Large boxes ready for delivery, spring 2010

2012 Drop Point Locations

When you sign up for a CSA share, you choose a Drop Point Location from the list below, and each week your CSA box is delivered there! You will receive an email when your box has arrived at your drop point each week! The location of the drop points depends on where the greatest concentration of members live or work.  

* Sweet discounts apply for those who host Drop Points! The more members at the drop point, the bigger the discount for the host!! Call (717-805-7778) or email (earthspringcsa@gmail.com) us for more information or if you are interested! *

View Earth Spring Farm 2012 CSA- Drop Points in a larger map

        Key for Map:
           RED= Earth Spring Farm ($35 discount for picking up at our farm)
           BLUE= PA drop points
           GREEN= DC drop points
           YELLOW= private drop point
          

2012 Pennsylvania Drop Points

*  Earth Spring Farm Pick-up (Gardners, PA) Save $35 for the season by picking up your box at our farm!

*  Carlisle (PA)- Pat Craig Studio - W. Pomfret St.

*  Boiling Springs (PA) - LOOKING FOR CSA MEMBERS AND A DROP POINT HOST!

*  Dillsburg (PA) - potential new drop point for 2012! LOOKING FOR CSA MEMBERS AND A DROP POINT HOST!

*  Mechanicsburg (PA) - downtown, exact location TBD

*  Camp Hill (PA) - Elite Massage Studio - S. 17th St.

*  Penbrook (East Harrisburg, PA) - N. 25th St., near Roberto’s Pizza at Walnut and Canby

*  Downtown Harrisburg (PA) - new drop point for 2012! LOOKING FOR CSA MEMBERS AND A DROP POINT HOST!

*  Hummelstown (PA) - N. Railroad St.

2012 Washington DC Area Drop Points

*  Rockville (MD) - Aspen Hill, off Norbeck Rd.

*  Riverdale/Hyattsville (MD) -near corner of 42nd & Kennedy

*  Mt. Rainier (MD) - 29th St. off of Eastern Ave. between Shephard & Taylor, 4 blocks from downtown Mt. Rainier

*  Takoma Park (MD) - 7300 block of Cedar Ave., near the 7-11 and the library

*  Bloomingdale (DC) - on 2nd St., between Rhode Island Ave. & Florida Ave.

*  Washington Post (DC) - for employees ONLY

*  Mt. Pleasant (DC) - a few blocks from Lamont Park  

*  Petworth (DC) - on Taylor between 7th and 8th between Georgia and New Hampshire

*  Crestwood (DC) -  upper 16th St., near Carter Baron Center

*  Palisades (DC) - new drop point for 2012! LOOKING FOR CSA MEMBERS AND A DROP POINT HOST!

*  Arlington (VA) - between Clarendon & Virginia Square, near Washington Lee High School

Don’t see a drop point near you?  Give us a call and we can work together to get our fresh produce to you and your friends and neighbors.

Interested in hosting a drop point or know of a public location that might work?  Depending on your location, we need a certain number of paid members near a potential drop point to make it happen.  Please email me and we can talk about it. Nice discounts apply for hosts!

How Delivery Works...

We do our very best to ensure that your produce arrives to you fresh and in a timely fashion.  Having said that - we ask that you be flexible and understand that there is a window that we are aiming towards to get the delivery to the drop points, homes and places of work.  For some it is late morning, others - early afternoon and then late afternoon or evening.  On delivery day, we will send an email to you when your box has arrived at your drop point.

Generally speaking, the drop points are at private residences who are also members.  They have no additional information as to when the produce is being delivered and we ask that you respect their privacy.  Please direct any questions or concerns to us either by phone, text or email.

Be sure to take only what you have ordered.  This is all on the honor system.

Drop Point Procedure...

If you do not remember what size box you get, whether or not you get a fruit share, or whether or not you ordered cheese or meat a certain week, please consult the list at the drop point! A new list will be printed each week.

1)    Pick up your Small or Large CSA Box (they are labeled), whichever you have signed up for.

