Archives

Update & Share: 8/1/23

To view Farmer John’s latest update, click here.

This week’s share will include:

  • Veggies: lettuce, beets, peppers, red onions, tomatoes, basil, eggplant, green cabbage, bok choy, ground cherries or cherry tomatoes, maybe beans/corn/squash (“A” group for half shares)
  • Add-on shares:
    • Fruit: blueberries and red plums
    • Flowers: yes this week
    • Mushrooms: no mention in John’s email but should be every week

Serving suggestions:

  • This week’s share is perfect for ratatouille. Over the years we have shared a few ratatouille recipes but my favorite is “Walkaway Ratatouille” from America’s Test Kitchen. All you’ll really need to add are a can of whole peeled tomatoes, some dried herbs, garlic and vinegar (I just skip the parsley and don’t miss it). This one freezes really well so don’t bother halving the recipe if you’re only feeding 2-3 people. Serve it with bread, over rice, topped with a runny egg, drizzled with good olive our and sea salt (or all of the above). If you only have a little bit left, stretch it with some store-bought tomato sauce for a really quick and hearty sauce that pairs well with a chunky macaroni like farfalle or rigatoni. The recipe suggests using fresh tomatoes, but for me, our CSA tomatoes are best eaten uncooked and simply prepared, so I prefer using canned for this one.

Update & Share: 7/25/23

To view Farmer John’s latest update, click here.

Today’s share will include:

  • Veggies: cauliflower, lettuce, kale, rainbow carrots, eggplant, celery, string beans, summer squash, choice of cherry tomatoes or ground cherries, shallots, and choice of an herb- parsley, summer savory, mint, or thyme.  (“B” group for half shares)
  • Add-on shares:
    • Fruit: paused this week
    • Flowers: yes this week
    • Mushrooms: no mention in John’s email but should be every week

Serving suggestions:

  • If you happen to miss out on the cherry tomatoes, don’t be disappointed by the ground cherries, they are sweet and tart, and are a great topping for salads or for snacking. My daughter loves them and eats them for breakfast instead of other fruits.
  • My favorite treatment for cauliflower is from Alison Roman in Nothing Fancy. Cut the head into small bite-sized florets, toss with oil and seasonings, and then roast at 450 for 30min tossing midway through. It sounds like overkill, you will be tempted to take them out or lower the temp, and they will look burnt and crisp, but that is the point! A hard roast like that brings out their natural sweetness and makes them melt in your mouth. Roman’s recipe uses garlic, chili flake and Indian spices; it’s great as written but sometimes I like to switch it up and use other flavors to pair with whatever else I’m cooking that week.

Update & Share: 7/18/23

To view Farmer John’s latest update, click here.

Today’s share will include: kale, lettuce, squash, cucumbers, beets, sweet onions, eggplant, cauliflower,
beans, broccoli, and choice of cilantro, parsley, or dill. There will be tomatillos as an extra. (Flower shares will return this week. Fruit shares will receive cherries and pluots.)

Serving suggestions:

  • I tried a new strategy to use up the bundles of spinach and kale from last week: spinach artichoke dip. I had everything but the canned artichokes in the fridge/pantry and it came together easily so I will definitely keep it in mind for the next time I am craving something different with our abundant leafy greens. Don’t bother using expensive oil-marinated artichokes here, a drained can of Cento or Goya will do just fine. I threw in some leftover chopped CSA broccoli and onion which faded into the background proving that this might be my new go-to fridge clearing recipe. Served with a mix of crackers, sliced CSA carrots and tortilla chips, it was a family-friendly dinner loaded with veggies (and cheese).

Update & Share: 7/11/23

To view Farmer John’s latest update, click here.

