Frog Holler CSA: CSA Newsletter #17

lol!

Yes, friends, your adventure in eating locally through the Frog Holler Farm CSA will come to an end next week, but we certainly hope it won't send you to the three-month-old cans of beans! Next week we will share a totally biased report on market vendors who will help your diet stay varied and locally produced, right through the winter.

Of course, our bias is for organically-oriented local producers. According to a recent article, Kathleen Merrigan, former USDA Deputy Secretary under the Obama administration and now Executive Director of the Swette Center for Sustainable Food Systems at Arizona State University, details why... "converting more agricultural land to organic food production should be a national goal", while noting the tremendous growth of organic, as well as the reality that it still makes up a small percentage of overall food purchases and land use.

Ms. Merrigan goes on to say, "Organic farming consumes 45 percent less energy than conventional production, mainly because it doesn’t use nitrogen fertilizers. And it emits 40 percent less greenhouse gases because organic farmers practice crop rotation, use cover crops and composting, and eliminate fossil fuel-based inputs. Despite the considerable benefits of and demand for organic, “current USDA assistance for organic producers is paltry, especially given the billions of dollars that the agency spends annually in support of agriculture. Two-thirds of farm subsidy dollars go to the top 10% richest farms.”

Supporting local growers also may contribute to a healthier choice for the climate. California has long been the nation's prime produce grower, but according to a recent, and rather depressing, New Yorker article, it is time to reevaluate our reliance on California agriculture. According to the article's author, Anna Wiener:

Most investigations into California agriculture begin with the Central Valley: a depression, largely bounded by mountain ranges, that spans much of the state and is responsible for more than a third of the country’s vegetables and two-thirds of its fruits and nuts. The region’s growers provide almost all of the celery, garlic, figs, olives, raisins, kiwis, and canning tomatoes in the United States, and also the varieties of tree nuts that one might purchase at a gas station: pistachios, almonds, pecans, walnuts.

The plenitude of the Central Valley is a point of pride for many Californians, but it is a frightening one to encounter for the first time in the summer of 2021, following the world’s hottest month on record and the I.P.C.C.’s latest report. For years, academics and others have pointed out that California’s current agricultural industry is unsustainable and long overdue for either a reckoning or a restructuring. Some argue that the solution lies in sustainable farming, practiced by small and midsize farms growing a diversity of crops—but for now federal farm policy tends to favor larger, industrial operations, many of them in the business of monocropping. In “Perilous Bounty,” published last year and written before the pandemic, Tom Philpott, a journalist for Mother Jones, suggests that produce farming should be decentralized, and that California agriculture should be scaled back to adapt to its water resources. The future of the Central Valley, Philpott argues, is increasingly imperiled, and it is untenable to rely on the region for such a significant portion of the country’s food.

Michigan is blessed with an excellent growing climate and an incredible supply of water. Yes, it also has winter and can't grow tomatoes year-round. But supporting the human-scale, independent growers across the state just might be the right choice for the planet, the local economy, and your own health. Bon appetit!

The Lake Michigan waves roll in! Did you know that Lake Michigan is the sixth largest freshwater lake in the world? Lake Superior is the fourth largest and Lake Huron is the seventh. And these three Great Lakes embrace our state - we do have water!

And although last week most of the rather unwelcome water was coming from the sky, this week proved warm and sunny and the crew had a respite from boots and rain gear.

Last week - hoods up harvesting

This week - sunshine, smiles and carrots!

So, IN YOUR SHARE are CARROTS! This is our last patch and they are growing in a part of the garden that has minimal stones - maybe another reason why the crew is smiling! We made Mustard Glazed Carrots this week, substituting maple syrup for the brown sugar and a little apple cider to braise the carrots. Different and delicious!

Also this week, Sam and Edwin harvested 840 lbs. of butternut squash.

Just a portion of the full harvest. The Butternut grew pretty well!

So, in your share, BUTTERNUT SQUASH! We baked some Butternut Squash this week, and, after having some for dinner, found ourselves with a lot left over. Cooked squash freezes well, but we also tucked it into several other dishes. Layered into lasagna? Yep! Added to refried beans? Si!

We do use squash in a homemade dog biscuits recipe. Oh yes, our pooches are pampered!

Lol, but this recipe is a good use of extra squash. And really economical. Here's the recipe:

HOMEMADE DOG BISCUITS:

2 c. whole wheat flour

1 c. peanut butter

1/2 c. pumpkin or squash

1/2 c. broth - I buy a meat-based bouillon for this recipe

Mix, roll out to desired thickness, cut into strips, and bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes. Can dust with powdered milk if you're feeling really indulgent for your precious pups. :-) I roll them on the thin side so they are crisp and crunchy. If thicker, they will be chewy - your choice!

Freya approved!

More share items: SWEET POTATOES - if you have extra after cooking, they also freeze well. They will keep for a week out of the fridge and a much longer time in the fridge.

