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8.29.2011

paste tomatoes/ edamame/ asian greens

garden has 8 varieties of paste, let them ripen on your counter
Reminder: Students begin pickup this week, so there will be more food, and increased traffic in the share barn.  Please follow the chalkboard for amounts.

TOMATOES
We plant two categories of tomatoes.  The juicy sweeter ones are the SLICERS.  Often used for fresh eating.  And the fleshier, less liquidy are the PASTE.  They're traditionally used for sauces, as they cook down faster, and have more bulk.  This year, hands down, our paste tomatoes are producing better fruit. Unfortunately, our larger slicers, aren't as vigorous.  We plant paste primarily for the Year Round shares to can, roast, dry them.  This week we're sharing them with the whole group.  So we'll be dividing them and each share will get enough to cook down a fresh sauce for a pasta/pizza/lasagna starchy kind of night. When you pick them up, their shoulders (the top of the tomato), mat be a bit green.  Just set them on your counter to ripen up for a few days.  There'll also be oregano and basil.

EDAMAME
Also, we'll be harvesting lots of green soybeans (edamame) this week.  The year round shares will get fat bundles of them for freezing, and again the Fresh shares will have enough for a nice meal. Reminder:  though you can cook the beans right in the pods, the pods AREN'T meant to be eaten.  We just boil 'em, salt 'em, and pop the beans right into our mouths as an appetizer.

ASIAN GREENS
Time to thin them.  Instead of the kales and chards, the coolers will be filled with mizuna, various mustards, bok choy, and tatsoi greens. Any of these can be sauteed or eaten raw, some have more kick than others.  We'll label them well so you can search for recipes if you like.

Any questions?
Flip

8.23.2011

STUDENT ORIENTATION SATURDAY the 27th

HEY HEY HEY STUDENTS:

Let's get you in the swing of things here at the garden.
This Saturday from 1-3p you'll:

* Tour the gardens
* Get the rundown on how pickups go in the share barn
* Pay the remainder of your balance (individual e-mails will be sent out with that info)
* Fire away if you have any questions

Your pickup day will be assigned to you, either Tuesday or Friday from 3p-dusk.

Most of you have been out here before, but if not:
DIRECTIONS to littleGrasse barn (1 mile away):

Starting at Brewer bookstore- LEFT out of parking lot on MAPLE.
At stop sign, LEFT onto MINER street.
Head past Appleton, over the bridge straight 'til you see the big blue sign for TAYLOR PARK BEACH.
We're the driveway just BEFORE that on the LEFT.
You'll see gardens and a grey/blue barn right by the road.

It's a fun pedal, and folks could also organize a carpool.

Let's get your eating on!
Flip and Bob

dusk in the river garden


8.22.2011

Student stampede: welcome

As folks have probably noticed, the town is suddenly poured full of activity, as the schools are coming back into session.  It affects traffic and nightlife, but did you know it effects littleGrasse? This year we have 16 student Fresh shares (which adds to our 8 adult Fresh shares and 10 adult Year Round shares). Student shares are up from 6 in 2010.  Kids are enthusiastic for good food and a vibrant place to go  For some the food is shared in their theme/townhouse.

The student Fresh share follows the same amounts as listed on the blackboard, and will begin on Tuesday August 30th.  Everyone will get a chance to become acquainted at our next garden day September 3rd.  That's your chance to welcome them into the garden.

past and current student members in the garden may '11,
planting the cabbage we've already munched and the brussell sprouts of the future