Category: Note from the Farmer

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Week #4 — Note from the Farmer

Dear CSA Member,

Goodbye Spring and Hello Summer! You will notice a little taste of summer in your CSA shares this week. The first harvest of Summer Squash!
The lettuces are still coming on strong. It won’t be that much longer until the lettuce is suddenly gone until the fall. Lettuce will not grow well in the hot months of July and August. Fill your salad bowls and enjoy them while they last!

Don’t forget! The final day to order optional fruit shares is THIS FRIDAY, June, 29th. For more information about the fruit share, please click here.

The online marketplace is open! We have vegetables and herbs available this week in bulk. Great for freezing, or drying. We also have local honey, maple syrup, organic sriracha sauce, organic dry beans and more! Login to your member account to place your order. All marketplace orders will be delivered with your CSA shares. Please order by 1 pm the day before your CSA pickup to guarantee your delivery.

MARKETPLACE SPECIAL
Order any seed oil between now and the end of June and receive 6 bunches of oregano. Great to make a homemade salad dressing or to dry and use as needed.

Tag #stoneledge.farm in your Instagram or Facebook photos and receive 5% off coupon to the marketplace. Send a screenshot of your post to info@stoneledge.farm to receive your coupon. 1 coupon per member per week! (example- share photo, meal photo, picking up your CSA shares)

This weeks recipes! You can find more on our website!

Sugar Snap Peas: YUM! Picking these delicious peas is a very time-consuming job. It takes our full workforce a solid work day to pick these peas for the CSA. We hope you enjoy! To prepare these peas, you must first remove the strings. There are two strings per pod. One on each end that you should peel off. Sugar Snap peas can be eaten raw as a snack or cooked for with a delicious meal. Sautéed Sugar Snaps

Escarole: A member of the leafy chicory family. Can be eaten raw or cooked. Mix with other greens for a salad, sauté, or braise with white beans. Escarole and White Bean Soup      Escarole 101

Purslane: Makes a great addition to any salad and is a rich source of omega- 3s. Purslane info. from a CSA Member 45 Things To Do With Fresh Purslane

Garlic Scapes: The flower bud of the garlic. The scape gets removed in late June to encourage the garlic bulbs to thicken up for our fall harvest. Enjoy as you would garlic.
Garlic Scape Pesto

Lettuces: Check out this Caesar Salad Dressing!

Summer Squash: Can be baked, sautéed, steamed, boiled or even grilled. Chocolate Zucchini Bread A farm Favorite! (You can use any of the summer squash) Grilled Summer Squash Summer Squash Fritters

Mushroom Share- Shiitake: Mushroom and Burrata Bruschetta

Eat Me UP!
-Lettuces, Summer Squash, Purslane, Sugar Snap Peas

Zero Waste! You can freeze or dry me!
Freeze- Spinach, Escarole
Storage Tips:
Spinach, Escarole & Lettuces – Washed, in a salad spinner or, in a plastic bag with a paper towel.
Sugar Snap Peas: Unwashed in the refrigerator crisper drawer. Wash when ready to use.
Purslane: Wrap it in a towel then place in a loosely closed plastic bag and refrigerate for up to a few days.
Summer Squash: In the refrigerator crisper drawer.
Garlic Scapes: In a plastic bag, in the refrigerator. Will keep for two to three week.

Enjoy the Harvest,
Candice for everyone at Stoneledge Farm

Stoneledge Farm LLC
LIKE us at https://www.facebook.com/StoneledgeFarm

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Week #3 — Note from the Farmer

Dear CSA Member,

We hope everyone has been enjoying the bounty of the past week’s harvests.  The weather has been, just beautiful!  The fields are looking more and more colorful each day.  The lettuce is in full peak right now; please enjoy the flavorful lettuce while it lasts.  Before you know it, we will be switching to summer crops.  Lettuce doesn’t grow in the heat of the summer.  The weather conditions right now are perfect for the lettuces.

We have some great videos this week we would like to share.  Two are from the City Island CSA and one was just added today from farmer Pete.  Check them out.
City Island CSA Pickup
City Island CSA Lettuce Video 

Don’t forget!  The final day to order optional fruit shares is June 29th.  For more information about the fruit share, please click here.

The online marketplace is open!  We have vegetables and herbs available this week in bulk.  Great for freezing, or drying.  We also have local honey, maple syrup, sriracha sauce and more!  Login to your member account to place your order.  All marketplace orders will be delivered with your CSA shares.  Please order by 1 pm the day before your CSA pickup to guarantee your delivery. Order any seed oil between now and the end of June and receive 6 bunches of oregano.  Great to make a homemade salad dressing or to dry and use as needed.