BEANS - we'll have them until frost, which seems far away. Although, last year by the CSA end, we had experienced a frost or two. Anything can happen as we head in October!

LETTUCE - this is a new patch that we've started to pick on the young side. Lettuce will take some frost but no reason to push our luck - anything can happen as we head into October! :-)

GARLIC

COLLARDS/KALE - some lucky members will get COLLARDS; some lucky members will get KALE. If you are feeling full of greens, consider freezing some for winter use. They freeze very easily with a light blanching. A market customer once told us that it's not necessary to blanch the greens to freeze them. We tried that and it worked; the kale came out tender, crumbly and ready to use in smoothies and stir-fries. It does take up a bit more freezer space when it is frozen without blanching.

Or you can adopt the attitude of CSA member DorothyAnn, who reports: Present eating adventures in this kitchen —Eating kale at every meal and finding it really is good in oatmeal and scrambled eggs and my smoothies, never mind any and all soups, stews and stir fries.

Go DorothyAnn! Anyone else have a favorite use for kale?

There may be some extras added to the share as we finish the harvest, but we do know that you will find either a bunch of PARSLEY or a bunch of DILL in your box. Both herbs freeze well with no blanching required. Simply chop and store in a plastic bag in your freezer. You can easily crumble off the amount you need for winter dishes. And they will be more flavorful than dried versions of the herb.

And finally, the reviews for The Tragedy of MacBeth are in, and they are glowing!

The "three witches" who offer the prophecy that initiates MacBeth's downfall
"Double, double toil and trouble..."

Rotten Tomatoes has given the film a 100% on the "Tomatometer" after the premiere at the New York Film Festival last Friday. Here is an excerpt from one review:

Joel Cohen's "Tragedy of Macbeth" is Masterful Art, with Oscar Worthy Performances from Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand

What Coen has achieved is magnificent and monumental, not words to be thrown around. He’s exceeded his best past work and then some. This production is almost hybrid theater-cinema, using the best techniques of each. They’re literally going to have make a mini documentary about how Coen et al conceived these sets, the lighting, the noir-ish look of Scottish moors created on a soundstage. Some of the sets had the moody feel of the Metropolitan Opera sets for the Ring cycle. Some of them had nods to Julie Taymor. But knitted together they form their own unique universe.

So McDormand is Lady Macbeth (a leading role, Fran, not supporting), Denzel is Macbeth, they are calmly scary and duplicitous political plotters who kill King Duncan (Gleason) and basically go mad as they overreach for power. Denzel is understated and keenly a royal wannabe before he loses his mind. It’s a very unusual performance for him and one his most powerful. McDormand is always letter perfect. Her Lady Macbeth has one scene I really loved where her eyes are closed, she’s waking up to realize she’s achieved her goal. It’s delicious. Hunter plays the three witches in a turn that is frightening and mesmerizing.

- Roger Friedman, Showbiz 411

We are obviously fans of Ms. McDormand, although we assure you, she has never been to the farm and most certainly does not realize that she is getting press in a CSA newsletter! But from what we do know, she would probably get a kick out of it. And we applaud Ms. McDormand's unwavering and fearless dedication to her art. At Frog Holler, we have always believed in feeding the body, mind and spirit. Artistic expression of any and many forms does just that.

And Billy King, oldest King Brother and mechanical magician who keeps the farm machinery going, among many other tasks, is also a dedicated artist on the guitar. As the garden load lightens just a bit with the cessation of planting, Billy is commencing his "Garden" tour (still can't get far from the garden!). He kicks it off on Saturday, Oct. 9, and here's Billy's "review" by host of the concert, Barry Lonik:

Last concert in the barn for 2021 and it's a beauty! Billy King is one of my favorite songwriters anywhere as well as a smokin' guitarist. His lyrics are so lovely and poignant, and most of the songs are also mad dance tunes. The new CD Garden shows his musical breadth with everything from blues to sweet love songs to all-out rockers. Highly recommended!

Saturday, October 9

Fall concerts in the barn are only for those fully vaccinated against Covid-19 or have a legit medical reason.

Advance tickets only, $25 payable via:
Venmo: @Barry-Lonik

All proceeds go to the musicians.

The long-awaited celebration of Billy's fabulous first-ever professionally recorded and produced CD Garden!! Mad dance party with Will Osler (drums), Brennan Andes (bass), Jordan Adema (violin). WSG Chris Good opening set!

This will be a live musical performance in my barn for a very limited audience of 50 people who have been practicing a high degree of caution to prevent the spread of Covid-19 and are preferably fully vaccinated. There is space on the south side of the barn for anyone who would prefer to dance and/or watch the show outdoors.

This is a ticketed event; if 50 are sold, there will be no walkups (and pretty much every show here sells out). Parking is via the Ruhlig Farm Market driveway one west of mine. Carpooling is encouraged. Guests can arrive starting at 7:00 p.m., music will start at 7:30. Please no tobacco products or animals. BYOB and a lawn or stadium chair. 11300 Island Lake Rd, Dexter, MI 48130-8513