2)    If you have signed up for a Fruit Share, please take the amount of fruit designated at the drop point. The fruit will be separate from the CSA box.

3)    If you ordered cheese or meat, please take what you ordered from the cooler- it will have a label with your name.

4)    Please check your name off the list at the drop point before you leave. This way, if for some reason, there is one leftover we can figure out whose box it is.

5)    Please remember that in order to respect the privacy of our hosts, boxes must be picked up by 8pm each week, unless other arrangements are made with the host. If your box is not picked up by 8pm on delivery day, it becomes the property of the host.

6)    If you are unable to pick up your box at any point during the season (e.g., will be away on vacation), please arrange for a friend or family member to go pick up your box. Otherwise it will go to the host.

7)    Please FOLD your box and bring it back to the host’s location when you pick up your new box next week!

8)    ENJOY!!!!!!!!

CSA Share (Boxes of Veggies) 
Produce from Earth Spring Farm- this is what is included with your CSA payment.

The 2 boxes are mostly differentiated by quantity of produce and sometimes more items per box. The produce that arrives in the box each week is a diverse sampling of what we are producing on the farm at that time of year.

For example: 
Spring: lettuces, kales, collards, carrots, radish, beets, broccoli, arugula
Summer: tomatoes, beans, squash, peppers, onions, garlic, eggplants, corn, potatoes, cucumbers
Fall: winter squash, sweet potatoes, spinach, carrots, greens, cabbage, cauliflower, turnips

Small Box (Medium from 2010)

The Small box will suit most people's needs. This box will be a great choice for a single vegetarian or very healthy eater - or a family of 3 or 4.  It is also a great choice for 2 people who want to share a box to see how much they will eat and give the CSA a test run.  The Small box will have  6-9 items.

Large Box 

The Large box is truly large.  It is great for people who cook almost daily and love lots of fresh food.  Typically there are 8-11 items per box and often there is more quantity of certain items. 

Below are a few examples of what was in a small vs large box in 2011. Note that large boxes often have larger quantities of a some of the items (though not specified below). If you would like more of this info, please feel free to visit our Newsletter Archives to see what was in the boxes each week! Don't know what something is (kohlrabi, anyone?)?... Don't worry! We are constantly updating our Recipe page to give you lots of ideas!

EXAMPLE 1: Boxes from week 3 of 2011 CSA, June 29
     Small: lettuce, kale, swiss chard, onions, leeks, basil
     Large: lettuce, kale swiss chard, onions, leeks, basil, cabbage, kohlrabi

EXAMPLE 2: Boxes from week 6 of 2011 CSA, July 20
     Small: basil, tomatoes, onions, kale, cucumbers, sweet corn, watermelon
     Large: lbasil, tomatoes, onions, kale, cucumbers, sweet corn, watermelon, eggplant zucchini

EXAMPLE 3: Boxes from week 12 of 2011 CSA, August 31
     Small: onions, carrots, sweet peppers, jalapeno peppers, kale, lettuce, basil
     Large: onions, carrots, sweet peppers, jalapeno peppers, kale, lettuce, basil, eggplant, swiss chard, dumpling (winter squash)

EXAMPLE 4: Boxes from week 15 of 2011 CSA, September 21
     Small: radishes, sweet potatoes, onions, arugula, lettuce, cilantro, jalapeno peppers, sweet peppers
     Large: radishes, sweet potatoes, onions, arugula, lettuce, cilantro, jalapeno peppers, potatoes, carrots

EXAMPLE 5: Boxes from week 19 of 2011 CSA, October 19
     Small: broccoli, sweet potatoes, rutabaga, arugula, broccoli raab, turnips, potatoes
     Large: broccoli, sweet potatoes, rutabaga, arugula, broccoli raab, radishes, carrots, lettuce

Fruit Share
Fruit from local PA orchards- not included with your CSA payment.  A fruit share is an extra $100 for the 20-week season. 

