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. **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 section in the CSA Info tab.

THIS WEEK’S SHARE

ARUGULA: known as “wild rocket” with more deeply lobed leaves and a more pungent flavor; an aromatic, bright salad green with a peppery mustard flavor. See Week 1 newsletter for usage and storage tips.

GREEN or YELLOW BEANS: You will receive Jade (a long, slender, deep green, fillet bean that is tender and delicious) or Rocdor (long, slender, yellow bean; meaty, firm texture and no watery taste). See Week 11 newsletter for usage and storage tips.

GREEN CABBAGE: You will receive either Savoy (loose, full head of crinkled leaves varying from dark to pale green; mellow-flavored cabbage considered to be superior for cooking) OR Tendersweet (midsize, flat heads; tender leaves are very thin, sweet, and crisp–perfect for coleslaw or stir-fries). See Week 6 newsletter for usage and storage tips.

CARROTS (Hercules): sweet, orange, cone-shaped roots; good eating quality and stores well. See Week 5 newsletter for usage and storage tips.

SWEET CORN (Vision): exceptionally tender, super sweet, yellow ears; great for fresh eating and freezing contains a significant amount of vitamin A, B-complex, phosphorous and potassium along with vegetable protein. See Week 11 newsletter for usage and storage tips.

KALE (Green Curly): well-ruffled, curly green leaves on green stems; this variety makes a good, roasted “kale chip”. Recipe at end of newsletter. See Week 3 newsletter for usage and storage tips.

FRESH HERBS: Everyone will receive a bunch of Prospera Italian Large Leaf Basil this week, an herb with a sweet aroma with notes of anise in its green leaves; traditionally used in pesto, and originally from India where it was traded in ancient times via the spice routes. This herb does not store well in a refrigerator, since it does not like cold temperatures. It will last longer when stored in a jar, vase, or glass of water on your counter or table top.

ONIONS: You will receive any of the following Ailsa Craig Exhibition (a huge, sweet, mild, yellow-skinned, heirloom onion that is well known by British gardeners who grow show-size onions), Red Long of Tropea (specialty variety of tall, elongated, red bulbs traditionally grown in Mediterranean Italy and France), or Cipollini (a traditional Italian onion known for its flat, oval shape and delicately mild, sweet flavor; ranges in size from 1-3 inches; used for pickling and to season a wide variety of dishes and especially good grilled on a skewer). See Week 7 newsletter for usage and storage tips.

SWEET GREEN and/or RED BELL PEPPERS: You will receive Red Knight Bell (big, blocky, thick-walled, “green or changing to red” pepper).
-How to use: eat raw for best nutrient retention; can be added to soups, stews, omelets, quiches, stir-fries, etc.; excellent roasted.
-How to store: refrigerate unwashed in hydrator drawer for 1-2 weeks.

POTATOES: You will receive Carola (yellow potato from Germany; smooth, creamy texture that is good for baking or frying) and Red Sangre (one of the prettiest of all red skinned varieties with medium-sized oblong tubers; creamy white flesh that is especially delicious boiled or baked) or Adirondack Blue (round to oblong, slightly flattened tubers have glistening blue skin enclosing deep blue flesh; moist, flavorful flesh is superb for mashing or salads; very high in antioxidants!). See Week 7 newsletter for usage and storage tips.

TOMATOES: You will receive any of the following Cherry Mix (may include a colorful variety of Sakura, Tomatoberry, Sungreen Cherry, Indigo Cherry), and/or Geronimo (a beefsteak slicer variety; fruits are very large, firm, nice red color and good taste), and/or Brandywine (large, heirloom, beefsteak tomato–often over 1 lb–with a deep pink skin and smooth red flesh). See Week 9 newsletter for usage and storage tips.

WATERMELON: You will receive Mini Love (sweet and firm, oval-round fruits avg. 5–7 lb and distinctive, bright green rind with dark green stripes and dense, bright red flesh) OR New Orchid (sweet, bright orange flesh with sherbet-like taste and skin has dark green contrast stripes; oval round, medium large “icebox” size; similar to “Sunshine” in appearance, but larger). See Week 10 newsletter for usage and storage tips.

ANNOUNCEMENTS`

1. CANCELLED: Allergen-Free Cooking Class is cancelled for August 17. If any interest in a future class, but on a different date in the future, please email INFO@TANTREFARM.COM.

2. FAMILY FARM HIKE on FRIDAY, Aug. 26, from 4-5 PM: Come join us for a guided monthly exploratory walk around Tantre Farm with CSA member, Alisse Portnoy, who teaches at the University of Michigan. She and her daughter are in their thirteenth year of once-a-week, long visits to the farm. They look forward to sharing some of its treasures and treasure spots with you. We’ll use all our senses and appropriate social distancing as we take an approx. 45-60 minute hike. Please feel free to wear a mask if it makes you more comfortable, but not required. Meet at the picnic tables behind the Main House. Stay tuned for fun KID ACTIVITIES included in this hike!

3. HIRED HELP STILL NEEDED: We are looking for additional help for the rest of the summer and into the fall. Some of our summer crew were students and they are heading back to school, so we are short-handed going into the fall. We are looking for part-time and full-time workers who are interested in getting their hands dirty and enjoy healthy, hearty, hard work. We provide home-cooked lunches every day with food from the farm. Room and board are available for full time work, and part time work is available as well for an hourly wage. Please email us or fill out an application from our website at https://www.tantrefarm.com/internships/.

4. WANTED: TOMATO PICKERS!! Is there anyone interested in helping us pick tomatoes any weekday morning for the next few weeks, but especially on Mon, Tues, Thurs, and Friday anytime from 7 – 11:30 AM? We will even feed you a homemade, farm-cooked lunch at 12 PM if you stay. We are currently short-handed and appreciate any extra help.

