CSA Farm Share 2010: Weeks 4 & 5

[surrealestate]

Two long weekends in a row of camping makes a frog slackful about posting updates. Even moreso than usual, that is.

Week 4

• 2 bunches Broccoli Rabe
• 2 heads Cauliflower
• 2 bunches Kohlrabi (w/ greens)
• 2 bunches Red Russian Kale
• 2 bunches Fennel
• 2 bunches Chiogga Beets (w/ greens)
• 2 bunches Basil
• 2 bunches Yellow Carrots
• 2 lbs Summer Squash
  ==
• 1 head Lettuce
• 1 bunch Carrots
• 4 Zucchini/Summer Squash
• 1 bunch herbs (Dill or Cilantro)
• 1 bunch Kale or Collards
• 1 bunch Pearl Onions
• 1/3 lb Spinach
• 5 Cucumbers
• 1 bunch Beets

Week 5

• 2 bunches Red Beets (w/ greens)
• 2 lbs Fava Beans
• 2 bunches Cilantro (who in the world needs this much cilantro?)
• 2 bunches Mizuna
• 2 lbs Yukon Gold Potatoes (new potatoes!)
• 3 lbs Cousa Squash (ooh, pretty green!)
• 2 (big giant) heads Cauliflower
• 2 heads Cabbage
• 4 (sizable) Cucumbers
• 2 bunches Biera Kale (ooh, new type of kale!)
• 2 buches Carrots (orange)
  ==
• 1 head (slightly sunburnt) Lettuce
• 1 stalk Garlic
• 2 oz Basil
• 1.5 lb Green Beans
• 1 (sizable) Zucchini
• 2 Kohlrabi (w/ greens)
• 1 Cucumber
• 1 bunch Scallions
• 1 (small) head Cabbage (sharebuddy called it an extra-large brussels sprout)

I wasn't around for the second part of Week 4, but for Week 5, the entire RF share fit into a bag that held 1/4 of Parker. It's a little frustrating and we're thinking about selling off the remainder of the season, since half of one large Parker is thusfar providing each of us with plenty. The only veg I *really* want that Parker doesn't grow is garlic, but RF doesn't provide enough of that to meet all my garlic needs, and getting it at the markets would be a lot cheaper than the share, anyway. (DD's farm out in Easthampton grows and gives garlic like crazy, too, so I plan to mooch off him later in the season. The stuff I got from him last year was the best garlic ever.)

Comments

[dani-namaste.livejournal.com]

I made an amazing chimichurri-ish pesto thing with orange juice, garlic scapes, cilantro and coconut oil. It's super-easy and freezes very well. Also, it's pretty easy to freeze cilantro and throw it into soups and stuff.

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

Oh, I already have plenty of cilantro that I've dried and/or frozen. And pesto (or chimichurri) made with cilantro is way too much cilantro for me -- it doesn't take much for it to overwhelm all other flavors for me.

I stand by my original statement. 8]

[dani-namaste.livejournal.com]

That was the beauty of the orange juice and coconut oil combo, though - it actually combined really well, and the result didn't taste overwhelmingly of cilantro.

Still, if you feel you have too much, you feel you have too much. Just offering an option ;-)

[desireearmfeldt]

Yeah, we switched to Red Fire when it sounded like Parker was reducing volume and wouldn't have shares available for all, and have been disappointed at the volume-per-dollar. Alas. (You did RF last year too, right? Was it similar?)

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

Last year was the first time I tried the split-two-shares thing, yes, so it's my second year with that, but my fifth year with Parker. It was still overall more voluminous than RF, but the difference was less stark because of all the issues he was having. We also had the fruit share with RF, which bumped up the total amount (at extra cost, of course, but in terms of perception, I think it made a difference.)

I was also having fun with the value-add of the pick-your-own options at Red Fire, but I recently did the math and realized that even if I paid cash for all that stuff, I'd come out ahead of paying for the share if I don't really *need* the extra half share.

My first year with Parker I had a small, then I bumped up to a large because a friend wanted to share the food. I think two of his past years have been challenging (last year due to regional issues and '07 was the divorce, iirc) and this year he's back up to (maybe even beyond) the best of the past. And also posting regularly on Facebook as well on the web site so that we know what's coming (I set up LJ feeds for them) which is lovely.

He seems much less stressed than last year, too, which is good.

Looking back at my old CSA posts (woo, tags.. oh right, I should tag this one), I seem to have a tendency to complain at the end of the season pretty much no matter what. I think I just get bitter when things are ending. :)

[fidgetmonster.livejournal.com]

That's serious amounts of veg from Parker! And I loooove cilantro and would have used up two bunches making indian sauces, soups or pestos. to each their own i guess! we all have to like different things or we'd have a hard time sharing :)

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

I know it's kind of sick. Steve seems so much happier this year, too, which is great. As for the cilantro, yes, I know some people love it. I just like being silly about it. :)