Welcome to our Fall Share members! We're so excited to have you on board for our final 6 weeks.
Seeding fall greens in our third hoophouse - soon we'll cover it in plastic as well
Ode to the Brassica
As fall descends upon us we, we often think of root veggies and winter squash. But another family also dominates the cooler-weather shoulders of the season: the brassica. Brassica are a big family that contain cabbages, radishes, turnips, kale, broccoli, bok choy, kohlrabi, and cauliflower amongst others. They are also known as cruciferous vegetables. For market farmers like us, brassica are our very good friends. Many of them grow quickly, and because they can sustain cooler temperatures and even a light frost, they are some of the first and last veggies we can grow. The only trouble with them is they are beloved of the flea beetle, so we have to cover them in heavy insect-netting that requires a bit of effort to remove and re-cover every time we want to check on them, weed them, or harvest them. Another trouble is sometimes convincing members to embrace them the way we do! Although they might not the most glamorous of veggie, they are full of fresh, crisp flavour and a bit of spice. Many are completely edible from the roots to the leaves, giving you more 'bang for your buck'. They are a great addition to stir-fries, salads, soups, and stews. Their flavour holds up well against bold spices and herbs. And finally, they are full of vitamins and cancer-fighting compounds. In short, forget the pumpkins, Brassica are the new veggies to get excited about for the fall.
We have three brassica in the share this week. Kale, radish, and a new entry: Hakurei turnips, otherwise known as salad turnips. Often mistaken for white radishes, these turnips are mild, buttery, and crisp. They can be eaten raw and are excellent in salads, on sandwiches, on a veggie platter or eaten raw with some salt. You can cook them as well - roasted, grilled, or sauteed. Here's a tasty-looking recipe that I plan to try this week for glazed hakurei turnips https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/glazed-hakurei-turnips-368274. And you can eat the greens too!
The lovely hakurei turnip, esteemed member of the Brassica family
The Farmers' Market has ended, so don't forget to come to the farm to get your share instead if you pick up on Saturdays!
This Sunday is our Farm Share Celebration! 2pm-4pm at the farm - apple cider, farm treats, and a bonfire, a farm tour, and a scavenger hunt for kids. Come drop in and see us! Farm Share Celebration Flyer
See everyone soon!
- Farmer Kim
