CSA Newsletter for July 6, 2014

Farm Update

Hi everyone!  Things are slowing down a little bit at the farm, and we had a nice chance to catch our breath this weekend.  We just got back from a few days at Michele's parents house, rejuvenated and ready to get back to work.  It has been kind of a crazy few weeks, not least because Fred's dad had an unexpected stroke on Monday.  We were at the hospital with him, so we had Joe and Nate run the drop-off (Thanks, guys!), and we've spent the entire week trying to catch up.  But things are growing well out in the fields, and it's shaping up to be a good week here at the farm!  Here's hoping it is productive and absent of unexpected chaos!

What to Expect in This Week's Share

Woohoo!  Carrots for everyone!

• Choice of regular salad mix, large leaf salad mix, or Swiss chard
• Choice of beets or bok choy
• Choice of snap peas, broccoli, or spinach
• Carrots
• Choice of cabbage or kale
• Choice of kohlrabi, green onions, or basil
• Choice of leeks, radishes, and frisee

Here's just a note on the basil:  Don't put it in the fridge!  Basil is best left on the counter, because it will turn black if it is in the fridge for more than a couple of hours.  It's also best to use it within four days or so, or you can dry it and use it anytime.

Our Summer Crew:  The Guys Who Help Make the Farm Work

This is a picture of the guys from the end of May, on
first day that they were all out at the farm.  From left to
right we have Nate, Joe, Charlie, and Keegan.

Most of you already know Fred and me from the drop-offs, and we are crazy people behind Monroe Family Organics.  But the farm is way too big for just the two of us to do all by ourselves, so we also have our wonderful summer crew!  We have a crew of (usually) five young guys, and they help with everything from planting to harvesting to washing and packing all the veggies.  Two of them even ran the Alma drop-off for us last week, and they did an awesome job, especially for being thrust into it at the last minute with no drop-off experience!  We definitely couldn't do this whole farm thing without them!  So without further ado, here is a little introduction to the guys who help make the farm work!

Out of all our guys, Joe Cecil and Charlie Monroe have been with us the longest.  This is the third year at the farm for both of them, and they have been awesome to have around.  Charlie attends Spring Arbor University during the school year, and when he's not working at the farm, he enjoys working out, playing video games, and reading.  His favorite thing about the farm is the physicality of the work and the fact that he gets to work outside, and his least favorite part is weeding carrots.

Joe has also been with us for three years, and when he's not at the farm, he likes to read and hang out with his family and girlfriend.  He didn't mention what his favorite part of working at the farm is, but I would venture a guess that it is making fun of me, which he does with great skill.  :-)

New this year is Aram Brady, who is still in high school and will also be taking some classes at Mid Michigan Community College this fall.  He likes to read and play basketball, ultimate frisbee, and video games.  His favorite thing about working at the farm is seeing each task finished.  He loves seeing the plants come out of the ground, get washed, bundled, packed, and sent off to the drop-off.  He also cites weeding as his least favorite thing to do at the farm.

Back with us for his second season is Nate Baldwin, who goes to school in Lansing during the school year.  When he's not at the farm, he likes to ride his bike, play guitar, and watch movies.  His favorite part of working at the farm is getting to be outside everyday, and his greatest chagrin is that we don't grow avocados!

Keegan Schneider started working with us part time last fall, and he is back this year for his first summer season!  He is in high school during the school year, and in his spare time he likes messing around with machines, riding his four-wheeler, and generally giving his mom gray hair.  He was away at aviation camp a few weeks ago, and is interested in becoming a pilot when he grows up.

So this is the crazy group of guys who help us get it all done at the farm!  They are awesome to work with, and we love having them around!  Thanks for all your hard work, guys!

Recipes

Yay for carrots!  I am thrilled to have carrots for everyone in the shares this week, because our carrots are seriously awesome!  And in honor of our awesome carrots, here are two fun carrot recipes to try this week.

Just in case you're one of the many people who are on vacation this week and you're looking for something special to do for breakfast, try out these Carrot Cake Pancakes!  I found this recipe on my old friend Rachel's blog.  Rachel was one of my MSU friends, and now she is a physical therapist, mom of two small kids, and food blogger.  She has some great recipes (some are healthy, some are more on the dessert side of things), so if you get the chance, check out her blog, Rachel Cooks!

If you're more in the mood for something bold and spicy, check out this recipe for Hot and Sour Carrots!  This would make a great side dish with rice and fish.  Enjoy!