Today’s share will include: summer squash, choice of spinach or Swiss chard, kale, lettuce, broccoli, sweet onions, carrots, cucumbers, eggplant, and choice of an herb (cilantro or dill)

Serving suggestions:

  • This week we will get our first batch of kale. If you want to use the kale in a raw preparation where you’ll be dressing it, here is a tip: after thoroughly washing and drying the kale, drizzle with a little oil and sprinkle with some salt, then massage the kale leaves well, then roughly chop. The massaged kale will be softer and slightly wilted, making it better to serve as salad greens. (Don’t forget that you already salted the kale when adding dressing and other seasonings)
  • Broccoli can handle a hard roast very well which brings out a concentrated flavor. Roast some simply seasoned florets — oil, salt, pepper — at 450 degrees until they start to char in spots. Toss with some finely minced raw garlic while still piping hot, and toss on some red pepper flakes if you’d like.

Update & Share: 6/27/23

To view Farmer John’s latest update, click here.

Today’s share will include: Lettuce, spinach, arugula, radishes, garlic scapes, summer squash, kohlrabi or Napa cabbage, peas (more sugar snap and snow peas now), and parsley.

Serving suggestions:

Update & Share: 6/20/23

To view Farmer John’s latest update, click here.

Today’s share will include: spinach, peas (mostly English or shell types), lettuce, summer squash
choice of arugula or tatsoi, salad turnips, fresh garlic, bok choy, and choice of an herb (cilantro, dill,
chervil, marjoram or summer savory).

Serving suggestions:

  • Spring CSA peas are best eaten raw or barely cooked so their freshness and sweetness come through. I like to smash them with some herbs (mint, dill, cilantro, all of the above), olive oil and flaky sea salt. Then I spread some high quality (or homemade) ricotta on top of toast and top with the smashed pea mixture. One of the best spring dinners, and it only takes a few minutes after shelling the peas.
  • Bok choy is a good addition to soup because you can get two textures from one ingredient. I like to cook the dark green leaves for longer so they wilt and melt into the broth. And then the crunchier stems I will add just before serving so they soften a bit but keep their snap. Any soup with greens can work, think Italian Wedding Soup or Caldo Verde and use the bok choy instead.

Update & Share: 6/13/23

To view Farmer John’s latest update, click here.

Today’s share will include: lettuce, radishes, spinach, summer squash, garlic scapes, choice of arugula or tatsoi, choice of cilantro or dill

Serving suggestions:

  • Make a pesto with the garlic scapes (NYT Cooking)
  • Mix dill in with your greens for an herby spring mix like they sell at the grocery store
  • A favorite in our house… lightly wilt spinach in some rendered bacon fat then top with the crispy bacon, a soft boiled egg and some quick-pickled red onion

2023 CSA Membership Form & Information

🎵🎵 It’s the most wonderful time of the year! 🎵🎵

That’s right CSA members, it’s time to register for the 2023 season! Click here for the new application and updated information. The early bird prices of $795 (full share) and $398 (half share) are valid through March 1st. Registering sooner helps get Farmer John the funds he needs to start the season so please considering sending in your registration fee as soon as possible if you’re able to.

Additional information about fruit and eggs will be coming soon. If you’d like to make off-season honey or meat purchases, please see the Meet Our Farmers page for contact information for those farmers.

Update & Share: 11/15/22

To view Farmer John’s last update of the season, click here.

Today’s share will include: butternut squash, orange sweet potatoes, red-skin potatoes, parsnips, choice of turnips or rutabaga, carrots, spinach, kale, lettuce, broccoli or cauliflower, Savoy cabbage, and leeks

Sadly, this is the end of our 2022 CSA season. Thank you to all of the members, farm workers and volunteers who made it a successful season! If you’d like to continue getting fresh local produce and products you can visit the Montclair farmer’s market on Saturdays between 8am-1pm during the winter. Both Circle Brook and Treelicious participate so depending on their availability throughout the winter you may be able to keep supporting your favorite farms! In past years, Treelicious continued to attend the market all winter long, while Circle Brook continued through the end of November before wrapping up until Spring.

Update & Share: 11/8/22

To view Farmer John’s latest update, click here.

Today’s share will include: buttercup(kabocha) squash, Japanese sweet potatoes, rainbow carrots,
beets, daikon, lettuce, spinach, baby bok choi, Napa cabbage or Brussel’s sprouts, shallots, broccoli or
cauliflower and choice of an herb.