View from the Tractor
Happy Sweet 16 CSA Week. I love this time of year as the weather cools and the days get shorter --just a bit-- every day. This Thursday is the Autumnal Equinox which normally shifts life on the farm when there is less than 12 hours of daylight. The weeds grow a whole lot slower, as do the plants. Luckily for us, all of our plants are ripening and finishing their processes. With the cooler temps and less light, the fall crops begin to get sweeter and more delicious while the summer crops are racing to the finish line.
I have added some new items to the CSA: This week you'll see fennel, bunches of beautiful carrots, shallots, Nero Tondo radishes, Napa cabbage and Carnival acorn winter squash. We also still have a great selection of peppers, tomatoes and eggplants. Now is the time to fill up your CSA with the bounty of the Equinox.
While you may see us start the clean up process on our farms, we still have tons of crops to harvest and fill your shares. Over the next few weeks I will make sure there is plenty of available volume so you can start squirreling away storage crops and preserves.
Enjoy the beautiful weekend and the fall weather that lies ahead.
- Michael and all of the farmers of Kilt Farm
Product Highlights
Nero Tondo Radish
Also known as the a black Spanish Radish, this large radish is an heirloom variety with an incredible flavor profile. When raw, the spice of these radishes leans more toward a horseradish (as opposed to the "peppery spice" you'll find in classic red, Easter egg, and French radishes).
Not a huge fan of the spice? Not to worry: these incredible (and quite large) radishes become mild and sweet in flavor when cooked. We recommend throwing them in the crockpot with some carrots, cabbage, eggplant, and even tomato for a delicious stew or veggie side!
Like the spice? Slice your Nero Tondos thin or julienne them for a fun & beautiful salad-- You can even add some thin slices or fronds of fennel! This will add a sweet anise flavor that perfectly compliments the horseradish flavors of the Nero Tondo.
Fruit Share
Plums are back! This week, the fruit share will be 3 lbs of Elephant Heart Plums and 3 lbs of Peaches.
Let's talk about the new and exciting Elephant heart plums: These gorgeous heart shaped plums have notes of vanilla and berries-- A touch sweet, a touch tart, and of course incredibly juicy and tasty to-boot! These plums are an absolute favorite of ours.
We will continue to offer 20 lb boxes of Angelus peaches this week. Our peaches and Elephant Heart plums will also be offered as a 3lb bag add-on.
Add-ons and Extras
Extras Feature: Kilt Farm Raw Honey!
Don't forget-- We have a new batch of fresh, local honey to offer in our CSA shares! This honey is like no other-- Sweet, flavorful, and the most nutrient dense honey out there.
Like always, we have a slew of other amazing add-ons we hope you check out:
- Bring some color to your home or surprise a loved one with a gorgeous bouquet of Fresh Herb Co flowers
- Throw some plums in your Pueblo Seed cereals or check out their cookies for a fun & healthy snack!
- Sauté a delicious mushroom side with some Hazel Dell Mushrooms
- Make a rich Ragù Bolognese for your heirloom Pastificio pasta (our selection of veggies this week are perfect for an amazing pasta sauce!)
- Sauce tomatoes: We are still offering 15 lb flats of sauce tomatoes for those of you looking to can some fresh-from-the-farm tomatoes for the winter. Not only is preserving tomatoes fun (and delicious, of course!), but it's a great way to combat food waste and put some "seconds" produce to use.
We hope you enjoy this week's CSA. Wishing you a nourishing week as the Autumnal Equinox approaches-- Filled with good friends, good health, and good food.