Fruit can be purchased as an extra option when you sign up for your CSA box (i.e., fruit must be purchased for the entire season, not on a weekly basis).  The fruit share price includes getting equivalent of approximately one quart of fruit (with the exception of blueberries which are in pints) per week. Each week the fruit share will be one type of fruit (i.e., it will not be a quart of mixed fruit). See the approximate schedule below for an idea of what you may be getting throughout the season. This year we will likely again be buying our fruit from Beechwood Orchards here in PA.    

New for 2012! Buy 2 Fruit Shares, get 25% off a 3rd Fruit Share! That's equivalent to 5 free weeks of fruit for that 3rd Fruit Share! See our Prices page for more info!


* Fruit Schedule (approximate) 

   Strawberries: End of May - End of June/Early July

   Cherries:  Mid to late June - July 

   Apricots:  June - August 

   Plums/Pluots:  June - October 

   Peaches:  End June - September 

   Apples:  End of June - October

   Pears:  Early September - October 

   Nectarines:  July - September  

* Fruit Delivery

Your fruit will be set aside at your drop point with a group of fruit that other members have also ordered.  It will be separate from the CSA boxes with a sign that lets you know how much to take per fruit share. Be sure to take only what you have ordered.  This is all on the honor system.  Please see the page concerning drop points and how they work. 

Cheese
Cheese from Hillside Farm/Farmstead Fresh Creamery- not included with your CSA payment.  Cheese is extra and must be purchased weekly through our website. 

New in 2011!  You can order cheese to be delivered with your weekly box!
All the cheese comes from organic pasture raised, grass fed animals and is made with vegetable rennet. This is a raw milk cheese meaning that it has not been pasteurized and thus retaining all of the good enzymes and vitamins A & D.  The cheese has been aged 60 days minimum.  The cows milk cheese comes from an Amish-Mennonite family in Juniata County, PA... Christ and Lizzie Esh milk 30 Holstein-Jersey cows at Hillside Farm in Juniata County and the cheese is made at Farmstead Fresh Creamery.  The cheese comes in 1/2 lb (approx.) vacuum sealed blocks and is sold through our CSA by the block (not by weight) to make pre-ordering easy.  Prices range from $6.15-$7.90 per block (see our Prices page for more details). Options may include:

     Colby                                 Mozzarella

     Garlic'N Herb                       Ooh La La

     Goat Cheddar                     Pepper Jack

     Goat Garlic'N Herb               Sharp Cheddar

     Goat Harvarti                      Smoked Sharp Cheddar

     Havarti                               Yogurt

     Jack

* Cheese Delivery

Cheese will be delivered with your CSA share. Your cheese will be set aside in a cooler with cheese, meat (and possibly eggs and milk) that other members have also ordered.  Be sure to take only what you have ordered.  This is all on the honor system.

Meat
Meat from North Mountain Pastures- not included with your CSA payment.  Meat is extra and must be purchased monthly through our website. 

New in 2011!  You can order meat to be delivered with your weekly box!
All the pasture-raised meat will come from North Mountain Pastures in Perry County, PA. Brooks and Anna raise pastured pork, pastured chicken, pastured turkeys, and grassfed lamb and beef. Their chickens receive a grain supplement that is balanced with biologically-available minerals. Their cows are rotated frequently for optimal animal and soil health. Their animals never receive hormones or antibiotics, and their farms are free of harmful chemicals.

Organic Grass-fed Beef
Their beef cattle are Herefords raised at Coulter Family Farm. The cows are pastured and 100% grass-fed and certified organic. The grass for the cattle is grown without the use of fertilizers, pesticides or other chemicals. The cattle are raised without hormones or antibiotics. Grass-fed beef tends to be leaner and needs to be cooked a little differently than typical corn-fed beef. See their recipes page for more information.

