CSA ~ September 19, 2019
Weekly Shares
Happy CSA Day!
Thank you for supporting Goodness Grows!
CSA PICK UP ~ THURSDAYS 4-7PM
If you realize that you aren't going to be able to make it to pick-up, no problem!
Just give us a call at 330-549-9408 to arrange a Friday visit.
We are here most Fridays from 8:30am - 2:30pm.
Time to refill your basket!
Please bring in the basket that went home last week and we will
refill it when you arrive today. Thanks!
In This Week's Share!
Peas OR Beans (first come, first served in making this choice)
Microgreens
Lavender
Cucumber
Lemon Balm (fresh, not dried this time)
Decorative Sunflowers
Acorn Squash (McMaster Farms)
Okra
Cabbage
(last two items from VanPelt's - info magnet in your share)
Our Growing Practices
We had a great question last week from Stephanie, one of our subscribers, regarding our use of chemicals on produce. To quote her, "If you can ever indicate whether it has been chemical free or what chemicals were used, it would really help those that are sensitive to external chemicals." This is absolutely a concern worth answering and a big THANK YOU to Stephanie for posing the question!!
No chemicals are used on any of our produce. We sometimes use an organic bug spray that comes from Garden Indoor in North Lima, but that was only on the cabbage and broccoli. We rinse the produce once it is harvested but recommend you give everything a good washing.
This is how the organic bug spray is described on its information:
"Finally… an effective organic insecticide! Organocide Garden Spray is derived from a unique blend of soybean extract, sesame and fish oils. Ideal for use on a wide variety of insects, mites, scale and certain fungal diseases. Can be used to replace many “toxic” synthetic pesticides and is safe enough to spray at harvest time or indoors. Will NOT burn plants. OMRI Listed for use in organic production.
Benefits:
• Kills all insect stages (eggs, larvae and adults)
• Controls fungal diseases, including powdery mildew and black spot
• NO re-entry time — plants can be harvested right after application
• Will NOT harm bees or butterflies
• Safe for people, pets and plants"
Note: What does "OMRI Listed" even mean? OMRI stands for the Organic Materials Review Institute ~ Whereas the USDA seal is found on food, feed and fiber products, OMRI seals apply to those things that go into making a food product qualify as organic: pesticides, fertilizers, livestock care products and anything that may affect the production of a food intended to be identified as organic. OMRI Listed® products may be used in the production of organic food and to protect the growing products from rodents or insects.
Chemical Free Growing
Lavender
You will be getting a few sprigs of lavender in this week's share, which I am unreasonably excited about! It won't look like much quantity-wise, but flavor-wise...wow! It doesn't take much lavender at all to pack quite a flavor punch. Never thought about using lavender in recipes? I love it in ice cream, caramel, hot tea, cold beverages, and much more. One way I never thought of using it was in a fried chicken recipe, but I stumbled across one such recipe that sounds amazing, so it is included below, of course! Unusual items like lavender in a CSA share offer a great way to try ingredients you might have never thought about and we sure hope you enjoy experimenting with the lavender this week! You can use the lavender right away as a fresh ingredient (keep it in the refrigerator) or hang it to dry for later use.
From The Spruce Eats: "Lavender's sweet, fragrant flavor complements a range of foods, both sweet and savory. Ingredients that lavender goes well with include strawberries, blueberries, pears, lemon, orange, honey, sage, rosemary, oregano, thyme, black pepper, and chocolate. Baked goods, salad dressings, beurre blanc, ice cream and sorbet, Provencal-style soups and stews, and dry rubs are all good uses for lavender buds." Source: https://www.thespruceeats.com/cooking-with-lavender-1375417
Lemon Balm
Fresh lemon balm (from the mint family) imparts a subtle lemon flavor and fresh lemon fragrance, making it especially nice for fruit dishes, custards, and tea. Lemon balm can be used both in hot and iced teas and in combination with other herbs such as spearmint. The plant is also often used as a flavoring in ice cream and it will work great in your favorite sugar cookie dough to make a delicious lemony tea cookie. It also suitable for spicing up chicken and seafood dishes. Use lemon balm in place of lemon peel in recipes and to flavor soups and sauces. When cooking with lemon balm, add at end of cooking time or just before serving your dish to best preserve flavor. Toss a few fresh leaves into a salad or a bowl of mixed fresh fruit or use it in a vinaigrette for marinades and salads. It also makes great herb butter.
Make candied lemon balm leaves!
To make: Beat an egg white with a tiny bit of water. Dip lemon balm leaves in the mixture, then dip in sugar. Lay the coated leaves on a parchment lined baking sheet. Place the baking sheet in a 200 degree F oven until the leaves look dry, but not browned. Check after 20 minutes and every 5 to 10 after that.
Fresh Salsa
Salsa - not just for tortilla chips anymore...though it is pretty
awesome that way!
Really, is there anything better than a basket of tortilla chips and a bowl of salsa?!? Who can resist that? But there are plenty of other ways to enjoy fresh, homemade salsa. Check out the article below for some ideas that'll make you wonder why you haven't done this before!
Our Fresh Salsa "Recipe"
Just in case you wanted to know how our salsa is made, the recipe below is what we use as a guide. Of course, we skipped the canned tomatoes and used our own fresh tomatoes and added cilantro! The quantities in this recipe are more of a suggestion and we do it by gauging how it looks and tastes, after many years of salsa making. Recipes like this are great because you can add, subtract, and make them your own!
Acorn Squash
Our acorn squash did not fare well this crazy growing season, but our friends at McMaster Farms in Columbiana (http://mcmasterfarmsllc.com/) had some gorgeous ones. We were especially glad to get these because Rachel and I stumbled across this different and appealing squash recipe below. If you make it, please give us a review of it!
Okra
I used to live on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, where okra was a common veggie. Growing up in New Jersey, this was not something I was used to eating. Luckily, I made good southern friends that introduced me to the glories of perfectly breaded and fried okra. Done right, it is pure pleasure! Check out the okra recipes below and experiment with this not-so-ordinary treat.
Contact Info
Goodness Grows is a faith-based 501(c)3 non-profit operating out of Common Ground Church Community. Our mission is to cultivate personal, social, and community growth through gardening, education, and opportunity for people of all abilities. We are working to improve people's lives through social and therapeutic gardening practices. We'd love for you to join us!
Create. Cultivate. Thrive.
Email: jlynch02@gmail.com
Website: www.goodnessgrows4all.org/
Location: 2310 W. South Range Rd., North Lima, OH 44452
Phone: (330)-549-9408
Facebook: facebook.com/GoodnessGrows4all/
Twitter: @GGrows