Tantre Farm CSA Newsletter
WEEK #4
June 16-22, 2019

If needed, please contact Richard Andres & Deb Lentz at 2510 Hayes Rd. Chelsea, MI 48118 e-mail: tantrefarm@hotmail.com phone: 734-475-4323 website: www.tantrefarm.com.            
We  try to keep the printed newsletter to a 2-page maximum, which means that we won’t list all the share items’ descriptions every week, but refer you to previous newsletters for information on items that have already appeared in your shares.  In our newsletter, we try to give you an accurate listing of the produce in your box; however, since the newsletter is published before the harvest, we may sometimes substitute some vegetables for others.  The information provided here is also published each week on our website.  **Also, if you’re having trouble identifying any unfamiliar produce, please look for “Veggie ID” with additional information on our website under CSA INFO or under RECIPES.

If you are new to our CSA, since you signed up with a prorated share, you can find all past newsletters on our website under the NEWSLETTERS tab.

THIS WEEK’S SHARE

ASPARAGUS:   green or purple spears; each contains vitamins A, B, and C, as well as iron.  See Week 1 newsletter for usage and storage tips.

NAPA CABBAGE: crinkly, thickly veined leaves, which are cream-colored with celadon green tips; unlike the strong-flavored waxy leaves on round cabbage heads, these are thin, crisp, and delicately mild; good source of vitamin A, folic acid, and potassium.
-How to use: use raw, saute, bake, or braised; common in stir-fries and main ingredient in traditional kimchi; also eaten raw as a wrap for pork or oysters; the outer, tougher leaves are used in soups.
-How to store: refrigerate, tightly wrapped, up to 5 days.

COLLARD GREENS: dark-green, flat, large leaf; may be substituted for kale or other hearty greens recipes; use large leaf rolled up as a wrap and stuff with vegetables or hummus.  
-How to use: for salads, soups, and light cooking.
-How to store: keep in plastic bag or damp towel in refrigerator for up to 1 week.

GARLIC SCAPES: slender green stems with a slight bulge at the bottom (resemble chives, except for the bulge and often curled); the flower top of a garlic plant; tender and milder in flavor than mature garlic, but can be substituted for garlic cloves in recipes.  Use this link for garlic scape recipes:  http://sfc.smallfarmcentral.com/dynamic_content/uploadfiles/3774/GARLIC%20SCAPES%207%20Great%20Ideas.doc).
-How to use: mild garlic flavor, so delicious chopped in salads, roasted, and sauteed.  
-How to store: put in refrigerator in plastic bag for up to 2 weeks.

FRESH HERBS:  In general, store herbs upright with cut stems in 1 or 2 inches of water and refrigerate for up to 1 week or wrap in slightly dampened cloth or plastic bag and store in refrigerator.  
**You may CHOOSE or RECEIVE ONE bunch (NOT one bunch of each) from the following 5 options:

*Chamomile— These small, daisy-like flowers are best known for making a soothing tea; also the flowers make a pretty garnish and a flavorful addition to salads.  The whole bundle can be used fresh or dried upside down for a week or two, and then the flowers plucked and put into a jar for a restful, calming, sleepy time tea for the winter.
*Lemon Balm: these fragrant lemon-minty leaves make a delicate herbal tea, served hot or cold; good addition to lettuce or fruit salads and ice cream; nicely paired with grilled fish or lamb and tossed with steamed vegetables; also aids in depression, tension, or nausea.
 *Oregano—This member of the mint family is similar to marjoram, but not as sweet and more pungent, spicy flavor and aroma; good in soups and tomato-based dishes.  
*Tarragon: its flavor is delicate and almost licorice or anise-like; an essential herb in French cuisine; exceptional in egg dishes, poached fish, chicken, mushrooms, salad dressings and with other vegetables.
*Thyme– tiny green leaves used in meat and vegetable dishes and most casseroles, soups, stews, and medicinal teas, which soothe sore throats.  Some of the thyme has gone to flower, so the leaves are small, but the flowers are dainty and delicious and can be chopped up along with the leaves.