Pastured Chicken
They raise Corish Cross chickens on pasture. For the first two weeks they are carefully protected in a brooder area in the barn. This allows North Mountain Pastures to give the young, fragile birds optimal temperature and moisture conditions. Then they move them to portable pasture houses. These houses protect them from predators, such as foxes and hawks, and provide shade and shelter from wind and rain. Twice daily, they move the chickens to a fresh spot on pasture. The chickens enjoy constant access to new weeds, seeds and insects, which make up about 30% of their diet. The pasture diet is a valuable source of vitamins and minerals necessary for strong immune systems, which is evidenced in their bright orange feet and red combs. The rest of the chickens' diet is custom-mixed grain from a local mill. It consists of organically-grown corn, oats, and soybeans (all locally-grown) plus a balanced combination of natural minerals from Fertrell. North Mountain Pasture's chickens thrive on a varied diet and a healthy environment.  Their meat is tender and flavorful, with yellow-tinted skin and fat due to the increased vitamin A content.A list of options coming soon!

Pastured Pork
North Mountain raises Tamworth and Tamworth-cross pigs on pasture.  The Tamworth hog is a heritage breed of pig that has been selected over centuries for its foraging abilities.  This means their pigs are constantly rooting and grazing, looking for their next meal. They feed their pigs whey from a local grass-fed cheese operation and supplement their diet with a ration of organically-grown grain from alocal feed mill. Raising pigs on pasture not only allows the animal to fully express its instincts to root and forage, but it also changes the fatty acid composition of the meat. 

North Mountain Pastures has started making nitrate-free cured meats from both their pork and beef.  They only use the meat, Himalayan sea salt, and spices to cure the meats.  They are salted for a week or two, then transferred to a drying room where they hang for one month up to a year.  This process creates new flavors, different for every locale where meats are cured.  Traditionally, these meats were cured in winter for consumption throughout the year, with no need for refrigeration.  

Options
As the season goes on we will adjust our ordering to try to meet the demand from our membership. Meat options may change, but this will give you an idea of what we plan to offer...

       Chicken                                   Pork                                      Beef                                
       Whole Broiler Chicken                  Chops                                     Delmonico Steak
       Boneless Breast                          Ham Steaks                             Porterhouse/T-bone Steak
       Legs                                         Ribs                                        Sirloin Steak
       Wings                                       Shoulder Roast                         Chuck/Arm Roast
                                                      Sausage- Sweet Italian              Round Roast
                                                      Sausage- Hot Italian                  Chip Steak
                                                      Sausage- Lincolnshire                 Stew Cubes
                                                      Sausage- Breakfast Links            Ground Beef

Check out our Prices page for more details.

 
* Meat Delivery

Meat will be delivered with your CSA share. Your meat will be set aside in a cooler with cheese, meat (and possibly eggs and milk) that other members have also ordered.  Be sure to take only what you have ordered.   This is all on the honor system.

CSA Box Sizes & Pricing

There are 2 box sizes- small and large (click here for descriptions). The full season is 20 weeks from June-October.

Now Accepting Members for the 2012 Season, with a discount!! Click here to sign up NOW and get ONE FREE BOX*!
* The one free box is included in the 20 weeks (i.e., you will pay for 19 weeks but will get 20 weeks of deliveries; discount will be automatically deducted at checkout.). To qualify for this discount you must make at least one partial payment by March 31, 2012!

* Pennsylvania-

   Small: $400  ($20/box) Now through March 31, 2012 ONLY $380!

   Large: $500  ($25/box) Now through March 31, 2012 ONLY $475!

* Save $35 for the season by picking up your box at the farm! 

* Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia- 

    Small:  $500  ($25/box) Now through March 31, 2012 ONLY $475!

    Large:  $600  ($30/box) Now through March 31, 2012 ONLY $570!

EXTRA Options & Pricing for 2012 

(not included in your CSA membership- must be purchased separately)

 * 2012 Fruit

Fruit can be purchased as an extra option when you sign up for your CSA box (i.e., fruit must be purchased for the entire season, not on a weekly basis).  The fruit share price includes getting 1 quart of fruit (with the exception of blueberries which are in pints) per week. An approximate fruit schedule can be found on the Product Descriptions page. 

