10/1/08

Nitty Gritty Dirt Week 17


From the Farmers….

With a frost warning for Tuesday night, we decided to pick all the rest of the peppers and tomatoes. It was a big pick and you are getting the results of it in your boxes this week. If you haven’t already, you might want to make up a batch of Tomato Sauce (see the recipe included). We didn’t get that freeze because the cloud cover kept us just above, but cold as it already is this evening, we are pretty sure this will be the big killing frost tonight.
On Sunday, our church had “Farm Day at Church” complete with a petting zoo of lambs, a goat, a chicken and three rabbits from NGDF. It was a bit crazy not only getting chores done, but loading up animals for church. But all went well – the animals were a hit – and another family brought apples from their orchard to press into fresh cider. It was a fun day. On Monday morning we took three pigs to the meat locker where they will be transformed into brats and Italian sausage.
We continue getting in all of the harvest. We finished harvesting the last of the red onions which will show up in your share next week and we will begin the marathon task of digging the last nine rows of Norland potatoes for your shares and our root cellar. Starting next week, we’ll begin unhooking the drip irrigation lines and rolling up the blue layflat hose, and then will begin the dirty task of pulling out the plastic much. I am always reminded of afterbirth when I see the piles of filmy, dirty, black plastic pile up at the end of the row. It is truly the end of the garden – when the mulch comes out and the tractor and disk roll in.
…. Until next week ….


"On The Road" at Nitty Gritty Dirt Farm

On Sunday, October 19th, KSTP will air the episode of On The Road (10:35PM) regarding CSAs. They spent a day with us here at Nitty Gritty Dirt Farm (a delivery day no less), during our mid summer season. They followed us through chores and harvest, box packing and even a delivery. Watch for it.


In your share this week:

Potatoes – Norland red and Russet brown
Squash – Butternut (tan dog bone), Sweet Dumpling (green and tan striped small pumpkin shaped)
Onions – Walla Walla yellow, Superstar white, Burgermaster red
Peppers sweet – Carmen (2” x 6”) Jimmy Nardello (1”x5”), Islander (purple bell), Bianca (cream bell), Gourmet (orange bell), Snapper (green bell), Ace (red bell), Lipstick (2”x4” red or green), Apple (2”x3” red or green)
Peppers hot – Numex Joe Parker (2”x5” green), lemon drop(1/2” x 3”)yellow, Serrano del Sol (1/2” x3”green), Poblano (3”x4” or smaller very dark green)
Eggplant – Dancer, Galine, Orient Charm, Orient Express
Tomatoes – Paragon (large red), Polbig (large red), Pink Beauty (large pink), Moonglow (med orange), Taxi (med yellow), Green Zebra (green striped)
Radishes – Pink Beauty, Scarlet Globe
Basil – Ararat purple (if it doesn’t freeze)

Basic Quick-Cooked Tomato Sauce

5 pounds tomatoes peeled and chopped
1 large onion finely chopped
2 cloves garlic minced
1 small to medium green pepper seeded and finely chopped
2 Tablespoons fresh basil leaves or 1 Tablespoon dried basil
1 ½ Tablespoons chopped fresh oregano or 2 tsp. dried oregano
2 Tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves
¼ tsp. ground ginger
¼ tsp ground allspice
1 ½ tablespoons brown sugar
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
1 ½ Tablespoon red wine vinegar

Simmer gently for about an hour. Use immediately, can (waterbath for 15 minutes), freeze or refrigerate up to one week.

(If you want to make a hot sauce – just add hot peppers.)

The Bread Box
This week’s bread is a new creation of Robins that uses a hearty mix of ingredients from a 7-grain Mix and Polenta to Molasses and Arrowhead Alt Beer brewed right here at Nitty Gritty Dirt Farm. We shared a loaf soon after it came out of the oven and it had turned out so well that she actually wrote down the recipe!

Fall Harvest Festival
Thanks to those of you who emailed your RSVP. If you haven’t responded and would like to come, let us know asap as we are planning the food. The fest is Sunday, October 5th at 2:30 PM. Dress warm.

DROP SITES

Use the addresses to google or mapquest or look up the drop site from your particular location. Keep in mind that the folks at the drop sites are volunteers, allowing us to use their space (and in some cases, their homes) as drop sites. Be nice to them. We couldn't do this without them. If you have any questions about your share etc., you should ask us, not them. They have enough to do....as do we all. All deliveries occur on Thursday afternoons. Approximate drop site times are listed below each location. The end times vary but you should pick up your share as early as possible. Look for the NITTY GRITTY DIRT FARM DROP SITE signs at your delivery locations along with lists to check your name off when you pick up, and a description of exactly what you should take.

Nitty Gritty Dirt Farm
10386 Sunrise Road (Cty Rd 9)
Harris MN 55032

35 north past North Branch to the Harris Exit. Turn Right.
Go into Harris, cross RR tracks to stop sign. Turn Left
Go 2 blocks to County Rd 9, also called Sunrise Road. (at Heartbreakers Bar) Turn Right. Farm is 4 1/2 miles out on left side of road. Look for Nitty Gritty Dirt Farm sign.
Shares available from 3:00 to 6:00

United Theological Seminary 3000 5th Street NW, New Brighton MN 55112
694 to Silver Lake Road exit. Go south to 5th and turn west (right). Go three blocks to UTS. Follow driveway (left) to the maintenance garage at the far north end of the parking lot. Shares available after 3:30 PM to 6:00 PM.

Pilgrims United Church of Christ
8801 Rice Lake Road, Maple Grove MN 55369
Just off of Weaver Lake Road across from Rice Lake Elementary School. Use main church door. Shares available from 3:30 to 6:00.

Acadia Cafe
329 Cedar Avenue South, Minneapolis
NW corner of Cedar and Riverside. Park on Riverside or
in lot behind the cafe.
Shares available after 3:15 PM until 6:00 PM

Vincent Avenue
3646 Vincent Avenue North, Mpls MN 55412
1/2 block north of 36th Ave N, and 2 blocks south of Dowling. Park on the street. Shares available after 3:30 until 6:00 PM

Additional drop sites may be added as shares are sold. Drop Sites are subject to change but plenty of notice will be given and alternate sites will be within close proximity to the original drop site.

FARM CONTACT INFORMATION

Robin Raudabaugh & Gigi Nauer

Nitty Gritty Dirt Farm

10386 Sunrise Road

PO Box 235

Harris MN 55032


(651) 226-1186


nittygrittydirtfarm@gmail.com

Also Nitty Gritty Goods Wool CSA
Robin Raudabaugh
651-216-9012
nittygrittygoodswool@gmail.com

We are a 15 acre Community Supported Agriculture farm providing a wide variety of fresh, organically and sustainably grown vegetables, fruit, lamb, pork, turkey and chicken. Located one hour north of the Twin Cities, we deliver to several metro locations. We are intentional about our organic and sustainable farming practices which include (but are not limited to): maintaining soil health through green and animal manures, compost, mulch, cover crops and crop rotations; Organic Pest Management to naturally monitor, prevent and control insects and other pests; maintaining animal health and well-being through the use of portable and loose housing and pasture rotations. Owner/operators Robin Raudabaugh and Gigi Nauer provide over 30 years experience in fruit, vegetable and livestock production, education and customer service. Our primary goal is to build community, relationships and personal health and well-being around good food and the intentional living that creates it. We’d love to have you join us.

Not every day is like this but we try.

Not every day is like this but we try.

Not every day is like this either.

Not every day is like this either.