This weeks recipes! You can find more on our website!

Kohlrabi: Kohlrabi is a member of the cabbage family. It can be eaten raw (grated in coleslaw or salad), pickled, or cooked (in soups or stews, or as a baked side dish) Red Lentil, Kohlrabi and Grain Curried Salad

Mint: Makes a lovely tea, summertime drink, or add to a summer dish. Easy Fresh Mint Tea Recipe, Mint Recipes

Swiss Chard: Surprisingly Swiss Chard is in the Beet family. Swiss Chard can be eaten raw or cooked. (similar to how you would prepare spinach)
Chickpea and Green Patties, Skillet Mushrooms and Chard

Red Mustard: Mustard Greens can be added to a salad, stir fry or, a garnish on a prepared meal. Mustard Greens With Chick Peas and Curry

Napa Cabbage: Great to make a quick Kimchi, Slaw, Stir Fry, Spring Rolls or even stuffed!
Cole Slaw Teriyaki Fried Beef Wraps Sweet and Sour Cabbage

Garlic Scapes: The flower bud of the garlic. The scape gets removed in late June to encourage the garlic bulbs to thicken up for our fall harvest. Enjoy as you would garlic.
Garlic Scape Pesto

Mushroom Share- White Button: Skillet Mushrooms and Chard
Have a recipe you can share? Email it to the farm!

Eat Me UP!
-Lettuces, Radishes, Napa Cabbage, Red Mustard

Zero Waste! You can freeze or dry me!
-(Freeze, Swiss Chard, Kohlrabi) (Dry, Mint)
Storage Tips:
Greens & Lettuces- Washed, in a salad spinner or, in a plastic bag with a paper towel.
Cabbage- Washed, in a plastic bag and placed in the refrigerator.
Garlic Scapes- In a plastic bag, in the refrigerator. Will keep for two to three week.
Kohlrabi- Washed, and store in paper or plastic bag in the refrigerator. Will last for several weeks.

Enjoy the Harvest,
Candice for everyone at Stoneledge Farm
Stoneledge Farm LLC
info@stoneledge.farm
www.stoneledge.farm

LIKE us at https://www.facebook.com/StoneledgeFarm

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Week #2 — Note and Recipes from the Farmer

We hope you have enjoyed the bounty of the first week’s shares. It sure is nice to have something fresh after a long winter season. The weather has been corporative these past couple weeks allowing us to get a lot of work done in the fields. We have been planting more fall crops, putting away some row cover (that was laid over some crops to protect them from insect damage) to prepare to harvest this week’s shares. We have also been working daily to keep the weeds down in the field using various cultivators, and the weeds we cannot get with the tractor will get done by hand.

In this week in your CSA shares, you will be getting sage. The sage has beautiful purple flowers that are editable. I have a few sage flower recipes below you can try. This week is the last week for transplants. This plant should be planted right away in a pot or directly outside in your garden. The container we are sending the plant in is a decomposable pot and can be planted directly into the ground or larger pot. The plant should have full sun and watered when needed. Enjoy!

This weeks recipes! You can find more on our website!

Napa Cabbage: Great to make a quick Kimchi, Slaw, Stir Fry, Spring Rolls or even stuffed!
Cole Slaw
Teriyaki Fried Beef Wraps
Sweet and Sour Cabbage

Arugula: Arugula is more of a spicy green. It’s a great addition to a salad but, you can also add it to a pizza, wilt in a pot of pasta, make pesto, add to a sandwich instead of lettuce for a little more flavor or add to your favorite soup recipe.
13 Ways to add Arugula To Everything

Sage Flowers: Sage is the most flavorful just when the flowers open. Enjoy the sage flowers in these unique recipes.
Savory Sage Blossom Pesto
Fried Sage Flowers

Mizuna: Mizuna is another great salad addition. You can add Mizuna to your Risotto, Stir-Fry, Soups or a Grain Salad. It has a nice peppery flavor.
Spicy Peanut Sauce over Again Greens by, Chrys Napolitano, Locust Point CSA
Have a recipe you can share? Email it to the farm!

