7/16/08

Nitty Gritty Dirt Week 6

In Your Share This Week

Winner Kohlrabi
The Blues Chinese Cabbage
Walla Walla Onions
Packman Broccoli
Mixed Lettuces
Provider Green Beans
Ararat Basil
Genovese Basil



Boxes Boxes and More Boxes

Thanks to all of you who brought bags to transfer your produce into, and left the boxes at the drop sites. For those of you who took them home, please remember to flatten them and return them when you pick up your share today. Well cared for, the boxes will last more than a season. Thanks again.

FROM THE FARMERS

Rain fell on the farmers and interns during morning chores today. It slowed just enough for everyone to start the harvest. It stopped long enough to get the green beans out of the field without any rust colored spots (caused by harvesting them when they're wet). With many hands and many conversations, the work went well, even when the weather cleared and got hot and sunny. At mid day, everyone helped prepare a community lunch and then it was back out to the fields. It was a full long day of work but with positive attitudes and two extra shareholder helpers, the work got done.

One of our interns from last year visited on Sunday and commented on the length of the rows. In most of the fields, the rows ran east and west last year and were approximately 100 feet. This year, they run north and south and are at least 250 feet to accommodate our irrigation system. It can be daunting to weed a row that long.
We harvested the first few Eight Ball Zucchini and added them to our stir fry at lunch. They will be in your share soon. The first few basil are in your share today with much more to come. The Pesto recipe is included this week just in case. (Use all of the basil this week for the pesto recipe). Fresh pesto is a delicious addition to a meal and as the basil gets more abundant, the pesto freezes well too. Frozen pesto tastes almost as good as the fresh version, but in February when you take some out of the freezer, it will taste like summer! Until next week...
Recipes
Pesto
1 large stem Genovese Basil
1 large stem Ararat Basil
2 cloves garlic
1/4 cup Walnuts
4 T Olive Oil
Blend in food processor. Add 1/2 cup Asiago, Parmesan and/or Romano cheeses.
Spread on good Artisan Bread.
Broccoli Salad
The source of this recipe is Grace Moen, a member of Community UCC in Gigi's home town.
1 bunch broccoli cut up
1 cup raisins
12 strips of crisp bacon fried and crumbled
1 onion chopped
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
1 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup sugar
2 tablespoons vinegar
Mix top five ingredients together. Stir dressing together and poor over broccoli mixture. Stir until dressing coats throughout. Cover and cool in fridge for at least 4 hours before serving.
From Earth Prayers by William Ellery Channing
To live content with small means, to seek elegance rather than luxury,
and refinement rather than fashion,
to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not rich,
to study hard, think quietly, talk gently, act frankly,
to listen to stars and birds, babies and sages with an open heart,
to bear all cheerfully, do all bravely,
await occasions, hurry never -
in a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious grow up through the common.
This is to be my symphony.


The Bread Box


We just received notification from our co-op that high gluten strong bread flour we use to make our bread will not be available until the new crop of wheat comes in and is milled - about November. It seems that last year there was a wheat shortage of the organic wheat used to make this flour. Currently our coop manager is searching for a source of flour from another mill that is organic, affordable, and will produced a good bread. So far, no luck - and that is why this week - as we continue our search - you are receiving no bread. As soon as we find a few possible alternatives, we will be doing a few test bakes to determine what direction we'll go. There are huge differences in the quality of flours and we want to be sure to continue the high quality of our bread. We are expecting that by next week we will have located a few flours to experiment with. You can expect bread again next week. Thanks for your understanding in how the risk of farming extends beyond the fields of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Farm.



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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.