5. U-PICK RASPBERRY PATCH OPEN EVERY SATURDAY: Our fall raspberry patch is ripening slowly at the Honey Bee U-Pick site (5700 Scio Church Rd., Ann Arbor). We will be open every Saturday at this point from 8 AM-12 PM, since there are definitely some raspberries, and we are there already for CSA distribution !  U-pick is $6/pint and $4/half pint for Already Picked Raspberries. To keep informed go to https://www.tantrefarm.com/tantre-farm-raspberry-u-pick.

6. STILL PLENTY OF BOXES AVAILABLE FOR OUR IMMUNE BOOSTER CSA THIS WEEK: Please feel free to sign up for our weekly, collaborative CSA share if you would like to supplement your box or give it as a gift. The menu is updated on our website every Monday – Wednesday http://www.tantrefarm.com/how-does-our-immune-booster-csa-work/. Still time to sign up this week for a share!

7. PICK UP TIMES & LOCATIONS REMINDER: Please use your Member Dashboard to schedule Vacations or Pick up Location Changes or let us know if you are having any problems with rescheduling.
*Ann Arbor Farmers’ Market (Wed.)—7 AM to 12 PM
*MOVE Fitness & Wellness Studio (Wed)—8 AM to 12 PM
*Farm (Wed.)—10 AM to 7 PM
*Washtenaw Food Hub (Wed.) –6 PM to 8 PM (Hub Farm Market open during this time!)
*Pure Pastures (Wed.)—9 AM to 11 AM
*Farm (Fri.)—2 PM to 7 PM
**Community High School – CHANGED TO AA FARMERS MARKET (Sat.) —7 AM to 12 PM
*Washtenaw Food Hub (Sat.)—9 AM to 12 PM
*Chelsea Farmers’ Market (Sat.)—9 AM to 12 PM
*Argus-Packard (Sat) 10:30 AM to 3 PM
*RoosRoast-Rosewood (Sat)–9 AM to 11 AM
*HoneyBee U-pick (Sat)–8 AM to 12 PM

WHAT’S AN HEIRLOOM?
by Joel Heeres – 2001 Tantre Alumnus

 It’s not a loom for your heirs, as you might think. Heirloom fruit and vegetable varieties are hundreds and sometimes thousands of years old. Heirlooms differ in shape, color, size, flavor, and storability, but they all share one characteristic– their seeds can be saved one season to plant in the next. Heirloom varieties have been bred by local farmers and gardeners over many generations and have been established as stable varieties that grow “true to seed“. These varieties are special, because they have been adapted to certain climates over a long time.

 Heirloom vegetables are often more flavorful than hybrid vegetables. Hybrids are bred for high productivity, disease and pest resistance, drought resistance, and hardiness. While these traits are undeniably helpful, they often come at the cost of flavor. In addition, farmers cannot save seed from hybrid crops, as they are unstable crosses from two different varieties.

 In summary, heirloom crops are beneficial to small farmers and home gardeners, because their seeds can be saved to plant again. They have better flavor and are more unique than hybrids, although they can be less hardy and prone to diseases.

 At Tantré Farm, we grow both hybrid and heirloom crops. Some of the crops we grow from heirloom seeds are tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, winter squash, potatoes, onions, kale, beans, turnips, and radishes. Sometimes we will have some varieties of heirlooms only on the market tables, since we may not have a lot of them available. We’ll try to let you know when you are getting heirloom produce in your share box in the produce descriptions.

RECIPES

WHITE BEANS WITH ROASTED TOMATOES AND CIPOLLINI ONIONS (from Gourmet, June 2004) Serves 4
1 cup cooked cannellini beans
1 cup cipollini onions (left unpeeled)
3/4 tsp salt (for cooking beans and onions)
1 lb large tomatoes, cored and halved crosswise
1 pt cherry or grape tomatoes (preferably mixed colors)
1/2 tsp salt for tomatoes (preferably sea salt)
1/2 tsp sugar or sweetener
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 cup torn fresh basil leaves

Blanch onions in boiling, salted water, 1 minute, then drain and peel. Cover beans with cold water by about 1-inch in a 5- to 6-quart pot and bring to a boil. Add onions and simmer, partially covered, skimming froth as necessary, until beans and onions are tender, 40 minutes to 1 hour. Stir in salt and let stand (in cooking liquid), uncovered. Roast tomatoes while beans are cooking: Put oven rack in upper third of oven and preheat oven to 500 degrees. Toss tomato halves and cherry tomatoes with salt, sugar, and oil in a shallow 3-quart baking dish, then arrange tomato halves cut sides up. Roast tomatoes, uncovered, until large tomatoes are very tender with brown patches and cherry tomatoes are falling apart, 35-50 minutes. Transfer warm beans and onions with a slotted spoon to a deep large platter. Arrange tomatoes decoratively on top of beans and pour tomato juices on top. Sprinkle with basil leaves.

To Cook Beans: Add cold water to cover, no salt, bring to a boil, lower the heat, cook gently till tender, about 20-30 minutes, and add salt.

KALE CHIPS WITH CHEESE (*Vegan option below)
1 bunch green curly kale
2 Tbsp Parmesan cheese or *nutritional yeast
1 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 T lemon juice
1/2 tsp coconut oil

Wash and dry kale leaves and place in bowl. Mix in lemon juice and coconut oil together massaging into kale leaves. Mix separately Parmesan cheese (or nutritional yeast), sea salt and garlic powder. Toss together with leaves. Place in dehydrator at 118 degrees for 12-18 hours or in oven at 350 degrees for 5-10 min. Can be stored in food safe container in cupboard (if they last that long)!

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