Dear Friends,
As our season comes to an end we know what we will be thankful for this Thanksgiving--all of you!! You have made it possible for us to do what we love. We had an amazing season with old friends and so many new ones.

As the wind rips our fence down and blows dirt on everything today it's like a sign that our garden needs a break so we're putting in our cover crops and getting ready to take it easy--if that's possible on a farm-but we're also planning for our new season and can give you an early preview of what will be in your bag in March. Today and for the next few weeks we will be planting:
Carrots, Onions, Potatoes, Sugar Peas, Lettuce, Parsley, Kholrabi, Kale Cabbage, Parsnips, Leeks, Rainbow Chard, Fennel, Cilantro,Artichokes, Spinach, Scallions, Beets and Specialty Greens.

If we've forgotten one of your favorites let us know. If there's something you really want for next year now is the time to tell us so we can start putting it in the ground.

And by the way because of your support and referrals, we will have to expand our growing for next year. We will still keep our urban garden on Blosser, but we will also expand to a bigger farm. As soon as it's ready, we will let you know where it is is. Our CSA members will be the first to get a sneak peak of our new place.
So feel free to tell your friends about us. We're growing plenty for everyone.

Have a great Thanksgiving-you will all be mentioned at our table.

Look below to keep up on what's happening at the farm




Monday, December 28, 2009

Winter on the Farm


I'm not really much of a writer, but I wanted to let you know what's going on at the farm.

First, we finished cleaning up all the fall crops which means removing every thing from the bed and putting it in the compost pile. This leaves a clean bed which is easier to work and the green waste breaks down faster in the compost pile. The strawberries and raspberries are cut back, weeded, and composted. We planted a lot of cover crops for the winter. This helps shade out weeds, controls soil erosion, and best of all, provides lots of nutrients for the spring and summer crops.

On rainy days we have been working on the planting schedule and ordering seeds. We've planted a few of the crops that take the longest to grow like bunching onions, carrots, beets and sugar peas. Soon we will sow lettuce, broccoli and kohlrabi in the greenhouse followed by cilantro and spinach a little later on.

Our new garden is keeping us busy. We have cleaned up the site, put in an irrigation system and have it bedded up-germinating weeds after each rain that we will till under before we plant in January.

This time of year is pretty exciting because the farm is like a blank canvas. I will continue to keep you updated.

Wishing all of you a happy and healthy new year,
Jerry

Monday, November 23, 2009

Tomatillo Stew

Hi everyone,
I think you'll all enjoy this tomatillo stew. We're having it for lunch today.

Ingredients

  • 2 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - pounded thin
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 pound chopped tomatillos
  • 2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and minced
  • 4 cups chicken stock
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
  • 1/4 cup sour cream (optional)
  • salt to taste
  • ground black pepper to taste

Directions

  1. Heat oil over high heat in a large saucepan or Dutch oven. Saute chicken in oil until both sides are browned, approximately 2 minutes per side. Remove the chicken, and set aside.
  2. Add onions and garlic to saucepan, and saute until golden. Stir in the tomatillos, jalapeno peppers, and broth. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover the pot, and simmer for about 15 minutes.
  3. Puree vegetables in batches in a blender or food processor. Return to pot, and reheat. At this point taste the soup; if not piquant enough, add cayenne pepper or pepper sauce.
  4. Slice the chicken into thin slices, and then shred. Stir into soup. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
  5. When ready to serve, stir in the minced cilantro and ladle into bowls. Put a dollop of sour cream on top of each portion, and let it melt a bit. Top each dollop with a single cilantro leaf, and serve immediately.

Nutritional Information open nutritional information

Amount Per Serving Calories: 171 | Total Fat: 10.5g | Cholesterol: 31mg

Friday, July 3, 2009

farm camp


Monday, June 22, 2009

Just wanted to share some recipes from Sara at the Tucson CSA

Moroccan Slaw

Sara Jones, Tucson CSA

Consider using any combination of mixed grated root vegetables-

preferably beets, carrots and turnips or kohlrabi.

Mix:
1 cup beets, peeled and grated
1 cup carrots, scrubbed and grated
1 orange or grapefruit, peeled and cut crosswise in thin slices

Dress with:
1 pinch ground cumin
1 pinch ground coriander
¼ cup yogurt
cashews, chopped
fresh cilantro, chopped
salt and pepper

You can replace the yogurt with oil and apple cider vinegar.

