What’s In The Bag, Tuesday, May 22

Oooh diggity! You know its summer when the Peas are plump and swingin’ on the vine!

Not much tops the excitement around here than biting into the subtly sweet crunch of a Sugarsnap or Snow Pea. In today’s CSA bags for our Tuesday flock, we’re offering BOTH! (**note: the sugarsnap  peas are in an open bag; the snow peas are tied with a red twistie)

Also in the bag:
* Baby Zucchini and Yellow Squash
* Kohlrabi
* Salad mix
* Beet Greens
* Broccoli
* Spinach
* Sugarsnap Peas
* Snow Peas

With the arrival of the peas as well as the baby squash, we recommend tossing both in a stir-fry. You can even add some of the broccoli, beet greens, and spinach!

The kohlrabi is large enough to shred and make into a well-portioned slaw. Many folks have told us they loved trying kohlrabi slaw. Experiment for yourself and share your results! How did you make it? What did you add?

Finally, see the post below for a recipe for Spinach and Beet Green Wilted Salad.

Bon Appetit!

What’s In The Bag, Saturday/Sunday May 19 & 20

What a day!

We had a glorious time harvesting for the Saturday and Sunday flocks’ CSA bags, the Chatham Mills Farmers’ Market (happening every Saturday 8am to 1pm at the Chatham Marketplace, Pittsboro), and the 2012 Farm to Fork Picnic  taking place Sunday afternoon just north of Hillsboro. At Farm to Fork we’ll be partnered with Elaine’s on Franklin and will feature our rainbow Chard and our lady hens’ eggs.

We’re so excited to have another addition to our team, as our new intern, Shari Barnett, from CCCC’s Sustainable Ag program began her first day. Welcome Shari!

What our CSA peeps can expect in the bag:

Some of you will receive Golden Beets; the other half will receive a Kohlrabi and a big bundle of Parsley. If you don’t get beets this week, you can anticipate a beautiful bundle next week!
Broccoli
Sugar snap Peas
Kale
Salad Mix
Spinach
Beet Greens
Garlic scapes

You’ll fall in love with the beet greens this week, promise! So we suggest a Vegan Spinach and Beet Green Wilted Salad:

1. heat in a skillet 2 T canola and 2 t sesame oil at medium-high heat
2. when hot, add thinly slices scapes
3. turn off heat
4. mix in a bowl: 2 T rice vinegar, 1t dijon mustard, 1 T honey, and 1t sald
sesame seeds, 1/2 cup of sliced toasted almonds, and 1T toasted sesame seeds
5. Remove stems from spinach and chop spinach and beet greens to bite sized pieced. Place in a large mixing bowl and add hot mixture from skillet.
6. Immediately toss until all greens are coated with oil.
7. Finish with Granite Springs Farm (hard boiled) eggs, thinly sliced to top the salad (if you’re not vegan!)

Bon Apetite!

What’s In The Bag, Tuesday May 15

Welcome to the new Granite Springs Farm website! Ooh la la!

On this website, you will find information about the farm, including what food we produce, where to find our products, and how to join the CSA. You will also find information about the residential community forming on the property of Granite Springs Farm.

The day of rain has provided a much-appreciated rest for us on the farm as well as the plants holding on strong throughout the dry, sunny days. With a bit of surprise, we are excited to announce our Tuesday CSA flock will be receiving Broccoli in their bags!

In addition to Broccoli, you will also find in the bags:
* Cabbage
* Turniplets
* Garlic Scapes
* Romaine Lettuce
* Spinach
* Scallions

With your new abundance, we suggest a fresh, cold Dill Cole Slaw!

1. Finely chop 1/2 a cabbage head
2. Thinly slice the turniplets and once in half to create half moon shapes
3. Chop garlic scapes and scallions (you can chop all of the scapes except for any tougher tips on the opposite side to the pointed end)
OR throw all four ingredients into the food processor until you’ve reached your desired “chunkiness”)
4. Add mayonnaise, rice vinegar, and freshly chopped or dried dill (I recommend 1/3 to 1/2 cup of dressing, but dress as you see fit!)

Bon Apetite!

GSF received RAFI Grant for mushroom production!

In addition to planting many happy seeds and seedlings into our soil as well as jumping into CSA and farmers market season, we are also busy constructing a new hoop house!

This recycled hoop house from a retired tobacco farm is part of a grant awarded to Granite Springs Farm through RAFI’s (Rural Advancement Foundation International) Tobacco Reinvestment Fund.

The grant will support innovative agriculture production, particularly highlighting oyster mushroom production. Continue to follow our progress on the hoop house and stay tuned for oyster mushrooms!