KALE (Lacinato):  dark green, noncurled, blistered leaves, but heavily savoyed.  See Week 2 newsletter for usage and storage tips.

KOHLRABI: This will be for Friday/Saturday members only.  Kohlrabi are a delicious bulbous member of the cabbage family about the size of a golf ball to tennis ball size with greens attached; green skin and crisp, apple-white flesh tubers and leaves. Most people enjoy taking the skin off and eating them raw, like an apple with a taste and texture somewhere between cabbage and broccoli stems.  See Week 3 newsletter for usage and storage tips.

LETTUCE:  All members will receive 2-3 heads of Green or Red Leaf lettuce.  See Week 2 newsletter for usage and storage tips.

RADISHES (Pink Beauty): This will be for Wed. members only, since not enough for Friday/Saturday members. (pink-colored root with mild, spicy flavor).  See Week 1 newsletter for usage and storage tips.

RED SCALLIONS: young shoots of red onions with long green stalks and milder tasting than large bulb onions; full of great fiber and antioxidants, high in potassium and source of vitamins C and B-6.
See Week 1 newsletter for usage and storage tips.

STRAWBERRIES: red, conical fruit with tiny white flowers.  This week each share will receive 1 quart of this member of the rose family.  
-How to use: excellent raw, juicing, jam, pie, sorbet, in desserts
-How to store:  Do not wash until you are ready to consume them. Place them on a paper towel in a tightly-covered container in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days.  

SWISS CHARD: close relative of garden beets; multi-colored, large veined, semi-crinkly, dark green leaves; mild flavor; good source of vitamins A, E, and C, as well as iron and calcium.
-How to use: greens can be prepared like spinach, and stalks like asparagus; good steamed, sauteed, stir-fried, and in soups.
-How to store: wrap in damp cloth in a plastic bag and refrigerate for up to 2-4 days.  

WHITE HAKUREI TURNIPS and GREENS: All members will receive a bunch of white salad turnips with round, smooth roots that have a sweet, fruity flavor with a crisp, tender texture.  See Week 1 newsletter for usage and storage tips.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

1. 4th of July VACATIONS or OUT OF TOWN: Please let us know of changes in pick up days or locations this week and next week, especially with the 4th of July vacations coming up. Also keep in mind that Pick Up Rescheduling needs to be made within the same week (Sun.-Sat.). All changes can be made yourself on our website under the sign up link under Membership Actions on the registration page or you can email us with your request using specific dates and locations.  Here is a link to our website on what to do if you can’t pick up your share on your usual day:  http://www.tantrefarm.com/faq/#oot

2. FAMILY FARM HIKE on July 5: Come join us for a guided monthly exploratory walk around Tantre Farm on Friday July 5 at 2:30 PM. We’ll use all our senses as we take an approx. 45 minute hike with CSA member, Alisse Portnoy, who teaches at the University of Michigan. She and her daughter, Jessica, are in their tenth year of once-a-week, long visits to the farm. They look forward to sharing some of its treasures and treasure spots with you. Meet at the picnic tables behind Main House at 2:30 PM. No RSVP necessary, but if you email that you plan to attend, then we know to wait for you.

3. WEEDING VOLUNTEERS NEEDED:  We have plenty of weeds to pull.  If you are interested in helping out–even if it’s just for 10 or 15 minutes before you pick up your box at the farm, come join us.  Please contact us any day of the week or evenings until dark. Thanks for volunteering!

4. CSA COOKBOOKS: We will have a handy cookbook for sale at some of the distribution sites called “From Asparagus to Zucchini:  A Guide to Cooking Farm-Fresh Seasonal Produce”. This $16 book includes an easy-to-follow format with vegetables listed from A to Z. This a great resource for NEW CSA MEMBERS, and makes a great gift.  We will have a limited number of these cookbooks available, so if you are interested in purchasing these books, and they are no longer at your site, please let us know, so we can make another bulk order.  Some of our sites are tricky to leave cookbooks, since we will not be able to pick up your payments and leftover cookbooks each week, since it is just a drop off site.  Please contact Deb to arrange getting a cookbook at Pure Pastures, Argus, or MOVE, and we will try to work something out.