New for 2012! Buy 2 Fruit Shares, get 25% off a 3rd Fruit Share! That's equivalent to 5 free weeks of fruit for that 3rd Fruit Share!

       Pennsylvania & Washington DC/Maryland/Virginia:

               1 Fruit Share (20 weeks):  $100

               2 Fruit Shares (20 weeks): $200

               3 Fruit Shares (20 weeks): $300 ONLY $275!
 

* 2011 Cheese  (we will still have cheese options for 2012 but have not yet confirmed whether or not the farmers are modifying their prices, so the prices below are subject to change for the 2012 season)

Cheese can be purchased as an "extra". While fruit is an option that must be purchased for the season, cheese is an option that must be purchased weekly.  Your order will have to be made one week prior to when you want it delivered with your box of produce, and it must be ordered through this website (no phone or email orders, please). Order cheese a few times throughout the season, or order cheese every week and try all the different kinds we have to offer...your choice! To place an order, visit the "Order Cheese" page.

All prices below are for 1/2 lb (approximate) vaccuum-sealed blocks (cheese is sold through our CSA by the block- not by weight- to make pre-ordering easy).

       Colby.............................$6.15

       Garlic'N Herb...................$6.15

       Goat Cheddar..................$7.90

       Goat Garlic'N Herb............$7.90

       Goat Havarti....................$7.90

       Havarti............................$6.15

       Jack................................$6.15

       Mozzarella.........................$6.15

       Ooh La La........................$6.65

       Pepper Jack......................$6.15

       Sharp Cheddar..................$6.65

       Smoked Sharp Cheddar......$6.65

       Yogurt.............................$6.15

* 2011 Meat  (we will still have meat options for 2012 but have not yet confirmed whether or not the farmers are modifying their prices, so the prices below are subject to change for the 2012 season)

Meat can be purchased as an "extra". While fruit is an option that must be purchased for the season, and cheese can be ordered weekly, meat is an option that must be purchased b-weekly.  Your order will have to be made at least one week prior to when you want it delivered with your box of produce, and it must be ordered through this website (no phone or email orders, please).  Order meat a few times throughout the season, or order meat every month and try all the different kinds we have to offer... your choice!  To place an order, visit the "Order Meat" page. 

2011 Meat delivery dates are as follows:
          June 22 (PA) and June 23 (DC)
          July 20 (PA) and July 21 (DC)
          August 17 (PA) and August 18 (DC)
          August 31 (PA) and September 1 (DC)
          September 14 (PA) and September 15 (DC)
          September 28 (PA) and September 29(DC)
          October 12 (PA) and October 13 (DC)
          October 26 (PA) and October 27 (DC)

As the season goes on we will adjust our ordering to try to meet the demand from our membership. Meat options may change, but this will give you an idea of what we plan to offer. All prices are PER POUND and include a handling fee. Exact weights and prices per package are available in our Meat Store.

Chicken:
     Whole Broiler Chicken............$4.40/lb
     Boneless Breast....................$14.30/lb
     Legs...................................$6.05/lb
     Wings.................................$3.85/lb   

Pork:
     Chops..................................$10.45/lb
     Ham Steaks..........................$8.80/lb
     Ribs.....................................$6.60/lb
     Shoulder Roast......................$8.80/lb
     Sausage- Sweet Italian...........$10.45/lb
     Sausage- Hot Italian...............$10.45/lb
     Sausage- Lincolnshire..............$10.45/lb
     Sausage- Breakfast Links..........$10.45/lb

Beef:
     Delmonico Steak....................$15.40/lb
     Porterhouse/T-bone Steak......$15.40/lb
     Sirloin Steak..........................$9.90/lb
     Chuck/Arm Roast...................$8.00/lb
     Round Roast..........................$8.80/lb
     Chip Steak.............................$9.60/lb
     Stew Cubes...........................$8.80/lb
     Ground Beef..........................$7.70/lb

          See the Product Descriptions page

                     for more information.