Eat Me UP!
-Lettuces, Radishes, Napa Cabbage, Arugula, Mizuna

Zero Waste! You can freeze or dry me!
-(Freeze, Curly Kale) (Dry, Sage)

Enjoy the Harvest,
Candice for everyone at Stoneledge Farm

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Week #1 — Note from the Farmer

Dear CSA Member,

Welcome!  The first week is always very busy and full of activity!  We have been busy cultivating the fields, transplanting new crops, seeding fall crops, and getting the fields ready for the next set of plants that will be ready in the greenhouse.  If you do not have a salad spinner, it is a great investment!  This week lettuce and spring greens will fill your shares.  It has been a long winter, and we have been waiting for a fresh salad!

This week you will be getting a basil transplant in your share.  The basil type is Amethyst basil, and it is ready to use.  To use carefully pick off a few leaves.  Do not pick off all the leaves.  You can plant your basil it in a pot or outside.  It will need full sun and of course water!  : )

On the bottom of each note, I have added helpful tips on produce that you can freeze if you can’t eat everything up and, produce you cannot freeze.  Keep an eye out for these helpful tips!

This weeks recipes!  You can find more on our website!
Boc Choy: A type of Chinese cabbage with tender dark green leaves.
Boc Choy Stir Fry
Boc Choy with Ginger and Garlic
Boc Choy and Ham Gratin

Rhubarb: Usually used to make a sweet treat! One of the first vegetables ready in the garden each year.
Springtime Rhubarb Cake (A Stoneledge Farm favorite!)
Rhubarb Refrigerator Pickles

Red Cherry Radishes: Don’t toss the greens! They are beautiful and make a great addition to a salad!
Banh Mi Burger

Have a recipe you can share?  Email it to the farm!
Eat Me UP!
Radishes, Lettuces, Rhubarb

You can freeze or dry me!
Freeze- Boc Choy  Dry- Oregano

Enjoy the Harvest,
Candice for everyone at Stoneledge Farm
Stoneledge Farm LLC
LIKE us at https://www.facebook.com/StoneledgeFarm

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Week #24 — Note from the Farmer

Dear CSA Member,

This is the last delivery of the 2017 season. We would like to thank all of our CSA members for being apart of the Stoneledge Farm CSA and for all your support throughout the season. A special Thank You to all the CSA site coordinators! Thank you for all your hard work and dedication this 2017 season. It has been a wonderful year and we are looking forward to the spring of 2018.

The 2018 season is now open! Thank You to all the members that have signed up already! We appreciate the early signups as most of our purchasing for the next growing season is done in December. We are running an early signup special $15 off your standard vegetable share. Your $15 discount has already been taken off the vegetable share and the price will be raised January 1st. Check your CSA site details for more information. To reserve your spot for the 2018 season you can log in to your account to place your order. Click on 2018 CSA Shares If you have any questions please let me know. info@stoneledge.farm

Last Chance to Order from the Marketplace: You can order bulk vegetable items that are available for your Thanksgiving Dinner!
Friday, November 10th. by 12pm – Last chance to order mushrooms.
Monday, November 13th by 3pm – Last chance to order Coffee, Maple Syrup, Seed Oils, Vegetables and Fruit in Bulk.
****Order soon because items a lot of items are now being Sold Out.

Delicata Squash- This week you will be getting Delicata Squash! This has been a high member request! This squash can be baked like the regular butternut and has a taste very similar to a sweet potato. Just delicious!

This week you will also be getting Celeriac, Carrots, Potatoes, Kale and, Collard Greens. These are all great items to add to a soup considering these cold temperatures that we will be experiencing these next few days! You will also be getting Pop Corn and Brussels Sprouts again this week. I have added directions below for both of those items.

Brussels Sprouts: This week you will be getting Brussels Sprouts. Below is information on how to prepare the Brussels Sports.

Use a paring knife to separate the sprout from the stalk.
Trim the base of each sprout close to the bottom but, not too close that the sprout starts to come apart.

3. Peel away and discard any browning or blemished leaves.
4. You are now ready to cook the Brussels Sprouts.

Pop Corn:

Take the kernels from the cob (by twisting both hands on the cob the kernels will fall off)
Use 1/2 cup of kernels for a large bowl of pop corn or 1 corn cob
Add 1tbl. of oil to large pot with lid.
Add popcorn and cover (do not lift cover until all of the popcorn is popped. If you lift the lid the popcorn will not pop!)

5. Add butter, salt or your favorite and Enjoy.

Again, Thank You and we hope you have a Safe, Healthy and Warm Winter Season!

