DOORSTEP HARVEST NEWSLETTER 5/4/2012
Merry May! As with all new foods, it is wise to try small amounts to test for any negative reaction. Every body is unique! No wikifacts this week due to state forensics tournament…
News from the garden: This week we have a little bit of asparagus from both my gardens. Tasting quantities of strawberries are here. (There would be more if the birds hadn’t eaten all the green ones…we finally resorted to covering them with bird nets a few days ago and thus, this is the result- a few). Mulberries are ripe! There are “tasting quantities of gooseberries to make tarts with if you combine the mulberries with them. My great aunt thinks mulberries go really well with goose berries. Crandals, apricots, plums, and peaches are getting bigger every day. Black currant bushes bloomed ok but still are not producing fruit again this year… still don’t know why. The grape vines are loaded with small fruits now. It may be a good grape year! Black berries are budding and it looks like a bumper crop of these this year, if we can keep the water on them AND if the hot wind doesn’t bake them on the vineJ. Potatoes have sprouted and are growing strong! Green beans are up and growing on trellis. Spinach and radish are here! Peas are growing two feet tall on trellis. The early planted peas under the winter hoop house are struggling and not bearing well after all… Beets are up and fattening their roots. Tomato seedlings, specialty peppers, tomatillo, eggplant, basil, and Italian parsley appear to be transplanted successfully. Starts of summer/winter squash and cucumbers have sprouted. Direct sown carrot leaves have finally differentiated and are getting taller. Young garlic is here, and maybe scapes in a couple of weeks. Elderberries are budding. Bugs are beginning to go after the greens and Mom saw a baby grass hopper today L There may be more herbal surprises along the way as the season unfolds.
This week in your delivery you will find:
J/JJAsparagus: I love it drenched in olive oil and baked with some salt in the oven at 350 until the ends are crisped.
JJSalad Mix Bag: Tastes good to add any of the culinary herbs to it and tea herbs of peppermint and lemonbalm. A homemade dressing of vinegar/oil and herbs from the herb bag with the fresh garlic is good on the salad.
“Red Oak Leaf” lettuce (barasicca free)
Baby Lettuce Mix (No known Brasiccas, but cannot guarantee).
Rose Petals for color.
JJ Radish: Heirloom variety of “French Breakfast” from 1875! (Some people eat the leaves in stir fry)
JJ Mung Bean Sproutsto add to salad or stir fry
JJStir Fry Bag: Shred and cook separately or together.
J J Kale (barasaca)
J JChard (related to beets)
J JBaby Asian Greens (barasacas)
J JSpinach
J Lambsquarters(taste best chopped fine and added to hamburger patty with onion/garlic or in meat loaf!)
J/JJ Allium Bag: JBunching onions and single onions (use the tops and the bulbs)
JJChives (dice and sprinkle onto soup or dry and use later)
JJWild Garlic (still early. Will fill out into multiple heads later in the season)
Berry Bag: Jgreen gooseberry, JJmulberry, JJstrawberry
JJTea Herbs (Lemon balm, Peppermint, Yarrow, Beebalm, Comfry leaf: Keep sealed in fridge to use fresh for several days or open plastic zip bag and lay on counter (in paper bag) to dry for later use. For tea, make infusion by pouring boiling water over herb and let stand until cool enough to drink. May add honey or stevia to sweeten.
-Peppermint can be added to salads, made into tea, or used in Asian cooking.
-Lemon balm calms stomach disturbances, and soothes the nerves. Enjoy is as a soothing tea (add boiling water to crushed leaves). It may also be used in your salad mix.
JJCulinary Herbs (oregano, sage, thyme, & a bit of BASIL) Culinary herbs are used also for herb tea.
Sage can be used for seasoning sausage, lamb, and meats… Thyme is used same as oregano and good in tomato sauce or on pizza. Warning: herbs are not washed in order to preserve flavor. Wash before immediate use (although some sources discourage washing herbs ever.
JJ Flower bouquet: Peony, Salvia, Rose
JJ = Organically grown in my urban forest garden
J = Grown in my gardens in the country at Grandma’s house. Most of the time it is organic and sometimes it is wild crafted.