Earth Spring will be offering Work Share opportunities to a small group of 25 people in 2012. 

  
                           Packing CSA boxes

Work to be done by the Work Share Members:

*  Seeding in the greenhouse 

*  Greenhouse fertilizing, pest identification and control

*  Transplanting in the field

*  Harvesting, harvesting, harvesting!

*  Washing and packing produce

*  CSA box packing

*  Selling at the farm stands

*  Some weeding - but very little.

*  Other farm duties (e.g., feed and care of the animals)
                                                                                                                                         

Work Share Rewards

In exchange for 6 hours of work each member will receive a small size box of produce, 1 fruit share (i.e., quart of fruit, with the exception of blueberries which will be in pints) and 1/2 lb block of cheese.

For most of the work share positions you will need to be in excellent health and physical condition.  You do not need any experience to qualify just a willingness to commit to working on the farm each week!

     
             Packing CSA boxes                                         Onions fresh from the field!

Time Frame

Work Shares will run May through Thanksgiving each year.  There is a minimum 6 hour weekly commitment although many give 8-10 hours.  Note that while produce won't be available until sometime in May, there is PLENTY of fun work to do starting as early as February, such as seeding in the greenhouse!  So come on down to the farm, meet some other Work Share Members, and hang out in the warm greenhouse, watch the seedlings grow, and help plant some more seedlings!

I am proud to say that from our work share membership at Oasis Gardens in Austin, Texas there were 3 out of 10 people who went on to full time farming and others who have developed incredible gardens in their own backyards.

Earth Spring’s Work Share program will also be a place to prepare young and old future farmers to go out on their own! Or you are welcome to stick around and be a local at the farm too.

If you are interested, please email me at earthspringcsa@gmail.com!

Thanks,
Mike

“Thanks for a great season. We've truly enjoyed all of the delicious, nutritious, good-for-the-Earth-and-other-living-things produce that you've delivered despite the season's severe, new-normal weather.”

-          CSA Member Susanna Greg Smith & Elizabeth Arnold 10/28/11

“Just to let you know -- just signed up for another year of great veggies! … The veggies are just great. The onions are superb--we eat generally eat lots of them and are very happy to find those in our deliveries every week, and we love the eggplant, lettuce, radishes ...all in all, we enjoyed this year's variety of vegetables better than last year's…  although weather-wise it must have been really tough for you guys. We look forward to the new year. Thanks for all the great work and effort!”

-          CSA Member Susanna Bunzel-Harris 10/3/11

“We have very much enjoyed the CSA this year, it's been our first year of doing one, and it has become the center of our meal-planning and diet. I want to cast a vote for the eggplants! I made a big pan of eggplant parmesan each week, for several weeks this summer, and it was greatly appreciated and enjoyed by my husband, who thought he didn't even like eggplant at all. We've made him a believer. I am also giving you some of the credit for my nearly 30-pound weight loss in the past several months because I've been able to incorporate a lot more vegetable-based and vegetarian meals into our diets. Thanks Mike for all of your hard work on the farm. Hope we can visit sometime. We plan to sign up again next year! We also hope you do get to set up a Winter CSA. We'll sign up for that too! :-)”

-          CSA Member Erika Petrova & Petar Petrov 9/22/11

“I like sweet potatoes and I bake them often.  Last week's was the best sweet potato I've ever eaten. I look forward to baking more in the coming weeks.  Thank you.”

-          CSA Member Martha Joines 9/14/11

 “I was at the Mt. Pleasant farmers market this past Saturday and picked up info on your CSA. I checked out the website and it all looks really great... I just signed up!... I have enjoyed your veggies all summer. :) Can't wait for next summer! Thanks!”

-          Mt. Pleasant Farmers’ Market visitor and new CSA Member Terill Hollweg 9/12/11

"Thanks for growing food that pleases my palate and my conscience."