Refrigerate before serving.



Roasted Winter Vegetables

Sara Jones, Tucson CSA

Baby carrots, beets and turnips are
delicious roasted together. Serve over
cooked grains as a side dish.

Cut off your beet and turnip greens and cook them
together to eat in the same meal, or save
them in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for
another time.

1 bunch baby carrots, scrubbed clean
1 bunch beets, scrubbed clean and quartered
1 bunch turnips, scrubbed clean and quartered
1 tablespoon oil
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
Salt and pepper to taste

Toss vegetables together with oil and vinegar and place in
a baking pan.

Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Roast vegetables in a 375 degree oven for about 30 minutes until they are all tender. (Test one of each vegetable, as they have slightly different cooking times.)

Beet and Carrot Cake

Sara Jones, Tucson CSA

2 cups grated carrots and beets, mixed
1/3 cup granulated sugar
2/3 cup packed dark brown sugar
2/3 cup vegetable oil
2 large eggs
¼ cup yogurt
2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt

Streusel topping:

2/3 cup oats
2/3 cups walnuts
¼ cup butter
½ cup brown sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Make topping by mixing
streusel ingredients together in blender, pulsing, until
well mixed.

Combine the granulated sugar, brown sugar,
oil, eggs and yogurt in a large bowl; beat with a mixer
on medium speed until well blended.

Add beets and carrots; beat well. Combine flour and spices in a large bowl. Add to wet mixture and mix well.

Pour batter into a greased and floured 9×13″ cake pan.
Sprinkle evenly with streusel mixture. Bake at 350° for
30 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center
comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes on wire rack;
remove from pan.

Cottage Pie

Sarah Martin, Tucson CSA

This recipe can be easily altered to accommodate a changing
variety of produce. Try adding or substituting green beans,
turnips or other seasonal vegetables.

1 1/2 pounds red skinned potatoes, cubed
2-3 ounces shredded farm house cheddar cheese
1/4 cup yogurt
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound ground beef*
1/2 cup carrots, diced
1/2 cup onion, diced
1/2 cup peas
2 cups vegetable stock
1 tablespoon bay leaf
worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons all purpose flour
salt and pepper to taste

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Combine the
potatoes and 1 cup of the vegetable stock in a saucepan. Bring
to a boil, reduce heat and cover. Simmer 10 minutes or until
the potatoes are tender. Set aside. Do not drain.

Heat olive oil in a skillet. Add ground beef. Break the beef into chucks as it
cooks. When you don’t see any more pink, poor off any extra
fat and add the carrots, onion and peas. Cook 5 minutes more.

Add the Worcestershire sauce, bay leaf and salt and pepper to
taste. Stir the flour into the beef mixture making sure to coat
all of the ingredients. Cook 2-3 minutes more.

Slowly poor the remaining vegetable stock into the beef and bring to a boil.
Pour mixture into an 8 or 9-inch casserole. Mash the potatoes
in their cooking liquid and stir in the shredded cheese and
yogurt. Spread the potatoes over the beef and vegetables. You
can sprinkle extra cheese on top of the potatoes if you like
things extra cheesy. Bake 30-45 minutes or until bubbly along
the edges.

*Substitute ground lamb and you have a shepherd’s pie, or
cooked lentils for a vegetarian option.

Monday, June 15, 2009

Hi Everyone,
Just wanted to let you know what will be in your bag today.

Carrots
Onions-small red
Potatoes
Eight ball squash--my favorite for stuffing
Zucchini squash
Lettuce
Fennel
Beets
Strawberries or Artichokes--we don't have enough of both for everyone so if you get artichokes this time you'll get strawberries next time and vice versa.
Kholrabi
Kale

Welcome to all of our new members. You have all been so great about recommending us to your friends that we are growing, growing, growing!

Farm Camp for our members will be June 29th- July 3rd 10a.m.-1p.m.
It's free for all member's kids and any members that want to join us. We'll be learning all aspects of sustainable farming in a fun hands- on way. Get ready to get your hands dirty. Let us know if you'll be coming.

Our friend and local artist Tommy Hacker will also be having Art in the Garden @ Blosser Urban Garden this summer . Cost is $110/week and includes all materials and lunch. The first session starts June 22-26. 11a.m.-2p.m. to sign up and for more information send us an email.

Thanks again for all of your support. We are having a great time!

join us in our urban garden

join us in our urban garden

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Alejandra Mahoney
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