Warm Wishes,
Candice for Everyone at Stoneledge Farm

 

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Week #23 — Note from Farmer — About Brussel Sprouts and Evercrisp Apples — Sign up for next year

Dear CSA Member,

We have received a good amount of rain this past week and, now that the fields have dried out we are taking full advantage. We have been cleaning up the fields and preparing them for the winter months. Today we are planting garlic for the 2018 season!

The 2018 season is now open and we would like to Thank all the members that have signed up already! We are running an early signup special $15 off your standard vegetable share. Check your CSA site details for your sites current offers. Your $15 discount will be taken off at checkout. To reserve your spot for the 2018 season you can login to your account to place your order. Click on 2018 CSA Shares If you have any questions please let me know. info@stoneledge.farm

**REMINDER** There is only one last delivery after this week. Your final pickup for the 2017 season will be Tuesday, November 14th. Don’t forget to order your winter items from the online marketplace. Login to your account to place your order! Click Here
Final Ordering for Marketplace Items:
Friday, November 10th. by 12pm – Last chance to order mushrooms.
Monday, November 13th by 3pm – Last chance to order Coffee, Maple Syrup, Honey, Seed Oils, Vegetables and Fruit in Bulk.

Brussels Sprouts: This week you will be getting Brussels Sprouts. Below is information on how to prepare the Brussels Sports.

Use a paring knife to separate the sprout from the stalk.
Trim the base of each sprout close to the bottom but, not too close that the sprout starts to come apart.

3. Peel away and discard any browning or blemished leaves.
4. You are now ready to cook the Brussels Sprouts.

Fruit Share Members: This week you will be getting a specialty apple in your share. It is called the Evercrisp Apple. The Evercrisp Apple is a cross between a Fuji and a Honeycrisp Apple. The farmer told us that if you left the apple in the refrigerator they taste more like a Fuji and if left out on your table they taste more like a Honeycrisp!

Enjoy!
-Candice for Everyone at Stoneledge Farm

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Note from the Farmer Week #22 — how to use the popcorn, plus recipes for winter squash , daikon radish and kohlrabi

Week #22

Dear CSA member,

The season is slowly winding down. We have two more deliveries after this week. Now is your chance to stock up on Marketplace items for the winter or even vegetables in bulk for your Thanksgiving dinner! The online Marketplace offers honey, maple syrup, coffee, and seed oils. We also offer every week fruit in bulk and veggies in bulk. This week we have kale, collards, turnips, carrots, and celeriac. Items are limited! If you are interested, please order as soon as possible.

To order from the Marketplace, click here

This week you will be getting POPCORN in your share! Along with Daikon radishes. Below are some helpful tips for using your popcorn and Daikon radishes.

Popcorn:

Take the kernels from the cob . Do this by twisting both hands on the cob. The kernels will fall off.
Use 1/2 cup of kernels for a large bowl of popcorn or 1 corn cob
Add 1 tbl. of oil to large pot with lid.
Add popcorn and cover. Do not lift cover until all of the popcorn is popped. If you lift the lid too much, the popcorn will not pop.
Add butter, salt or your favorite flavoring and enjoy!

Pumpkin / Winter Squash Pie: For this dish, you can use either pumpkin or winter squash. It is a great recipe! Click here for the recipe.

Daikon radish: Daikon radishes are a milder tasting radish. They become sweeter when they are baked. One of our favorite ways to eat the daikon is by making crispy daikon fries! Enjoy with a meal, snack or as an appetizer!

Kohlrabi: Kohlrabi is slightly crunchy with a little spice to it. It can be eaten raw, made into a grated slaw, or boiled or baked. Click here for some helpful ways to prepare and eat kohlrabi.

Enjoy!
-Candice for everyone at Stoneledge Farm

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Week #21 — Note from Farmer — Mustard Green and Arugula Recipes

Dear CSA Member,

We have been having some beautiful weather these past few weeks! Cool mornings and warm afternoons. The sunshine has been so nice! You will have more fall greens in your share along with some heavy root crops such as carrots and sweet potatoes. This week you will be receiving the fall planting of lettuce! You can make a nice fresh salad this week or cook some of the greens! I have included some cooking tips below for some of this week’s greens.

Mustard Greens- Can be eaten fresh in a salad or cooked many ways. Click here for 10 Ways to Use Mustard Greens by Food & Wine.
Mustard can be cooked with a Casserole, Frittata, Italian Style, Indian Style and more!

Mizuna- Can be put in a fresh salad, tossed in with hot pasta and fresh parmesan cheese, added to a risotto or a stir-fry. Mizuna is also great in soups or you can just sauté with some fresh garlic.