-          CSA Member Abby Wilkerson, 9/12/11

“I  loved my CSA box. My small share was filled with enough to share items with my sister! Considering the strange weather we had the boxes were filled with a nice variety of vegetables and greens. I learned that I enjoy chard and the recipes you have in the newsletter are great. Whatever you choose to plant next season will be fine with me. Keep up the good work. Thank you and your workers for all you do.”

-          CSA Member Lisa DiVittore, 9/11/11

“Thank you for the weekly produce you and your fellow farmers have provided our family. This is our first year being a part of a CSA program and have really enjoyed the bounty.”

-          CSA Member Janessa Cobb 9/8/11

 “I just want to let you know how much I have enjoyed your produce this year. Katherine Smith and I split a large box every week. The excitement of what we are going to get has not waned. I just want to encourage you and let you know how much we appreciate your hard work…  We know you are doing your darnest to give us the best! I just want to let you know that you and your hard work is very much appreciated. Thank you for this opportunity to get the best produce I have tasted in years! Keep up the great work!”

-          CSA Member Sarah Hicks 8/19/11

“Just wanted to drop a note to thank you for all the great produce this season. I know it has been an unusually challenging season, weather-wise. I particularly liked the spaghetti squash in last week's box. I cooked it and tossed it with a cashew butter sauce and pan-fried Asian vegetables. Very good! And I froze half of the squash for a quick dish when I'm pressed for time in the future. Thanks for all you do”

-          CSA Member Valerie Berton 8/18/11

“This [letter from the farmer] was incredible to read. It is such a great reminder that what we are doing is so different than buying from a supermarket. We're happy to be part of this adventure!”

-          CSA Member Tim Waxenfelter 8/10/11

“Well, I’ve got to tell you that everything has been fabulous.  But the Kabocha!!!  Out of this World. Thank you so much.”

-          CSA Member Joanne Wilkoff Wilson 7/28/11

“ I just wanted to say that I'm so happy with the CSA.  The veggies are delicious and it's been fun to come up with ways to use everything every week.  Thank you so much for your hard work -- this non-farmer really appreciates it!”

-           CSA Member Shana Hofstetter 7/25/11

“Thanks so much for the fantastic produce so far this year.  Every week, picking up my box is like a culinary Christmas morning!”

-          CSA Member Abby Geletzke  7/23/11

“We especially enjoyed dinner tonight! Nothing compares to fresh corn-on-the-cob and ripe watermelon on summer day! Thank you!”

-          CSA Member Oona Waxenfelter  7/21/11

“Everything has been awesome.  We love all the fruits of your labor!”

-          CSA Member Francie Toof  7/7/11

“The basil is incredible!  I love the smell of it, and it was so fresh.  Very delicious.”

-          CSA Member Susan Mayhew 6/29/11

“My family is new to the CSA this year, and we have enjoyed our first two weeks of veggies and fruits immensely!  Not only are we happy with the quality of the items (they are wonderful!), we've had the chance to try some new vegetables that we wouldn't normally have bought and learn some new recipes.  We love the surprise of finding out what's in the CSA box every week and then figuring out how we're going to use each item.”

-          CSA Member Rebecca Oyler 6/29/11

“Thanks for all your hard work!  Things seem to be running like a well oiled machine from our viewpoint…”

-          CSA Member Stan Ritchie 6/27/11

“Got our box again which was wonderful. The most picture perfect cabbage ever.”

-          CSA Member Chris Williams 6/24/11

“MANY thanks for this week's gorgeous CSA share.”

-          CSA Member Libby Leader 6/16/11

“Everything looks beautiful, Mike, what gorgeous greens.”

-          CSA Member Despina Kakoudaki 6/16/11

“The veggies are beautiful and delicious; thank you!!” 

