Spring CSA Week 2 | Who grows your veggies
- 10th St. Farm & Market
- 13 minutes ago
- 6 min read
Week 2: April 16th - 19th
One of the things we appreciate most about farming at 10th Street is that we get to meet the people who eat the food we grow. Not every single person, of course - there are folks who buy our veggies at the co-op or get greens from a friend. But whereas the large majority of farmers in the country grow food and ship it far away, we get to know a lot of the people who support our farm. Whether you pick up on Thursday afternoon or Sunday evening, odds are you’ll cross paths with Ashley or me (Chris) in the market barn a few times over the course of the next couple months. We truly appreciate even the briefest of those interactions - they remind us of the amazing community we’re able to feed on this small plot of land.
That said, there are a lot more people who grow these veggies than the two of us. And because our typical farm work days end around 2pm, there are a bunch of farmers on this farm whose faces you might never see. So we thought it would be nice to use this early newsletter as an opportunity to introduce those farmers to you! These are the folks who work day-in and day-out to grow tasty, responsibly raised vegetables for you. This year’s crew is a mix of new and returning farmers, and we’ve already hit a great stride in keeping things happy and growing! Without further ado, here are the people who grow your veggies:
Elisse: Elisse has been farming for ten years. She loves all things tomato growing: seeding, trellising, pruning, and eating. This is her fourth season at 10th St., but it will look a little different as she’s expecting a baby next week! In her free time she enjoys reading and being in the woods with her husband Isaac and labrador retriever River.
Ash: This is my second year at 10th Street Farm. I love farming and being a part of this crew! Great group of folks who believe in collaboration and taking care of their community and each other. Thankful to be here! My journeys have brought me through the farming world for the past decade and I’m excited to be a part of this farm for 2026!
Maddie: Hi, I’m Maddie! This is my second year farming at 10th Street (and second year of farming, period!). Working in the dirt and seeing the fruits of our labor so clearly is what keeps me coming back. Farming rocks!
Kandyss: I'm Kandyss, I moved to the Twin Cities a year ago with my wife and our two cats. I've always had a passion for farming and growing food for the community. I'm excited to be a part of this farm where I get to learn and grow fresh, delicious produce!
Evelyn: Evelyn is a new crew member, who was born and raised in Portland Oregon, but has called Minnesota home for almost 5 years. They are new to farming, but bring lots of experience with food and plants, digging in the dirt, and working with a team. They bring a passion for ag geography, farmer storytelling, and an excitement to learn everything they can this season!
Joan: Joan is happy to be returning to part-time farming after a long hiatus of playing and teaching violin. She was lured to10th Street by the sweet taste of the late-winter spinach. She formerly worked in most aspects of produce: retail, wholesale and farming. She lives in River Falls with her dog, Jasper.
Chris and Ashley: We’ve had the pleasure of growing veggies here at 10th Street Farm since early 2023, and we’re entering our tenth year of farming overall. We live in the house on the hill with our two kiddos and our dog Apollo, all three of whom you might see running around the farm at any given moment (hopefully with clothes on!). We believe deeply in the value of good food, grown the right way, and feel privileged to steward this land and this community every day!
In addition to that stellar group of people, the farm benefits every day from the hard work of Hallie and Lisa, who started the farm and now run and support the commercial kitchen, respectively. We owe a debt of gratitude to Andy, who fixes, mows, plows, and generally helps the farm look and work at its best. We’re incredibly grateful for Jamie, who spearheads the flower bouquets that beautify the farm and market every week. And we say thanks weekly for Racheal, who lends her time and energy to helping us get things packed and prepped and ready for market every Thursday.
We’re fond of saying that it takes a village to raise a farm. Growing the way we do at 10th Street replaces mechanization, monocropping, and chemical dependence with community, collaboration, and ingenuity, and we are truly thankful for every pair of hands that touches the soil. Thanks for letting us share a little bit about who grows your food, and thanks for helping us do what we do!
Have an introductory week,
Chris, Ashley, and the 10th Street Farmers
In Your Bag This Week
Flavor Mix microgreens: Mild and tasty, these make an easy salad on their own or can add some color to any other salad. Try them on eggs or sandwiches – or anything, really! Store in a bag in your fridge.
Spinach: Spinach gets sweeter the more it freezes and thaws as the plant produces sugars to use as an anti-freeze to keep the plant alive. That means the best spinach you can eat is grown in a cold place! Use as a salad base, sautéed as a side dish or bake into a casserole. Store in a bag in your fridge.
Choice:
Kale: Hearty yet still tender, kale is packed full of flavor and nutrients. Store in an airtight bag or container in your fridge.
Rainbow Chard: Stunning Swiss chard offers a pop of color with an earthy, spinach-like flavor. Store in an airtight bag or container in your fridge.
Choice:
Pea Shoots: Sweet and crisp, these make a great addition to sandwiches, wraps, salads or can be lightly sautéed as a side dish. Store in an airtight bag or container in your fridge.
Power Greens Micro Mix: Our newest micro mix! A nutrient-dense blend of broccoli, kale, daikon, and bekana sure to power up any dish!
Petite Choi: Miniature pac choi is the perfect addition to stir fry, ramen, or fresh salads. Lightly sauté, steam, or just eat raw. Store in an airtight bag or container in your fridge.
Choice:
Arugula microgreens: Peppery micros add a little punch to pizza, salads, pestos, sandwiches, eggs, and more. Store in an airtight bag or container in your fridge.
Radish Shoots: These beautiful purple and green shoots have a spicy taste and add a pop of color. Store in an airtight bag or container in your fridge.
Sunflower Shoots: Crunchy and nutty flavor, these are a great substitute for lettuce on sandwiches or wraps. Store in an airtight bag or container in your fridge.
Choice of assorted herbs:
Thyme or Rosemary: Add some extra flavor to your soup, meat, roasted veggies, or…oatmeal?! They’re a nice addition to most things. Maybe not oatmeal.
Cilantro microgreens: Zippy micros to add a little flavor to whatever's on your plate! Store in an airtight bag or container in your fridge.
Scallions: The white and green parts of these beautiful green onions are both edible - use the white like an onion, chop the greens as a garnish or hit of flavor in your dishes! Store in an airtight bag or container in your fridge.
Full shares: Persephone Mix salad greens: Our fresh-cut blend of lettuce and cold-hardy greens. Store in a bag in your fridge.
Full shares: Radishes: These french breakfast radishes provide one of the first pops of color every spring! Add to salads or sandwiches for a little extra flavor. Store in an airtight bag or container in your fridge.
Kitchen Inspiration
Everyone has a choice between kale and chard this week - two of our favorite hearty greens. Both of these crops have overwintered in our greenhouse and minimally-heated high tunnel, so they have a little extra sweetness and some good stories to tell from a winter well-spent. Rainbow Chard, in addition to being one of the most beautiful veggies around, is quite tasty - with an earthy sweetness akin to spinach or beets. We like it in quiche, quesadillas, or just sauteed with some garlic and lemon. As for kale, you can’t go wrong with a simple kale salad or everybody’s favorite: kale chips!
If you've found a recipe you're loving, please send it our way. We're always looking for new things to cook and share with other members!
We wash everything in your bag but we wash them in bulk so some things may need an extra rinse at home. Thanks!
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