drip tape and plastic over the raised beds.  The farm crew has removed all the winter greens from our largest greenhouse and will be transplanting cherry tomatoes into that house tomorrow morning.  Update on the greenhouse squash that was transplanted last week – it’s looking good!  The plants are growing with all this sunshine, and I saw some native pollinators on the first flowers.

Still Life Farm’s WINTER CSA is now accepting members for 2022-23 Season.  Please visit the link to sign up: Still Life Farm Winter CSA. Email StillLifeFarm@aol.com with any questions.

Stillman’s Farm SUMMER CSA will be kicking off mid-June…with a weeklong gap at the end of the Spring CSA. If you were wondering about timing, the Summer CSA ends a week or two before Still Life Farm’s Winter CSA begins, so there’s no overlap and no need to go too long without fresh, local produce form your farmers! Sign up for Summer CSA here.

Eat well & love your food,

Halley Stillman (Still Life Farm) & Genevieve Stillman (Stillman’s Farm)