-          CSA Member Robin Thurston 6/17/11

“ Just wanted to let you know, I have been involved in start-up companies in the past, and am really impressed with how far Earth Spring has come in one short year…“  

-          CSA Member Susan Mayhew 5/5/11

November 9, 2011     Final Letter from the Farmer for the 2011 CSA Season

October 26-27, 2011  2011 CSA Newsletter, week 20

October 19-20, 2011  2011 CSA Newsletter, week 19

October 12-13, 2011   2011 CSA Newsletter, week 18

October 5-6, 2011      2011 CSA Newsletter, week 17

Sept 28-29, 2011        2011 CSA Newsletter, week 16

Sept 21-22, 2011        2011 CSA Newsletter, week 15

Sept 14-15, 2011         2011 CSA Newsletter, week 14

Sept 7-8, 2011            2011 CSA Newsletter, week 13

Aug 31-Sept 1, 2011   2011 CSA Newsletter, week 12

August 24-25, 2011    2011 CSA Newsletter, week 11

August 17-18, 2011    2011 CSA Newsletter, week 10

August 8, 2011           Letter from the Farmer

August 10-11, 2011    2011 CSA Newsletter, week 9

August 3-4, 2011       2011 CSA Newsletter, week 8

July 27-28, 2011        2011 CSA Newsletter, week 7

July 20-21, 2011        2011 CSA Newsletter, week 6

July 13-14, 2011         2011 CSA Newsletter, week 5

July 6-7, 2011             2011 CSA Newsletter, week 4

June 29-30, 2011       2011 CSA Newsletter, week 3

June 22-23, 2011       2011 CSA Newsletter, week 2

June 15-16, 2011        2011 CSA Newsletter, week 1

May 16, 2011              Letter from the Farmer

April 14, 2011             Letter from the Farmer

March 28, 2011          CSA 2011- Become a Member Today!

At least 5 quarts water plus 2-3 cups cold water

2-3 TBS coarse sea salt

¼ cup virgin olive oil

2 ounces salt pork, diced, about 1/3 cup OR 4-6 anchovy fillets (optional)

2 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped

1 fresh hot red pepper, chopped, or chili pepper flakes to taste

12-16 ounces penne or other short pasta

Detach the broccoli florets from the stalks and divide into bit-sized pieces.  Cut a ½ inch off the butt end of the stalks and peel the dark tough skin on the stalks.  Dice stalks into  1-inch pieces.  Or carefully wash broccoli rabe in a sinkful of warm water, drain, and break off the tough stems.

Bring at least 5 quarts of water to a rolling boil in a large pot or pasta cooker.  Add 2-3 TBS salt and the broccoli stems or broccoli rabe and cook until tender, at least 5 minutes.  Remove with a slotted spoon, refresh in cold water, and drain.  Squeeze broccoli rabe lightly to remove excess water.  Cook the broccoli florets for 3-4 minutes, remove with a slotted spoon, refresh in cold water, and drain.  Reserve cooking water to cook pasta.

Chop the broccoli rabe into bite-sized pieces.  Puree the stems or one third of the broccoli rabe in the food processor for a more elegant sauce.

Heat 2 tablespoons for extra virgin olive oil (and optional salt pork or anchovies) in a 3-quart pot, add the garlic and hot pepper, and cook over moderate heat until the garlic begins to color.

Add the drained broccoli stem puree or the broccoli rabe, salt lightly, and cook for 2 minutes, stirring to thoroughly coat with garlic.

Add 2-3 additional cups of cold water to the broccoli cooking water and bring to a rolling boil.

Cook the pasta until it still offers considerable resistance to the tooth, around ¾ of the recommended cooking time.  Drain the pasta, reserving 2 cups of pasta cooking water.

Add the drained pasta and 1 cup cooking water to the broccoli and cook the pasta and broccoli together to complete the pasta’s cooking.  Add the reserved pasta water, ¼ cup at a time, if the sauce is too dry.  Serve immediately.

Notes from Delmar member, Chris:  A delicious dish kids love!  I make it with the broccoli- peeling the stems, then cooking and pureeing them to make a sauce.  I use anchovies which melt into the sauce.  I sue the largest skillet I have to give the sauce and pasta a chance to cook together quickly at the end.  I use extra garlic and less pasta for this amount of broccoli.

from Madhur Jaffery’s World Vegetarian