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Crop Talk
The Newsletter of Great Country Farms
September 28, 2015: CSA Week 18
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18780 Foggy Bottom Road
Bluemont, VA 20135 |
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Swiss Chard
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Recent research has shown that chard leaves contain at least 13 different polyphenol antioxidants, including kaempferol, the cardioprotective flavonoid that's also found in broccoli, kale, strawberries, and other foods. But alongside of kaempferol, one of the primary flavonoids found in the leaves of chard is a flavonoid called syringic acid. Syringic acid has received special attention in recent research due to its blood sugar regulating properties. This flavonoid has been shown to inhibit activity of an enzyme called alpha-glucosidase
. When this enzyme gets inhibited, fewer carbs are broken down into simple sugars and blood sugar is able to stay more steady. It makes sense to think about chard as a vegetable whose flavonoid phytonutrients are unique and may offer special benefits for blood sugar control.
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Connell Red Apples
This week's U-pick
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Of uncertain origin, this apple was introduced by W.F. Connell of Menomonie, WI in 1957. The accepted story has always been that Connell Red resulted from a bud sport (mutation) of the excellent Minnesota winter apple, Fireside. Recent evidence seems to disprove that allegation. It now appears that the variety originated as a seedling, rather than a bud sport, in an orchard across the border in Wisconsin.
These all purpose apples are large, solid bright red, oblate-conic and sprinkled with pinpoint white dots. The flesh is juicy and distinctively flavored. Keeps in well in the fridge -- or the root cellar until April or even May."
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CSA Week 18 ~ September 29 -- October 6
Shares this week include:
- 2 different winter squashes
- Swiss Chard
- potatoes
- apples
- Asian pears
Last week for boxes
During weeks 19 and 20, we'll be packing shares in bags so we can recover our empty share boxes for re-use next year. If you pick up your share at the farm, please bring a reusable bag with you.
Seasonal Bonus
To celebrate the harvest season, all members receive a jack-o-lantern pumpkin, a neck pumpkin, and a bundle of corn stalks as a one-time bonus. When you take yours home, please put a check mark in the Seasonal Bonus column beside your name.
Remember that there's no CSA pick-up or delivery on Mondays.
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Fall Pumpkin Harvest Festival
Each of those yellow stars represents one of our celebrity porcine athletes -- Hoglary Clinton, Donhog Trump, Miley Swinerus, Kim Porkdashian, Peyton Hamming, and Tom Boar-ady. These cleft-footed competitors kicked off their racing season this weekend with events at 12:00, 2:00, and 4:00, and they'll be back for more action next weekend. Between races, P-Rex, the pumpkin-eating dinosaur, will re-emerge from seasonal extinction to gorge himself on orange globes, and Farmer Bob will be pressing cider on the North Stage, near the marshmallow-roasting pit. Both the pumpkin patch and the apple orchard will be open for U-picking, so come on out and celebrate the season with us!
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Marnie Montgomery, certified Tellington T-Touch practitioner and owner of The Joyful Dog, a canine education and wellness center in Leesburg, invites you to bring your dog to the farm this fall. She'll be offering three opportunities for you and your dog to play and work together at the farm: Puppies on the Farm, Fun and Focus, and Great Country Games. These are multi-session courses scheduled for Wednesdays, Thursdays, or Sundays in September or October.
 Marnie first came to the world of dog training and T-Touch while searching for ways to help her own dog relax and control his impulses. The combination of bodywork and movement, which are foundational to T-Touch, and the clarity inherent in clicker training and other rewarding techniques, helped him become a delightful companion.
For more information about Marnie, or to register for one of these special sessions, visit The Joyful Dog online. |
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Featured Recipes
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Adding green or brown lentils to sautéed chard makes a filling, healthy side dish. First cook the lentils with onion and garlic for a little extra flavor, then stir them into the sautéed chard. Add a dash of red wine vinegar and a few crumbles of feta cheese and serve with
baked salmon
or
lamb
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Swiss Chard with Currants and Pine Nuts
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This is a popular dish throughout the Mediterranean, particularly in Catalonia, Provence, and the Italian Riviera. It is often made with spinach, but I prefer to use Swiss chard, because the chard stands up to the cooking but still has a delicate flavor.
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This stew is similar to a Moroccan tagine, which is traditionally served with couscous. But this would be equally delicious paired with crusty bread or steamed potatoes."
Read more here.
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| Week 18 CSA UPICK Bonus: September 22-28 6 apples ~ $4.47 Year to date Upick Bonus Value: $180.20
What is this? Each week we offer a bonus u-pick item for members visiting the farm and this ticker tracks the dollar value of the bonuses. Many members find that month picking adds a nice extra value to their CSA share.
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| This Week in the Farm Market
Tomatoes
Potatoes
Pie Pumpkins
Garlic
Okra
Butternut Squash
Spaghetti Squash
Delicata Squash
Acorn Squash
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Please Drive Slowly
This is an appeal to slow down when you drive through the tiny village of Bluemont. Recently a Bluemont resident sent an email to several local businesses, informing us that two children were almost hit by a truck in front of the Bluemont General Store a while back. Apparently the incident prompted a police response.
"We want Bluemont to grow and prosper," the resident wrote. "We love the life that new businesses can bring to our sleepy little town, but most of all we want to feel safe, and we want our kids to be safe."
To that end, please drive safely through the village and keep your eyes peeled for children.
Thank you so much!
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