Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Honey Brook Organic Farm CSA: Week 10 Pennington Premium Boxed Share


This week's box had:

Garlic, Onions, Potatoes, Parsley, Chard, Heirloom Tomatoes, Scallions, Shallots, Slicing Tomatoes, Summer Squash, Peppers, and a large Watermelon.

If I ignore the newly acknowledged bee keeper, the mismanagement of the Pick Your Own program and the inequality of the produce being given to on-farm pickup and boxed share people, then I will say I am really starting to feel like this CSA was a good idea.

In the beginning, all the greens were overwhelming.  But I understood, what's in season is in season.  We got through those greens, between salads and smoothies, and stir-fries.  It's just been extra nice to start getting the "good" stuff, the tomatoes, melons and squash.  I've even loved the onions, shallots, garlic and potatoes.  While inexpensive to buy, usually what you find in the store is old produce.  The fresh stuff is a whole different world.

That watermelon was so sweet. You know how to pick a good melon?  There should be a yellow patch on the bottom from where it naturally ripened in the sun, and it should feel heavy for its size.

I realized this box along with my large assortment of overgrown cucumbers, I have the makings for gazpacho!  I had it last night after the gym and today for dinner.  Mmm gazpacho...

Wednesday, August 9, 2017

Honey Brook Organic Farm CSA: Week 9 Pennington Premium Boxed Share


This week's box had:

kale, chard, parsley, garlic, tomatoes, onions, shallots, summer squash, jalapenos, bell peppers, scallions and potatoes.

I have so much kale growing in my yard, I don't really need extra kale!  But this kale is great for chips, my kale is better for salads, smoothies and juices.  I tried pickling scallions, but that didn't go well.  The color bleached to a pale gross color from the vinegar.  I'll keep trying, there has to be a way.  I will pickle the shallots, I have a recipe I've been meaning to try.

I used to grow potatoes but I stopped because it was such a hassle for something I can buy very inexpensively at the store.  Nonetheless I was excited for these potatoes.  There is nothing better than a fresh potato.  My husband used to wash them off when I'd harvest them and eat them raw.  The onions and potatoes you get from the grocery store were probably sitting in storage for months.

I still haven't bothered with the PYO as it's all been pint or half pints.  Not really worth it.  I wish someone else was documenting a CSA around here so I could see how this compares.  Heck, I wish the people in this CSA would comment on my posts so I'd know if us boxed share people really are getting the short end of the stick.  Oh well.  I like the produce we've been getting.  I don't like having to get to the pick up spot early to ensure no one's rifled through my box.  Like I said before, if they continue with this bee guy I'll have to find a new place.  I don't care what anyone says about this is how we've always done it.  That's bs.  We can all survive on fast food, but it's unhealthy and bad for us.  If you're replacing the bees healthy food with fast food, i.e. sugar water, how can you not expect it to have a negative effect on them.  This isn't rocket science, just common sense.  Just saying.


Thursday, August 3, 2017

Honey Brook Organic Farm CSA: Week 8 Pennington Premium Boxed Share


Parsley, Cilantro, Sweet Corn, Cherry/Grape and Regular Tomatoes, Salad Onions, Beets, Salad Mix, Summer Squash, Sweet Peppers, and Kale.

I got there early this week so I didn't have any issues with people with sticky fingers.  

The corn at Honey Brook is amazing.  Seriously.  The best corn I've ever had.  They literally cost 10 times what the corn at the grocery store is going for, but I want to say it's worth it because it's really that much better.  Super crisp and so sweet.  I cook them for 1 minute on high pressure in my Fagor Lux Electric Pressure Cooker with 3/4 of water.  When it's done, do a quick release of the pressure and voila!  So much easier and faster than boiling a big pot of water.

I don't know what's going on with the PYO.  I haven't really looked into it.  I'm rather disillusioned with that whole process.  I was so excited to be part of a CSA and while I think the value is there, and I whole heartedly believe in CSAs and I think everyone should join one, this might have just been the wrong one for us.  But it's hard to find organic farms near us.  There are also no good farmer's markets...except for one at Rutgers that is only open during the day on Friday (wtf is up with that?  So regular working folk can't have access to the produce?).  There are also very few farms that don't support animal agriculture.  There is one that's run by vegans but it's way up North.  

When it gets to be time to join a CSA, I'll make up a chart and share it on here, listing who's doing it and whether they're vegan-friendly, organic, etc.  Until then, hope you're all enjoying your summer.