Partitioning the First Share

As I noted last week, our first share was a lovely haul. CookMommie and I managed to make use of everything in the share with very few exceptions: the tops of the strawberries and some of the parsley. "What about the tops of the turnips, radishes and carrots?" you ask... they are consumed, and I'll explain how in a later post.

For now, a summary of what was put together almost entirely from this load:
4 large salads from the red leaf lettuce, green leaf lettuce, radishes, carrots, mint, parsley & thyme
4 servings of fridge pickles from the beet and leftover radishes & carrots
4 servings of chipotle mashed turnips
3 servings of pea risotto
Also delicious strawberry-based breakfasts and chocolate-covered strawberries... with the mint, we made mojitos!

and, of course, baby's first encounter with peas and carrots.

More on that tomorrow...

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First Share Pickup

The first share from Brooklyn Beet CSA today was not disappointing:

• 1 head red leaf lettuce
  
• 1 head green leaf lettuce
  
• 1 bunch turnips
  
• 1 bunch radishes
  
• 1 bunch carrots
  
• 1 beet root
  
• 1 bunch thyme
  
• 1 bunch parsley
  
• 1 bunch mint
  
• 3/4 pound shell peas
  
• 2 quarts strawberries
  
• 3 apples - need to verify which type! *update: they were mutsu apples
  
• And of course I picked up my share of eggs - 1/2 dozen for now
  

It was interesting to hear how the excessive rain has impacted the spring crops. Let's hope the weather improves for the next few months, but we can't really complain about this haul!

Sydney's 3rd solid food is shaping up to be fresh shell peas! More on that tomorrow, as well as some recipes that include these delicious foods. My thanks, as always, to the wonderful people who organized Brooklyn Beet CSA. And Magdalena, it was very nice to meet you. Some highlights from the food section:

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Brooklyn Beet CSA

Back in April, Dana and I signed up to join a newly-formed CSA that was accepting members from Boerum Hill, Brooklyn, locals: Brooklyn Beet CSA.

For those of you unfamiliar with the concept, CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture. Members buy a share or half share and pay for the season up-front or in installments throughout the season. This arrangements ensures that the farmer will have some money in hand during spring and a guaranteed income during the summer and early fall. CSA members take on some risk, since the season's crops may not yield as much as expected, but they also benefit from healthy crops. Not to mention the benefit of weekly deliveries of fresh, local produce.

I had been looking for a CSA to join since we moved back to Brooklyn. Our diet had been evolving for a while - far less meat and much more fruits and vegetables. Whole Foods is great, but can get a bit pricey when the right things are not on sale. Farmer's markets are awesome, and fun to peruse, but we can't get to them frequently enough to get all the produce we need. Plus, CSA have the added benefit of the community of members along with the farmers.

It seems lots of people were reaching the same conclusion, and no CSAs were accepting additional members, so joining Brooklyn Beet was a no-brainer.

We opted into a full share of vegetables, which come from the Angel Family Farm in Goshen, NY. The veggies are not certified organic, but they are grown pesticide-free. (Besides, as Mark Bittman has pointed out in the New York Times, "certified organic" means less and less.) I've read that the farm is featured in the documentary What's On Your Plate, but I have not yet seen the film. The family was at the initial sign-up meeting, and they seemed enthusiastic.

And went for a full share of fruit, from Hepworth Farms. This farm is also up the Hudson, in Milton, but has been around for much longer. Amy Hepworth, an interesting personality, is a seventh generation farmer, and her farm has been around since 1818. Amy was also at the sign-up meeting - she said she had cleaned her fingernails for the event. Word on the street is that their fruit is amazing, so I can't wait. (Photo from NY Mag)

We'll be picking up our share just a few blocks away at the YWCA, and the fun begins in just a few weeks. I'll be posting about the food that comes in, the recipes that come to mind, and the meals that come out.

Also, our baby girl, Sydney, will start eating solids very soon. I'll be making much of her food from the goods we pick of from the CSA. I'll be posting comments and notes about this as well.

Leftover fruits and vegetables - if there are any - will be pickled or jammed... stay tuned! ...If your interested.

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