Week of February 24
My dear Community,
Spring has officially sprung on the farm! With temperatures reaching into the 80s, it’s hard to believe it's still technically winter, but the plants sure aren’t complaining. Our blueberries are popping off, and we’re excited to include them in all of the CSA shares this week.
We also have a few new additions in the store today, all grown in Santa Barbara County. Fresh English peas are crisp and sweet, perfect for tossing into salads or snacking straight out of the pod. We also have a Pinkerton-Hass avocado cross, a creamy and delicious variety that’s an absolute treat. There's only one tree and then we'll move onto Hass. Along with those, we have whole walnuts grown down the road on Santa Rosa Rd, great for snacking or baking. And for those of you craving fresh bread, we have a few white and seeded sourdough loaves left from canceled subscriptions this week, baked fresh Wednesday morning.
Amidst all the chaos of the so-called bird flu and the mass chicken cullings, I’m taking a moment to give thanks to my ladies (and the few roosters) today. Our hens roam freely on a huge shared space with a few cows, eating organic feed and plenty of leftover veggies. I like to think they feel the respect they deserve. They’re an integral part of our farm, taking food scraps and turning them back into nourishment—true stewards of the land. Their presence naturally fertilizes the soil with nitrogen and keeps insects in check, closing the loop in a way that industrial farming never could.
I’m sending out good vibes—not just to the farm but to our entire community. May we all take charge of our health, not wait for our government to fix what’s broken, and instead let nourishing, local food be the foundation of our future. Because soil health is gut health, and gut health is our health.
Thanks for being part of this movement.
Be good to each other,
Carolyn Givens
CSA Contains:
CARROTS
BLUEBERRIES from HOMEGROWN ORGANICS
ENGLISH PEAS from TUTTI FRUTTI FARMS
RED BEETS from SUNRISE ORGANICS
BUNCHED SPINACH
YELLOW ONIONS
GARNET YAMS
ROMAINE LETTUCE
WHITE CAULIFLOWER
BROCCOLI
BIG BOX ADD: CARROTS, RED LEAF LETTUCE, ENGLISH PEAS, FUJI APPLES, LACINATO KALE
JUST the BASICS:
CARROTS
ROMAINE LETTUCE
RED BEETS
BROCCOLI
BLUEBERRIES
BUNCHED SPINACH
JUICE FEAST:
ROMAINE LETTUCE
FUJI APPLES
LACINATO KALE
ENNEL
CILANTRO
BUNCHED SPINACH
CARROTS
BLUEBERRIES
RED BEETS
FRUIT EXPANSION: FUJI APPLES & BLUEBERRIES from HOMEGROWN ORGANICS
LETTUCE of the WEEK: RED LEAF
MUSHROOM MIX: from WOLFE FARMS
Colorful Beet Salad with Carrot, Quinoa & Spinach
Ingredients:
½ cup uncooked quinoa, rinsed
1 cup frozen organic edamame
⅓ cup slivered almonds or pepitas (green pumpkin seeds)
1 medium raw beet, peeled
1 medium-to-large carrot (or 1 additional medium beet), peeled
2 cups packed baby spinach or arugula, roughly chopped
1 avocado, cubed
Vinaigrette
3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons lime juice
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint or cilantro
2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup or agave nectar
½ to 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, to taste
¼ teaspoon salt
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Find the full recipe and details here at Cookie and Kate
Cauliflower Pilaf with Mint and Peas
Ingredients:
1 head cauliflower cut into florets
3 Tbs. coconut oil olive oil, or avocado oil
2 small shallots diced
1/2 cup sliced shiitake or button mushrooms
2 garlic cloves minced
2 tsp. tamari sauce or 1 Tbs. coconut aminos available here
1 tsp. balsamic vinegar
1/2 cup frozen green peas
3 Tbs. chopped mint
Juice of 1/2 lemon
Salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup chopped pistachios or toasted cashews
Find the full recipe and instructions here at Empowered Sustenance
Asian Broccoli Salad
Ingredients:
2 heads broccoli
1/2 cup chopped scallions
1/3 cup toasted salted cashews
2 tbsp sesame seeds
Asian Dressing
1/4 cup almond butter (or cashew butter)
1 clove garlic
1 inch piece of peeled ginger
2 tsp honey (or 1 medjool date soaked in boiling water for 10 mins)
2 tbsp lime juice
2 tbsp sesame oil
3 tbsp coconut aminos (or tamari/soy sauce)
Find the full recipe and inspiration here at Every Last Bite
Antioxidant Power Smoothie
Ingredients:
1 cup frozen blueberries
1 banana frozen
2-3 medjool dates
1-2 tablespoons beets cooked & puréed
1 cup almond milk
1 tablespoon chia seeds
Find the full recipe and inspiration here at Lee la Licious
Sloppy Joe Sweet Potato Bowls
Ingredients:
FOR THE SWEET POTATOES:
nonstick spray, like avocado oil, ghee oil or extra-light olive oil
2½ pounds sweet potatoes, diced
3 tablespoons avocado oil
1 tablespoon all-purpose season salt
1 teaspoon dried parsley
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup parmesan cheese, freshly grated
FOR THE SLOPPY JOE SAUCE:
1½ pounds lean ground beef
1¼ cups ketchup
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon prepared mustard
1/2 teaspoon white vinegar
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Find the full recipe and inspiration here at Simply Scratch