Share #1, June 18, 2011

Meet your farm!





















Welcome new and returning members! We look forward to sharing the fruits of our collaboration with the earth, weather and Mother Nature! We also hope to see you out at the farm on July 2nd. More information on that next week.

As you all know, except for two downright tropical days, it has been a cool spring. The greens are happy and warm weather crops are biding their time. We picked strawberries for the first time this week, which is unusually late. We should be picking for another week or two, so June 25th shares will also have some berries. Yes, the berry season is short and sweet, but look how happy the lettuce is!

Back garden lettuce patch

Here's what's in the box for this week:

Kale: Red Russian or White Russian. (Gray-green leaves, purple or white stems)
Swiss chard: Rainbow variety (Dark green leaves, stems and veins of different colors)
Kohlrabi: Purple! (dark purple bulb, green leaves)
Lettuce: Red Romaine (elongated deep red leaves)
Arugula (light green smaller leaves)
Scallions
Garlic Scapes (bunched stalks with crazy curly ends - use all that seems tender)
Radishes
Rhubarb
Sprouts: Frog Holler Mix
Strawberries!

NOTES ON THE BOX:

Kale: Red Russian Kale is an old-fashioned variety once called "Ragged Jack" and said to have been brought to this country by Russian trappers in the 1800's. White Russian is a sister variety. They both are sometimes called Siberian Kale, have "ragged" or frilled edges, and are very hardy and delicious!

Swiss Chard: Rainbow variety known as "Bright Lights". Be sure to use the beautiful stems in your cooked veggies or soups. The leaves cook like spinach; the stems cook more like celery, so adjust your cooking times. Read more about the value of making friends with Swiss Chard from "Nutrition - Answers @ Your Fingertips," a new CSA newsletter feature by Jennifer Wooley, a registered dietitian who is volunteering her time and expertise to Frog Holler.

Lettuce: Red Romaine. Read about the nutritional values of the various lettuce varieties and enjoy this robust and beautiful Romaine variety.

Kohlrabi: Growing in popularity, this purple variety offers sweet cauliflower/cabbage crunchiness along with vibrant color for salads, slaws or crudites. Also good steamed, sauteed or roasted!

Garlic Scapes: Once unknown in this country, but now wildly popular, read all you need to know about this short season treat in a recent AnnArbor.com article by Kim Bayer. And see a photo of Angie Martin, one of the Frog Holler interns! Most importantly, enjoy your scapes! In stir fry, pesto, soups, roasted veggies and any dish enhanced by a light fresh garlic flavor.

Sprouts: This is a blend of alfalfa, mung bean, red clover, aduki bean, and radish. We enjoy fresh sprouts year-round - in the winter when fresh local salad greens are scarce, and in the summer as a crisply tender addition to salads and sandwiches.

Meet Jennifer Wooley,MS, RD, CNSC. Jennifer, who obviously has lots of nutritional background, is volunteering her skills and knowledge to provide nutritional information on the veggies we enjoy all season. Jennifer loves sharing her expertise and/or researching for new information, so feel free to send questions and suggestions. And thank you Jennifer for contributing to the Frog Holler Farm CSA in such an informed and creative way!

Check out Jennifer's nutritional rundown for some of the veggies in this week's share!



FROG HOLLER RECIPE BOX

Here is where you'll find many delicious ways to use the veggies in your share. You'll see listings from last year, organized by vegetable, and we'll be adding new recipes each week that correspond to items in the box. Visit often, and "follow"!

Added this week: Garlic Scape-Kale Pesto, Massaged Kale (scroll down on the Kale page), Roasted Kohlrabi, and Rhubarb-Strawberry Crisp. It's difficult to cook strawberries when they're so fresh and sweet, but if you find yourself with an abundance of berries or rhubarb, do try this Crisp recipe; it has drawn raves!The amount of sugar can be reduced, especially if adding a sliced ripe banana to the fruit!


NOTES FROM THE FARM:
Here are some of the Frog Holler interns scrutinizing the work ahead on the Monday morning garden walkaround. We have a great crew this year and we'll have them face the camera for future newsletters!

NOTES FROM THE HOLLER MUSICIANS Angie Martin, Billy King, Kenny King

They put down their hoes and pick up their instruments! The Billy King Band, composed of Billy and Kenny King, along with intern Angie Martin and other musical friends, regularly performs upbeat folk/pop/country fusion tunes around the Ann Arbor area and at Frog Holler Farm events. Here's what's coming up this month:

Barn Dance at Rancho Tranquilico

June 18, 6-10pm
11300 Island Lake Rd., Dexter
Another opportunity to celebrate Legacy Land Conservancy's 40th Anniversary. Join us for music and dancing in the barn at former Legacy Executive Director Barry Lonik's beautiful property. Enjoy the sweet originals and tasty covers by Billy King and Friends, with a bonfire to follow. All ages welcome, snacks and non-alcoholic drinks available. Bring a chair and what you like to drink. Donations requested.


Saturday, June 25 - 8pm - Yellow Barn - Frank Allison / Billy King - 416 W. Huron Ann Arbor, Michigan - Frank and Billy will take turns sharing tunes. Acoustic.

The YELLOW BARN’s driveway is at the bottom of the hill, on the left, just before the railroad bridge as you head east into downtown Ann Arbor on Huron Street - It’s just a short way into the drive. It’s the big yellow barn on your left! Easy parking.

Media media media: Follow Frog Holler Farm on Twitter and Facebook for more farm updates. Check out the Frog Log for occasional reflections from Frog holler matriarch, Cathy King.

Have a great week everyone!