5. PLANT WALK SERIES June 26 from 6-8 PM (Last Wednesday of every month May through October)
We are offering a monthly plant walk at Tantre Farm with the guidance of our local foraging expert, Rachel Mifsud. On these leisurely walks we will be looking for edible, medicinal, and otherwise useful plants and mushrooms that are ready for harvest. The cost is $15 for Tantre CSA members or $20 for nonmembers. You may bring cash, check or pre-register at https://squareup.com/store/willforageforfood

6. PICK UP TIMES & LOCATIONS REMINDER:
**If you need to switch to different pick up sites throughout the season that usually works for all but the “limited sites”, using the Membership Actions section on the registration page.  These sites have less space to drop share boxes at, so are considered “limited”. Please always email ahead to see if they are at capacity before making any switches on your own.
*Ann Arbor Farmers’ Market (Wed.)—7 A.M. to 12 P.M.
*MOVE Fitness & Wellness Studio (Wed)—8 A.M. to 12 P.M.
*Farm (Wed.)—10 A.M. to 7 P.M.
*Washtenaw Food Hub (Wed.)—6 P.M. to 8 P.M.
*Pure Pastures (Wed.) (limited site) —10 A.M. To 7 P.M.
*Farm (Fri.)—2 P.M. to 7 P.M.
*Community High School (Sat.) —7 A.M. to 12 P.M.
*Washtenaw Food Hub (Sat.)—9 A.M. to 12 P.M.
*Chelsea Farmers’ Market (Sat.)—8 A.M. to 12 P.M.
*Argus-Packard (Sat) (limited site)—10 A.M. to 6 P.M.

RECIPES

GARLIC SCAPE-KALE PESTO  Makes about 1 1/2 cups of pesto
1 cup garlic scapes (about 8-9 scapes) cut into 1/4-inch slices
3-5 leaves kale
1/3 cup walnuts, pecans, or pine nuts (toasting these adds a nice twist)
3/4 cup olive oil
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 tsp salt
Black pepper, to taste

Place scapes, kale, and nuts in the bowl of a food processor and grind until well combined and somewhat smooth but not purely pureed.  Slowly drizzle in oil and process until integrated but there is still some “chunkiness”. Transfer mix to a mixing bowl.  Add Parmesan, salt and pepper to taste.

NAPA CABBAGE SALAD (from www.allrecipes.com)  Serves 6
1 head Napa cabbage
1 bunch minced green onions
1/3 cup butter
1 (3 oz) package ramen noodles, broken
2 Tbsp sesame seeds
1 cup slivered almonds
1/4 cup cider vinegar
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup white sugar
2 Tbsp soy sauce

Finely shred the head of cabbage; do not chop.  Combine the green onions and cabbage in a large bowl, cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Make the crunchies: melt the butter in a pot.  Mix the ramen noodles, sesame seeds and almonds into the pot with the melted butter.  Spoon the mixture onto a baking sheet and bake the crunchies in the preheated 350 degrees oven, turning often to make sure they do not burn.  When they are browned remove them from the oven.  Make the dressing: in a small saucepan, heat vinegar, oil, sugar, and soy sauce.  Bring the mixture to a boil, let boil for 1 minute.  Remove the pan from heat and let cool.  Combine dressing, crunchies, and cabbage immediately before serving.  Serve right away or the crunchies will get soggy.

FRESH STRAWBERRY DRESSING (from www.eatingwell.com)  
1 cup strawberries, rinsed, hulled and sliced
1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
3/4 tsp freshly ground pepper
1/2 tsp sugar
1/4 tsp salt
2 Tbsp almond oil or canola oil

Place strawberries, vinegar, pepper, sugar and salt in a blender or food processor; process until pureed, stopping once or twice to scrape down the sides.  Add oil and process until smooth.