Spring CSA Week 4 | Scattered storms

Week 4: May 1 - 4

Like many of you, we spent a good amount of Monday worrying. With a foreboding line of storms making its way across the map, bringing with it forecasts of “likely” hail and “very likely” tornadoes, we did everything we could to batten down the hatches and prepare for extreme weather. We checked our weather apps every few minutes, comparing notes on how the radar was shifting. We covered as many beds as we could to protect from hail, and weighed down or moved anything that might take off in strong winds. We prepared to eat dinner in the basement.

In the end, the storm changed its mind. Thankfully, the intense line of red broke into pieces just west of the farm, dissipating into “just” strong winds and sparing us the hail and twisters. We barely even got any measurable rain. For a minute we thought about complaining about the extra work we put in to prepare for a storm that never came, but then we thought better and appreciated the limited impact. 

Things can feel a bit scattered in the aftermath of a storm - whether it truly materializes or not. We spent time on Tuesday morning putting things back where they’d blown from and addressing a few vulnerabilities we’d uncovered during the storm prep. Disruptions like a big storm just add to the scattered feeling of farming this time of year, where our days are often dominated by bursts of quick tasks, short harvests, and unexpected pivots. We’d be lying if we said we weren’t looking forward to the predictability of summer green beans, or the flow state of trellissing tomatoes. 

But we’re also taking time to appreciate the beauty of spring on the farm. The trees are budding out, a pair of ducks have taken up their annual spring residence in the pond, the birds and bees and bunnies are all adding to the ambience. Most importantly, the veggies are growing happily, unaware of any meteorological close calls, adding color and interest to field and plate alike. 

Have an uneventful week,

Chris, Ashley, Hallie, and the 10th Street Farm Crew

Reminder: Please bring back your purple bags each week - we reuse these bags throughout the season. Thank you!

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In Your Bag This Week

Salad Turnips: Also called Hakurei Turnips, these fresh-eating turnips are tasty and versatile. Slice them up with hummus, sauté them, roast them in the oven, or even try them on the grill. Store in a bag in your fridge.

Persephone Mix salad greens: Our fresh-cut winter blend of lettuce and cold-hardy greens. Store in a bag in your fridge.

Spinach: Our overwintered spinach is the sweet gift that keeps giving! Use as a salad base, sautéed as a side dish or bake into a casserole. Store in a bag in your fridge.

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.

Radish Shoots (half shares): These beautiful purple shoots have a spicy taste and add a pop of color. Store in a bag in your fridge.

Cilantro (half shares): A winter greenhouse experiment to grow full-size cilantro! Chop it up and add it to tacos, fritattas, or anything that needs a little zest. Store in a bag in your fridge.

Scallions (full shares): 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 a bag in your fridge.

Petite Choi (full shares): Miniature pac choi is the perfect addition to stir fry, ramen, or fresh salads. Lightly sauté, steam, or just eat raw. Store in your fridge.

Arugula microgreens (full shares): This week you’ll get whichever you didn’t have last week! Zippy micros add flavor to pizza, tacos, pestos, sandwiches, eggs, and more. Store in your fridge.

Head Lettuce (full shares): Beautiful crisp Romaine. Great for everything from lettuce wraps to salads and sandwiches. Store in a bag in your fridge.

What should I make with what’s in the bag?

You’ll notice there’s a good bit of difference between the half share and full share bags this week - part of the aforementioned scattered nature of spring. Rest assured that we work hard to make sure every share gets every veggie across the season, so if it’s not in your share size this week, it’ll likely be there in the next week or two! 

This week everyone has the same new addition: salad turnips! If these Japanese turnips are a new veggie for you, you’re in for a treat. Think of them as the radish’s less-spicy cousin: crisp, sweet, and super tasty. We like them sliced raw (no need to peel!) with some hummus. They’re also delicious roasted with maple miso butter if you’re feeling up for it, or in pasta alongside greens and sausage.

Some other recipes that have caught our eye recently include this green salad with apple cider vinaigrette and crispy coconut rice with tofu and greens. And we’re thinking about riffing on this “breakfast salad” with Persephone Mix for lunch some day this week - yum!

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!

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We wash everything in your bag but we wash them in bulk so some things may need an extra rinse at home. Thanks!