Arugula- Eaten raw or cooked. Arugula has a slightly peppery taste that makes it more versatile. For cooking recipes click here.
You can also try this Fall Spicy Arugula Salad

Vegetables & fruit in bulk is available through the online marketplace such as Collard Greens, Lacinato Kale, Red Russian Kale, Curly Kale and weekly fruit. These items are great for freezing!
Don’t forget your Honey, Maple Syrup, coffee, and Seed Oils! These items are also available through the online marketplace. Order soon as quantities are limited this time of year.

To Order from the Marketplace Click Here

Fruit Share Members- This week you will be getting Winesap Stayman Apples and Bosc pears. The Winesap apple is a great fresh eating and baking apple. The Winesap apple is a popular apple that originated from Kansas.

Enjoy!
-Candice for Everyone at Stoneledge Farm

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Week #20 Note from Farmer Update — How to freeze Cauliflower

Dear CSA Members, 
Below is your update for tomorrow.  We had to exchange the Lacinato Kale for extra Cauliflower this because the Cauliflower harvest was so abundant!  Once the cauliflower is ready it all has to be harvested or it will go bad.  We are very excited to share this bounty with our CSA members!  Enjoy!
Want to Freeze Cauliflower?  Below are directions!

-Heat a large pot of salted water to a boil.  In a large bowl, fill with half ice and water.

-Cut up the veggies while you wait for the water to boil.  Carefully, add in vegetables and cook for 1 to 1 1/2 minutes, only until they’re slightly cooked through and tender.

-To test, remove a piece with a slotted spoon, dip it into the ice bath to cool quickly, then eat it.  If the test is good then scoop out vegetables quickly and immediately move to the ice bath.

-Keep the vegetables in the ice bath just until they’ve cooled, about 20 to 30 seconds.  Remove vegetables, drain in a colander, and set aside until ready to freeze.

Best,
Candice

 

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Week #20 — Note from the Farmer — Cauliflower Soup Recipe, Boc Choy recipes, more

Dear CSA Member,

As the season slowly winds down we have had member request for winter coffee shares. If you are interested in ordering coffee for the winter months you can order directly from the marketplace. The coffee is freshly roasted and will keep for the winter stored in a cool dry area.

Other items are available through the marketplace as well such as vegetables & fruit in bulk. (Collard Greens, Lacinato Kale, Red Russian Kale, Curly Kale and weekly apples) These items are great for freezing!
Don’t forget your Honey, Maple Syrup, and Seed Oils! These items are also available through the online marketplace. Order soon as quantities are limited this time of year.

To Order Click Here

This week in your share you will be receiving Boc Choy! A little taste of spring! (as we head into fall) This is just one of the few items that we seed and plant again for the fall. This crop like the mustard, mizuna and arugula do well in cooler temperatures. They will not grow well in the heat of summer. You will also be receiving the first fall harvest of Cauliflower! We hope you enjoy!
I have added some helpful cooking tips and recipes below. One recipe is from a CSA member!

Cauliflower Soup
Judi Katz-Schwartz, Yoo Mi Thompson

Ingredients:
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 medium onion (6 ounces), sliced thin
• 1 head very fresh cauliflower, about 1-1/2 pounds
• Salt, to taste
• 5 1/2 cups hot water, divided
• Extra virgin olive oil, to taste
• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Directions:
1 Heat the olive oil in a heavy pan. Saute the onion in the olive oil over low heat without letting it brown for 15 minutes. This is called “sweating”.
2 Add the cauliflower, salt to taste, and 1/2 cup water. Raise the heat slightly, cover the pot tightly and stew the cauliflower for 15 to 18 minutes, or until the cauliflower is tender. Then add another 4 1/2 cups hot water, bring to a low simmer and cook uncovered for another 20 minutes.
3 Purée the soup in a blender (you’ll have to work in batches) to a very smooth, creamy consistency. Let the soup stand for 20 minutes. It will thicken slightly.
4 Thin the soup with 1/2 cup hot water. Reheat the soup. Serve hot, drizzled with a thin stream of extra-virgin olive oil and freshly ground black pepper.

Bok Choy- Bok Choy is great sautéed, steamed or even eaten raw.
Try this Apple Box Choy Salad A great fall Bok Choy recipe.

Ancho Peppers- This week you will also be getting Ancho Peppers. Ancho peppers are a mildly hot pepper. They add a little spice to your dish and are great in chili.

Enjoy!
-Candice for Everyone at Stoneledge Farm