Gleaning fun

The pumpkin and gleaning party was a big success.  Members visited to enjoy the perfect weather, pick pumpkins and glean a few vegetables.  There were loads of pumpkins to choose from; it was a strong, healthy crop this year.  The day was very enjoyable for Steve and I, a chance to hang out with the people we’ve fed all year.  I’ve posted additional photos on our Facebook page, labelled #tipiglean14.

Members wandered across the farm, reaching the furthest corners of the farm.  I think Steve included a few distant fields in the gleaning list for just that reason.

It was a family outing for many.

UW graduate student Claire Luby offered samples from her carrot research trial which she just finished harvesting.  I’ve written before about Claire and Irwin Goldman’s research plots at our farm.

Our daughter taught members how to find good raspberries.  The fruit flies are not too bad right now, so persistent (and patient) members could find good berries.

The thrill of digging up a big carrot!

I enjoy seeing our farm through our members’ eyes.  Julie Garret took the lovely photos below.

Thanks to everyone who shared their photos with us.

Veggie list and veggie notes (10/9/14, week #21, green EOW)

It’s been a busy week for us.  All our winter squash and sweet potatoes are safely harvested.  That feels good.  I’ll post photos of the harvests next week.  We hope you enjoy this pretty box of veggies.  Everything is so vibrant right now.  We plan to send lots of winter squash in the remaining boxes, especially butternuts which are so versatile for cooking.  See below for a favorite butternut recipe.

‘Metro’ butternut squash, 1
Cauliflower
Golden beets with greens, 1 bunch
Eggplant, globe or Japanese
Carrots, 2 lb
Bell peppers, 2
Anaheim chiles (hot), 2
Yellow onions, about 2
Parsley, 1 bunch

Next week’s box will contain winter squash or sweet potatoes, bok choy or cabbage, scallions, garlic, onions, daikon radish, peppers and more.

Butternut squash (tan, long) – These are the ‘Metro’ variety, a favorite because it cures and sweetens quickly after harvest.  These are medium-sized squash, average weight 2.0 to 2.5 lb.
Eggplant – We finally have eggplant to share.  It has been a difficult year for eggplant due to season-long insect attacks.  The plants set a late crop.  We’re glad they are ready to harvest before frost.  By this time of year, the eggplant may be seedy.
Anaheim chiles (long, slender, red, green or mixed red and green) – These are hot peppers. Anaheims usually have medium spiciness although it varies from pepper to pepper.  As usual, the heat is concentrated in the seeds and midveins. Remove the seeds and midveins is to lessen the chili’s heat. Anaheims are easily mistaken for Italian frying peppers. We never send them in the same box for that reason. Keep this in mind if you have frying peppers left over from last week.
Golden beets with greens – Beet greens are delicious. They are similar to Swiss chard in flavor, texture & cooking time (the two crops are very closely related.) You can remove the thickest midribs before cooking if you wish, but it is not essential.
Storage: Cover and refrigerate. The beet roots will last for weeks.  Beet greens are perishable and should be eaten soon. Separate the tops and roots if you don’t plan to eat the greens immediately, to preserve freshness in the roots.

Masala Winter Squash

Mark Bittman, ‘The Best Recipes in the World.’  Serves 4.  Time: 40 minutes.

Beth’s notes: This is a lively dish with lots of flavor.  It’s OK to skip the tomatoes unless you have a few in the freezer; just add lime juice at the end to replace the acidity.  Add the lime juice bit by bit – it doesn’t take much.  Serve with rice.  Mark Bittman writes this is a “lovely winter stew that can be a centerpiece for vegetarians (or for meat eaters with the addition of a few cubes of boneless chicken).”

1 large onion
5 garlic cloves, peeled
1 small dried chile or 1 tsp hot red pepper flakes, or to taste
2 Tbsp. corn, grapeseed or other neutral oil
salt and black pepper to taste
1 Tbsp. curry powder, or to taste
1 cup chopped tomato (canned is fine), optional
about 1 ½ lb winter squash, like butternut or firm pumpkin, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
lime wedges for serving

1.  Combing the onion, garlic and chile in a food processor and grind until pasty.  Put the oil in a large skillet or flameproof casserole with a lid over medium heat and add the onion mixture along with some salt and pepper and the curry powder.  Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion begins to brown, 5 to 10 minutes.

2.  Add the tomato or ½ cup water along with the squash.  Cover and adjust the heat so the mixture simmers steadily.  Cook, stirring occasionally (and gently) and adding more water if necessary, until the squash is tender, about 20 minutes.  Serve with the lime wedges.